Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
When they arrived on the North Pole and the reindeer set to a soft landing, Snape looked at Harry. "Shouldn't we have brought winter clothes?"
"No sir. As soon as you set foot onto the grounds, your clothes will change automatically. The same happens, when you leave the house."
Harry nodded at Annika in silent thanks. 'She seems to really get on well with Snape,' he thought in amusement. 'I wonder if she remembers him from the first time she grew up.'
As soon as they landed on the snowy ground, something white shot out of the sleigh, causing Harry to chuckle, when Paws was immediately greeted by his siblings. Before anyone else could do as much as step out of the sleigh, the puppies were rolling in the snow in a mock fight.
Harry quickly followed his familiar, only to introduce everyone to Santa, Claire, Sirius, Remus and a couple of elves, who had all come outside to greet them.
"Ho ho ho! Welcome to the North Pole!" Santa shouted in apparent pleasure.
'He really seems to like having guests, as long as they don't come over Christmas,' Hedwig thought to Harry in apparent amusement.
"Polly!" Harry suddenly realised that the elf, who was his and the Weasley twins' Potions teacher at home, was present as well.
"Welcome home, Harry."
"Thanks Polly." Harry motioned the professor to join Polly and him. "Polly, this is Professor Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts. Professor, this is Polly, the elf who worked together with Salazar Slytherin."
"Welcome to the North Pole, Professor Snape. I have heard that you are the best Potions Master in Britain after Salazar."
Snape quirked an eyebrow in silent question.
"Merlin told Polly as much," the elf said, casting the professor a broad smile. "I am very happy to have you here, sir."
"Polly, may Professor Snape use the twins' and my workspaces during this week?"
"Of course. Polly will be delighted to make additional workspaces for the professor though. Maybe you and your friends will wish to use your usual spots."
"Thank you so much, Polly. The Weasley twins won't be here this time though, only during the summer."
"The Weasley twins have been here brewing potions?"
Harry grinned at the professor's gobsmacked expression. "Yes, they are working for Sirius, because he pays the Hogwarts fees for them, and he makes them study with Polly and invent their own prank potions. I often join them – just because I can."
Snape nodded in apparent understanding. "I suppose last night's potion was one of them?"
Harry grinned broadly. "Yes sir. They gave them to Professor McGonagall for Christmas last year."
While Polly went to prepare the lab, Harry led the professor to the screen room and introduced him to Merlin, before they sat down to join the others for some tea. Harry realised in surprise that someone had already told Merlin, Santa, Claire, Sirius and Remus about their incentive for the week.
"No, no, you must have misunderstood me," Snape said upon hearing Sirius and Remus discuss what Aberforth might be doing. "I merely said that Aberforth would be able to give you information, although I doubt that he'd be willing to do so. I did not say that he was doing anything. More tolerating than doing," he added as an afterthought, before he gripped his head in apparent pain.
"Professor, are you all right?" Ginny cast their head of house a worried look.
"Yes. I probably said too much. I am sorry. Please do not ask me further questions about the matter."
"We won't," Harry promised, giving his friends a warning look. "Thank you for trying to help, sir."
Snape gave him a curt nod, wearing a blank expression that slightly displayed excitement, when Sirius suggested that he could show the group around the North Pole. "Remus can stay here and watch the screen together with Merlin and perhaps Harry."
"Would you also be willing to take me to the Potions lab?" Snape asked, looking at Sirius questioningly.
"Yes. Let me just show you to your rooms first. Annika and Dudley, may Ginny and Neville stay in your rooms?"
"Of course," the twins replied, simultaneously.
"Draco, you will stay with Harry if you don't mind. I mean, there are rooms enough here, it's just that we thought you might be more comfortable together with your usual roommates."
"Thank you for being so considerate, sir," Daphne said, smiling.
'I like when she smiles,' Harry thought, 'in contrary to her ice queen mask, which she mostly wears at school.'
HP
While Sirius took the group around Santa's Workshop, Harry and Remus remained with Merlin, who had already switched the screen over to display the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. Aberforth Dumbledore was standing behind a bar mixing what seemed to be alcoholic drinks.
"How are you, Harry?" Remus asked. "I am glad that you found so many really nice friends during the first few months at Hogwarts."
"Yes, I am really lucky. How are you fairing though?" Harry cast the older wizard a concerned look, recalling how miserable he had been, when they had first brought him to the North Pole just a few months ago.
Remus smiled. "I am fine, Harry, thanks. Being a weredeer is the best that ever happened to me. I have made some good friends among the reindeer, and I'm now trying to practise the Animagus transformation to become a reindeer Animagus."
"Oh, that's cool. I am trying to become a dog like Paws, but I haven't managed to transform as much as my hand so far."
"I have already managed to transform my left arm, but for me, it's probably easier, considering that I already transformed into a reindeer four times. Tomorrow night, the moon will be full, and I hope that after that, I will be able to transform by my own free will. Merlin even said that I might be able to transform back whenever I wish, perhaps even during the full moon, but that we'll have to see. I don't want to get my hopes up."
"I wish you good luck in any case," Harry said, resolving to more eagerly practise the Animagus transformation.
HP
During the rest of the day, Harry and his friends as well as the Marauders took turns watching Aberforth Dumbledore. However, the older wizard merely did his work and occasionally spoke with some of his customers, who all seemed irrelevant to the question at hand.
"Oh well, you can just watch again tomorrow," Santa said, as he bade Harry and Draco good night that evening.
"That we'll do," Harry agreed, yawning. "Good night, Santa, Draco."
'As much as Paws is happy to see his siblings, he always comes into my room, when I go to bed,' Harry thought, feeling very blessed with the puppy cuddled against his stomach.
#Good night.#
HP
On Sunday morning, Harry, Draco and Professor Snape were having breakfast together with Claire and Santa, while everyone else was still asleep.
All of a sudden, Draco pointed to the screen. "Harry, look!"
Alerted by his friend's shouting that sounded urgent, Harry quickly looked at the screen, which still displayed Aberforth Dumbledore's place and seemed to be set to follow the old wizard through his house. Harry let out a gasp upon seeing Aberforth in what seemed to be a room at the back of his house. What was so surprising, however, was the fact that he was conferring with a ghost. He neither recognised the ghost, nor could he understand what they were saying – if they were saying anything.
"Is the sound on?" Snape asked, glancing at Merlin.
"I'm sorry, but what is so special there?" Merlin enquired. "Aberforth is just sitting there doing nothing."
"The ghost is special. I've never seen a blue ghost," Harry said, shrugging.
"A ghost? I don't see a ghost," Merlin replied, matter-of-factly.
"There is a ghost," Draco confirmed.
Their attention was brought back to the screen, when Aberforth finally spoke up, clarifying that the sound was properly switched on. "I'll just go and feed the goat. I'll be right back."
The ghost merely nodded and began to hum some kind of nursery rhyme, seemingly just to herself.
For a while, nothing happened, except for the fact that Aberforth returned; however, wizard and ghost remained eyeing each other in silence.
"Strange that the ghost is blue and that Merlin can't see him," Draco said, pensively.
"That's really strange." Harry looked from the screen to Merlin's portrait and back.
Snape rose from his chair. "I better head to the lab and do some work." He hurriedly strode out of the room with his robes billowing behind him.
#I think he's afraid that he could say something that might trigger his oath.#
Harry quickly translated for Draco, before he enquired, "Mum, can you see the ghost?"
#Yes.#
Merlin let out a deep sigh. "That seems to be one of the disadvantages of only being alive in a portrait. I should have transformed into my phoenix form before dying."
#You're a phoenix Animagus?#
"Of course. That's why I can understand your babbling."
#Nothing easier than that then. Are you still able to transform?#
An instant later, Merlin transformed into a blue water phoenix.
#All right then, I'll try to invent a spell for you to leave your portrait. Please give me some time though.#
"Thank you, Hedwig. That would be extremely appreciated."
When Hedwig and Merlin finished their conversation and everyone looked back at the screen, they realised in shock that none other than Albus Dumbledore had joined Aberforth and the ghost; however, he was just taking his leave without saying as much as a word.
Shortly later, the ghost said, "I'll see you, Aberforth," before he or she left through the nearby wall. The screen then followed the old wizard back into his front room.
"What was that?" Harry blurted out in disappointment. "Now we probably missed the most important part."
"Of what?" Daphne enquired, when the four girls entered the room.
'The ghost sounded female though,' Harry thought, as Draco quickly filled the girls in.
"Watching Aberforth didn't answer any questions; on the contrary, it raised new ones," Harry added, feeling extremely disappointed.
"A blue ghost?" Daphne asked, incredulously. "I know that not all ghosts are white. Look at the bloody baron, but he's red for a reason. Why would a ghost be blue?"
"And why is Merlin unable to see it?" Dudley added, when a sudden thought crossed Harry's mind.
"Merlin? Can you see the ghosts at Hogwarts?"
"No, I don't think so. Ever since my portrait has been here in front of the screen, I haven't seen even one."
"Too bad; otherwise, you'd be able to watch Aberforth and possibly the ghost for us, when we're back at Hogwarts."
Feeling thoroughly disappointed, Harry and Draco left the others to watch the screen for the rest of the morning, while they spent some time assisting the professor in the potions lab. Hedwig accompanied the boys, but Paws decided to spend his time playing with his siblings.
HP
During their week on the North Pole, at the friends always took turns observing the screen with at least two of them being there together; however, they did not see anything interesting. Aberforth merely did his job or spent time with his goat, and the blue ghost did not show up anymore. Harry was glad that Draco and Hedwig had seen it as well; otherwise, he might have doubted himself, especially as Merlin had not been able to see it.
After the full moon, which the weredeer spent out on the grounds playing together with the reindeer, Remus managed the complete Animagus transformation. As happy as Harry was for the older wizard, he slowly became frustrated with his own infantile attempts, when he finally succeeded in transforming his left hand into a paw.
#Well done, Harry. The first limb is the most difficult.#
"Thanks Mum," Harry replied, smiling. "Would it be a show-off if I showed it my friends?"
=Of course not. Show them and continue practising. I can't wait to be able to properly play with you and hopefully many others. You know how much I miss my siblings at Hogwarts.=
"Paws, it was your own choice to accompany Harry to Hogwarts. Do not complain."
Harry cast Santa a grateful look, although he had to admit to himself that he would not want to miss Paws anymore. 'I'll just have to try hard to manage the complete transformation,' he resolved.
HP
One evening, Santa took Annika aside. "How are things? Do you regret anything?"
Annika smiled. "No sir, I am very happy. I love Hogwarts. I have a whole group of really nice friends, and above all, I can do magic. Even if I missed the first four months of the school year, I'm doing well. I am really happy, and I can't thank you enough for giving me a second chance at a much better life."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"The only thing is…" Annika hesitated for a moment. "It's probably because I've been grown up before, but everyone seems so underdeveloped. I don't know if that's the correct word. They're not even teenagers yet."
Santa laughed aloud. "I know exactly what you mean. That can't be helped though. You'll just have to wait and see how things develop. Be patient my dear." He gently laid a large hand onto her shoulder, somehow making her feel very cared for.
HP
Their week on the North Pole over Easter had multiple effects on the group of friends.
Due to Harry's success in transforming his left hand, they all put more effort into their practice, and by the end of May, all eight friends were able to change their left hands, while Harry already managed to change both arms.
They spent much time in the library doing research on blue ghosts, however, without any success. Ginny even involved Hermione Granger in the research, and Harry asked Professors McGonagall and Flitwick; however, to no avail. No one had ever seen nor heard anything of a blue ghost.
The friends also involved the Weasley twins in their research and handed them some pocket money for their next Hogsmeade visit to spend at the Hog's Head in a faint attempt to get to know Aberforth Dumbledore. While the twins spent an enjoyable time at the pub, however, they did not learn anything interesting from the old wizard, and they knew better than to ask for the blue ghost.
It was at the end of May that Harry suddenly received a letter from Remus.
'Harry,
I have interesting news for you. It would be nice if you could come home during the weekend. According to Santa, Hedwig will be able to flash you and Paws home.
We are looking forward to having you here.
The Marauders
Sirius and Remus.'
Harry showed the letter to his friends, wondering what kind of news Remus was talking about.
#Let's go and ask the professor if we may return home on Saturday right after the Quidditch match.#
"All right." Harry grudgingly agreed and hesitantly went to see his head of house, glad when not only his familiars but also Draco accompanied him. 'Thank Merlin Snape doesn't hate me anymore, ever since Mum outed herself and we invited him to the North Pole.'
To his relief, Snape immediately allowed him to travel home, provided that he would be back by dinner time on Sunday at the latest. "See to it that we win the Quidditch cup," he added. "I don't want to see the cup in Professor McGonagall's office anymore. It's time to display it in my office."
"We'll do our best," Harry and Draco promised, grinning at each other.
'I wonder what Sirius and Remus want,' he thought, as they returned to their room that evening. Little did he know that the Marauders did not have the patience to wait until he was going to get home.
HP
The final Quidditch match of the school year was a huge triumph for Slytherin. As soon as Madam Hooch announced that Harry Potter had caught the Snitch and Slytherin won 280 – 30 versus Hufflepuff, the Slytherins stands erupted in cheers, which even intensified, when the headmaster handed the Quidditch cup to Marcus.
The captain of the Slytherin team quickly passed it on to their head of house, who accepted it wearing an extremely rare grin.
"Congratulations Severus," the Gryffindor head said.
"Thanks Minerva. Thanks Slytherin team. That was very well done. Twenty snakes to each team member."
"Look!"
Everyone stared at Daphne in surprise only to let out simultaneous gasps of the sight of sleigh that was standing in front of the first row of trees of the Forbidden Forest. It was decorated for a Quidditch victory party, and Sirius and Remus were standing on it waving their hands in clear invitation.
"Marcus, I suppose we're going to have our victory party on the sleigh over there," Harry said, grinning. "Professor, please join us if you have time."
'I thought I was going to meet them at home,' Harry thought, as he followed his housemates and the professor towards the sleigh, wondering if it was charmed to have everyone fit in.
tbc...
Thank you so much for the many kind reviews during this crappy year. I wish you all a very Happy - and healthy - New Year! Please keep feeding my muse - this helps more than you know.
Next chapter: "On Time for the Party".