Twas the Night Before Chaos.
"POTTER! DID YOU CUT DOWN THE WHOMPING WILLOW?"
Astra and I returned to Hogwarts where Bellatrix waited for us, arms folded with her hair in curlers. Our time-displaced cat squirmed in Astra's arms for a fraction of a second until she calmed her down.
"Well, if you want to get technical, Kreacher did it," I said.
This may have been the closest thing to abject horror that I ever saw on Bellatrix's face.
"And you gave Kreacher a chainsaw?" Bellatrix quietly asked.
"Yes. Wait, you know what a chainsaw is?"
"Don't get hung up on details, Potter," Bellatrix said. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for defacing school property. Fifty points from Gryffindor for giving that unhinged elf a weapon of probable dismemberment."
"I gave him strict orders not to dismember anyone who did not have it coming," I argued.
"Oh, because that won't end poorly," Bellatrix said. "Fifty more points from Gryffindor."
"Why can you only take fifty points off at a time?" Astra asked.
"Well, teachers are capped, at fifty points," Bellatrix explained. "Of course, it can also be fifty points for each infraction and apparently, you can apply it to any house you wish. Nice little loophole to abuse. And who are you again?"
"Oh, this is my twin sister, Astra," I told her.
Bellatarix looked from me to Astra and back to me again. She took us both in for a good long moment.
"Well, that's plausible," Bellatrix said. "Although she's not a student at Hogwarts, and you really shouldn't be sneaking in girls from outside of the school until at least your fourth year, so fifty more points from Gryffindor other than that."
"You do realize Snape's gone."
"I know, and it was such a glorious moment to see that greasy bastard get dragged off!" Bellatrix cheered. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for it not happening sooner."
I am pretty sure that Gryffindor was in the sewer points wise. I do wonder how long this farce would go on before everyone realized exactly how irrelevant the points system was.
"Is that a cat?' Bellatrix asked. "Don't you already have an owl?"
"Yes," I told her.
"And that's another fifty points from Gryffindor for that. You are only allowed an owl or a toad or a cat. Trust me, I know, when I brought all three! And it was awful!"
Yes, and I would love to hear the entire story beyond that one.
"But, she's not a cat," I told her. "She's a time-traveling superheroine who was transfigured into a cat."
"Well, that's different then," Bellatarix said. "Sneaking another woman into the school? Another fifty points from Gryffindor."
Bellatrix clapped her hands in glee.
"So, technically a Basilisk is a part toad, right?" I asked her.
"Technically, it is, but surely you don't have one of those," Bellatrix said. "Because that would be another fifty points from Gryffindor."
Is anyone taking the Hogwarts points system remotely seriously anymore? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?"
"Well, I didn't breed it, I just merely found Rosa in the Chamber of Secrets," I told her casually. "Another fifty points?"
"Oh, yes, and another fifty for not taking me there to see the Basilisk," Bellatrix said. "Speaking of which, breeding a Basilisk, in theory, quite the bitch. You have to make sure the toad willingly sits on the chicken egg. It has to be done willingly. Can't use a sticking spell, can't put the damn thing underneath the Imperius Curse, can't even use duct tape. Can't sit on the toad while its sitting on the egg yourself because for some reason it would be animal cruelty."
Bellatrix just smiled.
"Not that I know anything about that."
"Of course, you don't," Astra said with a smile. "So, can we go now?"
"Yes, run off you little scoundrels," Bellatrix said. "Don't do anything that I wouldn't do."
Oh, that's quite the open door, isn't it?
"How is your research on Riddle going?" I asked her.
"Well, I found out he was a prefect, a Head Boy, and he got a special award from services to the school," Bellatrix said. "So a little brown nosing bastard, in addition to being an idiot. I figure I've almost put the pieces together and should be able to figure out who exactly this Tom Marvolo Riddle is sometime after the Christmas holidays. Maybe sooner, maybe later, but I will find out."
"Were you a prefect?" I asked.
Ten straight minutes of insidious laughter from Bellatrix followed before she sobered up.
"You serious?"
I could help myself.
"No, that's your cousin."
Astra face-palmed at that one.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor for that overused joke," Bellatrix groaned. "Well, I'm off to pour one out to Snape's memory. Sure, he's not dead yet, but here's hoping. And then it's back to researching Tommy Boy."
I could hardly hold in my laughter at Bellatrix referring to her most sainted and revered master as "Tommy Boy."
"Good luck," I told her.
This would either break or enlighten Bellatrix. Or some combination of both. Should be quite the show. Astra and I disappeared into the night, with our transfigured cat friend.
"Oh, and ten points to Ravenclaw because I never liked that stupid tree anyway."
We returned to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Penny had been waiting for us, sitting by the fire. There were a few other students who were crowding around, although not many. Most of everyone had gone to bed early so to be on the Hogwarts Express for the Christmas holidays.
"Rowena's back," Penny told me. "She seems a bit upset."
"She must have finished evaluating the school," I told her. "Could you watch her please?"
"A cat?" Penny asked. "This isn't another illegal animagus, is it?"
"No, she's not," I told her. "It's a bit of a long story, but I would rather not leave our house founder up there in distress."
Penny nodded, and I would have to leave Penny and pretty much everyone else in suspense for a little bit longer. I descended the steps to my room, along with Astra.
"Rowena?" I asked her.
"What happened to my beautiful school?"
Oh, that didn't sound encouraging. Not in the slightest.
"So, you saw what happened to Hogwarts over the last several centuries?" I asked Rowena.
"It's a disgrace!" Rowena snapped. "We had this dream where a school could both provide students a quality magical education and a sanctuary if they needed it. And this school has given these children neither. And the teachers, well a few of them are qualified, don't get me wrong, but they've been spread too thin! These teachers should be the heads of their own department and not the only teacher. We need dedicated staff to properly teach Charms, Herbology, Potions, Defensive Magic, Transfiguration, all of the core subjects, not just a single teacher, for seven years worth of classes spread over four houses. Putting that burden on these teachers is insane!"
Rowena out a heaving sigh.
"And I won't even talk about how History of Magic has fallen the furthest," Rowena said. "That teacher, even if he was qualified when he was alive, I don't think he's qualified anymore. He's a shade of what he once was. How can generations of students be allowed to be so ignorant? And then there are people in this government, these people can't even get their own government right and they messed up this school for others. Why does the last Headmaster have so many government positions? It's a conflict of interest."
Rowena just fumed. I wrapped my arms around her for a comforting hug. She took several deep breaths to calm down.
"Sorry, I just don't like the looks of that Ministry of Magic, and I don't think they should be interfering in these children's education," Rowena said. "It's a mess. And I don't know what to do. I can't disrupt everyone's education, although it's really messed up. The two weeks we have off for holiday are nowhere near enough to make sweeping changes, the changes this school desperately needs."
"Maybe you need some help," I said.
"Yes, but good help is hard to find at any time," Rowena said. "I appreciate what you've done, bringing this matter to my attention, but I have to fix this."
"What about your daughter?" Astra asked.
"She's here, as a ghost," I told her.
"The Grey Lady, I heard, and the Baron is here as well," Rowena stiffly said. "Yes, well, it may be time to make amends with my troubled daughter. She was bright, although a bit stubborn and a bit headstrong. She took a lot after her Uncle Godric. He would wrestle a Manticore with his bare hands."
That, I believed.
"Perhaps, she can help, and perhaps there are others, but it's not going to be easy," Rowena said. "But, it will be rewarding. Helga was always so much better at pleasing people and smoothing things over. And Salazar, he was able to do things underground, those dirty jobs which someone had to do, but he did them. And Godric, sometimes you needed a blunt force to take out any problem."
Rowena took a second to compose herself.
"Our dream, we all had a dream, we might have different ways of how that dream would be realized, but we all had a dream. To create a place where those with talent could learn and thrive, and they would all be safe. And given what I've learned, Hogwarts has fallen short of our expectations," Rowena said. "It's going to be hard. And it can't be done over two weeks. Especially finding qualified people to teach."
I pulled Rowena closer to me. She calmed down a little bit after getting all of that off her chest.
"Dumbledore's never returning to this school, even if he gets better?" Astra asked.
"No," Rowena said. "He should have never been Headmaster especially this long Too many conflicts of interest. Government and education never could not mix."
Rowena looked off into the distance, thoughtfully.
"There are still some bright minds out there," Rowena said. "I'm going to have to reach out and find them. If they're willing to help. And it would help if I had the other artifacts of the Founders. So, I can summon them for assistance, if needed"
"I have two of them," I told her. "Slytherin's locket, it's rather damaged, and also Helga's cup, a bit better shape."
I showed Rowena the objects and she eyed them.
"I'm flattered, mine is the best preserved," Rowena said. "What about Godric's sword? Last I heard, he hid it in that absurd talking hat of his, for a worthy Gryffindor to find it."
"Oh, you must be the Hogwarts school sorting hat," I said.
"Yes, the Sorting," Rowena icily said. "Another problem with this school we're going to have to address. Given how yes, we wanted students to have a home which suited them, but they should learn different perspectives and ideas."
What I am reading is Rowena and the rest of the Founders, intended for the students to be sorted, but the classes to be more mixed. And have more teachers. And a lot of other things, which Hogwarts regressed on over the centuries. And likely there were subjects which had been taken out, perhaps judged to be too dangerous or not Ministry approved.
Maybe I'm wrong, but that's just the feeling I'm getting.
"It's in the Forbidden Forest, being played with by a Cerberus," I told her.
"Dare I ask?" Rowena asked.
"Well, the Hat started telling tales about me, and this is my revenge on it," I told her.
"I was referring to why there's a Cerberus close to a school full of children," Rowena said.
"Well, that's another long story."
I returned downstairs with Astra and Rowena, to see Zari lazily resting on Penny's lap. Yes, our time traveling cat has a name, although her backstory is kind of complex.
"I believe I owe you two an explanation," I told them.
My name is not Oliver Queen, so you will not be hearing about my five years away on an uncharted island where I became someone else, and became something else. I am not one for flashbacks. However, you will be treated to a fair amount of exposition, so buckle in tight and enjoy the ride.
"Her name is Zari," I told them. "And she's from the future. Although, she's technically two people from two alternative futures."
I took a deep breath. I was going to try and summarize the best I can. Without making me sound like a raving lunatic.
"Continue," Penny told me.
"Well, OG-Zari, or Zari Tomaz, she was born in a bad future, where the gifted were hunted down. Her brother was hunted and murdered by an overzealous government organization. She acquired a very powerful air totem, and joined up with a group of time travelers called the Legends."
"Wait, the Legends?" Rowena asked. "She's with the Legends? The Legends of Tommorow?""
"You've met them."
"Yes," Rowena said.
Oh, right, of course, now I remember. Long story, might tell it in the future. But, for now I have to keep the details vague. I have my reasons.
"Sorry," Rowena told me.
I waved it off.
"Anyway, OG-Zari joined the Legends and went on a series of zany adventures. Very brilliant woman, one of the smartest I've ever known. And thanks to events far too complex for me to recap, she caused an alteration the the timeline, which allowed her brother to survive. The events caused the circumstances to save and her brother to take her place in the timeline This Zari disappeared, although she was not wiped out. Although, that's another long story. That was OG-Zari, and there was Zari Tarazi, or Zari Two Point Zero. She had a very different path. Social media queen, reality show star, very successful billionaire at a very young age, with her own line of perfume and worldwide brand. Still brilliant, although very lonely, given she had this legion of followers. She went viral at a young age and that caused her fame to blow up."
In some ways, she opened my eyes to the danger of what might happened if I had been exposed to my fame at a young age. Although, there is a medium between being exploited as a young famous child and being sent to the Dursleys.
"She joined the Legends as well, and OG-Zari is still around," I said. "They still switch at will using the Tarazi family air totem, because only one can exist on the outside."
Of course, I am not certain that the circumstances which required the switch existed thanks to my latest time change.
"And she's someone you were close to," Penny said. "And she got sent back in time like you. Only she's a cat."
"Well, yes, although that's not the first time one of the Zaris were turned into a cat," I said. "I have no idea if she's one or the other, or some strange fusion dance or what But, the point is, something happened."
"There's got to be a way to turn her back to a human," Astra said.
"Yes, there is, although without knowing how she was turned, it could end in disaster," Rowena said.
"John did it before, didn't he?" Astra asked.
"Yes, but he's trapped in dimensional limbo," I reminded her.
Zari flashed me a reproachful look.
"I'll find a way to get you back to normal," I told her. "You know I will."
Zari looked content and nodded. She walked over and pawed at my bag.
"Yes, I found your phone," I said. "But, we can't use it."
She rolled her eyes at me. Yes, she was well aware of it.
"Bring her up to your room," Rowena said. "I'll see what we can do."
Penny, Rowena, Astra and I returned to the bedroom, where Zari-Cat sat on the bed. Perfectly still and cooperative. Rowena had been busy running diagnostic spells. I was looking for certain patterns as was Astra when she was roaming to it.
"This should do it," Rowena said. "Take my hand."
I took Rowena's hand, and she traced a runic pattern onto my palm. It sent a jolt of magic through my body which passed through my fingertips. Zari let out a surprised meow before her body shifted.
Not the most painless thing in the world. Yet, Zari transformed back into a human woman, an adult human woman. Which made sense as she did not have a past body to return to, due to being from the future. Zari slammed onto the bed, breathing heavily.
A beautiful naked Persian woman laying on my bed would normally be a cause for celebration. However, this was a serious situation.
"Zari?" I asked. "Are you okay luv?"
"Ooh, I've got something caught in my throat."
She gagged a couple more times and hacked up a hairball, residual magic of being turned into a cat. The hairball landed all over Rowena who banished it with good grace. And also produced some clothes for Zari. It took a couple of minutes.
"Harry, Astra," Zari gasped. "You two made it. I didn't think, well it doesn't matter? But you're back in your younger bodies."
"Yes," I said.
"Which means, you can't…well that sucks for you two," I said.
"Rub it in, why don't you?" Astra asked.
"Well, don't worry, you'll grow up soon enough," Zari told them. "And there are some things worth waiting for."
"Yes, even if the wait is long," I told her.
"You said you got my phone?" Zari asked. "Because, I downloaded a lot of information, before the timephoon wiped us out on it…and there's no way for us to access it because we're in the past, without the technology to pull that data off of it."
I gave her a sympathetic smile and patted her on the cheek.
"Don't worry, Dragon Girl, we'll find a way," I said. "And if there's any others who made it back, we'll find them."
"No Kara?" she asked in surprise. "Because she was most certainly with you the tight of the timephoon."
I racked my brain. I think she was. Although the details of that night before I went to bed, it was really hard to piece together.
Did I even make it to bed last night?"
"All a blur, parts of that," I told her.
"Thought she would be the first one back," Zari remarked.
"I did too," Astra said. "Do you know what caused the timephoon…if that's what we're calling it?"
"It was destructive," Zari said. "Whatever it is. I don't know what caused it. I hope it's on that phone. I hope I got it in time. I'm just glad it made it back."
Zari reached out and hugged Astra and then hugged me. She had been so calm although she might have had months to process what happened. Being trapped in a cat, wandering around to try and find out what happened, gave her plenty of time to think. Although perhaps she was trying to keep it together, to put a smile on her face, because of the childhood she had, in both timelines, that's what she was used to doing.
"If there's anything that I can do to help, let me know," Penny said. "Penelope Clearwater. I'm a friend of Harry's."
"Well, I'll keep that in mind," she said. "If Harry trusts you, he normally has good judgment. And if Astra trusts you, even better."
"Do you mind if she sticks with me over the holidays?" Rowena asked. "I could use someone to bounce a few ideas off of and you said she was one of the smartest women you've ever known."
Zari flashed me a warm smile. And it was a genuine one as well.
"Which one are you talking about?" Zari asked.
"Both of you," I said. "Um, you never did answer which one of them you are?"
"Well, a little bit of both, I guess," Zari said. "It's hard to really untangle. I've got thoughts and memories of both timelines, if that makes any sense."
"About as much as anything else does involving time travel," I told her. "And do you want to work with Rowena? She'll be keeping you very busy over the holidays."
Zari just smiled and leaned in. She caught my lips with a small, but very loving kiss. She pulled back and gave me a look which would likely make me hate waiting for my maturity to hit.
"It's an opportunity I would hate to pass up."
"It would also save Harry in coming up with an explanation of your sudden presence," Rowena said. "Although, coming back after all of these years caused quite a stir."
I could only imagine.
"Welcome back, Z," I told her with a smile.
"I'm sure you've been very productive the last four months," she told me.
I just smiled. It would take a long time to fill her in, but I'm sure she will be caught up to speed.
"Some of the old gang is back together," Astra said to me.
I nodded in response. Yes, we were almost together. Although a couple of components were missing.
"So, did you see the female centaur?" I asked Zari.
Astra put her head in her hands and sighed. Both Penny and Rowena looked curious at it.
"Bit too occupied with the three-headed dog, sorry," Zari told me.
Fair enough.
"So, help me, and I'll help you," Rowena said.
"Deal," Zari said. "And sorry about the hairball thing."
"It's unavoidable sometimes," Rowena said.
As of right now, Zari was sticking with Rowena, and helping her with the insane task of trying to fix Hogwarts. All while trying to find a way to access future technology in a world where the technology was just not caught up in the world. I wished Zari the best with her endeavors and Rowena with hers.
Astra returned back, to look up something regarding what our mothers found out about the Fountain of Fair Fortune, or the Fountain of Imperium as it was. It may be the key in helping rid myself of the final Horcrux. She promised to meet up with me at the Tonks Residence over the next couple of days.
I was coming off the Hogwarts Express, with Penny next to me and Daphne walking behind me. Su, Padma, and Tracey all were close by us, so we really could not talk about it.
"I swear, I really saw Rowena Ravenclaw walking around Hogwarts," Tracey told the rest of the group.
"Well, strange things can happen at Hogwarts," Padma said.
"Maybe the way the school was run made the founders rise from the grave?" Su suggested.
"To smite the Hogwarts staff?" Padma asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Su said. "Merry Christmas."
"You too, Su," Padma said.
"Yeah, same here," Tracey said.
"You know, you're all invited over for Christmas, right?" I asked them. "Andromeda gave me permission to invite some friends over, and Sirius okayed it. I never really had friends over for Christmas."
"I'll talk to Mum, see what she says," Tracey said.
"Same here," Su said. "Although this is our busy season at the shop. Even on Christmas, we're open. My parents they work very hard."
I could see Su almost looking a bit despondent at that. I placed an arm on her shoulder.
"You know we're coming over, we've got business to discuss," Daphne told me with a small smile.
"Well, you can just…Mum!"
Padma's statement had been cut off, while she saw a very beautiful woman with silken dark hair and a shapely body smile at her and wave towards her. Parvati already left the train, saying something to Lavender. They both looked at me and giggled before separating. Padma and Parvati's mother raised an eyebrow when Parvati broke free and rushed over to see her mother.
"I'll come over and say hello," I told her.
"Mum would like to meet you," Padma said. "Come on."
Penny waited for me. Daphne mouthed she would see me in a couple of days, before moving over to join her younger sister Astoria, and her mother, Anatasia. I walked over towards the gorgeous Mrs. Patil, who got a proper look at me.
"Mum, this is Harry Potter," Padma said. "Harry, this is my mother, Preeti Patil."
"Surely not the famous Potioneer, Preeti Patil?" I asked her.
"The very same, Mr. Potter," she told me. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
I took her hand and kissed it, which caused Parvati to break out into a knowing set of giggles until Padma elbowed her sister in the ribs.
"I've heard a lot about you from my daughters," Preeti said. "My husband sends his regrets and he would have liked to meet you, but he's busy meeting with the Minister. He's putting in a lot of hours these days. Parvati tells me you have some rather rigid standards for your future wives."
"Well, we're just going to have to work hard, aren't we?" Parvati asked.
"A wizard of your calibre, with the strides you've made already, you're going to have the best and the brightest to choose from," Preeti said.
"And your daughters, if they are as brilliant as you, we might be having a very serious discussion after their NEWT year," I told them. "But, it's a long time coming."
"Yes, they should keep their eye on their education," Preeti agreed. "Although, diversions can happen."
She caught herself looking into my green eyes. Padma led her sister away, sparing her mother the embarrassment.
"I was wondering if you and your family would like to come over for Christmas," I told her.
"Well, my husband wanted to discuss your intentions towards our daughters," Preeti said. "We would be delighted. I believe you are going to spend the holidays with Andromeda Tonks and her family, given that's where your godfather is currently living until he finds his footing."
"Yes."
"Injustice there," Preeti said. "Suveer heard about it, and he was rather furious. Especially when he heard of your conditions and I was not pleased either. You were celebrated as a hero."
"Yes, I was," I told her. "But, people are learning that my life is not as ideal as the history books make it."
Preeti reached over and hugged me. She felt pleasant pressed against me and it was obvious to see where the twins got her beauty. Hell, she could almost pass as a third Patil sister, if I did not know any better. Morgana bless the youthful prowess of witches.
"Take care of yourself, you have given us light where there is none and since your return, you have paved the road for further changes," Preeti said. "No one would have faulted you if you decided not to return."
Preeti swooped down and kissed me on the cheek.
"My daughters may someday be very fortunate."
Well, only time will tell. The gorgeous and brilliant woman walked off to join her daughters. She gave a stern gaze towards Parvati, who stopped giggling at once. The twins and their mother disappeared.
I turned around and noticed Penny still waiting for me, with a rather tall and very attractive blonde woman, with brown eyes, behind a pair of glasses which added to the allure of her face. She had been dressed in a very professional female business suit, although she had a hint of something else underneath.
Something which could fuel many naughty office fantasies.
"Mum, this is Harry."
"Please to meet you, honey," Penelope's mother told me as she hugged me. "Penny told me so much about you, and it's finally nice to see the boy who caught my daughter's interest."
"Mum," an exasperated Penny said. "Harry and I are just good friends. And it's much too soon to be thinking about anything like that, especially with the age gap."
Although Penny knew that was less of a problem, she had to downplay it for her mother's sake. Said mother was smiling at her.
"Dear, four years seems like a lot now, but trust me, it's nothing," she said. "My name is Anne Clearwater, but you can call me Annie if you want."
"Nice to meet you, Annie," I told her with a kiss on her hand.
"I can see why my daughter has taken a liking to you." Annie said. "Didn't have too many boys like you when I was around. Had to go for an older man. Phil was a good man, and we both miss him."
"I'm sorry for your loss," I told her.
"He's in a better place, no longer suffering," Annie said. "Penny said you want to come over to our house this weekend, to spend some time with her. Something to do with a school project?"
Penny and I exchanged a slight smile with each other.
"Yes," I told her.
"I don't see why not," Annie told me.
"And you two are both invited over for Christmas, if you want to come," I told her.
"Well, it's been lonely the last couple of years, just the two of us," Annie said. "If it's alright with Penny."
"It's alright with me," Penny said.
"I want to get to know you a bit better, too," Annie said.
I could tell in Annie's eyes, she wanted to ask me several questions. She was a professional, working with children, some of them from broken homes and many of them from abusive ones. Yet, she did not want to do anything to sabotage the relationship between herself and Penny. I figured I should appease her.
"I feel like I can talk to you, if I need to."
"Only if you feel comfortable with it, honey," Annie said. "Are you getting home alright? Is someone picking you up?"
"Actually, she should be arriving right about now."
The sound of a ticket stand accidentally being knocked over could be heard.
"And there she is," I said to them both. "Nice meeting you, Annie. Take care Penny. See you in a couple of days."
I hugged both Clearwater women over. I could get a sense of loneliness from Annie, and I understood perfectly. She lost her husband and Penny had been at Hogwarts for most of the year. I decided to walk over and came face to face with the lovely Nymphadora Tonks, who could pass as my older sister, with the dark-hair and green eyes, along with an ample chest, a flat stomach, wide hips, and long shapely legs.
My older, hotter sister. Granted, we did that roleplay before.
"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said. "Sorry, if I was running a bit late. Overslept a bit. Auror drills are a bitch."
"I heard they were tough," I told her.
Penny and her mother waved and I smiled at them before they moved off to head home.
"So, you met her mother," Tonks said. "Things must be serious."
"Well, wouldn't you want to know?" I asked.
"Not too serious, still got that pesky maturity to deal with," Tonks said. "Oh, by the way, Six NEWTs, all Outstanding. I feel like making through Snape's NEWT class should count for at least triple. Just figured I'd throw it out."
Nymphadora flashed me a smile and wrapped her arm around me. The two of us walked through the train station. I caught sight of a few people, but they were not important at the moment.
"And to think, one year after I survived him, Snape gets kicked out the door," Tonks said. "Sirius was really happy. Could do without him singing ever again."
I figured Tonks had a point about the entire Sirius singing thing. We moved our way towards the exit. I came across a gaggle of ginger out of the corner of my eye. Fred and George waved at me. Percy's eyes narrowed but he wisely said nothing. Ron was in the midst of a rather heated discussion with his mother, as she roughly led him away.
I could tell why, as he had been talking to Blaise, and obviously, Kat was there. Kat locked eyes with me and exchanged a knowing smile. Nymphadora's eyes widened when catching sight of Kat.
"We better get back," Nymphadora said. "Easy does it there. Watch your step."
"Look who's talking? Is the Big Bad Auror scared of Katerina Zabini?"
"Well, she's the type of woman who Moody would warn me about. But that's not the point."
We balanced the trunk towards the fireplace. Hedwig's cage was balanced on top, with the owl herself heading off to meet with us later.
Floo, I hated it the first time around. I got used to it, although it still was not my favorite way to travel. I went through the Floo with my trunk and Hedwig's cage.
"Three, two, one!"
Nymphadora managed to return home, and manage to not faceplant into the carpet.
"Finally," Tonks said in triumph. "That rug won't trip me up again."
And then she ended up tripping over the coat rack. I managed to catch her before she faceplanted into the ground. She smiled as I made sure she got her footing.
"Coat rack is still a problem," I told her.
"She always had a problem with that one, like her father," Andromeda said. "Hello, Harry. Why don't you sit down? The journey from Hogwarts is always hectic."
I graciously accepted sitting down at the table and Andromeda brought me some soup, a plate of sandwich, and some orange juice.
"Eat as much as you want," she told me.
"Thank you, Mrs. Tonks," I told her.
"Andromeda," she reminded him," me said. "Mrs. Tonks is my mother-in-law."
"Sorry about that," I said.
"Where's Dad?" Tonks asked.
"Oh, he's outside, hanging Christmas lights," Andromeda said. "Speaking of which, I should have that First-Aid kit handy."
Andromeda shifted over to rummage through the kit. I watched her bending over and rummaging through the kit. I turned to Nymphadora who was eating the sandwich.
"Like father, like daughter?" I asked.
"Well, I take after him in a couple of ways," she admitted. "Dad hangs the Christmas lights every year, and he always finds a new and inventive way to cause himself some kind of injury. Or black out the entire neighborhood. Or blow something up. Or all three."
I just smiled.
"Wouldn't magic make it easier, though?"
"Well, Dad believes that hanging lights by magic isn't a traditional Christmas, and that's what he's been doing since he was a child," Nymphadora said. "Maybe, I should go out with him."
"Sirius is out there helping him," Andromeda said.
I had a strange sense of foreboding and Tonks had the same thing. With both exchanged a wide-eyed look.
"And I should make sure to restock those healing potions and brush up a few spells," Andromeda said.
The fireplace crackled to life.
"Amelia Bones is requesting permission for entry, along with her niece, Susan."
"Send her in," Andromeda said.
The Fireplace lit up and Amelia appeared. She dusted her cloak off. Susan followed her aunt and smiled.
"Hey, Susan," I said.
"Harry," Susan said. "Glad you're here, Auntie wants a word with you."
"Thank you, Susan, and I do," Amelia said. "In private."
I moved over to join Amelia, while Susan sat down at the table and got into an animated discussion with Tonks.
"My investigation on your relatives is nearly complete," Amelia said. "In a couple of days, they will be hauled off to answer for their crimes."
"What's the chances of them being charged?" I asked her.
"Given the evidence, even Dumbledore would not help them wiggle out of that one if he was well," Amelia said. "Although, he's not getting any better."
"We're going to have a new Head soon," I told her.
"It appears so," Amelia said. "There's enough incriminating on your aunt, your uncle, and your uncle's sister, to put them away for a long time. So, there's no chance you should return there. What concerns me is what happens after they are judged to be unfit guardians."
"Do you think that's going to cause a groundswell of anti-Muggle sentiment?" I asked her.
"The well-being of a child should not be sacrificed for optics," Amelia said. "Those views would be there without your relatives. By the New Year, they will be taken off and there's little reason to believe they can argue their way out of this one. At the very least, their views on magic will ensure you will not be sent back there, even if Dumbledore recovers."
I nodded and smiled.
"Thank you, Madam Bones," I told her. "I appreciate all of what you've done for me."
"It's not a problem," she told me. "It's what has to be done."
Amelia walked off to return to where Susan and Nymphadora were in the process of talking about something. Before Amelia could say anything, screams could be heard outside.
"Ted!" Andromeda yelled. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Sirius broke my fall!"
The muffled cursing of my godfather could be heard as Ted Tonks scrambled to his feet. Myself, Nym ,and Susan all broke into laughter, when it had been revealed they were fine. Andromeda moved over to check on them before returning.
"It would be a lot easier if they used magic," Amelia told her.
"Yes," Andromeda agreed. "But, let the boys have their fun."
Amelia just smiled and moved over towards Susan. Susan walked over towards me.
"Aunt Amelia got nine outstanding NEWTs," Susan muttered in my ear. "Just thought you would like to know."
"Thanks for the information," I dryly responded.
"Any time…Uncle Harry."
Susan giggled, following her Aunt, who was already in the fireplace and out of an earshot. I turned to Tonks and she flashed me an innocent smile.
"You put her up to it, didn't you?" I asked her.
Nymphadora gave her best "who me?" face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Right, of course you don't.
It is generally a good idea to untangle the Christmas lights before hanging them up. And making sure they are not tangled around your ankle.
Having the proper amount of extension cords, always important.
You know what they say, when one light goes out, they all go out. And checking each one for the offending light after they have been hung is tedious.
Staple gun safety, always important. Poor, Sirius.
"I'll get the Tetanus potion," Andromeda said with a heaving sigh. "Morgana knows I'm perfect at brewing that by now."
Have you ever seen an inflated snowman hit terminal velocity at Mach 3? I sure have.
Well there goes the neighbor's shed. Frosty really stuck the landing on that one.
You know how Carlin said there were seven words you could not say on Television? Well when hanging Christmas lights, there can be up to at least fourteen.
Several hours, several failures, several falls, a couple of explosions, one shed wiped out by a flying inflatable snowman, and one stapling of someone's testicles to the gutter later, Ted Tonks and Sirius Black stood in triumph. Bumps, bruises, limps, and scrapes, but they had it.
Nymphadora and I casually sat, drinking hot cocoa while waiting for the finished product.
"Finally it's done!" Ted cheers.
"Behold, the most extravagant, outlandish, and absurd Christmas light display in the history of forever," Sirius considered. "Even more insane than the one that the Marauders did back in 1978."
"What happened?" I asked Sirius.
"Well, we caused a blackout in about three countries," Sirius said. "But, I'm sure that's not going to happen this time."
"It won't, I've got three backup generators," Ted said. "Sirius, old pal, would you like to do the honors?"
"Oh, Ted, it's your house, isn't it?"
"Yes, of course," Ted said. "Drumroll please."
Tonks and I started to drum their fingers. Andromeda rocked her head back and forth, with one of those humoring smiles that was only well-trained through many years of marriage.
Ted basked in the moment. He flipped the switch for his grand display.
No lights. Not a one.
Cue the Price is Right fail horn.
"Well, that was disappointing," Sirius said. "There has to be a reason."
"We did everything right," Ted said. "Maybe we need more power."
Ted and Sirius started to debate about what went wrong. And decided they might as well check all of the lights for the fifth time, to make sure each individual bulb, on each individual strand of light worked.
I had a theory.
Ah, there's the problem.
Suddenly, the Christmas light display came to full power, almost blinding everyone in the neighborhood.
"Overdoing it a bit much, are we, Dad?" Nym asked as she shielded her eyes.
Andromeda passed around sunglasses. Preparied for this one. We all could safely look at the outlandish display of Christmas lights.
"It works, it works!" Ted yelled. "Oh, it's a Christmas Miracle."
"Even more so than Snape getting fired?" Sirius asked. Everyone nodded and I just smiled. "How did you do it Harry?
"Oh, it was unplugged. I plugged it back in"
Cue the Price is Right fail horn a second time.
I entered from behind Astra, who currently had been cross referencing at least three different books, including the Fountain of Fair Fortune and the notes our mothers made.
"Not yet," she told me. "I could use a break."
"Well, I was going to pay my respects to the Dursleys," I said. "Miranda sent me a letter, saying they're going to be getting quite the Christmas surprise in a couple of hours, and I want to be there when they get it."
"Of course you do," Astra said. "Although, I want to see it suffer."
I noticed a book on scrying spells on the table. Astra sighed and shut it.
"Trying to track down your other Christmas present," Astra said. "At this point, I'm wondering if she woke up before Krypton blew up. That might complicate things."
It was a path to go down. Although I already tried scrying spells to track down Kara. No luck. Maybe Astra could succeed where I have failed?
"She would try and save it," I told Astra. "Although, I don't know how successful she would be. Kara would try though, even if she might be imprisoned in the Phantom Zone for going against the Council. Or her uncle would get blamed for corruption of a minor and tossed in himself, along with the rest of the House of El."
"Well, I'll check there," Astra said. "The Phantom Zone, I mean."
I put a hand on her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.
"Take a break," I said. "Sirius and Kreacher are waiting."
"Together?" Astra asked. "They're getting along?"
"Enemy of my enemy," I told her.
"Have I ever mentioned that I hate that whole enemy of my enemy thing? Good way to get a knife in your back."
I just smiled as we left to join Kreacher and Sirius.
"Good thing I'm not still in Hell. It would be colder than when the Cannons finally won the Playoffs."
Astra, Sirius, and Kreacher joined me when I appeared outside of Number Four Privet Drive. We were all wearing Father Christmas/Santa hats. One more time, one last time. I knocked on the door.
The door opened and I came face to face with Vernon and a pair of prominent black eyes. Along with some cuts and bruises.
"Ho, ho, Vern! Merry Christmas!"
He slammed the door in my face. Well, that was rude.
Doors are more of a privilege than anything really. Although it was nice to see the Dursleys received my tree. Kreacher did a good job in making sure it was swapped out for that absurd one they normally used.
Can't wait to see them when they get their other gift.
To Be Continued.