Thanks for the reviews.
Tot – Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind.
Guest – The 'thing' between DJ and Hermione is not what you think. But it also could be… You'll see.
Werd – The title will come into the plot soon enough. As for the picture, it will all fall into place.
xXTheDragonRiderXx - It's okay. Glad you came back.
Darkpebble13 - Thanks. I'm keeping a close eye on my characters but thanks for the criticism. I;m glad you noticed.
All my love to those who read my stories. You care!
Actually, Frank finds Percy and Annabeth first, sleeping on the glass doors. (That was so cute!)
In truth, Sally Jackson's eyes look multi-coloured to Percy. That was all the description given. So I think her eyes are a pale colour which can reflect different hues.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I own the originality of the twist in the plot. That's all.
Words – 1835
Being back at Hogwarts was wonderful. Harry missed the green grounds, the calm atmosphere, the clean air, the quietness of nature all around. It was a sweet Friday evening and Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting under the shade of the tree by the Black Lake.
"I could just fall asleep." Hermione said leaning against the tree. Ron was skipping stones across the water and grinned, "Yeah, Hogwarts like a vacation site. Except, we have to study."
Harry rolled his eyes and flipped through his Gobbledegook book, mumbling some phrases. But his attention was diverted when he heard a sound in the grass by his side. Turning around he saw three baby squirrels watching him and chirping.
Setting down his book, he removed his cap and held it close towards the squirrels. They jumped in and Harry flipped the cap loosely on his head.
He could feel them running through his hair. For some reason, squirrels really loved his hair.
Harry looked at his two best friends (yes, best friends!) and asked, "Hey, you guys ever had strange dreams?"
Hermione turned around surprised in the change of topic, but Ron said, "Yeah, I once dreamt of melting Snape in my cauldron."
"Well, that's a little weird, but I'm just asking, something really strange that you couldn't understand."
"Dreams are like that." Hermione said. "Once I had a dream that I played Quidditch."
Ron looked gob smacked at that. "Seriously?!"
"Yes, but the goblins won." She continued and chuckled when Ron looked even more shocked.
"The goblins were playing Quidditch?"
"No, they were betting."
"On what?"
"I don't really remember. But whatever it was, they won."
"They have good instincts." Harry said nodding. "But, something even more peculiar than that."
"What's stranger than that?" Ron mumbled.
Harry sighed. He didn't want to tell them about the dream he had about his family. They'd no doubt be too shocked to understand.
Ron would say that it was only a dream and to forget about it if he didn't want to think of it.
Hermione would be a bit more alarmed. Dreams may not have a limit, but this did cross a line Harry was not prepared for. She'd probably suggest dreamless sleep potions.
The worst part was that Harry wanted to dream that again. He wanted to go back into that kitchen, sit down and eat the pancakes his dad made. He wanted to know what his Mum and sister were laughing about.
It wasn't right. He shouldn't do it, right? Harry pressed his lips together. He wondered whether it was because he read his mother music book. Was that a type of trigger?
"Harry, you have squirrels in your hair." Ron said slowly.
"I hate him!" DJ announced when he and Colin came through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor Common Room.
Harry looked up from his chess game with Ron. Bolt who had been entertained by Fred and George playing with balls of sparks simply ignored him.
"Snape?" Ron asked moving his pawn by two steps.
"No, Lockhart! He's mad." DJ said sitting on the couch next to Harry. Colin looked scared at first before sitting next to DJ.
"He took made a fool about me during MAGiC. In front of everyone!"
Harry frowned "What did he say?"
"He made fun of me for not knowing my own Core." DJ whispered.
Hermione's jaw dropped, "He wouldn't do that!"
"He did! We were just leaving when he comes around and says, 'Not sure why you're wasting time here, Daniel, you have no idea of your magic in the first place'!"
Harry stared at him. Making fun of a wizard's magic was not only uncalled for. It was also rude and disrespectful towards the wizard.
"You can't let him say that –"
"I got back at him. Don't worry. But still. He started it." DJ said, folding his arms.
"When you say 'got back at him', what did you do?"
"Oh, you'll see tomorrow." DJ said with a smirk. Colin smiled.
"One worthy of telling us?" One of the Weasely twins asked coming over and dropping a spark ball on Harry's lap. Harry swatted it away.
"Oh no. You'll find out when everyone else will." DJ said with an uncharacteristic smirk and headed back upstairs.
Harry looked at his retreating back and turned around to the chess game. He was very aware of a blushing Colin sitting next to him and staring.
Next morning, they saw exactly what DJ had done. During breakfast, when Lockhart had strolled in, the Hall grew quiet looking at his head which was covered in black greasy hair just like Snape's.
Lockhart apparently had no idea. He flashed them all a white smile and sat in his seat to start on his food. None of the teachers made a move to tell him, strangely.
"I would say that he looks even more photogenic, but since he doesn't… " Harry trailed off as people started to shake with laughter.
Most girls looked scandalized. Hermione's turned towards DJ and hissed, "Did you do that?!"
DJ looked taken aback at that. "Me? Hermione, if he can't read labels when he picks out his shampoo, it isn't my fault."
Half way through breakfast, Snape finally broke and remarked on Lockhart's hair. Harry didn't it was possible to look even more horrified than his adoring fans, but then he did.
Lockhart simply got up and hurried out the teachers' entrance. DJ's shoulders slumped.
"I thought he'd scream like a girl." He said sadly.
"Simple transfiguration can be altered into other types. These types, though different at first, will have connections to the original. For example, last year's conversion of a matchstick into a needle can be altered to make it into a knitting needle or made of something else like glass, reflecting surfaces –"
"Simple, she says." Ron muttered as they took down notes for the transfiguration class. McGonagall seemed to go full speed from the first class. It was as though they never had the summer holidays.
"…similar wand movements, similar effects, general variations…"
Harry wrote leisurely unlike Hermione who seemed to copy each and every word McGonagall said. Harry looked around to see all the quills scratching into their respective parchments. He stopped writing for a second and stared at his sheet.
The way he had written the letter 'g' was exactly how his mother, Lily, had written in her music book. Harry frowned. How did he not notice it before?
A small circle with a long loop below. It suddenly seemed significant for him.
"Potter?" McGonagall called. Harry's head snapped up. His fingers fidgeted with his quill as he apologized and continued writing.
"You seemed distracted, Harry. Something wrong?" Hermione asked as they left class. Ron was fiddling with his wand. The old wand seemed to emit sparks at odd times.
"Nothing, just thinking…" Harry absentmindedly closed his fist and opened it. Two red berries were in his palm and he plopped them into his mouth, before Hermione could see them.
"Hungry, huh?" Ron asked. Harry chewed slowly and shrugged.
"What's next?"
"Charms. And then lun –" Hermione's voice was drowned in a loud raspberry that was blown near her face. She shrieked and jumped back. Peeves suddenly turned visible, roared in laughter and zoomed away.
"Argh! What's his problem?! Why does Dumbledore even let him stay in the castle?" She said in a huff trying to ignore the sniggers in the hallway.
'He probably lights up the castle during the Summer holidays.' Bolt mumbled. Harry gave her a curious look as she laid in his robe pocket. She seemed a bit too tired. May be she had run too much in the morning…
Ron bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh as he said, "Just be happy he didn't drop anything on your head."
On Saturday evening, Harry walked by his lonesome towards the dreaded chamber of doom. He took a deep breath and held it. Raising his fist, he carefully knocked on the door. There was a moment of silence before a voice came from inside.
"Come in if you're Harry Potter!"
Harry opened the door and stepped in. He took one look at Lockhart who was standing in front of a life size portrait of himself drawing a portrait and let out his breath.
"Evening, Harry! Right this way!" Lockhart elaborately flourished his hands towards his desk where there where at least a hundred letters sitting on the table. There was a pot of dark pink ink, a peacock feather, a feather holder and some blank parchments.
"Evening Professor." Harry muttered and sat in the seat given. He looked around the room. It was much different than what Quirrell's room had looked like. The walls were brighter and covered with photos and paintings of Lockhart himself in various assortments of dress robes.
Tearing his eyes away, he looked up to see Lockhart sit opposite him and hand over the parchments to start on the practice of his signature.
"The trick is to let your hand flow. The quill should feel natural to you. Your name is yours and yours to write as you please. Did you know that, centuries ago, people never cared about the spelling? They signed their names however they wanted. Rather unbelievable, don't you think? Yes, but now, Harry, your signature is your mark. Everyone wants to make their mark on the world. Mark my words, Harry. My boy, if you try, you will be somebody in this growing world!"
Harry's mouth was slightly open as he stared at the babbling Professor. Lockhart was signing some photographs of himself riding a broom through snowy mountains.
Bolt gave a small yawn and scratched behind her ear. She lifted her head and slowly climbed out of Harry's pocket.
'I'm roaming.'
'Fine.'
Unaware to Lockhart, she started walking around the office looking up and commenting on the photos which seemed to be the most prominent thing. Harry sighed. He looked out the window where the skies were dark and wondered idly what Percy and Mum were doing at the moment. May be planning Smelly Gabe's sudden death by overdose of beer, or something…
Harry's eyes slid towards the styled glass of golden liquid from which Lockhart was drinking from.
Everything dissolved.
"Aged." A feminine voice said, smiling. Harry nodded and took a sip from the glass containing the dark red liquid. Quite sweet. He drank deeply and set down the glass.
"I have been meaning to say…" The woman began, walking slowly towards the window. The night sky was black. Harry stared at her hair and gave a small cough. His throat felt dry.
The woman turned around and gave another smile. "Drink some more, my King."
"What?" Harry asked blinking.
Lockhart looked up. "Yes, Harry?"
Harry looked around. The woman wasn't there. He was sitting on the chair with the quill in his hand. His throat did feel dry.
What had just happened?
It's all beginning. This chapter's short because I'm swamped. The next one's coming within the week. Stay tuned!
Cabba.
…
