"Bittersweet"
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or places in this story. It is a result of wondering on the fifth Harry Potter book, and my version of how it will unfold. I do not claim the right to any of these characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: Sorry that this took a while to get out. Something about a movie premiere that distracted me, I believe. This chapter is a bit more serious than the title makes it out to be.
Chapter 18: The Amazing Bouncing Ferret Returns
"Carpe Diem, quam minimum credula postero."
-Horace
Harry and Ron walked silently throughout the halls of Hogwarts. People whispered and pointed at Harry, but he barely noticed. However, he did notice when Ron made a strangled noise in his throat and stopped walking. Harry automatically pulled out his wand.
Hermione was standing at the foot of the staircase, completely surrounded by Slytherin boys. Draco stood, directing them, smirking, and talking. Harry strained his ears, and managed to hear some of what Malfoy was saying:
"Bad blooded......useful death......watch your back.....Potter...Weaselette....."
Harry saw red. He walked angrily towards the group, Ron right next to him. They paused at the end of the group. Harry communicated with Hermione not to move, to act like they weren't there. He exchanged a look with Ron, and they pointed there wands at Malfoy in silent unison. Crabbe and Goyle looked at them, both too stupid to react quickly. Harry and Ron murmured a spell, and Malfoy was replaced by a pure white...ferret. "Hermione, move!" yelled Harry, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. Hermione scampered towards Gryffindor Tower. Ron nodded at Harry, who was calmly bouncing Mr. Ferret, er, Draco, before running after Hermione. Harry calmly stopped the spell. Draco stood up, clothes rumpled, looking sheepish, muttering something that sounded like, "My father...."
"Yes, Draco, it seems your father and I need to have a little chat." said Harry coldly, not sounding at all like himself. Harry turned and walked towards Gryffindor.
~*~
Sirius tilted his chair back, deep in thought. He was thinking about Harry again. Of course, he'd had every right reason to worry about Harry. His first meeting with a Harry older than one was still very clear. It had been the night of the Knight Bus, at Privet Drive.
Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, didn't look normal. He didn't look like a stuck up hero. Harry looked like the boy who wished things were different. Shoulders hunched over, dragging a trunk, Harry had knelt down next to his baggage, and rummaged through it, before pulling his hands out, and leaning back on his haunches. He ran a head through a scraggly head of hair just like James's, and sighed. Sirius strained his dog ears, and managed to hear Harry's whispered interlude. "Mum, Dad, why did you leave me?"
~*~
Harry found himself walking to Dumbledore's office. He wasn't sure why- than suddenly he realized. He really needed some things explained.
"Er, lemon drops? Sherbet lemon? Licorice wand? Butterbeer? C'mon, open, you stupid thing...."
The troll jumped and moved at the last words. Harry started. Dumbledore really, really scared him sometimes. Stepping on the rotating staircase, Harry slowly rode his way up the stairs. Somehow knowing that Dumbledore would be alone, Harry knocked. Hearing the comforting "come in", Harry pushed the door open. A smile tugged at his mouth when he viewed the familiar office. Fawkes flew too his arm.
"I assume you wish me to tell you about your parents?" Dumbledore inquired. Harry nodded. "Sit down, please." Harry muttered his thanks, and sat down opposite his mentor.
Dumbledore viewed the young man through tired eyes that held an endless amount of intelligence. Sighing heavily, he began to speak.
"I'll start with your mother. She's the hardest to describe, because there never was a woman quite like your mother. She was beautiful, intelligent, impatient but sensible, and held a wild streak that James favored above all else." Dumbledore paused, smiling at the memory. "Your father was lucky to get your mother. She had many admirers. But, it was obviously that they had a connection from the beginning. Lily had a bit of a crush on James, who was a year her senior, but none the less welcomed her and Arabella. They had a relationship not much unlike yours and Miss Weasley's, except for the fact that they were close friends from the very start. I believe you would like to know about her heritage?"
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak. That had been a lot of information to take in in thirty seconds.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Alas, this is very difficult. I will start out with the obvious fact. Your mother was not really a muggle born. Her parents were murdered by Lord Voldemort, as I'm sure you know. Lily was taken in by another magical family, who already had a Squib daughter- your Aunt Petunia. That is why Petunia thought of Lily as a freak- because she was insanely jealous."
Harry couldn't suppress the smallest of smiles at that last comment, though he felt far from laughter.
"As you know, your true grandparents were murdered by Lord Voldemort, because they chose the light. Do you know why they were specifically targeted?"
Harry shook his head, though he thought he knew the answer.
"Your grandfather was Lord Voldemort's son. Lily was the Heir of Slytherin, as well as Voldemort. That has been passed on to you, as you know. But, there is one more complication." He paused.
"Your father was the Heir of Gryffindor."
~*~
A/N: Thank you for such patience! I know, this cliffie is not up to my usual standards, but I don't feel well.
~CAMEO OFFER!~
As the Christmas Dance (which will not be called the Yule Ball) is coming up in Bittersweet, I have a cameo offer. Instead of hurting my mind by thinking up new names, you are to be the dates! You can be the date of anyone but our Marauders. State the name you wish to be put under, the house you would be in, and the person you are to date. You may not get into the desired house or with the desired date. The next chapter is the dance, though! Review with your response NOW!
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or places in this story. It is a result of wondering on the fifth Harry Potter book, and my version of how it will unfold. I do not claim the right to any of these characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: Sorry that this took a while to get out. Something about a movie premiere that distracted me, I believe. This chapter is a bit more serious than the title makes it out to be.
Chapter 18: The Amazing Bouncing Ferret Returns
"Carpe Diem, quam minimum credula postero."
-Horace
Harry and Ron walked silently throughout the halls of Hogwarts. People whispered and pointed at Harry, but he barely noticed. However, he did notice when Ron made a strangled noise in his throat and stopped walking. Harry automatically pulled out his wand.
Hermione was standing at the foot of the staircase, completely surrounded by Slytherin boys. Draco stood, directing them, smirking, and talking. Harry strained his ears, and managed to hear some of what Malfoy was saying:
"Bad blooded......useful death......watch your back.....Potter...Weaselette....."
Harry saw red. He walked angrily towards the group, Ron right next to him. They paused at the end of the group. Harry communicated with Hermione not to move, to act like they weren't there. He exchanged a look with Ron, and they pointed there wands at Malfoy in silent unison. Crabbe and Goyle looked at them, both too stupid to react quickly. Harry and Ron murmured a spell, and Malfoy was replaced by a pure white...ferret. "Hermione, move!" yelled Harry, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. Hermione scampered towards Gryffindor Tower. Ron nodded at Harry, who was calmly bouncing Mr. Ferret, er, Draco, before running after Hermione. Harry calmly stopped the spell. Draco stood up, clothes rumpled, looking sheepish, muttering something that sounded like, "My father...."
"Yes, Draco, it seems your father and I need to have a little chat." said Harry coldly, not sounding at all like himself. Harry turned and walked towards Gryffindor.
~*~
Sirius tilted his chair back, deep in thought. He was thinking about Harry again. Of course, he'd had every right reason to worry about Harry. His first meeting with a Harry older than one was still very clear. It had been the night of the Knight Bus, at Privet Drive.
Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, didn't look normal. He didn't look like a stuck up hero. Harry looked like the boy who wished things were different. Shoulders hunched over, dragging a trunk, Harry had knelt down next to his baggage, and rummaged through it, before pulling his hands out, and leaning back on his haunches. He ran a head through a scraggly head of hair just like James's, and sighed. Sirius strained his dog ears, and managed to hear Harry's whispered interlude. "Mum, Dad, why did you leave me?"
~*~
Harry found himself walking to Dumbledore's office. He wasn't sure why- than suddenly he realized. He really needed some things explained.
"Er, lemon drops? Sherbet lemon? Licorice wand? Butterbeer? C'mon, open, you stupid thing...."
The troll jumped and moved at the last words. Harry started. Dumbledore really, really scared him sometimes. Stepping on the rotating staircase, Harry slowly rode his way up the stairs. Somehow knowing that Dumbledore would be alone, Harry knocked. Hearing the comforting "come in", Harry pushed the door open. A smile tugged at his mouth when he viewed the familiar office. Fawkes flew too his arm.
"I assume you wish me to tell you about your parents?" Dumbledore inquired. Harry nodded. "Sit down, please." Harry muttered his thanks, and sat down opposite his mentor.
Dumbledore viewed the young man through tired eyes that held an endless amount of intelligence. Sighing heavily, he began to speak.
"I'll start with your mother. She's the hardest to describe, because there never was a woman quite like your mother. She was beautiful, intelligent, impatient but sensible, and held a wild streak that James favored above all else." Dumbledore paused, smiling at the memory. "Your father was lucky to get your mother. She had many admirers. But, it was obviously that they had a connection from the beginning. Lily had a bit of a crush on James, who was a year her senior, but none the less welcomed her and Arabella. They had a relationship not much unlike yours and Miss Weasley's, except for the fact that they were close friends from the very start. I believe you would like to know about her heritage?"
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak. That had been a lot of information to take in in thirty seconds.
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Alas, this is very difficult. I will start out with the obvious fact. Your mother was not really a muggle born. Her parents were murdered by Lord Voldemort, as I'm sure you know. Lily was taken in by another magical family, who already had a Squib daughter- your Aunt Petunia. That is why Petunia thought of Lily as a freak- because she was insanely jealous."
Harry couldn't suppress the smallest of smiles at that last comment, though he felt far from laughter.
"As you know, your true grandparents were murdered by Lord Voldemort, because they chose the light. Do you know why they were specifically targeted?"
Harry shook his head, though he thought he knew the answer.
"Your grandfather was Lord Voldemort's son. Lily was the Heir of Slytherin, as well as Voldemort. That has been passed on to you, as you know. But, there is one more complication." He paused.
"Your father was the Heir of Gryffindor."
~*~
A/N: Thank you for such patience! I know, this cliffie is not up to my usual standards, but I don't feel well.
~CAMEO OFFER!~
As the Christmas Dance (which will not be called the Yule Ball) is coming up in Bittersweet, I have a cameo offer. Instead of hurting my mind by thinking up new names, you are to be the dates! You can be the date of anyone but our Marauders. State the name you wish to be put under, the house you would be in, and the person you are to date. You may not get into the desired house or with the desired date. The next chapter is the dance, though! Review with your response NOW!