HARRY POTTER AND ICE CREAM DELIGHTS
Author: Luckner
Disclaimer: The characters and their world are the property of J.K. Rowling, various publishers and Warner Bros. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 20: HUFFLEPUFF FOREVER
The next day Harry was all for returning to Hogsmead to finish his date with Luna, which he considered far more important than any Death Eater attack. As he entered the Great Hall for breakfast he saw Luna waiting for him patiently at the Gryffindor table; she was wearing a wonderfully clashing orange and blue skirt, teal colored sweater and a green tam-o'-shanter cap with a long yellow feather. He couldn't help but smile as he greeted her with a warm kiss and sat down by her side.
'Now that Lucius and his friends are out of the way, how would you feel about completing our date in Hogsmead," he asked hopefully.
"I think I'd like that Harry," she responded with a smile.
At that moment the two teens saw Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks walking in their direction with serious expressions of their faces. 'Oh no, what now?' Harry wondered as the two sat down opposite.
"What are you two planning for today?" Remus asked cautiously.
"We were thinking about going back into Hogsmead for lunch and maybe a bit of shopping," Harry answered carefully.
"That might not be the best idea," Tonks said soberly.
"Why not?" Hermione asked from nearby, having clearly overheard the conversation.
"Then you haven't heard what's going on in Hogsmead?" Remus asked.
"No, what?" Harry responded, his concerns growing.
"The place has turned into a mad house. Remus and I were there last night and we couldn't believe it; and from what we've heard it's even worse today. The story of your little adventure was broadcast on Wizarding Radio last night, and people have begun to flood into the town from all over the country. There were hundreds of people on the streets last night, and even more today. Madam Rosmerta has expanded the Three Broomsticks four times, and there still isn't enough room. There are hucksters everywhere selling all kinds of junk; and I'm afraid your face is on most of it," Tonks explained.
"The field behind the Three Broomsticks has become like a shrine. The Ministry has had to post a squad of Aurors there to prevent people from tearing branches off the trees as souvenirs. It just wouldn't be safe for any of you; you would be mobbed the minute you were seen," Remus explained sadly.
Harry let his head drop to the table with a loud thud, and he shook his head on the tabletop. He just couldn't get a break, not even to take his girlfriend on a simple date. Luna could see the disappointed look on his face and decided that an immediate intervention was required.
"Well I personally think that it's a lovely day for a picnic and a swim," she said hopefully.
"Luna, are you mad?" Hermione asked, thinking of the nearly freezing temperatures outside.
"Well, some people seem to think so," Luna replied with a grin, failing to notice the slight blush that appeared on the older girl's face.
"A swim would be great; can Neville and I come along too," Ginny asked hopefully.
Hermione looked at the two girls in disbelief as they made plans for a picnic in the depths of a Scottish winter. She looked at Ron hopelessly as the boy shrugged his shoulders; he had become more accepting of the impossible over the last twenty-four hours.
"Then it's settled, I'll ask Dobby to make us a lunch," Harry said with a grin.
Fred was sitting with Susan nearby and gave her a hopeful look; the very impossibility of the plan appealed to him. Susan nodded her head in agreement, not doubting for a moment that her friends would somehow make the outlandish idea work. Eventually all eight of them followed the snow-covered path that led down to the lake.
The day that followed was one that they would never forget, and none of them regretted skipping Hogsmead. The weathered stones of the old Celtic shrine had a magical shimmer in the early morning sunlight, and the waters of the Black Lake looked warm and inviting. Hermione and Ron had the opportunity to meet Vivienne, but both shyly refused to discuss what the vision had showed them.
But while Harry and his friends were enjoying a rare wintertime picnic, other students were making their way to the crowded streets of Hogsmead. The village had doubled in size overnight, and was as crowded as Diadon Alley on the weekend before the start of school. Security around the village was heavy, with Aurors and teachers keeping a close watch. It seemed unlikely that the Dark Lord would attempt anything so soon after a major defeat, but the Minister was unwilling to take any chances. The students had never seen anything like it, and they returned that evening laden down with souvenirs and exciting stories.
When Harry, Ron and Neville entered their dorm later that night they were confronted with a shocking sight. On the wall opposite the door was a life-sized poster of Harry Potter, his eyes flashing with fury and lightning bolts shooting from his fingers. Above his head waved a magical banner proclaiming him 'The New Merlin!' Harry simply stared at his own image in shocked disbelief, not knowing what to say.
Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas stood facing them on either side of the poster. The boys were wearing tee-shirts with Harry Potters' face on them, and the banner: 'The New Merlin!'
Ron and Neville started to laugh uncontrollably while Harry stared dumbfounded.
"You had better start working on your beard Harry, if you're going to be 'The New Merlin,'" Ron said jokingly.
"What's going on?" Neville asked in amusement.
"Didn't you guys go to Hogsmead today? It was really incredible," Dean replied enthusiastically.
"Yah, we bought all of this stuff and more," Semus declared as he waved at his bed which was piled high with various merchandise. Harry noticed that the trunk at the foot of his bed was also overflowing with 'stuff.'
"They were selling lots of posters, mostly of Harry, and we got all that we could carry. I spoke to one of the merchants and he said he would pay us four galleons for each of them that you would autograph. We could split it Harry; it would make us all rich," Dean said hopefully.
"I don't think so," Harry said as he rolled his eyes in disbelief, and went over to sit on his bed.
"Well how about you Ron? They had posters of you as well," Dean declared with a grin.
"What? Me?" Ron asked in amazement.
"Well you came back from the dead; that makes you special too. They'll pay us two galleons for every poster that you'll sign." As Dean spoke he unrolled a large poster that he had picked up from his bed. The poster rolled to the ground and Neville started to laugh even louder, a wide grin threatening to split his face.
"Harry, come over here; you have to see this," Neville called in barely controlled mirth.
Harry looked up from his trunk and saw that Ron Weasley had turned a deep shade of crimson and Neville Longbottom looked like he was having a seizure he was laughing so hard. Harry dropped some books on his bed and walked over to where his friends were standing, staring at an enormous poster.
The poster showed a very saintly depiction of Ron Weasley, his hands clasped together in a very prayer-like pose. His eyes were turned heavenwards and his face wore a reverent expression. It was all just too much. Harry took one look at the poster and let out a loud snort, which caused Neville fall on his bed in hysteria. Ron was turning from red to purple as he saw his friend's reaction.
"It's not so bad, Ron, you look very…well…err, saintly?" Harry said supportively, as he turned the last word into a question.
Ron made a grab for the poster, snatched it out of Dean's hands, and ripped it into pieces.
"Hey, we got that on consignment; we have to pay for any we don't sell," Dean said angrily.
"I don't care," Ron shouted back, as he tore the poster into ever smaller pieces.
"We'll just have to raise the price on the others to make up the cost," Seamus said with a note of regret.
"You have more?" Ron asked in horror.
"Only eleven; we started with an even dozen of you and two dozen of Harry," Dean said with a smile, and then seeing the look on Ron's face he quickly locked his trunk.
"Get used to it Ron, you're a public figure now," Seamus said logically.
Ron groaned loudly as he fell on his bed and put his arm over his face. "My own friends trying to exploit me," they heard a muffled voice say.
"You don't want us to let Pavarti make all the money, do you?" Dean answered reasonably.
Ron sat up in shock and stared at them. "What has she got to do with it?"
"She's selling them too." Dean explained.
"That means that Ginny already has her poster," Neville said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh no!" Ron said in horror as he anticipated the things his little sister would do with the embarrassing poster.
"But what about autographing them for us?" Dean asked, totally insensitive of the desperation that Ron was feeling.
He turned and glared at his roommate. "I wouldn't sign one of them if you gave me a million galleons, and I'll burn any that I see," he declared fiercely.
The next morning turned out to be everything that Ron had feared. As Harry and Ron came down for breakfast, he was confronted with one of the offensive posters on the wall above the fireplace. Standing in front of it was Fred and Ginny, innocent looks on their faces and their own hands clasped prayerfully in front of them. Ignoring his siblings Ron made a grab to rip the poster down, only to discover that it was guarded by some kind of a protective charm. Not to be deterred, Ron pulled his wand and cast an Accio Charm on the poster. Nothing happened, and the boy grew even more frustrated.
"You'll have to do better than that, Ron," Ginny said sweetly.
"Fine, you want it that way…" Ron declared, his temper rising. "Incendio!" He yelled as he aimed the wand at the poster. A stream of fire shot from his wand and impacted the poster with a shower of sparks. The fire was immediately extinguished, but not before every eye in the common room turned to the Weasley family drama.
"Ron…how could you do something that reckless!" Hermione demanded as she rushed over and seized his wand.
Ron lowered his head in shame as he realized that a fire spell in the confines of the common room could have been very dangerous. "I'm sorry Hermione, I was wrong…I…I guess my temper still needs work," he responded sadly.
"Well at least you're trying," Hermione said gently; impressed by his honest admission of fault. She looked up at the embarrassing poster and then over at Fred and Ginny, who were grinning triumphantly. "I want that down now or I'll have Professor McGonagall give both of you detentions!" The sound of her voice left no doubt as to her sincerity.
"You're no fun, Hermione," Fred said as he reluctantly removed the poster.
Ron looked at his girlfriend in amazement; she had actually taken his side. "Would you like some breakfast?" He asked as he offered her his arm. She took it with a smile and both left through the portrait hole.
- o -
As Harry entered the Great Hall for dinner that evening he was unsure of the reaction that he and his friends would receive. The party of the previous night certainly indicated a change of heart by his own house, but now he noticed that the eyes of his fellow students were on him. His apprehensions were dispelled when several Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws walked over to thank him for his efforts.
Seamus Finnegan, who just a few weeks previously had ridiculed Luna's claim of Centicores in the Dark Forest, had just told her that she had shown courage that any Gryffindor would be proud of. When the entire school was assembled Professor Dumbledore rose to make an announcement.
"Before we begin the fine dinner that the elves have prepared for us, there is a matter of some importance that we must attend to. A resorting is a rare occurrence at Hogwarts, because the Sorting Hat usually does such an excellent job of placing our students in the best house to ensure their success. But on rare occasions a resorting does become necessary; usually because a student initially declines the advice of the Sorting Hat and expressed a preference for a different house. On these occasions the Hat always defers to the student's wishes and places him, or her, accordingly."
The sound of murmuring voices could be heard around the hall as the students wondered who might be changing houses. More than a few eyes turned to look at Luna Lovegood. Harry wished she would come over to Gryffindor, but knew that it wasn't her.
"I wish it was you," he whispered into her ear.
"Maybe next time," she answered mysteriously.
"If I may continue," the Headmaster said patiently, as quiet returned to the room. "There are many reasons why a student might decline the advice of our Sorting Hat, but the most frequent is family expectations that the young person be sorted into a certain house. Sometimes these family pressures can be quite severe, and the student feels that he is left with no choice but to meet his parent's expectations."
"On rare occasions one of these students will come forward at a later date and request a change of houses. This is a decision that requires a great deal of courage, for it often means turning their back on people who have become a second family. Old friends may feel deserted and new friends are sometimes difficult to make. It is for this reason that I review these requests very carefully before I come to a decision. Tonight we have two students who have requested to be resorted, and I believe that their original sorting into Slytherin was in error.
A gasp rose from around the Great Hall as Professor McGonagall escorted Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle into the room. The two boys kept their eyes straight ahead, and they appeared to be extremely self-conscious as the approached the Teacher's Table.
Harry found it hard to imagine the courage that it must have taken the two boys to turn their backs on the house where they had been members for five-and-a-half years. He knew that the Slytherins would consider them as traitors and do everything in their power to make their lives miserable.
As if to prove the point, loud boos and hisses arose from the Slytherin table to show their displeasure. And then someone shouted 'Traitors!' from among the older students. Professor Dumbledore looked absolutely furious as he rose to his feet.
"Silence!" Albus Dumbledore ordered with uncharacteristic anger. "Mr. Filch, please remove Mr. Zabini. He has just volunteered for a week's worth of detentions, starting immediately. Please see that his time is properly occupied."
It was common knowledge that Mr. Filch considered discipline at the school to be extremely lax. To allow him to select the nature of the discipline frightened the other Slytherins into silence. As the boy was led from the room he received sympatric looks from his housemates; but they were completely silent.
"Who would have thought that they would have wanted to leave Slytherin House?" Ron whispered in wonder.
"Sometimes when you are in a bad situation you need to make a change," Luna said wisely, and Harry wondered if he didn't catch a personal meaning behind her words.
As the two teens stood in front of the school, the familiar hat and stool was moved into place, and Professor McGonagall called the name of Vincent Crabbe. Harry noted the determined look in his eyes as he stepped forward, and he wondered about the possibility that the two boys might actually be assigned to Gryffindor House. He had already made up his mind to welcome them if they were.
The hat was placed on Vincent's head, and after a few seconds of deliberation it called out "Hufflepuff." Immediately Luna began to applaud, and Harry and his other friends quickly joined her. The surprised 'Puffs' rose to the occasion and gave their new member a loud round of applause.
Gregory Goyle was also assigned to Hufflepuff, and a little hesitantly the two boys walked over to their new table. In spite of the applause, neither boy was quite sure of the welcome that they would receive. But Susan Bones quickly moved over and made room for them, and the other sixth-year Hufflepuffs welcomed them warmly.
- o -
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Magic, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were facing the interrogators from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Both teens were shocked by the severity of the questioning, but managed to stick with the plan they had formulated before the attack began. Draco claimed that as a member of a noble pure-blood family he had the right to avenge the numerous insults his family had received at the hands of the mudblood Grainger. The fact that Draco's curse had accidentally struck Ron Weasley made no difference to his logic. In his trial he was certain that the Malfoy name, and a few carefully placed bribes, would get him off. But the Ministry under Amelia Bones was quite different from the environment under Cornelius Fudge; a fact that the boy would soon discover.
Pansy's defense was that she was acting under the influence of the Imperius Curse, which must have been cast upon her by one of the Death Eaters present. None of the interrogators believed her, but in spite of long, grueling sessions they were unable to get her to change the story. She was turned over for trial as well; but the whole time she was loudly proclaiming her innocence.
Draco's trial was quick and conclusive, and he was sentenced to thirty years in Azkaban. Even at that the judges claimed that they were letting him off lightly; because of his youth and inexperience. The boy was completely quiet as the Aurors led him away, feeling the shock of having his world destroyed.
Pansy was more composed at her trial, and stuck to her story that her actions were being controlled by another. She spoke with great sincerity in the witness box, and the tears she shed helped sway enough jurors to get her off with a warning. But as she left the Ministry in the company of her Father the young girl felt anything but victorious.
It was not until three weeks after the attack that Pansy finally returned to Hogwarts. In spite of avoiding prison, it was a very angry and unhappy girl who returned to school on that bright spring day. Her betrothed had been sentenced to thirty years imprisonment, and the young girl felt that her future had literally been stolen away from her. She had long dreamed of the wealth and power that a marriage into the Malfoy family would bring. Her family's wealth had been ebbing away for years, so that they were left with little besides their name and the pure-blood associated with it. If Draco had been the prince of Slytherin, then she had certainly been the princess.
But as she walked towards the Slytherin common room on her first night back she realized that changes had taken place. First there had been the extremely unpleasant meeting with the Headmaster when she first returned. He had warned her that she needed to change if she was going to be happy, and that much at the school had already altered to reflect a new reality. She insisted that she had been under the influence of the Imperius Curse, but he clearly didn't believe her.
She also noticed a change in her fellow Slytherins. They had always considered themselves to be the elite among Hogwarts students; but now she saw them walking the hallways with their eyes lowered as if they were ashamed of the crest that they wore. She was surprised to learn that two Slytherins had already deserted to another house; although the loss of Crabbe and Goyle was small indeed.
- o -
The reality of the change was driven home to Pansy a few days after her return to school. She was hurrying to her Transfiguration class, which was at the opposite end of the castle, when she encountered a group of third-year Hufflepuffs who were just leaving Charms. She pushed roughly past them, causing one small red-haired girl to drop her book bag, scattering the contents everywhere. Pansy shoved roughly through and didn't give the girl a second look; but then she was suddenly confronted by two very familiar faces.
Vincent and Gregory stood blocking her path like a stone wall with angry looks on both of their faces.
"Well, what do you want?" She demanded angrily.
"We want you to apologize to Maria and help her pick up her books," Vincent said firmly.
"I will not, you great git! Now get out of my way," she said indignantly as she tried to push between them.
But for Pansy to push Carbbe and Goyle out of the way was something akin to an ant moving a battleship. After trying without success to push through she backed up and stared at the two boys in frustrated anger.
"Maria is waiting for you to apologize, Pansy," Gregory said as he nodded in the direction of a shy red-haired third-year who was kneeling on the floor gathering up her possessions.
Pansy noticed that the drama had attracted quite a crowd of students, including three other Slytherin sixth-years. Believing that her housemates would back her up in any confrontation, the girl assumed a superior attitude and stepped boldly forward.
"I suggest that you traitors get out of the way or I'll have to hurt you," she said with a confident smirk.
But the boys didn't move; what they did do was draw their wands. The tiny third-year Hufflepuffs also drew their wands and went to stand beside their older housemates.
"How do you 'Puffs' like having the two stupidest boys in school in your house?" Pansy asked tauntingly, but her confidence was beginning to waver in the face of this stronger than expected resistance.
"Maria is still waiting," Vincent said as he leveled his wand at the surprised girl.
Pansy looked behind her, in expectation of seeing her housemates ready, and was shocked to see them moving hastily in the opposite direction.
"What's the matter with you," she shouted after them. "These are only 'Puffs.'"
"Yes we are Pansy, and we stand together. This is your last chance to apologize," Vincent said as the tip of his wand began to glow a sickly pink color.
Suddenly Pansy realized that something had gone terribly wrong, and that she was running out of time.
"I'm…sorry," Pansy said in barely a whisper.
"I didn't hear that, Pansy," Vincent said with an edge to his voice.
"I said I was sorry," Pansy screamed as she stared daggers at all of them.
"Much better Pansy; oh, and this better not happen again," Gregory said with a smirk and allowed Pansy to pass. The last thing that she heard was the little girl thanking Vincent and Gregory, and calling them her 'heroes.' She thought she was going to be sick at the child's words, but then it got worse. As she walked furiously up the hallway she saw that Harry Potter and Hermione Grainger had been watching the scene play out.
"Why didn't you jump in to save the day, Potter?" She demanded in a snide voice, trying to cover her annoyance.
"They didn't need any help dealing with the likes of you, Pansy," Harry responded with a grin.
And from the expression on her face Harry could tell that his barb had hit the mark, and she stormed up the hallway without another word. She would make them all pay, Potter and the rest. But at that moment Crabbe and Goyle went to the top of her list.
That night in the Slytherin common room, Pansy Parkinson openly condemned her older housemates as cowards for failing to come to her defense, and they looked rather ashamed. But many of the younger members of the house were now showing open contempt for the Dark Lord's supporters
Later in the evening, as she sat brooding in her dorm room, Pansy realized her first mistake: the school had indeed changed, and she hadn't realized how much. But she was still unaware of her second mistake: Vincent and Gregory were no longer the stupidest boys in school.
The first night in their new house had brought a warm welcome and numerous offers of assistance; because as Vincent had said: 'Hufflepuffs stand together.' It came as rather a surprise to the two boys, because in Slytherin house it was literally everyone for themselves. They were quickly enrolled in the Hufflepuff study group and two sixth-year girls volunteered to tutor them. By the time that Pansy made her unkind remark their grades had already started to improve, and they would improve still further.
- o -
But Gregory and Vincent weren't the only ones to experience a change in their academic status. As Minerva McGonagall waited for Harry Potter to arrive she once again reviewed his latest examination results and shook her head. It was rare that she had ever seen such a remarkable improvement in performance over such a short period of time. Young Mr. Potter had always excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but in all other classes he was an average student and little more. The aging head of Gryffindor House always thought that the young man had the potential to do better, but until now he had never chosen to realize it. But over the past few months his improvement had been quite remarkable, and she wondered how much a certain silver-eyed Ravenclaw had to do with it.
Professor McGonagall only knew about Luna Lovegood from their contacts in Transfiguration class. The young girl preformed better than average, as would be expected from a Ravenclaw, but she seemed to lack the dedication necessary to truly excel at her studies. Her mind seemed to wander to strange animals and absurd conspiracies; and yet there seemed little doubt that she did have a gift for Transfiguration. Minerva McGonagall wondered if the young girl might not be somehow sharing her gift with Mr. Potter. She was pulled out of her strange reverie by a knock on her door.
"Good afternoon Professor McGonagall," Harry said carefully as he entered the office.
"Good afternoon Mr. Potter, I'm glad you have the time to meet with me today. Please, take a seat," she said as she gestured to the chair opposite her. "Would you care for some tea and biscuits?" She inquired as she nodded towards an antique china teapot and matching biscuit tin that sat on the corner of her desk.
"Not right now, thank you," the boy replied politely.
She studied his face for several moments before she broached the subject that she wished to discuss. She saw so much of James in the boy, but as she looked closer she saw Lily as well. He might have his Father's magical power, but he also had his Mother's strength.
"The reason that I called you here today is to discuss the quite remarkable improvement in your grades over the past few months." She saw the boy visibly relax as she spoke, and smiled ever so slightly to herself. Students always seemed to be nervous when called to her office, even when there was no need.
"Such a remarkable change is rare indeed, and I was wondering if you could suggest a reason for it?" She asked.
The boy looked rather self-conscious for a moment before raising his eyes to meet hers. "That would be Luna's doing," he said with a smile.
"Miss Lovegood?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Yes, she's been helping me with my studies since the beginning of the term," Harry explained.
"But Miss Lovegood is only in her fifth-year and you are doing sixth-year work; how can she be helping you?" The woman asked in confusion.
"Well she knows it all," Harry said casually as he tried to explain.
"Ah yes, Miss Lovegood does have a gift for Transfiguration," Minerva McGonagall said with a knowing smile.
"Not just Transfiguration; she also helps me in Charms, Herbology and Magical Creatures," he explained.
"All of that? But what about Miss Granger; I'd understood that she had been working with you since your first year, and yet the improvement has only shown up recently."
"Well Luna does things a little different from Hermione. Hermione nagged Ron and me to do our work, and so we came up with ways to avoid it," he said with a touch of embarrassment. "But Luna…well Luna just makes it fun."
"How do you mean?" Minerva asked as she became more interested.
Harry looked round the room and noticed several cages of rats on a nearby shelf. No doubt second-year students were learning how to change a rat into a water goblet, as he himself had learned in second-year.
"Can I borrow two of your rats?" He asked, indicating the shelf.
"Please," Minerva responded, interested in what the boy had to show her.
Harry walked over and picked up a cage containing two gray rats and returned to her desk. Professor McGonagall watched with interest as the boy cast a mild sleeping charm on the rats, and then he carefully removed them from the cage and gently lay then on the desk. Using his wand he began to make horizontal figure-eight movements above the small creatures while speaking an incantation that Minerva had never heard before. The appearance of the rats blurred momentarily before they began to transfigure into something entirely different.
"What are they," Minerva whispered, overcome by surprise and wonder.
"You asked me about the Centicores that Luna and I saw in the Dark Forest, so I thought that I would show you," he said as he gently awakened the creatures with a mild Awakening Spell. The two animals awoke and stood up on very unfamiliar legs, pawing the ground with their hoofs and seemingly perplexed by their new condition.
The teacher looked at the two animals in amazement as they rotated their horns forward and backwards; a defense mechanism of Centicores according to legend. Every detail of the two creatures was perfect, and Minerva McGonagall could hardly keep her eyes off them as they began to explore the limitations of the desktop.
"They don't act like rats," Minerva said in surprise; knowing that while it was possible to change the outward appearance of a creature, its inner core remained intact.
"That's because they're not rats; in every sense except size they're Centicores," Harry explained with a satisfied smile.
Minerva took in a deep breath of surprise; if that was true then it altered one of the basic laws of magic. "Is this part of the magic that Vivienne gave you?"
"No, Luna taught me this," Harry said with a grin.
"I've never seen magic like this," she responded.
"Luna said that her Mother loved to collect ancient spells; things that aren't in the textbooks," Harry answered.
Minerva remembered Elizabeth Shaw well. She was a dreamer like her daughter; but now Minerva wished that she had looked deeper into what was apparently a very remarkable witch. "Would you mind showing me the spell, Harry," she asked hopefully.
"I would be happy to, Professor," he said with a smile. Then he retrieved another cage of rats from the shelf. While he was doing so Professor McGonagall continued to marvel at the two Centicores as they roamed over her desk at will.
First Harry showed her the simple wand movements and then carefully spoke the complex incantation. "Luna said that the secret of this spell is to fix an image of the animal that you want to create in your mind's eye. Try to recall everything that you know of about the animal as you cast the spell," he explained patiently.
She did as he instructed and the rat transformed into a tiny Indian Elephant. As a child she had visited India with her parents and had marveled at the powerful creatures. As soon as it awoke, it began to lumber across the desktop in confusion. It soon began to act like what it was and started to trumpet on its small trunk. The Centicores seemed to be alarmed by the new arrival, and rotated their horns forward in an offensive posture. The elephant, however, only wanted to be friends, and approached the two skittish beasts more carefully. Soon all three had accepted each other, and had resumed their ill-defined migration as a threesome.
"This is incredible," Minerva said with the excitement of a ten-year-old girl. "And you said that Miss Lovegood taught you this?"
"This and more; her charms are even better," Harry said with pride.
"Are they indeed," Minerva said while deep in thought. With a bit of sadness she suddenly realized why Luna hadn't excelled in her class: the girl was so obviously advanced that the work represented no challenge to her at all. It must have been the same way with Elizabeth Shaw, only Minerva hadn't realized it.
"Thank you very much Harry, you've given me much to think about," Minerva said warmly.
Later that night Albus Dumbledore knocked on the door. "Come in Albus," Minerva said absently.
"You didn't come down to dinner tonight, I was concerned that you might be ill," he said as he looked around the neatly organized office.
"Come look at this, Albus," she said as the Centicores and Elephant pranced forward on the desktop to meet the new arrival. She had been unable to take her eyes off them since Harry had created them, and was really becoming quite fond of the tiny creatures.
As Albus Dumbledore studied the small animals he could only say two words: "Quite remarkable."
Minerva watched the tiny creatures with fascination late into the night, becoming more attached to them as time passed. She knew that it was silly, but before she went to bed she even gave them names. Transfiguration was a temporary form of magic, and she fully expected to find three rats when she woke up in the morning. Surprisingly, the Elephant and Centicores were still on the desk the next morning, and seemed very happy to see her. She removed the ward that she had placed around her desk and greeted them each by their new names, and then set about the difficult undertaking of finding a suitable breakfast for them. She was uncertain exactly what Centacores ate, but they seemed quite satisfied with the porridge that she provided.
Later that morning Minerva McGonagall went to visit Professor Flitwick, and before class had even started the decision had been made. At lunch that day Luna received a message requesting her to come to Professor Dumbledore's office after the last class of the day, and stating that dinner would be provided.
"It sounds like you'll be there for some time; I wonder what's going on," Harry said.
"Perhaps we had better postpone our walk until tomorrow night," Luna suggested.
Harry frowned at the idea, but accepted it. Nevertheless Harry waited until curfew on the stone bench opposite the Headmaster's Office, hoping that Luna might finish early. It was with a degree of regret that he went to bed that night, wondering what could have occupied his girlfriend for so long.
- o -
"Harry can I come over?" Harry's eyes popped open as he heard Luna's voice in his head. He was right in the middle of a strange dream where Luna was playing the fair maiden and Harry was rescuing her from a fierce dragon, which looked strangely like Voldemort. He shook his head to remove the image and responded in the affirmative. A second later his girlfriend appeared at his side.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore says that he wants to advance me to sixth-year classes immediately," she said excitedly.
"That's great," the boy responded sincerely. "Is that why you've been gone so long?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall and Flitwick were testing me on sixth-year materials. I want to tell Daddy right now; will you come with me?"
"Sure, just let me…," but before he could say another word they disappeared from the bed at Hogwarts to appear before a strange house in Devonshire.
"Luna, couldn't you give me a minute to change?" Harry declared and he held out his arms to show that he was still in pajamas.
"I think you look kind of cute," the girl replied mischievously.
"Could you just fix it please; I didn't have a chance to grab my wand," he replied with a smirk.
"If you insist," she replied and with a swish of her wand he was wearing jeans and a tee-shirt.
As Harry examined his new outfit he noticed the shirt had an illustration of a strange animal on it and the words 'I Love Snorkacks' emblazoned across the top.
"I can change it if you like," she asked carefully as she watched him.
"No, I like it. I think I'll keep it," the boy said with a grin as they walked up to the front door.
- o -
They hadn't realized it, but Harry had forgotten to put a silencing charm on his bed when Luna had first appeared, and others could hear them speaking.
"Is that Luna I hear?" Seamus whispered with a smirk.
Ron and Neville rounded on the boy angrily. "We didn't hear anything and you didn't either," Neville said fiercely.
Seamus looked at the two determined faces and understood what Neville was saying. "Look, Harry and Luna are my friends too; and I won't say a word."
The two boys visibly relaxed at his response. "How about a game of chess, Seamus?" Ron asked hopefully.
The boy glanced at the closed curtains and then back at Ron. "Sure, that sounds good," he replied and the two of them turned to the door.
"I'll come too," Neville declared, and as he left the room he put a powerful locking charm on the door so no one else could enter.
- o -
The next morning when they woke up the bed curtains were still closed. Neither Neville nor Ron was about to check on Harry, so they dressed and went down to breakfast alone.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked as Ron sat down beside her.
"Ah…he overslept a little bit; he'll be down shortly," Ron said awkwardly.
"Luna must have overslept as well, she's usually one of the first ones down," Ginny said casually and noticed Neville snort into his Pumpkin Juice.
"Well they had better hurry or they'll be late for their first class," Hermione declared.
"I'm sure they'll be down any second now," Ron said as he regained his composure. But by the end of breakfast neither teen had appeared.
"He needs to get up now; and if you won't wake him up then I will," Hermione declared firmly as she rose from the table.
Ron and Neville exchanged worried glances as Hermione started towards the door.
"No Hermione, wait," Ron exclaimed in near panic.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked suspiciously, and Hermione was now equally suspicious.
"Well…he…he isn't alone," Neville whispered as he glanced nervously around the room.
"Luna is with him," Ron confessed in response to Hermione's severe gaze.
"What!" Ginny and Hermione gasped in one breath, and Hermione dropped back into her place beside Ron.
"How do you know?" She asked carefully.
"We heard them talking last night," Ron answered, somewhat embarrassed.
"Don't they know that they can be expelled for something like that?" Hermione asked in horror.
"Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood? Oh please," Ron said in disbelief as he shook his head.
"Well they still have to get up," Hermione said rationally after a few minutes thought.
"Well better you should wake them than me," Ron replied with a shudder.
"Alright I will," Hermione said with a determined resolve, and getting up from the table she turned and walked towards the door. Ron, Ginny and Neville exchanged helpless glances and then ran after her.
All four of them walked quietly into the sixth-year boy's dorm, careful not to make any noise. The curtains were still drawn on Harry's bed, and suddenly Hermione's nerve seemed to falter. Dean and Seamus were nowhere to be seen, and were probably already on the way to class. Hermione looked back at Ron hopefully, but it was apparent from the look on his face that he wasn't going to do anything.
"Boys," Hermione declared in annoyance, and then she turned and took a very small step closer to the bed. "Harry?" She whispered softly. When she didn't receive a response she took a step still closer. "Harry?" She called again, but a bit louder; but still there was no response. She reached out and touched the curtains, her hand shaking as she did so, but then she hesitated again. She really didn't want to see what might be on the other side of the curtains.
"What's going on?" A familiar voice asked, causing the four teens to spin around in surprise. There was Harry Potter, fully dressed and standing in the doorway.
"Harry, what are you doing there?" Were the first words out of Hermione's mouth.
"Well, where should I be?" He answered, giving his friend a perplexed look.
"But you…I thought…but Ron said…," Hermione stammered out in confusion.
"Where's Luna?" Ginny asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
"Down in the common room waiting. You'd better hurry or you'll be late for class," Harry said hastily, as he picked up his book bag and left the room.
Hermione looked back at the bed in confusion. She reached over and pulled the curtain slowly open. Inside she discovered nothing more shocking than an unmade bed.
"Well the least he could have done is to make his be…," she said as she started to turn towards the others. It was at that moment that she realized that she was alone in the room. "Eep!" She exclaimed as she looked down at her watch, and then she ran out the door.
The flustered girl entered Transfiguration class just as Professor McGonagall was beginning to speak. Receiving a stern look from her teacher, Hermione hastily took her seat between Harry and Ron. It was at that moment that Hermione saw Luna sitting on Harry's other side.
"Luna what are you…," Hermione started to ask.
"Miss Grainger, if I may continue?" Professor McGonagall said firmly.
Hermione's mouth snapped shut, but Harry could tell by the look on her face that she would have many, many questions as soon as class ended.