The Day Of The Chickens
This Chapter Contains Scenes Of A Fowl Nature.
Harry woke early the next morning, before either Fliss or Hermione, and rose to use the shower. Once he was finished, he dressed in his Quidditch robes and came out and was surprised to see Fliss already awake and downstairs.
"Are you alright?" he asked her gently.
"I wanted to watch the sun come up" replied the girl. "In my tiny room, I only had a view sideways, so I never got to see the sunrise" and Harry felt sorry for her. Harry saw she was dressed in a pair of pink cotton pyjamas – no doubt something Hermione had thought of when she went to Gryffindor Tower the previous day. Harry decided that he wasn't likely to get her to go to bed and so decided to let her stay until Hermione woke up. While Harry sat on the armchair, Fliss jumped into another one and looked at her pink covered arms for a long time.
"You want to tell me something?" asked Harry.
"No" Fliss replied, "But thank you for helping me" she added, and bolted over to Harry and hugged him.
"You're welcome" Harry said, stroking her long blonde hair. "And now you can do what you want, as long as it isn't anything bad" he told her, and she looked at him for a few moments.
"May I have some toys?" she asked him, and Harry nodded.
"I'll get you whatever you want" he promised, and after a little while Hermione came downstairs. She chuckled to see that both of them had nodded off with heads touching the others. Hermione gently shook them awake, and then took Fliss upstairs to help get her dressed. While he waited, Harry made several decisions about Fliss. He decided that it would be better to let everyone see her. He wondered what the reaction of the students would be as he knew McGonagall would have told the staff about their guest. When the girls returned, he informed them of his plans, and Hermione was all for it while Fliss wanted to see Harry's friends like he had said. She was just grateful to have escaped that prison that she called her former home.
"Ready?" asked Hermione.
"Are we going to meet you friends?" asked Fliss.
"Sort of" Harry replied, "But I thought we could go and get breakfast first" and her eyes lit up at the thought of food. "Come on" and he bent down to just below her level. "The 'Harry Express' is boarding on platform 1. No stops all the way to Breakfast" and Fliss giggled as she jumped onto Harry's back.
"You're funny" she told him.
"Am I?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Well I didn't want to say anything" his sister replied, and smiled as Harry mock frowned at her.
"Lets go and get breakfast" Harry said, and asked Fliss to hold on to his school bag – a little heavier then normal today. They managed to avoid meeting people until they arrived at a corridor leading off the entrance hall and the Great Hall.
"People are going to notice Fliss straight away" Hermione said, and Harry turned slowly to look at her.
"I know" he said, "But better this lot finds out then a bunch of Death Eaters" and Hermione nodded.
"I know what you mean" she told him, "We can always tell the press later on" and her brother nodded. He glanced to Great Hall entrance and then grimaced.
"Let's go" he said, and the trio went inside the hall. They escaped notice for several seconds, as the hall was filled with lots of talking and eating Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Gryffindors.
"Look at Potter" said a voice, and the noise dropped to a low whisper as the hall saw Harry, Hermione and an unknown little girl walk towards a space in the Gryffindor table. Harry stopped and bent down to let Fliss get off his back and then the three sat down for breakfast. People started talking to each other about the little girl whom most knew nothing about. A certain group however knew, and this group was increased in numbers when Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott came over to speak to them.
"Who are you?" asked Susan.
"I'm Fliss" replied Fliss. "What's your name?" she asked.
"Susan"
"Hi Susan" Fliss said, and then Susan introduced her to her friend Hannah.
"A little young to start Hogwarts?" she smiled.
"I guess you managed to save her" Tori said, and Harry nodded.
"Did you get your post?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah" Tori said, "And thank you Harry for letting me stay with the Davis's" and she hugged Harry. Fliss giggled at the two and then looked at the table which was filled with foods, and then realised that she wouldn't be able to get anything.
"I can't reach the cereal" she said, and Harry saw that it was true.
"Stand up" he told her, and Fliss stood up and Harry put his school bag on the seat and told Fliss to sit on it. The result was that Fliss could now reach the table properly, and she looked at the cereal. She said which one she wanted, and Hermione put some in a bowl and put milk over them for her as the jug was too heavy for Fliss to lift.
"So can you tell us what exactly happened?" asked Parvati.
"It would take too long to explain" Harry said, "But you should get it in the copies of the Prophet" and true to form, that very moment heralded the arrival of the owls bringing in the post, parcels and newspapers. Most of them disregarded the letters and parcels and went straight for the papers and read about Fliss's story.
SIX YEAR SECRET REVEALED
Little Girl Kept Prisoner In Own Home
By
San Mononoke
It was revealed last night that a girl was released after spending six years imprisoned in her own home after people had been told she had died in a freak accident. Fliss Parkinson (now 8) was believed to have died after doing accidental magic and killing herself creating a large smoking crater. This was proven to be false after a raid yesterday by Aurors on her home, and it was after the main search that they discovered Miss Parkinson. Her parents – Mr Beelzebub and Mrs Millicent Parkinson – had been discovered to be agents of the late Lord Voldemort. They had escaped notice before as they had not carried marks of member ship of Lord Voldemort's group of followers, known as Death Eaters. The source of the information on why the Parkinson has was targeted by such a large number of Aurors has not been released, but an official close to the Auror force used, hinted that it might have been Mr Harry Potter. This has not been confirmed or denied by the Ministry – still rocking from the attack made over a week ago.
One other source has told us that Mr Potter participated in the raid, along with his sister, muggleborn Hermione Granger. The Prophet has learned that the house was searched primarily with regards to arresting the Parkinsons with being Death Eaters and for possessing Dark Arts materials. Fliss Parkinson was discovered locked away in her bedroom and was released at once. When she was taken downstairs in order to be taken away to St Mungos for checks, her father attacked her with a spell which slowed down her heart. It is not known why Mr or Mrs Parkinson was allowed to keep their wands, but an investigation is ongoing, the Prophet understands. Miss Parkinson was taken by an Auror to St Mungos, and given treatment. She was alright until a second spell was detected and her blood started to vanish from her body – but not by cuts to her body. It is not known what exactly happened during this period, but she was eventually saved and was taken from St Mungos to a secret location.
Our sources tell us that Mr Potter was involved with saving her life, and took her away with him after she awoke. Although exact details are covered by healer – patient confidentiality, we understand that Miss Parkinson had been heavily abused over the years, and was within minutes of death before her recovery. Her parents were tried by an emergency court session, and they both pleaded guilty, and they themselves asked to be pushed through the Veil of Death. Although the trial was quick, a visiting member of the Prophet's staff, there on an unrelated matter, was allowed to sit in on the trial and he reports that it was carried out in a fair manner. We at the Prophet hope that Fliss Parkinson gets over her ordeal quickly – wherever she is. The Prophet promises to bring you the latest news in tonight's evening edition.
"That isn't what entirely happened" Hermione said, and Harry nodded.
"They said that they would publish more details later on" he said, and Hermione was left to ponder on that statement.
"Can you tell us the truth?" asked Susan. "I mean we've been out the loop for a bit on account of you spending time with these three" and she pointed to Tori, Tracy and Zabini.
"Not now" Harry said, "You don't know who might overhear us" and he saw that the Hufflepuff understood.
"When?" asked Neville?
"After lessons?" Hermione suggested to Harry.
"After lessons" Harry agreed. They talked about various things, and kept Fliss interested by telling some funny stories of their first days at Hogwarts. Towards the end of breakfast, McGonagall stood up and announced that it was time for lessons to begin. Harry lifted Fliss off his school bag and then told her to stay with Hermione while he went to talk with the Weasley twins.
"Nice thing you did for her" said Fred.
"Is there something we can do?" asked George. Harry opened his bag and pulled out the bundle he had tied up previously.
"Can you shrink these so that they fit her?" he asked them, and the twins nodded. Harry and Hermione's first lesson involved them going right past their new suite, so it wouldn't take too long to make a detour inside.
"That's them all done" Fred said, and handed Harry the things back. Harry thanked the twins and asked if would like to come to their suite after lessons. The twins said yes, and then went off to their own lessons. Harry, Hermione and Fliss went back to their suite
"What did you talk to the twins about?" Hermione asked.
"I asked them to shrink these" and Harry started to pull out some clothing.
"What are you thinking of?" asked Hermione as she untangled them. Harry was about to answer her when he saw the grin break out over her face.
"Get her into those things and then we'll have to get going" Harry said, and Hermione started to take off the jumper that Fliss was wearing, and she told her to put them all on as quick as she could. Harry watched them as well as the large clock and then when everything was ready, they headed off for Professor Flitwick's lessons.
#
"Is everyone here?" asked the tiny charms wizard.
"Harry and Hermione are not here" said Neville, and Flitwick nodded his tiny head.
"I understand that they might be a little bit late" he said, and then he heard the door open, and turned to see Harry and Hermione come in with nice shiny clean robes. Fliss was holding on to Harry's hand, and Flitwick and the class suddenly burst into laughter. Fliss was wearing a full set of Gryffindor robes that had been shrunk for her smaller size. It was an exact match for everyone else's – except Fliss was sporting the formal pointed hat.
"Sorry we're late, Professor" Harry said, "But we got a little bit held up" and it took the class several moments to calm down.
"A little bit too young to be starting, Mr Potter?" Flitwick asked him, but it was Hermione who answered.
"Maybe, sir, But we wanted to be certain that Fliss was going to be alright today, so we thought of bringing her with us to lessons. With everything that has happened you never know if someone was going to try anything against her" Hermione finished.
"Logical and good thinking, you two" said the charms Professor. "I believe you will need this then" and he conjured a new table and bench for them to sit at. It was wider to accommodate three people – and the middle of the bench was raised higher and had a back to it so Fliss wouldn't slip off. Harry and Hermione sat down to start learning while Fliss was given a colouring book and some magical crayons which would make the finished picture flash different colours. The lesson was an easy one as they knew the levitation charm very well, but they still worked hard to practice a switching charm. Half the lesson was gone when Harry and Hermione were able to do it several times, so Flitwick told them to make a start on doing the homework that he was going to set. As he and the class watched, Harry and Hermione would occasionally stop to talk to Fliss who was going through her colouring book with a smile. Flitwick thought that Harry would make a great husband and father after he graduated, and Hermione was lucky to have him – and vice versa.
"That was alright" Harry said to Hermione as they started to pack up.
"I think I got it started good enough" she said referring to the homework. As others had finished, they had also begun on the homework. Flitwick stood at the front of the classroom and spoke to all of them.
"Very good, very good" he squeaked slightly. "Now you all did very well so I think that I will award 20 points to each Gryffindor, award 20 points to each Slytherin and as for you" Flitwick continued, glancing at Fliss who was putting away her crayons, "I'm awarding you this bag of sugar quills for colouring so well" and he handed Fliss a small bag of sweets which Harry tucked away in his bag for her.
"Thank you" Fliss said.
"You're welcome" Flitwick said. "Now you, Harry and Hermione may go first so that you avoid the rush in the corridors" and the three got up and left the classroom five minutes before the official end. They returned to their suite so that Harry and Hermione could change books before heading off for lunch. They waited for Fliss to visit the toilet and then they went for lunch. The story of Fliss wearing a full and correct school uniform had spread, but more was to come when Professor Minerva McGonagall was pranked by an 8 year old.
#
"Now that we have all transfigured our wooden blocks back again, I was wondering if anyone can think of something else to transfigure them into" McGonagall said. The first years looked at each other before Fliss unexpectedly stuck her hand up.
"Yes?" McGonagall said to her.
"I can change this wand" Fliss said.
"You have to come here before you learn transfiguration, my dear. I would say it is impossible" McGonagall said, though not in her normal stern tone.
"I can" Fliss insisted, and McGonagall looked at Harry and Hermione who shrugged.
"Let her have a chance, Professor" Harry said, and it was a sentiment shared by the rest of the first year Gryffindors.
"Nothing will happen, Mr Potter" McGonagall told him.
"But I can do it" Fliss insisted, and she looked as if she was going to burst into tears. The Headmistress suddenly decided that it would look good if she had reduced an 8 year old to tears.
"Lets see then. You can have a bag of sweets if you can make it change" McGonagall promised the girl, "And would you like your own block to change?" but Fliss shook her head before producing a wand of her own.
"I'm going to change this" and she put the wand on the table in front of her.
"Where did you get a wand from?" asked McGonagall in surprise.
"Harry got it for me" Fliss replied, and McGonagall was puzzled as she had not heard of Harry leaving the castle.
"Mr Potter?" she questioned Harry. Harry didn't say anything as Fliss started to whisper in increasing volume.
"Hubble bubble boil and trouble. Caldron burn and cauldron bubble" Fliss said.
"Transfiguring a wand?" McGonagall suddenly looked alarmed, "That isn't a very good idea" and at that time Fliss completed her spell.
"Marco Polo, Oracle, Ceefax, ORANGE!" and Fliss shouted the last word and jabbed the wand with her finger. It suddenly started to convulse, and McGonagall looked uneasy and moved to pick it up and get rid of it before it emitted a loud bang. Instead of the wand, there was a rubber chicken with the words Courtesy of the Weasley Twins imprinted on the side.
"Pranked!" McGonagall groaned, "Pranked by an 8 year old. I'm not going to live this down am I?" she asked the class.
"No, Professor McGonagall" they parroted at the same time.
"Oh I can't stand it – class dismissed" and everyone left for the final lesson – which was potions. Fliss was told that she wasn't to come with them, so Harry had arranged for someone to watch over her while he and Hermione was attending class. It turned out to be the Weasley twins who asked them for information on how well the joke had gone down. Harry and Hermione left Fliss in their good care and didn't worry about her safety.
"Did you see the look on McGonagall's face?" Harry said, laughing a bit.
"She seemed to find it funny though" Hermione said. "Glad the twins could help look after Fliss" and Harry nodded.
"I didn't want her hurt by any accidental potion mishaps" he told Hermione who understood the thought. They went down to the dungeons which had been totally redecorated by the school after Severus Snape's departure, and it now was a much nicer place to be in for lessons.
"You do know that we still have to tell Mum and Dad" Hermione said.
"I know" Harry told her.
"I'm surprised that they haven't took us out" Hermione continued, and Harry looked at her. "With everything that has happened to us" she added.
"Maybe we should tell them everything that has happened" Harry agreed. "I'll ask Professor McGonagall if we can use the Floo to get to the house in London" and Hermione said it was a good idea. After potions, the pair returned to their suite to find the Weasley twins teaching Fliss how to play snap.
"As good as gold" Fred promised Harry as the twins saw them enter.
"She even beat us at snap and fish" George semi complained to Hermione.
"Well we have to go for the weekend to speak to our parents" Harry said, "So we need to pack some stuff" and then he looked at the grandfather clock. A broad grin suddenly spread over Harry's face, and Fred and George knew a prank forming when they saw the signs.
"What are you thinking of?" asked the twins at the same time.
"I was thinking of going for something to prank McGonagall – after everything that's been going on, we need a good flipping joke" and then he told the twins, Hermione and Fliss exactly what they was going to do.
"I like it" Hermione said.
"That teacher lady is going to go crazy" predicted Fliss.
# # # # #
It was down to the Weasley twins who managed to get a message to all members of each of the four houses. This was going to be a big effort from all of the houses, and something that Harry knew would bring them together. It would unite them in a common goal, and they would succeed as they also gained the help of the teaching staff and Madam Pomfrey with assistance to the prank. At a certain time, Neville, Dean and Seamus belted into McGonagall's office and said that someone was in the hospital wing wanting to speak to them. The noise of three Weasley fireworks was the signal for everyone to get to the Great hall for dinner, and they did so and waited for McGonagall. She came a full fifteen minutes after the last student had sat down, and most managed to suppress grins as she walked past them and up to the staff table. As she did so she wondered on something.
"Why are they all wearing their formal school hats?" she thought to herself and then settled down to dinner. She looked at her fellow staff members and noticed they also wore hats. Was some kind of award going to be made to her? Halfway through the normal dinner time, and she heard a scuffing noise and looked down the rows of tables to see Harry standing up.
"Professor McGonagall?" he called.
"What is it?" she asked.
"We've been talking recently, and we heard about your accident this afternoon" Harry said, and McGonagall wondered what accident he was referring to. "So we came up with this as we thought it might make you better" and McGonagall was now confused.
"Exactly what do you have planned?" asked McGonagall. Would they all be doing a perfect rendition of Flower of Scotland for her? This theory was shot down several milliseconds later. All 1928 students, one little girl and all the staff started chanting the same words – shouting the final one out loud.
"Hubble bubble boil and trouble. Caldron burn and cauldron bubble. Marco Polo, Oracle, Ceefax, ORANGE!" and every formal school hat in the room – and Fliss's miniature one as well – convulsed and then there was a flash of light before it faded to reveal 1945 large rubber chickens.
"What on earth have I done to deserve this?" she asked herself.
"Bur ber. Bur bur bur bur berrrrrrrrrr" and the hall erupted into many calls of chickens – even the staff members joined in. McGonagall looked to see the laughing faces of Harry, Hermione, Fliss and the Weasley twins. She wouldn't put money on the castle standing by the end of the academic year.
A/N:
Well there concludes another exciting chapter at Hogwarts. I was halfway through doing this as a serious one, and then thought "Ah what the hell" and did this as a humorous chapter – something we need after everything that has happened recently!
First of all references from the last chapter. Well done to Voldemort is Dead who was the first to spot the Harry Potter references inside the references – the titles of my fics.
Special mention to scout-01 who saw the reference to my rather full bladder when I was writing the letter.
Now some people might, and most likely will, question the fact I have done this chapter the way I have. This is MY FANFIC STORY. Please do not ask me to change it just to suit you. It will not happen in a million years.
With regards to those people who read True Friends, and saw my appeal on the last chapter of Leaving Hogwarts The minimum number of five people has been met and acceded. One again my loyal band of reviewers from True Friends has rallied to my cause and have all said they want to see the sequel. The sequel will be released on December 25th 2009. This means that I have a full seven days to completely design a new fic. Pixel will now crank up for a maximum effort push – so there will be no updates of this fic or others. What I will be doing is releasing SEVERAL of them at the same time as a Christmas present.
Tell me if you liked the warning at the beginning of the chapter, and what you thought when you saw the chapter name.
Here's for a all out maximum effort –
Regards
Pixel