Beta: spinkavampire
Nr words in this chapter: 3,135
"Talking"
'Thinking'
{Talking on the fireplace, phone}
–Parseltongue–
Thinking in 3rd person POV/Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others
Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Chapter X
–Hogsmeade–
Monday, 25 December 1995
LV's POV
Voldemort glanced at Miley and put his present before her. Stan stopped to look at his sibling as she opened the box lid to take the Slytherin necklace from inside. The girl smiled and nodded back at her father in thanks, before Stan picked it up and put it on her neck. Two Horcruxes protecting his most blunt and innocent ones. Now Stan, was a Slytherin through and through, he didn't need as much protection as the other two Gryffindors needed. Of course, if Harry hadn't destroyed his diary – Voldemort smirked at remembering the screams that he made Lucius make when he had found out – Voldemort could have given it to Stan and the boy could use it on classes and to study. Even if only a teen, Voldemort's younger self knew not to hurt what was his and would be more than willing to help his future son. Of course, Voldemort still had the diadem – which was at Hogwarts – and the cup – that was at Gringotts – but none of them would be able to stay with Stan at full time to protect him.
Voldemort looked at Stan who was looking at his sister's necklace with a little jealously. Of course the boy was wondering why only his sister had gotten a present, principally a necklace with a snake in a form of S from Slytherin. Stan was the Slytherin, not Miley. Voldemort glanced at Harry sideways as the teen was looking at Miley with a smile as the girl practically glowed with her first 'Papa''s gift. Voldemort stood and approached a cabinet by the side, making everyone in the room look at him puzzled. Voldemort fetched a small cardboard with small openings so oxygen could get in, approached the table and offered it to Stan, before sitting on his place again.
"Thank you, Papa." The boy stated before opening the box where he took out a small snake, barely the thickness of a finger and height of one of Voldemort's arms. –Hello, Beauty.– The boy added to the snake, petting her head.
Voldemort had to contain his amusement at seeing Nagini being manhandled like this. If the snake would've seen him laughing at her she would never let him live it down. It was already hard enough to persuade her to be in this size.
"So you gave Ley a family necklace and Stan a pet?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You had already given Miley a guard dog to keep her protected, Stanley also needed a pet for himself." Voldemort argued amused.
–MR–
Wednesday, 4 January 1996
HJP's POV
"Snuffles?" Harry asked as the train started moving them back to the castle. Both twins were at the window waving at the elder Luna. Sirius looked up from the place he was laying on the seats. "What is the real reason for Voldemort to attack my parents?" Sirius' ears grew high. "You know, I know you do." Sirius' ears flattened against his head.
Then the man shifted into his human form and pointed a wand to the door and the windows disappeared behind thick curtains. The man glanced to the window but they had already left London so there was no need to repeat the same in there.
"You have to understand… I was told not to tell you this. But I'm in favour that you should know." Harry nodded, the twins sitting by their side. "Around the time you birthed a prophecy was made. It stated that the one with the power to destroy the Dark Lord would birth on the end of the seventh month. Only two magical children could be. You and Neville Longbottom. Voldemort choose you as the 'Chosen One' and tried to locate you and kill you, so your parents went into hiding to protect you. That was when Peter gave their location to Voldemort and you managed to survive with nothing but a mere scar. Apparently, Voldemort had made the right choice by choosing you as the Chosen One, but that had also meant that he had lost his body for over 13 years."
Harry frowned.
"Having the power doesn't mean that I would do it."
Sirius nodded, shrugging.
"I know. But Voldemort didn't knew that. He still doesn't know that. He will try to find you and kill you because you are the only thing that he 'needs' to fear."
"Why wasn't I told about this before?"
Sirius scratched the back of his head.
"Well… you know… Dumbledore wanted you to live a childhood as much as you could. Don't get him wrong. He only…"
"Wanted the best for me. He just doesn't know that I stopped being a child on the moment my parents died." Harry stated and looked out the window, starting to play with the ring on his finger. A tick he had gotten over the past week.
"I should have taken you in. I should never had let Hagrid take you away from me that night." Sirius snarled.
Harry smiled at his Godfather and grabbed his hand to calm him down.
"And I would be either a prankster like the twins Weasleys or a spoilt child like Malfoy… or worse: both in one."
Sirius made a mocking disgusted face.
"What is the wrong with that?"
"Sirius!" Harry whined amused, making Miley smile and Stan snort.
Sirius grinned and turned back to his dog form. Harry looked out the window. So it was about that that Voldemort was talking about in the letter all those days ago. The power Voldemort implied on… Harry's power to be able to defeat the Dark Lord. But what kind of power could do it? Like he had said to the Dark Lord, he was nothing special.
–MR–
Wednesday, 29 May 1996
DLM's POV
Draco felt that something was wrong with Potter. Every single time he attempted at cursing Potter or even at throwing wrong ingredients to Potter's cauldron it would turn to the closest person next to Potter. Almost every time it was Weasley, it had caught Dean Thomas once and Lavender Brown thrice, but never Granger it was like she was also immune. Even when Weasley's potion would blow on him and there would be no way for Potter to escape the blast, he always managed to do it. At least throwing ingredients to Weasley's potion always ended with the Gryffindor losing points.
Draco narrowed his eyes as Potter yet again managed to avoid a stinging hex, making Weasley yelp. Honestly, he didn't have that bad aim!
–MR–
HJP's POV
Harry sent a sorry look to his friend whom, yet again, yelped as they walked away from their classroom with the Slytherins. Voldemort had probably told the Malfoys that Harry and Hermione were out of reach – although Harry was certain that Ron's name was in the magical vow Harry had agreed with the man – what meant that suddenly Ron had become the Slytherins' new target practice.
"Honestly. It's the fifth time this week. One would think they would've stopped by now!" Ron grumbled. "How can you and Neville handle this all the time?"
"What was it Dumbledore said? It is great to fight your enemies but braver to fight your friends?" Harry asked amused. "See the good side. McGonagall gave you points for your uncontrolled spell managing to do the whole transformation perfectly."
Ron blushed to tip of his ears as Hermione huffed.
"He just managed on the first try because of the stinging hex that Malfoy sent him! It really doesn't count."
"He still got us all those points, Hermione." Harry argued, winking at Ron who grinned back.
Harry tensed as they bumped into Cho and Marietta Edgecombe – Cho's curly-haired friend. Cho looked at him and sneered, walking away. Harry had yet to understand why the girl had suddenly broken up with him at the sight of 'his' Family Ring. In reaction, Harry's thumb moved to his ring and started stroking it like he took to do every time his mind remembered it.
"She's still not talking to you, I see…" Hermione stated as the two girls hurried away.
Harry nodded.
"I've no idea why. When we met everything was fine and then…"
Hermione nodded while Ron shrugged.
"Then you should start looking around. Chang is not the only girl around."
"Ronald! Even if you have the emotions of a tea-spoon that doesn't mean anyone else is like you."
"It's been five months, Hermione. We are almost doing our OWLs and she broke up with Harry in January. It's more than enough time for him to move on."
Hermione hissed and walked away from them while grumbling the word boys to herself. Harry glanced at Ron and then followed Hermione. The last time he had let Ron make Hermione walk away he had ended in a girl's bathroom fighting a troll.
"Mate!" Ron called him, but Harry didn't answer, running to get to Hermione.
"Hermione wait!" He stated and the girl slowed her walking, letting Harry catch up to her. "Don't mind him."
"He is insensitive sometimes…" Hermione argued. "It makes me mad!"
Harry nodded, not daring to argue. Hermione turned towards Harry and smiled.
"Have you read your Uncle's letter yet?"
Harry groaned and shook his head.
"With everyone looking at me to see what new letter and package he sent me? No, not yet."
Hermione snorted.
"Come on, it's not every day we see an uncle sending gift packages almost every day to his nephew. Even Neville's Gran only sends them at the beginning of the semesters because Neville forgets his things back at home. Not even Malfoy gets as many as you do."
Harry blushed, glancing the other way.
"I will never understand the man, to tell you the truth."
"He is compensating for all the gifts you didn't get before. It's cute."
Harry hissed, glaring at the girl.
"It can be many things, but it certainly isn't cute!"
Hermione laughed but didn't argue.
"Ron won't like it that you came with me and left him alone."
"He'll get over it. He always does." Harry shrugged. "He is the Perfect and you don't see me whining about it every day, do you?"
Hermione nodded.
"Don't you want to be a Perfect?"
"No. I already have too much responsibility. I can't even think if I was a Perfect."
Hermione snorted.
"So that's why…"
Harry raised an eyebrow and the girl pointed to a corridor before them. Harry turned and realised his feet had guided them to where the twins were. Harry blushed and turned around, Hermione following him.
"Don't even dare!" He snarled and the girl hid her laugh behind her hand.
Honestly this decontrol to go see the twins was starting to get out of hand. It was embarrassing!
"I just would like to know how your feet even knew where to go considering they were already out of class." Hermione wondered amused.
"Hermione!" He hissed under his breath so people around wouldn't hear him.
–MR–
Saturday, 8 June 1996
Harry walked around Hogsmeade in silence. He hadn't really wanted to come, Hermione and Ron had had to force him to come to the last Hogsmeade weekend before summer holidays. Since Voldemort had given Stan the snake that Harry couldn't bring the children through the safe passages, wouldn't Voldemort use them to infiltrate the castle and besides Riddle Manor that was the only place he was safe from Voldemort. Harry avoided the other people's glances at him and moved closer to Hermione and Ron, even with the heat that was on that sunny day of spring.
"Everyone is looking at me." Harry groaned.
Hermione looked around and then at Harry.
"I told you to bring your school robes." The girl argued.
"It's hot!" Harry and Ron argued.
"Then don't complain about the way people are checking your ass." Hermione argued making both Ron and Harry gape at her. "The new clothes you got last summer, Harry, fit you like a glove. They suit you… too well. Next time make sure the woman doesn't give you clothes that suites you like a second skin. Honestly Harry, it's your fault really."
Harry went deep red, suddenly feeling self-aware of his trousers and shirt he had on. Hermione took pity on him and pulled him into a shop nearby. Ron stayed by the door as Hermione went to the closest group of jeans and looked at the size-tag before throwing ones to Harry.
"Go change. I'm going to go look for some shirts." The girl stated and went to another shelf to look for the clothes she mentioned.
Harry sighed and entered the dresser and changed his trousers. When he got out Hermione was already there. She eyed Harry up and down, making Harry go deep red, and nodded to herself as if satisfied, before giving a shirt. Harry closed the curtain and took his shirt off putting the short-sleeved shirt on, when he finished buttoning the last button he opened the curtain again. Hermione approached and rearranged his collarbone, unbuttoned the top button and the bottom one.
"There, much better."
Harry glanced at himself in a full body mirror and had to give it to Hermione. He felt less provocative like this. He turned to the clerker who was looking at his clothes with a raised eyebrow.
"How much?"
Harry left with his old clothes in a bag and the new ones on.
"Why am I bringing my old clothes if I have the new ones?" Harry asked and Ron nodded as if to prove Harry's point.
"Because when you don't wear robes, you can use the new one. But when you wear robes people won't see what is inside and you better be with something that will become less noticeable than jeans." Hermione argued. "Besides, I'm certain your Uncle wouldn't approve of you throwing away clothes." Harry sighed and nodded. "But if you don't like them you can always donate them to Ron."
Ron choked, growing deep red and Harry snorted at the thought.
"I'm too low to be able to donate trousers to Ron." Harry argued to which Ron sent Harry a grateful look.
"You're not that low, Ron is just taller than the majority."
Harry hummed and looked at Ron, pretending to have to look up.
"Did you hear that? Hermione called you a half-Giant!" He pretended to scream so Ron could hear them.
"Hey!" Ron groaned playfully, punching Harry in the arm. "I'm not that tall."
"Yet." A voice argued from behind Ron, who turned at once.
"Hagrid. I…"
The man smiled.
"I know yeh three were just bante'ing around. It's great to see happy faces around even with the war tha' is coming our way." The man stated and Harry smiled back. "Wha' about this half-Giant buy yeh all giant ice creams?"
Harry grinned.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
Hagrid nodded and led them all the way to an ice cream parlour and as promised bought the four of them the biggest cup with each one's favourite flavour. The four sat eating.
"So I've heard someone entered Professor Snape's office and traded all the ingredients positions and even put cookin' pans in the cauldron's places…" Harry and Ron snorted. "I certainly hope tha' who've done it 'as a great alibi because Snape isn'' in the best of humours."
"What did Dumbledore think of it?" Harry couldn't help but ask.
"He laughed and questioned Snape if the students couldn'' use the pans instead of the cauldrons instead."
The trio laughed at that.
"That certainly sound like something he would say." Harry commented when he finally controlled himself.
Inside Harry was congratulating the Ley twins for such a smart prank. Harry frowned when suddenly people started running around. The four stood at once.
"Yeh three go to Hogwarts!" Hagrid ordered before running away with his pink umbrella in hand.
Harry took his wand out and the three started walking to Hogwarts, making sure to stay as close as they could manage with the people running around. Harry wondered what Voldemort was doing. It had been almost a year since the man returned from the dead… why attack now?
"This way!" Ron stated and pulled them to the side of the road so they would walk around.
"This is not good." Hermione mumbled as they fast walked away from the mob and around Hogsmeade to get to Hogwarts.
"We couldn't have stayed there, we would have got stomped on." Ron argued as Harry looked behind them to make certain they weren't attacked.
"It's not that. There is an attack in Hogsmeade, which is full of teenagers. Most of them won't stand a chance against a full grown Wizard." Hermione stated.
"Neither will us if you don't lower your voice." Harry snarled under his breath and his two friends straightened and shut up, grabbing their wands tighter as they fast walked. Harry sighed, feeling bad for reprimanding at them but knowing that he had been right. "Look… I…"
"Hush." Hermione stopped him and pointed to the side and the three hid behind a dustbin as people in dark robes passed through where they had been not too long ago.
The three sighed relieved when none stopped.
"That would be a lot harder to fight than a dummy." Ron mumbled barely a whisper.
If the situation wasn't so bad Harry would have had issues controlling his laugh. Pointing at his two friends he guided the way away from danger and still avoiding the big crowd.
"Harry?" Hermione mumbled after a while. Harry turned to her with a questioning look. "Before… you could always feel when He was close by…"
Harry frowned, Hermione was right. His scar wasn't acting up. But it also didn't act at Riddle Manor.
"Does it means he is not here?" Ron asked hopefully.
"It doesn't make it any less dangerous." Harry retorted.
"But it's still a relief." Ron argued.
Harry nodded, understanding their point of view. Yes it was… if his scar was still acting up around the man that was.
"Look what the cat bought in. A Mudblood, a blood traitor and tiny winy baby."
Harry tensed and turned around, pulling his friends behind him and facing the Death Eater.
(TBC)
And the moment everyone is waiting is coming... next chapter :P
Next Chapter: The End of Innocence
~Isys
