AN: first of I am SOOOOOOOOO incredibly sorry that it took me 5 months to update but first I
suffered writer's block, then I had to re-read The Prydain series (Lloyd Alexander) then I
KILLED my computer (funny story I'll tell it sometime) In killing my computer I lost the next
two chapters then I decided to put the project on hiatus and then I remembered my little fic
I nearly forgot to finish. So without further ado...
Aardvark: Return to Hogwarts
Harry got out of bed and quickly got dressed. He hurried down to breakfast,
expecting to get a word in with the early rising Arthur Weasley while he was alone. He
saw only the two Granger parents at the table. Greeting them he ploped down at their
table and tried to make sense of the past two days, first Ginny shows a brave mature
side of her personality, holding up a conversation and even an argument with Harry who
she had barely been able to even remain in the same room as for 4.66666666666666666666666
of their lives. Then he starts having an allusive dream that seems to be warning Harry of
some sort of danger but that he cannot make sense of. Harry, knowing himself and
reviewing his track record decided that he should not give himself a hernia over it
because it would only lead him to more and more nonsense and would only be understood
when it was too late to do anything about. That led him to his final point, how was he
going to get Cho to throw a little attention his way. The problem most definately was
not in letting her know about his feelings as the whole world was apparently privy to his
deepest desires and dreams; the problem was charming her into feeling the same way.
His thought pattern was broken as Ron waved a hand in front of his face and
Hermione was looking at him, annoyed from the other side of the table. However hard he
attempted not to ask he found himself speaking without his expressed written consent,
"What?"
"Honestly Harry, if you intend to spend your entire day like that you'll miss the
train while you're in the station." Harry stirred and took a bite of his rapidly cooling
breakfast, "Anyway, what I was saying was that the Order of Warlocks is threatening the
Minister of Magic with a expulsion should he not consider and address the
threat of the dark lord rising." Harry chewed his baked potato thoughtfully, Cornelius
Fudge had been a fairly good leader in peacetime and had made the magician's market
economics grow by leaps and bounds by encouraging trade and stimulating problem areas such
as the cauldron buisiness (a single cauldron would last a wizard their whole life, not
much repeat buisness). In times of darkness however, he had not fared well the first time
and was now clinging to his peace as though he would be safe if he ignored the problem. In
his head an idea was forming, a chair of aurors responsible for informing the magic using
world of threats from dark wizards and dealing with those threats.
"Geez Harry, you can't stay awake for ten seconds can you?"
Harry shrugged, "Just thinking." They finished their meal in silence. The young
wizard students were quickly off for king's cross station, their trunks tucked safely in
the Weasley's new(used) car. The entire group arrived at platform nine and three quarters
without incident. They were early for once and had time to chat casually while loading
their trunks on board the Hogwarts Express, chiefly about who was to replace Oliver Wood
as Gryffindor Quiddich Captain. Aboard the train and seated in what had become their usual
compartment. (the same compartment Harry had sat in when he was just starting at Hogwarts)
Fred and George engaged everyone so thoughly in a game of exploding snap that no one had
any idea something was coming until it was too late.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle strode into the compartment as a king's hunting party
that returned only to find their castle infested by vermin. George and Fred half rose in
an action more to deny them the height advantage than to address them a courtesy. Ron
stealthily clentched his wand beneath his robes and eyed the trio warily. Ginny looked up
from a dissappointing snap hand with a spark of something in her eye that Harry did not
recognize.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Fred said in a warning tone, Malfoy held up his hands as
if to ward off a mad beast.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. I just wanted to see whether the dark lord was going
to target the bottom rungs of society first, you're still alive so obviously not" Ron
clutched his wand tighter, obviously wanting to hex Malfoy so hard he wouldn't wake up
until the great feast was half over that night. Malfoy glanced at Hermione and snorted
derisively
"I see the mudblood has dodged the Dark Lord this one time. Trust me, he won't miss
again."
Ron leapt up, forgetting his wand in favor of a more direct, fist based assault.
A flash flew across Harry's vision, Ron's cocked arm was unable to swing. Ginny had thrown
her arm into the crook of Ron's elbow. Placing her foot behind Ron's ankle she then twisted
her upper body, causing Ron to loose his balance and fall on his rear. Everybody in the
compartment looked completely stupified excepting Ginny.
"You should know better than to respond to Malfoy's taunts, especially after all
these years. You should know better, being my older brother, but you have always been
foolish about such things." Malfoy started laughing (Crabbe and Goyle imitated the laugh
though they had no idea what was funny) "Taken down by a girl and then scolded, how heroic
Mr. Weasley." Ginny rounded on him, "And you! if you had half the manlyness even my brother
shows you wouldn't throw degrading words around in the effort to make yourself feel better
about your lack of honor, or hide behind your goons when it looks like your idiocy has
resulted in punches being thrown." Malfoy fairly growled, "You think I can't fight so I
make Crabbe or Goyle fight instead do you?" Ginny shook her head, "I don't think, I know."
Ginny suddenly seemed larger, her steady posture and confident look made her look taller
than Malfoy who was quivering with rage and not a little fear.
"Feh, little girl doesn't know what she's saying. Comeon Crabbe, Goyle let's go
mingle with those closer to our level." The three beat a hasty retreat, closing the door
behind them. The room was quiet, all eyes were on Ginny (not there you perverts) Harry felt
he had just seen another side of Ginny, one who could feel pride at her own skills and
utilize them to their fullest as well as assess psychological goals and tendancies. Ginny
returned to her seat and dissappointing snap hand as nonchalantly as if she had just gotten
up to readjust the curtains.
"Where did that come from?" Ron said, in awe of his little sister from his place on
the floor where she had set him. Ginny transformed back to the Ginny Harry had known since
he was twelve, "Well, I didn't want you two to fight and that seemed like the only way to
stop you two." Ginny averted her eyes, uncomfortable under such suprised scrutiny. Ron stood
"I meant where did that trip come from? I've never seen you do anything like that." Ginny
blushed, "I found a muggle book in Dad's collection that had some fighting techniqes
detailed in it."
"You mean you learned to fight from a book? You must be pretty impressed Hermione."
"Hey!"
Harry looked out the window to look at the setting sun and the landscapes, trying to
ignore the argument but it still invaded his consciousness.
"Oh comeon Hermione, it's exactly what you would do."
"Yes, but that isn't the point I think..."
"You think, that's all you ever do."
"And all you ever do is act, if Ginny hadn't have thought fast enough you would have
been smeared by Crabbe and Goyle."
So the argument continued, along with their game of snap and the earth's rotation
until finally when they arrived at Hogwarts Hermione said in a voice shrill from overuse,
"Ron Weasley I am simply not speaking to you."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Still they all piled into the same carriage. Harry smiled when the two of them
sat next to each other. On the short trip up the path and to the castle doors Harry felt
something odd about the boar statues that had stood at the gates since Hogwarts was founded.
(as Hermione had explained from Hogwarts, A History.) In a few moments they were past and
the elusive feeling vanished. After coming to a stop all the students of Hogwarts exited
their carriages and bounded up to the great hall to sit at their house tables. Across the
hall Harry spotted Cho taking her seat at the Ravenclaw table. The responce from his body
was immediate and fairly violent, his heart tried to beat it's way out of his chest, his
ears felt like too much air was being smashed into them and as a result he nearly lost his
balance. Ginny, who was next to him, put a hand on his shoulder to steady him and asked if
he was feeling okay.
Shortly the sorting began and Gryffindor got its fair share of first years, Harry
applauding with each one. Then it was time for Dumbledore's speach which had only the standard
set of warnings, nothing about enhanced security, nor about cancelled Hogsmead visits or any
other sacrifice for the sake of staying alive. The speach ended sooner than Harry had
anticipated and the plates were filling with food before he knew it.
Harry was unusually preoccupied while cramming food in his mouth, he couldn't help
thinking about his dream, what it could mean, and how it related to his responce at seeing
Cho again and Ginny's new personality traits. As soon as Harry leaned back in his chair, fully
stuffed, the food left on his plate disappeared as per custom of Hogwarts meals. In no time
everyone was finished and they all filed sleepily to their dormitories.
Abed, Harry dropped to sleep at once. The dream was there once again, a clearer,
though more confusing message, "Beware the hand of Voldemort, it is closer than it appears."
Harry saw his mother and father smiling down on him before he woke to a brand new day.
AN #2 Well there it is, finally got some more down. It should start getting more interesting
from here on, though I'm running really dry on the humor aspect and I hope it will improve in
subsequent chapters. Next chapter should be up within the next month or so
suffered writer's block, then I had to re-read The Prydain series (Lloyd Alexander) then I
KILLED my computer (funny story I'll tell it sometime) In killing my computer I lost the next
two chapters then I decided to put the project on hiatus and then I remembered my little fic
I nearly forgot to finish. So without further ado...
Aardvark: Return to Hogwarts
Harry got out of bed and quickly got dressed. He hurried down to breakfast,
expecting to get a word in with the early rising Arthur Weasley while he was alone. He
saw only the two Granger parents at the table. Greeting them he ploped down at their
table and tried to make sense of the past two days, first Ginny shows a brave mature
side of her personality, holding up a conversation and even an argument with Harry who
she had barely been able to even remain in the same room as for 4.66666666666666666666666
of their lives. Then he starts having an allusive dream that seems to be warning Harry of
some sort of danger but that he cannot make sense of. Harry, knowing himself and
reviewing his track record decided that he should not give himself a hernia over it
because it would only lead him to more and more nonsense and would only be understood
when it was too late to do anything about. That led him to his final point, how was he
going to get Cho to throw a little attention his way. The problem most definately was
not in letting her know about his feelings as the whole world was apparently privy to his
deepest desires and dreams; the problem was charming her into feeling the same way.
His thought pattern was broken as Ron waved a hand in front of his face and
Hermione was looking at him, annoyed from the other side of the table. However hard he
attempted not to ask he found himself speaking without his expressed written consent,
"What?"
"Honestly Harry, if you intend to spend your entire day like that you'll miss the
train while you're in the station." Harry stirred and took a bite of his rapidly cooling
breakfast, "Anyway, what I was saying was that the Order of Warlocks is threatening the
Minister of Magic with a expulsion should he not consider and address the
threat of the dark lord rising." Harry chewed his baked potato thoughtfully, Cornelius
Fudge had been a fairly good leader in peacetime and had made the magician's market
economics grow by leaps and bounds by encouraging trade and stimulating problem areas such
as the cauldron buisiness (a single cauldron would last a wizard their whole life, not
much repeat buisness). In times of darkness however, he had not fared well the first time
and was now clinging to his peace as though he would be safe if he ignored the problem. In
his head an idea was forming, a chair of aurors responsible for informing the magic using
world of threats from dark wizards and dealing with those threats.
"Geez Harry, you can't stay awake for ten seconds can you?"
Harry shrugged, "Just thinking." They finished their meal in silence. The young
wizard students were quickly off for king's cross station, their trunks tucked safely in
the Weasley's new(used) car. The entire group arrived at platform nine and three quarters
without incident. They were early for once and had time to chat casually while loading
their trunks on board the Hogwarts Express, chiefly about who was to replace Oliver Wood
as Gryffindor Quiddich Captain. Aboard the train and seated in what had become their usual
compartment. (the same compartment Harry had sat in when he was just starting at Hogwarts)
Fred and George engaged everyone so thoughly in a game of exploding snap that no one had
any idea something was coming until it was too late.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle strode into the compartment as a king's hunting party
that returned only to find their castle infested by vermin. George and Fred half rose in
an action more to deny them the height advantage than to address them a courtesy. Ron
stealthily clentched his wand beneath his robes and eyed the trio warily. Ginny looked up
from a dissappointing snap hand with a spark of something in her eye that Harry did not
recognize.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Fred said in a warning tone, Malfoy held up his hands as
if to ward off a mad beast.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. I just wanted to see whether the dark lord was going
to target the bottom rungs of society first, you're still alive so obviously not" Ron
clutched his wand tighter, obviously wanting to hex Malfoy so hard he wouldn't wake up
until the great feast was half over that night. Malfoy glanced at Hermione and snorted
derisively
"I see the mudblood has dodged the Dark Lord this one time. Trust me, he won't miss
again."
Ron leapt up, forgetting his wand in favor of a more direct, fist based assault.
A flash flew across Harry's vision, Ron's cocked arm was unable to swing. Ginny had thrown
her arm into the crook of Ron's elbow. Placing her foot behind Ron's ankle she then twisted
her upper body, causing Ron to loose his balance and fall on his rear. Everybody in the
compartment looked completely stupified excepting Ginny.
"You should know better than to respond to Malfoy's taunts, especially after all
these years. You should know better, being my older brother, but you have always been
foolish about such things." Malfoy started laughing (Crabbe and Goyle imitated the laugh
though they had no idea what was funny) "Taken down by a girl and then scolded, how heroic
Mr. Weasley." Ginny rounded on him, "And you! if you had half the manlyness even my brother
shows you wouldn't throw degrading words around in the effort to make yourself feel better
about your lack of honor, or hide behind your goons when it looks like your idiocy has
resulted in punches being thrown." Malfoy fairly growled, "You think I can't fight so I
make Crabbe or Goyle fight instead do you?" Ginny shook her head, "I don't think, I know."
Ginny suddenly seemed larger, her steady posture and confident look made her look taller
than Malfoy who was quivering with rage and not a little fear.
"Feh, little girl doesn't know what she's saying. Comeon Crabbe, Goyle let's go
mingle with those closer to our level." The three beat a hasty retreat, closing the door
behind them. The room was quiet, all eyes were on Ginny (not there you perverts) Harry felt
he had just seen another side of Ginny, one who could feel pride at her own skills and
utilize them to their fullest as well as assess psychological goals and tendancies. Ginny
returned to her seat and dissappointing snap hand as nonchalantly as if she had just gotten
up to readjust the curtains.
"Where did that come from?" Ron said, in awe of his little sister from his place on
the floor where she had set him. Ginny transformed back to the Ginny Harry had known since
he was twelve, "Well, I didn't want you two to fight and that seemed like the only way to
stop you two." Ginny averted her eyes, uncomfortable under such suprised scrutiny. Ron stood
"I meant where did that trip come from? I've never seen you do anything like that." Ginny
blushed, "I found a muggle book in Dad's collection that had some fighting techniqes
detailed in it."
"You mean you learned to fight from a book? You must be pretty impressed Hermione."
"Hey!"
Harry looked out the window to look at the setting sun and the landscapes, trying to
ignore the argument but it still invaded his consciousness.
"Oh comeon Hermione, it's exactly what you would do."
"Yes, but that isn't the point I think..."
"You think, that's all you ever do."
"And all you ever do is act, if Ginny hadn't have thought fast enough you would have
been smeared by Crabbe and Goyle."
So the argument continued, along with their game of snap and the earth's rotation
until finally when they arrived at Hogwarts Hermione said in a voice shrill from overuse,
"Ron Weasley I am simply not speaking to you."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Still they all piled into the same carriage. Harry smiled when the two of them
sat next to each other. On the short trip up the path and to the castle doors Harry felt
something odd about the boar statues that had stood at the gates since Hogwarts was founded.
(as Hermione had explained from Hogwarts, A History.) In a few moments they were past and
the elusive feeling vanished. After coming to a stop all the students of Hogwarts exited
their carriages and bounded up to the great hall to sit at their house tables. Across the
hall Harry spotted Cho taking her seat at the Ravenclaw table. The responce from his body
was immediate and fairly violent, his heart tried to beat it's way out of his chest, his
ears felt like too much air was being smashed into them and as a result he nearly lost his
balance. Ginny, who was next to him, put a hand on his shoulder to steady him and asked if
he was feeling okay.
Shortly the sorting began and Gryffindor got its fair share of first years, Harry
applauding with each one. Then it was time for Dumbledore's speach which had only the standard
set of warnings, nothing about enhanced security, nor about cancelled Hogsmead visits or any
other sacrifice for the sake of staying alive. The speach ended sooner than Harry had
anticipated and the plates were filling with food before he knew it.
Harry was unusually preoccupied while cramming food in his mouth, he couldn't help
thinking about his dream, what it could mean, and how it related to his responce at seeing
Cho again and Ginny's new personality traits. As soon as Harry leaned back in his chair, fully
stuffed, the food left on his plate disappeared as per custom of Hogwarts meals. In no time
everyone was finished and they all filed sleepily to their dormitories.
Abed, Harry dropped to sleep at once. The dream was there once again, a clearer,
though more confusing message, "Beware the hand of Voldemort, it is closer than it appears."
Harry saw his mother and father smiling down on him before he woke to a brand new day.
AN #2 Well there it is, finally got some more down. It should start getting more interesting
from here on, though I'm running really dry on the humor aspect and I hope it will improve in
subsequent chapters. Next chapter should be up within the next month or so