A/N Ooooo! It's time to start off Half-Blood Prince! This book has some much love and drama in it I can't wait to write about it! Like I said in the last chapter, it's not as much a love story as it is a through-the-years story. Hope you like this one!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Doctor Who, just the plot to this story.
Chapter 16: Student From the Past
~ HARRY ~
"Eleven. That's when I get off. You can tell me about that tosser Harry Potter."
The barista walked back around to the back of the counter and Harry smiled to himself. Sure he would be heading back to Hogwarts in a few weeks, but there was no harm in one little date, right? He fixed his hair, checked his breath, and popped a breath mint in his mouth. Out of the corner of his eye, he could swear he just saw a spot of red across the tracks. These days, Harry spent most of his time down here in the London Underground, trying to hide from the Dursley's. Now that he was sixteen, the Dursley's pretty much allowed him to do what he wanted, as long as he respected their space and didn't use the 'M' word around the house. Harry looked, again, across the tracks and saw that spot of red; but it was standing still this time. After a couple seconds of squinting through his glasses, he noticed that it was a person across the tracks. Without trying to look too desperate, he ran out of the little cafe, went to the other side of the tracks, and saw the person he was looking for. He hadn't seen her since the beginning of this summer from when he was at the Burrow.
Amy Pond, he smiled at the thought. He began walking towards her, and as he got closer, she turned in his direction, a smile working its way onto her face. "Harry!" she breathed, jumping into his arms and giving him a long hug. "Amy," he laughed as he released her, "not that I'm not happy to see you or anything, but what are you doing here?"
"I'm on a mission for Dumbledore. I'm supposed to bring you somewhere. And um," she looked across the way to where the barista was, "you won't be coming back for that date."
"You were eavesdropping?" A small regretful smile was on Amy's face. "Sorry? Anyway, we have to go. Dumbledore's probably waiting for us." She stuck out her arm, no doubt waiting for him to take it so she could apparate. "Shouldn't ewe apparate from a safe spot instead of the middle of the London Underground?"
"It's eleven o'clock at night. There's barely anyone up at this time. Don't you trust me, Harry?" So, he took her arm and she turned on the spot. Not even seconds later, they were in a dark alleyway, but Harry couldn't tell where in London they were; or if they were even still in London "Welcome to Budleigh Babberton, Harry."
"Why are we here?"
"I have no idea. Dumbledore just told me to get you here tonight, never said why."
"So, where is Dumbledore?" He began looking around the alley. "Not sure," Amy crinkled her nose due to the giant dumpster next to them, "he said he'd be here." She took out her wand a cast a 'scourgify' on the dumpster full of garbage. After waiting a few more moments, Harry decided to break the silence by asking about the Weasley's and how it was living at the Burrow.
"It's so much fun living with all of them! Don't get me wrong, I miss it at Grimmauld Place, but so much more goes on at the Burrow in one day than has gone on in my entire life at Grimmauld Place. I get to share a room with Ginny, see Fred every day, get quality cooking from Molly," Harry remembered how bad Tonks' cooking was while he and Amy were being held in Grimmauld Place, "and Hermione is at the Burrow now! Once you're there it'll be just like Grimmauld Place again! That might help Tonks out of whatever she's going through."
"What's wrong with Tonks —" But he was cut off by Dumbledore appearing in the alley. "Good evening, Harry. Amy."
"Hey, Alb. What's new?" Amy joked, throwing her arm around Dumbledore. But she quickly withdrew her arm when she saw the serious look on his face. "I'm sorry for bothering you both so late tonight, but we have some Hogwarts business to take care of before the year comes to a start."
"We have business to take care of? Why do you need our help with Hogwarts?"
"Well, if you two would follow me," Dumbledore began walking out of the alley, ignoring Amy's question. They walked through the streets of Budleigh Babberton, passing a church and many houses. They came to a stop in front of one of the houses that looked just like the rest; they were all identical. Dumbledore slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wand. "I suggest you both draw your wands, as well." As they did so, they followed him again, slowly, as he entered the house through the front door. The house looked a wreck. Pictures hanging sideways, furniture turned upside down, smashed glass on the floor.
Before entering what looked like the sitting room, Dumbledore put his arm in front of Amy. "Wait here in the hallway, Amy." Just as she was about to go against his statement, he had pulled Harry with him into the sitting room and closed the door behind them. Dumbledore took a minute to look around the room while Harry still stood by the door. Dumbledore set his eyes on something in the corner of the room. He walked over to the large purple chair and poked it with his wand when — "Merlin's beard!" — a head popped out from the top of the chair! Harry held his wand up, ready to attack, but Dumbledore ushered him to put it down. "No need to disfigure me, Albus!" The chair turned into a man. "Well I must say, you make a very convincing armchair, Horace."
After being disfigured, the man set his eyes on Harry. "Ah, yes, introductions. Harry I would like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine, Horace Slughorn. Horace, I'm sure you know who this is."
"Harry Potter," he breathed out. He proceeded to all the doors around the room, making sure they were locked.
"Why all the precautions, Horace? Waiting for someone else?"
"Oh, alright! The Death Eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year! Do you have any idea what that's like? Having to go house by house trying to hide from them? I haven't stayed in one place for more than a week! The muggle family that owns this house are in the Canary Islands right now."
"Well, I believe we should put this place back in order, don't you?" And with the wave of his wand, the pictures on the wall were straightened, the furniture was back where it belonged, and the glass chandeliers were now intact and lighting the room. "That was fun," Dumbledore said simply, "May I use the loo?"
"Of course," as Dumbledore exited the room, Slughorn yelled after him, "Don't think I don't know why you're here, Albus! The answer's still no! Utterly and unequivocally no!" After minutes of silence, while staring at Harry, Slughorn finally spoke up.
"You're very like your father. Except for the eyes, of course, you have your —"
"My mother's eyes, yeah, I know."
"Oh, Lily. Lovely Lily. Exceedingly bright, that one. Even more impressive when I learned that she was muggle born."
"One of my best friends is muggle born. She's the best in our year."
"No, no, no! Please don't think I'm prejudiced! Lily was one my — my absolute favorites! See?" He pointed to a shelf on the wall. It was full of picture frames. "She's right in the front!"Slughorn narrated through the pictures, explaining how they were all 'his students' and how accomplished they had become. "Ah, yes," Slughorn said, as Harry saw a picture of a Slytherin Quidditch team, "Regulus Black. His older brother Sirius died a few weeks ago, I heard. Taught the whole Black family except for Sirius. Shame. He was a very talented boy."
"Horace!" Dumbledore's voice came from the hallway. He walked into the room, with Amy trailing behind him. He had a magazine in his hand, "Do you mind if I keep this? I do love knitting patterns!" But Slughorn wasn't paying attention to him, he had his eyes set on Amy. "Albus is… is this?" He stuttered. "Both of them?!" He asked, dumbfounded, as he pointed between Amy and Harry.
"Yes, Horace. This is Miss Amy Pond."
"Pond? Not… oh well. Albus, you're sure? Both of them?"
"Would I lie to you, Horace?"
"Of course not," he muttered under his breath, "well yes, then. I'll take the job."
"What's wrong?" Amy asked, stepping towards Slughorn. "Oh, it's nothing, Miss Pond. You just remind me of one of my old students. But what are the odds that you would be her daughter?" Slughorn laughed nervously as he looked back towards Dumbledore.
"Perfect. Thank you, Horace. I will see you at the start of term. Farewell," with that, Dumbledore left the room and left the house. Amy and Harry trailed behind him, both confused at what had just happened between Slughorn and their headmaster.
They made their way back to the alley in which they had appeared. "You're both ready, I suppose?" Dumbledore asked as he held both arms out, his left for Amy and his right for Harry. Harry noticed that Dumbledore's right hand was almost completely black. Hesitantly, he grabbed Dumbledore's arm and they turned on the spot.
Splash!
Harry was now soaking wet. He looked down to see that he was standing in a pond. Looking to his left, he saw that Amy was also covered, head to toe, in water. She shrugged at him. He stood, helped her up, and looked around to see where they were: the Burrow. He looked up through one of the windows. He saw his best friends sister sitting by the window, reading. Ginny, he thought to himself as he smiled. Amy must have caught the smile on his face because she now was looking at him with a mischievous smile on her own face. "Shut up," he whispered before he looked back up and smiled again. Together, they walked into the Burrow and were greeted by the sound of Ginny's voice from the other room, along with others from upstairs.
"I was only wondering when Harry got here."
"What? Harry? Harry who?" He recognized that voice as Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry Potter of course!"
"I think I would know if Harry Potter was in my house, wouldn't I?"
"His trunk is in the kitchen. And his owl."
"No dear, I seriously doubt that."
"Harry? Did someone say Harry?" That was Harry's best friend's voice; Ron Weasley.
"Me, nosy. Is he up there with you?"
"Of course not, think I'd know if my best friend was in my room, wouldn't I?"
Harry heard an owl coo in the kitchen. It was Hedwig.
"Is that an owl I heard?" Hermione Granger.
"You haven't seen him, have you? Apparently, he's wandering about the house."
"Really?!"
Harry decided it was time to speak up. "Really!" Ginny ran into the room and threw her arms around Harry. This was the best feeling Harry had felt all summer. Ginny pulled away from him with her arms still around him, but in that moment — for the first time in his life — he had the urge to kiss Ginny. Ginny Weasley. His best friends sister. But that feeling was soon interrupted by the sound of Hermione's voice. "Harry!" She ran up to him and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. He was quickly released to be pulled into two more hugs by Ron and Mrs. Weasley.
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming, dear?"
"I — I didn't know. Dumbledore…"
"Oh, that man! But what would we do without him?! Amy, dear, why don't you bring Harry's things up to Ron's room. Are you hungry, Harry? Of course, you are! Come with me, dear..." Mrs. Weasley began ushering him into the kitchen with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny following closely behind. The four gave him updates on everything that has been going on in the Burrow: Fred and George would soon be holding the opening for their new joke shop, Charlie was still working with dragons in Romania, Percy still hadn't talked to anyone, Tonks barely left her room anymore, and Bill was engaged to Fleur Delacour. At the mention of Fleur's name from Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley seemed disgusted. Fleur was staying at the Burrow this summer in Bill's room while Bill was working on Gringotts business. Harry took a moment to look at Ginny's smiling face (she just laughed at a joke Hermione made about Fleur.) Though the Weasley house would be packed this summer, Harry knew he was going to have a blast.
