A/N There will be a number of chapters before the trial because you have
all of summer and then the train and the feast. So please just enjoy what
there is until then!! LALALALA! Also, sorry this took so long but I've been
cleaning my room since Monday the 14 and I've just finished.
Chapter 25*~~ The Hunt*~~
Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were seated together as a group of four for the hunt. Many other teams surrounded them as well. Harry noted that Neville had managed to become part of Luna Lovegood's group. He grinned devilishly at his friend who went red as Harry looked pointedly at Luna.
"Quite teasing Neville," Ginny scolded lightly. Harry smiled sweetly.
"I didn't do anything," he said in defense.
"Yeah, right," muttered Hermione. "You're a guy, of course you did something!"
"Ooooh, Miss High-and-Mighty," Ron teased. Hermione glared at him. As if in retaliation Ron leaned over and kissed her. Hermione pushed him away.
"Shut up kisses do NOT work on me," she said stoutly.
"Really?" Ron asked as he leaned over again. Someone hit the back of his head sharply and he pulled away, rubbing it. "What the bloody hell was that for?" he asked crossl , turning around. His mouth dropped. "Professor McGonagall?!"
"What're you doing here?" asked Hermione, stunned.
"Stopping a snogging session," she said lightly. An amused smirk was playing on her lips. Hermione went bright red as Ron glared at their head of house.
"That hurt!" At Ron's words Harry and Ginny began cracking up. "Like the two of you are to talk?! Sirius told us about when he walked in on you before we went to Diagon Alley!" Harry and Ginny went scarlet as McGonagall raised her eyebrows.
"Mmm, well, seems I have two more snoggers to watch this year," she said. This caused their blush to deepen. "But in my personal opinion I'd have thought Ginny and Harry would get together before you two. They were always more open."
"Seriously though, what're you doing here?" asked Ginny.
"I have come on request of May. For what reason I am not completely sure," she replied.
"To help with our scavenger hunt!" exclaimed May excitedly. Everyone's attention turned to the four "adults." "Now that you have your teams you will each get a clue. There are the same number of treasures as there are teams. Every team's clues and places are different so working with another group is not help to you or them."
"Each clue will lead you to a place where there will be another clue─ until you get to your group's treasure," Remus said.
"The first team to come back here with their treasure wins. Just keep in mind that the clues can be anywhere in Europe. Magical transportation needs can be gotten from our dear Professor McGonagall," Sirius said. "Ginny?"
"If I find that any of the treasures have been taken from my room or any of mine or Mione's possessions you will have a few problems with walking to your trial. Mainly the whole walking thing," Ginny threatened.
"I would like to say May and I had nothing to do with selecting the treasure. Now, BEGIN!" Ara yelled. Scrolls appeared in front of each group.
"You read it Harry," Ron said, shoving at his best friend. Harry pulled it open and read in a clear voice;
"Through ages and ages past
These statues of failed hope remain
As mystery to muggles
And to wizards naught but pain.
Follow your history teachings
To a hedge made cool and grey
Here in our home land
For you find your clue no other way."
"What on earth does that mean?" asked Ginny.
"It's only a simple matter of deduction," Hermione said calmly. "Let's go by the lake." They all trooped away form the other babbling groups and sat on the rocks. "Read it again."
"Through ages and ages past
These statues of failed hope remain
As mystery to muggles
And to wizards naught but pain.
Follow your history teachings
To a hedge made cool and grey
Here in our home land
For you find your clue no other way."
"Cool and grey," Hermione muttered.
"That line about our home land, well our homeland is England, so it must be here in England," Ginny said.
"That line about hedge," Ron said. "I don't think that's a double meaning."
"Cool and grey," Hermione repeated. Harry was staring at the rosk. He started drumming his fingers. "ROCKS!"
"Hermione's right," Harry said.
"Duh," said Rona and Ginny. Harry rolled his eyes but continued.
"But rocks are stone, Stone Hedge! That's where our clue is!" he exclaimed.
"That seems to obvious," Ron said. "Think about it. What about that pain thing." Hermione tutted.
"Sometimes I wonder about you," she said, shaking her head. "I read this book called Muggle Mysteries, Wizards Word. Well, muggles have no idea what stone hedge is. None at all. But it is actually a so called monument for the wizards and witches and even a few muggles who were killed in an attack by the evil witch Sindra six thousand years ago. She was the first powerful dark witch. The largest attack was there on that hill. One million perished in the attack. Many of them were children. Most people gave up hope of her distruction after that."
"So Stone Hedge is a mystery to muggles and a symbol of the hope we lost in the attack," Harry said slowly.
"Very good!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Off to the transportation!" Ron said. They ran up the hill to find only one other group had left─ Cho's. They walked over to Professor McGonagall. "We need our transportation to Stone Hedge." She handed them a locket and a stapler.
"The stapler will take you there when you say locket and the locket will take you back here when you say stapler," McGonagall explained. They nodded and all touched the stapler.
"LOCKET!" they said together. Suddenly they vanished and reappeared at Stone Hedge. They began searching for the clue.
"Here it is!" called Ron from the top of one of the door frame shaped rocks. He pulled a scroll out from a small crack and swung down. "Read it, Harry."
"I'm gonna make you start paying me if you don't watch it," Harry warned. Two hours later they were in Hogsmeade looking for their last clue.
"Must they make us come here?" asked Ginny irritably.
"Apparently so," Harry said. She glared at him before giggling endlessly. "I really think it may be safer not to ask." Finally she stopped laughing.
"Sorry, but, uh, Snape is in that alleyway," she whispered. They all turned to look and were greeted by Severus Snape snogging with Melanie Sinistra.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Ron whispered. They say Snape begin to turn. Ginny bit her lip but then pulled Harry against a wall and started kissing him. "Ew, Gin! Harry would you kindly ge-"
"Potter," sneered Snape. He and Sinistra were out of the alley now and looking and Ginny and Harry. Sinistra was grinning happily and Snape looked sick.
"Hullo, Professor Snape," Harry said, pulling away from Ginny. "We were just- OW! Virginia Weasley! That bloody well hurt!" Ginny smiled innocently and removed her foot form his.
"Sorry?" she offered.
"Yeah, rat's ass you were," muttered Harry.
"Harry and Ginny were just grossing Ron out," Hermione said in her calm way. "You know, like you did to us just moments ago. It's quite scary to see two teacher snogging mercilessly in an alleyway." Ron, Harry, and Snape gaped at Hermione while Ginny and Sinistra broke into fits of giggles.
"Mel, it is NOT funny," Snape said to his girlfriend. (that just feels wrong typing)
"Yes it is," Siniatra said. "We got caught and you are a tomato. Come on Sev, it was bound to happen if we commonly snog in public places."
"Not necessarily," Snape said desperately.
"She's right, it was," Harry said nodding.
"Mmhm, you should've found a more private place," Ron added.
"A dark alleyway isn't commonly a big place for kids," sneered Snape.
"Unless they're having a scavenger hunt that Sirius, Remus, Ara, and May put together. Then, unfortunately, it IS quite common," Hermione said.
"Yes, and I do believe that there is a scroll right there by the corner," Ginny announced. She scooped down and grabbed it. "Here we are. Read it Harry."
"I swear that I will not have my voice tomorrow and it will all be your fault," Harry said glaring at his best friends and his girlfriend.
"Yes, yes, we don't truly care," Hermione said, waving it away.
"Read it, mate!" Ron ordered.
"Snog Hermione," Harry countered. Ron grinned devilishly and leaned over to kiss Hermione. She started laughing as soon as Ron pulled away.
"And you said we grossed you out," Snape said, raising his eyebrows.
"Hey," Ron began. "We are a publicly declared couple. Last time I checked no one at Hogwarts, except Dumbledore probably, knew the two of you go around snogging."
"Mmm, well Flitwick knows," Sinistra said easily. "And when school starts I guess everyone else will know as well."
"Don't remind me," grumbled Snape.
"Come on Sev, be proactive, rope up!" Sinistra's voice was oddly chirpy as she said that.
"You scare me sometimes," Snape said solemnly.
"Thank you and good night," Sinistra replied. "Bye, all!"
"Bye!" chorused the four students.
"Now that that is over and I'm scarred for life," Ron muttered. "Let's hear that last riddle."
~*~*~*~
"So we know it is not Sirius's house because it doesn't have anything to indicate black," Ron said.
"And nothing to do with werewolves so that rules out Marauder Manor, Shrieking Shack, and Calm House," Hermione said.
"There's nothing related to Privet Drive or me living near or anything so that rules out Ara," Harry stated tiredly.
"We've never been to May's but it says a place we know well," Ginny finished. She bit her lip and thought about it again. "'A place you well know, A home to us all, A haven for a person with nowhere to go, A palace that will always call.'"
"We've read it a hundred times," Ron groaned. Harry was continually smacking his head on the table in the Three Broomsticks. Hermione rubbed her temples.
"OH MY GOD!" shrieked Ginny. The whole pub looked at her. She didn't seem to notice or care. "I figured it out! It was SO obvious! DUH! Hogwarts!!!! We obviously knew it well and it is a home to all of us. Dumbledore will take in people who have no other place to be and we'll always feel best there as if it's caling us! We are so stupid! Come on we don't even need other transportation!" Ginny pulled them up ad out down to Hogwarts.
"It's a long walk, Gin," groaned Ron.
"Exactly," Hermione said, pointing to the front gates. They were closed but four brooms hovered behind them. "I'm not sure how we get in."
"Who are you?" asked the gat.e They jumped.
"Oh, um, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron and Ginny Weasley," Hermione stuttered.
"Reason for coming and your house or position."
"To finish out scavenger hunt and we're all in Gryffindor as students," Harry said.
"Welcome," the gate said and swung open. The four quickly hurried through and grabbed a broom. They all took off towards the castle, Hermione grinning like mad.
"That was fun," Hermione said as they landed in front of the doors.
"I know," Ginny agreed. They pushed open the doors and walked inside.
"I'm guessing this thing is either in the Great Hall or Gryffindor Tower," Ron said.
"More likely the Great Hall because they don't know Gryffindor's password," Harry said. They all trooped into the Great Hall where Snape and Sinistra were snogging.
"If you insist on snogging please go to one of your chambers," Ginny said grinning.
"Sev, don't even think about retaliating," Sinistra warned as she pulled Snape from the room. They started laughing again until they regained their composure. In the air floated these words;
"Good job. Your treasure is a wooden box with lilies carved on it and a stag across the center."
"Something to do with my mum and dad no doubt," Harry said. "Let's check the passageway behind the one eyed witch before we go up to Gryffindor Tower. Besides we don't know the password."
"It," Dumbledore's voice said. "Is Honeysuckle. Continue in your hunt." They gave greetings and then trooped off to the one eyed witch. Once there they slid into the passageway.
"Run your hands on the walls," Ginny said. "There may be a loose part or something." Ten minutes later Hermione found something.
"It fells different," she said. Harry ran his hand along the length of what seemed to be a stone brick.
"Ron, help me pull it out," Harry said. They pulled back the dirt covered stone to reveal an open space. Harry reached in and pulled out a dusty wooden box. He blew the drier off of it and they saw the lilies and the stag. "I'm guessing this has been here long before this hunt."
They flew back to Hogsmeade and stood outside the candy shop. "CORD!" They appeared back at the Burrow and handed their box to Sirius.
"YEAH!" Sirius said happily. "The official winners are the ickle Marauders." This caused him to get thrown in a pool.
"You deserved that," Ara called to him as she came out with some more food.
"Yes, well, Mel showed up here with… Snape," May said as she led the aforementioned people down to them.
"Snogged here yet?" asked Ron casually. Hermione and Ginny each hit him over the head. "I did NOTHING wrong!" screamed Ron in frustration.
"Aw, how cute," Hermione said happily.
"You scare me,' Ron said in a low shaky voice. Harry began laughing for some unknown reason and refused to stop.
A/N Please review! Preview of next chappie!!;
"Must you torture us?" whined Ron. "Ginny CAN NOT sing. I repeat, CAN NOT!"
"There was a whole year in which you didn't see me while you were at Hogwarts. You never know," Ginny said mysteriously.
"This is one weird thing," Snape said fingering the microphone Hermione had set down.
"It's quite simply, actually," Hermione said. She flicked the on button to on and spoke into it. "See? You try."
"Snape singing is worse than anyone," Remus said, grinning evilly.
"You cannot repeat that experience," snapped Snape.
"I think this has something to do with a prank," Ron said.
"DUH!" shouted everyone. Ron pouted.
"So?" prompted Ginny.
"Well," began Mel….
Chapter 25*~~ The Hunt*~~
Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were seated together as a group of four for the hunt. Many other teams surrounded them as well. Harry noted that Neville had managed to become part of Luna Lovegood's group. He grinned devilishly at his friend who went red as Harry looked pointedly at Luna.
"Quite teasing Neville," Ginny scolded lightly. Harry smiled sweetly.
"I didn't do anything," he said in defense.
"Yeah, right," muttered Hermione. "You're a guy, of course you did something!"
"Ooooh, Miss High-and-Mighty," Ron teased. Hermione glared at him. As if in retaliation Ron leaned over and kissed her. Hermione pushed him away.
"Shut up kisses do NOT work on me," she said stoutly.
"Really?" Ron asked as he leaned over again. Someone hit the back of his head sharply and he pulled away, rubbing it. "What the bloody hell was that for?" he asked crossl , turning around. His mouth dropped. "Professor McGonagall?!"
"What're you doing here?" asked Hermione, stunned.
"Stopping a snogging session," she said lightly. An amused smirk was playing on her lips. Hermione went bright red as Ron glared at their head of house.
"That hurt!" At Ron's words Harry and Ginny began cracking up. "Like the two of you are to talk?! Sirius told us about when he walked in on you before we went to Diagon Alley!" Harry and Ginny went scarlet as McGonagall raised her eyebrows.
"Mmm, well, seems I have two more snoggers to watch this year," she said. This caused their blush to deepen. "But in my personal opinion I'd have thought Ginny and Harry would get together before you two. They were always more open."
"Seriously though, what're you doing here?" asked Ginny.
"I have come on request of May. For what reason I am not completely sure," she replied.
"To help with our scavenger hunt!" exclaimed May excitedly. Everyone's attention turned to the four "adults." "Now that you have your teams you will each get a clue. There are the same number of treasures as there are teams. Every team's clues and places are different so working with another group is not help to you or them."
"Each clue will lead you to a place where there will be another clue─ until you get to your group's treasure," Remus said.
"The first team to come back here with their treasure wins. Just keep in mind that the clues can be anywhere in Europe. Magical transportation needs can be gotten from our dear Professor McGonagall," Sirius said. "Ginny?"
"If I find that any of the treasures have been taken from my room or any of mine or Mione's possessions you will have a few problems with walking to your trial. Mainly the whole walking thing," Ginny threatened.
"I would like to say May and I had nothing to do with selecting the treasure. Now, BEGIN!" Ara yelled. Scrolls appeared in front of each group.
"You read it Harry," Ron said, shoving at his best friend. Harry pulled it open and read in a clear voice;
"Through ages and ages past
These statues of failed hope remain
As mystery to muggles
And to wizards naught but pain.
Follow your history teachings
To a hedge made cool and grey
Here in our home land
For you find your clue no other way."
"What on earth does that mean?" asked Ginny.
"It's only a simple matter of deduction," Hermione said calmly. "Let's go by the lake." They all trooped away form the other babbling groups and sat on the rocks. "Read it again."
"Through ages and ages past
These statues of failed hope remain
As mystery to muggles
And to wizards naught but pain.
Follow your history teachings
To a hedge made cool and grey
Here in our home land
For you find your clue no other way."
"Cool and grey," Hermione muttered.
"That line about our home land, well our homeland is England, so it must be here in England," Ginny said.
"That line about hedge," Ron said. "I don't think that's a double meaning."
"Cool and grey," Hermione repeated. Harry was staring at the rosk. He started drumming his fingers. "ROCKS!"
"Hermione's right," Harry said.
"Duh," said Rona and Ginny. Harry rolled his eyes but continued.
"But rocks are stone, Stone Hedge! That's where our clue is!" he exclaimed.
"That seems to obvious," Ron said. "Think about it. What about that pain thing." Hermione tutted.
"Sometimes I wonder about you," she said, shaking her head. "I read this book called Muggle Mysteries, Wizards Word. Well, muggles have no idea what stone hedge is. None at all. But it is actually a so called monument for the wizards and witches and even a few muggles who were killed in an attack by the evil witch Sindra six thousand years ago. She was the first powerful dark witch. The largest attack was there on that hill. One million perished in the attack. Many of them were children. Most people gave up hope of her distruction after that."
"So Stone Hedge is a mystery to muggles and a symbol of the hope we lost in the attack," Harry said slowly.
"Very good!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Off to the transportation!" Ron said. They ran up the hill to find only one other group had left─ Cho's. They walked over to Professor McGonagall. "We need our transportation to Stone Hedge." She handed them a locket and a stapler.
"The stapler will take you there when you say locket and the locket will take you back here when you say stapler," McGonagall explained. They nodded and all touched the stapler.
"LOCKET!" they said together. Suddenly they vanished and reappeared at Stone Hedge. They began searching for the clue.
"Here it is!" called Ron from the top of one of the door frame shaped rocks. He pulled a scroll out from a small crack and swung down. "Read it, Harry."
"I'm gonna make you start paying me if you don't watch it," Harry warned. Two hours later they were in Hogsmeade looking for their last clue.
"Must they make us come here?" asked Ginny irritably.
"Apparently so," Harry said. She glared at him before giggling endlessly. "I really think it may be safer not to ask." Finally she stopped laughing.
"Sorry, but, uh, Snape is in that alleyway," she whispered. They all turned to look and were greeted by Severus Snape snogging with Melanie Sinistra.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Ron whispered. They say Snape begin to turn. Ginny bit her lip but then pulled Harry against a wall and started kissing him. "Ew, Gin! Harry would you kindly ge-"
"Potter," sneered Snape. He and Sinistra were out of the alley now and looking and Ginny and Harry. Sinistra was grinning happily and Snape looked sick.
"Hullo, Professor Snape," Harry said, pulling away from Ginny. "We were just- OW! Virginia Weasley! That bloody well hurt!" Ginny smiled innocently and removed her foot form his.
"Sorry?" she offered.
"Yeah, rat's ass you were," muttered Harry.
"Harry and Ginny were just grossing Ron out," Hermione said in her calm way. "You know, like you did to us just moments ago. It's quite scary to see two teacher snogging mercilessly in an alleyway." Ron, Harry, and Snape gaped at Hermione while Ginny and Sinistra broke into fits of giggles.
"Mel, it is NOT funny," Snape said to his girlfriend. (that just feels wrong typing)
"Yes it is," Siniatra said. "We got caught and you are a tomato. Come on Sev, it was bound to happen if we commonly snog in public places."
"Not necessarily," Snape said desperately.
"She's right, it was," Harry said nodding.
"Mmhm, you should've found a more private place," Ron added.
"A dark alleyway isn't commonly a big place for kids," sneered Snape.
"Unless they're having a scavenger hunt that Sirius, Remus, Ara, and May put together. Then, unfortunately, it IS quite common," Hermione said.
"Yes, and I do believe that there is a scroll right there by the corner," Ginny announced. She scooped down and grabbed it. "Here we are. Read it Harry."
"I swear that I will not have my voice tomorrow and it will all be your fault," Harry said glaring at his best friends and his girlfriend.
"Yes, yes, we don't truly care," Hermione said, waving it away.
"Read it, mate!" Ron ordered.
"Snog Hermione," Harry countered. Ron grinned devilishly and leaned over to kiss Hermione. She started laughing as soon as Ron pulled away.
"And you said we grossed you out," Snape said, raising his eyebrows.
"Hey," Ron began. "We are a publicly declared couple. Last time I checked no one at Hogwarts, except Dumbledore probably, knew the two of you go around snogging."
"Mmm, well Flitwick knows," Sinistra said easily. "And when school starts I guess everyone else will know as well."
"Don't remind me," grumbled Snape.
"Come on Sev, be proactive, rope up!" Sinistra's voice was oddly chirpy as she said that.
"You scare me sometimes," Snape said solemnly.
"Thank you and good night," Sinistra replied. "Bye, all!"
"Bye!" chorused the four students.
"Now that that is over and I'm scarred for life," Ron muttered. "Let's hear that last riddle."
~*~*~*~
"So we know it is not Sirius's house because it doesn't have anything to indicate black," Ron said.
"And nothing to do with werewolves so that rules out Marauder Manor, Shrieking Shack, and Calm House," Hermione said.
"There's nothing related to Privet Drive or me living near or anything so that rules out Ara," Harry stated tiredly.
"We've never been to May's but it says a place we know well," Ginny finished. She bit her lip and thought about it again. "'A place you well know, A home to us all, A haven for a person with nowhere to go, A palace that will always call.'"
"We've read it a hundred times," Ron groaned. Harry was continually smacking his head on the table in the Three Broomsticks. Hermione rubbed her temples.
"OH MY GOD!" shrieked Ginny. The whole pub looked at her. She didn't seem to notice or care. "I figured it out! It was SO obvious! DUH! Hogwarts!!!! We obviously knew it well and it is a home to all of us. Dumbledore will take in people who have no other place to be and we'll always feel best there as if it's caling us! We are so stupid! Come on we don't even need other transportation!" Ginny pulled them up ad out down to Hogwarts.
"It's a long walk, Gin," groaned Ron.
"Exactly," Hermione said, pointing to the front gates. They were closed but four brooms hovered behind them. "I'm not sure how we get in."
"Who are you?" asked the gat.e They jumped.
"Oh, um, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron and Ginny Weasley," Hermione stuttered.
"Reason for coming and your house or position."
"To finish out scavenger hunt and we're all in Gryffindor as students," Harry said.
"Welcome," the gate said and swung open. The four quickly hurried through and grabbed a broom. They all took off towards the castle, Hermione grinning like mad.
"That was fun," Hermione said as they landed in front of the doors.
"I know," Ginny agreed. They pushed open the doors and walked inside.
"I'm guessing this thing is either in the Great Hall or Gryffindor Tower," Ron said.
"More likely the Great Hall because they don't know Gryffindor's password," Harry said. They all trooped into the Great Hall where Snape and Sinistra were snogging.
"If you insist on snogging please go to one of your chambers," Ginny said grinning.
"Sev, don't even think about retaliating," Sinistra warned as she pulled Snape from the room. They started laughing again until they regained their composure. In the air floated these words;
"Good job. Your treasure is a wooden box with lilies carved on it and a stag across the center."
"Something to do with my mum and dad no doubt," Harry said. "Let's check the passageway behind the one eyed witch before we go up to Gryffindor Tower. Besides we don't know the password."
"It," Dumbledore's voice said. "Is Honeysuckle. Continue in your hunt." They gave greetings and then trooped off to the one eyed witch. Once there they slid into the passageway.
"Run your hands on the walls," Ginny said. "There may be a loose part or something." Ten minutes later Hermione found something.
"It fells different," she said. Harry ran his hand along the length of what seemed to be a stone brick.
"Ron, help me pull it out," Harry said. They pulled back the dirt covered stone to reveal an open space. Harry reached in and pulled out a dusty wooden box. He blew the drier off of it and they saw the lilies and the stag. "I'm guessing this has been here long before this hunt."
They flew back to Hogsmeade and stood outside the candy shop. "CORD!" They appeared back at the Burrow and handed their box to Sirius.
"YEAH!" Sirius said happily. "The official winners are the ickle Marauders." This caused him to get thrown in a pool.
"You deserved that," Ara called to him as she came out with some more food.
"Yes, well, Mel showed up here with… Snape," May said as she led the aforementioned people down to them.
"Snogged here yet?" asked Ron casually. Hermione and Ginny each hit him over the head. "I did NOTHING wrong!" screamed Ron in frustration.
"Aw, how cute," Hermione said happily.
"You scare me,' Ron said in a low shaky voice. Harry began laughing for some unknown reason and refused to stop.
A/N Please review! Preview of next chappie!!;
"Must you torture us?" whined Ron. "Ginny CAN NOT sing. I repeat, CAN NOT!"
"There was a whole year in which you didn't see me while you were at Hogwarts. You never know," Ginny said mysteriously.
"This is one weird thing," Snape said fingering the microphone Hermione had set down.
"It's quite simply, actually," Hermione said. She flicked the on button to on and spoke into it. "See? You try."
"Snape singing is worse than anyone," Remus said, grinning evilly.
"You cannot repeat that experience," snapped Snape.
"I think this has something to do with a prank," Ron said.
"DUH!" shouted everyone. Ron pouted.
"So?" prompted Ginny.
"Well," began Mel….