Disclaimer all characters, settings, etc, are the copyright of JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing.
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The future lies in the past.
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Chapter 19. Open day
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Ron had not slept well, his friends damaged broom had been playing on his mind for most of the night, the little sleep he did have had been full of dreams about losing at Quidditch, getting up from his bed Ron checked his watch only to find it was only five thirty. Having slowly wandered into the common room he sat on his favourite chair next to the fireplace, 'there must be something we can do, Harry can't win on a school broom no matter how good he is' he thought as he watched the tiny glowing embers of the previous nights fire, throwing some logs into the fire he watched as the fire rekindled itself.
Ron leant forward and stared into the flames of the fire, as his mind began to wander, mesmerised by the flames an idea came to him, Harry had mentioned talking to Sirius whose head had appeared to him in the flames, "I wonder," Ron said out loud.
Rushing back to the dorm, Ron slowed before entering he did not want to wake anyone, tip toeing over to Harry's bedside locker he picked up the address book kept there, leafing through he soon found Sirius's address and then slipped back to the fire in the common room. It was not until he had placed his head in to the green flames, created by some flue powder he wondered if Sirius would be awake. As Sirius's kitchen came into focus Ron saw that Sirius was just about to place a large kettle on his fire right on top of Ron's head.
"Hang on Sirius," Ron called a little desperately.
Sirius taken aback dropped the kettle which clattered across the floor.
"Heck Ron what are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack, what the hell are you doing up at this time of day?"
Ron explained about Harry's broom stick and the match that was to take place that very day, "There's no way we can win if Harry has to ride a school broom, I just thought you might talk Mr Potter into getting Harry a new one."
"Leave it with me Ron, I'll get it sorted before we leave for the open day," Sirius assured him.
Ron happy he had done something to help his friend grinned at Sirius "Thank you Sirius, I'm so glad Harry talks about you such a lot, or I may never have thought about asking you, bye," Ron pulled his head from the fire before Sirius had answered. Around eight, Harry and Hermione came down for breakfast at the same time; they found Ron asleep on the rug in front of the fire.
"I wonder why he's sleeping there?" Hermione whispered to Harry as he gave Ron a gentle shove with his foot.
"Wassup, whatuwant," Ron muttered as he blinked up at them.
"You coming down to breakfast or would you rather stay there and sleep?" Hermione asked a smile creasing her face.
"Well now you ask probably both, I didn't get much sleep?" Ron yawned as he rose to join them for breakfast.
They had almost finished breakfast when the mail arrived; a huge brown owl approached Harry, it was carrying what was obviously a broom, it landed gently in front of Harry and looked expectantly at him. Harry untied the string that held the parcel then gave the owl a large sausage, taking the offering the owl swept up and was gone along with the rest of the mail owls. Harry ripped excitedly at the paper covering his parcel; taking out a scroll of parchment he read the contents to Ron and Hermione.
'Dear Harry, got the news that you are in need of a new broom, I hope this one will bring you some luck, love, Uncle Padfoot'
Ron continued unwrapping the parcel as Harry read his letter, "Wow Harry, it's a new Firebolt," Ron said in an awed whisper.
Harry looked up from the letter to see it was indeed a Firebolt, the fastest broom to date. "Remind me to thank Sirius later and to ask him how he knew," Harry said to his friends, "I think we should take a practice flight."
Ron nodded and Hermione just shrugged, she was a lot happier now her plan to free Dobby was back on course, Ginny joined them as they left the hall to try out the new broom. Reaching the Quidditch pitch Harry swung him self onto the broom and was soon hurtling around as fast as he could go. A few minutes later Ron had a ride then Ginny took to the air, Hermione not happy with flying declined when offered the broom. As Harry took another turn around the field Seamus came running up to Hermione, panting he asked if he could have a word, Hermione and Ron both nodded.
"We did it; seven of us have made a bet with Malfoy, George and Fred have even bet him some of their stuff," Seamus looked pleased as Hermione smiled at him.
"Well done Seamus, that's part one of the plan in place, Ron tell Harry that Ginny and I had to go and put part two in motion," Hermione said as she and Ginny rushed off.
At ten the parents began to arrive for the open day, the three hours before lunch were to be used to show the parents the work that was being done by the students. Hermione led her Mother and father to the transfiguration room; it was after all her favourite lesson, by the time she had taken her parents to see all her classes lunch was beginning. Hermione along with her mother and father took seats next to Harry and the Potter's who had bought along Sirius. Ron arrived along with the entire Weasley family except Charlie who was unable to get home for the occasion. While the parents talked of the work being done at Hogwarts, the young students talked about how 'operation Dobby' was progressing.
Hermione reported that she had now put all parts but the finale to her plan in to action and up to now all was going well, "Part three will be done by Dumbledore during his speech after lunch; we just have to pray that Malfoy reacts the way we expect him to."
Ginny was a lot more nervous than the other three, she was not really happy with the part she had to play but she had agreed to help Dobby so she would do as she had been asked.
A few minutes after they had all finished eating Dumbledore stood; the hall became silent almost instantly. "I have a few announcements to make before we commence with the afternoon schedule, first though, I wish to welcome here all the none magical parents for the first Hogwarts open day.
There is a Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, the start of play will be three pm, as a treat for the extra work they have done, I am allowing the elves watch the game along with our guests, after which there will be a demonstration of witch craft and wizardry as taught here by the Professor's followed by an evening meal, the evening ending with a fireworks display organised by two of our students.
I am also informed that there will be a change in the line up of the Slytherin team due to injury; Mr Draco Malfoy will now play as seeker for Slytherin. That's all for now do have an enjoyable afternoon," Dumbledore sat as the applause continued.
The Quidditch game began dead on time; Gryffindor took an early lead with a goal, followed six minutes later by an equaliser from Slytherin. So the game went on Gryffindor just in front most of the game, until the Slytherin team began to use rather nasty tactics,
Two hours into the game Harry spotted the snitch just a few feet behind Draco. Charging forward Harry scared Draco out of his way and went in pursuit of the tiny little golden ball as it darted away from him, Draco realising what had happened was soon on Harry's tail as they both tried to be the first to catch the elusive ball.
The snitch flew toward the Gryffindor goal then veered sharply left and went into a steep dive; both Harry and Draco followed it racing at full speed toward the ground. Harry took the snitch from the air just as he levelled out, a disappointed Draco just a few feet behind him.
The Gryffindor team were ecstatic, as they all mobbed Harry throwing him on their shoulders and running around the field accompanied by raucous cheers from the crowds. Back in the changing room the despondent Slytherin team were ignoring each other. In victory they were friends in defeat they were no longer a team.
Draco changed then slowly made his way outside to join his Mother who was accompanied by their servant Dobby. As Mrs Malfoy tried to cheer up her son, she found herself surrounded by Gryffindor students, all looking miserable each one handed Draco a parcel, rather reluctantly Mrs Malfoy thought.
Draco quickly cheered up when he remembered the bets, the Gryffindor's had bet him he would never play for the Slytherin team but he had and now his arms were full of his winnings, then to make him just a little happier still, the hated mudblood Hermione Granger arrived placing a huge roll of parchment on top of the stuff he already had.
"There's your potions home work Draco, just as promised," Hermione said as she balanced the scroll carefully.
Draco staggered a little as he tried to balance his winnings, whilst walking toward the castle with his mother, followed by Dobby. Just a hundred feet from the main entrance a large group of Gryffindor girls lead by Ginny, surrounded the Malfoy's, Draco and his mother stopped as Ginny stood in front of them.
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Chapter. 20. Socks and a Job
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Ginny was not happy with Hermione, 'why has she asked me to do this, why do I have to be the distraction, why not one of the others', she thought as she stood looking in to the face of Draco, even though she knew it was because she was the only pureblood Hermione was real friends with.
'Oh well if I have to distract them here goes' she stretched up to Draco and puckered her lips ready to kiss him.
Draco stood, a slight shake in his right knee was the only thing that gave away the fact he was nervous, this was one bet he had not expected to collect on, but he told himself 'I should have expected this after all I am better looking than the others'.
Harry and Ron had arrived and stopped just an arms length behind Draco, "Hi Gin, Girls," Harry said casually.
Draco's eyes lit up, now he knew he would really enjoy this, it was bound to really annoy his two worst enemies, he leant forward toward Ginny.
"Well if I have to do this then at least let's do it properly, put that pile of junk down," Ginny told Draco.
Draco looked down at the all the stuff he was holding then he turned to his mother who gave him a look of disgust, turning he seemed to notice the elf as though for the first time, "Dobby here take this lot," he hissed as he thrust the pile at the elf.
Dobby ever obedient held out his small arms to take the wobbling pile of packages, Harry, Ron, and several of the girls each grabbed one of the packages from Dobby offering to hold them, to save them from falling.
Dobby stood left holding just one package, the memory of freeing Dobby in his other life flashed through Harry's mind, as Draco closed his eyes and leant toward Ginny, his lips pursed ready for a kiss.
Ginny had to stand on tip toe to reach him, then just before their lips touched, with everyone watching them including Mrs Malfoy, Harry moved toward Dobby and bending down he whispered so that just the elf could hear.
"Open it Dobby, quickly."
Dobby, surprised looked up into Harry's eyes, then looked down at the package in his hands, Ginny gave a quick glance over Draco's shoulder and looked at Dobby, 'get a blooming move on before I have to actually kiss this slime ball' she screamed in her head.
Dobby opened the package to find a pair of woollen socks, "Master has presented Dobby with clothes," he shrieked as Draco and Ginny's lips met.
Ginny leapt back trying to look shocked but actually looking as disgusted as she felt, she gave Hermione a look that would have made a normal person wither, Hermione just shrugged.
Draco and his mother swung around at the same instant to see what on earth the elf was shrieking about, Dobby having sat down on the grass was busy putting on the pair of bright yellow socks.
"Free, Dobby is free," the elf repeated, a look of great pleasure spread all over his face and he began to dance around. It was only when Mrs Malfoy yelled something incomprehensible then slapped Draco across the back of his head Dobby realised what had happened, these children had just set him free, Mr Potter and his friends had planned it all.
Draco looked stupidly at Harry as though begging for help as his mother still ranting grabbed the back of his collar and dragged him away. As he watched his former mistress and young master walk away, Dobby had tears of joy on his face. As the two evils from his past entered the castle he turned to Harry and bowed very low, "Dobby wants to thank Mr Potter and his friends for setting Dobby free."
The boys from Gryffindor who had willingly taken part in the plot joined the group gathered around Dobby.
"Did it work, did we win, is he free?" George and Fred wanted to know as they arrived.
"It worked perfect," Ron was saying till Ginny thumped him in his shoulder.
"It was not perfect, it took Harry so long to tell Dobby. I had to actually kiss the creep," Ginny looked at Hermione "and you, you will suffer for this one day."
The entire crowd burst in to laughter at Ginny's antics as she spat and rubbed the back of her hand over her lips as though she had swallowed something foul they were still laughing when they reached the entrance hall; Harry pulled Dobby to one side.
"The headmaster would like to see you before tea Dobby, I think you may find he has a job to offer you," Harry told him.
Dobby threw himself at Harry grabbing him in a tight hug around his knees, "Dobby will never forget what Mr Potter has done, even if I live till I die," he stammered.
As Harry led Dobby away everyone who had given Malfoy a package picked the package up, "So what you put in yours then Nev." Seamus asked as he held up a pair of woolly gloves.
"Oh just a Gryffindor tie," Neville said smiling at the thought of Malfoy opening the package.
Harry took Dobby up to the headmaster's study, "Well Dobby as I said Professor Dumbledore is waiting to talk to you, good luck with your first job interview I have to go to join my parents now but I will no doubt see you soon."
Harry held out his hand to Dobby who once more burst out in tears of joy "Dobby never expected to be treated as an equal of such a great wizard as you Mr Potter,"
Taking Harry's offered hand Dobby shook it as he had seen humans do; Harry had to stop Dobby after several seconds.
"I will need this hand to write with Dobby," he laughed, "see you later at the feast," with that Harry knocked on the huge oak door then left Dobby to see Dumbledore.
Harry joined a huge group, his parents the Weasley's and Granger's were all gathered in the entrance hall along with quite a few students, Ron was graphically describing to them how the plot to free Dobby had been put in place and carried out with out a hitch, that's where he received another thump in the arm from Ginny who was still furious at Hermione and Harry for not having Dobby open the package till she had actually kissed Draco.
Ron took the hint and missed out the bit where the kiss actually took place; instead he skipped that bit and went on with a description of Dobby as he sat pulling up the socks.
"Where's Dobby Harry," Lily asked as he joined them.
"Oh he's up in the heads office; Dumbledore is going to offer him a paid job in the school kitchens," Harry replied to the cheers of his fellow students.
Harry caught sight of Sirius, "Can I have a quick word, Uncle 'Padfoot' if you have a moment," Harry grinned as he emphasised the words Uncle Padfoot.
Sirius walked around the crowd and joined Harry, "I owe you a great big thank you, none of this would have happened if you had not got me that new broom," Harry gave his God father a hug, winking at Hermione and the other girls over Sirius's shoulder.
Sirius was a nice shade of pink by the time all the girls had thanked him for saving Harry from being defeated, they all hugged him and kissed him on both cheeks, several imprints of red lips were left all over his face. No one bothered to tell him he was covered in lipstick as he entered the great hall with them, it took him most of the rest of the day to figure out why people kept giving him odd looks and smiling at him.
The rest of the day the group, apart from the students who had joined their own parents, remained together, the friendship they already had between them became firmer; the Grangers were now fully accepted into the wizarding world, much to the delight of Hermione.
Mr Granger talked with Ron about the possibility of watching more Quidditch games he was amazed at how exciting it had been, and just how crazy Harry was on a broom, diving at the ground at full speed, Arthur Weasley promised to see what could be done to get a muggle in to watch what he and his sons considered the best team in the world, The Chudley Cannons.