The Dogfather
Chapter 21
Disclaimer: No! You can't make me say anything against my will:voice calls over loudspeaker: Um... J.K. Rowling owns everything.
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Soon Harry and co. returned to their normal routine, with slight changes.
Fred and George's favorite class quickly became Defense against the Dark Arts. Care to guess?
Sirius moved into the castle into hidden quarters with doors leading to Remus and Dumbledore's rooms.
Harry's pranks instantly became more extravagant with the help of the twins.
And, of course, Harry began spending more time with Remus.
The two sat conversing in the courtyard during break on one of the stone benches. It was the last day of classes before the holidays, so Remus was discussing Harry's plans. He drank hot cocoa from a silver painted, to confuse any suspicious students, goblet.
Harry explained to him that he would be staying at the castle, his family was going skiing, an activity which Harry despised.
"Great, that means you, Padfoot, and I can ...have you chosen your topic for the term essay?" he instantly changed the subject as Hermione Granger approached.
"Hi Professor." greeted the Gryffindor, her eyes lingered briefly on his goblet, which he took a sip from.
Remus returned her greeting and gave her a thoughtful look.
"It's not real silver." he said quietly, receiving a rather taken aback look from Hermione.
"Excuse me?" she said politely. Harry was equally surprised by Moony's actions.
"I know that you are aware of my... condition, you are the most clever witch in your year, after all, and Professor Snape was not very... careful with the knowledge." replied the Werewolf conversationally.
Suddenly Harry snapped up and checked his watch.
"I'd cover your ears if I were you." said Harry quietly, doing so.
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a blast from the opposite end of the courtyard, where a group of Slytherins had accumulated.
A stench immediately flooded the area, causing people to disperse like pigeons; the Slytherins were also covered in what appeared to be stink sap.
Harry waved to the twins, who were celebrating behind a column.
"So what are you doing for the holidays Hermione?" he asked brightly, returning to the conversation as if nothing had occurred.
Remus looked amused and chuckled slightly, much to the distaste of Hermione who blinked, aghast at the thought of a teacher laughing at a prank.
"I'm going to ski with my parents." she said slowly.
"My family is doing the same, but I prefer to stay at Hogwarts, according to my sister I'm allergic to any elevated land covered in snow." he said.
Suddenly, two globs of snow hit Harry and Remus in the back of their heads.
"Bulls eye!" cried two voices in union.
Fred and George Weasely appeared on either side of Harry and Remus.
"Did you see that? That was pure beauty! George used a strengthening on the stink sap, they won't be able to get it off for at least a week!" informed Fred to the two.
Hermione looked expectantly to Professor Lupin, waiting for him to say something disapproving, however he looked interested.
"Did you use dung bombs? They're not that powerful...I thought I felt some teeth rattle."
The brothers simultaneously winked.
"That is our secret." they chorused.
"But Harry did help a bit." said Fred vaguely.
"Yeah I s'pose Weasely and Potter's Wizard Wheezes doesn't have the same ring to it?" remarked Harry.
Suddenly the twins locked eyes over Remus and Harry.
"Weasely Wizard Wheezes..."
"I can see it now..."
"But aren't you looking at me?"
"Perhaps."
"However, I don't like the idea of you two terrorizing innocent Slytherins." reprimanded Remus slightly, finally sounding teacher-like, much to Hermione's approval. .
"We were provoked!" exclaimed Fred, looking offended.
Remus cocked an eyebrow "How so?"
"The Slytherins replaced all of the Gryffindor names in the trophy room with 'Mudblood Lover'" informed Fred with a huff.
Moony sighed. "I think it's time to introduce to you two to the Marauders Code."
The twins look excited.
"The Marauders code?"
"It was something I tried to enforce in second year, however my companions soon became bored and abandoned it after a couple of weeks." he elaborated. "Meet me tonight in my office and I'll explain it."
The brothers gave him vigorous nods.
"Also, you did one thing wrong." added the Professor with an evil smile. "You picked a snow ball fight with Remus John Lupin."
Thank Merlin the bell rang.
Harry spent most of his holidays either playing wizard chess matches with Ron, which he was quite terrible at, sneaking into the Slytherin common room in the dead of night or having snowball fights with Fred and George, or having Tea with Remus and Sirius. after interrogation, Moony explained that he remarked upon his lycanthropy to Hermione because she had been casting him odd glances since September and it was annoying him to no end.
It quickly became the best Christmas Harry had ever had. At home, the high light of the holidays was that you were able to sleep late, that was about it.
Christmas day broke bright and early. Harry sat up to see a small pile of parcels at the foot of his bed.
He eagerly crawled forward to open them; a rustling of wrapping paper told him that Ron was awake as well.
He received a box of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione, a pair of orange Chudley Cannon socks, from Ron, The Lord of the Rings book series from his parents (to compare fact and fantasy as they said).
From Remus and Sirius he received what appeared to be a Snape voodoo doll, which he hid in his trunk to avoid question from Ron. He had given them each a box of Honeydukes' finest chocolate.
There was also a suspicious package from Fred and George, which he left aside. Finally there was one parcel left.
He unwrapped it to reveal a silver material and a note. It read in loopy handwriting:
Your father left this in my possession before he died.
It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well.
A Very Merry Christmas to you,
A. P. W. B. Dumbledore.
Harry realized it must have been very hard for the old man to sign his name, he usually preferred to be mysterious, but he probably knew full well that Harry would know who his father had left whatever it was to.
The Gryffindor picked up the material and saw that it flowed like water. He found that it was a cloak of some sort. It dawned on him.
'Fred and George are going to get a kick out of this' he thought, hiding the cloak in his trunk, he wouldn't show Ron just yet.
Christmas tea and dinner was quite an affair. Harry encountered for the first time, wizards crackers He was mildly amused to find Dumbledore cracking some of the muggle ones that Harry had given him, as a joke. But then realized that that was just the sort of thing he would do.
Harry found that he enjoyed the wizard crackers ten times more than the muggle ones, which one usually received a paper crown and plastic toy from. Hagrid, the groundskeeper, called for more wine until he kissed Professor McGonagall on the cheek, who, to everyone's amazement, giggled and blushed. The Gryffindor also took this time to practice his Snape voodoo doll. It didn't take too much effect, but each time he stabbed the Potions Master's leg with a fork, he saw the real one twitch slightly. He smiled evilly and reminded himself to bring it to class.
Harry exited the great hall with non-explodable luminous balloons, a grow-your-own-warts kit and his own wizard chess set.
He and his companions were shocked to find a shaggy black dog chasing Mrs. Norris across the Entrance Hall, and being chased by an angry Filch.
Harry went to sleep that night content but woke up with a start when he remembered what was in his trunk. He scrambled to the foot of his bed and wrenched open the trunk.
He let the silver material flow through his fingers and flung the cloak over himself. He excitedly looked down and found nothing.
'what to do, what to do?' he asked himself, then grinned and embarked on something he had dreamed of from the beginning of the school year.
Thirty minutes later Harry returned to his dormitory feeling accomplished. He had pranked Fred and George Weasely. He had cast the body –bind curse and turned their hair pink.
He had tried to prank the brothers during September but learned the hard way that it was a very risky plan. This could also be considered revenge for stealing the map.
After the Gryffindor calmed down, he thought 'You can explore the whole castle and you're settling for the next-door dormitory?'
Five minutes later he was heading out the portrait hole.
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A/N: My reign of short and pointless chapters is over! Hurrah! Well, maybe this chapter didn't have much of a point...