This chapter is especially for Adam, with all of my love.
Author's Note:
Just a Quote to Get You All Started: "Patience is a virtue," Harry suddenly said, not looking up from his game. "You will find it impossible to live your entire lives where everything you want is instantly brought to you. At some point or another, you will have to sit... and wait."
Ruskbyte's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
I couldn't possibly mean this chapter, could I? I mean, I only had to re- write it eleven times.. By the way, that fic comes with my highest recommendation. If you call yourself an H/G shipper, it's a must read. It's found at Gryffindor Tower.
Also, I apologize for the length. This is more of a transition chapter.
Tested In Fire, Chapter 6: Back to Hogwarts
In the future, when Ginny Weasley reflected on the train ride to Hogwarts just before her fifth year, she would never quite know just how she got through it.
Having survived Harry's absence for a week and a half before the start of term so he could visit his godfather and Remus, Ginny felt that she'd done a remarkable job so far this summer, and was just reminding herself not to make a complete idiot of herself when Harry, Hermione, and Ron entered her car.
"Oy, Ginny! Can we sit with you? The rest of the cars are full," Ron said, his hand tucked firmly into Hermione's.
"Of course," she said, sure that the dizziness she was feeling was due to the close proximity to Harry Potter.
"Are you feeling okay, Ginny?" Hermione asked, concerned. "You look awfully pale."
"I'll be all right once we get to Hogwarts, I'm sure." As she said this, she fought hard not to gag.
Harry looked as though he didn't believe her, and kept stealing looks in her direction to make sure she was okay. In fact, Ginny wasn't certain. she believed herself. Ron and Hermione, who had taken the seat opposite her, kept fading in and out of focus. It felt like the world was spinning just underneath her feet, and her head was pounding.
While the other three in the car discussed teachers, classes, summer holidays, Quidditch and acquaintances, Ginny fought to keep herself conscious and coherent. She heard something about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; apparently it was someone they all three knew quite well, and were looking forward to. Unable to force herself to think, she couldn't tell who it was.
It wasn't until the conversation turned to her that she tried to focus on them.
"You know, Gin, you don't look well," Ron observed.
"Ron!" Hermione protested.
"Well, she doesn't," Ron fired back.
"You're not supposed to tell her that!"
Ginny found herself unable to respond to any of it, as though someone were holding her tongue and filling her mouth with something liquid and decidedly unpleasant. Perhaps it was best, she decided, to keep her mouth shut.
While Hermione and Ron argued, Ginny closed her eyes. After a bit, she heard a voice coaxing her.
"Come on, Gin. Wake up. We're at Hogwarts."
It was Harry's voice she'd heard in her mind, she was sure of it. Just as sure as she was that she had passed out. Fighting hard to wake up, she found that the more she pushed her conscious to awake, the more it resisted.
"Something's not right. Quick, let's get her to the Hospital Wing."
"Are you sure? Ginny's never been sick a day in her life," she heard Ron saying.
"Of course he's sure. Look at her," Hermione's voice responded, and after that, cotton filled her ears like the blackness covering her eyes, and she could hear no more.
** The Great Hall was filled to the brim with Hogwarts students, but Harry couldn't think about any of them. His mind kept running in circles.
All of a sudden he felt anger like he'd only felt on rare occasions. Ginny Weasley was in the Hospital Wing, and no one could tell Ron or Harry what was going on. Apparently Madame Pomfrey had only seen this type of case once in her career, and felt unprepared to deal with it, so they had sent for an expert. Worst of all, there was no one here to reassure him, no one here to fix him hard rock cakes and tea.and Harry realized, very suddenly, that that was the reason he was having a hard time dealing with the current dilemma.
The pain of losing Hagrid was more than the pain of a constant stomach ache, as he had heard someone describe grief before. It was as if someone was continually stabbing him in the heart with a knife, pulling the metal weapon in and out slowly so that the shock came in waves.
Oftentimes he caught himself thinking that Hagrid was still around, wanting to go his hut, wanting to inquire about something, just wanting to talk to the friendly half-giant who had become so much more than Harry's friend over the years.
It was Hagrid who had given him his first birthday present, Hagrid who had helped him, however inadvertently, find where the Sorcerer's Stone was being kept, Hagrid who had reassured Hermione that she was one of the most brilliant witches in the world when she was doubtful, Hagrid who had almost killed them, yet helped them solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets by leading them to the spiders, Hagrid who had. well, the list just went on and on.
Harry felt a sudden urge to punch someone. something. There was no way he could get to the real murderer. He had to wait for Voldemort to make his move first, and there was something irritating in that the Dark Lord seemingly had all the power. Dumbledore, who rose out of his seat and tapped his goblet with his spoon, saved him from his violent urge.
"If I could have your attention, we're ready to begin the Sorting now."
As Professor McGonagall read the names out loud after the Sorting Hat's song, Harry watched the faces of the first-years that had their destiny decided for them in that moment. Some of them looked scared. Others looked hopeful, while yet another group looked confident. So many expressions, so many feelings. yet he felt like he was on the outside looking in.
He clapped enthusiastically for the new Gryffindors the same as everyone else, but the feeling of looking through a snow globe didn't leave him for quite a long time. The feast began, and while he ate, he just couldn't put down the amount of food that Ron did, which worried Hermione.
"Are you feeling okay, Harry? Maybe you've caught whatever it is that Ginny has. You know, I was reading in Common Magical Ailments and Cures the other day that."
Ron swallowed a particularly large piece of roast and rolled his eyes. "I don't think he's sick, are you, Harry?"
"No, I'm fine."
Suddenly Hermione's eyes lit with understanding. She probably felt guilty for being insensitive about it, but Harry graced her with one of his now rare smiles, and she relaxed.
"If you could lend me your ears once again," Dumbledore said, and the Great Hall quieted once again. "There have been some changes on the Hogwarts staff."
Just then the door burst open, and two cloaked figures dashed into the Hall. Harry turned around quickly and saw that it was Remus and Sirius. He had known, of course, that Sirius was to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, but he didn't know what Remus was at the school for.
"Ah, Professors. So glad you could join us." Sirius raised his head, and Harry could see that he was slightly charred and out of breath.
"Sorry, Headmaster. We had a bit of a delay," Remus said, glaring slightly at Sirius. Harry bent his head to hide his laugh. Remus caught him, however, and frowned just slightly at him before his face broke into a grin.
"Take your seats, Professors. As I was saying, there have been some changes on the Hogwarts staff this year. Professor Sirius Black was kindly consented to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year, and Professor Remus Lupin will be filling the position of Groundskeeper and will also be teaching Care of Magical Creatures this year, in the place of Rubeus Hagrid, whom we lost earlier this year to a Death Eater attack." After a moment of silence in Hagrid's memory, the older years in Gryffindor burst into very loud applause, and everyone else into polite clapping. Except for the Slytherins, particularly Draco Malfoy, who was making loud comments about how needing ex-convicts to teach at Hogwarts was showing the obvious decline of the quality of the school.
"Another change, although somewhat unexpected, will take place in the Divination tower. Professor Trelawney is taking an extended vacation, to recover from a vision that was taxing to her health. Professor Anna Black will be taking her place indefinitely, most likely for all of this year."
Unenthusiastic applause smattered around the Hall, as the students tried to look for Professor Anna Black. "I have just received word. Professor Black is attending a student. Before I dismiss you, I wanted to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is exactly that. Forbidden. I would not recommend any unescorted student trips to Hogsmeade or anywhere else this year, with or without an Invisibility Cloak." He was looking directly into Harry's eyes as he said this. "Security will, unfortunately, have to be tight this year. We must ask that you obey all school rules, no matter how ridiculous they sound. Our caretaker has asked me to remind that wandering around the school hallways will not be tolerated this year. Also, the list of banned items has been considerably upgraded this year. A copy of that list can be found in Mr. Filch's office. Good night, everyone. Prefects, you may escort the first years to their dormitories."
**
Author's Note:
Just a Quote to Get You All Started: "Patience is a virtue," Harry suddenly said, not looking up from his game. "You will find it impossible to live your entire lives where everything you want is instantly brought to you. At some point or another, you will have to sit... and wait."
Ruskbyte's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
I couldn't possibly mean this chapter, could I? I mean, I only had to re- write it eleven times.. By the way, that fic comes with my highest recommendation. If you call yourself an H/G shipper, it's a must read. It's found at Gryffindor Tower.
Also, I apologize for the length. This is more of a transition chapter.
Tested In Fire, Chapter 6: Back to Hogwarts
In the future, when Ginny Weasley reflected on the train ride to Hogwarts just before her fifth year, she would never quite know just how she got through it.
Having survived Harry's absence for a week and a half before the start of term so he could visit his godfather and Remus, Ginny felt that she'd done a remarkable job so far this summer, and was just reminding herself not to make a complete idiot of herself when Harry, Hermione, and Ron entered her car.
"Oy, Ginny! Can we sit with you? The rest of the cars are full," Ron said, his hand tucked firmly into Hermione's.
"Of course," she said, sure that the dizziness she was feeling was due to the close proximity to Harry Potter.
"Are you feeling okay, Ginny?" Hermione asked, concerned. "You look awfully pale."
"I'll be all right once we get to Hogwarts, I'm sure." As she said this, she fought hard not to gag.
Harry looked as though he didn't believe her, and kept stealing looks in her direction to make sure she was okay. In fact, Ginny wasn't certain. she believed herself. Ron and Hermione, who had taken the seat opposite her, kept fading in and out of focus. It felt like the world was spinning just underneath her feet, and her head was pounding.
While the other three in the car discussed teachers, classes, summer holidays, Quidditch and acquaintances, Ginny fought to keep herself conscious and coherent. She heard something about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; apparently it was someone they all three knew quite well, and were looking forward to. Unable to force herself to think, she couldn't tell who it was.
It wasn't until the conversation turned to her that she tried to focus on them.
"You know, Gin, you don't look well," Ron observed.
"Ron!" Hermione protested.
"Well, she doesn't," Ron fired back.
"You're not supposed to tell her that!"
Ginny found herself unable to respond to any of it, as though someone were holding her tongue and filling her mouth with something liquid and decidedly unpleasant. Perhaps it was best, she decided, to keep her mouth shut.
While Hermione and Ron argued, Ginny closed her eyes. After a bit, she heard a voice coaxing her.
"Come on, Gin. Wake up. We're at Hogwarts."
It was Harry's voice she'd heard in her mind, she was sure of it. Just as sure as she was that she had passed out. Fighting hard to wake up, she found that the more she pushed her conscious to awake, the more it resisted.
"Something's not right. Quick, let's get her to the Hospital Wing."
"Are you sure? Ginny's never been sick a day in her life," she heard Ron saying.
"Of course he's sure. Look at her," Hermione's voice responded, and after that, cotton filled her ears like the blackness covering her eyes, and she could hear no more.
** The Great Hall was filled to the brim with Hogwarts students, but Harry couldn't think about any of them. His mind kept running in circles.
All of a sudden he felt anger like he'd only felt on rare occasions. Ginny Weasley was in the Hospital Wing, and no one could tell Ron or Harry what was going on. Apparently Madame Pomfrey had only seen this type of case once in her career, and felt unprepared to deal with it, so they had sent for an expert. Worst of all, there was no one here to reassure him, no one here to fix him hard rock cakes and tea.and Harry realized, very suddenly, that that was the reason he was having a hard time dealing with the current dilemma.
The pain of losing Hagrid was more than the pain of a constant stomach ache, as he had heard someone describe grief before. It was as if someone was continually stabbing him in the heart with a knife, pulling the metal weapon in and out slowly so that the shock came in waves.
Oftentimes he caught himself thinking that Hagrid was still around, wanting to go his hut, wanting to inquire about something, just wanting to talk to the friendly half-giant who had become so much more than Harry's friend over the years.
It was Hagrid who had given him his first birthday present, Hagrid who had helped him, however inadvertently, find where the Sorcerer's Stone was being kept, Hagrid who had reassured Hermione that she was one of the most brilliant witches in the world when she was doubtful, Hagrid who had almost killed them, yet helped them solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets by leading them to the spiders, Hagrid who had. well, the list just went on and on.
Harry felt a sudden urge to punch someone. something. There was no way he could get to the real murderer. He had to wait for Voldemort to make his move first, and there was something irritating in that the Dark Lord seemingly had all the power. Dumbledore, who rose out of his seat and tapped his goblet with his spoon, saved him from his violent urge.
"If I could have your attention, we're ready to begin the Sorting now."
As Professor McGonagall read the names out loud after the Sorting Hat's song, Harry watched the faces of the first-years that had their destiny decided for them in that moment. Some of them looked scared. Others looked hopeful, while yet another group looked confident. So many expressions, so many feelings. yet he felt like he was on the outside looking in.
He clapped enthusiastically for the new Gryffindors the same as everyone else, but the feeling of looking through a snow globe didn't leave him for quite a long time. The feast began, and while he ate, he just couldn't put down the amount of food that Ron did, which worried Hermione.
"Are you feeling okay, Harry? Maybe you've caught whatever it is that Ginny has. You know, I was reading in Common Magical Ailments and Cures the other day that."
Ron swallowed a particularly large piece of roast and rolled his eyes. "I don't think he's sick, are you, Harry?"
"No, I'm fine."
Suddenly Hermione's eyes lit with understanding. She probably felt guilty for being insensitive about it, but Harry graced her with one of his now rare smiles, and she relaxed.
"If you could lend me your ears once again," Dumbledore said, and the Great Hall quieted once again. "There have been some changes on the Hogwarts staff."
Just then the door burst open, and two cloaked figures dashed into the Hall. Harry turned around quickly and saw that it was Remus and Sirius. He had known, of course, that Sirius was to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, but he didn't know what Remus was at the school for.
"Ah, Professors. So glad you could join us." Sirius raised his head, and Harry could see that he was slightly charred and out of breath.
"Sorry, Headmaster. We had a bit of a delay," Remus said, glaring slightly at Sirius. Harry bent his head to hide his laugh. Remus caught him, however, and frowned just slightly at him before his face broke into a grin.
"Take your seats, Professors. As I was saying, there have been some changes on the Hogwarts staff this year. Professor Sirius Black was kindly consented to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year, and Professor Remus Lupin will be filling the position of Groundskeeper and will also be teaching Care of Magical Creatures this year, in the place of Rubeus Hagrid, whom we lost earlier this year to a Death Eater attack." After a moment of silence in Hagrid's memory, the older years in Gryffindor burst into very loud applause, and everyone else into polite clapping. Except for the Slytherins, particularly Draco Malfoy, who was making loud comments about how needing ex-convicts to teach at Hogwarts was showing the obvious decline of the quality of the school.
"Another change, although somewhat unexpected, will take place in the Divination tower. Professor Trelawney is taking an extended vacation, to recover from a vision that was taxing to her health. Professor Anna Black will be taking her place indefinitely, most likely for all of this year."
Unenthusiastic applause smattered around the Hall, as the students tried to look for Professor Anna Black. "I have just received word. Professor Black is attending a student. Before I dismiss you, I wanted to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is exactly that. Forbidden. I would not recommend any unescorted student trips to Hogsmeade or anywhere else this year, with or without an Invisibility Cloak." He was looking directly into Harry's eyes as he said this. "Security will, unfortunately, have to be tight this year. We must ask that you obey all school rules, no matter how ridiculous they sound. Our caretaker has asked me to remind that wandering around the school hallways will not be tolerated this year. Also, the list of banned items has been considerably upgraded this year. A copy of that list can be found in Mr. Filch's office. Good night, everyone. Prefects, you may escort the first years to their dormitories."
**
