Title: Three Spirits
Author: SleepsInOctober
Genre: Adventure, maybe some humor
Summary: AU, In a third year without Sirius Black, Harry worries that things are a bit too boring. When the trio upsets a ghost, things get a little too exciting. They've been turned into - ghosts?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
***
Chapter One - Life and Death as Usual
"Do either of you feel that this year has been too easy?"
Ron and Hermoine both peered over their books and stared at their bespectacled friend. The three were sharing a table in the transfiguration section of the library.
"Harry, are you insane? We've more work than ever!" Ron asked, keeping his voice down to ensure he did not attract the wrath of Madame Pince.
"I don't know what you are complaining about, Ron. You've had plenty of time to complete your assignments. I'm only a week ahead, but I'm taking more classes than you." Hermoine said, still frantically taking notes on a piece of parchment.
"Yeah, and it's making you cranky."
"Cranky!" Hermoine stopped writing, looking up indignantly. "I'm just - stretched a bit thin."
Ignoring her protests, Ron turned back to Harry. "We still have all those predictions to make up for Trewlawney. How can you say that's easy?"
"I wasn't talking about school work, though," Harry said, absently fiddling with his quill. "Just, the year in general."
He had both of their interests now.
"Harry," Hermoine began slowly. "You don't really want another year like last, do you? With the whole school suspicious of you?"
"Or the year before, with You-Know-Who skulking around?" asked Ron/
"Well, no, of course not!" Harry frowned. "It just seems odd not to have something going on this year."
Hermoine let out an unlady-like snort. "I think we have more than enough to worry about. We were very lucky our grades didn't slip while we were out adventuring. I've just begun to feel like I've caught up to where I would have been if I hadn't been petrified."
"And besides, we've got our second death-day party to attend tomorrow," added Ron, "how much more excitement do need?"
***
Myrtle Tucker had been haunting a girls lavatory at Hogwarts for 50 years. She didn't have any real friends among the other ghosts. Indeed, they seemed to avoid her.
Each year followed a pattern for Myrtle. She would mope in her U-bend until a first-year dared to enter. She would then throw a temper tantrum that was sure to flood the hall and traumatize the student. Soon word would spread, and only a few forgetful students would dare wander in.
Until last year.
Last year three students came in, everyday for a month! Nothing she did scared them off! The nerve of the living...
Then she was attacked! By a book! And then insulted! She fumed until the boys (boys!) came back, with a new man (in the girls lavatory!) and spoke with her.
They had asked how she died.
Despite the fact that she was always thinking about death, this focused her on her own passing. The boys finally left the bathroom (through the sink?) and she continued to reminisce until they returned.
And that was it.
No one visited anymore. No potions were brewing, nothing was thrown about. She was enraged when people invaded her bathroom, but sulked when no one visited. But she couldn't just ask boys to visit her, could she? Not that she wanted them to visit. But she'd have to think of a reason, just in case.
As the year passed she planed it out. She would invite everyone she knew to a deathday party! Of course, that was a pretty short list, the other ghosts and three of the living. But when they came and visited her toilet and saw how nice it was, she would get lots of visitors. Right?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
***
Chapter One - Life and Death as Usual
"Do either of you feel that this year has been too easy?"
Ron and Hermoine both peered over their books and stared at their bespectacled friend. The three were sharing a table in the transfiguration section of the library.
"Harry, are you insane? We've more work than ever!" Ron asked, keeping his voice down to ensure he did not attract the wrath of Madame Pince.
"I don't know what you are complaining about, Ron. You've had plenty of time to complete your assignments. I'm only a week ahead, but I'm taking more classes than you." Hermoine said, still frantically taking notes on a piece of parchment.
"Yeah, and it's making you cranky."
"Cranky!" Hermoine stopped writing, looking up indignantly. "I'm just - stretched a bit thin."
Ignoring her protests, Ron turned back to Harry. "We still have all those predictions to make up for Trewlawney. How can you say that's easy?"
"I wasn't talking about school work, though," Harry said, absently fiddling with his quill. "Just, the year in general."
He had both of their interests now.
"Harry," Hermoine began slowly. "You don't really want another year like last, do you? With the whole school suspicious of you?"
"Or the year before, with You-Know-Who skulking around?" asked Ron/
"Well, no, of course not!" Harry frowned. "It just seems odd not to have something going on this year."
Hermoine let out an unlady-like snort. "I think we have more than enough to worry about. We were very lucky our grades didn't slip while we were out adventuring. I've just begun to feel like I've caught up to where I would have been if I hadn't been petrified."
"And besides, we've got our second death-day party to attend tomorrow," added Ron, "how much more excitement do need?"
***
Myrtle Tucker had been haunting a girls lavatory at Hogwarts for 50 years. She didn't have any real friends among the other ghosts. Indeed, they seemed to avoid her.
Each year followed a pattern for Myrtle. She would mope in her U-bend until a first-year dared to enter. She would then throw a temper tantrum that was sure to flood the hall and traumatize the student. Soon word would spread, and only a few forgetful students would dare wander in.
Until last year.
Last year three students came in, everyday for a month! Nothing she did scared them off! The nerve of the living...
Then she was attacked! By a book! And then insulted! She fumed until the boys (boys!) came back, with a new man (in the girls lavatory!) and spoke with her.
They had asked how she died.
Despite the fact that she was always thinking about death, this focused her on her own passing. The boys finally left the bathroom (through the sink?) and she continued to reminisce until they returned.
And that was it.
No one visited anymore. No potions were brewing, nothing was thrown about. She was enraged when people invaded her bathroom, but sulked when no one visited. But she couldn't just ask boys to visit her, could she? Not that she wanted them to visit. But she'd have to think of a reason, just in case.
As the year passed she planed it out. She would invite everyone she knew to a deathday party! Of course, that was a pretty short list, the other ghosts and three of the living. But when they came and visited her toilet and saw how nice it was, she would get lots of visitors. Right?