A/N: Finally got this one up after work, re-unions and parties seemed to steal a lot of my free time. Also found out I'm rubbish at writing Quidditch games, although I have written up a few scenes for later on that are going to be quite fun. Anyway usual disclaimer and enjoy.
Chapter 8
Saturday 31st October 1993
"AND TODAY, THE NEW GUARDIAN HOUSE WILL PROVE THEMSLEVES FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE QUIDDITCH PITCH." Lee Jordan roared out to awaiting crowds that filled the Quidditch stadium, "HOW WILL THE NEW HOUSE PERFORM AGAINST GRYFFINDOR?WE HOPE THAT NO BAD BLOOD WILL EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS ESPECIALLY AS ONE HARRY POTTER IS NOW PLAYING FOR THE GUARDIANS."
"Jordan" McGonagall's voice reprimanded the fifth year, letting him carry on with introducing the match.
"OF COURSE PROFESSOR, AND NOW HERE THEY COME, THE GUARDIANS ARE OUT FIRST, THEIR KEEPER, CLAIRE WHITEWOLF FOLLOWED BY THEIR BEATERS, RICHARD COOTIE AND ANTHONY RICKETT, THEN THE ONE AND ONLY, THEIR SEEKER, HARRY POTTER AND LAST ARE THE CHASERS, BLAISE ZABINI, JESS URQUHART AND THEIR CAPTAIN, KATIE BELL."
General applaud rose from the crowds, although the Guardians seemed to have gained many Slytherin supporters, the small scale rivalry between Draco and Harry had transferred across houses, but this was dwarfed by the rivalry with Gryffindor as shown by the dark grey banners that adorned the green and silver fifth of the stadium.
"AND NOW HERE COME THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM, WOOD'S DONE A BRILLIAN JOB WITH THIS GROUP AS HE LEADS THE TEAM ONTO THE FIELD AS KEEPER, WITH HIM ARE THE BEATERS, FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY, CHASERS ARE ALICIA SPINNET, ANGELINA JOHNSON AND THE NEW THIRD OF THE FLYING FOXES, DEMELZA ROBINS. AND THE NEW GRYFFINDOR SEEKER, THE THIRD OF THE WEASLEY'S ON THE TEAM, GINNY WEASLEY!"
Gryffindor roared in appreciation and their supporters in both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw showed their support with banners and loud voices.
Harry zoned out as he got onto his nimbus, rising up with the rest of his team he faced off against his old team. Taking up his usual position above the game to start Harry was in a prime position to view the game from above, taking in every aspect as Madam Hooch started the game with the sound of her whistle. Scanning around he saw Ginny flying alone in a similar position to him, he smiled thinking about how Wood had obviously got her to do a similar sort of job to Harry had in his last two years, although now with the encouragement of Thorne and Nova he'd changed his tactics as a seeker. Now he was to become a fourth chaser, this allowed the team to perform more challenging manoeuvres whilst also kept Harry in the game and warmed up, ready to take off after the snitch at any point in the game, rather than waiting and freezing above the game as Ginny was obviously planning on spending the afternoon. When Katie had told him to take up his old position at the start of the game she'd confused him, until her plan was properly unfolded, she planned to use both her and Harry's knowledge of Wood's plays against them, as well as using different plans from what Wood expected of the two Gryffindors. Harry would start off like he always had, up above the clouds, drawing the Gryffindors to believe he would do as he always had done, however as soon as the first goal was scored, whichever side it was on, that would be Harry's signal to move in and start executing their plans. Urquhart bought with her an intricate knowledge of the Slytherin plays and Katie had been able to use that to her advantage in creating her own, a mix of Gryffindor skill and Slytherin subtlety or lack thereof.
Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Lee Jordan bellow through the stadium that the Guardians had just got their first goal, taking the signal Harry looked as if he had seen the snitch, and knowing Ginny was now looking in his direction, he dived down and into the play, almost instantly affecting the game as he intercepted a pass between Demelza and Alicia. With the Quaffle now in his hands he came out of his dive, watching as Ginny followed, confusion etched on her face, before he comfortably passed the Quaffle onto Blaise, ignoring the argument now being broadcast across th stadium as McGonagall tried to convince Lee that what harry had done was completely legal and safe.
It was another five minutes of play later, and a slight Guardian lead before Harry finally spotted the snitch, standing out slightly against the yellows of the Hufflepuff section of the crowd. Noting that Ginny hadn't seen it he slowly made his way over to the area, every so often checking for Ginny's position and that of the snitch. Deciding enough was enough Harry set off, determined to catch the snitch, watching it as it wove its way around the pitch, now with a determined Harry set off in pursuit, and another ten or so feet behind him was Ginny, desperately hoping her Cleansweep could have enough in it to at least keep pace with the Nimbus, however it was not to be as the Nimbus, the champion of all the brooms at Hogwarts kept Harry closing in on the snitch quicker than anything Ginny could match. Reaching out with one hand Harry felt his fingers close around the golden ball and, making sure his grip on both it and the broom was secure, lifted it into the air and slowed down on his broom, circling the pitch once as feelings of happiness were shown, etched onto the teenagers face. Landing Harry dismounted before walking over to where the rest of his team stood, although he was unaware of it he would later find out that the Guardians had won their first match 210-70.
"Well looks like we have a victory party to plan after the feast has finished." Thorne's voice cut through the cheers of the team as they turned to see their professor walking towards them, "Katie, I believe you have a few words?"
Katie nodded, before huddling the team together, noting Thorne having moved away so that they received their privacy. "Well done Guardians, you've won a victory today, now you've just got to beat the rest of the houses to get that trophy. Keep this up and I have a feeling that they might give us the trophy before Christmas." The group chuckled as they broke up, headed back into the changing rooms to get back into uniform.
It was fifteen minutes later that a freshly cleaned Harry wandered back out of the changing rooms, he turned around only waiting for about half a minute before the final member of the Quidditch team exited the changing room. Blaise Zabini wouldn't have been Harry's first choice of a friend, he still held many secrets and in a similar way to Harry hardly ever mentioned his home, although unlike Harry it wasn't the absent of parents and care that seemed to be his problem. But still the two had struck up a friendship, from what Harry had learnt Blaise always kept his cards close to his chest until he could play them, and only then to maximum effect, his pure cunning was what had put him in Slytherin in the first place, although his courage to stand against Malfoy's group had been taken into account during the re-sorting obviously. In some ways Blaise was a new Ron, a third member of Harry's friendship group, although this one was much larger than his previous group in Gryffindor, as almost every Guardian was friendly with one another, any differences were sorted out quickly, but they had to be to survive in the new environment that the Guardians had found Hogwarts to be.
As the two began their walk up to the school, both looking forward to the party that Thorne and Nova had organized, it'd roll straight into the Halloween Feast, and despite Harry's normal depression that came out at this time every year this year was different, it was almost as if fate was giving him a breather and giving him other, happier emotions that could cover the depression he was really feeling. Looking up at the castle Harry drifted into his own thoughts, thinking of Ron briefly, his old friend hadn't exactly been happy to be separated from Harry and Hermione, although jealous was probably a more accurate term for how Ron was feeling, and it was his own jealousy of Harry that had broken the friendship, that and his hostility towards all non-Gryffindors, he seemed to ignore the fact that the Guardian House even existed, and whilst Harry and Hermione had still hung round with him he'd constantly tried to get the away from the 'dangerous snakes' like Blaise, needless to say Harry hadn't been happy and when giving Ron an ultimatum Ron had chosen to break friendships with Harry. Harry and Hermione had spent a week by themselves after that, strengthening their friendship before they started to break down the old boundaries and began to mingle with the other groups, the two had joined forces with the three Slytherin third years along with Su Li and Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones, who seemed to spend more time with the Guardians than Hufflepuff, but it was hardly unsurprising, Hannah and Susan had been nigh on inseparable from when their families had introduced them to each other at the age of 6. The group had quickly accepted the few fourth years, but was still split into smaller groups, although they would work together whenever the help was needed.
"Harry, you ok?"
Harry blinked and shook his head before looking at Blaise, "Yeah, sure just been thinking about the group, it's weird how we came together so quickly like that."
"I'd say that Thorne and Nova have something to do with that." From week one Thorne and Nova had insisted on being called by their names rather than professor, although many of the Guardians still called them that.
"Oh. How so?" Harry genuinely asked, unsure where Blaise was coming from.
"Well, think about it when we've training, both in the morning and the lessons Thorne and Nova have put us into different pairs right?" Blaise started out
"Yeah, and…?"
"Wow I can't believe you're the heir of Ravenclaw" Blaise joked, "Anyway, if you think about who we've been paired with, apart from Su Li and then think of the group of us, you'll notice they're the same."
"Oh." Harry replied, finally cottoning on. "So they've put us together in set groups."
"Not quite." The voice surprised both boys as Nova appeared in front of them, "Well now I've found you two I believe that we can get the two errant Quidditch stars to the party." Nova smiled at the two of them, "And whilst I couldn't help but overhear your conversation I do have to disagree with a couple of points, we haven't been manipulating your groups of friends as much as you may think, we've merely given you the ability to get to know someone better and have accepted them into your group, by the end of the year we're hoping to only have one big group as everyone will have been paired with everyone else by that point and gotten to know them well enough to get on."
"So why are you being so sneaky about it?" Blaise asked as the three started walking together.
"And you were a Slytherin?" Nova asked sarcastically, before switching to a slightly more serious voice. "Tell me, why you think we're being so underhand about this?"
"Because forcing people together isn't as good as gently letting them in?" Harry interrupted.
"1-0 to the heir" Nova replied, "Now come on, we want you guys at the party before the feast." With that Nova started jogging off and after a brief glance and a shrug of their shoulders the two boys followed her.
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It was in the parties third and final hour before the feast that Harry finally managed to slip away as his sombre mood returned and his thoughts turned back to that day in his life thirteen years ago. Walking out of the castle Harry slowly picked his way to a spot next to the Black Lake that he had come to once or twice before the previous year when he needed some time to get away from all the 'heir of Slytherin' abuse he was being forced to endure. So lost in his thoughts Harry didn't notice the other man walking to join him until he was tapped on the shoulder. Looking up Harry recognized his DADA teacher, Remus Lupin. Lupin had been a friend of his dads and was one of the few links he truly had to his parents, Lupin had been a massive help in Hogwarts during the weeks after joining the Guardian House and Harry had confided in him over Ron's split from the old 'Golden Trio'. In return Lupin had trained him in different, more practical ways than Thorne and Nova had, after the incident on the train Harry had slowly been learning the Patronus Charm, although he hadn't found success or a happy enough memory yet to cast a corporeal version of it, although his silver mist seemed to drive back the Dementor-Boggart well enough. The two had also talked about Lupin's times in Hogwarts with Lily and the Marauders as they'd been called, Lupin regaling Harry with tales of the pranks they'd pulled off and the innocent times they'd had before facing Voldemort.
"I miss them too cub" Lupin's words bought Harry back, although he didn't necessarily like Lupin's nickname for him.
"Yeah" Harry replied, finding himself unable to put his emotions into words, the simple acknowledgement of the fact seemed enough for the two of them though.
Lupin shuffled nervously before continuing, "I know that Halloween isn't normally the time for giving gifts and such Harry. But I recently 'acquired' an old heirloom from your father's school days." Lupin bought out what looked like an old piece of parchment, which Harry immediately commented on.
"Ah but it's more than that" Lupin said, picking up the map he put his wand on it before clearly saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." At that Harry gasped in astonishment as the parchment began to draw a map of the entirety of Hogwarts, including several hidden passages that Harry had no idea about.
"This map was made by the four of us Me, James, Sirius and Peter during our time here, or as we proudly called ourselves then, Moony, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail, or collectively the Marauders." Lupin explained to Harry. "I think it's time you and your Guardians carried the Marauder legacy on, and so as Mr Moony of the Marauders I give this map to you Prongslet."
"Prongslet?" Harry asked.
"Well, James was Prongs and so that's the best Marauder name for you I could come up with. Of course you wouldn't get your true Marauder name until you gain your other form?"
"Other form?" Harry was beginning to sound a bit like an echo, and realizing it himself mentally slapped himself for doing so.
"Yeah, James, Sirius and Peter were animagi, they were able to turn into an animal specifically a stag, a dog and a rat respectively. Before you ask I wasn't an Animagus, bear in mind that not everyone can be one and I was one of those unlucky few." Lupin left his explanation at that, not wanting to divulge any more of his personal information.
"I'm sorry for that Professor, I take it you couldn't teach me to become one then" Harry asked, a childhood innocence briefly returning to him.
Lupin chuckled, "Unfortunately not. I simply don't have the time these days. Although I do know of a few books in the library that would help you. Bear in mind that it took the three of them three or so years to perfect their forms, so don't expect instant results, you can't just drink a potion and be done with it."
"Thank you Professor" Harry replied before looking at his watch, "We'd best hurry else we're going to be late for the feast."
"Indeed so Harry" Lupin replied, "Though one final thing before we shoot off anywhere. To close the Marauders Map down simply point your wand at it and say 'Mischief Managed'." Showing Harry he then gave the teenager the piece of parchment, "Now keep that safe, I can talk from experience and say getting it out of Filch's office is notoriously hard."
"Yes Professor." Harry replied, tucking it into his pocket before heading off for the feast. Lupin stayed a few more moments, looking out at the newly rising moon, it was almost a full moon and he could feel the inner wolf waiting to break free. 'One more day' he thought solemnly, 'One Day More'.
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Neville Longbottom sighed. It just had to be him, with his luck running as it did at the moment he'd be dead by Christmas. Ever since Harry had left Gryffindor Ron had tried (and miserably failed) several times to claim dominance over the Lions, often meaning that Neville, who was still loyal to Harry clashed with the red head at least once a week. Although his luck was down his confidence was now up, although that didn't solve his problem at the moment. Staring back at the portrait where the Fat Lady should of resided he forgot about his hurry to leave the Great Hall and get his History of Magic essay done for the next day. Now as he stood there in front of the empty portrait he noticed the slashes in the painting, it had been attacked by something akin to a knife. Doing the one thing he could think of doing at that moment Neville started walking briskly back to the Great Hall, all the while calling out for a Professor to help him.
It was then that Neville's luck both changed and got worse. Finally sighting a Professor but he could also hear the sound of the school coming out of the Great Hall, headed for their dorms. Not wasting any time he called out, "Professor Thorne, the Fat lady's gone."
For all his casual demeanour and easy going attitude Thorne replied like a professional idiot. "Huh?" Not understanding what Neville was going on about, or why it required any attention.
"Professor, the Fat Lady's gone, we can't get into the Gryffindor Tower."
This prompted Thorne's response, "So they finally got rid of the Lion Statue then?" seeing Neville's confused look Thorne quickly explained, "Look five hundred years ago when I last visited Gryffindor Tower it was guarded by a lion statue, considering this was before the Fat Lady was even born. Anyway I digress; I'll head up there now." At that Thorne started off at a jog which Neville had trouble keeping up with.
Unfortunately for Thorne and Neville, they weren't the first there although all those who had turned up by now had done nothing more than stand around and mutter. Seeing the students standing there Thorne used his voice to make a way through, "Come on, move out of the way, Professor coming through." At his voice the growing crowd of students split apart allowing him through to the portrait. Up close with the portrait Thorne started spotting the knife marks, studying them intently, working out the sort of knife that would have been used here. "Sometimes being a warrior can be dead useful" he muttered to himself before turning around to the Gryffindors. Seeing more Professors coming up the corridor he started to instruct those standing around. "Everyone, make way for the professors. Neville, ten points for coming and finding me when you saw this." This got Neville some positive encouragement from his housemates as they moved so that Dumbledore could make it through leading the majority of teachers with him. At the back of the group Thorne instantly spotted Nova along with Su Li. Turning his attention back to Dumbledore he made a report. "Knife marks, made by a five inch human blade, Fat Lady probably fled when the man who attacked her started cutting the portrait up."
"And why do you say it was a man?" Dumbledore asked.
Thorne's face grew serious, more so than usual. "There's only one man or woman free at the moment who would of done this, we were all at the feast and so it would have been the perfect opportunity for one Sirius Black." The entire hallway gasped at the name, knowing that Black was on the run having escaped from Azkaban.
Then Dumbledore took command, looking at the four traditional head of houses. "Get your students into the Great Hall, he could still be here now, they can sleep there for tonight. Hogwarts will provide for us."
"That it will." Thorne confirmed, "Although I think that we should sweep the school on the off chance that he's still here. I can set up patrols for that."
"No, your students will join those in the Great Hall." Dumbledore ordered.
"With all due respect Sir." Nova said this time, "Our wing is protected by a system set up very similar to Blood Wards, it's safer for the Guardians in the wing than it is in the Great Hall."
Dumbledore thought for a minute, "Ok, but I want some of the students in your wing as well if that can be arranged."
"We'll see, we could use the common room for that purpose." Thorne replied before turning to look at Su, "Battlemaster, prepare the rest of Alpha Team, and make sure Beta and Delta teams are ready on reserve." Su nodded before jogging off as Thorne turned to Professor Sprout, "I'm afraid I'll need to borrow Susan Bones for this night ma'am, with her and Harry we can strengthen the wards around Hogwarts so that if Sirius Black isn't here he can't escape and we can shut down parts of the castle to trap him."
Professor Sprout nodded in consent, "I'll get her to your wing." She replied before moving off. Snape and Flitwick took this as a sign to get their houses as well. Meanwhile McGonagall start shepherding the Gryffindors back downstairs to the Great Hall as Dumbledore turned to the rest of the professors who had gathered there. "Everyone start searching the Halls, as we're on seventh floor start at the top and work downwards." The teachers nodded before moving away as Dumbledore turned to Thorne and Nova, the only other two Professors still there. "I hope that the knife wasn't from your armoury." He said smiling.
Thorne quickly countered, "I'll gladly tell you that no five inch knife rests in our armoury, the length is unusual and suggest either a longer knife worn with age or a knife which primary use isn't as a piece of weaponry."
"Such as?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, an eating knife for one. No one would have missed a knife tonight due to the feast." Thorne explained. "Anyway we'd better go and help set up our house."
"Indeed" Dumbledore replied, "Though we will need to talk soon about this Alpha, Beta and Battlemaster nonsense." With that the elderly headmaster walked away.
Thorne turned to Nova, "Well at least we were cryptic enough to get away with the teams."
Nova smiled as a reply, "I suppose the other job we completely forgot about was finding the fat lady."
Thorne smirked in reply, "No I merely let the bigger news go to our esteemed Headmasters head, I'm sure a group of students could find the fat lady in one of the portraits in Hogwarts, maybe Beta and Delta teams can come off reserve."
Nova's laughter echoed off the walls as she realized that they'd been able to pull another one up against Dumbledore, "Come on oh great trickster, we'd better get this plan into action."
A/N: Please review. Slight one-upping on Dumbledore going on here, More will be explained on Alpha, Beta, Delta and Su in the next chapter which carries on right after this one. Sorry for the massive time jump but I really can't write normal school days, and I want to get to the Christmas Holidays soon when things will start to swerve away from Canon more. Oh and I haven't forgotten Buckbeak, I'm just putting the Hippogriff's a bit back in Hagrids schedule of teaching.
