A/N: Special thanks to ChopSuzi for all of her reviews, to all of my HP fanfics. Also a big thanks to all of my other reviewers, of course!
I don't own HP, yadda yadda yadda, enjoy!
Chapter 7
As it turned out, we didn't find Harry first, because I found him in Snape's office not five minutes later.
I stood outside the door, listening to the professor talk about my brother's attitude. I stood there long enough to hear him talk about the time Sirius had nearly caused his death, before I walked in.
"Professor Snape, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't fill my nephew's head with lies."
Both student and teacher looked startled at my entrance, and at what I'd said.
Snape recovered first. "Lies, miss Potter? I wouldn't dare."
"It was Sirius who played that prank on you, my brother didn't know about it, he was with me at the time, or had you forgotten I was at Hogwarts too, back then? And look at what became of Black, did you really expect more from a death eater like him? But then, you would know, wouldn't you?" I said coldly, fixing my patented death glare on him. Snape stared back, not troubled in the least, dealing with Voldemort would do that to you.
"Oh, really?"
"Did you forget that James didn't speak to Sirius for three weeks after that incident? My brother didn't get cold feet, professor, he heard about it and stood up to his best friend to save the life of someone he despised."
Snape clenched his teeth and continued to glare at me.
"Are you quite done with my nephew now? I'd like to return to cheerier parts of the castle," I said, not taking my eyes off the man.
"Of course," he said in a sickly sweet tone. "But if Mr. Potter was with you, you wouldn't mind him emptying his pockets, would you?"
I saw Harry glance at me, and realized he really didn't want to do it, but I had no choice. "Do it, Harry," I told him quietly.
He pulled a Zonko's bag and a familiar-looking old piece of parchment out of his pockets. "Ron gave them to me, he brought them back from Hogsmeade last time-"
"Indeed? And you've been carrying them around ever since? How touching… and what's this?" Snape asked, picking up the map.
"Spare bit of parchment," Harry said with a nearly blank face. 'Good liar, that kid,' I thought.
"Surely you don't need such a very old piece of parchment?" he said. "Why don't I throw this away?" His hand moved toward the fire.
"No," Harry and I said, not quite in unison, but close.
"I got that for Harry, as a late Christmas present. It just insults everyone who tried to read it, I got it from a joke shop in Salem," I said, knowing what the map would do it you tried to read it from experience. It had called me an annoying, interfering little girl.
"Does it now?" he asked, clearly not convinced. He tried a few spell on it, which didn't reveal anything, until he made the mistake of saying his name.
The map went on to insult Snape's appearance, personal hygiene, and intelligence, all so professed by Messrs. Moony, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail.
"I changed the original names on it for Harry's benefit," I said quickly, before Snape could comment on it.
"How sentimental," he drawled, an angry scowl still on his face. Then again, I was starting to think that was just his regular face.
Right on cue, Ron came bursting into the office. He was completely out of breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk, clutching the stitch in his chest and trying to speak.
"I – gave – Harry – that – stuff," he choked. "Bought – it… in Zonko's… ages – ago…"
"Well," I said cheerfully, that explains the bag, doesn't it? I'll take this, though, I told you not to use it on professors," I told Harry and took the map from Snape's fingers. "Harry, Ron, why don't you come with me, I need to tell you boys something – excuse me, professor," I said, and towed the boys out of there, without a backwards glance.
"Emma, I-" Harry started once we were far enough away from the dungeons.
"I don't want to hear it, Harry. You went to Hogsmeade, even after you were expressly forbidden to do so," I said, my worry making my words harsher than I meant them.
"But you said yourself-"
"I know what I said, Harry, but that doesn't give you the right to just sneak off like that! I didn't know where you were! You could've been expelled! You're my responsibility now, and I know you're not used to someone caring, but I care! And I don't want you to get hurt."
Harry and Ron both looked rather ashamed of themselves at this point, and I figured I could let them off easily. "I'll keep this for now, Harry," I said, tapping the map. "Now get back to the common room. If anyone asks, you were with me all afternoon, got it?" I asked.
Harry smiled hesitantly, he knew he'd gotten off easy, but he also knew not to try it again, now.
I pulled him into a brief hug, unable to resist. "Come on, off with you," I said, and apparently didn't need to say twice, they ran off towards the seventh floor.
/*/
"Harry was with us all afternoon, got it?" I told Remus as I entered his office.
"You found him, then?" he asked. I told him the whole story.
After thoroughly discussing the matter over a cup of tea – Remus was far angrier at Harry's sneaking out than I had been – we sat in comfortable silence for a while.
"I'm leaving tonight," I told him. "I'm keeping you from your work, and Harry from his school work, and I still need to get my affairs in order, so I can legally take custody of Harry back. And the manor is almost finished, I just need to re-do my room, and redecorate Harry's new bedroom. I'm giving him James', by the way," I explained.
Remus nodded, he had probably expected this. "I'll certainly miss your liveliness around here," he said.
"Don't worry, Moony, I'll be back," I promised and gave him a hug.
He grinned. "I don't doubt you, I just pity the fool who'd get in your way."
/*/
Dear Emma,
Hermione and Ron finally made up, which had made life a little easier for all of us, it's just too bad it had to be under these circumstances. Hagrid's hippogriff, Buckbeak, was sentenced to death because Malfoy didn't know how to handle one, and got his arm cut up a little. Hagrid's inconsolable, but Ron and Hermione are confident we can find some sort of loophole for the appeal. I'm not so sure…
The workload is getting heavier by the day, and with Quidditch practises I barely have time to eat!
The animosity between the snakes and the Gryffs is also at an all time high, there have even been some fights in the hallways. Don't worry, Wood's made sure I'm always surrounded by a huge crowd of people, though it is making me late to my classes…
I can't wait 'til the match! I've never been this determined to win, and it's mostly to make Malfoy pay for what he did to Buckbeak, and for trying to sabotage me at the last game.
I hope you're doing better than I am?
Harry
/*/
Dear Harry,
It was about time! Are those two always so stubborn? I'm sorry to hear about Hagrid's pet, I always liked him…
Of course you have more work, June is drawing near (can you hear the dramatic music, here?) and your teachers want you to be as prepared as you can be.
Be careful Harry, I want Gryffindor to win as much as anyone, but try not to bait any Slytherins, they're not really the forgiving type, so, even if you think you got away with something, it might come back to haunt you.
I have some bad news: I'm afraid I can't make it to the game, I'll try, of course, but I have an appointment with a ministry official (finally), and that's the only time I can… I'm so sorry!
I'm good, thanks for asking. I finished my room at the manor, and I put some basic furniture in yours, you can decorate it any way you want when you move in there, so I promise it won't be too girly.
Love,
Emma
/*/
Dear Emma,
I know, and yes, they are.
Who, me? I would never! And I'm always careful!
Are you sure you can't make it?
Harry
/*/
"Sign here," the wizened ministry official said. If he would speak any slower, he wouldn't be talking at all.
I glanced at my watch. The game had already started, but I was hoping to catch the end of it.
They had at long last established that I was, in fact, who I said I was, and were finally finishing up the paperwork. I signed the form eagerly, stopped long enough to get my own copies of the documents, and barely heard the man's (slow) congratulations as I ran out of the office.
I got out of the (excruciatingly slow) elevators and ran into the Atrium… and promptly knocked someone over.
"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, picking myself off the ground and gathering my papers.
"No worries, it was an accident," the man said, picking up his briefcase. He was a thin man, and going bald, though what hair he had left was a bright red. On his nose perched wire rimmed glasses, and he wore long robes, that were a bit on the shabby side.
Once we were both up, the man held out his hand. "Arthur Weasley, pleased to meet you," he said cheerily.
"Weasley? Are you by any chance Ron Weasley's father?" I asked, shaking his hand.
He looked a little bemused. "That's one of my boys, yes," he replied, frowning lightly at him. He probably wasn't used to being identified by one of his children.
"Oh, were are my manners! I'm Emma Potter, Harry's aunt, I believe you know him?"
The man's – Arthur – eyebrows shot up. "Oh, yes, Ron wrote home about that. I'm very pleased to meet you!" he said enthusiastically shaking my hand again. "Where were you off to in such a hurry?"
I smiled. "Hogwarts, I was hoping to catch the end of the game. Harry's been fretting over it for some time now." I looked at my watch. Considering the planning – Gryffindor had to be at least 50 points ahead – I could probably still make it. "Care to join me? I believe your twin boys are the beaters, right?"
Arthur looked torn. "I'd love to, but I need to get back to the office, I'm late as it is. But you must come by for tea some time, Molly and I would be glad to have you over! Any relative or friend of Harry's is welcome in our house," he said jovially.
"I would love to. I have to run now, but I'll try to send an owl sometime. Have a nice day," I said, already moving toward the fireplaces.
"You too! And please do!"
/*/
I arrived at Hogwarts through the fireplace in the kitchen again, and sprinted out of the castle, and got there just in time to hear the Gryffindor part of the stadium cheer loudly. It seemed Harry had just blocked some Slytherin players, so one of the Gryff's chasers could score. Which she did, as evidenced by the commentator's "SHE SCORES! SHE SCORES! Gryffindor leads by eighty points to twenty!"
Harry made a beautiful, mid-air, 180 degree turn and zoomed back into the fray. The other seeker had begun a steep dive, and it took Harry a second to notice. He sped off at an impossible speed towards the tiny golden glimmer floating just above the field. For a second I didn't think he'd get it, but he gave one last push forward, and caught it!
I yelled, screamed and jumped right along with everyone else – barring the Slytherins, of course – but didn't run immediately to Harry's side, this was a moment to spend with his friends.
I walked over to a crimson rosette-covered Hagrid, and met Remus there. "Quite the match, huh?" he asked over the half-giant's sobbing, and the crowds mad cheering.
"I only saw the end, but what I did see was pretty spectacular," I said, grinning from ear to ear.
Harry was just being given the Cup, and he looked so extremely happy, and not at all like his father in that moment. "It's funny… I don't think I ever saw James look like that before his seventh year. He always had that arrogant glint in his eyes, Harry just looks… shocked, and happy," I commented, watching as the Gryffindor's took their hero on their shoulders. As they passed relatively close to where we were standing, I shouted: "I'm proud of you Harry Potter!"
He looked over and grinned at me, holding up the Cup. "God, I wish I had a camera," I muttered, just as I noticed a Gryffindor kid wildly taking pictures with an old fashioned-looking camera. "Be right back," I told Remus, and sped off toward the kid.
"Hey, can I borrow that for a moment?" I asked, and took it from his hands when he nodded, seemingly shocked at my sudden appearance.
"Oy, Harry, look over here!" I shouted, and snapped the photo when he looked over, the look of triumph and euphoria still present on his face. I noted with satisfaction that his two friends were in the picture as well.
I returned the camera to the kid – who introduced himself as Colin Creevey – and made him promise to owl me that one once he'd developed it.
"Are you planning on staying for a while again?" Remus asked, coming to stand beside me, looking over the crowd as it finally dispersed toward the castle.
"No, I have to go job-hunting, I might've inherited a lot of money, but I don't like living off of mum and dad's money. I also need to go to Little Winging one of these days, and get Petunia Dursley to sign over Harry's custody," I explained. "Tell Harry I'm sorry I couldn't stay if you see him, okay? Though I doubt that'll happen before tomorrow afternoon, if those Quidditch Cup parties are still the same as they used to be."
Remus grinned at me. "I'm fairly sure they are, but I'll give him the message."
A/N: I hope you guys liked it, so you will review ^^