Sixteen Candles - Chapter Six




My eyes widened and throat constricted as I looked over at Sirius, who was smiling as if nothing was the matter.

Draco… Malfoy?

 Shit.

"I'm… in Gryffindor, right?" I asked slowly, suddenly realizing perhaps, in this life, I had allowed the hat to put me into Slytherin.

Dad got a strange look on his face as he leaned forward and nodded, "Of course, Harry. Where else would you be?"

I sighed with relief, "Good… For a moment there, I thought maybe I was in Slytherin, Draco Malfoy being my best friend and all… Are you sure that wasn't a joke?"

"Harry," said Remus quietly, "Why would you be in Slytherin to be best friends with Draco?"

I blinked, staring at his confused face, before realization hit.

"Malfoy's a Gryffindor?!"

This was too good…

Mum nodded, "Of course. It was unexpected, but I'm assuming having Draco's mother raise him…"

"What happened to his father?" I asked, sensing this was a fairly touchy subject.

"Lucius Malfoy was killed right before Voldemort's downfall," said Mum quietly, "Despite his being a Death Eater, he was a friend."

"We're friends with the Malfoys?" I asked curiously, "How did that happen? Mr. Malfoy hated me, from what I can remember."

"Lucius was a friend of mine at Hogwarts," Mum answered, "He and Severus looked after me as if I was being hunted constantly."

My mouth dropped open, "Severus… SNAPE?"

All four adults gave me a curious look, "Yes, Severus Snape… Why?" Mum asked.

I gaped at them all for a good ten seconds before speaking once more, "It's just that… He… He's a professor, and he's awful to my friends and I."

Mum smiled, "Of course dear, I'm sorry. He's a perfect gentleman, I can assure you."

"Has anyone thought of exactly how strange this is?" said Sirius suddenly, "It's as if Harry's just been replaced… And how everyone's taking this… I knew he was having flashes and dreams, but I never knew he'd lost his memory."

"Once," said Dad quietly, "About three years ago. Couldn't remember anything for weeks – don't you remember, Sirius? We had to explain everything to him."

"Yes, of course, but I think what Sirius is trying to say… He didn't think he belonged to another world then, did he?" Remus asked, speaking as if I wasn't there at all.

"He had no idea he was magical," Dad answered, his voice just above a whisper. "Lily and I had to explain everything – at least this time he knows who everyone is."

"This has happened before?" I asked, partially relieved that perhaps I wasn't crazy. I was sure I hadn't dreamed or imagined Hogwarts as I knew it - there were too many details, too many threads and relationships, questions that went unanswered.

So how did I end up here?

"Yes, right in the middle of Transfiguration as well – Professor McGonagall nearly threw a fit. Made your mum come and get you herself instead of having you taken down to the hospital wing." Dad explained.

"I'm a professor," Mum clarified Dad's response, "Charms, in fact."

"What happened to Professor Flitwick?" I asked cautiously.

"Retired the year after you were born," Mum answered cheerfully, "Still comes around now and again though, to check up on things."

"Ok, I can understand that…" I nodded, looking down at my hands and then back up into my Mum's hopefully face. "If you're a teacher, Mum… Dad, what do you do for a living?"

Dad's face exploded into a smile, "Guess."

I thought for a moment, running through the few Wizarding jobs I knew, "Auror? Professor? Shopkeeper? Ministry official?"

Dad's grin grew wider, "Minister of Magic."

Bloody hell!

"You're kidding?!" I exclaimed, eyes widening. "So… so Fudge is gone?"

Dad nodded, "Retired about eight months ago. Ron Weasley's father is my second in command – the only reason he didn't receive Ministership is because he insisted he didn't have nearly enough time, what with three children to raise."

"Three?" I asked, after a quick mental count. "I know there's Ginny and Ron – the rest are all out of school, aren't they?"

The room suddenly got very quiet and it took me a moment to get an answer.

"Percy Weasley and his wife were killed shortly after their daughter, Zara, was born – she's almost a year old now, and Arthur and Molly are raising her."

"Percy…" I started, confused, "Was married? At the age of Twenty?"

"Immediately after he left Hogwarts, actually." Mum amended.

"Wow…" I shook my head, "The Percy I know is still most definitely alive and kicking, and isn't married."

Before anyone could reply, another knocking was heard on the door. Mum stood up and turned towards me, tilting her head slightly.

"That would be Draco and Severus. Come with me, will you Harry?"

I slowly stood up and followed her quietly, apprehensive about seeing one of my worst enemies and Potions Master as two long-time, trusted friends.

Mum opened the door slowly, revealing a shock of silver hair a mere four centimeters below Professor Snape –

Good Lord.