Chances Are Keeperoliver Chapter Fourteen

With the students still holding back from Mr. Wolf, Sirius jumped from the table and in the middle of the jump he turned back to himself. When he landed, he started to speak, "Listen to me all of you, You can see Harry and Neville don't fear Mr. Wolf, and because of that, neither should you. If you were to think logically, you would realize that it is morning and there was no full moon last night, so how could a werewolf be here in front of you. Mr. Wolf, if you would please?"

Mr. Wolf began his change and soon stood in front of the class as Remus Lupin. "I suppose you are all looking for an explanation and by rights it should be Harry to give it, but I will in his place. It's true, I am a werewolf. Have been since I was nine years old. When Harry was five years old, I met him and he wanted to help me, so he tried using his healing powers on me. He didn't stop my change, but he did something much better. I can change when ever wish to."and he did just that, and then back again, "I am also in full control whenever I transform. I have the best of both worlds and it has given me the chance to live my life like a normal person, with fringe benefits. Mr. Black is an Animagus as you saw. With me, it is just like that, but I do it as a magical creature, which is quite rare. The last known wizard to become a magical creature in his animagus form was Godric Gryffindor, who became a Griffin."

Hermione had her hand raised to ask a question. Remus saw it and laughed, "My dear young lady, we are not in class and you can ask a question at any time you need an answer. Now please ask it."

"Thank you sir. Do you still change on the full moon and are you still in full control of the wolf?"

"You know, only one other person asked me that question. Amelia Bones, so that puts you in some very high company. Yes, I still change on the full moon. That is the only thing left of the curse I once carried. I still maintain control of the wolf. I have visited other wolves and they treat me as sort of a god because of my ability. They all wish they could be like me."

Fred asked the next question, "Have you met any good looking female wolves in your travels?"

Remus glared at Fred, knowing he was looking to get a laugh from the group. "Are there any other reasonable questions?"

George fired back, "We'll take that as a yes and hope you took precautions when you shagged her. We don't want any stray puppies running around, now do we."

They got their laugh anyway and Remus just let it go.

Then Harry explained what they were training on and Remus and Sirius went to the sixth and seventh years to train with them and Harry, Neville and Hermione talked with the rest. Percy was asked to join them to help and he stepped forward and asked a section of the group to join him off to the side, while Harry, Hermione and Neville did the same. Harry asked the Slytherin bunch and some of the Ravenclaw students to join him, to keep down the possibility of any trouble with Hermione or Neville being thought of as weaker, even though they were ranked tops in the their year as scholars.

The training now began in earnest and soon the mist of the Patronus spell was showing everywhere around the room. Still no full corporeal Patronus was seen other than Harry and Neville's among the students. It was told to the students that even though they haven't produced one doesn't mean they will never do it, and those who haven't even produced a mist should not feel bad as there were many who didn't.

The study group felt good after the training and shared a laugh with each other because of the way they acted with the wolf. There were no hard feelings from Remus or anyone else. It was a normal reaction. It happened in the Ministry as well. When he told the story of Molly first seeing him, it brought such a laugh it brought many of the professors out to see what was going on.

When they finally broke up for the evening, Harry and his group went with Remus and Sirius to sit and talk for a minute. It was this time that brought up the problem with Alice and Harry was sorry for not being able to help her. Hermione asked what the problem was and when Harry answered her, she had an idea.

"Harry, you say she isn't able to produce an egg for fertilization? Is she truly unable to produce one, or do you think maybe it is blocked by something, keeping it from being pollinated?"

"Hermione, I really didn't wish to get that deep into the conversation, so I don't really know for sure. But now that you brought it up, maybe mum should talk to Madam Pomfrey about it. If that is the case, maybe I could do something about it. Remus, do you think you could talk to her and see what she wants to do?"

"I'll call her as soon as you rascals leave here. I'll let you know in the morning. Now, it is time you should be heading back to your dorm so you don't get in trouble."

They did this, but they didn't quite make it back to their house, as they saw Quirrell heading for the third floor mystery room. They knew that Minerva removed the stone, just in case someone found a way to get in. She replaced it with a spelled stone that could produce Leprechaun gold. It lasted for two hours then disappeared. It had no longevity powers at all.

Harry asked Dean, Seamus, Lavender and Parvatti to get Professor McGonagall, Remus and Sirius. He took the twins, Percy, Neville and Hermione with him. They gave him time to see if he could get past Fluffy. Ten minutes later, they followed him into the chamber and found Fluffy fast asleep due to a music box that was playing a soft tune on it. Harry rewound the spring to keep it going for the next group and raised the trapdoor to see the vines down below. "Devil Snare. OK, this should be easy enough. Neville, you give it some light and Hermione you go first when the vines shrink back. OK, go."

Neville called out "SOLARIS!" and a brilliant light did it's work as the vines pulled back from it's shine. Hermione jumped into the room and went straight down to the floor below. Percy and then the twins went. Harry took over for Neville and let him enter then he held the light for a few seconds more, and jumped in as his light went out. He barely got through as the vines came to life when the light went out.

They wet through to the next challenge, which was a room full of moths, or what looked like moths. Percy told them different, "I think they are keys, and one of them probably fits the lock on that door."

Harry looked to see the door, and he felt rather than knew Alohamora wasn't going to work for it. He felt Ginny in his mind and knew she was following them to see how they did. 'Harry look for a key that looks damaged.' Harry thanked her and did as she asked and soon saw one of the keys with a broken wing trying to get around. He told this to the others and George went for a broom on the other side of the room and jumped on it and went after the key Harry mentioned. The broom was an old school broom and wasn't very fast. It took a few minutes for him to finally catch up to it and capture it like a Snitch. He brought it back to Harry and he gave it to Percy to unlock the door since he first noticed the problem. It worked and they went through to the next room, where they saw a chess board with the pieces set up for a game. Fred went to walk through the pieces, when Neville stopped him, "Watch it Fred, I think the game is here for a reason. See what happens when I throw this piece of rubble onto the chess board." he did, and the Knight took out it's sword and pulverized the rubble. Fred whistled as he took Neville's hand, "Thanks mate, that could have been me and I don't look good flattened."

Harry asked them all who the best player was, and they all said, "Ron."

Harry shook his head, "Well, I don't see him here, so have you got any other ideas?"

'Harry, you get on the knight and I will guide you through the game. I've beaten Ron a few times and he didn't appreciate it too much. Have Fred get on the queen. Once he is set, move the queens pawn to queen four. He did, and the game was on. Ginny was brilliant and had Harry setting up for the game to end. He would sacrifice his own piece for Fred to capture the king for the win. He took the knight to the square Ginny told him and he saw the opponents queen coming for him. He jumped off his piece before the queen crushed his piece. Then Fred moved in for his check mate.

They all followed Harry through the game to the next room which held the dead troll. Harry shook his head, sorry to see anyone die even if it was something as evil as a troll. The twins made the mistake to search the troll for hidden goodies and when they turned to enter the room the others did, they were stopped by the flames that went up around Harry, Neville, Hermione and Percy. Hermione saw the next problem on the table and worked out the solution. However, there was only enough serum left for one to go through the flames into the next chamber. Harry looked to Neville and asked, "Do you want to do this, or should I, Nev?"

"I think it is meant for you to go through Harry. Don't ask me why. I just feel it. The thing is, only two of us can get out. Who should that be?"

Harry knew who should get out, but he tried to figure out how he could get him and Neville through the flames, "Hermione, you and Percy need to go and find the others to bring them down here in case we don't make it. I'm going to try and get Neville and I through here and into the next chamber. Good luck you two."

Hermione went to Neville to hug him and give him a kiss, then she went to Harry and gave him a hug. Harry tried to sound offended, "What, no kiss for me?"

She looked at him and laughed, "If you make it out, then I will think about it, now go. We will be back as soon as we can. And good luck you two."

Percy shook both their hands and turned around to join Hermione with the departure bottle. Harry looked to the bottle for entering the chamber and took a tiny swig of the potion and walked through the flames, but caught a touch of them on his tail end. He swatted at the flames that ignited his shirt and put them out. Neville did the same thing when he came through.

Once they were through, they looked on Professor Quirrell as he was looking into a strange mirror.

"Ah, Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom. I was wondering who would be joining me here. Where are your friends? Did they desert you?"

"No, they went for help. We knew you were trying to get in here for the stone. To bad for you that we were on to you for quite a while. We asked Professor McGonagall to remove the Philosopher's Stone and replace it with a fake on. Have you found it yet?"

"Oh, I've found it, and It is not a fake. It is quite real, and I want it. Now tell me, How do I get it out of this mirror?"

"I'm afraid I can't help you there Professor. Only Professor McGonagall could do that. Unless, Hey Neville, do you know how to get the stone from a piece of glass?"

"I guess you could try to break it."

"Stupid child. Don't you think I thought of that. It has to be taken from the mirror with it being whole. You Potter, stand in front of the mirror and tell me what you see."

Harry hesitated for a second, then went to stand in front of the mirror. What he saw had him crying, as it was his real mum and dad and they were holding Harry in a family hug. He saw his likeness pat his pocket and felt something drop into it. "Well Potter, what do you see?"

"My mum and dad holding me in a hug. My real mum and dad."

"LIAR! Longbottom, you go stand in front of the mirror and tell me what you see."

Harry moved out of the way and let Neville take his place in front of the mirror. When Neville looked into the mirror, he saw Hermione lying on a hospital bed and she looked frozen, with her hand sticking out as if to greet someone. Then he saw the mirror she was holding and it told him she was looking at something. "Well, what is it you see?"

"I see a girl in a hospital bed like she was petrified or something."

"I believe you more than I did Potter."

From some where in the room came a fourth voice, "It's Potter, he has it in his pocket. Kill him and Longbottom. No wait, let me talk to them first."

"But master, You're not strong enough for that."

"I'm strong enough for two small boys, now hurry."

Quirrell began to unwrap his turban and soon Harry and Neville were looking at a face on the back of Quirrell's head. Harry took a chance, "Lord Voldemort, I presume? It has to be you wanting the stone as Quirrell wouldn't know how to use it. What do you hope to accomplish with it?"

"Everlasting life Potter, now give me the stone."

"Sorry, I don't have it. Even if I did, do you think I would give it up that easy? Besides, it is like I said, it isn't the real stone. If you try to use it, one of you will die, or maybe both of you will."

"GIVE IT TO ME NOW, POTTER!"

"No,"

"Kill them both, kill them now."

Quirrell took out his wand and began to fire spells at them both, but they were wild and easy to dodge. Then Harry got Quirrell's wand and that was when Quirrell grabbed his face. Quirrell's hands began to smoke and he pulled them off Harry's face and looked at them to see them blistered. "What magic is this?" he screamed.

"Never mind that, I said kill them." and this time Harry took Quirrell's face in his hands and both him and Neville heard the death scream of Quirrell as it rung throughout the chamber. Quirrell fell to the floor, his skin all burnt and scarred. Harry and Neville watched as a wisp of something left Quirrell's head and took off through the castle. It started to pass through Harry and took a drastic change of direction at the last minute. Harry turned to Neville, then he passed out from the connection he had with either Quirrell or Voldemort.

Harry woke up to see Professor McGonagall looking down on him. He asked her about then others.

"They are all outside, waiting to come in and see you. However, I wish to talk to you first, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all Professor."

"Mr. Longbottom told me that you saw your mother and father in the Mirror of ERISED, is this true?"

"Yes Professor, why?"

"Because it was set up for you to just see yourself in the mirror, telling you the stone was in your pocket."

"Well, I was there and mum and dad were hugging me. The reflection in the mirror did show me that the stone was in my pocket. Does it mean anything that my mum and dad were there?"

"I don't know Harry. The mirror shows the person looking into it their deepest desire. Is seeing your parents your deepest desire?"

"I didn't think it was. I thought Ginny was my deepest desire." he then felt another kiss from Ginny. 'Thank you love.'

'LOVE? When did that happen?'

'The day I first met you. In case you missed it, it was the day we bonded.'

'No, I didn't miss it, but you never called me love before. It has always been Ginny, or Gin. Not that I mind you calling me Love though.'

"Mr. Potter, are you alright?"

"OH, I'm sorry Professor, were you trying to tell me something?"

"Your bond with Miss Weasley is stronger than you let on, isn't it Mr. Potter?"

"Excuse me Professor, but what do mean by that?"

"Mr. Potter, are you going to sit there and Lie to me about your thought sharing with Miss Weasley?"

'Sorry Gin.' "You're right, Professor. We didn't want to explain it to everyone just yet. She has been with me even before we joined in touching."

"So she has been with you all year?"

"Yes Professor."

"Even in class?"

"Yes Professor."

"So she knows everything you know?"

"More than you think Professor, plus she has been sharing it with Luna Lovegood."

"So, if they were to take a test right now, they would pass?"

"Yes Professor."

"Very well Mr. Potter. Would it be alright for me to try one of your jelly beans?"

"I think you should know something about them first Professor."

"I just want one , and I promise I won't take any of your favorites. Perhaps just one of your green ones." and she took it and popped it in her mouth. Harry pulled the pillow over his head before she exploded because of what she ate, "That's different, I would think a green one would be mint, but it tasted just like chocolate and peanut butter. Now as you were trying to tell me Mr. Potter?"

Harry was staring at his Head Mistress, "UM, nothing Professor, I hope you liked it?"

"I was rather hoping for a mint one, It must have been a mix up at the factory. OH well, no harm done, it could have been a vomit flavored one. Got lucky I guess. Thank you Mr. Potter for a very interesting talk and your gift." and she got up and left, allowing Harry's friends to enter. He soon found himself surrounded by Hermione, Fred, George, Percy, Penelope, Dean, Seamus, Parvatti, Lavender, Daphne, Tracy, Blaise, Pansy, Millicent and so many others he lost track of who he mentioned. Plus he saw Remus and Sirius way in the back, laughing at the sea of friends around his bed.

The questions began from the moment he saw them, but he asked the first one, "Where's Neville?"

"With his mum and dad, Harry." Hermione told him, "It seems what I said was true, and they went to St. Mungos to see if anything can be done about the blockage."

"So there was one, like you thought?"

"So it appears. He wanted to be here when you woke up, but he felt that at least one of you should be there to share in the experience. He will be back in a bit. Now, how was it down there?"

"Didn't Neville tell you?"

"No, he said it wasn't his tale to tell."

Harry remembered what Neville saw in the mirror and knew why he stayed quiet. He wouldn't say anything about it either. He told them all of what happened and it took the better part of an hour.

With the end of the year winding down, things began to return to normal. Remus and Sirius took up the Professorship for DADA for the rest of the year, but would have to pass on the next year.

There was one week left to the year, when Harry got the news from Ginny, 'Harry, you're not going to believe me, but Luna and I have been asked to take our first year tests so that if we pass, we will go right into our second year. Thank you Harry for letting me sit in on you classes. Luna is as excited as I am. She keeps talking about Seamus and Dean as if they were the only people she met. OH, if we pass, we get to be sorted when we get the results so that we won't have to be embarrassed at the start of next year. Harry, what are you laughing at?'

'Luna. She talked about the same person who hs been asking about her. Seamus has asked me over and over again how she was doing and if she remembered him and Dean. Well sometimes he mentions Dean, but not all the time.'

Now Ginny was laughing at the situation. They were both going to start school with male friends in place. Luna even had two.