Chapter 8- History Repeats Itself

John helped his mother settle in once he showed her their temporary quarters. Throughout the unpacking, his father would not shut up. As hard as he tried John could not block out his father's loud shrieks. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore.

"Can't we let him out of that blasted cage mother?" he cried, slamming a draw he had just packed with clothes shut.

Alania looked up at her son. She had been unpacking the last few utensils she had brought for their small kitchen.

"As long as he promises not to start anything," she answered.

John watched as she locked gazes with the falcon, who grew silent. Both looks were equally fierce. After a few minutes the falcon squawked in acceptance and Alania nodded.

"Alright, let him out," she stated.

John walked to the cage and opened it. The falcon quickly flew to the ground and changed into the form John knew best. Richard Miffugan stretched with an exasperated sigh.

"Alania Miffugan, I never thought you would do such a thing to your husband," he growled, turning to his wife.

"Well I didn't think my husband would ever be such a pain in the ass," she replied sweetly.

Rich stared at her a moment and then burst into laughter. John cleared his throat. His father turned to him uneasily.

"Eh, hello Johnny," Rich said reluctantly.

"Oh talk to your son you big sissy," Alania scolded. Rich smiled at his wife's tone.

"I'm sorry son," he started, "it's just that when you came back I thought you'd come to us because you missed us. Not because Dumbledore asked you to invite us to Hogwarts. I was just angry that's all."

"I'm…sorry dad," John mumbled.

He looked away from his father, knowing this was not what his father had wanted to hear. Well what does he expect! John thought angrily, I should just forgive him and my mother for lying to me my whole life?! but that still wasn't true. It seemed he was getting along better with his mother every time they talked but when his father was in the room John didn't want to speak a word. Maybe it was the fact that his father was the one who experimented on him to find his Zekan form.

"Now that you two are finally speaking to each other, I say it's time for an old fashion family dinner!" exclaimed Alania. John nodded and Rich took a deep breath.

"Well then, what can we do to help you my dear?"

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Harry watched Ron and Hermione walking together slightly in front of him. It seemed like a day out of Hogwarts and away from the troubles of the world had done them some good. Though they had argued with him, Harry had insisted on giving them a little distance so that they could be alone together. It just seemed right.

Harry watched the other 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th year Gryffindors around him. Professor McGonagol was escorting their group around Hogsmeade and despite the events of the previous year, everything was going great. They were not aloud to go off on their own of course but their escort would tell them which stores they could go to and after about an hour they would meet in a designated place. Then go off and visit another few stores. The stores were always close together and it seemed that whenever they entered them everyone else had to leave. The students of Hogwarts were being isolated from the other visitors at Hogsmeade but that was fine with them.

"Hey Harry, want to join us for a butterbeer?" Hermione asked turning around. Harry looked at the three stores McGonagol had said they could enter. It looked as if everyone was going into get a butterbeer, but Harry just wasn't in the mood.

"No thanks," he replied, "I think I'll see if I can pick up a treat for Hedwig."

Ron shrugged.

"Suit yourself," he said, taking Hermione's hand and leading her to follow the crowd.

Harry turned toward the small shop next door and walked in. The shop was small but carried a variety of objects. It was a fairly new store that had just opened last year. Harry remembered visiting this shop last year just before the attack….

His eyes darkened as he remembered. He should have been able to do something. Why hadn't he been able to stop Voldemort? All those first years….

"Can I help you lad?" a voice interrupted his thoughts. Harry shook his head and looked at the small shopkeeper. A small middle aged women with glasses and graying black hair.

"No, thank you. I'm just looking," he answered. The women nodded and wandered away.

Harry looked over the shelves and eventually found the treat he was looking for. It was the special flavored owl food Hedwig loved most. He reached into his pocket to get some money when his hand brushed against something wooden. Harry ignored it and took out a few coins. Of course he knew what the small wooden object was. It was from his encounter in the Cavern of Contemplation. He had the small gold key somewhere in there too.

He quickly paid for the food and then decided to join Hermione and Ron for that butterbeer. He couldn't let the events of last year ruin his trips to Hogsmeade. He opened the door to leave and was greeted with a blast of hot air so strong it threw him backwards and onto the floor.

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Leslie was surprised when Remus offered to take her to Hogsmeade for dinner but she was not about to say no. It would be nice getting away from Hogwarts. They found a nice little restaurant with excellent service and were soon eating. Leslie felt as if everything she had been worrying about just flew away as she talked to Remus.

Their conversation stuck to what they had been up to in the past year and how Anaka was doing. By desert they were talking about meaningless things like the weather and Remus noticed Leslie growing nervous. He had to admit he was also starting to grow a bit uncomfortable. He knew there was something they should at least be discussing but neither of them had been so brave as to mention it. Remus felt like he was a teenager trying to get up the nerve to ask a girl to go steady. But that was silly. He should not feel nervous at all. When Leslie was here last time though I knew she felt the same way about me, Remus thought nervously, what if that changed?

Remus looked over at Leslie who was babbling on about her kitten, Pippin, and how she was wondering how he was doing with her sister. He smiled as she continued. She looked great.

Leslie caught him staring at her and blushed.

"What is it?" she asked. Remus blinked and looked away. Here was his chance.



"Leslie," Remus started, "I think we need to talk…" Leslie stiffened slightly but waited for him to continue. Remus took a deep breath.

"I have feelings for you Leslie, I think it's obvious how much I like you," the words tumbled out of his mouth, "I just think that…well…if you feel the same way…."

"Of course I do," Leslie said quickly. There was a brief silence as they looked at each other.

"I like you a lot Remus," Leslie said softly.

"I'm glad to hear that," he replied with a smile, "then…I just think we should talk about um where our relationship is heading…"

Though Remus was talking seriously, Leslie could not hold back a tender laugh.

"I feel like we are two teenagers trying to tell our crushes how much we like them," she laughed. Remus chuckled.

"I suppose it does seem that way," he replied. Leslie's smile broadened and she gently touched his hand.

"Remus Lupin if you're asking me to go steady my answer is yes," she said happily. Remus squeezed her hand and leaned forward to kiss her. As their lips touched, there was a large explosion, throwing them both to the ground.

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John was surprised by how well dinner was going. Anaka was also enjoying herself. The Miffugans still fascinated her. They were so different from anyone she had ever met. As they were discussing the arrival of the other Zekan families, the door burst open. Hagrid entered breathing hard, as if he had been running.

"Sorry to bust in on yer dinner but we have to go. Hogsmeade is being attacked!"

Rich and Alania were up in an instant. John and Anaka followed.

"Dumbledore wants you two to stay here," Hagrid said, eyeing John and Anaka, "we're going to send back the students as soon as we can. It'd be a big help if you were here to help everyone get to their common rooms," he turned toward the others, "Alania, Rich, if you will come with me."

The couple nodded gravely and quickly followed Hagrid out of the room.

"Not again," Anaka whispered painfully. She thought of all the people she knew that were at Hogsmeade and her stomach churned. John put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Come on," he said quietly.

Together they walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts towards the entrance.

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Remus struggled to sit up. The windows in the front of the restaurant had shattered and nearly everyone had been thrown to the floor. The staff of the restaurant were trying to help the elderly people stand as others ran outside to see what was going on. Remus looked across from him to see Leslie also struggling to sit up. He crawled over to her and together they helped each other stand.

"I thought their might be fireworks but who would have thought we would cause all of Hogsmeade to explode!" he cried over the shrieks of the costumers. Leslie smiled slightly at Remus. What a thing for him to say at a time like this!

Suddenly screams filled the air. They both turned to see what was causing the commotion. The staff that had left the restaurant to see what was going on were falling to the ground. Remus shuddered when he realized they were dead. The rest of the staff quickly closed the doors and started ushering everyone towards the back door.

"I'll give you one guess as to what's going on," Leslie yelled. Remus grinned.

"I think Voldemort's come out to play," he replied.

Leslie nodded and started to walk towards the front of the restaurant. Remus followed. He could tell by the way she was walking and from the way she was looking around that she had instantly changed into her job mode. From here on it would be all business. Remus frowned and took out his wand. Leslie did the same. As they reached the front, the door was thrown open and two Death Eaters entered.

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Harry's head throbbed as he opened his eyes. He was on the floor in that small shop. The front of the store was a wreck. Small fires were burning everywhere. The flames were tinged green telling Harry that was no regular explosion. He looked around for the shopkeeper but she was nowhere in sight. Hoping she had run away Harry slowly stood. On shaky legs he walked towards the front of the shop. He could hear screaming coming from outside. Then there was a blast of spells and the thudding sound of bodies dropping to the ground. Harry's eyes narrowed as he took out his wand. He knew what was happening and he was not about to let last year repeat itself.

He walked out into the small street. He could see the tall robed figures of two professors standing in front of him. The clothed forms of crumbled Death Eaters at their feet. Currently they were battling two others in front of them. Harry walked away from them. He thought he heard someone yell his name but he ignored it. His mind was trained on one thought. Finding Voldemort.

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Ron woke up to find Hermione kneeing next to him. She let a smile creep on her face as he groaned and tried to sit up.

"You scared me there carrot head," Hermione teased as she helped him stand. Ron glanced around him. He could see the Prefects trying to usher the other Hogwart's children out the back. When he looked at the front his heart almost stopped.

"Hermione, where's Harry?" he cried.

"I don't know," she replied following his gaze. Her eyes widened as three robed figures stepped out of the smoke towards them.

Hermione gasped as the Death Eaters came at them with raised wands. Suddenly two pairs of hands grabbed them and pushed them towards the back.

"Get the young ones out of here!" one of the 8th year Gryffindors screamed. The other stared at the Death Eaters.

"Come on, we can distract them from up there," the other urged, " we have to go now so the others can get out!" The other 8th year nodded.

"While us 8th years distract them you help the others get out!" he cried and then they were gone. Hermione hurried towards the back. Ron lingered where he was, staring at the front. He thought he saw someone walk by the entrance. The figure looked about Harry's size.

"Harry!" Ron screamed, "Harry in here!"

But the figure did not even hesitate. Soon it was gone. An uneasy feeling ran through him as he turned towards the back. His only relief was when he saw Ginny leave through the back. Then he joined Hermione with helping the 5th years, 6th years, and other 7th years exit the building. The adults must have already left for they were nowhere in sight. Ron concentrated on getting everyone out the back so he did not have to think about the thudding sounds behind him or who was dying so they could escape.