Chapter Twelve
A/N: Hi there guys. I'm back in business and this one I made sure was long enough to fill the big gap I had due to my unfortunate injury. Now enjoy your self and Happy Valentines Day, since I've missed it. So I added a bit of a treat in its name. Go check it out and e-mail me at dilshan_k@hotmail.com And the next one will be a bit late since I want to make it bulky and action packed so do forgive. But it should not be more than in two days. Happy Potter some day.
For the first time weeks, he felt extremely safe and was truly happy to be among his friends.
'I think Harry along with his friends should go have a walk. I expect all three of you have a lot to talk about, especially Harry" said Dumbledore with a wink in Harry's direction.
Harry, Ron and Hermione got up and started towards the door. Once they opened the door Dumbledore walked up to them.
"Harry keep out of the Forbidden Forest and Come to me and the others if you need anything at all. We all will be here the rest of the day," he said.
Harry and the others nodded and walked in the direction of the Lake. Since the last year, the lake had been their place for nighttime strolls and the place they went to when they wanted to be left alone. Harry knew it was morning and that he hadn't had breakfast but for some reason he didn't seem to be hungry at all. Maybe it was the excitement of meeting Ron and Hermione he thought. Their walk to the walk to the lake was relatively uneventful and quite. Hermione and Ron just kept on staring at Harry in awe. But once they arrived at the lake, things changed for the best. At least Harry thought.
"So Harry, what was that whole commotion with Snape?" asked Ron trying to hide his amazed and concerned look. Hermione seemed to be doing the same.
He himself didn't know the answer for sure. The only thing he knew was that Snape all of a sudden talked to him as if he was a human being. This was highly unlike Snape. And yet, Harry believed him for some odd reason.
"As I said guys, he just said that my mother would be proud of me. I know it sounds weird but that's what he said and I think he wasn't faking it this time," said Harry as he shrugged in the places that amazed him the most.
It was Hermione's turn to torment him.
"I'm so glad your okay Harry, and you have no idea how you deflected the curses?" she asked.
"Not even close. And I lost my wand in the process" he said.
He couldn't keep his eyes off the shimmering platinum ring he had in his hand and his new wand in his robe pocket. For some reason or the other he felt different, he felt powerful. It was not only he, but also his new wand. But this wasn't something he was anxious to share with his two other best friends. He assumed they'd just thing he was having a nervous breakdown.
"Hey Harry!"
He had been dwelling in his thoughts so much that he didn't hear Ron until he screamed out his name.
"Yeah, Ron" he screamed back startled.
"I was just asking you why Dumbledore must have given you the sorting hat. I mean they have to perform the sorting ceremony with it," said Ron.
"That's not all" said Harry and started to explain about yesterday's events. About him receiving Hedwig with a letter from Dumbledore mentioning about the package and how he met Joseph Bongine.
Both Ron and Hermione looked rather surprised and seemed to be rather curious to who Joseph Bongine could be. Even then, Hermione kept on muttering about how stupid he was to just leave the house like that without any clue as to where he was going to go to and about what would have happened if he had met the group of Death eaters before he got to the house or even worse, if Joseph Bongine had been a death eater.
Harry sighed. Some things never change he said to himself as the trio walked back to the castle. They checked the time and seeing that it was lunchtime, they headed towards the Great Hall. Once they arrived, they were happy to see most of the crowd already there.
All of a sudden a fire red haired, brown eyed and definitely tall girl that Harry had never seen in school walking towards them. But what was she doing here? Even if she was from Hogwarts, what was she doing at this time of the holidays? But for some reason this girl was familiar even though he could point a finger at it just yet. The girl greeted them in the most odd fashion.
"Hey Ron! Hermione! Harry!" she said smiling from ear to ear.
To Harry's surprise both Ron and Hermione too greeted her very fondly with hugs and kisses. It took them sometime to see a dumbfound Harry looking straight at them. Hermione quickly rushed towards him with a worried expression.
"What's wrong Harry? Is your scar hurting?" she asked rushing towards him.
He just held out a hand and
managed to stammer the million galleons
question.
"Who's she?" was all that he could manage before his mouth fell open.
Everyone within earshot went silent for a second and just stared at him before going into fits of laughter. The whole great hall was laughing out so loud that Harry was sure he saw dust particles fall off the enchanted ceiling above. Even the girl who had caused all of this was laughing away. Harry all of a sudden had the feeling that everyone else knew something that he didn't. He didn't know what else to do but to just stand there like statue and stair at her. He wanted to look away and he knew he was being rude but he couldn't. Something about this girl had frozen his gaze on her.
The laughter didn't die out for a very long time but finally it was Dumbledore to the rescue. He walked to wards Harry, Ron, Hermione and the mysterious girl. Harry could see a slight grin on the far right corner of his mouth as he cleared his throat.
"Ahem!"
At once the whole great hall went silent and all attention was on Professor Dumbledore. He smiled towards both him and the girl before breaking the lethal silence.
"Harry" said Professor Dumbledore "meet Ginny Weasley"
Harry could see him trying desperately to suppress laughter. Could it be? Ginny? Ron's little sister? Red Hair! He screamed to himself. How could he have missed it? But except for that every thing else had completely changed.
"Ginny, meet Harry Potter"
With that the whole great hall went into another fit of laughter and this time including Harry. Then the hall became silent once more as Sirius, Harry's godfather walked towards him. But it wasn't for long
"Harry my boy," he said grinning from ear to ear and placing his arms on top of Harry's shoulders "Welcome to the club. Your father did the same when he saw Lily"
Once again the great hall violently vibrated as everyone went into a fit of laughter. At the end of it everyone seemed rather worn out by all the laughter that it was extremely quite. Harry apologized to Ginny and smiled at her feeling rather embarrassed and both of them blushed every time they saw each other throughout the meal.
At the end of the Dumbledore walked towards Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George who were seated in the Gryffindor table.
"Harry, if you don't mind I like to have a word with you." He said bending down.
"Sure professor" said Harry and got up from the table, but then he remembered Ron and Hermione.
"Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley's are welcome to stay here at Hogwarts until the start of term and keep Harry here company" he said as if reading Harry's mind, which wasn't unusual at all.
Harry turned to them and said he'll meet them in the Gryffindor Common room and left following Professor Dumbledore out of the Great Hall. Harry assumed that they were heading towards the headmaster's Office.
"Harry, I think you'll be happy to know that Sirius will be joining us in our little chat" said Dumbledore in the middle of the journey to the office.
Harry was utterly delighted to hear this. The last
time he had met Sirius was the day the night of Harry's encounter with
Voldemort, last year. He hadn't seen him since until today. Sirius has written
to him but it wasn't the same. Even though he saw him earlier in the morning he
hadn't had a chance to talk to him personally. Lost in his thoughts, Harry
didn't notice Dumbledore murmuring the password to the gargoyle and entering the doorway that appeared.
Once he was
able to free out of his trance he was several feet away from the open door way
and it had already started to close. Harry sprinted towards it and had to dive
in to make it. Thanks to his Quidditch seeker reflexes, he was able to make it.
He had slammed on to the floor and when he looked up he saw Dumbledore smiling
at him his heart nearly skipped a beat in embarrassment.
"I… Sir… Missed" he stammered but Dumbledore simply said "Young
Enthusiasm. Harry, believe me your going to disappoint hearts of three
quidditch house teams by the end of the you. God bless Gryffindor as long as
your there!" he said and started to walk up the moving staircase into his
office. Harry too quickly got up and dusted himself and started up the
staircase.
Once he
entered the office pushing the great oak doors, Sirius, his godfather and Remus
Luipn, his most favoured professor up until now at Hogwarts, greeted him.
Sirius gave him a big hug and Professor greeted him formally.
"Hello Harry, Nice to meet you" he said shacking his hand.
"You too professor" he replied.
With that Sirius walked up to him and placed his hands once again on top of his shoulders and guided him towards the three chairs in front of Professor Dumbledore's desk where he sat still smiling at them. He looked up towards Sirius and for the first time in a while he saw a true genuine smile across his face. Sirius had also got rid of the ragged clothing he used to wear and was now wearing a elegant navy blue robes with golden buttons attached. All three of them sat down.