AN: Well, I was originally going to update SHAoM first, but I wanted to do this one instead… And besides, haven't exactly checked over make last chappie for SHAoM. I'll update that one sometime this week, though. So, no worries for ppl who wanted to read the next chappie for that one soon…
NEWHOZ… On to more important things than my author's notes… teehee!
Disclaimer: I own not-ta! :)
Pairings: HP/DM, SS/OC (you'll find out who later...), SB/RL, RW/HG
Side Note: Sirius is VERY MUCH alive in this story. For those who don't know already, I made this story B/4 OotP came out. So, yea. (shrugs)
Btw, I ain't got titles for my chapters. Used to. Then I forgot what I named them… hahaha! And yes!! I still find ALL of my chapters immensely corny. But, then again. I'm the writer and put myself down all the time with whatever I post. So it's nothing new… LoL! L8rz! And enjoy the chapter!
"...talking..."
'...thinking...'
''…time/place…''
Malfoy's Match: Chapter 2
''Back at Hogwarts''
Harry sat on a couch in one of the professor's chambers, his face buried within his hands as the memories of the last few events repeated itself over in his head. 'Why does this always seem to happen to me? ...' His mind trailed off as the questions seem to disappear and reappear in his head over and over. Like they were on a never-ending journey to torture him until he found the correct answers…
''Flashback''
Nina and Harry walked quietly through the halls of Hogwarts as they followed Hagrid to Dumbledore's office. Harry, after what seemed like forever as they walked through the halls, looked over at Nina, who had her head bent slightly forward like something was on her mind and she couldn't find the answers to her puzzle. Curiosity seemingly getting the better of him, he opened his mouth to speak, but was beat to the punch as Nina spoke first.
"I'm fine, Mr. Potter." She turned her head to look at him and gave him a polite smile. "No need to ask."
Harry was shocked at first as he starred at her. "How'd you know I was going to ask you something?"
Hagrid chuckled slightly at Harry's response, but continued to walk forward as though he hadn't heard either talking.
"I have my ways of knowing these things…" She gave him another smile and turned her attention back to her feet, her smile leaving her face as, once again, her mind began to work itself up again.
This worried Harry slightly, but before he could ask to make sure she was ok, they arrived at Dumbledore's office. Hagrid mumbled the password, which was acid pops, and walked through as the eagle twisted and turned its way upward. 'I really need to figure out why Professor Dumbledore uses candy for passwords all the time,' remarked Harry before following Nina and Hagrid up to Dumbledore's office.
When they walked through the doors to the headmaster's office, they were greeted by a twinkling eye and a gleeful smile that belonged to Dumbledore himself.
"Ah, welcome back, Mr. Potter, and you too, Miss. Hartsworth," Dumbledore greeted as he walked over to give his long-time student (Nina) a quick friendly hug before motioning with his hands for them to take a seat. "It's been quite a while since you lefts the walls of Hogwarts."
"Yes, well," began Nina as she returned her old professor's hug and took a seat next to Harry, "I just had to get away for a little bit…"
Dumbledore nodded his head, as though agreeing with her, and turned his attention to Hagrid. "Thank you, Hagrid. That will be all for now." Hagrid nodded his head and said his goodbyes before turning back through the way he came in. "Now, what do you say we get down to business, shall we?" Nina and Harry nodded their heads as they waited for Dumbledore to continue. "I suppose you two have already been introduced?"
"Yes. In a little spat with my nephew." She turned once again to Harry and smiled warmly before turned her attention back to Albus. "I decided to allow Harry at least a little peace and quiet before the first day back at Hogwarts. I know how Draco can get."
"Ah, yes. Mr. Malfoy. One of our best students…"
"As well as most troublesome it seems."
"It would seem so."
"I don't mean to come out so prude or anything," interrupted Harry as he broke through their conversation, "but why was it that I was wanted, professor?"
"Oh yes, I suppose I should explain. But first, I think I better introduce Miss. Hartsworth here a little better to you so you may understand the meaning of her presence." Harry nodded his head once. "Mr. Potter, Miss. Nina Hartsworth was one of Hogwarts' best students when she attended. She was a seeker for Slytherins house, the best in her day." Here, Nina rolled her eyes with a slight shake of her head but didn't say anything. "She had top grades, even better than Miss. Granger's. Not by much, but she was. And, she also happened to be a rather close to your mother and father, but I'm sure she's already told you that."
"Yes sir, but I still don't understand."
"Then I suppose I should finish with what I was saying so you can further understand. Miss. Hartsworth's best class was defense, as well as Transfigurations. Potions were a close third. So she will be your new teacher for this year, and hopefully will continue doing so next year and the years to come. But if you don't mind Mr. Potter, I need to ask something of you."
"What?"
"Has there been anything that seems to be of a miss? Anything that doesn't seem like it was before?"
Harry looked confused at first, as though trying to see where he was trying to get with this conversation when something hit him. "Yes, actually. My aunt and uncle were… how do I put it….. treated me with respect it seemed. But I don't get it, what does that have anything to do with…." He suddenly stopped talking when he saw the twinkle in Albus' eyes shine brighter. He looked over at Nina and noticed the smirk that seemed to hide a lot more than one would perceive. "What's going on?"
"Care to take a whack at it, Miss. Hartsworth?"
"My pleasure." Nina turned slightly so she could look straight into Harry's eyes, but the smirk on her lips never faded, even as she spoke. "Harry… you don't mind if I call you Harry, do you?" Harry shook his head, and Nina continued. "Good. So, Harry, I just want to start off by saying that I hate your aunt and uncle. I could never stand them. So when I learned that you were staying with them, it took much convincing from everyone, including your own godfather, not to just walk over and take you from their grasps. As you know, I was great friends with Lily and James Potter, just like Sirius and Remus were. When I first met them, I was a little shocked because with the rumors that go around the schools about different houses. And trust me when I say, any rumors that go around now are nothing like the ones that we had made up when I was in Slytherin house. But I actually got along great with them, and even after a few moans and groans from Sirius, I became more of a sister to both of them. So when I learned that you were born, they both immediately asked that I be your godmother. And me being who I was, or should I say still am, I just as quickly agreed."
"So, you're saying that you're my godmother?"
"Yes…"
"How come I didn't know about you before then?"
"I'll explain that in a minute… After your parents' death and Sirius' great deal of trouble because of how he was, and still is, being blamed for their death, I was mortified. Mainly because of the fact that I wanted to take you in as somewhat of my own child until you could learn about your own, but couldn't because then it could put everyone, including yourself, into even greater danger… And even now I'm glad that they convinced me…"
"Why?"
"… Harry, a little after Sirius was put into jail for the crimes he never committed, Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail, tried to blame me as well for the deaths of my two closest friends."
"But why?"
"Because. Because I knew who had really killed Lily and James Potter. Because I was the one who could free Sirius and put Pettigrew in jail. Because I knew everything about the Dark Arts, Voldemort… everything. Every little detail about their plans. I could easily go to the ministry and frame him like he did Sirius and get away with it because I knew it was the truth."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because he somehow got to them first. I just barely got away from the threats and curses that were going to head my way. So because of Pettigrew, I had to run. I had to run away to save my own skin and leave you behind. And truthfully, it hurt like hell because I couldn't protect you. I couldn't protect the son of my two best friends, my godson. Not like I wanted to. And it was then that I swore to get revenge for what Pettigrew did to them, his own friends. And it was then that I made an oath to protect you, even if I was too far away and in hiding to do so."
"But I still don't get it, how does this have anything to do with my aunt and uncle?"
"That's the fun part…" Nina smirked once more, the mischief gleaming through her eyes. "I had started coming back into contact with Al… Professor Dumbledore once more. He gave me other contacts that belonged to members of the Order. The Order, as well as many of the teachers at Hogwarts, all knew about my innocence. Including Sirius. Hell, even Lucius Malfoy knows of my innocence, he just won't say anything about it, the little coward… But I was dropped of my charges just before agreeing to become the D.A.D.A professor this year. And even though they are getting close to dropping Sirius' soon, they still haven't found any hard evidence that shows he hasn't committed the crimes that currently hang over his head. But back to the main point at hand…
"I had first starting talking to Dumbledore and members of the Order, and learning all about you all over again. About how all the times you've defeated Voldemort. All the friends you've made, the current situation that you seem to get yourself tangled up in with Draco, and any other student you don't seem to get along with… Actually, come to think of it, that's only Draco…
"But when I found out about the way that the Dursley's have treated you since the moment they took you in, I was furious. No one treats Lily and James' son like he was trash. But since, at the time, I couldn't get you out because my own problems, Dumbledore and I made up our own little plan to at least make your summer worth it over there.
"I've known about this spell that can change a person's perspective about others completely upside down. But, it takes two people to work it. And since I don't really want to get into details with it now, I'll just continue.
"Dumbledore agreed that he would work the spell with me since he truly wanted to have what was best for you. We had just barely gotten it done in time for your vacation. But the only problem was that someone had to sneak into the house and distribute the potion that it made up to them while they slept. And to tell you the truth, it's not as easy as it seems. So I went one night, I believe it was about three days before your vacation started, and gave them the potion that they had to take. And just barely in time because it takes forty-eight hours for the potion to kick-in."
"So, that's why the Dursley's were so nice?"
"Pretty much, if you want to leave out the details of the whole situation. And trust me, I don't want to give ANY details of what I had to go through…" Nina seemed to shudder slightly as the memories of 'visiting' the Dursley's scrambled through her head.
Harry looked at Nina, as though trying to memorize everything that was just said and let it sink through. "Soooo… Ok….. Well, that's a lot in one fell-swoop…"
"Sorry, Harry. But we figured you'd like to know sooner or later on what all that was about…"
"Oh, no! It's ok. Just a lot to take in there." He turned his attention back to Albus, confusion still slightly seen across his face. "Was all that you wanted to see me about?" Nina and Dumbledore looked at each other, any smiles on their faces quickly faded. "What? What is it?"
Dumbledore nodded his head lightly, causing Nina to sigh and look down once more. She then looked up at Harry, a small smile of what seemed like sympathy playing across her lips. "No, Harry, that wasn't all."
"What else was there?"
"Harry," Dumbledore cut in, "the Order has found a few… situations about Voldemort that we feel you should know."
Upon hearing the Dark Lord's name, Harry's eyes widened slightly, fear setting into his features. "What is it?"
"Harry," Nina placed a hand on top of Harry's as a way of comfort before continuing, "Voldemort's powers are rising, as you well know. And fast it seems. We had sent in Snape to try and figure out his plans on Voldemort's next move. But there was one problem that seemed to set in that we never prepared ourselves for…"
"What?"
Dumbledore decided that this was his time to talk. So he waved his hand slightly, indicating to Nina that he wanted to talk. But she never lifted her hand from Harry's as he spoke, and instead just nodded her head and continued to watch Harry as the headmaster talked.
"One of our men from the Order snuck in. He seemed to be just fine at first. No one noticed him and he was able to move around to get better hearing on what they were saying. But just as it seemed like luck was on our side, someone heard him. Voldemort managed to discover him and had him hunted down and found. When found, he was tortured and wounded rather badly. Having the unforgivable curses brought on upon him multiple times. After what seemed like forever, Voldemort finally ordered him killed since he couldn't get any useful information out of him. That's when Snape stepped in and got him out of there as safe as he could without getting either of them caught and sent him here."
"Who was it?"
"Harry," Nina cut in, "I suppose that I should tell you another reason on why I took this job, other than to protect you, my daughter, and Draco. Professor Lupin, or Moony as you like call him, was unable to attend the Hogwarts staff this year due to… prior difficulties. Harry, when Snape went to the Death Eaters meeting… Remus was the one to follow. He was the one who was caught….. The one who was sent here and has not woken since then." Nina studied Harry's face as she spoke, slightly darkening at the news of his friend's abuse. "He's been unconscious since the night of your birthday. Stability wise, he's just fine. But physically, he still has a lot of healing to be taken care of. But without him being awake, we can't administer the poisons that we have set for him other wise."
Harry was silent for a moment, contemplating everything that was say to him. 'What's going to happen to Remus…?'
"Remus should pull through Harry. He's quite capable to making it; he's just a stubborn old fool." Harry looked up at Nina, shocked at the fact that he never even realized that he had said it out loud… "No Harry, you didn't say if Remus was alright or not aloud. I heard you through your thoughts."
"… Thoughts?"
"I'll explain some other time."
"Yes, quite," interrupted the headmaster, breaking any conversation the new professor and "the-boy-who-lived". "I think we all should explain everything some other time and head back to our own dorms for the time being. We'll talk some other time about everything else. I suppose that you and Mr. Potter will be wanting to talk over a few things before he heads back to the Gryffindor commons?" he gestured to Nina, who only nodded her head. "Well then, I suppose you two should be on your ways then. I'll speak to both of you sometime tomorrow afternoon. So until then, I bid farewell."
Nina smiled slightly and stood up, followed by Harry. They both bid their goodbyes and walked out of the headmaster's office, neither seeing the sad twinkling that light around his glassy eyes.
''End Flashback''
Harry continued to sit, with his face in his hands, as the scenes passed over within his head. He suddenly felt a light hand placed on his shoulder, but ignored it as he continued to look straight into the blackness that his hands provided.
"Harry?" a gentle, young voice asked him. "Harry, are you alright? Or was just the Remus thing a little too much to handle on your first day back?"
Harry, upon hearing Remus' name, looked up at the woman who looked at him with sympathy in her eyes. But he somehow sensed that the sympathy wasn't only for him, but for herself as well. 'I'll have to ask her about that…'
Harry was just about to say something, but his voice betrayed him and all he could do was shake his head slightly, not even sure himself if he was alright or not. "I don't know. I seriously don't. All summer, I've been having fun… the time of my life really; then I come back to school and find one of my closest friends is in the hospital because of some guy who's coming after me all the time."
"Harry," the gentle voice interrupted once more, "I don't want you going around and blaming yourself because of something Remus did all on his own terms. And besides, I just spoke to Poppy and she says she's already seen improvement from him. He'll be out of that coma before you know it. And you know this as well as I do. So don't go and give yourself the unnecessary grief!"
Quite shocked by her words, Harry could only nod his head, as though agreeing with her words. And just as he found his voice once more, a knock at the chamber doors summoned the presence of Nina as she walked over to answer it.
As she opened the door, she stifled a laugh, but still letting her smirk show through, and opened the door wider for Harry to see, revealing a full whipped-crème faced person whom happened to be holding a smirking Draco and snickering Samantha.
"Are these yours?" asked the figure as he slowly walked into the room.
"I won't even ask what they did, so don't even bother explaining…" mumbled Nina as she shut the door after the figure walked through, still managing to stifle back the intruding laughs that wanted so much to escape her.
The figure sniggered slightly before strolling towards the bathroom to fetch a towel.
"Sirius?" asked Harry as he held back his laughs behind his hand. "I don't want to know what you got yourself into…"
"Oh ha, ha, ha… ho, ho, ho…" mumbled Sirius as he walked back out of the bathroom, face fully clean. "Very funny. And what a way to greet your godfather after so long of not seeing him…"
"I'm sorry," said Harry as he stood up and hugged his godfather. "But could you blame me?"
"I suppose not…"
"So, why exactly are you here?"
"Well, I'll give you a hint….."
Sirius walked past Harry, Draco, and Sammy and scooped Nina up into a hug, earning a slight squeak. "Sirius! Put me down! I hate it when you do this!!!" screamed Nina as she kicked her legs around in an attempt to free herself from Sirius' grasp.
"I'm sorry," began Sirius. "But I haven't seen in how long?" Sirius placed her back onto her feet, but still continued to hold her in her spot. "Seriously, it's been how many years and you don't even greet me with a hug, or a proper greeting either. Now I know where Harry gets it from!"
"Oh, ha, ha… And besides, it hasn't really been that long. You just like to over-exaggerate. A little too much mind you." Nina walked away from Sirius' grasp after giving him a quick peck on the cheek and up to Sammy, who was still in Draco's arms. "Sweetie, why don't you and Draco go decide on a room for yourself?"
"Ok mommy! Come on Drake, let's go have fun!"
She quickly pushed herself out of Draco's arms and immediately starting pulling Draco to one of the rooms.
"Why do you continue doing this to me, Aunt Nina?" said Draco, which more of came out as a whine.
"Because you love me so," she replied cheekily.
Draco rolled his eyes one last time before disappearing behind the first door that Samantha found.
"Well now… hopefully Sammy won't attempt to give him a make-over like she did last time…"
"WHAT?!" exclaimed both Harry and Sirius as they fell from where they stood and were rolling on the floor with laughter.
"Oh please you two. Get over it. I could always just strap you both down and give them to you!"
Almost immediately, they both were quiet, except for a few snickers, and sat down somewhere close by.
"So, what's up Sirius? Thought you wanted to stay into hiding?" asked Nina as she took a seat across from them.
"I was, but it was my godson's first day back at Hogwarts, and plus you're going to be starting work here tomorrow. I figured 'What the hell' and came anyway." Nina and Harry both rolled their eyes. "Plus, I have news for you… both of you."
"Really, and what's that?"
"Remus woke about fifteen minutes ago…"
"Really?!" Harry nearly jumped out of his seat and into Sirius' lap after hearing those words.
"Yes. And believe it or not, the first words that came out of his mouth were, 'I'm gonna throttle Snape!'" Nina busted out laughing, while Harry gave a confused look. Although, he held a smile that showed his own hilarity to the idea.
"That's Moony for ya," mumbled Nina while trying to hide her amused smirk. "When is Poppy going to let him out?"
"She's going to keep him over night, just to make sure that he's alright and not going to slip into another coma."
"Understandable enough."
"He's going to be staying at Hogwarts. Poppy wants him close by still. So he's going to be staying a few chambers away from here so he's close to you."
"Cool, I get to see him more often then. I missed Moon-face."
"Moon-face?" Harry looked at Nina a little more confused this time, obviously lost in Sirius' and Nina's conversation.
"Oh, it was a nick-name I made up for him when we were back in school. It bugged the hell out of him for some unknown reason. Never really figured out why, though."
"Maybe because you always teased him that one day his head would be the shape of the moon because of too much moon light."
Harry laughed at Padfoot's comment, but controlled himself to let the two continue to talk.
"Oh yea… The good ol' days were a blast with that guy! I know the first thing I'm gonna say to him when I see him. 'Hello moon-face! Get enough moon rays to reshape that face of yours yet!?' Boy is he ever gonna want to kill me for that remark."
"You would too, knowing you the way I do."
"But of course!" she said proudly in a fake British accent.
Sirius rolled his eyes and was about to speak when they heard a few screams of excitement and jumping noises coming from the room that Draco and Samantha had disappeared to. "What was that?"
Nina shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, which Harry did that same. "I don't know," she said as she slowly stood up and walked into the direction of the intruding noise, followed close by Sirius and Harry.
And what they found was a complete surprise, to Harry and Sirius at least…
There, in Samantha's new room, were the inseparable duo, Draco and Samantha, jumping up and down on her new bed. Laughing and giggling, and completely oblivious to any of the eyes that were watching them.
Harry and Sirius stood there in awe at how carefree Draco seemed to be. And how close he was to the small child. And after a few moments of just gawking, Harry looked over at Nina, who by now was leaning up against the doorframe, her arms wrapped loosely around her waist as a smile played its way across her lips.
"He's changed you know…" mumbled Nina lightly so as for Draco and Samantha not to hear. "He was always like his father. Always up-tight, always so stern… But Sam has changed him somehow." She was now speaking in a low whisper, but Harry could still hear her as she continued to speak. "Once, I was afraid that he would always be exactly like his father. But I guess Sammy proved me wrong.
"When those two are together, it almost takes everything to get them apart. They're pretty much inseparable, and I think that no matter what, they always will be. Draco always locks himself away from everyone. From his father, his mother, me, Snape… But Sam? Never. Around her, he shows who he truly is. He's always so carefree, relaxed, and much calmer then I have ever seen him when those two are near each other. She always got to see the better part of him; she always knew it was in there. And when he first showed it… I don't think he could keep it hidden away from her anymore. And to tell you the truth, I seriously wouldn't have it any other way. I love my nephew, with all my heart, and to see him happy, I mean truly happy, like this, I couldn't ask for more… And I would never change it back to the way it was before….."
Once Nina was done talking, he took once last glance into her eyes to see the twinkle he thought only existed in the eyes of his headmaster. He then looked over at the childish scene that never seemed to cease in its play. 'I wonder if he'll ever show himself like that to anyone else…' was his last thought before Nina pulled both Harry and Sirius away from this playful act and closed the door once more. Blocking the duo from their eyes once more.
AN: Wow! I actually got two chapters for two different stories done in one night! O.o (fakes heart attack and faints) hahahaha… I know, I'm nutterz! Now, onto my reviewers!
moongoddess86: HAHA! I remember you! (hugs) Woohoo!! One of my old reviewers reviewed my story again!! I feel loved! Hahaha… I was wondering if anyone who's already read this story b/4 would ever review again. Looks so, eh? (grins) Glad you still like the story, though. Makes me happy and giddy and makes me wanna shake my booty! (does little dance) Ok, I'm nutterz… Thx for the review and hope you liked this chappie too!! (hugs again for you)
LeMoN LiCkEr 69: (snickers) Ha-ha! I abso-bloody-lutely love your name… (snicker snicker) Love your review too! (passes you some chips) thx for the review! Now you made me hungry for chips… hahaha!
polkadot petal: I thought the plot was a good idea when I thought it up. (grins) Thx for agreeing! I love it when reviewers agree! Haha!
Thx again to my reviewers!! Hope y'all liked this chapter! Ttyl8rz! (waves)
Blue Rosed Dragon
