Announcement: TGSoHH has gone international! What do I mean by that? Well… if you speak/study French, and feel like reading it in French, you can do so, here on ffnet. A bilingual Canadian girl asked my permission to translate it and upload it onto ffnet. You can find it (the first chapter so far) under the penname Sabrinette. Shame that I don't speak French and cannot read it ;)
And finally, LET ME WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Chapter 9
I believe I can fly
After their little trip to Honeydukes, the trio managed to get out of the tunnel unnoticed. Norbert - although having eaten a heap of sweets in the tunnel - complained to be very hungry. It was dinner time, after all.
On their way down to the Great Hall, they met a madly grinning David Dursley.
"Quite in a good mood, aren't we?" Dan asked.
"Sure... I've just had sex ed," Dave chuckled.
"Oh..." Dan smirked. His father had once told him about that terrible sex education class in his seventh year. Sex education was a subject introduced by Dumbledore after 'the greatest scandal in Hogwarts history', to prevent more students from getting pregnant. Ever since 1999, all kids from third year and up had to attend a class like that.
"But it wasn't taught by Snape, was it?" Dan asked, having heard how horrible a sex ed teacher Severus could be.
"No..." David shook his curly blonde head. "I don't think he even knows what sex is…" he added with a wink. "It was taught by Professor Lockhart."
Dave, not knowing Gilda (who was standing next to Dan and Norbert) didn't understand why the girl burst into a fit of giggles.
"Too bad we aren't having sex ed until third year," Norbert sighed.
Dan - on the other hand - felt relieved by it... dipping into his sister's book and Kama Sutra was enough of sex education for him - enough to deter him from even thinking of sex. Surely boys of his age were always very interested in this topic, but their interest mainly consisted of spying on girls in the bathroom. Daniel hadn't even done that - although he would have had plenty of opportunity to catch a glimpse of Lily -, because he knew that there was nothing to watch on her. She had no breasts at all. Daniel just couldn't understand what David saw in her...
"I can well imagine a sex ed class held by professor Lockhart," Norbert said.
"No, you can't," David shook his head with a broad grin. "It is beyond imagination. It was the funniest experience of my life... that fool Lockhart started the whole thing with the birds and the bees - especially the male birds that always need to look cool to seduce the females..." he gave a hearty laugh. "Lockhart himself looks like a flashy tropical bird, doesn't he? I bet he caught himself a wife when wearing a pink-orange striped robe with turquoise buttons."
"No, he did not," Gilda spoke up, looking a bit miffed. "His wife did not go for his looks, she actually fell in love with him because he always made her laugh."
"With his attires, no wonder," David waved. "By the way, how do you know this?"
"Because she told me," Gilda made a sullen face.
"Told you?"
"Yeah. She's my mother, after all," the girl said, turned on her heels and left.
"Her... her mother?" young Dursley blinked.
"Aha. If you had stopped devouring my sister with your eyes, then you could have paid better attention to the Sorting and you'd know that she's Lockhart's daughter," Dan replied.
"Damn," David grimaced.
They entered the Great Hall and parted - Dan and Norbert to Slytherin table, David to the table of Hufflepuff.
"At least Dave doesn't seem to be mad at me because of the lost points," Dan said. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were still supposed to be rooting against Slytherin, but David's friendship seemed to be stronger than his supposed hate for Slytherin.
As the two friends seated themselves at their table next to Gilda, Daniel was dumbfounded to see tears in her eyes. She diverted her stare, but he reached out to tap her arm gently.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
She shook her head, wiping her tears away. It was startling to see this tough girl like this.
"Did David hurt your feelings?" young Potter asked. "I'm sure he did not mean to. He had no idea who you were."
"No, he didn't hurt me," Gilda whispered. "He just... oh, it's so difficult for me, Daniel... dad is making things so difficult! Your pudgy friend was right - father is really like that: a flashy bird with colourful feathers... a bird that does not care for anything else but his looks."
"He is neglecting you," the boy perceived.
"Neglecting, avoiding, despising," she hung her head.
Daniel didn't know what to reply: his father was so different. Harry was caring, loving... someone who would have loved his children even if they had disappointed him in certain respect... Harry had loved Daniel and cared for him when he had been a squib. Having a squib for a child was much worse for a wizard than having a daughter who didn't resemble one at all - still, Harry always loved Dan, while Gilderoy seemed not to love his daughter.
Just the previous day Daniel had found this girl annoying, but now he couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
He thought to himself that Hermione had been right: he was darn lucky to have a father like Harry.
"I'm dying of hunger!" Norbert whined. "The house-elves are late. Dinner should have been sent up here five minutes ago!" he looked at his watch. "No, six minutes ago. What are they waiting for?"
"Look at the door and you'll have your answer," Lavinia Flint replied.
The boys glanced at the door of the Great Hall, to see Dumbledore arrive with a pudgy little man in grey-white striped suit and a lime green bowler hat.
"That's Fudge, isn't it?" Norbert whispered to Dan.
"Who?" Gilda blinked.
"Minister for Magic," Dan said. "Where have you been living that you don't know him?"
"Everywhere but England," she replied. "My parents and I have been travelling all around the globe ever since I was born. Father was opening beauty salons in every city you can imagine. The very first time I set foot on British soil was a week ago. So no wonder that I don't know this Budge."
"Fudge."
"Whatever," she shrugged. "He doesn't look too sympathetic to me."
"Neither to me, but we must accept him... at least that's what dad said," Daniel replied. "My parents didn't vote for him at the latest elections, though. They voted for Jonathan Johnson - my uncle Fred's father-in-law."
"My parents didn't even vote," Norbert added, massaging his rumbling stomach. "Father said that none of the candidates deserved his vote."
All children in the Great Hall fell silent as the headmaster raised his hand.
"Before we dine tonight, let us welcome Mr. Fudge, Minister for Magic!" the students clapped politely. "He has come to us to make an announcement. As I have already referred to it last Thursday at the opening-of-the-school-year-feast, the Hogwarts foundation document has been found and our school has turned out to be exactly one thousand years old this year. Now the Minister is going to give you the details of the festivities. I am only going to complete his speech. Mr. Fudge, please, fill us in."
"Well..." Cornelius straightened himself and adjusted his bow tie. "There will be two big events taking place during the school year. Since the foundation stone was laid at Halloween of 1011, we are going to have a big Halloween ball here at the school. It is going to be a masquerade, right, Dumbledore?"
"Exactly, Minister," Albus nodded. "Every student and teacher is obliged to appear at the ball in some kind of a costume. The teachers are going to reward the student wearing the best costume with a hundred points to the student's house. The student wearing the second best costume is going to get forty points to his or her house, and the third one is going to get twenty points. The winning students, on the other hand, are going to select the best costume from among the teachers, who have to wear funny outfits... as funny as possible. And of course the teacher wearing the funniest costume will also get some kind of a prize," he shot the children an impish look.
"I wonder what costume Snape will be wearing," Dan whispered to Norbert who started to snigger.
"All students and teachers," the headmaster continued, "are allowed to invite two more persons to the ball - there are only three restrictions: the invited people may not wear costumes, they have to be at least eleven years old and they need to have knowledge of the wizarding world beforehand. We would like to avoid unknowing Muggles freaking out on us. Our Muggle-born students may invite their parents or siblings, but I do not recommend any of you to bring Muggles, who have never heard of magic, to the ball. Since there will be about 3000 of us here at the party, there will be a huge tent set up on the school grounds, given that the Great Hall will not be big enough. So," Albus looked around to see kids putting their heads together - already discussing their costumes and the list of people to invite - finished his speech: "I believe this is going to be the greatest party this old school has ever seen. I suggest you start preparing for it and think of a good idea for a costume. And now, I'm giving the word back to Mr. Fudge."
"Um, thank you, Dumbledore," the Minister said. "So... although the foundation stone of Hogwarts was laid at Halloween of 1011, the school only got ready by the beginning of May, 1012. Along with the Hogwarts foundation document, Salazar Slytherin's diary has also been found and it tells us about a special wizard-knight tournament, at which Helga Hufflepuff came up with the idea of founding a school of witchcraft and wizardry. In order to remember this special day, we are going to have a similar tournament here at Hogwarts. And you," he pointed at the students sitting at the four tables, "are going to be the knights."
A loud murmur ran down the hall, and Albus Dumbledore held up his hands to silence the excited kids.
"Let me tell you a bit more about this tournament. First of all: it is going to last for seven days – a whole week without schoolwork," all students cheered. Dumbledore smiled. "I knew you'd appreciate the news. So, this tournament is not going to be like the Triwizard Tournament many of you witnessed here two years ago. This is going to be a championship in which all of you may take part - from first year to seventh year. We got to know from Slytherin's diary that the wizard-knight tournament resembled a bit the Muggle tournaments, with the exception that wizards used brooms instead of horses and wands instead of lances and swords. At the original wizard-knight tournament there was one victorious champion and one Queen of Beauty and Love. At the tournament Slytherin's diary tells us about, the Queen happened to be Lady Rowena Ravenclaw, and her task was to crown the winner with a wreath of golden laurels. The winner was Godric Gryffindor. The whole tournament was held at Slytherin Manor and it was right after the champion's crowning that Helga Hufflepuff suggested to build Hogwarts. With this tournament, we are going to remember, revive the habits of old times, customs long forgotten. I'm sure this is going to be even more fun than the Halloween ball."
"But professor!" a fifth year Ravenclaw boy put up his hand. "You said every student was allowed to enter the tournament from first year to seventh year. How is this possible? Seventh year students know much more than the firsties!"
"True," Dumbledore nodded. "I just wanted to explain this. First of all, what you need to know is following: all boys may go for the title of the champions - yes, there will be seven champions, one from each year. With this I have already answered your question: all boys are going to battle with other boys who have had the same amount of magical education, thus no one will have advantage over the others."
"And what about the girls???" a Gryffindor girl expressed her indignation.
"Oh, do not worry, Ms. Ollivander," the headmaster smiled. "Remember what I said about the original wizard-knight tournament: there was one champion and one Queen of Beauty and Love. At Hogwarts there will be seven champions and seven queens - one from each year."
"Are the girls also going to battle?" Lily Potter's best friend, Circe Diggory, put up her hand.
"In a way, yes," Dumbledore nodded. "But their 'battle' is going to be different from that of the boys. Since the original queen was Rowena Ravenclaw, and she was famous for her cleverness, the girls are going to compete for the title of 'Queen' in a way that is worthy of Lady Ravenclaw: we are going to test their intellectual abilities."
"A quiz show?" a Muggle born girl squealed.
"Something like that, yes," the headmaster nodded.
"This is really going to be fun, eh?" Lavinia Flint leant to Gilda. "Are you going for the title 'Queen of Beauty and Love'? I'll surely go for it."
"Then go," Gilda shrugged. "I'm not going to make a fool of myself, that's for sure."
"I hope Liu is going to be the Queen in our year," Dan said, his eyes fixed on the Ravenclaw girl, who was whispering something to her neighbour, Yvette Weasley.
"Are you going for 'Champion', Dan?" Norbert asked.
"How could I? I can't even perform the simplest charms! I'd only become a laughing stock."
"I could help you, you know..." Norbert replied with a sly smile. "With a bit of training you could learn everything. You have already proved that."
Dan waved indignantly. "I might learn the basic things, but that would never be enough for the tournament."
"Defeatist, that's what you are," young Malfoy snapped.
"Realist, that's what I am," Dan replied. "But I could still win the hundred points for the best costume."
"Any ideas for it?"
"None yet. I'll keep thinking."
Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore waved again and silenced the students. "There's only one more thing I'd like to tell you," he began. "Naturally these festivities make it necessary to re-organise the order of Quidditch matches. There will be two matches - Gryffindor versus Slytherin and Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff - in October, and the remaining matches will be held in March and April. Professor Longbottom asked me to tell you that Quidditch tryouts will start tomorrow. Students willing to join the house teams, please sign up with Professor Longbottom this evening or tomorrow morning. Thank you."
"I wonder where Professor Longbottom is," Gilda said as the dinner appeared on their golden plates.
"Dunno," Norbert replied with full mouth. "Maybe repairing a broomstick."
But Neville turned out to be wandering in the castle instead of repairing broomsticks. Daniel and his two friends met him on their way down into the Slytherin common room. The professor seemed to be desperate about something.
"Haven't you... haven't you seen Severus?" he asked. "I keep losing him."
"What are you looking for, Longbottom?" Snape's voice spoke up from behind Neville. "Er... professor Longbottom."
"He's been looking for you," Gilda replied willingly.
"Me?"
"No," Neville turned ruby red. "My toad."
* * * * *
The following morning at breakfast you could barely hear the students talk about anything else but the ball and the tournament, costume-ideas, friends and relatives they'd invite and the title 'Champion' and 'Queen of Beauty and Love' they'd go for.
No matter how interesting their very first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson was, the Slytherins kept whispering about the upcoming events, not really paying attention to professor Lupin. Only Daniel and Gilda - who weren't a bit interested in the tournament - listened carefully to Remus' explanation on demons (particularly a mad Inca demon he had fought in Peru over the summer). Professor Lupin had not only vindicated, but also captured and brought the creature to Great Britain and now showed it to the children. The Inca demon was the ugliest little thing Daniel had ever seen - it was greyish brown, looking a bit like a heap of mud (or dung) and even smelled like it.
Since the Slytherins had no more classes till lunch, Dan decided to go and get his detention for the day over with. As he approached the caretaker's room, he saw that the door was ajar and voices caught his ears. One of them belonged to Mr. Bradley, the other to Snape. And they were... laughing???
Daniel thought he heard it wrong. Snape, being cheery about something? That must be the end of the world!
The boy sneaked up to the door to eavesdrop a bit.
"I know another!" Mr. Bradley said merrily. "The little boy goes home from school, looking very cheerful. His grandma notices it and asks: 'Have you had a good day, dear? What did you do?' 'A chemistry experiment, granny'. The grandma taps the boy's head proudly and says: 'I hope you will be in just a good mood tomorrow morning when you go to school.' Can you guess what the boy answered?"
Snape scratched his jaw, thinking. "Er... 'what school'?"
"Exactly!" chuckled the caretaker.
"I guess I have heard this joke in the wizard way as well," Snape replied. "Neville Longbottom goes home and his grandma asks the same things, and he replies that bad old Snape made him do a Potions experiment... and bye-bye, Hogwarts!"
Bert Bradley guffawed. "Who made up this joke about you?"
The professor shrugged. "That is something I'll never find out. But I suspect Potter or Weasley... or maybe not - they used to be friends with Longbottom."
"Was Nev... er, I mean, Professor Longbottom really that bad at Potions?"
"Worse than you could possibly imagine. And he was afraid of me... but he seems to have found a way to get back at me. Can you guess what he named his new toad?"
"No idea."
"Severus," Snape replied, but Daniel was surprised that he didn't hear bitterness or fury in the Potions master's voice - it was rather amused. "Not to mention the case with his boggart..."
"The Professor Snape-boggart with the looks of an old lady?" the caretaker giggled.
"How do you know about it?"
"Er... just heard it somewhere," Bert sounded a bit embarrassed. "News like this spread, you know..." somehow Dan had the impression that Bradley was hiding something. However, Snape didn't press the topic.
"I can't believe I have finally met someone who shares my interest in Potion-making," Severus said finally. "I've got to go now. Good bye, Mr. Bradley."
Daniel wasn't quick enough: he wanted to get as far away from the door as possible, but Snape opened it so hastily that the boy had no time to 'escape'.
"Potter," Severus gave him a bemused look.
"I just... I've just come for my detention, sir," Dan mumbled.
"Then go, what are you waiting for?" with that the professor left, and Daniel gaped at his receding figure. What had he just witnessed? Snape letting his greasy hair down? Snape not punishing him for eavesdropping with another month of detention?
Something was amiss here... seriously amiss. For a second Dan felt sorry for the poor professor who had obviously gone mad.
* * * * *
Since the next class of the Slytherins was Astronomy at eleven p.m., Daniel had a whole afternoon free. After lunch, going downstairs into the dungeon common room, he met his cousins on a landing.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Kevin crossed his arms, leaning nonchalantly to the banister. "Where are you going, Potter?"
"None of your business, Weasley."
"No need to ask," Viviane sneered. "He's surely searching for a teacher to tell on one of his friends."
"Sod off," Dan sighed. "I'm busy."
"Oh, busy?" Valentine scowled. "Busy plotting to betray people, or busy thinking up a costume idea? I could give you advice there."
"Yeah…" Kevin smirked. "You'd look perfect as an Inca demon. We've just seen one at Defence Against the Dark Arts… it reminded me a lot of you. Especially the way it stank."
"Go and make friends with Draco Malfoy. He'd gladly give you 'Potter stinks' badges," Dan snapped. "Just don't forget to put them away when you're at Charms or dad might think you're referring to him."
"What about 'Danniekins stinks'?" Valentine suggested.
"Wonderful idea… if you don't mind me wearing a badge saying 'I hate WC'." young Potter replied coolly.
"WC?"
"Weasley Children," Dan shrugged. "And if you allow me, I've got to go to plot with Norbert how to get you sacked out of Hogwarts."
"If you try, I'll…" Kevin clenched his fists.
"Do what? Sic your dead unicorn on me?"
* * * * *
Daniel dropped himself into an armchair in the Slytherin common room.
"Hey!" Norbert looked up from his book 'Slytherin versus Gryffindor - Salazar's tips how to do away with filthy guys like Godric'. It was a book only available in Knockturn Alley. "What's the matter, mate?"
Dan grunted and looked into the flames dancing in the fireplace.
"Oh, I see. Weasley-menace," Norbert closed his book and handed it to his friend. "Read this. It'll help you endure them."
Young Potter read the title and sadly shook his head. "It's not like that, Norbert. I don't want to do away with them. I'm mad at them, all right, but I... don't want to hurt them."
"Tut, tut, tut, you are way too generous. Really, you should be in Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff?" Dan snorted. "Are you insulting me?"
"No way. I just wanted to remind you that you're a Slytherin. And Slytherins never feel sympathy for people who hate them. If you do, then you're not a real Slytherin."
"I never thought I was a real Slytherin," Dan hung his head. He couldn't express with words how much he longed to be in Gryffindor, how much he longed to have the Weasleys as his friends. He had six cousins attending Hogwarts and only one of them - David - was willing to talk to him. Yvette was also his cousin, but he had never really talked to her: she was way too girlish for his taste. He didn't understand what Christopher Wood saw in her - even his sister Lily was more interesting than Yvette, who was nothing but a pretty face. Liu, on the other hand... Daniel had to admit that he didn't know much about Liu, besides that she was also pretty. He hoped, though, that at Astronomy that evening he'd have a better chance to get to know her.
* * * * *
"Astronomy is considered as one of the oldest sciences, although - if we think of all the space-telescopes and probes - we can consider it to be the youngest and most modern of all sciences," professor Sinistra Lupin began the class. Daniel squinted at Liu standing not far away from him, hanging on every word of the professor.
"Studying the sky in the ancient times started in Mezopothamia and culminated in Greece. The Greek believed the stars and planets to be mystical celestial lights and thought that the Earth was the centre of the universe. This is the so called geocentric theory... In the time of Newton the stars turned out to be distant suns. However, the fact that our Milky Way is just one of the several galaxies and that the universe was created by the Big Bang, only got revealed in the 20th century, mostly due to the activity of Edwin Hubble," professor Sinistra carried on. "Unfortunately we must admit that about 98% of the astronomic discoveries have been made by Muggles. All witches and wizards did was learn Astronomy from the non-magical folks. So never underestimate Muggles, because there are areas in which they have achieved more than we, magic people."
"Rubbish," Norbert whispered. "Comparing Muggles to us, wizards!"
"You really hate Muggles?" Dan frowned.
"Yeah, it runs in the family," the other boy replied. "As a Slytherin you are also supposed to hate them."
"I actually know some Muggles who are quite okay. For example my uncle Dudley..."
"Sssh!" Liu Chang pressed her index-finger to her lips to silence the boys. She didn't want to miss a single word of Sinistra.
"Who can tell me how exactly stars are born?" the professor asked.
Silence.
After a while Liu put up her hand. "They are born from interstellar gas-clouds also called nebulas. These nebulas contract and create proto-stars. When the density and temperature of the gases in these proto-stars reach the required degree, nuclear reactions are induced and a real star is born."
"Exactly, Ms. Chang. I see you have cared to study a bit of Muggle science beforehand. Ten points to Ravenclaw."
"I knew she wasn't just a pretty face!" Dan whispered enthusiastically into Norbert's ear. Gilda snorted irritably, but Dan didn't seem to notice.
"And now, it is time for you to get acquainted with the stars, planets and constellations," Sinistra said. "Who can tell me the difference between stars and planets?"
Liu's hand shot into the air again, but so did Gilda's.
"Ms. Lockhart?"
"Stars have own light and heat, planets don't. So simple."
"Very well, ten points to Slytherin as well."
Gilda shot Daniel a victorious stare, but he wasn't looking at her - he was occupied with ogling Liu again. Gilda turned away, clearly hurt by the fact that the boy didn't care to praise her, too.
"Can any of you - besides Ms. Chang and Ms. Lockhart - name any of the visible constellations or any of the stars?"
Daniel remembered some occasions when the Potter family went camping and slept in the open air. Sirius - true to his name - knew a lot about the starry sky: not only the names of the constellations, but even the myths in connection to them. Daniel and his siblings got to know from him that many of the constellations had been named after Greek mythology characters, such as Hercules, Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Pegasus.
"I'll try," Dan said in a bit uncertain tone.
"Go ahead, then," Stella Sinistra encouraged him.
"Well... that very bright star over there is Deneb, in the constellation Cygnus - that means swan. The other bright one is Vega, in the constellation Lyra."
"Very well, Mr. Potter. Could you name some of the circumpolar constellations?" Sinistra asked.
"The what?" Dan blinked. Sirius had never gone into details this much.
"Constellations that are visible all year, because they are close to the Pole Star," the professor explained.
"Oh, those..." Dan looked up, searching for the Pole Star. It was a beautiful, clear September night, and with no Muggle street lamps around, the view was perfect. The sight of the infinite curtain of black velvet sky that was sprinkled with small diamonds of twinkling stars was simply enthralling. "I guess..." Dan continued, "Ursa Maior... Ursa Minor... Cepheus, Cassiopeia and... um, Draco," Norbert started to snigger behind his back and Liu gave him an admiring look that made his heart flutter.
Slytherin received another ten points and Daniel sent a silent thanks to Sirius.
In the rest of the lesson, Sinistra showed them some of the planets and their moons, finally letting them glimpse the M31, also known as Andromeda galaxy, through a huge telescope.
When they finally got into bed shortly after one o'clock, Daniel decided that Astronomy was his favourite subject for several reasons. First of all: he proved to know much more about it than the others, secondly: it didn't need much of a talent since it wasn't about 'foolish wandwaving', thirdly: Liu also seemed to like it.
Daniel put his glasses on his bedside table, pulled the hangings shut around his four-poster and grinned at Abu.
"She likes exactly what I do! We have the same interests, thus we can get close... very close, Abu," he whispered. "I'll just have to continue being good at Astronomy and she'll surely like me."
* * * * *
Next day the Slytherins' first class started only at 11 o'clock, and they were glad to be able to sleep in, since having Astronomy so late at night meant that you'd be very drowsy the following day. Of course, getting up so late meant that you missed breakfast, and it is common knowledge that kids in their early teens need a lot of nourishment, so Daniel decided to take Norbert down into the kitchen to satiate their hunger.
Norbert had never been in the kitchen before, but he must have been used to having dozens of house-elves being at his disposal, because he didn't seem surprised or pleased by the incessant bowing and curtsying of the Hogwarts elves. Now that SPEW had become a national - or rather international - movement, all Hogwarts elves were freed and paid. Instead of tea towels they wore identical, pretty uniforms - the males blue and the females pink. Some females were even wearing jewellery - mainly earrings that looked ludicrous in their bat-like ears, and Daniel almost choked on his chocolate mousse when he spotted a male elf with a nose-ring. It seemed that the elves had no problem getting used to their freedom, but it didn't matter as long as they worked diligently. And so they did.
After having been delivered a plate of pumpkin pasties, the two boys sat down at a table to watch the elves prepare lunch. That was when Dan noticed that some of them were even sporting SPEW badges and there was a huge poster of the rock band 'SPEW' on the wall. The elves must have been great fans - no wonder, because WWN kept playing SPEW melodies hours on end and the elves were allowed to listen to the wizard radio while working. There were rumours that some elves were planning to start a very new radio, solely for elves.
"They have got totally out of hand, I tell you," Norbert whispered to Dan, eyeing a male elf that was wearing headphones and listening to his very own Wizard Walkman. "They have got too much liberty. No elf in Malfoy or Devilsmoor Manor would dare to run around with a walkman. Today they are satisfied with this, but tomorrow they will be purchasing laptops and sending e-owls. Ridiculous."
"Don't be too hard on them," Dan replied, munching a pumpkin pasty. "They deserve their freedom after millennia of slavery."
"If you say so," Norbert shrugged.
A house-elf walked up to them with a new plate of pasties and bowed. Daniel immediately recognised him.
"Dobby!"
"Daniel Potter, sir!" the elf beamed. "You still remember Dobby? Oh, such an honour!"
"Of course I do. You used to visit dad sometimes. Really... why haven't you come for such a long time? We haven't seen you for years!"
"Well, sir..." the elf turned pink, as much as a brownish face like his could turn pink. "The reason is that... Dobby... Dobby fell in love in Harry Potter's house."
"Fell in love? At Black Manor?" Dan gaped. "Oh... you love our Dinky, don't you?"
"Er, yes, sir," the elf nodded.
"Then... why are you avoiding our house? Don't you want to see the girl of your dreams?"
"Oh, of course Dobby would like to see Dinky, sir, but Dobby isn't allowed... till the beginning of this November."
"November? Why?"
"This is elf-custom, sir. If two elves fall in love and they admit it to one another, then they must spend exactly a thousand days apart, to test the strength of their love. They are allowed to write letters to each other, but cannot meet until the thousand days are over. If they meet after a thousand days and they still love each other, then they can start... er, dating."
"And how long are they supposed to date before having sex? Two thousand days, maybe?" Norbert mocked.
"No, sir, just five hundred days," Dobby replied.
"Oh, my, this sucks. If Aunt Hermione knew this, she'd start the elven sexual revolution," Dan shook his head. "How can you bear this, Dobby? To be away from your love so long? To... restrain yourself so long?
"Dobby does not know sir, but Dobby loves Dinky and is willing to wait for her. Dobby has waited 956 days, only 44 days to go and Dobby can meet his love again."
"You know what, Dobby?" Dan said, stuffing another pasty into his mouth. "My family is going to move to Hogsmeade soon, because my mum is going to buy Honeydukes. You'll be able to see Dinky on a daily basis."
The elf clasped his hands gleefully. "Wonderful! Dobby is so happy, sir!"
"If I were you, I wouldn't eat so many of those or you'll get sick at Flying," Norbert interjected.
"Flying?" Daniel made a sour face and put his half-eaten pasty down. "I have forgotten."
"You don't seem too happy about it," his friend perceived.
"'Course I'm not," Dan sighed.
"Sir is not loving flying?" Dobby's eyes widened. "How is it possible? Sir is Harry Potter's son and Harry Potter is the best flier Dobby has ever known!"
"Don't remind me," young Potter hung his head. "My dad was disappointed enough when I fell off my broom at the age of six, broke my leg and told him that I hated flying. I know it was just a little accident, I mean, my leg got repaired at St. Mungo's in a second, but I was under shock and from that day on I was afraid of flying. I haven't ridden a broomstick since then... and the thought that I'll have to fly again gives me the creeps."
"You never told me about this," Norbert knitted his eyebrows.
"Because I didn't want to talk about it... didn't even want to think about it," Dan pushed his plate away, disgusted. "Thanks for the breakfast, Dobby."
"You is welcome, sir."
* * * * *
The two boys trotted down to the Flying grounds without saying a word. Daniel was too unhappy about the upcoming lesson and Norbert had no idea how to console someone who hated flying but would be forced to fly in a couple of minutes. It would have been like persuading a burnt child not to dread the fire.
As they walked down the steps leading from the Entrance Hall into the park, they met the four Weasley cousins coming exactly from the Flying grounds. They must have had a first lesson with Professor Longbottom. Lancelot still looked pale - he, like his father - had never been good at physical activities, but his intellectual abilities made up for that (too much, in the twins' opinion).
"Oh, Dannikins is going to have his first Flying lesson!" Kevin shouted. "Tell Professor Longbottom that you are afraid, he might let you stay on the ground!"
"Or pretend to be ill and get a medical certification from Madame Pomfrey that you aren't allowed to fly!" Valentine advised.
"Yeah, even Lance is a better flier than you!" Viv added. "He only fell off his broom after three minutes. How long did you manage to stay on it last time?"
"Twenty seconds," Kevin grinned.
To Norbert's surprise, Daniel didn't even react, just walked past his cousins.
"I would have cursed them if I were you!" Norbert told his friend. "Okay, you don't know curses yet... then at least you should have broken Kevin's nose."
Dan shook his head. "No. He's right. He's... he's right. I won't be able to remain on my broomstick for a minute! I'm really scared. I'll fall off right away."
"Defeatist, again. Have you no self-confidence at all?"
"Not much. Why should I have? What should I feel confident about? My magic skills? They are as good as zero. A wonder that I got into this school at all. My flying abilities? They are definitely zero. All I have inherited from dad is my looks, nothing else. But my looks won't make me a great wizard or a talented Quidditch player..."
Soon they arrived at the Flying grounds, but Professor Longbottom was nowhere to be seen. The other students were gathering around a pile of broomsticks.
Since the Slytherins had this class together with the Ravenclaws, Daniel spotted Liu Chang at once. Normally his mood would have improved in the girl's presence, but this time it only worsened - Dan already saw it in his mind's eye as he made a fool of himself in front of her.
"Hey, what is this expression?" Gilda asked him. "Even Snape used to look happier than you do now."
"Where's Professor Longbottom?" Dan asked instead of replying.
"Mr. Bradley has just been here and said that the professor got an urgent owl that his daughter had fallen ill, but he might be back before the end of the lesson, so we should wait for him and choose ourselves a broomstick."
"Great," Norbert grunted. "We might as well have stayed in the kitchen. The elves were making éclairs and I could have done with a few of them."
"Always thinking with your stomach," Gilda tutted.
Suddenly a little blonde girl came running towards them, weeping.
"Julie? What's the matter?" Daniel asked.
"Snow... Snowball is stuck on a tree and I can't get her down!" Julie Dumbledore sniffed, wiping her tears.
"Snowball?"
"My kitty!" the little girl pointed at a tall tree about a hundred feet away. A small white dot was sitting on one of its higher branches, mewing in a terrified sort of way.
"Where's your great-grandpa?" Gilda asked. "He could surely magic your kitty down."
"He's gone into Diagon Alley to buy unicorn-fodder," Julie replied and burst into tears again.
"Can't we magic it down?" Daniel pondered.
"Well... we haven't learned the levitating charm yet," Norbert shrugged.
"Then I'll get her down!" Gilda said resolutely.
"We aren't allowed to fly as long as the teacher is away!" Liu admonished.
"Who said I wanted to fly?" Ms. Lockhart snapped. She clearly didn't like Ms. Chang. "I'm going to climb."
"Climb? Are you out of your mind?" Daniel yelled. "It's way too high!"
"Daniel... I have spent all my summers in Egypt with my grandpa and climbed all the palm trees. Palms do not have branches and I still managed to climb them. This one here is a piece of cake."
"But..."
"No buts, I'm going to save that kitty. I love cats. All Egyptians love cats - they have always been considered holy animals in Egypt."
"I always told you the chick was crazy," Norbert told Dan as they followed the girl's receding figure with their eyes.
"...and for once I agree," Dan nodded.
All Slytherins and Ravenclaws watched as Gilda Lockhart deftly climbed the trunk of the tree, hopping from branch to branch like a monkey. Not even Abu could have done it better.
Snowball, the little white kitten, was perched on a branch at least thirty feet above the ground. Gilda stepped on the same branch, crouched down and started crawling towards the cat.
There was a crack.
"She's going to fall!" one of the Ravenclaws screamed. The branch started to sway madly under the weight of the girl, but it didn't break yet.
Everyone watched with bated breaths as Gilda caught Snowball by its tail and stuffed the tiny animal into her robe pocket. As she started to crawl backwards on the branch, it cracked again - this time much louder, and began separating itself from the trunk. Gilda yelped and grabbed a twig as the branch got into a vertical position, as if hanging on mere hinges. It was only a matter of seconds and it would fall down, causing Ms. Lockhart to break her neck.
Gilda held onto the twig as tightly as she could, her legs dangling above the abyss she was going to fall into... and finally the twig gave.
She screamed, closed her eyes, waiting for the impact, but all she felt was a gentle bump and the wind blowing into her face as she soared upwards... not downwards.
She heard people yelling, clapping and whistling, and felt two arms circled around her body while she felt slowly descending. Only when her feet touched the ground, did she open her eyes to see a pair of chocolate brown eyes glinting at her from behind spectacles.
"Daniel..." she whispered, disentangling herself from his embrace, dismounting the broomstick the boy had saved her with.
"Daniel!" Norbert arrived with a wide-eyed Liu and a tear-soaked Julie. "Daniel, you did it!"
"Did I?" Dan blinked. "Oh, well, I must have... I must have acted on instinct, I guess," he dropped the broom as if disgusted. "I still hate flying."
"Oh, Daniel, I barely could believe my eyes!" Liu said enthusiastically. "In one second Gilda was still cliff-hanging, I mean, tree-hanging, in the next one you were swooping towards her like an arrow... WOW!"
Daniel blushed at Liu's appraisal, but blushed even more as Gilda grabbed his head and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek. "History repeated itself, Dan!" she said.
"What do you mean?"
"Your dad saved my mum's life back in Egypt, when her carpet went berserk and wanted to drop her off... and now you saved me. Thanks."
"Any time... I just hope I won't need to use a broomstick next time," Dan grinned.
"Here," Gilda reached into her pocket and fished the kitty out. Julie Dumbledore took it gratefully.
"Brilliant flying, young Potter," came a voice from behind.
The children turned around to see Neville.
"Er... how's your daughter?" Dan asked, hoping to deter the professor from taking fifty points off Slytherin because of his forbidden flight.
"Very well, thanks," Neville smiled. "My wife got shocked when she saw rashes on Eve's skin and called for me and Madame Pomfrey at once, but Eve turned out to be all right, she's just allergic to Mrs. Figg's cats," now he gave Daniel a penetrating stare. "Really nice flying, Potter."
"Er... professor, I know I shouldn't have flown as long as you weren't around, but..."
"...but it was an emergency," Neville nodded, smiling. "I wouldn't have been able to save Ms. Lockhart, I was too far away when the branch broke. You did the right thing," he turned to Gilda. "I should take at least ten points from Slytherin because of your irresponsibility, young lady, but I should give Slytherin at least ten points for Mr Potter's heroism. That would mean zero points, so let's dispense with it now. Potter... you haven't come to me yet to sign up for the Quidditch trials."
"Because I did not want to," Daniel replied. "I don't like flying, sir."
"What? So good at it and not loving it?" the professor looked surprised. "Your father was a great Seeker... you could also be a good one, and as far as I know, Slytherin is needing a Seeker, two Beaters and a Chaser for the time being. All of them graduated last year."
"I'd like to sign up, professor," Norbert put up his hand.
"Me, too," Liu shouted. "There are vacant positions on the Ravenclaw team too, right, professor?"
"Everyone can sign up for the trials, after class. First I have to see your flying skills and decide whether you are good enough for joining your house teams," professor Longbottom gave Daniel a meaningful look.
"Please, don't be mad at me, sir, but I'm not playing Quidditch," the boy said resolutely.
Neville shrugged. "I see, young Potter. I understand that you don't want to play against your cousins."
"Cousins?" Daniel looked up, as if struck by a lightning.
"Yes," Professor Longbottom nodded. "The Gryffindor team is having the same problems as Slytherin: three of its players graduated and they are in need of a Seeker and two Beaters. Mr Kevin Weasley is likely to get the position of Seeker and the two Ms. Weasleys are going to be Beaters."
"Beaters? Girls?" a Ravenclaw boy yelled. "The Beaters are always boys!"
"Times change, Mr. Nash," Neville replied. "And sometimes even girls can be tough enough to play Beaters. The two Ms. Weasleys are definitely tough enough."
"Then I'm also going for the position of Beater." Gilda declared.
Daniel and Norbert exchanged a grin. Knowing Gilda's straight lefts and rights, woe betide anyone she'd send a Bludger towards!
From the corner of his eye, Daniel saw three red-heads leaning out of a window, clearly interested in the Flying lesson.
"Your cousins?" young Malfoy asked. "They must have longed to see you fall off your broom - they must be very disappointed now."
"And how disappointed they will be!" Daniel's mouth tucked into a diabolic grin - a grin such as Norbert had never seen him wearing - a grin full of vindictiveness. "I'm going for Seeker... and Gryffindor beware!"
A/N: unfortunately I couldn't find a better way to make Daniel play Quidditch, so I had to make him save Gilda. I know it's very much like Harry saving the Remembrall, but I really had no better idea.
The idea of Snowball the kitty comes from the movie Roxanne. Have you seen it?
We all know from Hermione that Muggle devices do not work at Hogwarts, but let's assume that wizards have produced some gadgets since GoF that actually function there. Technique is developing very quickly, isn't it?
Sorry 'bout the long and boring Astronomy class, but I'm very obsessed with Astronomy, and since Rowling so shamelessly neglected telling us anything about these classes, I couldn't resist the temptation to write about one. And trust me, it'll come in handy for Dan that he's so good at Astronomy.
PrincezzShortie, starheart20 and Toby Haine: you got mails and I guess I answered your questions/reviews in those :)
seashell: you think Dan's a bad boy? LOL.
Red Ridding Hood: the word is accompany, not acompanny :) I hope I did well at my exam, but I won't find out till the middle of January. I'm sorry about your friend leaving… About Dan talking back to Harry I can only reply with something I've learned during this semester at the college in the subject called Intercultural Communications: in 'large power distance cultures' (like the Middle- and South-Americans, Asians, and even the central- and eastern Europeans) parents teach children obedience, while in 'small power distance cultures' (e.g. the Anglo-Saxons) parents treat their kids as equals, so kids do talk back more often. So, for you, who come from a large power distance culture, it's strange to see a kid who comes from a small power distance culture taking back to his dad. But it's like that, really.
Eclectus: I'm glad that your finger is doing better :)
Indigo Ziona: glad you like Gilda, my beta liked her very much, too. Norbert rulez? LOL :) No, there won't be any Norbert/Gilda, that would be too much like Ron/Hermione. I'm planning something else. Yeah, I totally understand that you'll never be able to read that part of GoF without laughing anymore. Aberforth and his goat ;) I hope you'll continue your brilliant fic soon. I definitely need more of it!
Sean Mulligan: I feel ashamed, but I have to admit that I haven't read anything of the Slyhterin Rising stories for a long, long time. I read about three chapters of the first one, then… dunno. I didn't have time, I guess, those fics are all so long. About Gilderoy's house: you're right, he's naïve a bit, but just think of him bragging with other people's deeds as though he had done them, and obliviating those wizards/witches… that's cunning and that's like Slytherin.
Sky: more of Angel later :)
K. C. Hunter: I'm sure that you'll grow to like Gilda.
Tenshi: no, Dan doesn't know yet that Cho is Liu's mum. He'll get to know in the next chapter.
Molto Bella: more of Myrtle soon. I love that character very much, so there'll be quite a bit of her in this fic, and she'll be just as annoying as always :)
sabby: don't worry, the cousins won't make up for quite a while. Glad you like my arts at GTnet, new ones are coming in January :)
ruffled owl: Ginny got pregnant with Lily because she used the Anti-Conceptus charm days too late. So, that had nothing to do with being Parseltongue – she became Parseltongue months later. But Dan was conceived AFTER the Green Flame torch event, so Ginny was already a Parseltongue when Dan came along.
Amaranta: Harry is indeed strong, but Cho isn't lying. She does love him. But I still hate her :))) How can I draw and write so well? LOL, quite many people asked me the same, but I have no answer. I guess I inherited both skills from my mum, but I have both of them in a larger amount than she does. Lucky me :) There'll be a bit of Ron in the next chapter, but sorry, he won't be really important in this story. I just couldn't concentrate on all the characters at once and had to neglect some, and poor Ron is one of those neglected. Don't be mad at me, please!
goldenstar555: thanks.
rinoa: Ron and Hermione aren't the type of parents to spank their kids :)
Altec: there's a charm (mentioned in TGSaWCS) called Profero Graviditas, that can reveal pregnancy hours after conception. Ginny must have used that one again. (In chapter 22 of TGSaWCS Hermione used this charm to find out whether she was pregnant, and she used it for Ginny as well in chapter 36, only to find out that Gin had conceived triplets the night before.) I had some classmates in the primary school who were only 11 and had quite big breasts, so Liu could also have them. This fic will only be about Dan's first year, and no, I'm not going to write more about Dan's school-years. This story will not have sequels, but I might write some outtakes from all the three fics when I'm done with uploading this one.
Aimee: yes, there's something about the caretaker… and you'll be surprised when you find out.
SiriDragon: I hope your teeth are all right by now. It sucks to have toothache. I never had braces, but I know that it must be very annoying, because some of my friends had braces and they kept complaining all the time.
TaMaraR: I'm glad I could make you laugh :)
Princess Ginny: congrats, 84 is great!
Nefertiri: another reviewer told me that she knew someone called James, who went by the name Jim and Jimmie, so it could be used as James' nickname.
C-chan: oh, I loved Myrtle in the movie, she was one of the best! I've always liked her character. And yes, she does remind me of Marvin, too :) Sorry, I really have no idea who Haldir is. I read The Two Towers three years ago and barely remember it. The movie hasn't come out here yet, it will in about two weeks, I guess.
Any last requests: glad you like my characters. Actually I feared they'd suck, but according to my beta I handled them really well. You're right, I think that the Forbidden Forest in the movies looked very idiotic. I imagined it totally differently after reading Rowling's descriptions. There should have been more trees and bushes, it simply lacked the undergrowth.
Lainy: do you have some drawings scanned? If yes, I'd like to see some of them :) I agree, Tom Felton is really hot. But IMHO Dan Radcliffe and Sean Biggerstaff are hotter.
Bucky: hi there! I thought you had already forgotten about me. Glad you haven't. No, I haven't forgotten about our mutual hatred of Cho. Just wait it out, you'll be pleased with what will happen. About Dan and Liu… don't worry about that, either.
romina: glad you liked it :)
Inken: are you German? How cool! Could I ask you a huge favour: would you be willing to exchange mails with me? I need some German people to talk to in German, to keep exercising that language. If you'd like to be my email-friend, could you please give me your email-address?
jennaration: you're right, I'd also like to taste the Honeydukes sweets!
Kit Cloudkicker: yes, the next Marauders come from Slytherin :) Certainly I'm NOT telling you who the enemy is right now. You'll find out in chapter 27 *wicked grin*
Alexander Phoenix: The Three Musketeers? And which of Dan, Norbert and Gilda do you think is Athos, Porthos and Aramis? Just wondering…
Houou: feel free to practice on the Gryffindors ;)
Lady Schezar: well… no.
Allie: I'm doing so :)
2Coolio: I'm afraid I'm not always *that* original, that's why I had to use the saving Gilda part, but I think that from now on there won't really be any imitations, because soon there'll be a real plot.
FireBolt9000: Cho's always up to something, isn't she?
apple-pie: action coming in chapter 12. That's not so far away anymore, have a lil bit of patience :)
Zenon Lee: I don't know about you, but I remember my own childhood, and I got to know how children were conceived when I was eight years old (it was quite funny, a four-years-older neighbour boy asked my friend and me whether we knew how it went. We said 'no, we don't', and he said 'do you want to know?'. So, he told us, and then I went home and asked my good old granny whether it *really* went that way. Now I have to laugh at my boldness, because according to mum my grandma was very prudish. That question must have been quite a shock for her, LOL.) Anyway, from that time on I just *had to* think of sex a lot – in fact it was evil old Agi who spread the news to her classmates in the primary school – so to say *I* corrupted them all ;) And I remember that all kids of 10-11 years talked a lot about sex, even only in connection with jokes. But we talked about it a lot, nevertheless. Where exactly do you live? China? Perhaps where you live, children don't discuss this topic at such a young age, but here in Hungary they do. Now even six-year-olds know how children are conceived, it just cannot be kept a secret. I don't even want to imagine Harry dying. Let's just assume that the old fraud Trelawney wasn't right, okay? :)) You'll see more of Cho, certainly, but not *too* much. The Gryffindors won't necessarily get those points back.
Wood's secret lover: there'll be a lil bit of Harry/Cho, but not much, so you don't need to worry. I'm not taking ages to upload a chapter, usually just a week :)
jasper: sorry, you're on the wrong track ;)
Neus: I'm glad you passed one of your exams :) About Snape and the caretaker… you made me laugh. But you were totally right! No, The Two Towers hasn't come to Hungary yet, it will some time in January. Yeah, I'd like to see the 3rd movie, too, but its shooting hasn't even started yet :( It'll only be out in summer of 2004. I never thought that Hispania meant Land of Rabbits – that's sooo hilarious! We also have a nice aquarium in Budapest. It has sharks, too :) I really like futuristic-looking buildings! No, Whitsun has nothing to do with the solstice, it's the seventh Sunday after Easter, when Christians celebrate the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven. You surely have this celebration, too, don't you?
Myr Halcyon: come and join the Jacen-Hater Club! :)) Don't worry about sucking at writing action, I suck at it, too. I'm much more into comedy, I guess. But, besides humour, there'll be a lot of drama in this fic. Much more than in the first two. However, I can promise you a funny finishing line. All my final lines are funny, and I'm not changing this good tradition :)
PepsiAngel: glad you liked the banana-split :) Yes, the red-golden sparks do have a meaning. Yes, Cho's love for Harry will be important later. And yes, there'll be quite a bit of Draco, I like him very much, I wouldn't leave him out of the story!
AmandaPanda: yes, the caretaker will be quite important.
candygurl83: glad you like Gilda more now.
Kamatazi Yumi: glad you like the mention of Kama Sutra *grin*
Bamboo Anime: I didn't really ask anything for Christmas. My big dream was a Slytherin (or Gryffindor) scarf, but you cannot get scarves like that where I live, and no one I know can knit, so I couldn't get that one. But here's what I got: five pairs of socks (according to Albus one can never have enough socks:), some cool fluffy shirts, two pairs of gloves, a Dragon Lance book, some CDs, a hairclip with an owl (that was from my best friend who told me that I had to grow my hair again, because it's been recently cut short, but now I'll just have to grow it in order to be able to wear that owl-clip :) I also got a very elegant grey hat that goes well with my dark-green winter cloak… Slytherin colours ;)
Pudadingding: then I feel special :)
star queen: cruel? I haven't even been really cruel to Harry yet. That is yet to come ;)
HP Blone Crazy Chick: of course I remember you! I remember all of my faithful readers, even if they only wrote reviews for the first fic. Welcome back! *waves happily* I for one wouldn't be disappointed if I got into Slytherin, but I think that Harry's son would be. It must suck for a Potter to be in Slytherin. No, I didn't get tired of reading your review :) Yes, I've seen the HP movie (three times) and loved it! Gilderoy rulez! No, LotR hasn't come out here in Hungary yet.
Mistri: really? I'm happy :)
Waldomier: yes, hopefully everything will be explained by the end. If not, then don't hesitate to ask.
Autumn Dreams: I will :))
Lapis Lazuli: was it nice in Florida? Wow, you have many siblings! It must be fun… I'm an only child and I'm often bored. I'm sure you're never bored with so many brothers and sisters!
King Jasbon: clever. Yes, J.D. But her being the heir won't be that important. However, A. D. being the heir WILL be important for some reason. I'm always happy when the readers pay attention to details! :)
Justin: thank you very much, glad you like my fics! :)
LilGinny: I'm glad your Christmas was nice and your sister is doing fine again :)
heavenly182angel: you might be surprised, but I still answer your review :) I'm glad you finally decided to give feedback. I knew that there were many people (probably hundreds of them) who read my fics and never reviewed… but it made me happy that you did so. Thank you.