A/N: this is a rough chapter. Towards the end there is discussion of rape and the murder of an infant. Almost threw up when I wrote it. The story is earning its R rating for sure. Also some crass PG13 schoolboy discussion of an underage girls body (not Ginny). Just what I can remember from when I was that age.
Chapter 14 – The Fight
The Hogwarts Express barreled through the English countryside, rushing towards a seemingly deserted ruin of a castle beside a lake and a village in the Scottish Highlands that for some reason most people never wanted to visit. Of course, there was no motorway to this village or the castle beside, so this ward only really affected the occasional backpacker. If a plane were to fly overhead the pilot would only see what looked like an equally ruined village, of course for some reason flight plans never seemed to go near this area, always going around even if the most logical direct route would overfly it. The train, which muggles could not see or hear, was traveling at an absurd speed for a Victorian style steam engine train. Though this train would travel at the more mundane speed of around thirty-five miles per hour at start of term for dramatic effect, it now raced along at an absurd speed nearly ten times greater, depositing the students at their school in a little over two hours.
In a compartment near the rear of this train Harry Potter sat hand in hand with a beautiful twelve year old Ginny Weasley, and across from Ron and Hermione. Harry was nervous, he would have to tell her today what he had decided. Living with the Weasleys was great, but despite being told he was as good as a son to Arthur and Molly, he still felt like an outsider. Coupled with the increased scrutiny from Molly and all of Ginny's brothers, especially Percy who seemed to think their very chaste budding relationship altogether inappropriate, Harry was starting to feel smothered in the Weasley home. He also had the feeling that Molly would be much less intrusive if he were no longer sleeping under the same roof as Ginny. But more than that, Harry had found something that had been denied him for eleven years of his life, since is he was only fifteen months old. He had found a family. He was quickly growing very close to his recently freed godfather and his father's other best friend, Professor Remus Lupin. Ron would understand, but Harry was not so sure about Ginny.
After they arrived in the castle and had dinner, they all retired to the common room, where Harry spent the time holding his girlfriend by the fire. Ron had asked Hermione to go take a walk, which they all found odd, leaving Harry alone with Ginny. She was sitting in his lap while he stretched out on the couch, running his fingers though her hair. When Ginny mentioned that she needed to go up to bed, Harry knew he had to do it, that delay would lead to only more trouble.
"Ginny," said Harry, steeling himself, "I really like you, but…"
"But?" asked Ginny, starring at him with a scowl.
Ginny sat up and turned around, tears in her eyes "What the hell Harry, I thought? You Bastard!" And just like that she stood up and slapped him in the face and ran up the girls stairs.
Angelina, who had been working on some homework on a nearby table, rose and sat down next to her stunned teammate.
"What was all that about Potter?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," admitted Harry, "All I was going to tell her is that I'm moving in with Sirius and I think the space will make her mother less….enthusiastic in her hovering. Living there we hardly get any alone time without her or Percy hanging around."
Angelina patted Harry's arm sympathetically. Alicia joined her and they scooted Harry to the middle of the couch so he was in between them.
"Trouble in paradise?" asked Alicia.
"Yeah, Harry was trying to tell her that he was moving in with his godfather, but being a stupid boy he made it sound like they were breaking up."
"What?!" Harry exclaimed, standing suddenly and staring at the two of them.
"Harry, you can't tell a girl 'I really like you but' unless you are breaking up with her." Angelina said with the tone of someone explaining simple maths to a child. "That's breakup language."
"Excuse me, thank you Angie, I gotta go talk to her." Harry said and started to make towards the girl's staircase."
"No wait Harry!" shouted Alicia just as Harry set foot on the staircase. At once they all heard a Klaxon like sound and the stairs turned into a slide, forcing Harry to the floor."
"What the hell?" Harry asked himself aloud.
"Harry," said Katie Bell, walking towards him. "The girl's stairs are charmed so boys can't go up. Why are you trying to get up there anyway? What did you say to Ginny to make her so upset anyway? I saw the slap."
Before Angelina could answer the portrait hole swung open and an irate looking Professor McGonagall came storming though.
"Alright, who tried to get into the girls dorm."
Laughing, Angelina replied, "It was Harry Professor, he was being a stupid boy and needed to beg forgiveness to Ginny. Oh and he never read Hogwarts history, didn't know about the charm."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow and turned to Harry. "Well Mr. Potter, see that you remember to read Hogwarts a History, and due sort out yourself with regards to Ginny. Prewitt women are not to be trifled with."
And with that she turned on her heel and headed out of the common room before anyone could see the smile on her face, remembering the ill-fated serenade of James and Sirius to Lilly Evans almost twenty years ago.
After five minutes the staircase returned to normal and many girls who had been trapped in the common room after the charm was activated gave Harry dirty looks as they filed off to bed. Angelina took pity on him and went up to call Ginny down after giving Harry a kiss on his head and ruffling his hair.
About ten minutes later Ginny came down the stairs, arms crossed at her chest, looking tearstained and very, very angry.
"Well, Potter? Angie said you have something to say to me."
"Ginny, I, I'm not breaking up with you, I was trying to tell you that I'm moving in with Sirius. Your mum and brothers and driving me crazy, I can't get any alone time with you, and I really want to get to know him better. Also there is the floo and your mum never let us stay together late anyway and I would be sharing a room with Ron once Bill comes back and we can't really hang out there cause of Ron and I'm not allowed in your bedroom with the door closed so we never get any privacy and…"
Harry was stopped with a kiss from Ginny. Though closed mouthed, it was long and hard. She pulled away and smiled at him.
"Harry you stupid boy, never ever say "I like you but" to me, that's breakup language."
"So I've heard…" Harry muttered.
"Harry of course I understand, and you're right, mum is driving me spare, keeps lecturing me on chastity like we're shagging in the bushes." Harry blushed furiously at this but she continued without much of a pause. "Besides, I'm sure you want to spend more time with Sirius, he's the closest thing you have to a dad. Besides he lives at the sea! I can visit and go to the beach all summer long, this is brilliant. We'll talk more later, but I really do need to get to bed. Good night." And with another kiss she skipped back up to her room like nothing ever happened.
Harry made his way up to bed. No one else was up yet, Neville was writing to his gran about something he forgot at home, while Dean and Seamus were in the common room playing a hand of poker with the twins and Lee Jordan. Dean had brought some muggle playing cards to show everyone and was teaching the art of Texas Holdem much to the twins delight. Harry was just about ready for bed when a stunned Ron Weasley came in through the door. He sat on his bed and stared at nothing.
"Harry," said Ron. "I don't know what I'm going to do."
"What happed?" Harry asked, concerned about Ron's stunned state.
"I kept thinking about how you and Ginny were dating, and that I should find a girl….and I noticed she was a girl…did you know she was a girl?"
"Ron what are you talking about."
"I mean I knew she was a girl, but I didn't know she was a girl, you know?"
"Ron did you hit your head? Are you talking about the giant squid, cause I'm pretty sure I know most girls here are girls."
"Hermione."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What about her."
"She's a girl."
"Yes Ron, I know."
"She's got tits and everything."
Harry scowled, "I try not to think about her like that, both because she's like a sister to me and because YOUR sister would kill me."
"She has lips"
"Yes Ron, everyone does."
"She kissed me."
There was a long pause where neither of them said anything. Then Harry figured he needed to press for more details.
"That's interesting…did you kiss her back."
"Uh huh"
"What happened next?"
"She went to bed"
"Okay Ron, back it up from the start, what happened?"
"I realized she was a girl over Christmas and over the Easter holls I decided I fancied her."
"Okay, and then"
"Tonight I asked her for a walk, then I asked her to Hogsmeade."
"Yeah?"
"She said we always go to Hogsmeade together….and I said not like that, but like a boy and a girl. Harry, I told her I fancied her."
"And then she kissed you."
"Yup"
"Did you like it?"
"Yeah….kissing is great…"
"Then what's the problem?"
"What am I supposed to do with her on a date? I haven't' any money, I can't buy her things."
Harry considered his best mate for a bit. "Well Ron, I know you are going to do some consulting with the Canons this summer, maybe I could give you a loan?" Harry knew he was sensitive about money so he didn't want to outright give him any.
"I won't take your money."
"I'm not giving you any, I'm lending it to you. I wasn't planning on going cause Ginny can't go yet, you can guy me some chocolate frogs as the interest payment."
Ron grinned, "You got a deal, mate."
The rest of term went by quickly as April turned to May and exams started to loom in the near future. Harry was doing well in his classes. Ginny was a very smart witch, and took her studies more seriously than Ron, so they studied together often. Despite being a year behind Harry, she was able to help Harry with his Potions and in turn he was helping her with transfiguration, which he had discovered he had a flare for as well as charms. Ron was studying more as well. The word quickly spread that they were going to Hogsmeade together and were a couple. This caused a few snide comments from Draco that ended with Draco being a slug for about an hour while Ron had to serve a detention with McGonagall for a week. Draco too, who had used the M word on Hermione, also received three days. Harry was distracted from his studies, however, by the last quidditch game of the year. Hufflepuff had lost to Gryffindor earlier in the year, and beaten Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Slytherin beat Ravenclaw, so they still had a chance if the beat Gryffindor. The week leading up to the match was terrible. If Slytherin managed to beat Gryffindor, they would win the house cup unless Gryffindor scored a lot of points before the capture of the snitch. Gryffindor needed a quick victory before Slytherin could rack up too many points.
The day of the quidditch match dawned bright and pleasantly warm. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, perfect weather for a game. Oliver gave his usual speech, but Harry could tell he was nervous, this was his last chance to win the cup. Several scouts were rumored to be in attendance and Harry was determined to put on a good show to make Wood look as great as he was.
The game was the dirtiest game Harry had ever played. The Slytherin team were downright cheating. After some spectacular saves the score was held to 30-10 Gryffindor, surprisingly good considering that Alicia took a bludger head on and had to be subbed out for Ginny. Harry was looking for the snitch but before he could find it he heard a sickening crack. He turned to see that one of the Slytherin beaters had "missed" the bludger that was already heading back towards the Slytherin goals and had instead hit Oliver over the head with his bat, knocking Oliver out cold. The offending beater was ejected from the game and replaced by Crabbe, who was evidently a reserve keeper for Slytherin. Angelina as the next most senior member made the call to sub in Ron. Ron was incredibly nervous and let the first two goals in, tying the score at 30-30. Harry flew up to him.
"Ron, calm down, this is just like playing at the Burrow. The Canons think you're great, show these slimy gits what real quidditch looks like."
Ron nodded and played much better after. As the game reached the hour mark Harry saw the snitch fluttering around Malfoy's head. Harry zoomed towards Malfoy. Malfoy assumed Harry was attacking and dove to avoid him and Harry's hand squeezed around the snitch, giving Gryffindor a 200-30 victory. The team flew down to a revived and tear filled wood and carried him out on their shoulders to the locker room, finally winning the cup for Gryffindor.
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It was a dark night in early June that saw a strange procession leaving the little inn on the boarder of a forest in Albania. A tall man with long silver hair dressed in black robes led half a dozen men and one woman out of the inn into the dead of night. The woman looked to be dazed and in a trance like state. Her hair was disheveled and her dress torn. The evening before she was thrilled to run into the tall man, he was handsome and quite rich and popular. When he had asked her up to his room, she readily accepted. After all, this would be a good story and it would be nice to know she had something on that stuck up Narcissa. She was, however, surprised to see five other men in the room, one of which was a convicted felon. That night, protected from eavesdroppers by silencing and imperturbable charms, she was repeatedly raped and brutalized by the six men. After all six had been sated, she was left on the bed crying.
"Why Lucius? I was willing to go to bed with you, why did you do this?"
"Because, dear Bertha, my friends and I felt like celebrating, for tomorrow night we go to find the Dark Lord."
A gasp escaped her lips. This was the last fully conscious thought she had as she was placed under the imperious curse. Now at dusk they went to find their master. Wormtail as a rat lead the way, asking other rodents and taking them to a glen within the forest, to a snake that was looking at them. Lucius placed a small idol on the ground before the snake, cut the woman's hand and allowed fresh blood to cover the idol. The snake fell dead. The tall man knelt before the idol holding a yew wand. A high voice came from the idol, a voice that haunted the dreams of a young boy two thousand miles away.
"Lucius, my most faithful servant, you have come."
"Yes my Lord, Wormtail here was discovered and was able to lead me to you after I freed him from prison. We have come to serve. I have brought Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, McNair and Wormtail with me. This woman, Bertha Jorkens, works in the ministry and saw me. She cannot be allowed to live, but I thought you might want to question her. There are two events taking place this year that you might be interested in."
"You have done well, Lucius. You must follow my instructions now, that I might inhabit a rudimentary body. I know of a ritual to return me, but I need to return to Britain first. Now we must construct the vessel that will sustain me and allow me to use my wand."
For the next two days the potion was worked on that would create Voldemort's first body. Unicorn blood was thrown into a cauldron, as was snake venom from a snake that Voldemort called Nagini, and semen from Lucius mixed with Bertha Jorkens' menstrual blood. Finally McNair brought the last ingredient, a muggle infant, stolen out of his crib in the dead of night. The child was killed and his body thrown into the cauldron. When the smoke cleared a disgusting caricature of a baby was in the cauldron. Bound to the body of the child by the semen and menses, and sustained by unicorn blood and snake venom, Lord Voldemort drew breath again for the first time in twelve years. For the next two hours he tortured Bertha Jorkens and ripped into her mind until he learned of the world cup and the tournament, how the later was to be carried out, and about Barty Crouch Junior, who they all thought was dead, living under the imperious curse. When he was finished, he said "avarda kadavra" and Bertha Jorkens laid dead before him.
"Now we travel to Britain." Voldemort said, Lucius the only one who could make eye contact with the deformed monstrosity that had been taken from the cauldron. "We need Potter, the blood of any enemy will do, but I have my reasons for wanting Potter. Lucius, you say that Black has been exonerated and Potter no longer lives with his relatives. I was hoping to be able to get to him now that Dumbledore's blood protections are gone, you see it is because of blood magic that I lost my body, as I told you, but the Black mansion is well protected as well. We will only have one chance before the summer, if that doesn't work I have a plan."
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As the procession made its way out of the forest back to Britain, Voldemort explained his plan to Luscious. The ministry would pay, Potter would pay, Dumbledore would pay, and the streets of all Britain would run red with blood.
After the match Harry focused fully on two things; spending time with Ginny and preparing for the exams. One afternoon Harry was reflecting on his life. Everything was going so well. He was going to live with his godfather, his two best friends were a couple and fought much less now than they did, he had a beautiful girlfriend and he was doing well on his studies. He couldn't escape the feeling that everything was going too well to last. After exams were over the school announced an unprecedented forth Hogsmeade trip to make up for the dementors earlier in the year. Ginny convinced Harry to go so she could catch up with her roommates and Harry and Neville went on to the Three Broomsticks with Seamus and Dean, seeing as Ron and Hermione were on their date. They met Fred and George on the way to the Inn who told them they would catch up later, as they were taking their brooms to Quality Quidditch Supplies for servicing after the last match. The four third year boys then went into the Inn to chat.
I'm telling you man," said Dean to Seamus, taking a swig of his butterbeer, "The Patel twins, double dates, will you be my wingman?"
"I dunno, I've been trying to get with Lavender all year."
"So practice on Padma, it's a date not an engagement."
"What about you Neville?" asked Seamus, "anyone special you are looking to ask out?"
Neville turned red and looked embarrassed.
"Come on man, who is it?" asked Dean
"Hannah…" answered Neville.
"She's great Nev," said Harry. "You should ask her out."
"Yeah," said Seamus, "and she's got great tits. Biggest in our year I'd say"
Neville turned bright red and before Harry could chastise Seamus for being crass they heard a loud bang from the other side of Hogsmeade.
The four raced out to see what was going on, and saw about half a dozen black robed figures with white masks marching though the main street of Hogsmeade.
"There he is!" shouted one of the masked men, seeing Harry at the door to the pub.
"We take him alive," said another.
Curses were flying through the air aimed at Harry as he dove for cover.
"Seamus, go get help, use Rosmerta's floo and get Dumbledore here."
"Right!" and with courage befitting the Irish Seamus left the cover and ran to the pub to use the floo, narrowly avoiding half a dozen curses. Harry, along with Dean and Neville started to throw out a few curses when he looked over and saw some students fighting back. Ron and Hermione had taken up a position behind the advancing robed men and had them pinned in a cross fire. This tactic was short lived, however, as the attackers started to blast apart Ron's cover, forcing them to move. They were advancing towards Harry when he saw a large firework spluttering between him and his foes. Harry looked up and saw Fred and George flying overhead dropping fireworks on black robed men. Evidently they had gone to Zonkos first and were providing aerial support. Harry stunned one and was focusing on another when he saw Dumbledore rushing down the street with fury in his eyes, flanked by McGonagall and Snape. Upon seeing Dumbledore, the attackers started to disparate. One pointed his wand towards the stunned death eater.
"avarda kadavra," cried the robed figure, as a bright green bold of magical energy left his wand and struck the fallen man dead.
Harry walked towards the dead man as Dumbledore was also approaching him. He had a silver mask covering his face. Dumbledore removed the mask and Harry gasped. There on the ground, dead and robed in black was the face of Walden McNair.
"Damn," Dumbledore swore. This startled Harry never having heard the headmaster swear before.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
"I apologize for my language Harry, I was hoping to question him. Those were death eaters Harry, Voldemort's followers. They haven't been seen in force for over ten years."
By this time, Seamus, Dean, Nevil, Ron and Hermione had also gathered near the headmaster. Fred and George had landed and were walking towards the crowd as well.
"Go back to the castle, all of you, I'm afraid I'll have to cut this visit short. For your efforts here holding them off and coming to get me, I am awarding you all ten points. That's eighty points including the Weasley twins. Off with you now.
Later that night Harry was sitting with Ginny talking about that mornings events. Ginny was shaken and held Harry close. He kissed her and they held each other until late, breaking apart for bed. The next day the students boarded the train for Kings Cross. Harry and Ginny shared a compartment with Ron and Hermione, who sat in a corner, Hermione in Ron's lap, Ron looking thunderstruck.
"Well mate," said Harry, "another year done. No dark lords or basilisks slain, but we freed my godfather, exposed Pettigrew, you got a summer job, I'm with Ginny, you're with Hermione, it's been an eventful year."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to a much quitter year next year," said Ron.
"I certainly hope so, we have to start preparing for our O.W.L.s" said Hermione.
"Hermione," said Ron, sounding exasperated, "those are two years away."
"Exactly, we need to get started soon." said Hermione.
"Actually Ron," Harry said, interrupting Hermione before she could get a full head of steam, "you also need to practice keeping. Wood graduated. You were the reserve keeper, I'm sure Alicia or Angelina will be captain, but you'll still need to try out."
Ron's eyes widened. "You're right, will you help me practice Harry?"
"Sure Ron, but you should really ask Ginny, she's a fantastic chaser. Maybe me and Sirius can come by and train with you and Ginny. And when you go out to work with the Canons maybe you can get some pointers."
"Harry!" said Ginny, "I thought you wanted Ron to get on the team, why are you asking him to talk to the Cannons."
Everyone, except Ron, laughed at this. Nevil joined them and the five of them played exploding snap until the train came into the station. After hugging Mrs. Weasley and kissing Ginny goodbye, Harry and Sirius walked out of the station. Sirius had banished his trunk and Hedwig's cage earlier and sent Hedwig to fly to their flat in Dartmouth, and they walked into the parking lot.
"As it's just the two of us," Sirius said, "I figured I would leave the Rolls at home in favor of this."
Harry's eyes widened at the sight of a huge black motorcycle with two helmets resting on the handlebars. This summer was going to be great.
AN: So this wraps up year three. Sorry it took so long, got stuck there for a while. There are going to be more changes not directly related to the plot change coming up, but I think you will all like them. For example, quidditch will still happen because cancelling the season because of a three task tournament spread throughout the year was just stupid. I mean, the teachers aren't really taxed by quidditch, are they? Also I don't want Ron to be quite so butthurt in the beginning, as I don't want to punch the keyboard writing it, so quidditch will help.