Back to the Future (7): New romance
Ron and Hermione hadn't noticed
James. They were far too caught up with each other. James grinned. As a
relative newcomer to the group, he knew nothing of their relationships. At
first he had suspected that maybe there was something between Seamus and
Hermione, but from what he was now witnessing, that obviously wasn't quite the
case.
Ron and Hermione were dead. (a/n
Sorry. Had to put that line in for my own sadistic amusement {and for Kelzery}.)
Ron and Hermione were now leaning
up against the side of the common room wall. James had experienced this
scenario ad nauseam, and knew from experience that it was nice to be left alone
in such situations. Hmm, he pondered, I don't remember such gratuitous use of
tongues between Lily and me. He grinned at the interlocked couple before him
and stepped quietly to the common room door. With a wave of his wand, he set a
locking charm on the portrait hole. Might as well let them have some fun, he
thought, as he picked up Harry's old Firebolt. With it, he could fly out of the
window. Easy, Hermione, he thought, noticing Hermione ripping at Ron's shirt.
Right, I'm getting out of here; Sirius always said being treated to a floorshow
was not particularly good for one's stomach.
He pulled out his Invisibility
Cloak – it wouldn't do him much good to be spotted now. He opened the window quietly, and pulled out
his wand again to lock the dormitory doors, when suddenly …
'What the hell's going on in here?' demanded an angry voice.
*
'He's gone?' Sirius asked sombrely.
'Yes,' Dumbledore replied, his beard twitching. 'Malfoy has
been taken to the Ministry. Mr Pettigrew will remain here for a number of
weeks, however. His guilt and, with it, your innocence, must be proven to the
Ministry. There is no possibility of him escaping, and I believe Remus has
performed some description of Anti-transformation spell to keep him in his
human form.' Sirius nodded. There were a few minutes silence between the two
men. Dumbledore stretched out a hand to stroke his particularly lethargic
Phoenix Fawkes, whilst Sirius strode to the window and looked through it, to
the grounds around Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest beyond. He spotted a
number of broomsticks hurtling around the Quidditch pitch at high speed. He
recognised one flyer immediately.
Sirius always remembered seeing
James fly for the first time in his Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. From that
day, he had sworn that he would never see a better flyer. But by now he had.
Given, the only one who had the potential to beat James may well share the same
blood, but regardless, it came down to pure ability in the end. Harry really
was an amazing flyer. Sirius remembered the first time he had seen him fly.
Unfortunately, on that occasion, Harry had ended up with a shattered Nimbus Two
Thousand broomstick and some rather disturbing visions of his parents. Sirius
remembered himself thinking it must be to do with me being here. But
then there had been the Dementors. Sirius remembered how pale and clammy he had
gone when the contingent of them had showed up at the match. He ought to have
done something – but the Kiss would have been administered on him immediately.
Sending Harry the Firebolt afterwards – that had compensated somewhat.
'He is an excellent flyer,' said Dumbledore from behind him,
following Sirius' gaze.
'Yeah,' said Sirius. 'He flies just like someone I used to
know.' Dumbledore smiled sadly.
'I'm sure James would be immensely proud of both you and Harry
if he were he here today.' Sirius turned, smiling.
'You know what, Albus? I think you're right.'
*
'Seamus!' said Hermione weakly
from the floor, only too aware that a shirtless Ron was lying next to her.
'What do you want?' she added, as casually as if she had just been helping Ron
administer the final touches to his Potions essay.
'Oh, well,' said Seamus lightly. 'I was just having a pleasant
read upstairs, when suddenly, there came this odd thumping sound.' He grimaced.
'What did I expect it to be? Hmm? Perhaps an old bookcase falling on someone?
It might even have been something serious. So, I came down, expecting to find
someone in mortal peril.' He looked both of them straight in the eye. 'Not
expecting to find you two attempting to break the world record for the least
bloody breathing in five minutes!' he added furiously. Why does it bother
Seamus so much? James thought from underneath the Cloak. God, how complicated
some people's love lives can be. It was nice and simple when I had Lily, and
the others had the others. There doesn't seem to be enough of Hermione to go
around …
'So,' Seamus asked. 'Does Harry know about this new found
romance?' At this, he finally got a reaction.
'No!' Ron said suddenly, and then seeing Seamus' satisfied and
Hermione's puzzled looks, he added. 'Er – no, he doesn't know.'
'How convenient,' Seamus replied. 'Well, if you'd really rather
someone else told him …'
'You're all right, Seamus,' Hermione replied. 'I'll tell him.'
Seamus looked at her, amazed, and turned to Ron.
'You,' he said coldly. 'Out here. Now!' Ron looked slightly
bemused, but Seamus' expression was so terrifying that he followed without
question. The two left the common room. Hermione had tears running down her
face. James had no choice. He removed the Cloak. Hermione started, but didn't
comment.
'Hermione?' he asked softly. 'Come on, what's wrong?'
'I just – why does Seamus have to act that way? Why can't he be
nice about it, that Ron and me – we're – you know …' James nodded silently.
'To be perfectly honest with you Hermione, Lily and I had the
same problem. Now, much as I hate to say it –' He grinned, '– Lily and me were both
quite sought after – romantically – by our fellow classmates. When we got
together –' He smiled, remembering that night, '– not many people were
ecstatic, I can tell you that.' He sighed, and put his arm around Hermione's
shoulder.
'Look Hermione. I don't know anything of the relationships
between you, Ron, Harry, Seamus and so on. For all I know, Ron's madly in love
with Seamus who's madly in love with Harry who's got competition from you, also
madly in love with Harry, except Harry's madly in love with Professor
McGonagall and can't satisfy either of you.' Hermione laughed.
'You're probably not far off there,' she said, wiping a tear
from her eye. 'Thanks James,' she added.
'At the end of the day, Hermione, you can't listen to what
other people say. You've got to screw their advice and follow your heart,
because it'll always lead you right.' Hermione smiled, sighed, and leaned back
against James' chest. James grinned. 'Hmm, this seems oddly familiar,' he
thought aloud, remembering how often Lily had fallen asleep in such positions.
'Let me guess,' Hermione said. 'Sirius used to cuddle up to you
like this all the time.' James gasped.
'How did you know?' he said solemnly. Hermione laughed. 'Lily
had a strange habit of getting very tired whenever I was around. Justified
accusation, of course,' he added, his blue eyes sparkling.
'Now I see the mischief in you,' Hermione remarked
slyly. 'Hmm … I wonder why it was that Lily got so very tired…'
James laughed.
'Ah, the mind of a seventeen-year old. How frightening.'
'Cheek,' said Hermione. 'I was eighteen at the start of this
year.'
'Oh really? So you're the old and mature one?'
'Of course she is,' said an amused voice from the direction of
the portrait hole.
*
'I'll decide this afternoon,
Ginny,' said Harry for the fifteenth time. 'Don't worry. You will be in the
team.'
'Thanks Harry,' Ginny replied. 'Is Neville going to be in as
well?'
'Perhaps. I still haven't seen him fly properly. D'you fancy
going for some more breakfast? Ron and Hermione might still be in there.' Ginny
shook her head.
'I've got to get something from the common room. See you later,
Harry.'
'Bye,' he replied. He entered the Great Hall, and saw
immediately that Ron and Hermione were not around. He seated himself between
Dean and Lavender, both of whom looked perfectly cheerful.
'Morning,' said Harry, helping himself to some toast.
'Morning Harry,' replied Dean. 'What have we got first today?'
'History of Magic,' replied Harry miserably. 'Oh well, a good
chance to catch up on some sleep.' Lavender and Dean laughed. 'Anyway, have you
seen Ron or Hermione?'
'Last thing I heard was that Ron was having a fight with
Malfoy. Dunno what happened.' Harry sighed.
'You'd think they'd have grown out of it by now. Hello, here
comes trouble …' Parvati was approaching the table, beaming widely.
'Morning,' she said to the three of them. 'Have you three seen?
There's a dancing competition in Hogsmeade on Sunday.'
'No doubt Hermione will win,' Dean put in. Lavender nodded, but
Parvati pouted.
'We'll see,' she said matter-of-factly, causing Harry and Dean
to snort into their plates of sausages. 'Anyway,' Parvati continued. 'The Dance
is for couples. Hermione doesn't have a decent dance partner, does she? Unless
you count Ron tripping over her feet…' At this, Harry, Dean and Lavender all
laughed.
'You might actually be right there,' said Harry. 'I suppose
we'll see.'
*
'So,' said Seamus angrily. 'I suppose
you've forgotten the little conversation we had last night?' The two boys were
standing in a deserted corridor not far from the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
They were whispering, so as not to be overheard.
'What do you mean?' Ron asked, though he knew perfectly well.
'Harry. You told me he was madly in love with Hermione.'
'I didn't say madly in love,' said Ron hastily. 'I just think
he likes her.'
'Bollocks,' Seamus replied. 'You just want Hermione to
yourself.'
'Why do you care so much?'
'Harry's my friend. And he's your best friend. I think,
after seventeen years of loneliness, he deserves a break.'
'Yes, but does Hermione love him? I don't think so. If she did,
she wouldn't have been so eager to engage in such a way with me, would she?'
Seamus sighed.
'All right, fine. I give up. I don't exactly approve, but do
what you like with Hermione. However, if Harry finds out that you knew all
along –' He moved his finger swiftly across his neck. Ron grimaced.
'Yes, but he's not going to find out, is he Seamus?' Seamus
shrugged, smiling innocently.
'Harry's not stupid. He'll work it out eventually. I'd watch
your step, Ron, if I were you.' He said this as a statement rather than a
threat.
'Naturally,' said Ron, suddenly grinning. 'That'll make it all
the more fun.'
*
'Ginny,' said Hermione, relieved. 'Don't sneak up on us like
that.' Ginny was still grinning broadly.
'What's this?' she said. 'The beginnings of a Potter-Granger
romance?'
'Do I really look that much like Harry?' James asked.
'Oh, it's you Neville. What are you doing?'
'Well, Hermione and I were having a nice snogging session until
you rudely interrupted.' He laughed when he saw Ginny flush red.
'I – er – er,' she stuttered. Hermione laughed, swatting at
James' head.
'He's only joking, Ginny. But the snogging bit wasn't one
hundred per cent untrue…'
'Ron,' added James, seeing Ginny's blank look. Ginny gasped,
looking amazed, and turned to Hermione.
'You,' she said quietly to Hermione. 'You – you and – you and
Ron – you're – you're –?' She seemed to have lost the ability to construct a
coherent sentence. Hermione nodded, and Ginny grinned. 'Ha ha! I wondered how
long it would take. Good for you, Herm.'
'Herm?' said James suddenly. 'Hmm … I don't know. How about
just "Her", or perhaps "Hermi"?' Ginny and Hermione laughed. 'No no, we can do
better than that. "Hermi G", no, wait, "Hermio!" Then she sounds like a Greek
goddess, or even a complicated Transfiguration spell, if we want. How about
just "Bertha", if we really want to defy convention…' Ginny and Hermione burst
into further peals of laughter. As they laughed, a small owl jetted in through
the open window.
'Hello,' said James in a friendly manner. 'What can we help you
with?' The miniscule owl hooted softly, dropped a small envelope in James'
pocket, nibbled his finger, and soared back out of the window. Ginny and
Hermione managed to contain themselves long enough to look.
'What is it, J – Neville?' Hermione asked. She flushed
slightly, but Ginny hadn't noticed. James opened the letter, read it quickly,
and grinned.
'Glad tidings, I think,' he remarked. 'Take a look.'
Longbottom,
Your detention will take place
with me tonight in the Potions dungeon. You shall clean out all of the
equipment using magic.
Professor S. Snape
Hermione laughed, but Ginny looked
slightly worried.
'Neville,' she said. 'Do you want me to show you some simple
cleaning spells?' James had to fight to hold back his laughter.
'No, Ginny, I'll be fine,' he said, trying not to laugh at
Hermione's expression. 'I'll be fine.'
'Well,' said Ginny, still looking concerned. 'All right. Jesus,
is that the time? I've got Transfiguration now, but I need to get something
first. What have you got?'
'History of Magic,' Hermione replied. James grinned.
'I'll see you guys later,' said Ginny, standing up. 'Hmm … you
look remarkably cute in that position.' Hermione was still resting against
James. She hastily untangled herself, as James laughed.
'Aw, no fair,' he said, with the air of a small baby whose
candy has been taken (a/n It's that easy). 'I was just getting
comfortable.'
'I don't suppose being in love with someone else,' said
Hermione, once Ginny had left. 'Puts you off flirting with every other girl in
existence?' James grinned.
'S'all right, Bertha. I know you're attached now. Come on, time
for – er, do you still have Binns?' Hermione nodded. 'Excellent. I just need to
fetch some fireworks…'
'Oh no you don't,' said Hermione forcibly. 'You're coming with
me.' James, however, had already summoned some of Harry's Filibuster Fireworks.
Hermione sighed.
'Harry said I could borrow some any time I wanted,' James
maintained.
'Harry's stupid,' Hermione remarked, as the two teenagers left
the common room, chuckling.
*
'The Goblin rebellion of 1612 was
an important stage in Wizarding history. It showed how easily wizard-beast
relations could be undermined. One of the main rebels was a goblin known as Urg
the Ugly. This name was quite ironic, as Urg had a most charming facade…' Harry
sighed. These lessons were possibly the only ones more tedious than Snape's
Potions lectures. He glanced around the classroom. Ron, next to him, was
engraving something onto the desk. Malfoy loves Parkinson, it looked
like. Hermione was laughing at something James was saying; they were working at
the desk in front, and seemed the only two who were half paying attention.
Seamus, Lavender, Dean and Parvati had given up completely. Ever since James
had set off some fireworks, their concentration had slipped from minimal to
nonexistent. James himself, although now working, had already received a
detention, his second in two days.
'Psst … Hermione,' Ron
whispered suddenly, his handicraft on the desk completed. 'Have you decided who
to take to the dance?' At this, James' ears perked up, and he turned at the
same time as Hermione.
'I don't know,' Hermione said simply.
'There's a dance?' James asked eagerly.
'Yes,' said Harry. 'Why?'
'Oh, it's just that – funny story really – about three years
ago, well, in my time, anyway, Dumbledore arranged a dance at Hogwarts for
Christmas. Anyway, we – me, Sirius, Peter and Remus – all had dates. Mine
wasn't Lily,' he added, seeing Hermione's look. 'She went with Sirius. However,
Peter was the only one in the group who could actually dance well. He tried to
teach us – with no luck whatsoever. Therefore, as a last resort, we looked up
this potion – Saltaserum. Saltaserum gives the drinker incredible dancing
skills for a limited period. It's only limited, however. So, we got about
making it. Sirius was the Potions master – he basically did it himself with
just a little guidance from Remus and me. He managed to prepare it for
Christmas Eve. We all drank it, except that you were only meant to take one
drop. Sirius conveniently withheld this information until after I'd drunk a
whole gobletful. He and Remus took one drop each.
'The dance came, and all four of us danced up a storm – the
potions worked a treat. By next morning, Sirius and Remus' skills had worn off.
But mine hadn't. They hadn't worn off after a week either. A week and then a
month. And then a year. In fact, the effect has never worn off. I can
still dance at the highest level.' Harry and Ron laughed, but Hermione looked
as though all her dreams had come true. James noticed this.
'Why?' he asked. 'Can you dance, Hermione?'
'Can she dance?' repeated Ron faintly, as though James was a
bit dim. 'Of course she can. She went to that godforsaken dance school in
Bulgaria and she's never been the same since. Incredible…'
'Whom do you dance with?' James asked.
'Well,' said Hermione, looking slightly embarrassed. 'Sometimes
Harry and Ron – they're both useless, though…'
'My ears are burning,' said Harry dryly.
'No-one, really. My talent is going to waste.'
'And your modesty, obviously,' said James grinning. 'OK.
Hermione, will you go to the dance with me?' Hermione looked flattered, but Ron
and Harry had obviously not been expecting that.
'I thought you'd never ask,' said Hermione, smiling. 'I think I
would be honoured.'
'Excellent. Don't worry Ron; I see what you're thinking.' He
grinned. 'I'm not going to sleep with Hermione after dancing with her.' At
this, Hermione flushed purple, and Ron just gaped at James. Harry looked as
though he was fighting to hold back laughter. 'Oh come on, Ron. It's written
all over your face.' Ron made a few incoherent gulping sounds.
'I think you had him worried there,' said Harry, though his
laughter didn't quite reach his eyes.
*
James sighed. Transfiguration was
far too easy. Professor McGonagall, once she had recovered from seeing James,
had set them all on a task to change their partners into a specific animal.
James had, of course, allowed Hermione to cheat somewhat, by making her say the
required incantation and then transforming into his Animagus form. He managed
to turn her into a golden eagle on several occasions. When Professor McGonagall
asked how he was able to do these things, James replied by saying that the
potion he had taken had given him James Potter's abilities.
Ron, however, was not having such
good luck. He was attempting to turn Harry into a lion, but the best he could
achieve was a tabby cat with several missing limbs. Harry had managed to turn
Ron into an elephant, and had had to hastily change him back when he threatened
to squash the room and everyone in it flat.
Hermione was just as capable as
James. Even though a few times he cheated, she was still successful in
transfiguring him into a small dog, which ran around due to an excess of
pent-up energy. When she had managed to calm it down, it licked her fingers
enthusiastically. She also had had to do a hasty transfiguration when the small
dog-James had raised its hind leg in the immediate vicinity of Professor
McGonagall's desk.
So, after a relatively relaxed
morning, James, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table for
lunch. When Harry was just helping himself to a large and, according to Ron,
pestilential plate of tuna, Donna came over to speak to him.
'Harry,' she said urgently. 'I cannot play tomorrow. My father
has requested that I visit him. I am sorry.' James couldn't quite place, but
her accent was definitely not pure English. Harry simply nodded, and Donna
trailed away.
'Where's she from?' said Hermione and James at exactly the same
time.
'Great minds think alike,' said James, grinning at Hermione.
'Harry?'
'I don't know exactly,' Harry said. 'She sounds – sort of –
French or something. Why?'
'No reason,' said James evasively. 'Anyway,' he said, with a
very swift change of subject. 'What have we got this afternoon?'
'Defence Against the Dark Arts,' Ron replied. 'About our only
decent lesson left.'
'I'm not surprised, as Remus is teaching you. He didn't used to
teach. He did something completely different.'
'What?' asked Harry, interested. He had never discerned what
Remus had done after Hogwarts.'
'Well, it hasn't happened yet in my time, but he told me. He
worked with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
But not in the offices. He travelled far and wide, all across the world.
Apparently he would only visit me, Peter Lily and Sirius several times a year.
He basically had to sort out the more dangerous dark creatures. As one himself
– you see what I mean. But he's told me loads of stories. Apparently he
destroyed a Lethifold when it sneaked up on him during the night. He even took
on an Acromantula (a/n Go R/H!) once. I remember seeing one of those in my
second year.'
'So did we,' Harry replied, motioning to Ron.
'Yes, I heard. Aragog, eh? This one was alone, but it could
easily have eaten Sirius. Fortunately, ___ saved us by killing it.' (a/n I'm
sorry about this, but I can't put the name in. It'd ruin one of my fundamental
Werewolf plotlines. Sorry.)
'Sirius told us about him,' Hermione remarked. She checked her
watch. 'Come on, we better go.'
*
Remus wasn't there when the small
contingent of Gryffindors turned up from the Great Hall. The Slytherins,
including, to Harry's chagrin, Draco Malfoy, were already waiting. Then James
realised something.
'Oh God, of course,' said James, running a hand down his face.
'He's ill, isn't he? The full moon was last night. Hmm … wonder whom we'll have
instead? I do hope it's…'
'Come on, all of you, move!' Snape was approaching the
classroom, looking particularly vindictive. James grinned.
'You're looking well today, sir,' he remarked dryly, noticing a
number of potion stains on Snape's robes. Snape didn't seem to be able to look
him in the eye.
'I'll expect to see you later, Longbottom,' he snapped.
'Oh, of course, I'm Neville, aren't I?' said James innocently.
'So I didn't save you from a werewolf at sixteen.' Snape looked
completely rattled.
'Get inside,' he hissed.
'He's scared,' James replied simply to Hermione, about halfway
through the lesson. They were again working together, and Snape had set all of
them off on preparing an Aging Potion. Even though they were in Defence Against
the Dark Arts, he claimed that their Potions work was (apart from Malfoy's)
mediocre, and this was a perfect opportunity to improve it. 'Always has been,
always will be. Even if he thinks I'm Neville, deep down he knows it's
me. Hey, what's that?' He had noticed Hermione's Transfiguration coursework
protruding from her open bag. He snatched it up.
'Now this brings back old memories,' he said, grinning. 'Hmm …
do you have a Silver yew yet?' Hermione grinned.
'Don't think you're the only resourceful one, Mr Potter,' she
said, her eyes twinkling. She held out a small leaf. James laughed
'Where did you
get that?' he asked.
'From Snape's
private stores.' James laughed. 'Why – how did you get it?'
'Long story.
Suffice to say that our teacher – Professor Turner – didn't keep it in his
stores.'
'Granger!
Longbottom!' Snape's voice rang out across the room. 'Ten points from
Gryffindor for talking in my lesson.'
'Malfoy is,'
James pointed out, looking to Malfoy, who was in clear conversation with
Crabbe.
'I see no proof,'
he hissed, though Malfoy was still talking.
'Look, over there,'
said James. 'Look – that is called talking. Ten points from
Slytherin, I suppose?' Hermione,
next to him, was trying not to laugh. Snape took on a foul grimace.
'Very well.
Malfoy – five points from Slytherin for talking. Longbottom,' he hissed.
'You're going to have a very long detention this evening. Now – I think it's
time I tested your Aging potion. Who can we use – ah yes – the talented Miss
Granger… And you – Granger! Give your solution to Potter. Malfoy – Let us see
what Longbottom makes of yours…' He continued through the class, pairing mostly
Gryffindors with Slytherins.
'Right,' he said,
after a few minutes. 'Gather round. We are going to compare the effects of two
potions. Granger's – and Longbottom's.' The Slytherins were all grinning
broadly at the prospect of seeing Hermione take James' potion. Harry had come
to the front to take Hermione's. Hermione herself looked perfectly calm.
'Now,' Snape
continued. 'The potions should age you by just a few years – you will both be
around twenty or twenty-one. If,' he added nastily, glaring at James, '– they
work, that is.' Hermione and Harry looked at each other.
'Ready?' Harry
asked.
'As I'll ever
be,' Hermione replied. Simultaneously, they gripped their goblets and tipped
the contents down their throats.
To Hermione, it felt just as it had when she had taken the
Desire potion a few days ago. Except her skin didn't seem to be melting – it
seemed to be stretching. She was becoming slowly taller, and she closed her
eyes. She opened her eyes to find Ron staring at her, and James grinning like a
Cheshire Cat.
'Mish Hermione,'
he said, in an accent Hermione felt sure he couldn't know. 'My goodnesh. You
look shtunning.' Hermione smiled at him. Ron's jaw had dropped. So had Snape's,
but he was staring at someone else.
Harry looked up. He felt quite different. His shoulders were
broader, and his arms were slightly thicker. He looked to his right, where he
saw Hermione. She looked beautiful. More so than she did now.
'Nice look,
Hermione,' he said, grinning, although the voice he heard wasn't his own. It
was deeper, and more pronounced. He noticed Snape looking at him funnily. He
must think I'm James, Harry realised. He noticed Hermione turn to look at
him, and saw her start.
Hermione grinned at Ron, who was still staring dumbstruck,
and then at James. She turned to say something to Harry, but found the words
got caught in her throat. Harry looked – there was no other word for it – tough.
His arms were much more muscular, and his school robes had been ripped in
places where they were too small (a/n Let's not go into gratuitous detail…). He
was a little taller, over six feet at least. She noticed him grinning at her.
'You look
different, Miss Granger. New haircut?' Hermione laughed. He looks so different,
she thought. A lot more handsome than he used to. She grinned again after this
thought had struck her.
'Hmm … have you
been working out, Mr Potter?' she asked innocently.
'Naturally,'
replied Harry. His voice, she noticed, was slightly deeper.
'The rest of
you,' said Snape, who seemed to have regained the ability to speak. 'Take your
potions now.' Harry watched, amazed, as the rest of the class began aging
before his eyes. He noticed James take Malfoy's potion. Presently, a twenty-one
year old James Potter was standing in their midst.
'Bloody hell,'
said Ron weakly, looking from James to Harry. 'It's like looking into a living
mirror. Look at that, Hermione.' Hermione did, and she wasn't the only one.
Harry and James looked identical down to the small pimple (a/n Go H/H!) on the
end of their noses. However, because of their eyes it was easy to distinguish
which one was which. Snape seemed to have noticed this, too, and was looking at
James as though he'd just murdered someone.
'Isn't it
terrible when the dead come back to haunt you?' James whispered softly into
Snape's ear. Snape paled.
'Malfoy,' he said
hurriedly. 'You're in charge. I need to check something.' He left the
classroom, breathing heavily.
'Sit down
everyone,' said Malfoy sharply. James looked at him. Without that hair – he
would look very similar to Sirius. Malfoy didn't seem to have aged as much,
either. He looked around eighteen or nineteen. He caught sight of Harry and
James, and also paled slightly.
'Potter.
Longbottom. Sit down. Professor Snape left me in charge.' His words were
suddenly interrupted by a loud snorting noise from behind him. He whipped
around, and immediately burst out laughing. Seamus, who had taken Goyle's potion,
was giggling at something. He was four years old. Other Slytherins and even
some Gryffindors joined in laughing at Seamus' plight.
'I'd better take
him to the hospital wing,' said James. 'Wait here.' He walked over to the tiny
Seamus and lifted him onto his shoulder. Little Seamus giggled, and said
something that sounded to Harry remarkably like 'Horsey, horsey!' James himself
smiled, and left the dungeon.
He bounced little Seamus all the way up to the hospital
wing. He was able, in his advanced form, to make Seamus float for a little way,
making him think he was flying. Just as he entered the hospital wing, he heard
his name being called.
'James?' He
turned around, and saw a very pale looking Remus lying on one of the beds.
'Hi, Remus,' he
said cheerfully, but Remus was still staring at him.
'James,' he said
softly. 'You look just like you used to – just before you died… How?'
'Aging potion,'
James replied. 'We took it just now in Defence Against the Dark Arts. It should
wear off in a few hours.'
'Why were you
making Aging potions in my lesson exactly?'
'Snape,' replied
James simply. Remus smiled, and looked at him again.
'You're going to
give people heart attacks going around like that. You just better pray Neville
stays at home for a long time.' James grinned, and knocked on Madam Pomfrey's
door. She opened it, and smiled.
'Dear me,
Longbottom. You could so easily pass for James Potter after taking that
potion.' She motioned to Seamus. 'What's happened to him?'
'Aging potion
experiment gone a little awry,' James explained. Madam Pomfrey smiled again.
'Thank you, dear.
I'll soon cure him.' James nodded, and turned to leave.
'See you later,
Remus,' he said, as he opened the door. 'Get well soon.' Remus smiled and James
left.
James met up with Harry just outside the Great Hall. He was
heading back to Gryffindor Tower, though he still looked twenty odd.
'You OK to play
tomorrow, James?' he asked. James nodded.
'As I'll ever
be.'
'We do look
alike, you know,' Harry said suddenly. 'We even have the same Head Boy badge.'
'Lucky Hermione
noticed and made me take mine off. Neville Longbottom going around with a Head
Boy badge might make one or two people suspicious.' Harry laughed.
'Yeah. Anyway, where are Ron and Hermione?'
'Common room
probably. How come you're not still in Potions?'
'Snape came back
and let us all go early. First time in seven years.' James chuckled.
'Yeah –
decapitate.' They had reached the portrait hole. James tipped his hat to the
Fat Lady and entered the common room.
Ron and Hermione were involved in much the same activities
as they had been that morning. They were lying across a couch at the back of
the room, locked again in passionate embrace. People were grinning at them, but
they seemed not to have noticed. James was struck by another familiar feeling
of déjà vu. He smiled, and looked to Harry, expecting to see him looking happy
as well. But, inexplicably, Harry had gone completely white. Without a word, he
swept off towards the dormitory. James followed.
'Harry?' he said
nervously, on entering the dormitory.
'Come in, James,'
replied Harry, sighing.
'What's wrong?'
James asked, though he was fairly sure he already knew. Harry looked at him for
a few seconds.
'Why didn't they
tell me?' James shrugged, and Harry sighed. He sat down on the bed, and stared
at James with Lily's green eyes. 'James?' he said, after a few minutes. 'Can I
tell you a story?'
'Yeah, sure.
What?'
'The story of
when I saved Hermione's life.'
Now that is a good place to finish the chapter. Oh
yes. Perhaps it is my own deluded subconsciousness (and I pray to God that it
is) but I seem to be getting more reviews. Hooray! Anyways – here's the little
thanks section (The term 'little' is used rather lightly. This is probably
going to end up longer than the fic):
Kelzery (First and foremost, good old Kelzery.
Now, your suggestion last time – I absolutely loved it. I laughed for about
three hours. Wonderful stuff. I prefer the font, too. Very enthusiastic H/H
support from you, I noticed. You and VIHPF5, between you, voted for H/H eight
time. A big gold star for determination. Thanks, Kelly), Lizzy/Tygrestick
(*Chuckles* Another comical review. I hope falling off your chair didn't hurt
{gets glared at for crossing his fingers} Thanks a lot), Alicia/Sue Spinnet
(Ooh, I'm about halfway through AUC. Love it so far. I like my sadistic
methods. Saying 'H/H' or 'R/H' is both too original and boring. I think you get
a big gold star for imagery with your voting. Thanks a lot – keep up your own
good work, too), Hedwig (Whether or not saying 'Acromantula' {which is a
big spider} was inadvertent or not, I'm putting it down as a R/H vote. Cheers),
Lavander (This is a kinda cliffie. We'll see, eh? I liked the last part,
too. Very sentimental. Thanks), Virgo Ruben (Arrgh! Your vote is null
and void, because cunning cunningness was not portrayed. You can try again,
though. Thanks), illusions2525 (I noticed a column you put up asking
people to read your fics. Very subtle. This is more effective, though: READ
THESE STORIES PLEASE, PEOPLE: http://www.members.fanfiction.net/index.fic?action=Directory-AuthorProfile&UserID=30354
Thanks, illusions. JJ),
Tasha (Yes … great minds do think alike. As do modest minds *grins*.
You'll read more of my work? *Walks away muttering about how kind people on
ff.net are and how he should try and be more like them* Thanks a lot.), Starlight
(Tell you what. If you're becoming sick of me being insufferably nice all the
time, I could switch over to evil Sirius. No, you wouldn't want that {I
think…}. Your name is on the gravestone because I plan on having you killed.
Argh *looks around nervously* Phew. Nobody heard my plan. Good. Call it a
tribute if you will. And your stories deserve to be plugged, as you quaintly
put it. Also, I take pride in my lickle thank you notes. People have a right to
be thanked. Thanks! {See? The system works}), gumdrop (Ah, the
marvellous gumdrop™ is back again. Got your email J.
I didn't put S/H as an option, no… Partly because Seamus is too good for
Hermione. Too Good!! We'll find someone nice for him. How about an American
exchange student who goes by the name of, oh, I don't know, Mary? Or Sue? We'll
see, shall we? I guess I have a weakness for evil people like Peter and Malfoy.
I maintain firmly that they will join the Light Side in the HP canon. And if
they don't – well, there are a few million people who can give me a nice 'I
told you so.' Thanks, G. Love you), HGW (It's not really a challenge. It
is, as alicia/sue rightly points out, a particularly sadistic method of voting.
Call it defying convention. Thanks a lot, HGW. Love you too), Marissa
(Very subtle use of pimples there. You win the 'most subtle' award. I think the
Teenage Witches will personally dismember you if you talk that way about Draco.
They have a thing about him and leather – you really don't want to know. No, I
couldn't have left that out. Like I say, I have a weakness. Cheers), Jenn
(Jamesy's detention is imminent. And Neville may return, he may not. You'll
have to wait and see… Cheers), Mina (Nice pseudonym. And OOC means what,
exactly? Right, I've had enough. Right? Right. I'm actually quarter-Irish, and
my mates say I do a dead-on impression of Gerry Adams. Why do you love Tom
Riddle, exactly? Never mind. Oh, and have you been eating sunflower seeds for
Comic Relief, or just from pure insanity? {No! You can't phone a friend}
If it is CR, I'm dead proud of you. Thanks.), Rachel
Granger-Gryffindor (I explained about Acromantulas at the top. Whether or
not you meant it, I'm putting you down for a R/H vote. You're in a minority,
however. French, eh? I only do German, so my French skills stretch to about: Bonjour,
ça va? Just as my Spanish goes to: Dos cervezas, por favor {Two
beers please}. Merci!), Orange Girl (Lucius was hidden, so Draco didn't
seen him. Draco does know he's alive, though. And now Lucius has gone to the
Ministry. Thanks a lot), Sara (Right, your review WINS. This is the BEST
REVIEW prize, for the wonderful poem. Congratulations. Wonderful stuff J.
Cheers), Ginny :) (Ah! Another English writer. Congratulations. Mrs
Norris/Crookshanks, eh? Now that's an inspired idea… Being deranged is
considered perfectly normal if you live in London, I thought. *Cackles* Only
joking. I have a number of good friends there {who are also deranged.
How ironic}. You really know a blue-eyed, black-haired boy who had a cupboard
fall on him? How coincidental. What was the date again? Let's see… 15th
July? That's James' birthday. Strange… It's not Harry's/my birthday though.
Shame. Thanks a lot, Ginny. J),
eb (Does that stand for Electronics Boutique? No? Rats. I need to go
down there to get something. Thanks a lot. Glad to – Happy to hear that
you like it), Mayleesa (Great again? Implying that more than one chapter
is good? Gasp. You're too kind. Thanks a lot. Guess what? I love you as well.),
someone2 (Aha! A regular reviewer who is being shunned. I love you too,
s2. Don't feel neglected. Again, I say, I'm going AQAP. Thanks a lot), StarZed
(Very surreptitious. Are you not a native English speaker? Just wondering… A
stroke of brilliance, eh? Stop, you're embarrassing me. Cheers), …
(Another nice pseudonym. You'll cry, will you? I might have to put the story on
hold in that case. Thanks.), gwyneth {Hmm – one of the auto-correct
words for this is 'gayness'. How interesting} (Your review wins the 'most
informative' review. Excellent job.), Calder Lynch (Good pseud {can't be
bothered writing out the whole thing}. Very subtle R/H voting, though you're in
a minority. Thanks), Mladybug3 (Oh dear. Here comes trouble. I'd bet
twenty bucks, but all I have is ten pounds, so that may not work so
well. More subtle voting. All the subtlest voting comes from the R/H shippers –
how coincidental. I couldn't do that?
You wanna bet? I could have them making out on the floor and stick Hermione
with Dumbledore. I have the author's power – I can do whatever I want.
Ron/Crookshanks, Hermione/Dumbledore – that's quite inspirational actually…
Cape cod? So, you were last when they handed out place names then. Do you also
have a place near you called Mackerel Mountain? Or Salmon Summit? Hake Hill?
The list is endless. I'm sure I want to know the origin of your 'coooool false
name' as you put it. You're around my age, eh? How coincidental. Thanks M3.
Love you), VIHPF5 (Ah, the shared winner of 'most enthusiastic' award.
Kelzery voted four times as well. Yes, so much for being discreet. The R/Hers
are better at that. But they're in a minority. I can't really take all four
votes. Tell you what – I'll make yours count as two {and yours, Kelzery}
because they were so enthusiastic. Well done, I'm sure. Love ya, Robbie. Thanks), Hawkins
(Aha! Another excellent subtle review. I'm glad to hear you're waiting
patiently. Most people wait impatiently. What are you going to do?
Cheers), Darla (Me? On a favourites list. Oh, you are too kind. Thanks a
lot, Darla), {Nasty Stalking} Chinook (You're coming to stalk me? Can't
wait. Yes, it is nice to be told that you're loved. But when the same guy says
the same thing to fifty other loverly ladies. Hmm… handbags at dawn, I think.
You think you're incoherent? I could tell you a funny story about what happened
a few days ago. I came across a skunk whilst walking in the park. That makes
pretty much whatever you do incoherent. Cheers, Chinook. Love you.), Twilight
and Silence (I don't think I've ever asked. From where did your marvellous
pseudonym arrive? I like it. Somehow more original than ~Rose~. Personally, I
don't think Hermione will end up with Harry or Ron in the HP canon. JKR'll
leave it open ended, and prevent herself from offending half of the HP fans across
the globe. Your older brother sounds like an interesting specimen. A mix of
Percy, Fred, George, Charlie and Bill? Scary stuff. Your highly subtle R/H vote
was registered, though you're in something of a minority {the ratio of H/H to
R/H is about 10:1 at the moment}. You have arachnophobia, eh? You certainly
wouldn't want to meet an Acromantula. Love you, T&S. Thanks), ClayZebra
(You think this is better than BU/W? Some other people don't {Looks pointedly
at T&S}. Still, I can't seem to write anything about Werewolf at the
moment, though I did have a cracking idea earlier. The Hermione subplot is
interesting; I'll give you that. In the end, I'll probably just give up and
make her take a vow of celibacy. *Cackles* Just kidding. But it will be
interesting. Sadistic seems to be an unanimous description of me now. A pimple
on the face of humanity? Now that's a new one. Love ya, CZ. Thanks.), Housey (Mad
genius? Now that sounds more like me. Ha ha! I finished my SC1! And,
whether you meant it or not, you said 'pimple', so even though I know you're a
R/Her I'm putting down an extra mark for the H/Hers. Ha! I'll probably have
seen you already today, the mad genius that I am. Ciao Andy. Thanks), Tiger
Lily (Now that is inspired. pimpleface@hotmail.com!
That wins the 'most original' award. Your brother's singing is like a drowning cat being mauled by a
porcupine? Now that's imagery. I may use that in my English essay,
actually. The best simile {I think – I hate similes and metaphors. But even
more I hate distinguishing between the two} I've ever seen. Love ya, TL. Cheers), the seraphim (I take it by
'nasty, nasty' you're referring to sex. I bloody hope you are, anyway. Well,
they might have done it. Who knows? Seamus interrupted before anything could
transpire. If you are scarred for life, you can sue me at: whateveryoureckon@iveonlygotafewquidandaveryhairycombanyway/youcanhaveitifyoureallywant/butyoumusttry.co.uk.
The minimum settlement is a packet of Wrigley's sugar-free gum. Your subtle
vote was registered – you're in le majoritié, to coin the French phrase
I just made up. Thanks, seraphim. Love you.), Cousette Lupin (Love the
pseudonym. Another very subtle R/H vote – I haven't seen an obvious one yet.
No, we won't be meeting Acromanties for a while – or will we? I've had a few
more ideas for Werewolf. Hopefully, and I emphasise the hope, I can get back on
track with that soon. Thanks a lot.), atlieneko (Thanks a lot. James is
my second favourite character, after the insane Sirius Black. Cheers), Dragonessa
Smith (Ah, my namesake. J. Thanks a lot, Dragonessa {BTW – that's some
very subtle anti-sexism there} I heard a horrible story like that, about a
school who wanted to change the curriculum as they considered History to
be sexist. What's next, then? Itstory? Thanks, DS.), {Last but by no means
least} Malfoy's Best Friend (If you're Malfoy's best friend, why don't
you call him Draco? Just wondering… I will keep on writing. Thanks a lot).
Phew. That was
quite exhausting. Now – let's see. The fic is 5230 words, and the thanks
section is 1859 words. Overall, that makes the thank you section approximately
26% of the story. And I'm telling you this why? I dunno – pointless trivia.
Thanks again to all you reviewers. The voting is still
open for those of you who haven't already. From now on, one vote per person. Kelzery
and VIHPF5 were allowed two because of their enthusiasm before I'd created this
rule. Next part will hopefully involve some Quidditch, and the mystery is
{hopefully} solved.
See you later, people.
Ciao
