Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dripples, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

3. Chapter 3 - Hocus Pocus

A/N: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights.

A/N2: This is part of my Ramblings and Dribbles series. Some may seem unfinished or rushed or rough around the edges. That is the way I write. If I ever elevate items in this to a full story or one-shot, it will be much better edited and fleshed out.

-oOo-

Harry Potter meets Hocus Pocus

-oOo-

Chapter 1

RULES:

1) Salem Witches Institute: Small private school. About 10 per class.

2) Higgins Warlock Academy: Small private school. About 10 per class.

3) American Schools: Some small school. America is about 4.7 times the population of Great Britain. That would make about 2800 students per year in the USA if they have the same rates as Britain. Figure Ilvemorny may not be the only school. Given Salem's history, having two small schools (50-100 students) sounds reasonable.

4) Using characters from Hogwarts in America

5) Horror or not?

6) Four part series to be released in October with last one released on Halloween.

-oOo-

Chapter 1

October 31, 1997

Harry was laughing at Dean as the boy tried to chug a whole bottle of soda at one time. Seamus was egging him on while Ron eyed him, afraid the boy was going to beat his record. As they sat around the bench, Neville nudged him and Harry looked in the direction Neville indicated. It was the whole reason Harry had convinced them to come here.

Five girls were walking across the large Quad that separated the two schools in Salem, Massachusetts. The witches of Salem Witches' Institute looked very attractive in their black skirts, white blouses and red checkered vests. They all stopped to look at them. "You finally going ask her," Ron asked looking at the girls.

Harry was looking at the one in the center of the group. The once frizzy hair had been tamed over the years into curly locks. He had thought her buck teeth cute, but she was much more attractive now they were fix. What always got him where here chocolate brown eyes. It also got him she had wiped the floor with him the first year they had met at the inter-school dueling Tournament. Last year he had finally won over her, and she seemed to look at him every time they passed now.

Ron and Neville pushed him towards the girls. Harry stumbled and stood, trying to look like he had meant to do it. A few of the girls laughed at him, but the one he wanted to talk to just looked at him.

"Have a nice trip there, Potter?" It was the tallest of the girls. Daphne Greengrass was very pretty, with straight dark hair, dark eyes and attractive curves with a narrow waist. She wasn't the one he wanted though.

He shrugged, trying to act cool. The snickers behind him said it wasn't looking that way. He was going to give his two 'best friends' a thorough beating in the practice ring tomorrow. "Oh, you know, with idiots for friends."

"You asshole," Ron blurted.

A small smile came to the tall dark hair girl. She was what people call the New Bloods. Those of Pureblood Families that came from Europe and still adhered to some of those old trapping. "What can we do for you? Or do you always fall for someone pretty," Daphne asked him.

He tried to cover his embarrassment with bravado. There was more laughing from his friends and the other girls smiled. "Well, for one girl," he said, looking past her to Hermione Granger. She looked abashed at the praise, which made his insides squirm. "So, uhm, we were going out for Samhain tonight to the old Sanderson Place. Are you interested?"

He still didn't look away from Hermione, hoping her brown eyes would look up to him. He knew she was almost a year older, but he was hoping if they came he could finally talk with her tonight, away from the inter-school events. He could never seem to get her alone, even if she looked like she was the quiet one in the group of friends. Daphne looked quickly at Hermione. "What time?" Daphne asked.

"About eight. We have to be back by eleven," he told her. There were perks to being in their sixth year. Curfew was extended for them on Friday nights.

"Is Ronald going," a brown hair girl asked. She was a pretty girl with some nice curves, but not who he wanted.

"I'll be there," Ron said, not sounding as cocky.

"We'll be there," Daphne responded.

"Wicked," Harry said, a smile coming to his face before he tried to look cool again. Hermione got a small smile on her face that quickly disappeared as well.

Daphne smiled at them. "Meet here or there?"

"Here is fine. It's not that far of a walk," he responded. She nodded and they walked away. He didn't take his eyes off the beautiful brunette, she looked over her shoulders a few times at him.

Ron came up and clapped his hand over his shoulder. "Way to go scarhead," he said affectionately.

"You dick," he said punching him. "I'm not going easy on you tomorrow."

Ron winced before smiling. "You wouldn't have talked with her if we didn't push you. What do you think about Lavender?"

"Cute, but not my type. Come on, lets go get some dinner and get ready."

As he walked back to Higgins Warlock Academy, Dean gave out a huge belch. "Oh, god, I thought that was going to come out while they were here. I want one of the twins," he said.

"You want both of the twins," Seamus teased.

Dean shrugged. "If they are into that."

Ron eyed him. "As if you've made out with a girl?"

"Does your sister count?"

Ron turned on Dean and went to hit him. Dean laughed as he sidestepped Ron. "You better stay away from my sister," Ron bellowed.

"Tell her to stay away from me then," Dean taunted.

"Should we save him?" Neville asked.

Seamus shook his head. "This is more fun to watch him run. He has a point though. Ginny is good looking."

Harry shrugged. He had never found her that interesting. All she cared about was Quidditch. Harry liked the dueling club better.

-oOo-

Sanderson House, Salem, Massachusetts

It was dark and trick-or-treaters were everywhere. They had decided to wear costumes, mostly transfigured, so they would blend in more. It was a legend around the area that virgins were to stay away from the old Sanderson House on Samhain, or what most called Halloween now.

He had stepped next to Hermione as they walked. She was a short green tinkerbell dress with faery wings that looked real. They probably were for the night as they moved. With the stockings highlighting her legs and the slightly low cut of the smaller dress, he wasn't sure if he could find her more attractive.

He was dressed more like Wyatt Earp, one of his favorite movies lately. The leather riding coat reminded him of an Auror's cloak and he liked how the man was always fighting for what was right.

"Hey," he said walking up to her.

"Hey," she said back.

"I saw you at the tournament last week," he said, not knowing how else to start a conversation with her.

"I saw you to. That was a good match with Rollings," she said. Rollings was an Ilvamorny dueler who was always near the top, like them.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "She almost got me when I tripped," he admitted.

She smiled. "You had time to clear the area. She was still trying to finish her transfiguration on those dogs."

"If I had, I would not have been able to get the two stunners off," he told her.

She nodded. They were walking a good thirty or more feet back from their friends, who were laughing and talking. He wondered if they had done that on purpose.

Hermione rubbed her arms. "Are you cold," he asked. It was a cool night for her costume.

"I just need to redo my warming charms once we are out of sight of the no-maj's."

He didn't hesitate to take off his coat. "Fold your wings," he told her and put the long riding coat over her shoulders.

She bit her lip, but didn't say anything.

Their friends had gotten to the gates of the cemetery. "You two love birds coming or not," his best friend Ron yelled. Harry tried to keep his cool. He hadn't even really asked her out for a date or anything.

Daphne hit him off the back of the head. "Leave them alone, Ron, or I will curse you."

"You can't do magic out here," Ron retorted.

"I am seventeen," she responded with a raised eyebrow. Ron shut his mouth. He had some common sense at times.

Neville went in first and held a hand out that Daphne took. Daphne was in a much more modest dress that made her look more like what no-maj's thought vampires looked like. Neville looked like a Pirate. Hermione leaned it. "She really likes Neville," she whispered.

"Don't get me started on how Neville likes her. Talks about her all the time."

She chuckled and they followed everyone through the cemetery. A few ghosts were wandering around, but they all knew they couldn't do anything. Harry did keep an eye for poltergeist though. They could be right terrors on Halloween.

Up three terraces and then into a wood copse they walked. In the center of the wood copse was an old house that once belong to three of darkest witched known in the early days of the new World. Salem was still a colonial town at the time. All efforts to remove the house by the Ministry had failed and now it was an 'off limits' place. That didn't stop them though. Hermione and Daphne were the only ones seventeen. Harry didn't turn seventeen until next summer. So it was up to them to make a small hole in the wards and let them in.

Parvati moved close to Dean. The twins looked like cats, with movable ears and tails. He was impressed with the human transfiguration skill to do that. Parvati was in white while Padma was black. Dean looked more like a pirate than Neville. He smiled to see both twins move close to Dean. Seamus didn't really care. They all knew he didn't fancy girls.

Ron wrapped an arm around Lavender. She was dressed like a white rabbit, with a thick white fur coat to ward off the chill night. Ron was dressed like a medieval swordsman.

Hermione moved closer to him and he extended his arm. She moved into his side. His heart started to thud. He had never expected this. "The magic feels odd here," she said.

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Can't you feel it? Something really dark happened here once," she told him and shivered.

Is that the slight goosepimpling he was feeling? He had originally thought it was just Hermione, but he had to admit where she was against his side felt much better than the other magic. "You want to go back?" he asked her.

She shook her head. "Not without my friends."

He nodded, understanding.

Daphne unlocked the door and when they walked in, Harry was struck how unlike a modern magical home this was. He was rather impressed with the potion ingredients around the walls. "That is lethifold essence," Hermione said in awed disgust.

"And this is powdered horned serpent horns. There must be tens of thousands of dracots worth of ingredients here. Why would they leave all this," he asked.

"Many of these are banned or not even available." She started to reach for a large glass jar and he grabbed her hand.

"It was left there for a reason," he told her.

She nodded, her eyes on his hand. He didn't want to let go, but he did.

"Are two coming over here?"

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"What all Higgin Warlocks do at least once," Seamus said holding up his wand. "We play a few rounds of spin the wand and then get out of here."

Hermione didn't look happy at that idea, but everyone else did. Spin the wand was not a game Harry really wanted to play either. Last time he had been forced to run through the halls of Academy in his underwear. He really did not want to be dared like that again. It was one thing in a school with all males, it was another in front of the girl he liked.

"What's wrong, Harry, afraid to play," Seamus said with a smirk.

"I am going to play," Daphne said.

"So are we," the Patil twins said together.

Hermione glared at Daphne for a moment before taking his coat off and handing it to him. "A few rounds and then we leave," she told her friend.

Daphne nodded in agreement.

He sat on the floor and she sat next to him, straightened her short dress so no one had a look up it. He tried not to look at her long legs.

"I'll go first," Parvati excitedly called out. She put her wand on the floor and spun it. It spun like a top for a good ten seconds before slowing and pointing towards Neville. Daphne cast a hard look at the grinning Parvati.

"Truth or dare," she asked.

Neville swallowed. "Truth."

"Why haven't you asked Daphne out yet?" the girl questioned.

"Parvati," Daphne said in a low warning. A few laughed at them. Harry didn't. In this wizarding game, if you didn't answer truthfully or do the dare, there were consequences, like pink hair for a few days, or hair growing in places you didn't want it to for a few hours. Neville looked up at Parvati and then Daphne. "I thought you out of my league," he said truthfully to her.

Daphne rose an eyebrow. "You could ask me out now," she offered.

"Would you like to go to the movies tomorrow?" he asked her.

"I would love to," she responded with a smile.

Neville spun his wand and it landed on Dean.

"Dare," Dean said before Neville could say anything.

"I dare you to touch the Book," he said motioning towards a book on a pedestal. Dean swallowed. It was covered in sewn skin. Harry hoped it was some animals, but the old legends said it was human skin.

Dean shivered as he touched it and quickly sat between the twins.

"I'm next," Dean declared. His wand was already spinning and it stopped on Seamus. "What's your poison?"

"Truth."

"Who's your boyfriend," Dean asked.

A few of the girls gasped. Seamus just shrugged. "No one. I do like that no-maj boy we met last weekend."

Dean looked disappointed. "That was a bust."

Seamus spun his wand. "Daphne," he said with a smile.

"Truth," she said eyeing him.

"Did you make out with Draco at the Christmas Ball last year?"

Daphne pursed her lips. "It was a mistake that will never be repeated and I will never get that drunk again."

A few of them laughed. Neville looked glum. "I would still like to go with you tomorrow, if you want," she said uncertain to the blonde boy.

Neville perked up some. "I would like that."

Harry watched Daphne put her wand down. Hermione tensed as it spun and stopped, pointing toward her. Daphne had a sly smile. She just looked at Hermione for a moment while everyone else looked as her expectantly. "Dare," Hermione said defiantly.

"You need to kiss one of us for two minutes," she said.

Harry had a sudden sinking feeling. He hadn't really kissed anyone before and she could choose any of them. Hermione looked daggers at her friend before turning to Harry and putting her hands on his face and pulling him in. He didn't resist her and soon they were kissing. It grew sloppy as he felt his blood start to course through him and she moved closer as he wrapped an arm around her. After a moment, he did as Dean had told him, and pushed his tongue to her lips. She moved hers to meet his and they were soon kissing rather heavily.

"Time," someone called out. Harry didn't move, enjoying the way her lips moved against his. He was elbowed in the side.

"Ow," he said pulling away. Ron snickered. Hermione and him were breathing a little hard and her eyes narrowed at his friend.

"I'll remember that," she warned Ron.

"Your turn," he said to her. She spun her wand and it landed on Seamus again.

"Truth," Seamus said.

"Do you find Ronald attractive," she said rather coolly. Harry reached for her hand and she wove her fingers into his.

Seamus laughed. "He's a little thin and I'm not really into redheads."

Ron bristled. "I've been getting muscle," he said flexing his arm. Harry laughed with the other boys. "Just spin it."

Seamus shrugged and it stopped on Ron.

"Dare," Ron said with some bravado.

"I dare you to light the candle," Dean said pointing to a large candle with a black wick and black veins.

"Seamus, don't," Padma said.

"That is not cool," Neville agreed.

Daphne's eyes went wide. "Ron, don't do it."

Harry groaned. Telling him not to only made him jump up. Lavender tried to grab his hand. "Ron, don't," he yelled out, getting up to tackle him. They all knew the rumors of a curse on it and with the feel of the magic here, Harry wasn't sure it didn't have one.

His wand was out and a spark came from it before a stunning spell hit him. The candle lit and a black flame started to burn. Harry didn't wait, "Get out of here," he yelled out, feeling the wrongness. He hauled Hermione up and then Lavender. The others scrambled up as the floor boards started to rattle and a sickly green light came through the cracks in the floor.

"Rennervate," Hermione said holding onto him as she cast at Ron. Ron didn't wake or move.

The shaking stopped and they all stood still for a moment. "Ron," Lavender cried out, dropping to his side.

Ron wasn't moving. "Rennervate," Hermione cast again.

Ron didn't move. Harry pulled his own wand. He would face the Board of Underage Magical Use if he had too. "He isn't moving. I'll levitate him."

"You're seventeen," Hermione asked.

"No, but my dad is an Auror. He's kind of high up," he said.

Her eyes bulged. "Potter! You're father's Chief Auror James Potter son?" she questioned in a high pitch voice.

"Can we talk about it later," he pleaded feeling a little abashed. He didn't like to advertise that.

"Someone's outside," Padma said from the door.

"Fuck," Dean swore.

"I can't get caught," Lavender panicked. "My father will send me to Ilvamonry if I do one more thing."

Harry didn't have time to think on that. He flicked his wand and Ron started to float. "Up the stairs," he ordered. Hermione grabbed his hand as they all rushed up the stairs, and Harry followed levitating Ron. Harry was hoping they could jump out a window or something. He really didn't want to get caught by Aurors. His father may not kill him, but his mum might. His father would probably have a good laugh and clap him on the back if mum wasn't around and this turned out to be a prank.

"Quiet," Daphne ordered everyone. The door burst open and Harry felt the magic.

"Sisters! We are back!" A woman exclaimed loudly and joyfully. "What a marvelous night! Where is our savior," she asked with a tone that made him grab her hand harder.

"No one is here, Wini. Oh, our wands!" A woman said with a very attractive voice.

"Those fools, they kept them. Oh, and my lovely book. Don't you worry, mummy will use you soon," the first woman said.

"Wini," they heard a third witch say softer. "Wini!" She sounded excited.

"Yes, Mary?"

"I smell children," she said slyly. Neville put a hand over Daphne's mouth, but Padma made a squeak.

"Oh, good, I'm hungry," the third witch said.

"Can you apparate," Harry asked in a whisper.

"Daphne and I both can," Hermione whispered back. "I've never side-along anyone before."

"You have to do it. I will hold them off," he told her, looking at Ron. His best mate was starting to look pale.

"You aren't doing that without me," Neville declared.

"No time. Hermione and Daphne, you have to try."

"Fine. I will take two," Hermione said with determination.

"I can also."

Harry felt the magic of a homeo revelio. "Upstairs," the second woman said.

He didn't get to say anything else as a few piercing spells shot through the floor. Parvati screamed in pain as one went through her shoulder. "GO!" he screamed. Blood was already on her hand. "Protego Maxima!" His wand was pointing at the floor and the spells lit the floor blue as they hit the shield. Hermione grabbed Ron and Lavender. "Go," he yelled at her getting up and moving towards the stairs. Daphne cracked away with Parvati and Padma. Hermione was gone a second later.

"It's a warlock," one of the woman hissed. Dean and Seamus followed him.

He felt his shield start to crack under the onslaught. It suddenly stopped and he jumped back. A ball of fire burst up the stairs. It looked like a giant snake.

His first thought was fiendfyre. He wiped his wand up, "Aqaumenti turres!" A wall of water shot up. He then cast another shield charm behind it and on the floor. The firery snake slammed into the water and shield. The fire hissed and the creature screamed. His shield below them was suddenly hit by dozens of peircing spells. Daphne came back. "Get them out of here. Stupifiturres!" It was a stunning wall his father had taught him after last year's dueling tournament.

He then cast his shield on the floor again. The giant fire snake tried to get through the water and shield again and hissed angrily, both as it extinguished and in in pain. Daphne grabbed them and was away. The fire monster kept trying to get in again. Harry was hoping Hermione was not coming back. He blasted out the window, not understanding why the Aurors hadn't shown yet.

He moved towards the window, a few piercing spells starting to crack his shield and the fire snake threatening to break in. "There you are," a woman said. She was plump, in a 1600's brown dress and flying. He ducked as she started to cast more peircing spells. There was a crack next to him and he jumped up to tackle Hermione. She screamed and a few spells split the wood where she had been standing. "Get us out here," he screamed at her.

"I need to stand," she yelled over the screeching fire snake.

"In for a sprink, in for a dracot," he muttered before doing something that could be incredibly reckless. A sting shot through his left arm as he tried to shield them. He grit his teeth. He grabbed her and spun them over. There was the uncomfortable feeling of being constricted and they landed he landed on the ground with an 'ohmph'. His hands were still wrapped around Hermione as she landed on him.

He rolled over, feeling like his chest was going to be a solid bruise. He gasped for air, having the air knocked out of him. Hermione groaned and sat up. "You stupid idiot," she said hitting him on the shoulder before suddenly realizing something wasn't right. "Harry!"

After a few more attempts, he finally took in a breath and started to cough. "Where are you hurt? Did you splinch yourself? Your arm is bleeding."

There was a roar in the distance and they both looked. "Where are we, Harry?"

"The upper cemetery." he wheezed, still feeling like he was struggling for breath. "I couldn't think of anything else." he forced himself to get up.

She looked scared but reached for his arm. "Stay still," she said pointing her wand at his arm. There was another roar. "Reparifors," she said.

He hissed, clenching his teeth and grabbed his arm. It felt like there was a hot poker as his body mended itself. "What was that," he said angrily.

"It was the only thing I knew to repair that much damage. It's only supposed to be used in emergencies, and I thought this might be one," she retorted with her own anger. "You still need to get it checked out and we should get back to the Aurors."

There were a bright light from behind them and they spun around. The head of the firesnake reared over the trees and half dozen streams of light shot at it before it just dissapeared. They saw the signs of spellfire. Hermione grabbed his arm.

"Can you get us to the Auror's office in Boston," he asked.

"I haven't been there. I can get us back to Salem Academy."

"Please," he told her.

There was the familiar constriction and they ended up in the center of the atrium of the girls school. Two Aurors were there and Harry raised a shield as they spun on them with wands up. "Oh, fuck," Harry muttered.

"Oh fuck if right, you little bastard," a man with black hair, grey eyes and friendly mutton chops. "What the hell you doing over at the Sanderson place?"

"The same most other Higgin's boys do. We were playing spin the wand until Seamus dared Ron to light the stupid candle," he responded.

Hermione grabbed his arm tight. As his adrenaline started to wain, he felt a little dizzy.

Uncle Sirius shook his head. "Spin the wand I understand. What the hell were you doing there?"

"The sixth years boys are supposed to go every year. We couldn't convince the other dorm," Harry defended. "Uncle Sirius that isn't the point! We were just attached and almost killed!"

"Harry need to see a Healer," Hermione spoke up.

Harry started to sway. He may have used more magic than he realized. He sat heavily on the floor as Hermione cried out his name. He blinked a few times before he felt his jacket being pulled off and his shirt sleeve banished. He focused as his Uncle asked, "Did you do this?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione said. "I don't know if I healed everything."

"How is Ron," he asked.

"They already took him to Eastern Medical. You said he lit a candle?"

"It had a black flame. The Sanderson sisters are back," Harry told his Uncle.

Uncle Sirius stopped casting over his arm. "Say that again?"

"The Sanderson sisters! The witches from the story!"

"Who," his Uncle asked. He looked down at Harry's arm. "Harry, what did you do to your arm?"

He looked at his Uncle for a moment. "Auror Black, Harry was hurt my a piercing hex," Hermione said uncertain, as though she had already said it.

"What were you doing fooling around with a piercing hex," he asked. "You're father and I have taught you better than to fool around like that."

"Uncle Sirius, we didn't cast any piercing hexes. Check my wand. We were being attacked!"

"By who," his Uncle suddenly said concerned.

"The Sanderson sisters," Hermione responded.

His Uncle stopped for a moment before looking at his arm. "Harry, what did you do to your arm?"

Harry looked at Hermione. Her eyes were wide and it looked like she was thinking hard.

"I hurt it," Harry said uncertain.

"I can see that, you berk. It looks like you got hit with a piercing charm. What were you doing?"

"Trying not to get to killed by the Sanderson sisters," Harry spat back.

It happened again.

"Harry, I think there is jinx on the name," Hermione whispered.

"What did you do to your arm," his Uncle exclaimed.

"Uncle Sirius, where is Ron," he asked.

His Uncle looked at him. "I don't know. I haven't seen your mate in weeks, since you were home for the summer. Who healed this? It looks like most of it is healed, but it's going to leave a scar if we don't get you to a Healer. What were you doing?"

"I fell. Hermione healed it before I bled to much."

"Who's Hermione," the man asked looking up.

Hermione stuck her hand out. "Hermione Granger, Auror Black."

His Uncle looked at her and then gave Harry a wink. "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Granger. How long you been dating my nephew?"

Harry felt so off he blushed at his Uncle. He thought he saw the same color come to Hermione's cheeks. "Tonight," Hermione offered.

Understanding suddenly came across his Uncle face. "You hurt yourself showing off," he asked.

Harry scrunched his brow. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! "Yeah, Uncle Sirius, something like that. Ah, I need to go find our friends."

His Uncle winked at him again. He helped Harry up and whispered, "Nice catch," to Harry as he brushed him off. "You need to see a physician tomorrow. You're mum won't be pleased at that," he said pointing to Harry's arm.

"Ah, sure, Uncle Sirius. Don't tell dad," he pleaded.

"And ruin the surprise when you take this fetching young lady home at Thanksgiving," he said in an easy smile. His Uncle took Hermione's hand and kissed it. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Granger."

Hermione looked flustered for a moment. "Thank you. We, ah, should be going now," Hermione told his Uncle. "Visitors can stay in the lower lounge."

Hermione just about pulled him in and he put his coat back on. "What the fuck is going on," he demanded in a low voice.

"A jinx. There is a jinx on the names. I don't know if it is just the sisters name, or thier last name, but people forget when you say it. Harry, where is Ron and everyone," she asked.

"I don't know. Why don't we forget," he asked.

She shook her head. "I don't know!"

He rubbed his arm. It was starting to ache.

Hermione frowned. "We need to find the others and