Unraveled
Chapter Twenty-Four: Ron's New Robes
Harry and Fiona stayed on the tower until the early morning hours. They sat there in silence for the most part. She was too busy star gazing, and he was too busy watching her. She was the one who suggested that she return home before her father realized her absence.
He offered to take her back, but she refused. He handed her his cloak at the bottom of the stairs. He would have given her the Marauders' Map, since it was part of her inheritance as a child of one of the Marauders. Unfortunately, he didn't have it with him.
"You need this to get back," she said. "I got here fine without getting caught. What about you?"
"It's okay. I don't need it. I know the passageways back better than you do. Take it. You can return it to me later. Or I'll pick it up later," he whispered to her. "If you get caught here, it will be harder to explain."
She nodded as she went back the way she came. He waited and saw how the wall parted for her. He wasn't surprised. He walked back to Gryffindor Tower in a state of utter euphoria. He had spent more than an hour with her. It was so impossibly wonderful to be true that he pinched the top of his hand. It was real. He smiled as he hurried back to the tower.
Fiona got through to the Shrieking Shack in one piece. As soon as she returned, she changed clothes and hid the cloak. She got into bed and saw that it was two in the morning. She smiled as she watched the hands move.
The next morning, Sirius knocked on her door, but when she didn't answer he so entered. "Fiona, it's time to wake up and get out of bed," he told her.
"No, five more minutes, Dad," she pleaded.
"No, get up," he said as he pulled her up. He noticed that she looked sleepy. "Did you sleep last night?"
"Yes," she said. "Very well. Can't I just stay in bed? Tell Sensei, I'm sick."
"No, get out of bed," said Sirius as he looked around the room. His eyes fell on her shoes. The soles were covered in mud. Fresh mud. He turned to look at Fiona, who had fallen asleep again. "Get up!" he shouted as he pulled her up again.
"No, no. Daddy, I'm sleepy. Me sleep," she pleaded. She looked rather adorable like that, but Sirius was getting angry.
"Did you go out last night?" he questioned her, jolting her awake.
"What?" she asked as her eyes widened.
"Your shoes have fresh mud on them. They weren't like that yesterday. And you haven't been outside for the past few days," he said.
What? How? Oh, no. Crap. What do I say? Come on brain, what do I say?, she thought frantically. Sirius could see the wheels in her head turning. He had seen the look on her face before. "Star gazing," she said finally.
He sighed. "How long did you go up to the roof to star gaze?"
"The roof? Um…for a while. It's okay," she said.
"No, it's not. You are not to leave without my permission," said Sirius sternly. Then, I'd better not tell him that it was the roof top of a tower at the school, she thought.
"You and Mom are the same. You won't let me do anything," said Fiona as she yawned again.
He would have had more sympathy for her, if he didn't have the feeling that she wasn't telling the whole story. "Get up and go get ready," he ordered further.
She grumbled as she got out of bed. It was a good thing that she'd decided to hide the cloak the moment she had returned from the school. She stopped for a moment. He does have beautiful eyes, she thought as she bit her lip.
"Fiona," called her father.
"I'm up!" shouted Fiona.
*
He's manic-depressive. Honestly, that's what he is, thought Hermione as she watched Harry come down for breakfast with a smile on his face. He sat down and had some oatmeal. "How's everybody today?" he asked. Despite, the few hours of sleep, Harry felt so energetic.
"Okay, who are you and what have you done to our Harry?" asked Ron.
"I don't know what you mean," said Harry.
"You look too happy for someone who had three hours of detention last night," said Fred.
"And for someone who got fifty points knocked off from Gryffindor," added George.
"I'm sorry about that. I really am," said Harry sincerely. He was so hard on everyone just because he wasn't happy. Feeling rather guilty of himself, he said, "I promise to make up the fifty points."
"How are you going to do that?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know, but I will make it up somehow," replied Harry.
"You look different today. It's not the smile. It's something else," said Ron as he scrutinized Harry.
"What? I feel great after a goodnight's sleep I'm ready to take on the world," he said.
"You didn't go to bed when everyone else did," said Ron quietly. He knew. He had opened the curtains to Harry's bed and found that it was empty.
"Does it matter, Ron? Really, you worry too much. I feel fantastic," exclaimed Harry as he went off to do his homework.
"I wouldn't have to, if you'd just stay in one mood long enough," grumbled Ron.
"It doesn't matter as long as he's happy right now," said Ginny.
"I'd like to know what made him so happy," said Hermione. "That way, we can use it again."
"It'z not 'what', Mezz Granger. It'z 'who'," said Fleur Delacour with a knowing smile as she went off to join the other professors at the head table.
"'Who'?" asked Fred as he stroked his chin. "Methinks it's another mystery to solve."
"Yeah, Ron, you and Hermione were pretty easy to figure out," said George.
Ron and Hermione had a vague idea of who made Harry so happy in the morning. They looked at each other for a moment. On their way down to breakfast, Ron had mentioned that Harry wasn't in bed when he went to bed.
"You guys know, don't you?" asked Lavender Brown as she looked at the pair.
"Know what?" asked Ron.
"About Harry's crush, who is she?" asked Parvati.
"We don't know," said Hermione.
Harry was so happy that nothing could bring him down. He spotted Malfoy. He didn't care. What Sirius had said about Thalia and Fiona earlier had registered. He didn't even think of Voldemort in this whole mess. For the first time in a weeks, he was having a really good day.
"Harry!" called a voice that was familiar to him. He stopped. He saw a tall, red-headed figure come towards him. "Bill Weasley?" asked Harry.
"Harry, it's good to see you," said Bill.
Harry was surprised to see him there. He asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I was called under Professor Dumbledore's orders to come. My parents, Charlie, and Percy should be arriving by the week after next. I came two weeks early for the meeting. Something about examining a necklace. Where are you off to? Where are my brothers and sister?"
"They're at breakfast and I've got homework to do. Why is the rest of your family coming?" asked Harry.
"For some business for Professor Dumbledore. I won't keep you much longer," said Bill.
"See you later," said Harry. His good mood didn't diminish. He was still incredibly happy. He stopped again when he saw Nell Lawson walking with a black dog towards the castle.
"Hello Dr. Lawson. Hello Snuffles," greeted Harry.
"You're looking chipper this morning, Harry," observed the doctor.
Harry wasn't sure if he should stop to chat. Sirius was looking at him as if he knew something about last night. "I have homework to finish," he said hurriedly.
"What do you suppose that meant?" she asked the dog. The dog shook his head. Remus greeted them at the door and lead them inside through another entrance.
"I suppose you're wondering about Harry," said Remus quietly. "He's been having some strange mood swings lately. One minute he's acting like the world is falling apart, the next he's on top of the world. He got into a fight with Draco Malfoy before the Quidditch match."
Sirius's ears perked up and he barked.
"Yes, Snuffles. That's why Draco had a black eye and Harry had a bruise on his lips. Neither of the boys would admit to anything. When I questioned Harry, he refused to give me an answer. I had to give him detention. Professor McGonagall found out and doubled it. She took fifty points from Gryffindor.
Harry gave her an attitude; the likes of which I haven't seen since James came here. McGonagall looked liked she was going to blow her top. I believe the students are more afraid of Harry because they moved out of his way pretty fast."
Sirius' tail was wagging very fast. If he were in his human form, he would have been laughing. He remembered how often James got detention because he had refused to answer any questions. He recalled the big fight that James and Lily had where neither would say the cause of the fight. McGonagall had no choice, but to give them detention.
They finally reached Professor Dumbledore's office where Snape, Figg, McGonagall, and Bill Weasley were waiting. "Welcome," said Professor Dumbledore. "I know that Ryu cannot make this meeting because he has tests to administer to Fiona."
Bill waited, practically holding his breath, as Sirius resumed his human form. He stepped back involuntarily. He knew about Sirius' innocence, but it was still difficult for him. "This is William Weasley. The oldest of Arthur and Molly Weasley's children. Bill, may I present to you, Sirius Black. He's the father of Fiona Black, and his wife, formally, Thalia Riddle."
Bill bowed slightly. "I came early because of something you'd like me to look at, Professor Dumbledore," he said.
"The object in question is a crystal that belongs to Fiona Black. It is currently with her. I believe that it may hold the key to Voldemort's destruction," said Professor Dumbledore, his light blue eyes were twinkling.
"What?" came a collective gasp.
Sirius frowned. "You can't expect my daughter to fight Voldemort. He's her grandfather. I don't think she can. She's just starting to learn magic," he said.
"Who said she had to fight Voldemort?"
"What the Hell is going on?!" fired Sirius, losing his temper. It could only hold for so long with Fiona's behavior before and now this. "No! There is no way I will let him get close enough to hurt her. I'll die first."
Bill's fears left him the moment Sirius started yelling. He saw only a parent desperate to keep his child safe. He also admired him for arguing with Professor Dumbledore in front of everyone. "Ahem," he cleared his throat, which drew every pair of eyes to him. "I was thinking about the crystal you want me to appraise."
"What about?" asked Sirius with great agitation.
"Well, where did it come from? Who made it?" asked Bill calmly.
"I don't know the answers to either of those questions. All I know is my wife left it to our daughter, but what does that have to do with anything?" demanded Sirius. "How can it be the key to Voldemort's destruction?"
"That's why I want it appraised, Sirius. It is really up to Fiona if she wants it to be appraised or not," said Professor Dumbledore.
Sirius looked around him. "And I'm assuming I have to be the one to get her to give me the necklace?"
"You are her father, Black. Make her," said Severus quietly.
"It's not that easy," Nell put in. "Fiona can be very stubborn when she wants to be. The necklace is really important to her. I don't know if she'd like to be separated from it."
"I can't make her do anything. Snape, she's like her mother. She never really does anything anyone else tells her to do, unless she feels like doing it. You didn't read Thalia's diary. When Fiona doesn't want to do something, she really makes it known pretty fast," said Sirius as he recalled reading about the ballet slippers incident.
"Then someone will have to talk to her about the necklace," said Professor Dumbledore. All eyes were now on him. If anyone could make Fiona give up the crystal, it would be him.
"What about Draco Malfoy?" asked Nell with a snap of her fingers. "They're friends. He might be able to get Fiona to give the necklace to us. Or Sensei Ran might be able to. He's her teacher."
The Headmaster hadn't made a offer to try because he knew of only one person who might be able to get Fiona to surrender the crystal for appraisal. All he had to do was arrange for it.
*
Harry's good mood lasted even longer than the last time. Draco Malfoy couldn't spoil it because he had bigger problems to deal with. Neither boy cared that they were losing points from the respective houses left and right. People were starting to place bets on who would get the most points knocked off Slytherin and Gryffindor. The Weasley Twins were handling the bets. It was nearly fifty-fifty. Some thought Harry would do it because of the public displays of his outright defiance. Other swore that Draco would make up for lost time, and he often cut class.
Draco got detention for not giving McGonagall any information about the fight, but he had to wait for Snape's return before any action took place. Most people were wondering why he hadn't gotten into as much trouble as Harry, especially since he was cutting class more often than Harry. Little did anyone know that he made up the assignments under Sensei Ran's supervision. He had only received the detention because it was obvious that he had gotten into a fight with Harry.
He kept the necklace that Sensei Ran had given on him at all times underneath his clothes. He felt safer, but never allowed his guard to slip. He couldn't trust his own housemates, so he spent most of his time at the Shrieking Shack with Fiona and Sensei Ran. He spent more time with Sensei Ran trying to learn how to deflect more curses and hexes. He worked hard to ignore his problems.
Fiona spent her time building up her skills in magic. Ryu Ran was also trying to unlock the hidden magic she had. It required her to mediate, but she thought it was solely for the martial arts. However, today was not a good day for anything.
"You seem to be very tired, Fiona," mentioned Ryu Ran.
"Yes, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night," she admitted.
"Something you'd like to discuss?"
"Not really. About that big party, they're having, are you going?" she asked.
"Yes. I have been ordered to. My grandfather has asked me to attend. He's the headmaster," he replied.
"You mean that kooky, old man is your grandfather? How old are you? How old are your parents? He's over a hundred," exclaimed Fiona. "I'm sorry. That was rude."
Ryu Ran started to laugh instead. "It's okay. I'm only two years older than your father, Fiona. My parents aren't that old, but I shouldn't advertise it. My mother doesn't like people knowing her age. I am the youngest grandchild. My grandfather always loved to bother me when I was small. He kept trying to get me to do things with him. Worst, he dragged me to England for visits over the summers."
"You don't look much like him. But, you do have that twinkle in your eyes," she observed.
"Thank you. There was a time where I didn't like being compared to him. I thought he was a just a crazy old man who loved to torment me because I was the baby of the family. Now, I consider it a compliment if I even come close to being as great as he is."
"At least, you can think of your grandfather that way."
Ryu Ran smiled. He was proud to be Albus Dumbledore's favorite grandson. The rest of his siblings and cousins knew that he held a special place with their grandfather. Hardly anyone else minded because of the unwanted attention he had received. His cousins used to make fun of him because he was always running way from their grandfather. His older siblings felt sorry for him. At first, he attempted to cry whenever he was picked up. Soon, he tried hiding from him. After a while, all he could do was scowl as he was dragged along.
"What about the party?" he asked.
"I don't want to leave the house just to go to watch everyone at a party. I was never invited to any parties when I was little because my mother always rejected the invitations. I wouldn't know what to do, even if I was invited," she answered as she bit her lip. "I don't like big crowds. And I don't like people staring at me. It makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong."
"I see. But, Fiona if you spend your whole life hiding, then you'll never really experience anything. You have to explore your surroundings to know more about yourself."
They continued talking instead of doing lessons. It was a different set of lessons he was teaching her. Fiona could trust Sensei Ran with her fears about the future and her uncertainties about the wizarding world. She reminded him so much of himself when he was her age.
*
Harry finished his homework assignments and had to turn them in to each professor accordingly. He felt guilty for taking out his feelings on everyone around him and for getting points knocked off Gryffindor. He had Quidditch practice in the afternoon.
"Did you see Bill?" he asked Ron as he caught up with him for Transfiguration.
"Bill?" asked Ron. Bill got intercepted on his way to see them, so he didn't even get a chance to say hello to his younger siblings.
"He's here?" asked Hermione excitedly.
"I just saw him on the way to class. Where's Professor McGonagall?" asked Harry, noticing that she wasn't there.
"That's what we've been waiting for. She probably went to the meeting at Dumbledore's office," said Ron.
The door opened just as he finished talking. Professor McGonagall looked around the room to take a mental note of who was present or not. Her eyes fell for a moment on Harry. He looked back at her.
"Let's begin our work for today class," said Professor McGonagall as she set the stack of books in her arms on her desk.
The lesson went off without much trouble. Ron and Hermione asked Harry about Bill. Ron was surprised to hear that the rest of his family was joining Bill at Hogwarts. "Blimey! Something big is coming," he muttered softly.
"Mr. Weasley, please focus on your task," ordered Professor McGonagall.
Ron nodded and they continued silently. The class concluded soon after. Harry had no problem focusing during class. He was just so happy. He still didn't know if Fiona Black would be attending the party or not. He hoped so. Not that he had enough courage to ask her to dance. Harry felt clumsy with his feet when he danced, and he still hadn't really learned how.
"Harry? What are you thinking about?" asked Hermione quietly as they prepared to leave for the next class.
"The party. Do you think that's when all the people who are supposed to meet with the Headmaster are coming?" asked Harry.
"So, it's a cover, isn't it?" asked Ron out loud.
"Ron!" called out a voice, surprising him.
"Bill!" exclaimed Ron happily. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here on business for Professor Dumbledore," said Bill. "It's good to see you again, Hermione." He flashed her a smile, which she returned.
"I hear that you two are going out," said Bill with a roughish grin as he looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione. "Mum and Dad will be happy to hear that." His comment made them turn red. Harry started laughing.
They walked along talking about the upcoming gathering. Fred, George, and Ginny met up with them. It was one of the best days that Harry had had in a long time.
*
Fiona and Sensei Ran concluded lessons early that day. She came to the living room to find her father, Remus and Nell. Her father looked rather agitated. "Dad, what's wrong?"
Sirius' features softened the moment she spoke. "It's all right. Everything's fine," he said.
"Don't tell me that, when I know there's something wrong."
"Then tell me why you stayed on the roof for so long star gazing last night."
Fiona backed up a bit. "Um…so, what's up?" she said, changing the subject.
Remus and Nell looked at each other briefly with amused looks on their faces. "There are a couple of guests who are coming to the party. You have to come," insisted Sirius.
"No," said Fiona simply.
"Professor Dumbledore has requested that you be there."
"I don't care."
"Fiona."
"No."
Sirius rubbed his temples. This child was getting a rise out of him. "Hey, brat, why not just go already?" asked a voice from the hallway. Draco dusted off his robes as he entered the room. He had just practiced with Sensei Ran.
"Stop calling me that," snapped Fiona.
"That's what you are. I know I'm spoiled, but what about you? For Merlin's sake, stop acting like the whole world's out to get you. What are you afraid of?" drawled Draco with his trademark smirk.
"Shut up!" shouted Fiona.
Sirius raised his hand to stop Nell and Remus from intervening. He wanted to see how this played out. "You say you're not afraid of hardly anything, right? I dare you to go to the castle. You don't have to go to the party, but come to the castle. The decorations alone are worth seeing," continued Draco.
"Fine," said Fiona through her teeth. "It might be worth seeing you make a fool of yourself publicly other than at the Quidditch games."
"You wish, Fin. I'll have you know that I know how to dance. No, you'll get to see Granger and Weasley make fools of themselves as a pair. Or maybe Potter. He can't dance," laughed Draco, remembering the dance the champions were forced to perform at the Yule Ball.
"I think it's time to stop," said Sensei Ran. "So, you'll be coming to the castle then, Fiona."
"Yes," she admitted grudgingly. "I'm going to see if I have anything to wear."
"It's not for another two weeks," said Sirius, but Nell put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"It takes girls a lot longer to get ready, than boys, Sirius," she told him as she followed Fiona.
"At least, I got her to go," said Draco with a smile.
"Draco," gestured Sensei Ran. They walked off to practice. Remus and Sirius looked at each other.
"So…" started Remus.
"Hmm…" said Sirius. "What do you think will happen next?"
"I think that it will be very interesting. I haven't seen anything this interesting in a while, Padfoot."
"You're right. We'll just have to wait and see how everything turns out, Moony. Do you think that Harry will risk asking Fiona for a dance?"
"How do you feel about that? You're her father."
"I don't know how I feel. I don't know what happened. Harry's been acting strangely. A lot like Prongs did before."
"I can't wait to see what happens next."
"It's funny how life's just a cycle and a reflection of life before. It's even funnier that we still can't predict what will happen next."
Both men smiled at each other. Neither realized how wise the other had become. Sirius thought about how he felt about his daughter even seeing any boy, but he realized with Harry, he didn't have to look much further for someone to love her as much as he did.
Fiona wasn't concentrating. She left the room in a hurry because she felt her cheeks warm up. She was sure that her face was bright red. She went to the trunk where she had concealed the invisibility cloak. She smiled as her fingers felt the cool folds of the cloak. It was very nice of him to lend it to her. But, how was she supposed to return it to him?
An idea came to her at that moment, she could return it to him at the party because he was going to be there for sure. She closed the trunk. Now, what was she going to wear?
*
One week quickly passed by as the decorations went up for the party. The inns of Hogsmeade were being booked by guests and other preparations were being made as well. Every student in Hogwarts was excited about the upcoming festivities, except for Draco. He didn't really want to go to the party and be seen publicly again with Pansy on his arm. He spent his time avoiding her by going to the Shrieking Shack.
Fred and George called Ron to them. "Ron, we've decided to help you out for this special occasion," said Fred.
"What?" he asked.
"The dance has slowly become semi-formal, even though it's supposed to be informal. So, we've taken it upon ourselves to make sure you don't look as bad as you did last time," replied George.
"What have you done?" demanded Ron.
They handed him a box that was from Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. He eyed them suspiciously as they urged him to open the box. He did so slowly. He carefully opened the sides, half expecting them to prank him. There was a very handsome set of neatly folded robes inside that were navy blue without any frills on them. He looked at them still suspicious. "What are you playing at?" he demanded.
"Come on, Ronniekins. We didn't do anything to them. Harry! Ron won't take the robes we gave him," said Fred as he spotted Harry walking in.
Harry paused for a moment as he looked around. He spotted the box from Madame Malkin's and the look on Ron's face. He did remember telling the twins to buy Ron a decent set of dress robes.
"Ron, I don't think the twins would do anything to them. Just take the robes," said Harry calmly.
Ron looked back and forth between them. "Okay…I guess. Fine. I'll take them," he said as he tucked the box under his arm and walked off to put them in his trunk.
"That's just sad. To think, our own little brother won't trust us," said George.
"What did we ever do to him to make him mistrust us so?" asked Fred.
"Do you want the short list or the long list with complete explanations?" asked Harry with a smile. Another idea came to Harry.
"Say, I just remembered. I'm an investor in Wheezy Weasleys, aren't I?"
"You're our only investor. Buying Ron some dress robes was really nothing," said Fred with a shrug.
"Did you come up with anything new lately?"
"Yes, tons of stuff. We've also managed not to get our stuff confiscated by our mum. Why?" asked George.
"Nothing. Just thinking. That's all," said Harry with a smile as he walked off. He went to the dorm room to find Ron looking at the box, still suspiciously. Harry shook his head. "Honestly, Ron, can't you just believe them?"
"I would, but I don't know where they got the money to buy these," said Ron.
"Maybe they got the money from Charlie or Bill, maybe even Percy," said Harry.
"I don't think so."
"You want me to test them for you?" asked Harry. Ron stood up and handed him the box. "I suppose that means yes."
Harry put on the robes. They were too long for him, but nothing happened. Ron was grinning at Harry handed the robes back. "They really amaze me sometimes, Harry."
Harry laughed as he went to his bed and sat down for a moment. "Do you want to go out tonight?" asked Ron.
"No, I don't have the cloak," he replied.
"What? Where did you put it?"
Harry realized that he shouldn't have said anything. He turned slightly pink and looked away. Of course, he knew where his cloak was. Ron watched his odd behavior. "Oh! I think I know where it is!" he exclaimed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," mumbled Harry.
"Is she coming?" asked Ron.
"I don't know. I think so," admitted Harry.
Ron smiled again. He was going to the party with Hermione and he had a new set of robes to wear. Hermione said he was pretty stupid for still asking her if she was coming with him, but it was a nice thought. He was also happy because it looked like Harry was being normal again.
AN: Pretty weak chapter, but I'm setting up for what Harry and the Weasley twins are going to do next. The next part will have a really fluffy part in it. I promise. I know I said that in the last chapter, but I've been sick when I wrote this chapter, but had to be finished, so that I can move on to the next part.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. ^^