Happy Friday everyone! The holidays are right around the corner and they couldn't get here soon enough. My ever more chaotic uploading schedule probably says enough but I can definitely use this upcoming break. This was originally going to be two chapters but I have listened to your feedback and tried to make it one longer chapter instead.
Hope you enjoy it. Now without further ado here is Chapter 11 - Revelations
The following day a sense of joy and excitement hung over the castle. It was a complete departure from the feelings of dread and oppression the students had become all too familiar with. Throughout the stone halls, students were eager to get out of their classes and even more so to get away from Umbridge.
Within this sea of smiles, the members of the D.A easily blended in with the crowds. But if you gave them a second look you would notice how nearly all of them had an extra skip in their step and smiled just a little brighter. None more so than Susan Bones.
The Hufflepuff co-teacher had just finished her breakfast and now found herself waiting by the doors to the Great Hall, scanning the staircase and hallways. Nobody gave it another thought as they saw the girl bouncing from feet to feet. There was nothing unusual about the Hufflepuff smiling brighter than those around her.
Just as they ignored her, they were but a passing blur to the redhead. Earlier that morning she had already exchanged her Christmas presents with her friends and she was impatiently waiting for her final gift from none other than Harry Potter.
"What's taking him so long? We're going to miss the train if he keeps us waiting any longer." Hannah said with a tinge of panic. Together with Megan, she had stayed behind to wait with their friend while the rest of the fifth-year Puffs had gone ahead to secure them a compartment.
"Are you sure he said he was going home for the break?" The raven-haired girl asked her housemate as she nervously glanced at her watch. "He usually stays at the castle for the holidays."
"He isn't staying this year. Not with Umbridge around." Everyone knew the inquisitor was out to get Harry more so than anyone else, and that was even before the rumors about his detentions started. Susan didn't want to believe them, but then the Gryffindor began wearing his gloves nearly daily. She wasn't blind, something was wrong. But until he told her she would refrain from asking questions. "He will be here soon."
Five minutes later, and after two more reminders from Megan that they had to hurry, a Gryffindor finally came down the stairs. Not the right one, but close. "Hermione? Are you alright?" The bushy-haired girl looked up in surprise at Susan. Walking in a daze she hadn't even noticed the Puffs standing there.
The girl looked terrible with large bags under her eyes and hair even more disheveled than normal. Her truck scrapped the ground as it was dragged behind her. "What are you all still doing here? Shouldn't you get to the train?"
"We could say the same for you." Hannah said pointedly. "But since you asked. It's your friend that has kept us waiting." The blond said with a hint of annoyance.
"I'm supposed to meet Harry here before we leave. Have you seen him?" Susan asked. Her earlier excitement now disappeared into worry for the boy's housemate.
"Harry?" Hermione looked around nervously, obviously scanning the halls for any curious ears. "How about we walk to the train together? I'm probably too late to get breakfast anyway." Her demeanor did a quick turnaround as she suddenly gave the puffs a toothy smile.
It was clear to all three how it was nothing but an act. They played along for now. "That's what you get for sleeping in." The Hufflepuff prefect nodded and the four girls took off.
"You're one to talk." Megan rolled her eyes. "I don't think I have ever seen you get out of bed before any of us."
Susan giggled as the two girls entered another round of their bickering. They had been doing the same thing ever since their first year. Back then it had scared the redhead into thinking that it could turn into a fight. As soon as the other two found out they had burst into laughter before reassuring the girl that they were friends despite the bickering. Maybe even because of it.
Their word had held true. No large fights had ever happened between any of the Hufflepuff girls over these five years. Except for that one time before the Yule ball but they had all decided that didn't count and to never speak of it again.
"Is that how Ron and I look to other people?" Hermione asked with a deadpanned expression. As the quartet walked through the castle entrance and onto the freezing courtyard, the girl tied her cloak closer around herself. The cold winds howled across Hogwarts' yard, biting at any speck of exposed skin.
"A little bit. You two are just… a little louder." Susan softly mumbled. Even after all the time she had spent around Gryffindors this year, the idea of joking around with one that wasn't Harry still frightened her a little.
"We aren't that bad." Hermione huffed but the effect was ruined by Hannah and Megan's giggling. Glaring towards them the Gryffindor lost her focus and her trunk got caught behind a jacked rock making her stumble forward. "Stupid trunk."
Grabbing her Chestnut wand, Susan gave it a quick swish and flick. "Float above the ground. Wingardium leviosa." Following her commands, the trunk started to float a few inches above the ground. "Show off." Her best friend fake coughed to mask the playful insult. As she glared back at the blond for the comment, the girl only grinned.
"Thank you, Susan." The Gryffindor said as she watched the trunk levitate up and into the nearby carriage. The four girls climbed into the horseless vehicle. The three housemates sat down as a united front against the lone Lion. The coach took off towards Hogsmeade.
Out of earshot of anyone else, the Puffs stared directly at the Gryffindor to get her to spill the beans. No more so than the co-leader of the D.A who fidgeted in her seat, her gaze full of worry. "I should probably come clean now." Hermione tried to joke as her composure started to crack.
"Probably." Megan crossed her arms causing the girl to shrink under the pressure. Many made jokes about house Hufflepuffs and its members but those never had to face their united fury.
"Harry isn't at Hogwarts anymore." The studious witch bit her cheek, unsure if she should say anymore. "He is… he and Ron had to leave last night."
"They left?" "What happened?" "Are the Weasley's alright?" The three puffs asked at once. But it was the last comment from Susan that drew the Gryffindor's attention.
Noticing how all of them had turned towards her, the redhead answered the unspoken question timidly. "He told me about how close he was with them. If something had happened with Hannah's parents I would want to be there for them. So, if both of them left..." Her best friend stopped her rambling by giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
"How… He… You're probably right. I am not even sure what happened. Last night, Ginny woke me up and told me that she and her brothers had to leave. Then this morning I get downstair to find that Harry is gone as well." Hermione lowered her head in her hands. She was shaking, not from intimidation of the badgers but from worry. "They didn't even say goodbye."
Seeing the girl break down any intention to learn what happened was gone. Susan quickly took a seat beside her and started to rub circles on her back. The Gryffindor looked up in surprise, not expecting to be comforted by people not even from her own house. Or maybe even by anyone but Ron and Harry.
Sensing her thought spiral, Megan placed a hand on her knee. "Boys." Hannah joked, shaking her head mockingly making the girls laugh. None louder than Hermione. If any of them saw her wipe tears from the corner of her eyes none of them mentioned it.
For the rest of the trip, the quartet talked about school and their holiday assignments. Megan was delighted to find another student who already had a detailed study schedule for their OWLS ready to go. As the two girls compared their plans and exchanged tips, Hannah boisterously declared that she had already started weeks ago causing a competitive spirit to erupt between the trio of diligent students. Slightly worried, the fourth person in the cabinet tried her best to steer the conversation away to something less dangerous like holiday shopping.
They got out of the carriage at Hogsmeade station and Susan asked the Gryffindor if she wanted to share a compartment. The girl shook her head and nodded towards one of the compartments where Neville and Luna could be seen next to the window. "I should probably let them know too." This time she cast the levitation spell on her trunk herself. "I will tell Harry that he still owns you a present and that it better be a good one." With a small smile towards the Puffs, she boarded the steam train.
Before they could follow her example, they were approached by Ernie. The blond boy was fidgeting in his place and grasping at the fabric of his pants. He wasn't even able to look his girlfriend in the eye. "Susan. I… wanted to apologize for screaming at you. For saying… for saying that about the fireplace and your magic."
After he finally willed himself to look up, the girl was flanked by their two friends. Hannah glared at him, while Megan gave him an encouraging smile. Susan schooled her feature, unsure how she should or wanted to respond. "I know how much it has always bothered you." He continued his apology undeterred and she was forced to stop her best friend from speaking up and making things worse. "How much it still bothers you and I know that you worked harder than any of us this year to get better."
The boy stepped closer and took the girl's hand in his. "I was an idiot and I am so, so sorry Susan. Can you please forgive me?" He pleaded.
Susan gave his hand a small squeeze. "Thank you, Ernie. For apologizing." Her voice cracked slightly. She stepped closer to him to steady herself. "I'm not mad at you. But what you said, it... it really hurt."
"I shouldn't have done that. I was just worried about you and… I shouldn't have underestimated you like that." Thankful that his apology seemed accepted, the blond boy allowed himself a small smile as he leaned forward. "You even learned to cast a Patronus before any of us. I could never have predicted that. You really are amazing."
From that moment her relationship with the boy became clear to Susan. She dropped his hand and stepped back to the safety of her friends. "We... we need to find a compartment." Grabbing the handle of her trunk, she hoisted it up. "Merry Christmas Ernie." She didn't wait for a reply, she didn't trust herself to do, so she made a dash for the train.
She didn't stop until she had found an empty compartment. Not bothering to stow her baggage in the overhead, the girl dropped it on the ground and let herself fall back on the seat dejected. Two more people entered through the door behind her before she heard them lock the door and shut the curtains.
Hannah sat down across from her, while Megan took the seat beside her and wrapped her arm around the redhead. "Susan? What is wrong?" The Raven-haired girl asked. "I know Ernie isn't the best with words but he apologized. That has to mean something."
"Even I could see that he really meant it." The prefect said, worry lacing her words. The compartment grew quiet as they waited for a response. "Susie? Talk to us."
The redhead knew that she should say something. That she was worrying her friends. That everything would be alright. "Did you believe I could cast a Patronus?" But she needed to know. "A corporeal Patronus."
Her best friend opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. The weight of Susan's gaze became too much for the blond and she was forced to look away. So Megan tried to step up. "I didn't think any of us could do it. I even doubted Potter could do it until he showed us." The girl said with as much tact as possible. Hannah winced knowing they were the wrong words. "Most adults even struggle with that spell, how could any of us expect to master it?"
"Harry did." Susan said as the Hogwarts Expressed sounded its whistle as the train started its long journey to London. "He always said I could. Even when I was ready to give up."
The girls remained silent long after Hogsmeade had disappeared over the horizon. It wasn't until Leanne came over to check on them that Susan broke the silence. Putting on a smile, she greeted her friend enthusiastically and invited her in.
Everyone in the compartment knew that it was nothing but a brave facade and all of them wordlessly joined in. Soon a conversation got going about anything from holiday plans to commenting on what they spotted through their window. Whatever they could think of to prevent another silence from taking over. Slowly the tension eased away as the group began to laugh and joke about some of the sillier rumors current going around Hogwarts castle.
An hour into their journey Megan took her leave to check up on Ernie. Soon after that Justin joined them and shared his small haul of candy from the food trolley with the girls. This would continue for the rest of the trip, with the Hufflepuffs constantly switching compartments to make sure that neither of their friends was alone. Susan and Ernie didn't see one another for the remainder of the trip.
The winter moon hung low in the sky when the Hogwarts express finally pulled into London and came to a stop at station 9 3/4. The younger students eagerly grabbed their trunks and rushed to their families. Feigning coolness, those older waited just a little longer in their compartments. Observant eyes could see, however, that once they left the train most quickly headed towards their parents.
Susan hugged her friends, thankful that Justin took Ernie aside earlier before they too joined their families. Grabbing her trunk, the redhead made her traditional lonely track through the packed platform towards where her aunt was waiting for her. The station was decorated with Christmas ornaments and enchanted so that fake snow would flutter from the ceiling. The reuniting families only added to the holiday cheer. Making the girl feel ever more isolated.
She looked on as Hermione embraced her parents with shaking shoulders. The adults consoled the distraught girl the best they could as they searched around the platform for answers. Most likely in the form of two Gryffindor boys who always were by their daughter's side.
Instead, it was up to Professor Lupin to come to the muggles aid. She watched as the pale, lanky man spoke to the Grangers. Before he was even finished their daughter had broken free from her parents and embraced their former professor with equal gusto. The man was clearly taken by surprise at the action and the girl felt her heart ache at how unused the man seemed with the contact.
Together, the three adults were able to calm down the bushy-haired girl and the Granger family made their way to the entrance to the muggle section. Lupin watched them off until they disappeared through the column before turning around, where his eyes met those of the lone Hufflepuff. He gave her a small if not awkward smile that took the girl by surprise. Seeing her reaction, the scarred man chuckled fondly. He gave her a small wave before he apparated away.
As she stared at the spot her professor just disappeared from a strong yet caring voice shook her out of her daze. "Looking for someone?" Turning back around she found Amelia Bones standing before her. The elder witch's morphed from amusement to concern as she noticed the tension and worry in her niece. "Susan?"
Not letting her aunt finish, the Hufflepuff dropped her trunk and embraced her deeply. "What is wrong?" The greying witch asked with concern as she wrapped one arm around the girl while the other reached for her wand. When the girl didn't respond the hardened auror sighed. "Hold on tight."
As soon as Susan nodded her head, she felt like her body was squeezed through a tube. Landing on the hardboard floor of her house, it was only her aunt's tight hold on her that stopped the girl from tumbling to the ground. Her shoulders stopped trembling as she took in the familiar surroundings of her home in southern Wales.
Putting down the girl's trunk, Amelia held her niece at arm's length and looked her over for any injuries. "What is wrong sweet pea?" When she didn't even get a reaction from the pet name, the auror led the girl to the living room.
"I just missed you." The young girl mumbled after being sat down on the couch.
"You always miss me." The greying witch joked as she took a seat beside her. "Yet normally we make it home before you hug me like that. What happened?"
"Me and Ernie… we had a fight. He apologized, it's just-" She knew that it sounded silly. The boy apologized and she could see that he meant it. She just couldn't let his words go. "He didn't believe that I could learn the Patronus spell."
"Sweet Pea I know it hurts when people doubt you, especially when it's someone you care about. And know that I will never doubt you." She took Susan's hands in her own. "But to cast that spell at your age… There is a reason they don't teach it in Hogwarts."
"You know someone who did." She said softly, worried about what her aunt would think of her new friendship with Harry.
"Potter?" Not many things could take the hardened auror by surprise, yet this certainly did. "He taught you that spell? Why?"
"Professor Umbridge doesn't teach us anything. She won't even let us practice any spells in class. She just makes us read our textbook. So Harry started teaching us." She was a little ashamed of the disdain that was clear in her voice, yet just like all her peers, she had grown to dislike the ministry-appointed teacher more and more. "If it wasn't for him none of us would be able to pass our OWL. And he... he wants us to stay safe." But as she started talking about her co-teacher a fondness crept into her voice.
"Keep you safe? Why would he…" Amelia buried her head in her hands and to her niece, it looked like she aged ten years on the spot. Taking a deep breath, the auror composed herself and sat up straight again.
Susan wasn't talking to her auntie anymore but to her head of house and the head of magical law enforcement. "Susan, I know that these are dark days. Things have looked bleak since what happened with Cedric Diggory, I won't lie to you about that. But for him to be back." The auror shook her head. "Dead is dead. Not even a dark lord can escape that fate."
Instead of nodding her head and looking away as she expected her niece to do, the redhead held her gaze defiantly. "Harry told us what happened when Cedric…" Her breath hitched for a second, but she pushed through "Maybe it wasn't Vol… him. But there was a dark lord, I know there was."
Amelia held the girl's gaze as she weighed her words. There was just one last thing she needed to know. "Do you trust him Susan? Really trust him?" The grey-haired witch asked with a sense of finality. "Not just to be nice to you or to tell the truth, but with your life. With my life."
Her answer was honest and direct. "I trust him." She said without any remorse or doubt. "Harry wouldn't lie. Not to me."
"Then I will trust him too." Just as sudden as she had become the head auror, Amelia reverted to being a loving aunt. "Just promise me that you'll be careful." Seeing her niece nod, she couldn't stop herself from shooting her a teasing smile. "Though if he continues teaching you, I just hope he is a better influence than his Marauder father."
"You know about the Marauders?" Susan asked, shocked to hear the mysterious name her co-teacher refused to tell her more about being mentioned by someone else.
"So their legend is still around huh? In my days everyone at Hogwarts had heard of the Marauders. At least during my last 2 years at the castle." The older witch said with a nostalgic smile. "They were a group of pranksters who thought themselves kings of the castle. Probably a little like those Weasley twins you told me about. Arthur's boys."
"They used these ridiculous nicknames to take the credit for their pranks without spending every night in detention." She continued with a smirk. "Though it didn't take me long to figure out who they were after they pulled their stunts on another Hufflepuff. They weren't exactly Slytherins."
"You know who the marauders really were?" Susan couldn't stop herself from asking. Was she truly about to figure out one of Harry's secrets on her own?
"What has gotten you so interested in them? I thought you didn't like pranksters." Amelia, ever the sharp auror, questioned.
"It's just… Harry, he called himself a Marauder before." She said as the pieces started to fall together. "And he named his Patronus Prongs. Was that one of the nicknames?"
"Yes, yes it was... It was James Potter's name." Her auntie held a mournful smile. The same one she had when talking about the war or when one of her aurors got injured in the field. "I guess it makes sense. He probably tries to feel closer to his dad like that. Poor boy."
She continued with her story to move past the pity. "His dad caused us a lot of headaches with his friends. You remember your Defense teacher in the third year? Professor Lupin" The girl nodded along despite the surprise of hearing that the teacher she just saw on the train platform used to be involved in pranks. "He and Peter Pettigrew were thick as thieves with James. He must have told Harry some stories of that time."
"Mooney." Amelia chuckled as she shook her head. "They were waving the fact that he was a werewolf right in my face and I never suspected a thing. They must have had a lot of laughs about that one."
"Three students caused so much trouble?" Spending so much time with Harry as she did, Susan had gotten better at reading between the lines. That and there was one more name she knew that sounded like it would fit in with the Marauders.
"No, there was a fourth… Padfoot." There it was, the name she wanted to hear. If Prongs was Harry's dad, and Moony was Professor Lupin that must have meant that the boy's godfather was also part of this group. After hearing his story of what happened in their third year, she knew that it couldn't be Pettigrew. But then who was it?
"Who was Padfoot?" Amalia looked away and clenched her jaw at the question, but the redhead pushed through. "Auntie?"
"Sirius Black." The older witch exhaled sharply and tightly gripped her wand. "I'm sorry Sweet pea, I still have some reports I need to finish." Pushing herself up she made her way to her home office where she closed herself off for the rest of the night. Just as she did each time Black was mentioned.
The girl sat there stunned at the revelation. Padfoot was the most wanted man in all of Britain, Sirius Black. The murderer and betrayer of the Potters was the Godfather Harry seemed to adore. That night the world around her seized to make sense.
Two days passed and neither Bones woman brought the conversation up again. Susan awoke on Christmas morning with the wind howling outside her window and a flurry of snow falling down to earth. As she got dressed in a set of warm and comfortable clothes for the annual visit to her parents' grave, a rapid tapping could be heard from the window.
She swung open the glass panel, and a large brown owl, looking like those employed by Diagon Alley's postal service, flew into the room before landing onto her bed. As it shook a layer of snow off its coat, she sat beside it. Tied to its leg was a medium-sized package, thickly wrapped in soaking wet packaging paper.
When Susan reached for the parcel, the owl retracted his leg and shook the small coin purse tied to his opposite leg. This was definitely one from the post office. Grabbing two knuts from her nightstand she tossed them into the purse.
Hearing the clinking of coin, the owl sounded a satisfied hoot and he shook his leg twice in a circular pattern and the cord tying the package to him instantly tugged loose. With its delivery completed, the owl beat its large wings, took off into the air and out of the room. Leaving its sole occupant alone with the mysterious package.
The girl quickly closed the window behind it to keep out the freezing air before turning back to the package that was currently soaking her bed with melting snow. She took off the brown packaging paper and found that only the outer layer was damaged by the snow. The remaining paper was left dry and protected by an enchantment. Removing the last layers, she was left with a small rectangular present wrapped in bright yellow parchment with a crudely tied red bow on top.
She had expected it to be a Christmas gift, perhaps one for her Auntie from a co-worker or Ernie trying to apologize for a second time. But as soon as she saw the un-Christmas-like coloring she knew it could only have come from one person. Harry.
After untying the bow, she carefully took off the wrapping paper. Both her aunt and Hannah had always complained about her being a slow gift opener but simply tearing away the carefully wrapped decorations always felt wrong to her. The more paper that fell away the more confident she felt that it had to be a book. The size and weight alone were dead giveaways.
The first thing that caught her eye as she unwrapped more of the paper was a small postcard. It featured a cartoonish drawing of a reindeer with a bright red nose. It reminded the redhead of the cards Justin had sent all of them during their first year.
Flipping over the muggle-made card, she was met with Harry's recognizable messy script. It simply read, "Merry Christmas, Susan. I hope you were still surprised. I'm sorry that I couldn't send Hedwig." Smiling at the image of being visited by the snowy owl during a snowstorm she sat the card upright on her nightstand.
With the Christmas card set aside, she focused back on the book before her. Its cover was a light blue and featured a water-colored painting of a dense forest. She became nearly overwhelmed with nostalgia as she flipped the book and came face to face with the golden title card reading 'Harry Potter and the Jewel of Lancelot'.
Under the large letters, two small figures were ascending the forest path. The first was, in hindsight, a rather accurate depiction of a young Harry bravely trudging forward. Following behind him was the young Veela girl with amber eyes that had always been Susan's childhood favorite, Marie. The young girl anxiously looked around and over her shoulders as if the pair were being followed.
Cracking open the book she found a second message scrawled on the inside of the cover. The handwriting was still recognizable but much more elegant and readable than before. As if it was practiced many times before any ink hit the page. "This Harry will never forget about Marie." The message was signed with a flourishing HP. Pink dusted the girl's cheeks, she hoped was that the boy didn't realize how dear she held that character to her heart.
As she thumbed began through the book she couldn't stop herself from smiling as she relived many childhood memories. She admired the watercolored illustrations peppered through its pages. This was a far more exclusive edition than the one she owned as a child. As she flipped another page, a folded-up piece of parchment fell into her lap. Unfolding the parchment she found another letter addressed to… her?
"Dear Redmane," It began. "I am sorry to report that your membership to the Marauders has been revoked. As a junior member Prongslet, one Harry James Potter, did not have the necessary authority to invite new members into this prestigious organization. The only way to join this exclusive club is to be inspected and approved by a senior member. As such you will have to wait to submit a new application until such a time you are able to meet and gain the approval of a senior Marauder. Mooney doesn't count." It was accompanied by an over-the-top yet elegant signature. "Yours truly, head Marauder Padfoot."
Her breath hitched as she read over the signature. Padfoot. Sirius Black had written her a letter. The stately sounding sentences were written in a large, flourishing script Susan would have assumed belonged to a poet. Not to the country's most wanted criminal. She dropped the parchment as if its touch was burning her.
Before she could run to her aunt to tell her what happened, her eyes landed on the small script underneath the signature. Unlike the rest of the message, the words were put down in small, scribbled letters. A hasty addition, seemingly done on the spot.
"Sorry for taking him out of Hogwarts like that and spooking you kids. But there was no way that I wouldn't let his gift get to you. Especially not after you gave him those excellent dueling gloves. Now here is hoping that Mooney managed to make the delivery on time." This part felt much more heath felt, unpolished, raw. "I like your idea about Harry becoming a professor. Lily would be ecstatic if she were able to see it. Thank you for looking out for him. Merry Christmas, Padfoot."
The words froze Susan in her place, thoughts of warning Amelia long forgotten. They sounded so sincere and the only way he could know about the gloves or about Harry being a professor was if the boy had told him. She doubted even his housemates or friends knew about those.
Harry was with Black right now, that was the only way he could have added that final note. Which meant that he and Harry were close. Close enough to maybe be a family. So that had to mean that Sirius Black was innocent.
The remainder of the break passed Susan by in a blur. Despite the uncomfortable feeling settling in her stomach, she hadn't told her aunt anything. Not about the present she had received, nor the letter hidden within. It was clear that Amelia suspected that something was bothering her and she had taken her niece aside to talk.
The redhead didn't give anything away and after the second time that it had happened had turned to her fights with Ernie and hid behind the topic. She wasn't sure if her aunt had bought it. As all the older witch had said was that she would support her whatever she chose.
Hannah wasn't as easily deterred. The blond was onto her from the moment they had arrived at the Abbott house for Boxing Day. Susan was eventually able to placate her by sharing that she had figured out one of Harry's secrets but she stopped before revealing which one. The prefect wasn't happy but accepted and even offered to help her set up a meeting with the Gryffindor in private. She came true on this promise not even a day after they had returned to Hogwarts.
Susan, Leanne, and Justin had just finished their care for magical creatures' class and were having dinner in the Great Hall. "You weren't kidding when you said Potter was avoiding you." The boy said between bites. "He didn't say a word to us in class. No hey, no nod, nothing"
"I doubt he said anything to anyone." Leanne scanned the Gryffindor table but the was no sign of the boy or his friends. "He looked like he was about to fall over. Do you think we are even going to have a meeting this week?" She whispered.
"We were thinking to do one this Saturday but that was before the break." Her housemate wasn't the first person to approach Susan with this question. Almost as soon as she had returned to the castle Luna had searched her out for the same reason.
"How about we go find out then?" Hannah plopped down on the bench beside the redhead.
"And how are we going to do that if he won't talk to Susan?" Justin asked. "Let alone the rest of us."
"He will. If it's just the two of them." The blond pointedly looked at her best friend. Promise fulfilled. "Which is going to be tonight."
The group sat stunned at the proclamation, so the grinning prefect continued. "Me and Ernie have patrol duty tonight. Harry's name is on the detention list. Umbridge gave him five days' worth of writing lines. Again."
"All that means is that he will have even less time." Leanne countered. "How is that going to help to get the two of them to talk? You know she won't let him go until after curfew."
"And you forget that our dear Susie has become quite the expert at sneaking around after curfew." Hannah smirked. "And I will make sure that me and Ernie will cover floors around the Defense classroom and the Den. Flitwick is the professor on duty tonight so that shouldn't be too difficult. He never likes patrolling the stairways."
"What do you say?" At the blond's words, all eyes turned to Susan. She was unsure. Despite Hannah's words, it was Harry or more specifically his enchanted parchment that had allowed them to never get caught walking around after curfew.
But remembering her co-teachers disheveled state and wanting answers, she knew what needed to be done. "Alright. Tonight."
As she hid in the small unused classroom, Susan was eerily aware of how quickly the noises of students milling around died down. More than half an hour before curfew the halls were dead quiet. This, more so than many of the inquisitor's rules, would be what tainted the girl's memory of her fifth year the most.
She waited for nearly an hour before she heard a soft knocking on the door. Replying with two knocks back, the door opened and Hannah stepped through. "It's all quiet. If we are lucky, he should be let go about now. You ready?" She nodded and followed the blond out of the room. "Susie… just try to avoid the east wing when it's the two of you. Ernie is patrolling there."
She nodded once more but her eyes remained downcast. Hannah gave her a quick hug for good luck before continuing her patrol. Quietly, the redhead sat off on her way towards the Defense classroom.
Wind battered against window shutters, old doors creaked and each step she took seemed to echo across the entire castle. She became paranoid at every noise and shadow. This was how she had always imagined sneaking around after curfew would be like. She felt afraid without Harry's confidence there to reassure her.
But unlike those times where they were sneaking around for a late-night snack at the kitchens, this time she was doing it for a reason. This allowed her to push through, and she soon reached her destination.
The silence of the night for once became her ally as she could softly hear Professor Umbridge scream behind the closed doors of the classroom. By the angry tone and brief glimpses of insults she managed to pick up, she was sure Harry still had to be there. She wasn't too late.
Hiding in a small alcove, the girl hunkered down and waited. Umbridge's preaching continued for another 30 minutes before the doors finally swung open. Susan pressed herself further into the wall as she listened to the sound of footsteps. They were made by shoes, not heels, that much was clear but even when wooden doors swung shut again, she remained hidden. The footsteps passed her by.
Gathering her courage, Susan stepped out of the alcove and whispered. "Harry."
The tip of a wand was aimed right at her heart. She froze in the spot as her eyes trailed from the wand to a set of green eyes as they recognized who they were looking at. Blood dripped down his hand as he held his wand in a deathly grip.
"Susan? What are you doing here?" Harry lowered his wand as he worriedly looked over the girl's shoulders. "You shouldn't-" He tried to hide his bloodied hand behind his back but the girl was too quick.
She grasped his right hand and the smell of iron hit her nose. The blood seeping out of sharp-angled cuts started to stain her skin. The boy pulled his hand back violently. "Susan… I…" He tried to explain himself, distract her or convince both of them that all was fine. None of his words got through.
The redhead was getting truly afraid now. The silence and smell of blood were nothing compared to the scared look in the boy's eyes. "Can we talk?" She said more forcefully than she wished but she had to get out of there. He took a step back and was about to refute when she again reached out, this time taking his opposite hand. "Please."
He relented with a nod but he made no indication to move. With a soft tuck, Susan started to lead him down the corridor and towards the only safe place she could think of. The pair snuck past the defense classroom and down the stair before they reached their destination.
Once the giggling pear had transformed into a doorknob, she pushed open the door towards the Hogwarts' kitchens. This time Harry refused to step forward. "I don't want Dobby to see this." The Gryffindor admitted.
She nodded in promise before giving a second gentle tug. This time he followed. The elves, used to their late-night visits, initially spared them only a brief glance. But those that stood closer to the door sniffed the air and looked back up in worry.
Susan led her friend to the small table in the corner of the room where he took a seat. She saw some of the elves give her worrying looks so she quickly walked up to the eldest amongst them. "Do you have some clean cloths and water I can use?" She whispered to the scared and nervous elf.
"Miss, Tweak thinks you should bring him to Madam Pomfrey not to the kitchens." The elderly elf, with long drooping ears, stammered out.
"Can you please help us? It just needs to be cleaned and wrapped." She lowered herself to eye level with the creature. This sign of trust and respect was enough, and he reluctantly nodded. "Thank you. Please just don't tell anyone."
As Tweak popped away the redhead made her way to the far side of the kitchens where the loudest sounds of sloshing water and clattering dishes could be heard.
Dobby, unaware of the guests, was excitedly cleaning the last remains of the day's dishes while humming a song to himself. Susan spotted more than three pairs of socks around his ankles, including a pair of bright Hufflepuff yellow ones. "Dobby?"
Immediately abandoning his work, the elf excitedly turned to the girl. "Misses Susan is visiting Dobby? Does that mean the Great Harry Potter is here too?" Standing on the tips of his toes, he frantically looked around for a sign of the wizard.
The girl stepped as close to the elf as she could to make sure Harry was blocked from sight. "He was very tired, so he went to bed early." She grimaced as she saw his ears droop to the ground. "But Harry wanted to ask you if you could help clean the come and go room before our next meeting on Saturday"
The elf's mood took an immediate turn back to ecstatic as he nodded his head furiously. "Dobby will do that for the Great Harry Potter and Sweet Susan." With his mission in front of him, the free elf popped away.
Grateful how that was all it took to trick the elf she made her way back to Harry. Her co-teacher still refused to look at her as she took his injured hand and put it on the table. Tweak popped in and put a bowl of clean water and cloths next to the girl. She thanked him for them before the elf popped away again.
The kitchen's fireplace roared behind her, warming the girl's back and ebbing away some of the nerves. Dunking the cloth in the water she wrung it out before carefully putting it on the wound. As the boy flinched at the touch, she pulled her hand back. "I'm sorry." He said with a quiet voice.
She tried once more, with an even softer touch, and this time the boy didn't make a sound. At a glance, it was clear for her to see that he clenched his jaws with every touch. Slowly she wiped away more of the drying blood, exposing the crooked lines beneath. The redhead froze as the letters carved into his hand became clear. I must not tell lies.
Harry's breath hitched and she knew that she should have said something. He had told them so much already at the Hog's Head and later, even more, when it was just the two of them. Yet the boy who lived still had so many secrets left.
In the end, she said nothing and continued to clean the new fresh blood that was replacing the old. Wiping it away quickly, she grabbed a second clean cloth, wrapped it around the wound, and pulled it tight. Tweak popped in one final time to take away the bowl of murky pink water as Susan grabbed her seat and sat down next to the boy.
She softly put her hand on his bandaged one. New specks of blood were already making their way through the fabric, but it would do for now. "Harry? Are you okay?" She couldn't help but ask. Despite knowing well enough that he wouldn't talk about it until he was ready, the scars on his hand were too much to let go. Never had his secrecy been so frustrating. As he ignored her questions, she tried something else. "Did… did something happen to the Weasleys?"
He looked up surprised, but it quickly made way for a small smile. "I shouldn't have doubted Hermione when she told me you figured it out. Mr. Weasley he… they are alright. At least they are now. He...he got hurt before Christmas, but he is fine now."
"I'm glad to hear that." She released a worried breath. Even if she had never met the man, he was important to her friends and her auntie only had good things to say about him. "It was a little scary when you all suddenly disappeared."
"I didn't want to worry anyone. I'm sorry." Harry sincerely apologized.
"We've been saying that a lot to each other lately." She gave him a sad smile. "Just say something next time. Please."
He nodded in agreement, but there was a hesitancy. She wasn't sure if he would hold onto that promise. "Susan? Why were you in the hallway?" He asked. "You normally don't sneak around after curfew. At least not without me." The grin he tried soon slipped.
"I… we were worried about you. You look… tired." Once more the boy tried to retreat into himself, but Susan held his hand tight before he could pull away. "Were you able to enjoy Christmas?" She eased into the next topic.
"It was nice. Just not very… cheerful. But the food was great. Ms. Weasley is an amazing chef." The tension slowly left his shoulders as he started talking about his friends and family. "And it was nice to see everyone again. Moony, I mean Professor Lupin asked me to wish you a happy new year."
"Oh." Red dusted the girl's cheeks, embarrassed that their old teacher had not only recognized her on the platform but even remembered it well enough to bring it up later. She quickly moved the conversation forward. "Was your godfather able to come too?"
"Padfoot? Yes, yes he was. He was excited to celebrate Christmas together. Even if he drank a bit too much." Harry said. "I think he missed me."
"I think you missed him too." Susan chuckled at the boy's embarrassed reaction. "He was sometimes the only thing you could talk about after a D.A session."
"Yeah. I guess I did a little." The Gryffindor tried to act unbothered in a doomed attempt to save his pride. His co-teacher's chuckles made it clear how much he had failed. "Or maybe a lot." He relented. "It was good to see him again. Even if he kept teasing me."
"About what?" For the first time since they had come back to the castle, the redhead could say that he acted a little like the Harry she had come to know. Wanting to keep it up, she tilted her head sideways and gave a small pout. Daring the boy to continue.
It worked like a charm. "Well, he uhm… he just said that my dad… and my mom would be proud of us two being together. I mean teaching together. They would be proud of how are teaching the others." Heat rushed to the boy's cheeks, and he quickly looked away. Susan was glad he did as she was sure that she was blushing just as much. "What about your aunt? Did you tell her anything about it?"
"Not really. I told her about Redmane but I was afraid telling her about the D.A would break the contract." Not that there was any time to speak of it. There were more important matters at hand.
"We could rip it up at the end of the year. That way you could tell her over the summer." He twisted his hand in hers and squeezed it softly. "I'm sure she would be proud of you."
"Thank you Harry." The redhead smiled as she subconsciously leaned a little closer to him. As his thumb stroked the top of her hand, she squeezed back. But as she did, she could feel the makeshift bandage scrape against her skin.
While the bleeding had slowed down some spots had already made their way through. No matter how much she wanted the moment to last it couldn't. "Is this why you started wearing your gloves?"
"Not exactly. She did this from the start. I wore the gloves because I... I didn't want to worry you." Reluctantly he pulled his hand away and from his cloak produced the leather dueling gloves Susan had gifted him. "Though that didn't work, did it?"
"Have you told anyone?" She wouldn't let him deflect the question or change the topic again. "Anyone other than Ron and Hermione?"
"It isn't like anyone can stop her and with Professor Dumbledore ignoring me…" He shook his head. "It's too dangerous. Please you can't tell anyone. Not even Hannah or your aunt."
"Harry we can help you." This was the first time she had come face to face with the boy's hero complex and it scared her. "Megan hopes to become a healer. She has already learned how to heal small cuts, maybe she could help. At least make it hurt a little less."
"Susan, please. I can't put any of you in even more danger." Agitated and with a raised voice he continued without even considering the idea. "This isn't like the D.A where the worst thing that can happen is expulsion. You can get hurt!"
"We- I am your friend." She balled her hands into fists. Angry at what he is asking of her and angry at herself for being powerless to stop it. "I want to help. Even… even in the war."
"You don't understand! I-" Scared by the boy's outburst, Susan backed away in her chair. Her eyes wide and hand pulled back to her chest, she tried to make herself as small as possible.
"Sue. Ohh gods." Harry seemed just as shocked as she was. He rubbed his hands over his face to try and wipe away the grogginess and anger. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I know you just want to help it's just…" His voice was full of guilt and hurt. He exhaled deeply and slumped forward onto the table, staring at his hands as if they belonged to someone else.
"Just what?" He didn't mean to yell at her, neither had Justin all those weeks ago. But both had. Now she needed to know why. "Harry?"
The boy's raven hair was hiding his eyes from the girl. She had no idea what was going through his mind, so she waited. Around them even the noise of elves at work had faded away, leaving only the sound of the crackling fire and their own breathing to fill the void.
"I've been thinking about your idea. The one about me becoming a teacher?" Eventually, he broke the silence. "I would think about it whenever I had a nightmare. Thought about it a lot really. How I would furnish my classroom, what lessons and spells I want to teach, how I could convince you to give a guest lecture." A smile tugged at his lips as he continued. His voice carried a sense of joy and excitement, but also one of grief. "It helps me calm down."
"Nightmares? About him?" As he nodded, the bags under his eyes, the sagging of his shoulders, and his grumpy demeanor all made sense. She knew that she shouldn't be surprised but knowing that even Harry was afraid of the dark lord shook her more than she had expected.
"I've been getting them more and more. But thinking about this…He doesn't know about it. About you." The Gryffindor said in a promise as much to himself as to her. "He can't touch this. I won't let him." He took a deep breath to compose himself.
"Imagining a life after we graduate is probably the only thing close to a nice dream I've had in months." Susan looked on as he forced himself to look her in the eye. Part of her wished he hadn't. "And I know now that it will only ever be a dream."
"You don't know that." She rebutted stiffly, scared about where his thoughts were taking them. "You know Professor Dumbledore would hire you the moment the position becomes free again."
"But what if I am not there anymore." He said calmly, resigned. "Voldemort will try to get me. Probably sooner rather than later. But it won't just be me and him. Padfoot, Mooney, the order. They would be there to try and keep me safe." The boy was trembling while dozens of different images of the dark lord flashed through her mind. The war had never seemed so close as it did at that moment. "Ron, Hermione. I won't be able to get them away no matter what I did."
"They would even try to fight him if they thought it would stop me from getting hurt." The last remnants of his composure broke at the thoughts of his friends perishing in combat. "How am I supposed to tell Padfoot that I don't think he will ever be able to leave his house. Or that Ron won't play keeper for the Chudleys. That Hermione will never be able to join the ministry or succeed with SPEW. I can't see them past our seventh year. I can't see them ever growing up."
The redhead's hands trembled at the sound of her friend sobbing. "Harry, you aren't a seer. You can't know that."
"All of them have been in this fight for so long. They wouldn't stop even if I was gone." Having found his resolve, he wiped the tears from his eyes. "The Death eaters know their names. Their faces. Their families. But they don't know about you."
Wiping the tears from his eyes he pushed on. "I can still see you. Living on your farm in a magical enclave, with a large family and Hannah living next door. I can still see you survive." His smile made her feel sick. For the first time that night he seemed determined, even bordering on happy. "And if I need to fight a war to make that happen, I will. I have to."
Susan was stunned. Here was a boy declaring he would risk it all, not just so she would be safe but that she would be happy. She had many people who cared for her and would do anything to protect her. But never had one of them declared they would be willing to die just for the chance of her having a better life. It made her feel horrible. "I can help you. My spells are strong enough now."
He smiled fondly at her. "I know they are and there isn't anyone I would rather have next to me than you." One final tear passed down his cheek. His decision was made. "But I can't watch that dream die. I don't know what I would do if it did."
Every fiber of her being wanted to reject his idea. To show him how a true Hufflepuff would not abandon him just because it could become dangerous. But as he continued to plead with her, she found herself unable to do so.
She put her hand on his and gave a small squeeze. She held his gaze, silently begging him to change his mind but Harry was unrelenting. It wasn't until tears started to form in her eyes that he broke the contact and looked away.
Without a word, Susan stood up from her chair and left the kitchen. She made it to her common room and bed and promptly fell into a restless sleep. When she awoke the next morning, she didn't tell any of her friends about what had happened. But seeing the dried tear tracks on her cheeks they knew enough.
Harry continued to roam the castle, pale and tired. His shoulders hunched under an ever-increasing pressure as the tension in the castle grew. Umbridge's hunt for the defense group became more apparent to the rest of the school as her inquisitors stalked the halls.
The message that the Room of Requirements would be ready for use on Saturday had been passed to Hermione and soon all-around Hogwarts galleons warmed with the message. That weekend all members except the Hufflepuffs reconvened to continue working on their Patronuses. The house of the loyal refused to go to the meeting out as soon as it became apparent that Susan wasn't going.
Hannah tried to keep her distracted that night by convincing her to teach some of the first and second years some easy spells. Not even Professor Sprout took a second look when she disregarded many of the inquisitor's rules and showed the young students one defensive spell after the other. Her Head of House even joined in with the small act of rebellion with an offer of help.
"You have improved so much this year Susan." The Herbology professor said as she patted the girl's shoulder. The older witch always tended to show her care for her badger's when it was out of sight of the other houses. "I know some fun charms that would work with the plants we have here. Do you think they would like that?" As the professor sat the young students to work, Susan was sure that it was as much to help her as it was them. The floral scents that rose through the room helped ease her heart even if it was just for one night.
The next day tension between the houses reached new heights. The other members of the D.A had confronted the Hufflepuffs about their absence and motives. The threat of Umbridge had been rekindled within some of the members and only the interference of Harry's friends had stopped a fight from breaking out. Yet the suspicion and fear remained.
The now fractured D.A struggled to continue forward with one of their teachers missing and the other slowly wilting away. Only an earth-shattering article in the Quibbler reminding them of the dangers they faced stopped any more members from quitting.
Yet even that was not enough and at the end of February the D.A fell. Betrayed by one of their own.
With that, we have ended the second arc of the story as well as the dreaded part of every rom-com where all hope for the relationship seems lost. This will, unfortunately, go on for a little longer but I know how much you are all enjoying the cuteness between Harry and Susan so I will make sure to move forward quickly. This also means we are quickly approaching the end of the story and if I were to guess there are about 3 maybe 4 chapters left in this book.
I wanted to apologize for the slowing down of chapters but work has been absolutely crazy lately. I was in the end phase for a massive project so that was sucking up all my time.
So this chapter was a bit of a downer at the end but a lot of important things have happened. Susan now knows about the identity of Padfoot and Harry's secret life is becoming more apparent to her, any chances that she and Ernie would patch up are now completely dead and she will have to make some big choices coming soon. And her decisions will be important as you can see her absence was already enough to make the betrayal of the D.A to happen even earlier than in canon.
Now on to the reviews!
- Thanks! Yes taking away the viewpoint from the usual characters, while making the passing much harder, does help keep the story fresh in my opinion.
SvenHPPotter - It is always great to see another one of your reviews pop in! It really helps lift up my day and helps me stay motivated to keep going with the story. I'm sorry but I have to tell you to stay patient a little longer for those two to get together but I can promise you it will be soon.
PixieDuck - Yes I just couldn't help myself with that little detail. When I remembered that Ginny's Patronus is a horse I knew I had to tackle that tidbit somehow. Then when the idea of Redmane and Prongs helping the other students succeed at the spell easier struck I just knew what I had to do. With them being made from happiness a Patronus will know what their caster want even before we do sometimes after all. At least that is my new headcanon.
Ohh haha, I wasn't even thinking about that when writing the mistletoe stuff. I thought it was a great prop to show Susan acting more on her feelings (even if subconscious) as well as closing a possible plothole with Cho. While Harry's feelings have been pretty well established if you ask me, I needed to put down a little more groundwork for Susan to make the end goal believable. So right now is a little bit too early for a kiss but there are plans in the work. Honestly now I kinda want to write a one-shot about Dobby hanging mistletoe everywhere to get Harry and Susan to kiss lol. Something to put away alongside the idea of those two possible traveling to an India or Egypt. Thank you for the continued support!
As always thank you all so much for the support. I hope you all stick around until the end of the ride as it's only because of all the kind words that I have been able to get this far with this in the first place. Next time we will have another Hannah POV chapter so hope you guys will enjoy that one too! Have a great weekend y'all.