Susan and the rest of house Hufflepuff desperately try to hold onto peace and normality after the death of the unofficial leader of their house Cedric last summer. But with each passing days the talks and whispers of dark tidings spread though the halls of Hogwarts. When finally someone from the light takes a stand Susan finds herself swept up and taking charge of Dumbledore's army along side one Harry Potter.
Hey everyone. I know, I know it has been an awfully long time since I updated any of my stories and I don't really have a great excuse. I could probably blame new projects, work and the general craziness of life but in the end it was mostly due to me being an incredible slow writer. Everything I write is probably redone at least a dozen times and that is without large story changes coming into play. So when this idea popped into my head, my initial plan was to complete it before posting anything... I'm kinda jumping the gun here. I have the following 6 chapters (which is about the halfway mark) and have an entire outline. I just hope seeing people's reactions is going to make it easier to continue writing.
I fell in love with the pair as soon as I found it. The idea of Harry spending time with people outside his usual group is always interesting to me as it forces him to come to terms with other people's point of view. There is just more conflict in those scenarios that within house Gryffindor by itself.I specifically chose a Hufflepuff as their ideals of loyalty and their general kind nature was something I wanted to explore. How would having a quiet more supportive partner influence Harry's development. I love the golden trio but they are all strong, independent characters who are to closely involved and passionate to take a step back and breath.
Important to note in advance I won't go down the usual using Susan to get Amelia and the DMLE involved road as there are a lot of stories involving that plot line already. I don't want you going in and expecting that only to be disappointed but I think exploring Susan's character, who is mostly a blank slate, outside of her Aunt's shadow still allows for an interesting dynamic. This story will be rather introspective and heavily character based but that is most of my work after all.
The story will take place during 5th year (original I know) and will follow canon in regards to plot points and timelines. The big changes will be in character interactions and in both the main characters' character arc. There won't be any bashing and the romance aspect will be a slow burn with fluffy moments sprinkled in between. I hope you enjoy the story and as always let me know what you think!
Unlike what many people would assume, Susan Bones was happy despite being made an orphan at the tender age of one. She never went hungry or without gifts and despite her Aunt Amelia being one of the busiest workers at the ministry she always made sure to make time for her niece.
Still, it was at Hogwarts where the girl was at her happiest. How could she not be? After being sorted in Hufflepuff the girl had built a tight-knit group of friends, that honored the moniker of their house as home of the loyal. Then during her third year, she started dating one of her close friends and they were still going strong after more than half a year. Best of all, she got to spent every day with her best friend and pseudo-sister, Hannah Abbot.
The castle was truly a special place for Susan and she would always look forward to when she could come back after the summer. Not even the dark tidings following the death of Cedric Diggory could stop the girl from anticipating the start of her fifth year. Or maybe it was because of them and the ever-growing dark circles under her aunt's eyes that she was so set on returning to her friends as soon as possible
But not even Hogwarts could fully shield its student from the approaching darkness. If professors Umbridge's intrusion of the castle and the woman's constant clashes with Harry Potter weren't enough of a reminder, the perpetual empty spot at the center of the Hufflepuff table made it clear for anyone to see.
But Susan was back amongst friends and that was what mattered to her. During the trip on the Hogwarts express, the group of six made a promise that they would stick together and make sure they were able to laugh each and every day. Even if at times it felt more like putting up an act.
It took some work but soon the group slipped back into a new routine. Their first month back passed and as the trees shifted their colors they made their way to the great hall for an early Saturday morning breakfast.
Susan sat down beside her friends and started filling her plate. At the age of fifteen, she was about average length and had started to mature into her feminine figure. Her long dark red hair hung in its regular braid across the girl's shoulder, complementing her warm amber eyes. Her smooth, slightly pale skin was only broken up by a small number of freckles around her nose and cheekbones.
Susan never saw herself as one of the prettiest girls in the castle, but Hannah would always insist that she was the cute witch next door and she should be proud of her looks. She never said it out loud, but Susan always felt proud when her beautiful friend would say that about her even if she didn't fully understand the muggle phrase.
Ernie Macmillan, a tall, stout boy with shaggy dirty blond hair, tugged at the sleeve of the redhead beside him. "Susan, can you pass me the sausages?"
Putting a finger to her lips, the girl tilted her head to the side with a small smirk. "Maybe... But you have to ask nicely."
Rolling his eyes Ernie leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek with an exaggerated smack. "Sausages please."
Giggling Susan passed him the plate. Seated across from the couple, Justin, Megan, and Leanne were enjoying themselves by making the usual mock kissing sounds. Even after this relationship being nearly eight months old by now, teasing the couple was still the group's favorite pastime.
But as always it was Susan's best friend, the prefect Hannah Abbot, that made the most noise. "Really Ernie, just a little kiss on the cheek? Do I need to teach you how to properly kiss Susie again?" Hannah was taller than her friend with soft blue eyes and long wavy blond hair that she had finally taken out of her usual pigtails last year in favor of letting it grow and hang down her back. Like Susan, the blond never thought much of her appearance, but she exuded such confidence that the redhead couldn't help but think of her as a beauty.
Susan and Ernie blushed a deep crimson much to the amusement of the rest of the group. Quickly putting a hand on her boyfriend's arm, Susan tried to calm him down before he could take Hannah's bait. After four years in the same house, he still hadn't learned just how far the blond was willing to go for her jokes. Susan had long figured out that's better to just distract the blond than asking her to stop. "So does anyone have any plans for Hogsmeade today?" She said looking around the table.
Knowing the girl for years didn't mean that she always picked the right topics for her distractions. The blond's smile grew, and she slammed her hands on the table. "If you did they are now canceled."
"Hannah, you know that Susan and I are going on a date today." This time her boyfriend couldn't ignore the bait. He never liked it when people came between their one-on-one time.
"You can still do that in the morning. But I am claiming Susie for the afternoon." Hannah said as she grabbed Susan's arm and pulled the girl closer to her.
"Uhm what are we doing?" Susan smiled towards her friend as she was once again playing mediator between the two.
"We are going to the Hog's head. You guys can come too if you want." As Hannah looked towards the rest of the group. her grip on the redhead's arm tightened. Her invitation not as optional as that of the rest.
Justin and Megan stared at their friend like she had lost her marbles. "Why would we go to that dump?" "What's wrong with the three broomsticks?" Only Leanne, the ever adventurous Badger, looked on intrigued. "There is something happening isn't there?"
After looking over both her shoulders, Hannah leaned in over the table, the rest of the group followed suit, and spoke softly. "They have a special guest speaker today. Harry Potter."
At the mention of the Gryffindor, Ernie snorted. "I'm not giving up my Saturday afternoon to listen to another Potter rant." Knowing it's useless to get Hannah to let go of Susan, the boy had moved over to the redhead's former spot. "Bloody Hell, we get enough of those during Defense class already."
"Correct but those haven't been interesting since the first two. Today he is going to come clean on the rumors." The blond smirked. She would never let someone veto her plans that easily. Especially not Ernie. "All of them."
Everyone at the table sat up a little straighter. The Gryffindor golden boy had been the number one target of the rumor mill from the moments he had set foot in the castle. But even after having the spotlight on him for over four years now, nobody had ever figured out if any of the stories were actually true. "At least so I am told." Hannah leaned back, satisfied by the reactions of her friends.
"No way." Leanne whispers out, her eyes open wide as she fidgeted in her seat. Susan couldn't blame her, she was already feeling the excitement in herself grow as well. Were they finally going to learn what has been happening right under their noses for the past years? Were they going to finally learn the mystery that was Harry Potter?
"Going there will only put a target on our backs." Ernie's sneer brought Susan's excitement down a notch. He might be right. After all, even Aunt Amelia had warned her to be careful around the Gryffindors and Slytherins this year. Especially Harry. "Who is to say he will even tell us the truth? There is no way to be sure that he isn't making stuff up."
"I know you don't care so you don't have to come. Me and Susie will just go and give you the summary during dinner." While Hannah waved the boy away, his concerns did make sense. Harry had never spoken up about this stuff before. So why now when the papers were slandering his name and half the castle believed him to be a liar did he decide to speak up? Hannah excitedly tugged at her sleeve. "Come on Susie, I know you are curious too. You always wanted to figure out if it really was a Cockatrice that was petrifying people during our second year."
She was right. Susan wanted to know that. She wanted to know if any of the rumors would turn out to be true. She wasn't ashamed to admit that growing up in the magical world that she, alongside every other magical child, was curious to learn more about the boy who lived. She had read some of the Harry Potter books and asked her aunt to tell her the story of that Halloween night more than ones. The sheer promise that Harry was going to be in her year even made the long wait for her Hogwarts letter a little more bearable.
Arriving at the castle this curiosity, this mythical image of the boy they had all built up in their heads was shattered. Until his name was called, Susan would never have guessed that this small, skinny boy was really the Harry Potter. Even now she still struggled to accept that the savior of the Wizarding world was shorter than her.
But it was that small, scared-looking boy that kept showing over and over again that he belonged in the house of Lions. In class, on the quidditch pitch and if the rumors were true many other places throughout the castle. No matter where he was, the boy would charge into reckless situations to help those around him and always came out victorious. Once again adding to his own legend.
So with a small smile, Susan turned to her friend. "If we are just there for the rumor, it can't hurt right?"
They were true. So many of them were true. Eventually, the entire group had decided to come to the Hog's Head, many with dozens of questions at the back of their minds. But now as they sat listening to the boy recounting some of his adventures, even Hannah and Ernie were brought to a dead silence.
"It was a Basilisk. He fought a Basilisk." Susan mumbled to herself as Harry had finally arrived at the part of his story where he faced the monster of Salazar Slytherin. Not a Cockatrice, but a fully grown Basilisk.
The boy had begun his story slowly. The discomfort in sharing such intimate parts of his life with mere schoolmates was plain for all to see. But Hermione and Ron had asked much of the group when they announced their idea of a defense club. Nobody wanted to hear their arguments even if they agreed with quite a few of them. It was too big of an ask for a reason and there was only one way to convince them of the benefits.
Everyone there that afternoon had come for one thing only. To finally get some answers on what had been going on in their school. Yet Harry was reluctant to speak up. He looked like he was the only one who truly didn't want to be there. But after Neville asked about the boy's skill with the Patronus charm, did he finally open up. But by now Susan wasn't so sure if she really wanted to know the truth anymore.
The boy who lived had a reputation of being rather introverted. Susan always saw him walk through the halls accompanied only by Ron and Hermione. Avoiding the large groups like the ones Hufflepuffs and Slytherins tended to move in. Even at meals he often took the trio to some of the quieter parts of the table away from the rest. Only the Quiditch team could get him to join the lively center of the Gryffindor table at times. People always said that Neville Longbottom was the shy and quiet lion but if you would ask Susan, she would say that the title could just as well have belonged to Harry.
When he started his story on his encounters with the Dementors in the third year, he was tense and inconsistent. Jumping back and forward in time so frequently that it became a struggle to keep up. But by the time he told them of his fight with a sea of the creatures, his back had straightened out and he was confidently recreating the scenes in front of their eyes. After taking a moment to breathe he launched forward. Recounting the events of the battle, then of the events of the first and fourth year, and was now building up to this climax with the battle in the Chamber of Secrets.
"The Basilisk lunged at me. Its mouth wide open. If I ran forward, I could probably have walked straight into its mouth without needing to duck." Harry was fully emerged in his memory acting out all moves his younger self made. Susan wouldn't even be surprised if he had forgotten all about the audience before him. Yet he had brought them to the edge of their seats, making them share in both his struggles and successes like a poet of old. Who knew this shy boy could be such a storyteller?
"I had climbed to the stop of Salazar's statue, but it wasn't high enough and the Basilisk had pushed me against the wall. I couldn't run. If I tried it could have easily grabbed me." Harry's booming voice echoed across the decrepit pub as he stood before his audience, wand in hand. "It tried to bite me again, so I lunged forward screaming. I stabbed the sword upwards, and it pierced straight through the top of its mouth and out its head." He stepped forward, jabbing his wand up hard. His body was shivering, his right arm twitched violently, and he was breathing rapidly.
Susan could see Ron and Hermione still sitting beside him as they had done from the start. But unlike with the other stories, they weren't looking at the group before them to gauge their reactions, they were fully immersed in Harry's story. From seeing the bushy-haired girl's eyes becoming glossy, it was clear that this was the first time they had heard the story as well. At least in this much detail that is.
Harry dropped his arm down to his side and turned back to his audience. He looked like he wanted to continue but seemingly refrained himself and finished with a simple. "It was death." The pub grew silent for a few minutes. Not even the other patrons dared to make a sound.
"How can you stab it through its mouth without getting bitten? Isn't Basilisk venom lethal?" Susan wasn't sure who spoke up first. Probably a Ravenclaw, they would catch such a detail. But no matter who it was, they had broken the spell cast on the group and others quickly added their own voices.
After listening to one fantastical and terrifying tale after the other, it became too much for people to accept and they look for any reason to cast it all aside. "Nobody could survive that." Ernie shouted out as more and more of the Hufflepuffs started to dismiss everything Harry had said.
The boy in question shrunk back as if physically struck by the wave of questions and doubts thrown at him. As he clasped his hand around his wand arm, Susan's eyes widened. Oh Merlin... "I was bitten. It's fang... it was lodged in my arm when I pulled back."
The room went quiet at his admission. What he just described to them was a death sentence. Yet here he stood. Many in the audience were surely waiting for the first person to get up and leave this liar's nest. Yet nobody made a move. Frozen in place as they tried to will themselves to reject his words. They had to. The dangers of the world already hung above their heads. Waiting for them to acknowledge it there in a dark, dingy pub. Many of the students were already going over their memories for the past years to see if any wrong choice would have put them in the path Harry had walked instead.
But Susan wasn't focused on the what ifs or trying to spot contradictions or lies in the boy's story. Instead, she watched him rub his thumb up and down and thought back to an early part of the story. Where the serpent was blinded and Harry was saved by Dumbledore's familiar. The same familiar she was loved to see those few times she was required to go to the headmaster's office.
"Phoenix tears." Her softly echoed thoughts boomed through the silence that had formed in the inn. "Phoenix tears cured the poison."
As if hit by a spell, the tension left Harry's body as she spoke up. He released his arm and for the first time that afternoon, Susan saw the fleeting signs of a smile. "Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix. He came back once... once the basilisk was gone. I was lucky."
That was the moment, the final piece of the puzzle that made all his stories fit together. Luck. Harry wasn't the second coming of Merlin. He wasn't the savior of the world. He was a normal student just like the rest of them. Even if he was good at defense against the dark arts it was only because he had to use those skills more they ever had. It was luck and the help of his friends that caused him to stand before them that day.
With his audience stunned into silence Harry sank back into his seat and Hermione took the stage. She repeated their plan for the defense club and welcomed all of them to join. But as the students stood up it was solely the Gryffindors made their way towards the sign-up booth. The fifth year Hufflepuffs stood away from the rest. Some of them eyeing the line wearingly but none of them were convinced on what to do next.
"He needs to know something." Hannah was leaning towards joining. Ever the top student, Susan was sure the prefect would consider joining just for the chance of bonus points on her OWLS. "Wlse he wouldn't be here anymore."
The group winced at the blunt reasoning but still, none made a move for either the line or the exit. "It can only get us in trouble." Ernie shook his head. As always he stood on the opposite end of the spectrum from girl.
"You don't believe he is back?" Megan rubbed her arm in a fruitless attempt to bring herself some comfort. With Cedric gone, most had started to believe might have been true.
"I don't know." Even if none of them wanted to admit it. "But if he is, I don't want us to become Potter's sacrificial army." As the group continued to dance around a decision, all of them too scared to argue either point strongly, Susan was watching Harry.
Simply put the boy was a mess. His gaze kept shooting from the Gryffindors standing in line to the groups of the other houses spread throughout the inn. He was most likely trying to figure out if the Puffs and Claws would believe him or if he would again be ostracized by them like years past. It was what she would do.
Susan felt a familiar pang at the thought. She had never apologized to him for not doing more when her housemates went after him last year. She had long since given up on asking for forgiveness for their second year.
The redhead watched as he grew paler and paler with every Gryff that signed up. With every new student that asked him to teach them to survive. With every new person, he could fail. He was only a child. Just like all of them.
Susan stepped away, unnoticed by her friends, and joined at the end of the line. She raked her brain for what to say before all the Gryffindors before of her were signed up. But only a few seconds later she stood there in front of him. End of the line.
"Thank Merlin you are here Bones." Ron sighed in relief besides the raven-haired boy. "I was scared we wouldn't get a single Puff."
Surely everyone in the inn was now looking at her. Including her friends. Tuning them out she noted down her name with a shaking hand. Glancing up she saw that Harry had paled even further as she finished her name. Another student he could fail. Trying to lessen the blow she gave him a soft, wobbly smile. "Phoenixes normally don't cry in front of people. Maybe Fawkes likes you."
His expression of panic faded to one of confusion and surprise but that was enough to scatter the last remaining bits of Susan's courage. Turning around she all but ran back towards her friends. Before she could reach them though, Hannah walked past her towards the sign-up table with a proud smile on her face. The rest of her group looked on in silent surprise. Though Ernie's annoyed glare made it clear that he didn't like her walking away without saying anything.
Susan scrambled to give them an explanation. "Well, my Auntie always says you should know how to defend yourself." Truly she hadn't put her reasoning to words just yet. She wasn't sure what they even were exactly. Was it fear for what could happen? Anger for her parents? Excitement to learn new spells? None of those reasons rang true. It just felt like the right thing to do. "If Professor Umbridge won't teach us... Maybe Harry can?"
Perhaps they were just looking for an excuse because as soon as she explained herself to the group they one by one nodded their head. As a group, they moved towards the sign-up table where Susan could see that the remaining Ravenclaws and the rest of Hufflepuff had joined the line as well.
Ernie lingered for a second before catching up with the rest of their friends. Susan sighed. She wouldn't be surprised if he had only joined because she did.
With the rest standing in a now rather long line, Susan took a seat at a nearby table to wait and think. It was better to come up with an excuse for why she was doing this. Joining a secret defense club led by Harry Potter. Just how was she going to tell her Aunt about this during the Yule break.
"Is this seat taken?" Shaken from her mild breakdown Susan looked up and saw Hermione standing by the chair next to her. She shook her head and the studious Gryffindor took a seat with a smile. "I wanted to thank you."
Susan tried to hide her growing blush and looked down at the table. "I'm sure they would have signed up anyway. They just needed some time to think."
"Maybe. But they only did so after you. That wasn't what I meant though." Looking up she saw Hermione smile almost nostalgically before turning her gaze back towards the crowd. "I wanted to thank you for what you said to Harry. It helped him calm down. He has been a bit of an edge today. All year to be honest."
As she followed Hermione's gaze Susan saw Harry backing away as two enthusiastic fourth year Ravenclaws who were peppering him with questions. Most likely about all the different charms he had mentioned in his stories. The boy looked ready to bolt. This was him when he is calm? "Well, it helped a little bit." Hermione chuckled as Ron finally came to his friend's rescue and slowly moved the Claws away with promises that all their questions would be answered during official club sessions.
"He hates it when people only talk about what he did or how amazing he is." Hermione said. "Though I can't really blame people. Ron and I keep doing it too."
The bushy-haired girl turned back to her friend. "You were the only one who talked about someone else today. The only one who did since third year." Hermione shook her head. Susan was sure that she saw the girl's eyes turn glossy once again. Was she feeling Harry's pain or was this from guilt?
Her emotions composed, Hermione shot a glare towards the redhead beside her. "But you could have complimented me or Ron you know. We helped him way more times than that bird." With that, the girl burst out in giggles. Susan wasn't exactly sure what the joke was, but the girl's laughter was contagious and she soon found herself giggling along.
The group of Hufflepuffs left Hogsmeade in a good mood. Excited about the prospect of learning new spells from the Harry Potter himself. Already discussion ranged on which spells they would learn first or what their Patronus could be.
Susan even got some light revenge on Hannah for her joking this morning by stating the blond's Patronus would definitely be a laughing Hyena. Her friend had turned a bright red at the comment as the group burst out into laughter.
In the light of the setting sun, the group decided to immediately head for the great hall. The meeting at the Hog's Head had taken longer than any of them had expected. Before Susan could enter the hall, Ernie grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the group. He led her towards a small alcove out of sight of the rest of the student body.
"What is wrong?" He hadn't let go of her hand, his grip iron tight, as he chewed on his lip. Susan runs her thumb over his hand. That usually helped calm him down.
"It's just... we have to be careful. With Potter." He ran his hand through his hair. "That much trouble doesn't just happen to someone without them looking for it. I don't want us to get hurt because of him."
He was shaking, and the redhead could easily see the fear in his eyes. "Neither do I..." Before she could finish her sentence, Ernie kissed her deeply. He was always like that, going from minimum physical touches to spontaneous kisses without a word. After almost a year Susan still struggled to read his signs.
After returning his kiss for a few seconds, Ernie leaned away from her. "That's why we are going, right? So we can learn to defend ourselves." Susan said. Looking up to meet the boy's eyes she saw that there was still doubt in his eyes.
Taking a step back, Ernie released his breath and shook his head. "Let's get dinner before Hannah sends out a search party for you." He said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he pulled Susan along with him to join their friends in the dining hall.
Meet cute completed. There was only a little interaction between the two leads but I wanted to establish Susan's daily life to now allow Harry to completely turn it on its head. To make up for the lack of romance though I will upload chapter 2 shortly instead of waiting for a week. So keep you eyes peeled and as always let me know what you thought!