Harry Does Different CCLXXXIX

The Almost Remarkable Susan Hopkins

Like all Wizarding children born during the First Blood War, Susan Amelia Bones was a wonderful bit of joy in very dark times. No one knew who to trust and betrayal seemed an everyday event. Born to the Moste Ancient and Moste Noble House of Bones the little gurgling mass of happiness Neil Bones cooed over his heiress in the arms of his sister Amelia while his wife slept.

July 20 1981

"And Dumbledore trusts this babble from a fraud?" scoffed the newly minted Head of Bones. He was talking to his only slightly longer fellow Head and generations-long ally.

James nodded at the redhaired man "Yean, Neil. But in the final analysis it don't matter a wisp whether Albus believes it or not. Voldemort does. Won't tell me who his source is, but he promises it's absolutely reliable. Guess it's a spy among the Death Eaters. I HATE seeming to slink off like a bleedin coward!"

"A charm over a shack in that hovel Godric's Hollow?" Neil scoffed at the scheme "I'd lock down Potter Manor and slap on some truly violent wards. I plan that next month for our place. Look at the two little lovebirds."

Jo Bones curled an arm in her husband's and smiled down into the playpen "They're practically married now. We should write a betrothal."

Little Susan bounced a rubber ball off little Harry's forehead causing both toddlers to giggle and fall into each other. Harry got a mischievous look then seized her foot and began sucking on its toes in turn. Susan thrashed about unable to escape the torture.

"Great, a foot fetish." James Potter grumbled "He'll forever be known as The-Boy-With-Athlete's-Mouth. You know how it is, Neil, Jo might've wholly signed up with our world but Lily is just a little too muggle for such things. If the worst … well, I left a mention in our will … non-binding, but something Harry will see."

Neil reached down "Com'ere princess. Daddy will save you from the evil footsie monster."

"Haa..ieee birdday Ha…ieee." Susan waved cutely as her father lifted her.

The little boy smacked his lips and declared "See ya morrow Su-bee."

Within weeks both couples would be dead and their children wouldn't encounter each other again for a decade.

September 1 1991

"He's entirely too scrawny for my tastes." Hannah Abbott declared forcefully, but blushing "Now Justin is an entirely different matter. OR maybe I'll go older that Cedric Diggory looks tasty."

Megan Jones scoffed "Oh pul-lease! You wouldn't know what to do with either. Harry Potter needs a woman to train him up."

"Auntie told me the male has the responsibility to make the first move." Said Susan with just the proper air of noble blaisee, causing giggles to fill the room.

December 1 1994

Reluctant participant Harry Potter was in a state of panic. His Head of House had just dumped the frightful duty of DANCING in front of about a thousand people on him. The young wizard looked ridiculously small compared to his opponents and didn't believe he would make an impressive figure regardless. Cho Chang had his eye for quite a bit, but she'd been snatched up early. The family of redheads that surrounded him drew his attention to Ginny, but his misunderstanding of the rules of who could attend disqualified her.

"I'm asking Susan Bones." Harry declared, bouncing down the stairs from his dorm. He was making much effort with the correct position of his tie and ensuring there was not one speck of dandruff on his class robes.

Seamus Finnegan bounced his hands in front of his chest "Ahhhhhhh…. Bones of the garbonzoes… just love to bury ma face in there!"

"That is THE most sexist comment I have ever heard!" Hermione growled up at the Irish boy "And coming from you that is REALLY saying something. You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Dean offered "Turned me down flat."

"Even us older lads have met defeat" said Lee "gel's holding out for someone. Won't say who. Luck there, mate, but I wouldn't expect much." Fred, George and even a Seventh [what's his name] had sympathetic expressions.

Harry felt his self-confidence fade as the group of Gryffindors entered the Great Hall, but a deep swig of pumpkin juice steeled his determination. Approaching a gauntlet of surly Hufflepuffs might have intimidated most, but not the man on a mission, Harry had tunnel vision for the lovely redhead. That she was laughing with her friends was only a momentary impediment. Tapping her on the shoulder "Hey? Susan can I talk to you?"

"I guess" she sighed a bit irritated, but then brightened and tugged on her hair as she turned "Hi Harry! Sure."

The transformation in Harry as Susan turned was startling. Every hint of a smile was wiped away and with a disgusted slash of his hand declared "Forget it!" And pushed back through the assembled Hufflepuffs.

December 24 1994

"Lavender," Hermione Granger was trying to make herself heard over the Weird Sisters' music "just why is it witches have to stand in line to use the loo? Why has no one in this world invented a bladder emptying spell?"

The Pureblood Gryffindor was pondering an answer when Susan, who had better than excellent hearing, explained "There is one. Unfortunately a lot of people mess up the wand motion and end up emptying the heart of blood, or their lungs of air."

"Your opinion, Bones, was neither asked for nor desired." Hermione invaded the Hufflepuff's personal space and flicked a lock of red hair. A remarkable comment on how angry the girl who constantly sought knowledge was.

Susan shoved the offending hand away and demanded "What's up your arse Granger?"

"These." She countered coldly.

To say the least, that raised the Hufflepuff's ire "Last time I checked House loyalty was a good thing!"

"And YOU USED TO BE Harry's friend!" Hermione snarled.

Susan blinked, her hostility vanished in a trice "Hold on a second. This must have something to do with why he didn't ask me to this. I really wanted to. I thought he was, then he walked away."

"I COULD just tell you." Hermione's anger abated some "BUT seeing is believing. Take your badge within about ten feet of Harry and see what happens." It was her turn to go.

Susan took a circular route back to her date, which conveniently, did pass where Harry and Ron were doing their best to ignore the Patil twins. But she was only interested in her badge, which wasn't so much the distance, but rather as soon as her dreamboy happened to notice her SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY changed to POTTER STINKS. Of course he hated her! The Ball was an unmitigated disaster from which she fled in tears.

1995 was a decent year for Susan. Well, that one date with Vince Crabbe wasn't one of her best moments. Her evaluation of Harry as a teacher, in his role with Dumbledore's Army, was stellar. When comparing the obvious hate with which he was treated in Potions. There wasn't a student in Hogwarts who didn't know about Snape's hate for the Gryffindor. During meetings he treated EVERYONE fairly. Was she a teacher's pet? By no means. But not even Hannah tried to claim he was being mean, either criticism or praise. Not that things between her and Harry personally got any better.

HARRY & GINNY POTTER

You are cordially invited to the nuptuals of Carl Hopkins IV, our son, to Susan Amelia Bones, daughter of Neil and Joanne Bones [both regrettably passed]

Dress is formal for the wedding, business for the celebratory feast.

The joyous day begins with the wedding at 12:00 noon December 8, 2000. Please RSVP by November 1, 2000. We look forward to seeing you.

Carl III & Eleanor Hopkins

"Harry! It would be beyond rude to refuse to dance with the bride on her wedding day!" Ron whispered behind a friendly smile. Hermione looked a little confused, but Ginny was nodding with her brother "I mean it. You could start a kanly war and I don't think your Man-Who-Won title would help."

Luckily Harry had some real knowledge of the Wizarding World now, and more than enough time to process his best friend's statement before Susan Bones Hopkins made her way to their table "Mr. Weasley" she began addressing Ron formally "I hope to dance with you next, with Mrs. Weasley's permission of course. First, however, might I borrow Mr. Potter?"

"He is honored" Said Ginny, tapping his shin with her foot under the table "Mrs. Hopkins."

Harry stood and smiled, took her hand and bowed over it per custom "Honored indeed. It was a lovely ceremony. Hopefully symbolic of a successful marriage."

"You said all the right platitudes, Harry" said Susan, bitterly, once they were on the dance floor "But why did it take six years and the threat of a blood feud to be able to have a real conversation?"

His smile was plastered on "I believe I have always been polite to you, Mrs. Hopkins."

"Yes, of course." Her tone unhappy "And so you are with Draco or Astoria Malfoy when addressing the Wizengamot. I suppose I should be grateful you support so much of my proposed legislation." She tried to pull him closer.

Harry was skillful enough at dancing to resist her attempt without missing a step. He replied "And when Malfoy offers something I think is good for us I support that too. I believe custom allows a guest to offer a gift to the happy bride?"

"I am truly sorry about the badge Harry." Her happy mask slipped "I never knew until Hermione told me at the ball."

He shrugged "You could have told me."

"You haven't exactly been approachable." She pointed out.

The distance between the dancing pair increased to allow a child through. A second shrug "You could've tried harder. Anyway, after I made peace with the goblins after the war, they gave me a copy of my parents' will. You and your parents were mentioned. Potential guardians for me, apparently. Must've been close, huh?"

"Aunt Amelia didn't tell me." She snapped at the obvious accusation, almost walking off the dance floor: only the same custom that brought Harry here, kept her in place "You've known this for YEARS and not felt I deserved to know?"

The music ended and Harry led her back for the promised dance with Ron. He reached into his robes, producing a thin scroll "A gift, Mrs. Hopkins. My best to your husband. And may I present Mr. Weasley."

"You may indeed, Mr. Potter." Susan replied formally "Thank you for the dance, conversation and your gift. Mr. Weasley?"

On the dance floor, Ron gave the bride a hesitant smile "Well, you two managed to avoid kanly at least."

"Not by much." Grumbled Susan, she leaned a bit on her partner, needing to contain her emotions "Do you happen to know what's on this scroll he gave me?"

Ron shook his head "I know Gin knows and I know they…that is…she tried to do the gift. Harry wouldn't have it. We DID get him to promise it wasn't a WWW product."

"Harry's not generally the pranking type anyway." She lamented "Thanks for the dance. Would you mind terribly escorting me to Carl?"

Abcij

Susan started using the master office immediately after graduating Hogwarts. It was the appropriate place to make her governmental and family decisions. This night, however, was the first time in twenty years the master bed was used. She was not a virgin before tonight, but the lovemaking with Carl had been especially enthusiastic. Susan limped slightly to the loo in need of a painkiller. Quite unbidden, the dance with Harry Potter intruded into the early morning dimness. The unopened scroll sat on HER desk, beckoning her.

As soon as she untied the cord, a picture fell out. Typical Wizarding, it moved through a short sequence and repeated. Two babies laughing and falling all over each other. It was so sweet you couldn't help grinning. After a few repeats, Susan knew who the babies were and choked back a sob. A beautiful gift, but ultimately cruel, a joy full of broken promises. Eyes leaking, she read. It was a paragraph from the Potter will.

Sirius Remus and Pete are my best childhood friends. But there's something only parents can share. Jo and Neil Bones filled that place for us. They're not Harry's Godparents, but I hereby appoint them Guardians should anything happen to both Sirius and Alice. Praying that is unnecessary. A caveat agreed to by Lily is Harry MUST NOT goto Petunia Dursley nee Evans, her sister. Lily vetoed the Pureblood notion of arranged marriage, as is her right as Duchess of House Potter. Nevertheless, as Duke Potter, I offer my blessing…should it come to pass…the closeness our children have shared from infancy, matures into an adult relationship.

This, Susan Hopkins thought, had to be one of the saddest wedding nights ever. She cried until she fell asleep in her chair. When she woke she sought the comfort of her husband.

"Com'ere darlin" Carl Hopkins mumbled as he drew her close "Wazzamattah?"

She answered "Later. Just hold me now."