Harry rolled over. He bumped his head on the edge of the glass coffin. His eyes flickered open.
Where was he? It was all black around him. The air was stale. All of his limbs were stiff as if they hadnt been used in months. Why was his photo album with him? Questions raced through his mind.
Harry realized his wand was in his hand. "Lumos." Harry said. His voice echoed eerily around him. His wand softly lit up the space around him. A glare came from the smooth surface above him and gave him a splitting headache. Harry looked at it closer. It was glass. Out side of the glass was- dirt! How odd. A thought suddenly struck him. Could he be buried alive? He had to have been. Roses surrounded him. How long had he been there? More importantly- how did he get out? Harry couldn't think of a single spell to get himself out of this one. There was only one choice. He was going to have to blow himself out of here.
Blow a hole out of this. You stupid soil, leave! Blow up! Burst into flames! A large, silent upward burst of fire shot into the cool spring night. Harry popped open the glass top of his coffin. Fifteen feet above him was grass. Harry could deal with this one. He climbed up the singed dirt into the night. Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. That was strange.
Harry grabbed his album and started walking towards the castle. Hopefully Ron or Hermione knew what was going on. Harry was struck with another sudden thought. Hermione and Ron were the only people who had access to his album. They were the ones who buried him alive! A new emotion coursed through Harry's body. Now he was mad and confused.
Harry realized he was holding one of the bouquets of red roses. Harry smelled them. They were almost completely dry, but smelled fantastic. Harry had always liked roses. He had reached the castle. The doors were, thankfully, unlocked. Harry walked through the deserted castle. Yet another question struck him. Why was he in his dress robes? Harry jogged up the steps and found himself at the portrait of the fat lady.
"Hey Ron! Do you hear that?" Hermione asked, looking up from her Arithmancy homework.
"Yeah. Sounds like somebody's picking a fight with the fat lady." Ron said listening to the noises out side.
"I swear I'm a Gryffindor!" A boy said loudly from outside.
"Why haven't I seen you for so long then?" The fat lady asked.
"I don't know!" The boy said. Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"I'll bet its Malfoy trying to sneak in here." Ron whispered. Hermione nodded.
"Either that or Neville forgot the password again." Hermione added. They broke into laughter.
"Prove that you're a Gryffindor!" The fat lady screeched. There was silence for a moment.
"See? Isn't that proof enough? Oh- no! Don't- don't faint!" There was a tremendous thud. The boy outside swore loudly and said, "This is just perfect!"
"The voice sounds familiar. Let's go see who it was." Ron said. Hermione shook her head. "I bet it is Neville."
"I have a really weird feeling about this." She said, but reluctantly followed him the entrance of the portrait hole. Ron pushed it open. A boy was standing there, his back to them. He was incredibly skinny and deathly pale with black hair and he was holding roses, a huge book and a wand.
"Can we- help you?" Hermione asked meekly. The boy turned around. He looked very familiar. He was glaring at them.
"You two must think you're really funny," He snarled. Hermione realized who it was. It was Harry. But Harry was dead! What was going on? Hermione and Ron gasped at the same time.
"Ron am I seeing things? Do you see him there too?" Hermione hissed to Ron. Ron nodded. "This is necromancy! A-are you- are you- Harry's ghost?"
"Okay you two drop the routine! It's getting really old. I give you full marks for creativity. How about next time you pull it on Malfoy." Harry (or his ghost) laughed bitterly. " You must think you are so funny. 'Ooh! Let's bury Harry alive so when he wakes up he wont know where he is and scare the living s* out of him! Sounds like fun!" Harry said sarcastically. Hermione had gone very white. She hopped down from the portrait hole so she was level with him.
"He looks pretty pale." She said to Ron. Harry cursed again. "I've heard of bitter ghosts, or are you a shade? A ghoul? Or are you just a ghost?" The boy rolled his eyes.
"Are ghosts solid, Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione extended a hand and touched his face. "What-?" She said. Harry swatted her hand down.
"Stop that!" He snapped.
"Ghosts aren't solid." She touched Harry's face again.
"Did you just now notice that, Hermione? Seriously you two! Maybe when I wake up tomorrow this will all go away like a bad dream."
"Who are you?" Ron asked.
"Harry! Who else am I? Do I need to prove this to you?" Harry brushed his bangs aside so they could see his scar. "There you go!"
"How do we know that this isn't some sick joke Malfoy is pulling on us?" Hermione said slowly. "Polyjuice potion, or maybe he can reanimate corpses… Yes that must be it."
"I am alive. Blood is running in my veins, has been for fifteen years. Drop the act. This joke isn't funny at all. Do you realize how much you two scared me? Imagine waking up in a pitch black- coffin." Harry shuddered. "I didn't know where I was and all of my personal belongings were with me. I'm in my dress robes for no apparent reason. Roses are all around me. So I light my wand, and what do I see? Nothing, besides a glass top and a bunch of dirt above me. Not funny you two. Not funny at all. I had to damage a bunch of school property to get out of there. Ha. Ha. Ha."
"Ron- go get Dumbledore." Hermione hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah Ron, go get Dumbledore. Maybe he can clear this all up. Punishment." Harry hissed. Ron, looking terrified, jogged down the hall.
"Okay, Malfoy or whoever you are, your going to get in major trouble for this."
"The name's Harry thanks." Harry said. Hermione continued as if she hadnt heard him.
"Not only is this the meanest joke I have ever heard of, you must have had to dig up Harry's body to get it to work. This is just sick. And I know it's you Malfoy. You are even bitter." Hermione added to the boy who she thought was Malfoy, who was at this time asleep in his bed as innocent as it was possible for him.
"Hermione are you even listening to yourself? This is crazy and has gone on long enough. I just want to go to bed and possibly get some food." Harry said almost crying with exasperation. He made a move for the open portrait hole, but Hermione tripped him. Harry fell down on his face and made a loud oof.
"Hush! You'll wake somebody up!" The fat lady said. Footsteps were coming their way. Harry whipped around to see if it was Ron back with Dumbledore. It was. Dumbledore looked outraged. He came up to them and tied Harry's hands and feet together.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Harry asked loudly.
"You, Mr. Potter are wearing these until we figure out what's going on here." Dumbledore said shortly. "I would like to ask you some questions. What is your full name?"
"Harold Potter." Harry said. He had no idea what was going on here. Shouldn't Dumbledore be punishing Hermione and Ron?
"Middle name included." Dumbledore said harshly.
"I don't have a middle name." Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"What is your address?" Dumbledore asked.
"For the Dursley's you mean?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded. "Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, England."
"Okay." Dumbledore said. Ron and Hermione were watching with interest. Hermione looked close to tears. "When is your birthday?"
"July 30th, 1986." Harry said. Dumbledore looked menacing.
"Good. How did you die?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm not dead!" Harry exclaimed.
"Okay, moving on." Harry noticed that Dumbledore was taking notes.
"Why are you asking me all this? Do you need this for a file or something? I didn't do anything!" Harry said. Dumbledore said nothing to this.
"Hmm. Who was impersonating Professor Moody last year?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione made a noise that clearly asked what was going on.
"Bartemius Crouch…Jr." Harry added as an afterthought.
"What happened to his father?"
"He killed him. Transfigured him into a bone and- and buried him in front of Hagrid's hut." Harry found recalling on this particular night hard.
"Who was he working for?"
"Voldemort." Harry said and sighed.
"Where did you spend your Christmas holiday's this year?" Dumbledore asked.
"Half at the Dursleys and half here." Harry answered promptly.
"And why did you come back here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because I wrote you a letter that asked if I could come back." Harry said.
"And what was the reason?" Dumbledore asked.
"Must we get into that?" Harry said bitterly.
"Yes, we do until we are sure this isn't a scam." Dumbledore snapped. Harry snorted.
"Because Dudley and his friend almost killed me."
"Who is your godfather?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sirius Black. Can I answer the next question for you to? I know what you're going to ask. He can transform into a dog. Peter Pettigrew can change into a rat and my dad could change into a stag. Any more questions?" Harry asked, getting fed up with all of these questions.
"Who is your girlfriend?" Dumbledore asked.
"Nobody." Harry said quickly. He didn't want to think about Cho.
"You are 'going out' with Cho Chang I thought."
"You thought wrong. I dumped her." Harry said.
"Sorry to hear." Dumbledore said. Harry snorted. "When did you two break up?"
"Yesterday." Harry said. Dumbledore wasn't looking mad and angry anymore. He was looking sad.
"What is the date Mr. Potter?" He asked. Harry thought a little.
"January uh- January 30th I think."
"No, it's April fifth." Dumbledore said. Harry looked at him strangely for a moment and then started laughing.
"You really had me going there for a moment! You must be in on this horrible prank to. Did you here what they did? They buried me!" Harry said and stopped laughing.
"No, Harry it wasn't them." Dumbledore said.
"What? You know who did it? Who?" Harry said.
"I did. Harry, your funeral was a little over three months ago." Dumbledore said.
"Wha- what? You guys are all crazy. I'm alive. At least I think I am." Harry said and pinched himself. He winced. "Yeah. Definitely alive." Dumbledore laughed.
"Welcome back, Harry. Welcome back."
"Where have I been?" Harry asked. This joke was getting less and less funny by the second.
"Dead." Hermione said. Harry had had enough of this. Burn off you stupid ropes, but don't touch me! I don't want to be touched by my blessed flames, Harry thought. The ropes disappeared.
"Okay. That's enough for one night. I am tired. I want to go to bed and when I wake up everything will be back to normal and nobody will be accusing me of dead." Harry stretched and yawned and walked towards the portrait hole.
"Harry you were dead. I have no idea how you are alive now. I don't want to see you at breakfast tomorrow morning. Stay in your room. You hear me Harry?" Dumbledore said sternly.
"Sure. I'm starving though! Can't I get some food?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"I'll have some sent up." Dumbledore said.
"Thanks." Harry yawned and walked into the common room. It was deserted. Hermione and Ron were watching him very carefully as if he might explode. "You know, I think I'll take a shower. I smell like dirt and smoke." He walked into the boys' shower room. Hermione and Ron sat down.
"Am I dreaming or is Harry alive?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so." Ron said. Harry walked out of the showers in a tight white shirt and a pair of kakhis.
"Can you two explain the outfit? I don't own any Muggle clothes that fit this well. And the shoes are new too. Oh well, I'm keeping it." Harry said and walked up the stairs. Ron said goodnight to Hermione and followed him up the stairs. Harry was standing in the middle of the room staring at his rose- covered bed.
"Do you want some help clearing the roses off?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head slowly.
"Nah. I've always wanted to sleep on bed of roses. That is a lot of roses. You two really out did yourselves. These must have cost you a fortune."
"Actually these were sent by all the people grieving your death. And I wouldn't recommend sleeping on those. Roses have thorns you know." Ron said. Harry laughed.
"Whatever. Fine then if it's that much to you I wont sleep on them." Harry muttered the banishing spell and moved the roses into a neat pile by his wardrobe. Harry changed into his pajamas and climbed into his bed. It smelled strongly of roses, but Harry didn't mind. It made him fall asleep faster.
The next morning when Harry woke up the room was deserted. He remembered Dumbledore's request and stayed in his room. After a while he became bored and went over to the massive pile of roses. There were so many of them that they reached Harry's chin when he stood up to them. He started weaving them into chains and tying them around the canopy of his bed. It looked really cool. When the canopy was covered he hung them on the mattress frame. He didn't even notice that Dumbledore had entered until he spoke.
"I brought you some food." He said. Harry jumped and dropped the rose chain he was going to put on one of the other boy's bed. He turned around and looked at Dumbledore.
"Thanks!" Harry said and took the plate from Dumbledore. He ate for a while and neither of them spoke. Harry didn't eat the eggs that were on the plate. He had never liked eggs.
"So Harry, how did you get here?" Dumbledore asked as Harry finished the plate of food.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"How did you get out of the coffin?" Dumbledore asked.
"I had to blow all the dirt around me out of the way and then I just popped the top off." Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"That sounds reasonable. How did you wake up?" He said. Harry found he was getting sick of all these questions.
"I rolled over and hit my head and then I woke up." Harry said.
"I mean, Harry, how are you not dead anymore." Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know what everybody is talking about. I don't remember dying." Harry said in a very exasperated tone.
"Harry think back. What happened after you and Cho broke up?" Dumbledore asked gently. Harry thought hard for a long time.
"I was walking back to the castle with Ron and Hermione and it started to rain so we went by the Forbidden Forest so we didn't get wet. Then Voldemort turned up and he said some stuff and then he- he tortured me. Then he had a little speech about my friends and said he was going to kill them to." Harry said thoughtfully.
"And what happened after that?" Dumbledore asked, interested. Harry thought harder. The memory came as a greenish blur to him.
"Voldemort tried to kill Hermione and I jumped in front of her to stop it and- oh! Oh." Reality slapped Harry in the face. "I get it."
"Good." Dumbledore said.
"How long have I been buried?"
"Around three months." Dumbledore said. Harry took a deep breath.
"What day is it?"
"Friday." Dumbledore said. Harry raised his eyebrows.
"This is to weird." He said under his breath.
"Do you have any idea how you woke up Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not really. It's never really happened to me before. Well I've survived the curse, but I've never died before and then woken up. Nobody died for me this time so what could have happened?" Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"You make a good point." He said. They were silent for a while. "What were you wearing that day?" Harry thought hard.
"My black robes, jeans, a red shirt and my dragon sweater." Harry said.
"Do you wear any type of necklace tattoo or bracelet?" Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded.
"Now that you mention it, I do wear a necklace." Harry said.
"May I see it?" He asked. Harry nodded and pulled the necklace with the sword over his head and handed it to Dumbledore. He examined it carefully for a moment, looking at it from every angle.
"Is there something on it?" Harry asked after ten minutes of silence.
"Harry, do you have any idea who this necklace used to belong to?" Dumbledore asked and looked at Harry.
"No. I got it for Christmas though, in an unmarked package." Harry said.
"Come with me Harry." Dumbledore pocketed the necklace and they walked out of the common room and up a few flights of stairs until they were standing in front of the large portrait of Merlin. "Look at this picture closely. Tell me what you see." Harry shrugged and examined it. Hermione had been right when she said that Merlin looked a lot like Harry. Harry stared at his face for a moment until a glitter caught his eye. His eyes darted down to his neck. Harry saw that his necklace was lying on Merlin's neck.
"It's my necklace!" Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"I knew I had seen it somewhere." He said. "I think this is how you survived. I'm not sure if you know this Harry, but Merlin died and then showed up three months later alive. I think this necklace must have a powerful protective charm on it. As to how you got it, I'm not sure. That will be another mystery I will have to look in on."
"I bet you're right. So everybody thinks I'm dead?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Everybody including the Dursleys." Dumbledore said.
"So now what do I do? If anybody sees me they'll think I'm a ghost or a zombie!" Harry said. He had been thinking about this for a while now.
"I thought about that myself. I think the best way would be to address the school by yourself." Dumbledore said. Harry stared at him.
"Are you mad? Speak to the entire school? What would I say? 'Hey! Remember me Harry Potter? I'm not dead anymore!'" Harry said. Dumbledore missed the sarcasm.
"Maybe something more explanatory. We'll tell the school that we have arranged for Merlin's heir to speak. I think that will do."
"So I give a speech on Merlin and then give a speech about myself then?" Harry asked and bit his lip. He wasn't very good at writing speeches.
"That would be perfect. We'll have an assembly tomorrow sometime in the middle of the day."
"Okay. I guess an assembly would be the best way to break it to everybody that I'm alive again. At least I wont have to tell the same old story a thousand times to everybody."
"That's the spirit Harry," Dumbledore said with a grin. "In the meantime however, I'd like you to keep under your invisibility cloak. We can't have anybody seeing you until your speech tomorrow." They walked down the hall and back down the stairs. Dumbledore left Harry at the portrait hole and waited until Harry was heading up the stairs before he shut the door again and headed back to his solitary office.
Harry entered his room and nearly had a heart attack. There lay Neville on his bed, half-asleep but then again; he was half-awake also. Neville looked like he had had a heart attack to when he saw Harry.
"H-Harry?" He asked. Harry thought quickly.
"Neville you are dreaming. I'm dead. Go back to sleep." Harry said soothingly.
"You're right." Neville said and closed his eyes. Harry sighed. He went over to his trunk and popped it open. He dug through it for a while until he found his invisibility cloak. He slipped it on over his head. Neville woke up again. He sat up in his bed and looked around the room. "I could have sworn he was here." He muttered sadly. Neville got up and started walking down the stairs. Harry, having nothing better to do, followed him. Neville continued talking to himself. "I feel much better now. Maybe I'll go sit in for the rest of Potions. Nah." Neville smiled to himself. Harry smiled to himself also. When Neville did finally leave, Harry left with him and followed him down into the dungeons where a double Potions lesson was going on. He sat next to Hermione and Ron who were sharing a desk. The seat groaned as he sat on it.
"What was that?" Hermione asked and looked at the chair where Harry was sitting.
"Probably just the table about to collapse under the weight of that book bag of yours Hermione," Harry whispered quietly in her ear.
"Ron! Did you say that?" Hermione said and put a hand on her hip.
"No!" Ron said innocently.
"I did." Harry confessed. Ron spun around and looked strait through Harry.
"I can't see you, but I know you're there!" He hissed.
"Ooh. Very good." Harry said. He smacked Ron on the back jokingly. "I'd come out of this cloak, but I'm not allowed to."
"Lucky." Ron muttered. Hermione elbowed him as Snape approached their table. He peered in their cauldron.
"Much to thick." He said and moved on.
"Well that was pretty painless." Harry observed.
"Yeah, he's been a little better ever since you died." Hermione said.
"What a jerk." Harry said. "You know I think I might go do something to him." Hermione choked on the piece of gum she was chewing.
"Don't! Do something to Malfoy!" She said. "Snape will have your head if he figures out who did it!" Harry muffled a laugh.
"Fine have it your way. I'm going to go haunt Malfoy now. Bye," Harry said cheerfully and walked silently over to where Malfoy and his two gorillas were working.
"Goyle pass me the horn of Rambat." Malfoy commanded. Harry seized the perfect opprotunity and grabbed the little horn and handed it to Malfoy, who stuck it in the cauldron. "Thanks, Goyle. Wait a second-" Malfoy realized that Goyle was fast asleep in his chair. "Crabbe, did you give this to me?" He asked shakily.
"No," Crabbe grunted.
"Who did then?" Malfoy asked looking around fearfully.
"I did." Harry whispered in his ear.
"Who said that?" Malfoy snapped.
"I did." Harry whispered in his other ear.
"Who are you?" Malfoy asked.
"Who do you think I am?" Harry asked, choking back laughter.
"Potter? Have you come back haunt me?" Malfoy asked.
"Mr. Malfoy what are you talking about?" Snape had turned up at their desk and was looking at Malfoy very oddly.
"Nothing Professor. Crabbe just did a very good impression of what Potter used to sound like." Malfoy lied quickly. Professor Snape nodded and left to go criticize Seamus's potion.
"Good cover." Harry hissed to him. Malfoy was very pale.
"Why are you haunting me?" Me asked. His fingers were trembling and he dropped the stem of a weed he was holding in his hand into the potion causing a very large explosion from his cauldron.
"I'm not haunting you, Malfoy. I just dropped in to tick you off," Harry whispered to him and walked over to Hermione and Ron who were looking frankly bewildered.
"What did you do to him?" Hermione asked.
"Scared him to death." Harry said. "The explosion happened on it's own. I should really die more often if I get to do this."
"Don't say that!" Hermione said a little louder than she expected. A few people turned around and gave her funny looks.
When the lesson ended they left the room as quickly as possible. Snape had been very upset about the explosion and had been giving the Gryffindors grief, even though it was really Malfoy's problem. Nevertheless, everybody was much happier after this lesson than usual. Nothing like this had happened since- well since before Harry died.
"What do you guys have next?" Harry asked as they headed up the stairs.
"Transfiguration." Hermione said instantly. Harry shook his head, even though they couldn't se it.
"You two have fun. I don't want to sit in on that class. Way to boring." Harry said. "I reckon I'll see you guys after school."
"Yes, but when are we going to actually see you?" Ron asked.
"Tomorrow I think." Harry said.
"That long?" Hermione whined.
"Yeah, that long. Dumbledore has something planned. It should be interesting, I'll tell you that." Harry said. They split up when they reached McGonagall's classroom and Harry walked to the Gryffindor common room alone. When he reached it, he remembered that he didn't know the password. Harry slumped down on the floor. He was going to be here for a while. He began thinking about the speech he was supposed to be giving tomorrow. He almost had it figured out when he heard the footsteps of the Ravenclaws sixth years getting out of Arithmancy. They all started walking towards Harry but of course they couldn't see him. He stood up and flattened himself against the wall. Cho and a bunch of her friends paused when they passed the fat lady.
"Isn't that where the Gryffindor common room is?" Miss Perfume asked.
"Yeah I think so. Cho you dated a Gryffindor, did he tell you?" Miss Eye Shadow asked. Cho nodded.
"Yeah. I saw Harry getting out of there a couple times." She said slowly.
"He was a hottie." Miss Perfume giggled. The other girls nodded and giggled madly. Harry was blushing so much that he could have sworn they would have been able to feel the heat from his face.
"Wasn't he? And he was nice. One of the nicest guys I've ever known. To bad he died." Cho said.
"Cho, honey, you have bad luck with boyfriends. They keep dying on you," Miss Eye Shadow pointed out. Cho wiped a tear from her eye.
"Don't remind me." She said miserably.
"Don't worry, your luck'll turn up sooner or later," Said Miss Shocking Pink Fingernails.
"Let's go to lunch," Miss Perfume groaned. "I'm starving."
"Good idea." And they headed back down the stairs. Harry sighed in relief. He hadnt had been so embarrassed in his life. At least they couldn't see me, Harry thought. Not long after, Harry heard some Gryffindors walking up the stairs, talking about the last Quidditch match.
"I can't believe we won." Angelina was saying.
"I know. I had my doubts to. I mean, with Harry gone and everything we suck." Katie said. "I mean, Dean is a good Seeker but he's nothing compared to what Harry was. Blue Snow." The portrait hole swung open and Harry followed them inside listening about the game. They had won by only three points.
Hermione and Ron came in a little while later looking very tired. Harry walked silently over to them. "What happened in McGonagall's class?" Hermione jumped.
"Oh it's you, Harry." She said faintly and clutched her heart, breathing hard. "We were working on transfiguring desks into pigs. It was really easy, but pigs don't stay put. We spent most of the lesson chasing them." Harry laughed.
"Sounds like fun," Harry said and sat down.
"You would think that wouldn't you?" Ron said and sat down in the nearest seat. He had plopped down on Harry, who 'oofed' loudly.
"Watch where you sit next time!" Harry moaned. Ron jumped up, embarrassed.
"Sorry, Harry, but it's not like I could see that you were sitting there." He said.
"My legs hurt now." Harry complained.
"Neville claimed he saw you earlier today." Hermione said, changing the subject.
"He did. I wasn't expecting him to be there. I was walking into the room to get my cloak and he was there lying on his bed. He saw me. I told him it was a dream and he fell asleep." Harry said.
"He bought that?" Ron said and laughed.
"Yeah." Harry said. McGonagall walked in the common room at that moment and hung something up on the information board.
"I wonder what it is?" Hermione said as a few of the younger kids looked at the announcement and walked away with large smiles on their faces.
"Well let's go see." Ron said and walked over there. Harry decided to stay sitting. Hermione and Ron came back with smiles on their faces to.
"Well, what is it?" Harry asked.
"We have a guest speaker tomorrow and then a feast!" Ron said excitedly.
"Who is the speaker?" Harry asked, though he already knew. "And it's only a speaker, it can't be that interesting."
"It didn't say." Hermione said. Harry sighed and stood up.
"I need to do some stuff. If you need me, I'll be in our room, on my bed. With the curtains closed mind you." Harry said.
"Okay then." Hermione said. They heard Harry walking up the stairs. Ron let out an involuntary shudder.
"I know he's alive, but I can't help feeling like I'm talking to a ghost when I cant see him like this." He said and shuddered again. Hermione nodded.
"I have to keep telling myself this isn't some twisted dream. This is life." Hermione said.
"I wonder what he has to do." Ron said.
"I have no idea. I'll bet it has something to do with him waking up from death though." Hermione said. "I wonder if he knows how it happened yet."
"Hmmm." Ron grunted. "No ideas here."
Harry pulled shut the curtains around his bed and grabbed some writing tools. He began writing as silently as he could. He heard somebody enter the room and he paused. The footsteps were coming towards him. Harry quickly hid his writing things under the cloak. The curtains were ripped open and Harry found himself face to face with a scared looking Neville.
"Something weird is going on here." He muttered. Harry was having a very hard time not laughing as Neville saw the indent on the mattress where Harry was. "Who- who's there?" Harry said nothing. Their eyes met, but Neville saw right through Harry. Neville looked around the bed once more before pulling the drapes back around Harry's bed. Harry slowly and silently pulled out his half-finished speech and began writing again. Nearly half an hour later Harry finished and tucked the speech under his covers, where nobody would see it. He walked down the stairs to find Ron and Hermione talking to Neville. He seemed really scared.
"I seriously think Harry's come back to haunt us!" Neville said shakily. Harry bit his lip to he wouldn't laugh.
"Now Neville, why would Harry haunt us? We were his friends!" Hermione said kindly, but she to was holding back laughter.
"I suppose your right, but something weird is going on here. I saw Harry today, I know I did. I don't think I was asleep at least. He walked in our room, Ron! And just now I heard scratching noises coming from his bed and when I looked in it I saw the indent of somebody lying on the bed!" Neville was white.
"Neville, if Harry was here, don't you think he would be visible, so we could see him?" Ron asked with raised eyebrows.
"If you're that worried. We'll go up and look with you." Hermione said. They walked into the dorm room.
"See Neville there's nobody here!" Ron said.
"But I shut the curtains around his old bed and now they're open again!" Neville said. Harry was impressed with Neville; he was on to him.
"Maybe the wind blew it open," Ron suggested.
"The window is closed though." Neville pointed out.
"Maybe a House Elf did it." Hermione said logically.
"I don't know you guys. I think Harry is here." Neville said sadly. Hermione looked very uncomfortable.
"Hey Neville, have you hear anything about the guest speaker tomorrow?" She said, changing the subject.
"What? Oh yeah, I heard about it. Somebody told me it had to do with Merlin's- Merlin's- oh I don't remember. It supposedly has something to do with Merlin." He said. Ron glanced over to Harry's bed.
"Merlin, eh? That should be interesting. Didn't we learn about him at the beginning of the year? I wonder if we'll be hearing anything new." Ron said loudly. Harry stifled a laugh.
"Who is speaking?" Hermione asked Neville.
"I asked Dumbledore when I saw him and he said that it was somebody really famous. Say, you don't think that they hired Lockhart?" Neville said. Ron and Hermione laughed.
"What? Nah, that guy was a fraud, probably doesn't even remember who Merlin is," Ron chortled.
"Well it was a good guess." Neville said with a shrug. "Anyway, it should be interesting whoever is speaking. Merlin had a very crazy life."
"And so has the speaker," Hermione whispered under her breath.
Harry was sitting outside the Great Hall the next day as Dumbledore addressed his students. His heart was pounding and his fingers were shaking. He had half a mind to run away, but he didn't.
"I don't think I need to tell you to listen to our speaker. He has come a long way to be with us here today and I'm expecting you all to be on your best behavior. I want to hear from the heads of your houses about how well you were listening. You got that?" Dumbledore asked. A murmur of yes's rippled throughout the hall. "I'd like you all to welcome Merlin's Heir." Everybody applauded politely. Harry walked into the hall. Nobody took much notice of him; they were all looking for some adult. Harry walked up to the podium. The clapping faded away.
"I feel no real need to introduce myself, as you all already know me, but I will for the sake of appearances. My name is Harry Potter, and I've come to talk to you about my being Merlin's heir." Harry said. The hall had been respectfully quiet until then, but when these last words tumbled out of Harry's mouth all hell broke loose. Girls screamed and pointed and all the boys had gone a nasty pale color. Somebody had actually thrown a fork at him, to make sure he was real, not a ghost or hologram. Harry caught it easily.
"But Harry's dead!" A girl kept shrieking. Harry shook his head slowly and looked up heavenward. He had been expecting this. He sighed and mumbled a few well-chosen words. There was a blast and a few golden and scarlet fireworks burst from the tip off his wand. The hall slowly simmered down.
"As I was saying," Harry continued, " I am here to tell you a little bit on Merlin and then you get to listen to my story." A few Slytherins groaned. Harry decided to ignore this and go on with his speech. "A show of hands; how many of you even knew that Merlin had an heir?" Most of the crowd slowly lifted their hands into the air. Harry laughed shortly. " I thought so.
"Well, here I am. Merlin's heir. As you all know, Merlin was the first Wizard to ever exist. He had many strange qualities that you don't find much anymore. I'm an exception to this rule. Like the capability to draw fire out of thin air without a wand. I'm sure there are more, but I'm not sure what they are so we won't dwell on it. I'll cut to the chase. I'm alive again." A murmur rippled through the crowd. A few people rose their hands in the air and started making noises of impatience when Harry didn't call them.
"I'll answer questions at the end." Harry said. The hands went down. "As I was saying before, I'm going to tell you the shortened version of my life. My story today starts on Halloween, fourteen years ago. Voldemort"- a few people gasped at the sound of the name-" showed up at my parents' house and killed them. I don't know if you knew this, but my mum died to save me. That is how I escaped the curse before. Well Voldemort was presently ripped from his body when he tried to kill me." Harry laughed harshly at the mental picture of Voldemort being ripped from his body. "When that was all happened, my house blew up. Some people wondered why it was blown up. The answer to that question is that I wanted to blow it up and so I did. I inherited Merlin's firepower, and believe me it has come in handy…sort of. You see, when the Muggles started gathering around the remains of my house, all they found was the bodies of my parents and not any incriminating evidence, like a wand or cauldron.
"You all know what's happened to me after that. I went to live with my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their son, Dudley. Not my favorite people. They are terrified of Wizards and Witches so I have absolutely no privileges there because they think I'll blow them up or something if my wand is in reach." Harry laughed bitterly again. Nobody was speaking in the room now. They were all listening to the speaker intently. They didn't know a lot of the stuff Harry was telling him. "So when I was eleven"- Harry smiled at some of the first year students-"I came here and the rest is history. But I suppose you'll want to know how I'm alive again, yes?" People nodded and murmured responses.
"Well as you all know, I 'died' to save Hermione Grangers life. I dove in front of her and I took the blow for her. I died. Or so you all thought. I have a necklace that I've been wearing since I got it for Christmas this year in an unmarked package." Harry held the necklace up so the rest of the school could see. "Well this is a necklace with a story behind it. The necklace once belonged to Merlin. You can see him wearing it in his portrait on the fifth floor if you don't believe me. Well we think that it has some sort of powerful anti-curse charm on it. I died for three months and then I came back. It fooled you all. I'm back." Everybody clapped loudly as Harry's speech ended. Hands shot into the air. Harry called on a Hufflepuff girl sitting towards the front of the room.
"You- you said something about a firepower in your speech. Can you show us?" She said nervously and bit her lip. Harry glanced over to Dumbledore. He beamed at Harry and nodded. Harry took a deep breath.
"I suppose, since it's all right with Professor Dumbledore." Harry said finally. He hated being put on the spot like, as if he was some sort of animal at the zoo, for children to gawk at. Some people held their breath, as a large fireball appeared two inches above Harry's hand, which he held up into the air so the whole hall could see. He extinguished it with a snap and walked down to the Gryffindor table where he was greeted with an uproar of screams and yells. Hands were pouring down on his back. Harry wished he could run away and hide in a corner. This wasn't what he wanted. He sat down heavily next to Hermione and Ron and rested his chin in his arms on the table.
"Good job Harry." Hermione said.
"Thanks. Next time I have to speak in public, remind me be incredibly sick so I don't have to." Harry said. Hermione and Ron laughed.
"You looked cool as a cucumber up there. Like you were a pro at speaking publicly." Ron said reassuringly.
"Ha. I hate public speaking. I don't like it when everybody is looking at me." Harry said.
"And now let us get on with our feast, in honor of Harry Potter." Dumbledore said from the front of the hall. At once, food appeared in the empty dishes. It was like the feast of Harry's dreams. Everything he liked was on the tables. They hadnt even put out the treacle mints, as Harry had never been really fond of them.
"Harry, how do you summon that fireball thing anyways?" Hermione asked later that evening when they were back in the common room.
" I know how to do it, it's just hard to put into words. Let's see…. Well I sort of insult the thing I want lighted and command it to light and then it just- happens." Harry said thoughtfully.
"That doesn't make much sense. Let me try… come on you stupid homework! Light on fire!" Ron said enthusiastically. Nothing happened to his homework.
"If you want your homework to go up in flames Ron, I can help you there. Would you like me to blow it up for you?" Harry asked.
"I would love for you to, but I have to turn this in on Monday." Ron said with a grin. Harry grinned back. Hermione laughed.
"You know Harry? You've been a lot happier ever since you woke up from being dead." She said. Harry glared at her sarcastically.
"You'd bee a lot happier to if you found out that you could have died." He said. "Hey! What happened to Sirius?" Hermione's grin faded a bit.
"He left when you died. He couldn't really protect you anymore if you were dead. Of course I'll bet he'll be here pretty soon again, now that you're alive." She said. As if on cue, a very loud bark came from the other side of the portrait.
"All right, Hermione! Good timing!" Ron hooted flirtatiously as Harry jumped up and went over to the portrait hole and opened it up. Harry was immediately thrown to the floor by Sirius' large jump in. He tackled Harry paws first. His tail was wagging dangerously fast and he gave Harry one sloppy lick on the cheek. Harry laughed, wiped the slobber of his cheek and pried the dog off his chest. Sirius looked up at Harry with wide eyes, and Harry knew that if he had been a man he would have been beaming at him. Sirius barked again. Harry patted his head and went back over to Ron and Hermione. Sirius let them pat him on the head a couple of times also. Harry found it hard not to smile constantly. And for the first time in his life, He was happy, perfectly happy. He would always have the empty spot in his heart that his parents had left when they died, the whole that was stretched even larger by the Dursleys. But Harry wasn't thinking about the Dursleys now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks flew by. Harry, who had missed the O.W.L. exams while he was dead, got an automatic 'A' in all of his classes. Of course everybody thought this was unfair except for Harry, who was relieved they weren't going to make them take the tests.
"That's two years in a row now!" Hermione fumed when she heard the news. "Just because you aren't dead you get all this special attention. I'm not dead, and I still have to take the tests."
"I rest my case." Ron said. Hermione socked him. Harry chuckled softly to himself. Sirius was making a funny wheezing noise to, as if he was laughing also. Hermione and Ron continued to fake fight the rest of the day. Harry thought it was amusing, but annoying. He didn't see why they didn't just hook up already.
Hermione as predicted had aced all of her tests with flying colors. Ron had pulled through with mostly Bs and an A in Divination, much to everyone's surprise. Harry congratulated his friends, as did Sirius, in his own, dogish way.
Harry and all the other boys in his room were all packing up their things, when there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Are you all decent?" Came Professor McGonagall's voice. Dean grinned.
"No, we're all naked. Come back later." He said. McGonagall made a noise of exasperation and opened the door. Dean and Seamus pretended to cover themselves up and blush, even though they were fully clothed. Professor McGonagall found it hard not to smile. It quickly faded though when she saw Harry packing all his stuff up. She went over to him.
"Potter, you are staying here this summer. There is no need to pack your things." She said. Harry almost pinched himself; this was just too good.
"Are you serious?" He asked incredulously.
"Yes, I'm serious. We couldn't just have you show up at the Dursleys. They think you're dead. They would kill you or themselves if they thought they were seeing ghosts. Do you understand?" She asked.
"Yeah!" Harry exclaimed. He was so happy, he could have kissed her, but as she was much older than him and no beauty queen at that he resorted to just beaming at her.
"Good. You can see your friends down to the carriages when they arrive." She said and walked out of the room. Harry whooped.
"You have no idea how cool this is." Harry said and threw his clothes back into his wardrobe.
"Your right. I don't." Dean said. "I mean, I know that it'll be a lot better than the Dursleys, but you have to spend the whole summer with Snape and all the other teachers."
"That's true, but maybe I'll be smarter if I listen to what they're talking about this summer." Harry pointed out. Ron laughed.
"Not like you need it. You're already smarter than me." Ron said. Hermione appeared at the door, looking very cross.
"You are smart Ron!" She said. Ron rolled his eyes at her. " I'm serious! Harry, why aren't you packing?" Harry grinned.
"I'm staying here this summer!" He exclaimed. Hermione's jaw dropped.
"That's great Harry!" She said and beamed at him. "But what are we supposed to do on the train without you?" Harry thought for a moment until something struck him.
"You can have a five hour make-out session!" Harry cried. Dean and Seamus tried to conceal their laughter, but it didn't work. They laughed heartily for a few seconds before straitening up and then pretending it hadnt happened at all and Neville mumbled something about not understanding. Ron and Hermione blushed furiously.
"Good one." Ron said after the laughter had subsided.
"Wasn't it though? But seriously you two, just go out already. We know you like each other."
"I most certainly don-" Ron began to say.
"It's pretty obvious." Harry said, cutting him off. Ron took a deep breath and didn't let it out for a long time. "Come on, You guys really should be getting down to the carriages. They'll be here soon." Harry said and helped them with their things down the stairs.
"Have a great summer Harry!" Hermione said as she pulled Harry into a tight hug. "And don't die on us ever again."
"See you Harry. Don't forget to write." Ron said and snapped shut the door on the carriage and it started moving towards Hogsmeade. Harry turned back around and walked back up the drive with Dumbledore.
"Well, we should have a most interesting summer, shouldn't we?" Dumbledore said as they walked back into the castle.
"Yes, we should." Harry answered. "We certainly should."
Where was he? It was all black around him. The air was stale. All of his limbs were stiff as if they hadnt been used in months. Why was his photo album with him? Questions raced through his mind.
Harry realized his wand was in his hand. "Lumos." Harry said. His voice echoed eerily around him. His wand softly lit up the space around him. A glare came from the smooth surface above him and gave him a splitting headache. Harry looked at it closer. It was glass. Out side of the glass was- dirt! How odd. A thought suddenly struck him. Could he be buried alive? He had to have been. Roses surrounded him. How long had he been there? More importantly- how did he get out? Harry couldn't think of a single spell to get himself out of this one. There was only one choice. He was going to have to blow himself out of here.
Blow a hole out of this. You stupid soil, leave! Blow up! Burst into flames! A large, silent upward burst of fire shot into the cool spring night. Harry popped open the glass top of his coffin. Fifteen feet above him was grass. Harry could deal with this one. He climbed up the singed dirt into the night. Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. That was strange.
Harry grabbed his album and started walking towards the castle. Hopefully Ron or Hermione knew what was going on. Harry was struck with another sudden thought. Hermione and Ron were the only people who had access to his album. They were the ones who buried him alive! A new emotion coursed through Harry's body. Now he was mad and confused.
Harry realized he was holding one of the bouquets of red roses. Harry smelled them. They were almost completely dry, but smelled fantastic. Harry had always liked roses. He had reached the castle. The doors were, thankfully, unlocked. Harry walked through the deserted castle. Yet another question struck him. Why was he in his dress robes? Harry jogged up the steps and found himself at the portrait of the fat lady.
"Hey Ron! Do you hear that?" Hermione asked, looking up from her Arithmancy homework.
"Yeah. Sounds like somebody's picking a fight with the fat lady." Ron said listening to the noises out side.
"I swear I'm a Gryffindor!" A boy said loudly from outside.
"Why haven't I seen you for so long then?" The fat lady asked.
"I don't know!" The boy said. Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"I'll bet its Malfoy trying to sneak in here." Ron whispered. Hermione nodded.
"Either that or Neville forgot the password again." Hermione added. They broke into laughter.
"Prove that you're a Gryffindor!" The fat lady screeched. There was silence for a moment.
"See? Isn't that proof enough? Oh- no! Don't- don't faint!" There was a tremendous thud. The boy outside swore loudly and said, "This is just perfect!"
"The voice sounds familiar. Let's go see who it was." Ron said. Hermione shook her head. "I bet it is Neville."
"I have a really weird feeling about this." She said, but reluctantly followed him the entrance of the portrait hole. Ron pushed it open. A boy was standing there, his back to them. He was incredibly skinny and deathly pale with black hair and he was holding roses, a huge book and a wand.
"Can we- help you?" Hermione asked meekly. The boy turned around. He looked very familiar. He was glaring at them.
"You two must think you're really funny," He snarled. Hermione realized who it was. It was Harry. But Harry was dead! What was going on? Hermione and Ron gasped at the same time.
"Ron am I seeing things? Do you see him there too?" Hermione hissed to Ron. Ron nodded. "This is necromancy! A-are you- are you- Harry's ghost?"
"Okay you two drop the routine! It's getting really old. I give you full marks for creativity. How about next time you pull it on Malfoy." Harry (or his ghost) laughed bitterly. " You must think you are so funny. 'Ooh! Let's bury Harry alive so when he wakes up he wont know where he is and scare the living s* out of him! Sounds like fun!" Harry said sarcastically. Hermione had gone very white. She hopped down from the portrait hole so she was level with him.
"He looks pretty pale." She said to Ron. Harry cursed again. "I've heard of bitter ghosts, or are you a shade? A ghoul? Or are you just a ghost?" The boy rolled his eyes.
"Are ghosts solid, Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione extended a hand and touched his face. "What-?" She said. Harry swatted her hand down.
"Stop that!" He snapped.
"Ghosts aren't solid." She touched Harry's face again.
"Did you just now notice that, Hermione? Seriously you two! Maybe when I wake up tomorrow this will all go away like a bad dream."
"Who are you?" Ron asked.
"Harry! Who else am I? Do I need to prove this to you?" Harry brushed his bangs aside so they could see his scar. "There you go!"
"How do we know that this isn't some sick joke Malfoy is pulling on us?" Hermione said slowly. "Polyjuice potion, or maybe he can reanimate corpses… Yes that must be it."
"I am alive. Blood is running in my veins, has been for fifteen years. Drop the act. This joke isn't funny at all. Do you realize how much you two scared me? Imagine waking up in a pitch black- coffin." Harry shuddered. "I didn't know where I was and all of my personal belongings were with me. I'm in my dress robes for no apparent reason. Roses are all around me. So I light my wand, and what do I see? Nothing, besides a glass top and a bunch of dirt above me. Not funny you two. Not funny at all. I had to damage a bunch of school property to get out of there. Ha. Ha. Ha."
"Ron- go get Dumbledore." Hermione hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah Ron, go get Dumbledore. Maybe he can clear this all up. Punishment." Harry hissed. Ron, looking terrified, jogged down the hall.
"Okay, Malfoy or whoever you are, your going to get in major trouble for this."
"The name's Harry thanks." Harry said. Hermione continued as if she hadnt heard him.
"Not only is this the meanest joke I have ever heard of, you must have had to dig up Harry's body to get it to work. This is just sick. And I know it's you Malfoy. You are even bitter." Hermione added to the boy who she thought was Malfoy, who was at this time asleep in his bed as innocent as it was possible for him.
"Hermione are you even listening to yourself? This is crazy and has gone on long enough. I just want to go to bed and possibly get some food." Harry said almost crying with exasperation. He made a move for the open portrait hole, but Hermione tripped him. Harry fell down on his face and made a loud oof.
"Hush! You'll wake somebody up!" The fat lady said. Footsteps were coming their way. Harry whipped around to see if it was Ron back with Dumbledore. It was. Dumbledore looked outraged. He came up to them and tied Harry's hands and feet together.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Harry asked loudly.
"You, Mr. Potter are wearing these until we figure out what's going on here." Dumbledore said shortly. "I would like to ask you some questions. What is your full name?"
"Harold Potter." Harry said. He had no idea what was going on here. Shouldn't Dumbledore be punishing Hermione and Ron?
"Middle name included." Dumbledore said harshly.
"I don't have a middle name." Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"What is your address?" Dumbledore asked.
"For the Dursley's you mean?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded. "Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, England."
"Okay." Dumbledore said. Ron and Hermione were watching with interest. Hermione looked close to tears. "When is your birthday?"
"July 30th, 1986." Harry said. Dumbledore looked menacing.
"Good. How did you die?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm not dead!" Harry exclaimed.
"Okay, moving on." Harry noticed that Dumbledore was taking notes.
"Why are you asking me all this? Do you need this for a file or something? I didn't do anything!" Harry said. Dumbledore said nothing to this.
"Hmm. Who was impersonating Professor Moody last year?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione made a noise that clearly asked what was going on.
"Bartemius Crouch…Jr." Harry added as an afterthought.
"What happened to his father?"
"He killed him. Transfigured him into a bone and- and buried him in front of Hagrid's hut." Harry found recalling on this particular night hard.
"Who was he working for?"
"Voldemort." Harry said and sighed.
"Where did you spend your Christmas holiday's this year?" Dumbledore asked.
"Half at the Dursleys and half here." Harry answered promptly.
"And why did you come back here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because I wrote you a letter that asked if I could come back." Harry said.
"And what was the reason?" Dumbledore asked.
"Must we get into that?" Harry said bitterly.
"Yes, we do until we are sure this isn't a scam." Dumbledore snapped. Harry snorted.
"Because Dudley and his friend almost killed me."
"Who is your godfather?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sirius Black. Can I answer the next question for you to? I know what you're going to ask. He can transform into a dog. Peter Pettigrew can change into a rat and my dad could change into a stag. Any more questions?" Harry asked, getting fed up with all of these questions.
"Who is your girlfriend?" Dumbledore asked.
"Nobody." Harry said quickly. He didn't want to think about Cho.
"You are 'going out' with Cho Chang I thought."
"You thought wrong. I dumped her." Harry said.
"Sorry to hear." Dumbledore said. Harry snorted. "When did you two break up?"
"Yesterday." Harry said. Dumbledore wasn't looking mad and angry anymore. He was looking sad.
"What is the date Mr. Potter?" He asked. Harry thought a little.
"January uh- January 30th I think."
"No, it's April fifth." Dumbledore said. Harry looked at him strangely for a moment and then started laughing.
"You really had me going there for a moment! You must be in on this horrible prank to. Did you here what they did? They buried me!" Harry said and stopped laughing.
"No, Harry it wasn't them." Dumbledore said.
"What? You know who did it? Who?" Harry said.
"I did. Harry, your funeral was a little over three months ago." Dumbledore said.
"Wha- what? You guys are all crazy. I'm alive. At least I think I am." Harry said and pinched himself. He winced. "Yeah. Definitely alive." Dumbledore laughed.
"Welcome back, Harry. Welcome back."
"Where have I been?" Harry asked. This joke was getting less and less funny by the second.
"Dead." Hermione said. Harry had had enough of this. Burn off you stupid ropes, but don't touch me! I don't want to be touched by my blessed flames, Harry thought. The ropes disappeared.
"Okay. That's enough for one night. I am tired. I want to go to bed and when I wake up everything will be back to normal and nobody will be accusing me of dead." Harry stretched and yawned and walked towards the portrait hole.
"Harry you were dead. I have no idea how you are alive now. I don't want to see you at breakfast tomorrow morning. Stay in your room. You hear me Harry?" Dumbledore said sternly.
"Sure. I'm starving though! Can't I get some food?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"I'll have some sent up." Dumbledore said.
"Thanks." Harry yawned and walked into the common room. It was deserted. Hermione and Ron were watching him very carefully as if he might explode. "You know, I think I'll take a shower. I smell like dirt and smoke." He walked into the boys' shower room. Hermione and Ron sat down.
"Am I dreaming or is Harry alive?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so." Ron said. Harry walked out of the showers in a tight white shirt and a pair of kakhis.
"Can you two explain the outfit? I don't own any Muggle clothes that fit this well. And the shoes are new too. Oh well, I'm keeping it." Harry said and walked up the stairs. Ron said goodnight to Hermione and followed him up the stairs. Harry was standing in the middle of the room staring at his rose- covered bed.
"Do you want some help clearing the roses off?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head slowly.
"Nah. I've always wanted to sleep on bed of roses. That is a lot of roses. You two really out did yourselves. These must have cost you a fortune."
"Actually these were sent by all the people grieving your death. And I wouldn't recommend sleeping on those. Roses have thorns you know." Ron said. Harry laughed.
"Whatever. Fine then if it's that much to you I wont sleep on them." Harry muttered the banishing spell and moved the roses into a neat pile by his wardrobe. Harry changed into his pajamas and climbed into his bed. It smelled strongly of roses, but Harry didn't mind. It made him fall asleep faster.
The next morning when Harry woke up the room was deserted. He remembered Dumbledore's request and stayed in his room. After a while he became bored and went over to the massive pile of roses. There were so many of them that they reached Harry's chin when he stood up to them. He started weaving them into chains and tying them around the canopy of his bed. It looked really cool. When the canopy was covered he hung them on the mattress frame. He didn't even notice that Dumbledore had entered until he spoke.
"I brought you some food." He said. Harry jumped and dropped the rose chain he was going to put on one of the other boy's bed. He turned around and looked at Dumbledore.
"Thanks!" Harry said and took the plate from Dumbledore. He ate for a while and neither of them spoke. Harry didn't eat the eggs that were on the plate. He had never liked eggs.
"So Harry, how did you get here?" Dumbledore asked as Harry finished the plate of food.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"How did you get out of the coffin?" Dumbledore asked.
"I had to blow all the dirt around me out of the way and then I just popped the top off." Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"That sounds reasonable. How did you wake up?" He said. Harry found he was getting sick of all these questions.
"I rolled over and hit my head and then I woke up." Harry said.
"I mean, Harry, how are you not dead anymore." Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know what everybody is talking about. I don't remember dying." Harry said in a very exasperated tone.
"Harry think back. What happened after you and Cho broke up?" Dumbledore asked gently. Harry thought hard for a long time.
"I was walking back to the castle with Ron and Hermione and it started to rain so we went by the Forbidden Forest so we didn't get wet. Then Voldemort turned up and he said some stuff and then he- he tortured me. Then he had a little speech about my friends and said he was going to kill them to." Harry said thoughtfully.
"And what happened after that?" Dumbledore asked, interested. Harry thought harder. The memory came as a greenish blur to him.
"Voldemort tried to kill Hermione and I jumped in front of her to stop it and- oh! Oh." Reality slapped Harry in the face. "I get it."
"Good." Dumbledore said.
"How long have I been buried?"
"Around three months." Dumbledore said. Harry took a deep breath.
"What day is it?"
"Friday." Dumbledore said. Harry raised his eyebrows.
"This is to weird." He said under his breath.
"Do you have any idea how you woke up Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not really. It's never really happened to me before. Well I've survived the curse, but I've never died before and then woken up. Nobody died for me this time so what could have happened?" Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"You make a good point." He said. They were silent for a while. "What were you wearing that day?" Harry thought hard.
"My black robes, jeans, a red shirt and my dragon sweater." Harry said.
"Do you wear any type of necklace tattoo or bracelet?" Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded.
"Now that you mention it, I do wear a necklace." Harry said.
"May I see it?" He asked. Harry nodded and pulled the necklace with the sword over his head and handed it to Dumbledore. He examined it carefully for a moment, looking at it from every angle.
"Is there something on it?" Harry asked after ten minutes of silence.
"Harry, do you have any idea who this necklace used to belong to?" Dumbledore asked and looked at Harry.
"No. I got it for Christmas though, in an unmarked package." Harry said.
"Come with me Harry." Dumbledore pocketed the necklace and they walked out of the common room and up a few flights of stairs until they were standing in front of the large portrait of Merlin. "Look at this picture closely. Tell me what you see." Harry shrugged and examined it. Hermione had been right when she said that Merlin looked a lot like Harry. Harry stared at his face for a moment until a glitter caught his eye. His eyes darted down to his neck. Harry saw that his necklace was lying on Merlin's neck.
"It's my necklace!" Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"I knew I had seen it somewhere." He said. "I think this is how you survived. I'm not sure if you know this Harry, but Merlin died and then showed up three months later alive. I think this necklace must have a powerful protective charm on it. As to how you got it, I'm not sure. That will be another mystery I will have to look in on."
"I bet you're right. So everybody thinks I'm dead?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Everybody including the Dursleys." Dumbledore said.
"So now what do I do? If anybody sees me they'll think I'm a ghost or a zombie!" Harry said. He had been thinking about this for a while now.
"I thought about that myself. I think the best way would be to address the school by yourself." Dumbledore said. Harry stared at him.
"Are you mad? Speak to the entire school? What would I say? 'Hey! Remember me Harry Potter? I'm not dead anymore!'" Harry said. Dumbledore missed the sarcasm.
"Maybe something more explanatory. We'll tell the school that we have arranged for Merlin's heir to speak. I think that will do."
"So I give a speech on Merlin and then give a speech about myself then?" Harry asked and bit his lip. He wasn't very good at writing speeches.
"That would be perfect. We'll have an assembly tomorrow sometime in the middle of the day."
"Okay. I guess an assembly would be the best way to break it to everybody that I'm alive again. At least I wont have to tell the same old story a thousand times to everybody."
"That's the spirit Harry," Dumbledore said with a grin. "In the meantime however, I'd like you to keep under your invisibility cloak. We can't have anybody seeing you until your speech tomorrow." They walked down the hall and back down the stairs. Dumbledore left Harry at the portrait hole and waited until Harry was heading up the stairs before he shut the door again and headed back to his solitary office.
Harry entered his room and nearly had a heart attack. There lay Neville on his bed, half-asleep but then again; he was half-awake also. Neville looked like he had had a heart attack to when he saw Harry.
"H-Harry?" He asked. Harry thought quickly.
"Neville you are dreaming. I'm dead. Go back to sleep." Harry said soothingly.
"You're right." Neville said and closed his eyes. Harry sighed. He went over to his trunk and popped it open. He dug through it for a while until he found his invisibility cloak. He slipped it on over his head. Neville woke up again. He sat up in his bed and looked around the room. "I could have sworn he was here." He muttered sadly. Neville got up and started walking down the stairs. Harry, having nothing better to do, followed him. Neville continued talking to himself. "I feel much better now. Maybe I'll go sit in for the rest of Potions. Nah." Neville smiled to himself. Harry smiled to himself also. When Neville did finally leave, Harry left with him and followed him down into the dungeons where a double Potions lesson was going on. He sat next to Hermione and Ron who were sharing a desk. The seat groaned as he sat on it.
"What was that?" Hermione asked and looked at the chair where Harry was sitting.
"Probably just the table about to collapse under the weight of that book bag of yours Hermione," Harry whispered quietly in her ear.
"Ron! Did you say that?" Hermione said and put a hand on her hip.
"No!" Ron said innocently.
"I did." Harry confessed. Ron spun around and looked strait through Harry.
"I can't see you, but I know you're there!" He hissed.
"Ooh. Very good." Harry said. He smacked Ron on the back jokingly. "I'd come out of this cloak, but I'm not allowed to."
"Lucky." Ron muttered. Hermione elbowed him as Snape approached their table. He peered in their cauldron.
"Much to thick." He said and moved on.
"Well that was pretty painless." Harry observed.
"Yeah, he's been a little better ever since you died." Hermione said.
"What a jerk." Harry said. "You know I think I might go do something to him." Hermione choked on the piece of gum she was chewing.
"Don't! Do something to Malfoy!" She said. "Snape will have your head if he figures out who did it!" Harry muffled a laugh.
"Fine have it your way. I'm going to go haunt Malfoy now. Bye," Harry said cheerfully and walked silently over to where Malfoy and his two gorillas were working.
"Goyle pass me the horn of Rambat." Malfoy commanded. Harry seized the perfect opprotunity and grabbed the little horn and handed it to Malfoy, who stuck it in the cauldron. "Thanks, Goyle. Wait a second-" Malfoy realized that Goyle was fast asleep in his chair. "Crabbe, did you give this to me?" He asked shakily.
"No," Crabbe grunted.
"Who did then?" Malfoy asked looking around fearfully.
"I did." Harry whispered in his ear.
"Who said that?" Malfoy snapped.
"I did." Harry whispered in his other ear.
"Who are you?" Malfoy asked.
"Who do you think I am?" Harry asked, choking back laughter.
"Potter? Have you come back haunt me?" Malfoy asked.
"Mr. Malfoy what are you talking about?" Snape had turned up at their desk and was looking at Malfoy very oddly.
"Nothing Professor. Crabbe just did a very good impression of what Potter used to sound like." Malfoy lied quickly. Professor Snape nodded and left to go criticize Seamus's potion.
"Good cover." Harry hissed to him. Malfoy was very pale.
"Why are you haunting me?" Me asked. His fingers were trembling and he dropped the stem of a weed he was holding in his hand into the potion causing a very large explosion from his cauldron.
"I'm not haunting you, Malfoy. I just dropped in to tick you off," Harry whispered to him and walked over to Hermione and Ron who were looking frankly bewildered.
"What did you do to him?" Hermione asked.
"Scared him to death." Harry said. "The explosion happened on it's own. I should really die more often if I get to do this."
"Don't say that!" Hermione said a little louder than she expected. A few people turned around and gave her funny looks.
When the lesson ended they left the room as quickly as possible. Snape had been very upset about the explosion and had been giving the Gryffindors grief, even though it was really Malfoy's problem. Nevertheless, everybody was much happier after this lesson than usual. Nothing like this had happened since- well since before Harry died.
"What do you guys have next?" Harry asked as they headed up the stairs.
"Transfiguration." Hermione said instantly. Harry shook his head, even though they couldn't se it.
"You two have fun. I don't want to sit in on that class. Way to boring." Harry said. "I reckon I'll see you guys after school."
"Yes, but when are we going to actually see you?" Ron asked.
"Tomorrow I think." Harry said.
"That long?" Hermione whined.
"Yeah, that long. Dumbledore has something planned. It should be interesting, I'll tell you that." Harry said. They split up when they reached McGonagall's classroom and Harry walked to the Gryffindor common room alone. When he reached it, he remembered that he didn't know the password. Harry slumped down on the floor. He was going to be here for a while. He began thinking about the speech he was supposed to be giving tomorrow. He almost had it figured out when he heard the footsteps of the Ravenclaws sixth years getting out of Arithmancy. They all started walking towards Harry but of course they couldn't see him. He stood up and flattened himself against the wall. Cho and a bunch of her friends paused when they passed the fat lady.
"Isn't that where the Gryffindor common room is?" Miss Perfume asked.
"Yeah I think so. Cho you dated a Gryffindor, did he tell you?" Miss Eye Shadow asked. Cho nodded.
"Yeah. I saw Harry getting out of there a couple times." She said slowly.
"He was a hottie." Miss Perfume giggled. The other girls nodded and giggled madly. Harry was blushing so much that he could have sworn they would have been able to feel the heat from his face.
"Wasn't he? And he was nice. One of the nicest guys I've ever known. To bad he died." Cho said.
"Cho, honey, you have bad luck with boyfriends. They keep dying on you," Miss Eye Shadow pointed out. Cho wiped a tear from her eye.
"Don't remind me." She said miserably.
"Don't worry, your luck'll turn up sooner or later," Said Miss Shocking Pink Fingernails.
"Let's go to lunch," Miss Perfume groaned. "I'm starving."
"Good idea." And they headed back down the stairs. Harry sighed in relief. He hadnt had been so embarrassed in his life. At least they couldn't see me, Harry thought. Not long after, Harry heard some Gryffindors walking up the stairs, talking about the last Quidditch match.
"I can't believe we won." Angelina was saying.
"I know. I had my doubts to. I mean, with Harry gone and everything we suck." Katie said. "I mean, Dean is a good Seeker but he's nothing compared to what Harry was. Blue Snow." The portrait hole swung open and Harry followed them inside listening about the game. They had won by only three points.
Hermione and Ron came in a little while later looking very tired. Harry walked silently over to them. "What happened in McGonagall's class?" Hermione jumped.
"Oh it's you, Harry." She said faintly and clutched her heart, breathing hard. "We were working on transfiguring desks into pigs. It was really easy, but pigs don't stay put. We spent most of the lesson chasing them." Harry laughed.
"Sounds like fun," Harry said and sat down.
"You would think that wouldn't you?" Ron said and sat down in the nearest seat. He had plopped down on Harry, who 'oofed' loudly.
"Watch where you sit next time!" Harry moaned. Ron jumped up, embarrassed.
"Sorry, Harry, but it's not like I could see that you were sitting there." He said.
"My legs hurt now." Harry complained.
"Neville claimed he saw you earlier today." Hermione said, changing the subject.
"He did. I wasn't expecting him to be there. I was walking into the room to get my cloak and he was there lying on his bed. He saw me. I told him it was a dream and he fell asleep." Harry said.
"He bought that?" Ron said and laughed.
"Yeah." Harry said. McGonagall walked in the common room at that moment and hung something up on the information board.
"I wonder what it is?" Hermione said as a few of the younger kids looked at the announcement and walked away with large smiles on their faces.
"Well let's go see." Ron said and walked over there. Harry decided to stay sitting. Hermione and Ron came back with smiles on their faces to.
"Well, what is it?" Harry asked.
"We have a guest speaker tomorrow and then a feast!" Ron said excitedly.
"Who is the speaker?" Harry asked, though he already knew. "And it's only a speaker, it can't be that interesting."
"It didn't say." Hermione said. Harry sighed and stood up.
"I need to do some stuff. If you need me, I'll be in our room, on my bed. With the curtains closed mind you." Harry said.
"Okay then." Hermione said. They heard Harry walking up the stairs. Ron let out an involuntary shudder.
"I know he's alive, but I can't help feeling like I'm talking to a ghost when I cant see him like this." He said and shuddered again. Hermione nodded.
"I have to keep telling myself this isn't some twisted dream. This is life." Hermione said.
"I wonder what he has to do." Ron said.
"I have no idea. I'll bet it has something to do with him waking up from death though." Hermione said. "I wonder if he knows how it happened yet."
"Hmmm." Ron grunted. "No ideas here."
Harry pulled shut the curtains around his bed and grabbed some writing tools. He began writing as silently as he could. He heard somebody enter the room and he paused. The footsteps were coming towards him. Harry quickly hid his writing things under the cloak. The curtains were ripped open and Harry found himself face to face with a scared looking Neville.
"Something weird is going on here." He muttered. Harry was having a very hard time not laughing as Neville saw the indent on the mattress where Harry was. "Who- who's there?" Harry said nothing. Their eyes met, but Neville saw right through Harry. Neville looked around the bed once more before pulling the drapes back around Harry's bed. Harry slowly and silently pulled out his half-finished speech and began writing again. Nearly half an hour later Harry finished and tucked the speech under his covers, where nobody would see it. He walked down the stairs to find Ron and Hermione talking to Neville. He seemed really scared.
"I seriously think Harry's come back to haunt us!" Neville said shakily. Harry bit his lip to he wouldn't laugh.
"Now Neville, why would Harry haunt us? We were his friends!" Hermione said kindly, but she to was holding back laughter.
"I suppose your right, but something weird is going on here. I saw Harry today, I know I did. I don't think I was asleep at least. He walked in our room, Ron! And just now I heard scratching noises coming from his bed and when I looked in it I saw the indent of somebody lying on the bed!" Neville was white.
"Neville, if Harry was here, don't you think he would be visible, so we could see him?" Ron asked with raised eyebrows.
"If you're that worried. We'll go up and look with you." Hermione said. They walked into the dorm room.
"See Neville there's nobody here!" Ron said.
"But I shut the curtains around his old bed and now they're open again!" Neville said. Harry was impressed with Neville; he was on to him.
"Maybe the wind blew it open," Ron suggested.
"The window is closed though." Neville pointed out.
"Maybe a House Elf did it." Hermione said logically.
"I don't know you guys. I think Harry is here." Neville said sadly. Hermione looked very uncomfortable.
"Hey Neville, have you hear anything about the guest speaker tomorrow?" She said, changing the subject.
"What? Oh yeah, I heard about it. Somebody told me it had to do with Merlin's- Merlin's- oh I don't remember. It supposedly has something to do with Merlin." He said. Ron glanced over to Harry's bed.
"Merlin, eh? That should be interesting. Didn't we learn about him at the beginning of the year? I wonder if we'll be hearing anything new." Ron said loudly. Harry stifled a laugh.
"Who is speaking?" Hermione asked Neville.
"I asked Dumbledore when I saw him and he said that it was somebody really famous. Say, you don't think that they hired Lockhart?" Neville said. Ron and Hermione laughed.
"What? Nah, that guy was a fraud, probably doesn't even remember who Merlin is," Ron chortled.
"Well it was a good guess." Neville said with a shrug. "Anyway, it should be interesting whoever is speaking. Merlin had a very crazy life."
"And so has the speaker," Hermione whispered under her breath.
Harry was sitting outside the Great Hall the next day as Dumbledore addressed his students. His heart was pounding and his fingers were shaking. He had half a mind to run away, but he didn't.
"I don't think I need to tell you to listen to our speaker. He has come a long way to be with us here today and I'm expecting you all to be on your best behavior. I want to hear from the heads of your houses about how well you were listening. You got that?" Dumbledore asked. A murmur of yes's rippled throughout the hall. "I'd like you all to welcome Merlin's Heir." Everybody applauded politely. Harry walked into the hall. Nobody took much notice of him; they were all looking for some adult. Harry walked up to the podium. The clapping faded away.
"I feel no real need to introduce myself, as you all already know me, but I will for the sake of appearances. My name is Harry Potter, and I've come to talk to you about my being Merlin's heir." Harry said. The hall had been respectfully quiet until then, but when these last words tumbled out of Harry's mouth all hell broke loose. Girls screamed and pointed and all the boys had gone a nasty pale color. Somebody had actually thrown a fork at him, to make sure he was real, not a ghost or hologram. Harry caught it easily.
"But Harry's dead!" A girl kept shrieking. Harry shook his head slowly and looked up heavenward. He had been expecting this. He sighed and mumbled a few well-chosen words. There was a blast and a few golden and scarlet fireworks burst from the tip off his wand. The hall slowly simmered down.
"As I was saying," Harry continued, " I am here to tell you a little bit on Merlin and then you get to listen to my story." A few Slytherins groaned. Harry decided to ignore this and go on with his speech. "A show of hands; how many of you even knew that Merlin had an heir?" Most of the crowd slowly lifted their hands into the air. Harry laughed shortly. " I thought so.
"Well, here I am. Merlin's heir. As you all know, Merlin was the first Wizard to ever exist. He had many strange qualities that you don't find much anymore. I'm an exception to this rule. Like the capability to draw fire out of thin air without a wand. I'm sure there are more, but I'm not sure what they are so we won't dwell on it. I'll cut to the chase. I'm alive again." A murmur rippled through the crowd. A few people rose their hands in the air and started making noises of impatience when Harry didn't call them.
"I'll answer questions at the end." Harry said. The hands went down. "As I was saying before, I'm going to tell you the shortened version of my life. My story today starts on Halloween, fourteen years ago. Voldemort"- a few people gasped at the sound of the name-" showed up at my parents' house and killed them. I don't know if you knew this, but my mum died to save me. That is how I escaped the curse before. Well Voldemort was presently ripped from his body when he tried to kill me." Harry laughed harshly at the mental picture of Voldemort being ripped from his body. "When that was all happened, my house blew up. Some people wondered why it was blown up. The answer to that question is that I wanted to blow it up and so I did. I inherited Merlin's firepower, and believe me it has come in handy…sort of. You see, when the Muggles started gathering around the remains of my house, all they found was the bodies of my parents and not any incriminating evidence, like a wand or cauldron.
"You all know what's happened to me after that. I went to live with my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their son, Dudley. Not my favorite people. They are terrified of Wizards and Witches so I have absolutely no privileges there because they think I'll blow them up or something if my wand is in reach." Harry laughed bitterly again. Nobody was speaking in the room now. They were all listening to the speaker intently. They didn't know a lot of the stuff Harry was telling him. "So when I was eleven"- Harry smiled at some of the first year students-"I came here and the rest is history. But I suppose you'll want to know how I'm alive again, yes?" People nodded and murmured responses.
"Well as you all know, I 'died' to save Hermione Grangers life. I dove in front of her and I took the blow for her. I died. Or so you all thought. I have a necklace that I've been wearing since I got it for Christmas this year in an unmarked package." Harry held the necklace up so the rest of the school could see. "Well this is a necklace with a story behind it. The necklace once belonged to Merlin. You can see him wearing it in his portrait on the fifth floor if you don't believe me. Well we think that it has some sort of powerful anti-curse charm on it. I died for three months and then I came back. It fooled you all. I'm back." Everybody clapped loudly as Harry's speech ended. Hands shot into the air. Harry called on a Hufflepuff girl sitting towards the front of the room.
"You- you said something about a firepower in your speech. Can you show us?" She said nervously and bit her lip. Harry glanced over to Dumbledore. He beamed at Harry and nodded. Harry took a deep breath.
"I suppose, since it's all right with Professor Dumbledore." Harry said finally. He hated being put on the spot like, as if he was some sort of animal at the zoo, for children to gawk at. Some people held their breath, as a large fireball appeared two inches above Harry's hand, which he held up into the air so the whole hall could see. He extinguished it with a snap and walked down to the Gryffindor table where he was greeted with an uproar of screams and yells. Hands were pouring down on his back. Harry wished he could run away and hide in a corner. This wasn't what he wanted. He sat down heavily next to Hermione and Ron and rested his chin in his arms on the table.
"Good job Harry." Hermione said.
"Thanks. Next time I have to speak in public, remind me be incredibly sick so I don't have to." Harry said. Hermione and Ron laughed.
"You looked cool as a cucumber up there. Like you were a pro at speaking publicly." Ron said reassuringly.
"Ha. I hate public speaking. I don't like it when everybody is looking at me." Harry said.
"And now let us get on with our feast, in honor of Harry Potter." Dumbledore said from the front of the hall. At once, food appeared in the empty dishes. It was like the feast of Harry's dreams. Everything he liked was on the tables. They hadnt even put out the treacle mints, as Harry had never been really fond of them.
"Harry, how do you summon that fireball thing anyways?" Hermione asked later that evening when they were back in the common room.
" I know how to do it, it's just hard to put into words. Let's see…. Well I sort of insult the thing I want lighted and command it to light and then it just- happens." Harry said thoughtfully.
"That doesn't make much sense. Let me try… come on you stupid homework! Light on fire!" Ron said enthusiastically. Nothing happened to his homework.
"If you want your homework to go up in flames Ron, I can help you there. Would you like me to blow it up for you?" Harry asked.
"I would love for you to, but I have to turn this in on Monday." Ron said with a grin. Harry grinned back. Hermione laughed.
"You know Harry? You've been a lot happier ever since you woke up from being dead." She said. Harry glared at her sarcastically.
"You'd bee a lot happier to if you found out that you could have died." He said. "Hey! What happened to Sirius?" Hermione's grin faded a bit.
"He left when you died. He couldn't really protect you anymore if you were dead. Of course I'll bet he'll be here pretty soon again, now that you're alive." She said. As if on cue, a very loud bark came from the other side of the portrait.
"All right, Hermione! Good timing!" Ron hooted flirtatiously as Harry jumped up and went over to the portrait hole and opened it up. Harry was immediately thrown to the floor by Sirius' large jump in. He tackled Harry paws first. His tail was wagging dangerously fast and he gave Harry one sloppy lick on the cheek. Harry laughed, wiped the slobber of his cheek and pried the dog off his chest. Sirius looked up at Harry with wide eyes, and Harry knew that if he had been a man he would have been beaming at him. Sirius barked again. Harry patted his head and went back over to Ron and Hermione. Sirius let them pat him on the head a couple of times also. Harry found it hard not to smile constantly. And for the first time in his life, He was happy, perfectly happy. He would always have the empty spot in his heart that his parents had left when they died, the whole that was stretched even larger by the Dursleys. But Harry wasn't thinking about the Dursleys now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks flew by. Harry, who had missed the O.W.L. exams while he was dead, got an automatic 'A' in all of his classes. Of course everybody thought this was unfair except for Harry, who was relieved they weren't going to make them take the tests.
"That's two years in a row now!" Hermione fumed when she heard the news. "Just because you aren't dead you get all this special attention. I'm not dead, and I still have to take the tests."
"I rest my case." Ron said. Hermione socked him. Harry chuckled softly to himself. Sirius was making a funny wheezing noise to, as if he was laughing also. Hermione and Ron continued to fake fight the rest of the day. Harry thought it was amusing, but annoying. He didn't see why they didn't just hook up already.
Hermione as predicted had aced all of her tests with flying colors. Ron had pulled through with mostly Bs and an A in Divination, much to everyone's surprise. Harry congratulated his friends, as did Sirius, in his own, dogish way.
Harry and all the other boys in his room were all packing up their things, when there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Are you all decent?" Came Professor McGonagall's voice. Dean grinned.
"No, we're all naked. Come back later." He said. McGonagall made a noise of exasperation and opened the door. Dean and Seamus pretended to cover themselves up and blush, even though they were fully clothed. Professor McGonagall found it hard not to smile. It quickly faded though when she saw Harry packing all his stuff up. She went over to him.
"Potter, you are staying here this summer. There is no need to pack your things." She said. Harry almost pinched himself; this was just too good.
"Are you serious?" He asked incredulously.
"Yes, I'm serious. We couldn't just have you show up at the Dursleys. They think you're dead. They would kill you or themselves if they thought they were seeing ghosts. Do you understand?" She asked.
"Yeah!" Harry exclaimed. He was so happy, he could have kissed her, but as she was much older than him and no beauty queen at that he resorted to just beaming at her.
"Good. You can see your friends down to the carriages when they arrive." She said and walked out of the room. Harry whooped.
"You have no idea how cool this is." Harry said and threw his clothes back into his wardrobe.
"Your right. I don't." Dean said. "I mean, I know that it'll be a lot better than the Dursleys, but you have to spend the whole summer with Snape and all the other teachers."
"That's true, but maybe I'll be smarter if I listen to what they're talking about this summer." Harry pointed out. Ron laughed.
"Not like you need it. You're already smarter than me." Ron said. Hermione appeared at the door, looking very cross.
"You are smart Ron!" She said. Ron rolled his eyes at her. " I'm serious! Harry, why aren't you packing?" Harry grinned.
"I'm staying here this summer!" He exclaimed. Hermione's jaw dropped.
"That's great Harry!" She said and beamed at him. "But what are we supposed to do on the train without you?" Harry thought for a moment until something struck him.
"You can have a five hour make-out session!" Harry cried. Dean and Seamus tried to conceal their laughter, but it didn't work. They laughed heartily for a few seconds before straitening up and then pretending it hadnt happened at all and Neville mumbled something about not understanding. Ron and Hermione blushed furiously.
"Good one." Ron said after the laughter had subsided.
"Wasn't it though? But seriously you two, just go out already. We know you like each other."
"I most certainly don-" Ron began to say.
"It's pretty obvious." Harry said, cutting him off. Ron took a deep breath and didn't let it out for a long time. "Come on, You guys really should be getting down to the carriages. They'll be here soon." Harry said and helped them with their things down the stairs.
"Have a great summer Harry!" Hermione said as she pulled Harry into a tight hug. "And don't die on us ever again."
"See you Harry. Don't forget to write." Ron said and snapped shut the door on the carriage and it started moving towards Hogsmeade. Harry turned back around and walked back up the drive with Dumbledore.
"Well, we should have a most interesting summer, shouldn't we?" Dumbledore said as they walked back into the castle.
"Yes, we should." Harry answered. "We certainly should."