Chapter 06 The New Term Begins
Harry's mood changed after the chat with Dumbledore at the kitchens. He felt as if his heart broke down. He had mixed feelings. In a hand, he was happy because he was with his real family. On the other, he felt alone, because here he didn't have the 2 persons who he considered his "family": Ron and Hermione. In his head, he always remembered everyone of his adventures, fights, good and bad moments together, everything.
"I need to go on. I can't fall now, not again." Thought Harry many times when he was meditating at his bedroom.
This change didn't pass unnoticed by the others. They tried to cheer him up, but sometimes it was impossible. The adults were worried that he would think in the suicide again. That's why he was always followed by someone, never left alone. Usually, this persons were Mary and Paul who had received the order from his parents to stay with him always.
"Why?" Asked Mary confused to her mother when Lily and James asked it to them.
"Don't ask, just watch him." Said simply Lily. Both kids nodded in agreement.
Harry, maybe thanks to Moody's "Constant Vigilance" and the incident with Sirius in his Third Year, quickly noticed these actions. He understood the reasons too well and wasn't unnerved by the adults' desicion. Although the idea of the suicide hadn't returned to him, he was near a depression and it was bad after the events of the beggining of the summer.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Said Harry to his mother the night before the start of the new term.
"I know, but understand why we have taken these meassures. I guess you know the consecuences of the depression." Said Lily seriously to her son.
"I just need to watch my wrists to do it." Said Harry closing his eyes.
"That's why we did it. We are worried about you. Your mood changed completely after the chat with dad. You sank in yourself." Said the woman with a serious tone of voice.
"I know what I did. But you must understand something. Ron and Hermione are like my family. For my last 4 years, they became my confidents, friends and the persons that gave me the support that I needed to survive everything that happened. Not having them with me, made a big hole hard to fill." Said Harry angrily, before he stood and went to his bed to sleep.
Lily sighed tiredly. She was worried for him. He closed in himself and didn't allow anyone to enter. She couldn't blame him, especially after all the stories that her son had told them. She could see clearly that Ron and Hermione meant a big part of him and no one could replace them is his heart. But the fear of another suicide attempt, scared her.
"I hope that he can go trough this and defeat his depression." Thought Lily before she went to her room to sleep.
****
September 1st passed in a hurry and before Harry could reaslize it, it was almost time for the Welcome Feast. After putting on his robes, he went down to wait till the moment of the Sorting. With a smile he remembered the one in his Universe and the chance of being sent to Slytherin. His mind had taken the decision this time: it would be Gryffindor as the last time.
"Did you decide the House?" Asked jokingly Minerva witing for Hagrid and the new First years.
"Gryffindor. I was remembering my first sorting. The Hat almost sent me to Slytherin. He was tempted to do it." Laughed Harry.
"Don't let James or Sirius hear that." Chuckled Minerva softly before she greeted the new students and took them, along Harry, to the Great Hall.
All of the new students watched everything in awe and surprise. They pointed to everything and talked excited with their new friends. Some of them were scared about the Sorting and in what it consisted. Harry heard many things between the students and had to hid his laugh with their ideas.
He didn't pay any atention to the Song. He was more interested in sacnning the tables. In the Gryffindor's, he saw the others students of his year, although there was a little change in them: the Patil Twins were both in Gryffindor, instead of one in that House and the other in Ravenclaw. The other tables were as the ones in his Universe. He saw Cho chatting animatedly with one of her friends. Cedric was talking with a girl that Harry recognized as a Chaser in the Hufflepuff's Team. In Slytherin were the same ones, no changes there.
His thoughts were stopped when everyone clapped after the Hat had finished the Song. McGonagall began to call the scared new students who sat and were sorted. With dome of them, the Hat lasted a few minutes. With others, the House was shouted almost inmediately.
When the last one, Zintte, Edward was sorted to Ravenclaw, the Hall fell silent and Dumbledore stood to speak. Harry waited quietly to his words.
"This year," began the Headmaster "we'll have a new student that will enter in fifth year. He's the nephew of the Professors Potter. Harry, please." Indicated Dumbledore and Harry went to sit and put the Hat in his head.
"Oh, oh, what do we have here? A student of other Universe." Said the Hat amused in Harry's ear.
"I see that you have the same sense of humor that in my Universe." Said Harry joking.
"Is it bad?" Questioned the Hat.
"I don't know." Said Harry chuckling before he asked, "So, great Hat, powerful and wise one, what will be my House?" Harry had a little of laugh in his tone.
"Another prankster and joker!" Said the Hat exasperated before he turned serious and said: "You are very inteligent like the Ravenclaws, hard worker as the Hufflepuffs, brave as the Gryffindors..." He would continue but Harry cut him off.
"And stupid like one too." Said with a sigh the teen.
"Ambiscious as a Slitherin. You are a hard one!" Said the Hat without being disturbed by Harry's comment.
"Do it quick. Say Gryffindor or I'll reduce you to ashes." Threatened Harry.
"Oh, that's... bad. So we'll do as you want." Said the Hat in his ear, before he shouted to the whole Hall: "GRYFFINDOR!!!"
"Thanks, you'll live to make another sorting." Said Harry with an evil grin before he went to sit next to his sister who had a big smile in her face. All of the students of the table, greeted him shaking his hand or clapping his back. Harry smile to them before he turned his attention to Dumbledore once more.
"Let's begin with the Feast!" Said the Headmaster clapping his hands and making appear the food.
For a while, the only noise that you could hear at the Hall, was the one maid by the forks, knives and plates while the students were eating. Harry talked a little with his new yearmates. They were like in his own Universe, so he didn't need to know anything new.
"When can you show us your abbilities on a broom?" Asked Alicia to Harry while they were eating.
"Tomorrow's saturday. Find me at the pitch at 9.00. You'll see it by yourself." Answered Harry with a smile.
"I'll be there." Said Alicia watching the Professor Dumbledore standing in the High Table and getting ready to speak. The 4 Tables went silent to hear what the Headmaster had to tell them.
"Now that all of you have eaten, I have a few announcements to do." Began Dumbledore to speak, "First of all, the Forest that is near the School is FORBIDDEN to all the students. Some of the old and new ones, should remember it very well."
Here the Headmaster looked to the Weasley Twins, Paul and Harry. The 4 smiled innocently to the Dumlbledore with a puppy face and one that said: "I don't know what you are talking about." Of course, those faces didn't convince anyone, especially the old Wizard.
"Hogsmeade is also forbidden to all the students younger to Third Year and those ones who doesn't have permission. Also the students aren't allowed to visit the city in the days that there isn't vists."
At this moment, the situation that had happened with the Forest, happened again. If someone had doubts about the behavior of the four, now they didn't. This message was sent clearly to them again.
"Madame Hooch asked me to tell the Captains of the Quidditch Teams that they should contact her to decide the date of the tryouts of their teams.
"Mr. Filch, the Caretaker, has informed me that he added another 20 things to his list of forbidden things to use. The complete list can be seen in his office. Also, I must remind that magic in the Corridors is not allowed.
"Now, everyone to sleep! Prefects take you students to the Towers!" Said Dumbledore clapping his hands with a smile.
Harry stood up and followed his sister and the other players of the Team to the Tower chatting and laughing. He noticed that in fifth year, only Padma had a Prefect's Badge. He wondered who was the boy prefect. He asked it to Alicia, who was the Head Girl.
"No idea. In my letter, it was informed only Padma as Prefect. I'll ask it to McGonagall later." Answered Alicia before they entered to the Common Room.
"Hey, Harry, are you planning something to begin the year?" Asked Fred with an evil grin when the boys went upstairs to their rooms.
"Maybe. Goodnight, Fred." Said Harry before he entered in his room and went straight to his bed. He had a nice idea for a prank, but he would do it in a few days. He fell asleep 5 minutes after his head touched the pillow.
****
The next morning, he woke up 8.30. After he changed his clothes, he took his Ghost Rider and went to the Common Room where Alicia was waiting for him with Katie and Angelina.
"Good morning, girls." Said Harry with a smile before the 4 went to the pitch.
"Where did you get the broom?" Asked Katie shocked when she recognized it.
"At my old home. I played with a Firebolt till it was destroyed this summer." Said Harry not happy with the memory.
"Nice change! From a Firebolt to a Ghost Rider!" Said Angelina impressed.
"Ok, show us what you can do." Said Alicia seriously when they reached to the pitch.
"I'm at your orders." Said Harry before he kicked off and began to fly. Harry began to fly, made movements of Seekers, loops and turns in dangerous positions.
The 3 Chasers looked at him impressed. He was really good and Alicia understood what he had meant when he said that he worthed the broom that he had. It was an excellent player on the best broom.
"Impressive, right?" Said Cedric Diggory going to where the girls were and watching Harry flying.
"You can say it, man!" Said Katie shocked by Harry's abbility.
"Is it true that he made you a Wronski Feint and you bought it?" Asked Angelina curious to know that if the rumor was true.
"Yes, he did it." Sighed Cedric not happy with the memory.
"Look at that!" Exclaimed Alicia watching Harry diving at top speed from more than 50 meters.
Harry, who had seen the group, went to them on purpouse. He put his broom in horizontal position and he turned his body upside down. His hair touched the grass and he continued in his race towards the group. Before he would crash against Alicia, he stopped his broom suddenly and recuperated his normal position.
"Was it enough for you?" Laughed Harry watching the shocked faces of the 4.
"It was..." Began to tell Alicia, but she couldn't find the words from the shock that she had.
"Superb!" Exclaimed Katie when she recovered form her chock.
"Excellent!" Added Angelina.
"Does it mean that I'm part of this team?" Asked Harry descending from the broom.
"YOU BET IT!!!!" Shouted the 3 Chasers at the same time.
"There will be a rematch then!" Laughed Harry shaking Cedric's hand.
"You have a deal!" Assured Cedric seriously when they finished the shake.
"Who did teach you to dive like that?" Asked Katie still recovering from the shock.
"I'm natural. A dive like that, made me enter the team without having finished my first class of flight on my life!" Laughed Harry before he told the story of that class.
"Cool!" Said Katie with a smile.
"Who are they?" Asked Harry to the others pointing to a groups of students going to the pitch. He knew who were them: The Quidditch Team of Ravenclaw.
"Ravenclaw's Team." Explained Katie while Roger went to them.
"Will you use the Pitch or we can have it to train?" Asked Davied to Alicia and Cedric.
"It's yours, we came to test a possible player." Said Alicia pointing to the Chasers and Harry.
"I came to fly a while, but I'll return later." Said Cedric before he returned to the Castle.
"Roger Davies. You are Professors Potter's nephew, right?" Asked Roger extending his hand to Harry.
"Yep, but I would like to be seen not only by my family." Laughed Harry shaking it.
"No problem." Laughed Davies before he asked: "Seeker, right?"
"Our new one." Said Alicia before she motioned the others to return the Castle for breakfast.
"Who are the other Seekers?" Asked Harry casually to the girls.
"From Ravenclaw, the Seeker is Cho Chang. She's easy to recognize in the Team. She's the only girl in the Titular Team." Said Katie sitting in the Gryffindor table with the others.
"Slitherin's Seeker is Malfoy. The worst one in the School." Said Alicia.
"Cedric is the one of Hufflepuff." Added Angelina.
"And I'm the Gryffindor's." Chuckled Harry. The 3 Chasers laughed a little before they returned the atention to their brakfast.
"Why do you have the broom with you, Harry?" Asked Mary a little confused, when she sat with the group 15 minutes later.
"He passed the test and is our new Seeker." Explained Katie to the Keeper.
"Welcome to the team!" Said Fred when he sat down to eat listening Katie's words.
"How good is he?" Asked George after clapping Harry's back.
"The best." Said Alicia before he told the other players what Harry had done at the Pitch.
"Wow!" Was the only coherent thing that the Twins could say when she finished her explanation.
They went on eating, till the twins and the others caught something in Harry's face and knew inmediately that something was going to happen soon. Harry looked the Slytherin's table with an evil grin and eyes full of joy.
"Cover me." Whispered Harry to the others taking his wand and pointing it to the part of the table where Malfoy was.
The group of players made a little hole to give him a clean shot towards the Slytherins and covered him so he wouldn't be noticed. Harry said a few words and took his position again, motioning the others to the same.
"What will happen?" Asked all of them together at the same time.
"You'll know soon. Now come with me." Said Harry standing and leaving the Hall with the others.
"Why do we leave? We want to see it!" Said Fred not happy.
"Guys, think this: If we are there when it happens, guess who will be blamed?" Said Harry as if it was nothing.
"What do you suggest then?" Asked Mary agreeing with Harry.
"This." Said Harry before he casted an invisibility charm in the whole goup and motioning them to enter again to the Hall.
Harry and the others waited for the beggining. A few minutes before the end of the breakfast, it happened. In the Slytherin's table there were many "pops" and appeared a big cloud of white smoke that vanished after a few seconds.
When everyone could see the table again, they burst out in laughter. Many of the students had diferent colors of hair, others were wearing old fashioned clothes, boys with lots of make up, strange hats, rings and other things.
The professors looked confused. All of them turned their atention to the Gryffindor's table looking for Harry, Paul and the Twins. Their confussion grew more and more when they didn't see them there.
"Let's get out of here before these charms dissapears!" Whispered in a fit of laughter Harry to the group while the teachers went to the Slytherin's table to help the students of the House.
The whole group left the Hall once again and began to walk to a empty classroom. There Harry removed the charms and all of them burst out in laughter once more.
"It was the best prank I've ever seen!" Said Alicia trying to control her laughter.
"Ok, if anyone asks, we went to the Tower to get our brooms. Let's go before anyone get suspitious and begins to look for us." Said Harry leading the way back to the Gryffindor Tower.
****
"Weasley! Weasley! Potter! Potter! Come here right now!" Shouted McGonagall to Harry, Paul and the Twins 20 minujtes later, when she found them at the pitch flying and training with the other players.
"Which Potters?" Asked Paul going on flying.
"Harry and you!" Shouted Minerva seriously to Paul.
"Yes, Professor?" Asked Harry putting his most straight face when the 4 of them landed next to their Head of House.
"Who did it?" Asked McGonagall angrily, while Lily, James and Dumbledore went to them.
"We don't know what you are talking about, Professor." Said Fred putting his most straight voice and face.
"The prank of a while ago!" Said Minerva furiously.
"What prank?" Asked Alicia landing next to he teammates, faking confussion.
"We've been here for almost 1 hour!" Said Paul showing his broom.
"You know very well what we're talking about, kids." Said Lily sternly to her sons and the Weasley boys.
"We don't!" Exclaimed everyone at the same time.
"Why do you always suspect of us when something happens?" Asked Fred with a groan.
"Because you are always behind it!" Said McGonagall furious.
"What proof do you have to say that we did whatever has happened this time?" Asked George in a serious tone.
"We weren't even there when it happened!" Added Harry defending himself and the others.
"At least you have a way to prove that Fred, George, Harry or Paul did it, we'll continue with our training!" Said Alicia before she kicked off and started to fly again. Her teammates did the same a few moments later.
The 4 Professors watched them in confussion. It was true, they didn't have any way to prove it, but all of them knew that they had done it in one or another way. Defeated, they returned to the Hall, knowing that the pranksters had done it and got away with it.
Although none of the teachers saw it, there was a look of victory in the faces of the players and the pranksters. That look didn't go from their faces in the whole weekend.
****
"One of them did it!" Said Minerva when the 4 adults were in Albus' office a while later.
"We know that! But they are right in something: we can't prove it!" Said Lily angrily.
"They were there! If any prankster plays something a prank like that, he would like to be there to see it!" Said James who was the most experienced prankster in the group.
"But we can't prove it!" Said McGonagall angry and defeated.
"The questions are 2: who and how did it? Where were they? If they were at the Hall, why didn't we see them?" Said Lily.
"If I have to put my money on someone, that one is Harry. He's the only one who could have done it." Said James with a proud grin.
"Still we don't know where they were or why we couldn't see them if they were at the Great Hall in that moment." Said Lily in an angry tone of voice.
"Invisibility Charms." Said Albus with his eyes twinkling with full joy.
"They casted one in themselves." Said Minerva understanding everything.
"They were there, but no one saw them. They took the Chasers with them, so they could say that they went to the Pitch when the prank was played. They thought in everything." Said James conecting every clue in his head.
"They tricked us. We know that it was them, but still we can't prove it." Said Lily understanding everything.
"You said it: they tricked us. It worked perfectly well." Chuckled Albus.
"They knew that we would suspect of them inmediately after the prank was played. They dissapeared a few minutes before, watched it invisibles, went to the tower, took their brooms and went to train after the work was done. No one saw them in the moment of the prank, doing it or casting the charms, so they can't get caught or punished by it." Said Minerva with anger.
"They tricked us and did a great job in it." Summed up Dumbledore with a smile.
"An excellent one." Said James defeated. The same feeling was in his wife and in Minerva.
****
Harry, Paul and the Twins decided to stop with the pranks for a while. They knew that if something happened, they would be suspected again. They were sure that the Professors had realized the trick with the charms and would be ready for a next time that it was used.
All the professors began to watch very carefully their movements. James and Lily ussually had the Map ready to watch them. When they saw that no prank was played, they realized that the 4 pranksters had decided to wait a while till the things had calmed down to play a new one. The adults had to wait till that moment.
The monday, the classes would begin again. Harry had a mix of feelings about it: the thoughts of loss about Ron and Hermione had returned once more with a little more of strenght. It would be his first year without them: no study sessions at the library, Divination's faked schoolwork, long chat in the Common Room, no misteries to solve, no teachers trying to kill them. It would be a hard year.
His parents, Godparents, Remus and Dumbledore hoped that he would be able to survive and could go on with his life again normally. But they knew that it only depended of Harry. They decided to wait for his reaction.
The Monday's morning, Harry woke up and went down to the breakfast with the other boys of fifth year. He began to talk with Dean and Seamus about the things that they had studied in the previous years and what they suspected that they woul study that year.
"Maybe McGonagall will begin with Animagus this year." Said Dean sitting with the girls of their year at the table.
"Not till seventh year." Said Alicia listening his words.
"Pity." Said sadly Dean.
"When will be the tryout for the Seeker position, Alicia?" Asked someone.
"It's filled. Harry's the new Seeker. He was tested the Saturday by me, Alicia and Angelina and passed the exam with the best marks." Said Katie with a wide smile.
"Hey, why don't you have tryouts to the reserve team? I mean the 5 of you graduates this year, and I don't know how long I'll be at the School." Said Harry to the other players.
"Yeah, I guess we can do it." Said Alicia thinking a few minutes.
"We'll talk it with Hooch and McGonagall later." Added Katie before everyone stood up and went to classes.
Harry checked his schedule and sighed. His first class was with his Godmother. He wasn't sure that he wanted to see her after the prak of the saturday. He followed the others and sat down at the end of the classroon abd began to wait till the Professor came in and started the class.
"This year," Began McGonagall when she entered the Classroom, "all of you will have the O.W.L.s. This exams will be very important for your future and your education.
"You will sit for exams in every subject that you study. These will be: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, History of the Magic, Astronomy, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Also there will be exams for: Ancient Runes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggles Studies. In those exams you'll be tested in everything you have learnt in the School these last 5 years, or 2 in the cases of the optatives.
"You can get a basic, intermediate and advanced O.W.L.s. in the regular subjects and basic and intermediate in your selectives. The most that you can get are 25 O.W.L.s." Finished Minerva her explanation.
"Which is the usual number that the students get, Professor?" Asked Parvati.
"Usually, among 8 and 15. The most O.W.L.s that a student in this School has got are 19. That student was in the School 2 centuries ago. I don't remember his name now." Explained McGonagall to the class.
After a few more explanations, they began with the work: they had to change a plate to the things listed in a parchment. Harry found that it was rather easy for him and before 45 minutes later the beggining of the class, he had finished his work.
Bored, he took an old quill that he had in his pocket and began to make a few transfigurations to it. He decided to change it in a teddy bear, but he would add a few things to it. First he changed it to the teddy bear, then he did it in a leather jacket. His next one was red wig, then he changed it in a pair of glasses and a book later. He turned it in a drawing of a lightning and a cigarrete in the end. Picturing the Teddy bear in the way that he wanted, he flicked his wand once more.
He couldn't help but smile when he saw the teddy bear at the last transfiguration. It had red fur as the wig, was wearing a leather jacket with a lightning in the back, a book in his left hand, a cigarrette in his mouth and a pair of glasses like his ones.
He was thinking if he would return it to the quill or leave it like the bear, when everyone began to clap. Surprised, he turned around and saw that all of the students and the Professor were watching him in awe. Harry blushed completely, he hadn't noticed that he was watched.
"Nice work." Said Minerva watching the bear carefully with a smile in her lips.
"Thanks." Said Harry sheepisly. Then he added to his godmother: "I hadn't realized that all of you were watching me."
"You caught our atention." Chuckled Minerva before she added: "50 for Gryffindor for your excellent job."
"Thanks. Do you want a copy? It cost 5 Sickles." Said Harry with an evil grin.
"You are selling it?" Asked McGonagall shocked.
"It was my quill. I need to buy a new one." Laughed Harry shrugging his shoulders.
"You are crazy." Said Minerva before she took the money and gave it to him.
"Duplicatus." Said Harry pointing his wand to the bear. Inmediately, there was another bear next to the original. Harry took the money from his Godmother and gave the bear to her.
"Thanks." Said the Head of Gryffindor putting the bear in her desk.
The rest of the class passed quietly without any disturbance. When the bell rang and all of them got ready to go to Care of Magical Creatures, the next class, McGonagall called all the boys saying that she needed to speak with them.
"I'm sure that you have noticed that I didn't name any Prefect of the boys this year. I've decided that I'll choose one of you after the first 2 weeks of classes. To be chosen, I'll take consideration of your work in all the classes, points lost and earned and behavior. In our first class of the third week of this term, I'll tell who is it. Is that clear?" Asked the Professor in a serious tone of voice to the 5 boys in front of her.
"Yes, Professor." Said all of them nodding.
"Mr. Potter, stay a minute, please. The rest, go to class." Said the Head of Gryffindor dismissing the other students.
"What's wrong, Professor?" Asked Harry confused when the others left.
"Where did you learn the invisibility charm?" Asked the Professor seriously.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Harry faking confussion.
"You know very well what I'm talking about. If you want the badge here, stop with the pranks for 2 weeks. After that, do whatever you want. Is that understood?" Asked Minerva to her godson seriously, when the the seventh year's students came in the classroom.
"Yes, Professor, very clear." Nodded Harry solemnly before he asked: "Something else? I don't want to loose points my first day of class after earning 50."
"Miss Spinnet, come here a moment please." Called McGonagall to the Head Girl.
"Yes, Professor?" Asked Alicia confused.
"Like both of you want to be trained in Animagus, I would like to make a schedule for it. Come here tonight after the dinner and we'll decide it. Does any of you have problems with that?" Asked McGonagall seriously to the students.
"No, Professor." Said both students at the same time.
"Go to your next class, Mr. Potter." Said Minerva dismissing Harry and turning her atention to the class.
Harry left the Classroom and began to run towards Hagrid's Hut. Checking his watch, he saw that he was almost 20 minutes late for it. He ran faster and reached there breathing hard and taking his ribs that started to hurt again.
"Are you ok, Harry?" Asked Lily worried watching her son's actions.
"Yes, I'm fine. Damn it! The ribs didn't heal completely!" Said Harry touching them trying to calm his pain.
"How did you break them?" Asked his mother confused.
"Vernon used me as a hitting bag this summer." Said Harry trying to calm down the pain but failling miserably.
"Why don't you go with Poppy? She'll be able to heal them." Said Lily angry with her brother in law and worried by her son.
"I guess you are right. See you later." Said Harry beggining to walk towards the Castle.
When he reached there, he began to walk slowly to the Hospital wing. His ribs hurted like the hell. It was really hard to do it. He had to stop every few meters to rest a while.
"Are you ok?" Asked someone near him. Harry turned to see the person and found Remus watching him worriedly.
"Can you help me to go the Infirmary? I can't walk very well." Said Harry before he blacked out.
****
When Harry woke up, he found himself in a hospital bed again. He tried to remember what had happened and the memories of the pain went back. He sat slowly in the bed and saw that he was alone.
"You are awake, I see." Said Madame Pomfrey going to his side.
"How long? What happened?" Asked Harry drinking a glass of water.
"You fainted 6 hours ago. You had a few broken ribs that I had to heal. You were in a bad shape, I'll tell you." Said the Matron seriously checking Harry once more.
"I didn't realize it, Madame Pomfrey." Said Harry sarcastically, before he asked: "When can I leave?"
"In a while." Said Poppy before she called his parents through the fireplace.
James and Lily appeared a few moments later. James began to talk with Pomfrey while Lily when to sit with her son. After a few moments, James went with them.
"Why didn't you tell us about the ribs?" Asked Lily sternly.
"Pomfrey healed them in my Universe. I guess that something went wrong. After all, I went through a Mentalus Imagus Charm, a duel with Voldemort and one or two more things. If you don't know, that Charms isn't very pleasant." Stated the teen seriously to his parents.
"Sorry, we were worried. Suddenly, Remus went to see us saying that you fainted in the half of the corridors." Said Lily worried.
"It's ok." Said Harry with a tired smile, before he changed the subject and asked: "So, you discovered the trick of the prank?"
"You did it, right?" Asked James interested in his words.
"I will never admit it." Said the teen with a mischievious smile.
"He did it!" Thought both professors at the same time, but none of them told those thoughts.
"Don't worry, for 2 weeks I won't play any prank." Said Harry with a little groan.
"Why?" Asked Lily curious.
"If I want the Prefect's badge here, I have to stop doing them for the next 2 weeks." Explained Harry.
"Two quiet weeks!" Chuckled Albus entering the room and listening Harry's words.
"Quiet from me! I don't control the twins or Paul!" Said Harry laughing.
"We'll survive with their pranks." Said James laughing.
"If you say so." Said Harry getting up from the bed.
"What are you doing?" Asked Lily seriosuly.
"Didn't I tell you that I hate hospitals?" Said Harry with a sigh. When they nodded, he added: "I'm leaving."
"I'll call Poppy." Sighed Lily going to look for the Matron.
Madame Pomfrey checked him carefully, especially his ribs. After she finished, he was allowed to leave and return to the Tower with 1000 indications from her. Harry nodded and shook his head when it was necessary. He just wanted to leave as fast as he could.
"Did you listen any of his recomendations?" Asked Albus chuckling when they left the Hospital and went to the Great Hall.
"After 5 years and more than 7 visits here, I never did, do or will listen them." Said Harry simply sitting in the Gryffindor Table for dinner while the 3 adults went to the High Table.
"What happened with you?" Asked Katie when he sat and began to eat.
"We were told that you fainted." Added Alicia worried.
"This summer, I broke a few ribs and they didn't heal completely. From time to time, they hurt. After I left Transfiguration's Classroom, I ran towards Hagrid's hut and they hurted a lot. When I tried to reach the Hospital Wing, I blacked out in the middle of a corriedor." Explained Harry eating a piece of chicken.
"Are you ok now?" Asked Fred after he finished speaking.
"Madame Pomfrey healed them. They shouldn't cause me more problems." Said Harry simply.
"Are you planning something else like the Saturday's prank?" Asked George interested.
"If I want a chance to get the Prefect's badge this year, I don't have to play any prank for 2 weeks. After that, I'm free to cause terror once more at the School." Said the teen with a mischievious smile to his friends.
"2 WEEKS???" Asked the Twins and Pual terrified with the news.
"2 long weeks." Sighed Harry.
"Bad!" Sad Fred with a groan.
"Yep, very bad." Said Harry with a groan before he said in a whisper: "It doesn't mean that I can't give ideas for pranks." In his face there was a big and evil grin.
"Anything in mind?" Asked the 3 pranksters at the same time.
"Give me 3 or 4 days, and I'll get something." Said Harry misteriously, before he turned to Dean and asked him about the things that they had done in class after Transfiguration.
After the desserts and before they went back to the Tower, Harry saw that his Godmother was talking animatedly with his parents and Sirius. He followed this with atention. He saw the Teddy Bear with her and guessed that McGonagall was telling them about it. The 3 seemed impressed by this. Lily's expression changed suddenly of proud to one of anger.
"She told her about the 5 Sickles." Thought Harry watching his mother calling him to leave the Hall with her.
"What did you do this time?" Asked confused Fred watching her call and Harry standing to leave.
"A bussiness with McGonagall." Was Harry's answer before he left the Hall.
Lily and Harry left the Hall silently. The teen, remembering that he had to talk with McGonagall after dinner, leaded his mother to her classroom. Lily looked at him confused by this, but followed him. They closed the door after they entered.
"I have to speak with her after dinner." Said Harry simply.
"Tell me that Minerva was kidding about the bear." Said Lily angry.
"If you mean if I sold her, she wasn't. She bought her copy for 5 Sickles." Said Harry before he added: "You can buy a copy too at the same price."
"Are you crazy?!?" Asked the Professor shouting furiously.
"Yes, completely insane." Said Harry with a smile.
"Harry!" Exclaimed exasperated Lily watching her son carefully.
"What? It was my quill! I have to buy another one. With the money, I will." Said Harry with an innocent smile.
Lily began to take deep breaths. In that moment she was tempted to kill him. After the prank, now he had decided to make bussiness with the teachers! She needed almost 5 mknutes to get her control over herself again.
"What's wrong with it? If she didn't want to do it, she didn't need to buy it!" Said Harry defending himself of a sure death.
"Don't do more bussiness like that, is that understood?" Warned Lily calming herself completely.
"I don't promise nothing." Said Harry simply.
"What do you need to talk with her about?" Asked Lily, seeing that she wouldn't win that argument.
"I asked her to train me." Explained Harry as if it was a little detail.
"Animagus training?" Asked Lily a little shocked and confused
"Yes." Said the teen with a smile.
"Why didn't you ask help to dad, me or Sirius?" Asked Lily shocked by the words.
"I Want to do it alone without you." Said Harry simply watching Minerva and Alicia entering the Office in that moment.
"Goodnight, Professor Evans, Harry." Said Alicia seeing her teacher and her teammate.
"Goodnight, Miss Spinnet." Said Lily before she turned to leave the Office. Before she left, she turned towards Harry and said: "Our conversation hasn't finished." After that she left the office.
"What's her matter?" Asked Alicia to Harry in a whisper.
"I'll tell you later." Said Harry before he turned his atention to McGonagall.
"To train you, I'll put only one condition: both of you will be registered. I will NEVER EVER train a student to become an illegal animagus. If any of you had in mind be illegal, I'll ask you to leave now." Warned their Head of House in a tone that left no place to arguments.
Both students remained in their places. It was more then obvious that if they asked help to her, the idea of being illegals was impossible. Harry had in mind register himself at the end of the year if he was in this Universe or after his Graduation in case he returned to his own Universe.
"Tonight, I'll cast the Charm to know your Animagus Form if you have one. Also, we'll decide the schedule of the training. Does any of you have any question before we start?" Said Minerva watching the students.
"How long will it take us to become an Animagus?" Asked Harry, thinking in something that has rounded all the summer.
"Maybe for Easter or before, the training will be finished." Said McGonagall thinking a few minutes.
"Is it possible to have more than a form?" Asked Alicia curiously.
"Possible, yes. But it's rather unusual and rare. Something else?" Asked McGonagall.
"No." Said both students shaking their heads.
"Who will be the first?" Asked the Professor to the teens.
"The ladies first." Said Harry with a smile giving the first place to Alicia.
"Thanks." Said the Chaser nodding to her Head of House.
"Animas Bistear!" Said McGonagall pointing her wand to the Head Girl.
Inmediately, a white light involved Alicia and her shadow began to change slowly. After almost 10 minutes, the 3 of them could see her form: a Unicorn. Alicia watched this with a wide smile.
"Nice form, Alicia." Said Harry before he nodded to McGonagall so she would begin with the spell.
The Head of Gryffindor repeated the spell on him and ghis shadow began to change. This time, it didn't show only a form. It showed 5 different ones: a hawk, a Phoenix, a Dragon, a tiger, and a Gryffin.
The 3 people in the room were completely shocked and looked the shadows in awe. It took them 10 minutes to get the control again and could speak coherently.
"5 forms." Said Alicia when she could think something to say.
"Cool." Said Harry with a smile trying to pass the initial shock.
"Nice forms, Mr. Potter." Said McGonagall with pride after the shock had dissapeared.
"I guess having 5 forms was something nearly impossible, right, Professor?" Asked Alicia remembering what her Professor had said before.
"Before this, my answer would be yes, Miss Spinnet. This proves that it's possible." Said Minerva, before she changed of subject and said: "Ok, we could start training next week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday after dinner. In case that you have training in Quidditch, we'll change that day. Is it ok for both of you?" Asked to the students.
"It's ok for me." Said Alicia while Harry nodded to this.
"Very well, come here next Monday and we'll begin." Said Minerva dismissing the 2 students.
"Great forms, Harry!" Said Alicia excited when they left the Office and began to walk towards the Tower.
"Yours isn't bad either." Chuckled Harry.
"What happened with your Aunt?" Asked the girl remembering the warning of Lily.
"She got a little angry by something that I did with McGonagall." Said Harry and explained to her what had happened in class with the bear and the sale of it.
"Can I see the bear?" Asked Alicia interested.
"Sure." Said Harry taking it off from his bag. He had the bag with him after he left the Infirmary.
"5 Sickles? Do you sell them by 5 Sickles?" Asked Alicia watching the tedy bear with a nice face.
"Yes. Maybe I'll make others later. But, I'll sell them at that price. Do you want to buy one?" Said Harry when they reached to the Common Room after giving the Password to the Fat lady.
"Wait a minute here." Said Alicia before she went upstair to her room. When she came down, she gave Harry 5 coins.
"Duplicatus." Said Harry poin ting his wand to the bear. A copy of the original appeared next to it. Harry took her money and gave the copy to her.
"Thanks." Said Alicia putting the bear at her pocket.
"Do you have an old quill? If I want to make more, I need something like that. And this bear was created with my last one." Said Harry putting the money in his pocket.
"I don't have any, but I think Katie does. I'll ask her tomorrow." Said Alcia standing up and yawning.
"See you tomorrow, Alicia. I'll go to sleep too." Said harry going to his dorm.
"See you tomorrow, Harry." Said the girl going to her dorm.
When Harry entered his dorm, the other boys were already sleeping. In silence, he put his pj and went to sleep. He fell asleep 5 minutes later.
Harry's mood changed after the chat with Dumbledore at the kitchens. He felt as if his heart broke down. He had mixed feelings. In a hand, he was happy because he was with his real family. On the other, he felt alone, because here he didn't have the 2 persons who he considered his "family": Ron and Hermione. In his head, he always remembered everyone of his adventures, fights, good and bad moments together, everything.
"I need to go on. I can't fall now, not again." Thought Harry many times when he was meditating at his bedroom.
This change didn't pass unnoticed by the others. They tried to cheer him up, but sometimes it was impossible. The adults were worried that he would think in the suicide again. That's why he was always followed by someone, never left alone. Usually, this persons were Mary and Paul who had received the order from his parents to stay with him always.
"Why?" Asked Mary confused to her mother when Lily and James asked it to them.
"Don't ask, just watch him." Said simply Lily. Both kids nodded in agreement.
Harry, maybe thanks to Moody's "Constant Vigilance" and the incident with Sirius in his Third Year, quickly noticed these actions. He understood the reasons too well and wasn't unnerved by the adults' desicion. Although the idea of the suicide hadn't returned to him, he was near a depression and it was bad after the events of the beggining of the summer.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Said Harry to his mother the night before the start of the new term.
"I know, but understand why we have taken these meassures. I guess you know the consecuences of the depression." Said Lily seriously to her son.
"I just need to watch my wrists to do it." Said Harry closing his eyes.
"That's why we did it. We are worried about you. Your mood changed completely after the chat with dad. You sank in yourself." Said the woman with a serious tone of voice.
"I know what I did. But you must understand something. Ron and Hermione are like my family. For my last 4 years, they became my confidents, friends and the persons that gave me the support that I needed to survive everything that happened. Not having them with me, made a big hole hard to fill." Said Harry angrily, before he stood and went to his bed to sleep.
Lily sighed tiredly. She was worried for him. He closed in himself and didn't allow anyone to enter. She couldn't blame him, especially after all the stories that her son had told them. She could see clearly that Ron and Hermione meant a big part of him and no one could replace them is his heart. But the fear of another suicide attempt, scared her.
"I hope that he can go trough this and defeat his depression." Thought Lily before she went to her room to sleep.
****
September 1st passed in a hurry and before Harry could reaslize it, it was almost time for the Welcome Feast. After putting on his robes, he went down to wait till the moment of the Sorting. With a smile he remembered the one in his Universe and the chance of being sent to Slytherin. His mind had taken the decision this time: it would be Gryffindor as the last time.
"Did you decide the House?" Asked jokingly Minerva witing for Hagrid and the new First years.
"Gryffindor. I was remembering my first sorting. The Hat almost sent me to Slytherin. He was tempted to do it." Laughed Harry.
"Don't let James or Sirius hear that." Chuckled Minerva softly before she greeted the new students and took them, along Harry, to the Great Hall.
All of the new students watched everything in awe and surprise. They pointed to everything and talked excited with their new friends. Some of them were scared about the Sorting and in what it consisted. Harry heard many things between the students and had to hid his laugh with their ideas.
He didn't pay any atention to the Song. He was more interested in sacnning the tables. In the Gryffindor's, he saw the others students of his year, although there was a little change in them: the Patil Twins were both in Gryffindor, instead of one in that House and the other in Ravenclaw. The other tables were as the ones in his Universe. He saw Cho chatting animatedly with one of her friends. Cedric was talking with a girl that Harry recognized as a Chaser in the Hufflepuff's Team. In Slytherin were the same ones, no changes there.
His thoughts were stopped when everyone clapped after the Hat had finished the Song. McGonagall began to call the scared new students who sat and were sorted. With dome of them, the Hat lasted a few minutes. With others, the House was shouted almost inmediately.
When the last one, Zintte, Edward was sorted to Ravenclaw, the Hall fell silent and Dumbledore stood to speak. Harry waited quietly to his words.
"This year," began the Headmaster "we'll have a new student that will enter in fifth year. He's the nephew of the Professors Potter. Harry, please." Indicated Dumbledore and Harry went to sit and put the Hat in his head.
"Oh, oh, what do we have here? A student of other Universe." Said the Hat amused in Harry's ear.
"I see that you have the same sense of humor that in my Universe." Said Harry joking.
"Is it bad?" Questioned the Hat.
"I don't know." Said Harry chuckling before he asked, "So, great Hat, powerful and wise one, what will be my House?" Harry had a little of laugh in his tone.
"Another prankster and joker!" Said the Hat exasperated before he turned serious and said: "You are very inteligent like the Ravenclaws, hard worker as the Hufflepuffs, brave as the Gryffindors..." He would continue but Harry cut him off.
"And stupid like one too." Said with a sigh the teen.
"Ambiscious as a Slitherin. You are a hard one!" Said the Hat without being disturbed by Harry's comment.
"Do it quick. Say Gryffindor or I'll reduce you to ashes." Threatened Harry.
"Oh, that's... bad. So we'll do as you want." Said the Hat in his ear, before he shouted to the whole Hall: "GRYFFINDOR!!!"
"Thanks, you'll live to make another sorting." Said Harry with an evil grin before he went to sit next to his sister who had a big smile in her face. All of the students of the table, greeted him shaking his hand or clapping his back. Harry smile to them before he turned his attention to Dumbledore once more.
"Let's begin with the Feast!" Said the Headmaster clapping his hands and making appear the food.
For a while, the only noise that you could hear at the Hall, was the one maid by the forks, knives and plates while the students were eating. Harry talked a little with his new yearmates. They were like in his own Universe, so he didn't need to know anything new.
"When can you show us your abbilities on a broom?" Asked Alicia to Harry while they were eating.
"Tomorrow's saturday. Find me at the pitch at 9.00. You'll see it by yourself." Answered Harry with a smile.
"I'll be there." Said Alicia watching the Professor Dumbledore standing in the High Table and getting ready to speak. The 4 Tables went silent to hear what the Headmaster had to tell them.
"Now that all of you have eaten, I have a few announcements to do." Began Dumbledore to speak, "First of all, the Forest that is near the School is FORBIDDEN to all the students. Some of the old and new ones, should remember it very well."
Here the Headmaster looked to the Weasley Twins, Paul and Harry. The 4 smiled innocently to the Dumlbledore with a puppy face and one that said: "I don't know what you are talking about." Of course, those faces didn't convince anyone, especially the old Wizard.
"Hogsmeade is also forbidden to all the students younger to Third Year and those ones who doesn't have permission. Also the students aren't allowed to visit the city in the days that there isn't vists."
At this moment, the situation that had happened with the Forest, happened again. If someone had doubts about the behavior of the four, now they didn't. This message was sent clearly to them again.
"Madame Hooch asked me to tell the Captains of the Quidditch Teams that they should contact her to decide the date of the tryouts of their teams.
"Mr. Filch, the Caretaker, has informed me that he added another 20 things to his list of forbidden things to use. The complete list can be seen in his office. Also, I must remind that magic in the Corridors is not allowed.
"Now, everyone to sleep! Prefects take you students to the Towers!" Said Dumbledore clapping his hands with a smile.
Harry stood up and followed his sister and the other players of the Team to the Tower chatting and laughing. He noticed that in fifth year, only Padma had a Prefect's Badge. He wondered who was the boy prefect. He asked it to Alicia, who was the Head Girl.
"No idea. In my letter, it was informed only Padma as Prefect. I'll ask it to McGonagall later." Answered Alicia before they entered to the Common Room.
"Hey, Harry, are you planning something to begin the year?" Asked Fred with an evil grin when the boys went upstairs to their rooms.
"Maybe. Goodnight, Fred." Said Harry before he entered in his room and went straight to his bed. He had a nice idea for a prank, but he would do it in a few days. He fell asleep 5 minutes after his head touched the pillow.
****
The next morning, he woke up 8.30. After he changed his clothes, he took his Ghost Rider and went to the Common Room where Alicia was waiting for him with Katie and Angelina.
"Good morning, girls." Said Harry with a smile before the 4 went to the pitch.
"Where did you get the broom?" Asked Katie shocked when she recognized it.
"At my old home. I played with a Firebolt till it was destroyed this summer." Said Harry not happy with the memory.
"Nice change! From a Firebolt to a Ghost Rider!" Said Angelina impressed.
"Ok, show us what you can do." Said Alicia seriously when they reached to the pitch.
"I'm at your orders." Said Harry before he kicked off and began to fly. Harry began to fly, made movements of Seekers, loops and turns in dangerous positions.
The 3 Chasers looked at him impressed. He was really good and Alicia understood what he had meant when he said that he worthed the broom that he had. It was an excellent player on the best broom.
"Impressive, right?" Said Cedric Diggory going to where the girls were and watching Harry flying.
"You can say it, man!" Said Katie shocked by Harry's abbility.
"Is it true that he made you a Wronski Feint and you bought it?" Asked Angelina curious to know that if the rumor was true.
"Yes, he did it." Sighed Cedric not happy with the memory.
"Look at that!" Exclaimed Alicia watching Harry diving at top speed from more than 50 meters.
Harry, who had seen the group, went to them on purpouse. He put his broom in horizontal position and he turned his body upside down. His hair touched the grass and he continued in his race towards the group. Before he would crash against Alicia, he stopped his broom suddenly and recuperated his normal position.
"Was it enough for you?" Laughed Harry watching the shocked faces of the 4.
"It was..." Began to tell Alicia, but she couldn't find the words from the shock that she had.
"Superb!" Exclaimed Katie when she recovered form her chock.
"Excellent!" Added Angelina.
"Does it mean that I'm part of this team?" Asked Harry descending from the broom.
"YOU BET IT!!!!" Shouted the 3 Chasers at the same time.
"There will be a rematch then!" Laughed Harry shaking Cedric's hand.
"You have a deal!" Assured Cedric seriously when they finished the shake.
"Who did teach you to dive like that?" Asked Katie still recovering from the shock.
"I'm natural. A dive like that, made me enter the team without having finished my first class of flight on my life!" Laughed Harry before he told the story of that class.
"Cool!" Said Katie with a smile.
"Who are they?" Asked Harry to the others pointing to a groups of students going to the pitch. He knew who were them: The Quidditch Team of Ravenclaw.
"Ravenclaw's Team." Explained Katie while Roger went to them.
"Will you use the Pitch or we can have it to train?" Asked Davied to Alicia and Cedric.
"It's yours, we came to test a possible player." Said Alicia pointing to the Chasers and Harry.
"I came to fly a while, but I'll return later." Said Cedric before he returned to the Castle.
"Roger Davies. You are Professors Potter's nephew, right?" Asked Roger extending his hand to Harry.
"Yep, but I would like to be seen not only by my family." Laughed Harry shaking it.
"No problem." Laughed Davies before he asked: "Seeker, right?"
"Our new one." Said Alicia before she motioned the others to return the Castle for breakfast.
"Who are the other Seekers?" Asked Harry casually to the girls.
"From Ravenclaw, the Seeker is Cho Chang. She's easy to recognize in the Team. She's the only girl in the Titular Team." Said Katie sitting in the Gryffindor table with the others.
"Slitherin's Seeker is Malfoy. The worst one in the School." Said Alicia.
"Cedric is the one of Hufflepuff." Added Angelina.
"And I'm the Gryffindor's." Chuckled Harry. The 3 Chasers laughed a little before they returned the atention to their brakfast.
"Why do you have the broom with you, Harry?" Asked Mary a little confused, when she sat with the group 15 minutes later.
"He passed the test and is our new Seeker." Explained Katie to the Keeper.
"Welcome to the team!" Said Fred when he sat down to eat listening Katie's words.
"How good is he?" Asked George after clapping Harry's back.
"The best." Said Alicia before he told the other players what Harry had done at the Pitch.
"Wow!" Was the only coherent thing that the Twins could say when she finished her explanation.
They went on eating, till the twins and the others caught something in Harry's face and knew inmediately that something was going to happen soon. Harry looked the Slytherin's table with an evil grin and eyes full of joy.
"Cover me." Whispered Harry to the others taking his wand and pointing it to the part of the table where Malfoy was.
The group of players made a little hole to give him a clean shot towards the Slytherins and covered him so he wouldn't be noticed. Harry said a few words and took his position again, motioning the others to the same.
"What will happen?" Asked all of them together at the same time.
"You'll know soon. Now come with me." Said Harry standing and leaving the Hall with the others.
"Why do we leave? We want to see it!" Said Fred not happy.
"Guys, think this: If we are there when it happens, guess who will be blamed?" Said Harry as if it was nothing.
"What do you suggest then?" Asked Mary agreeing with Harry.
"This." Said Harry before he casted an invisibility charm in the whole goup and motioning them to enter again to the Hall.
Harry and the others waited for the beggining. A few minutes before the end of the breakfast, it happened. In the Slytherin's table there were many "pops" and appeared a big cloud of white smoke that vanished after a few seconds.
When everyone could see the table again, they burst out in laughter. Many of the students had diferent colors of hair, others were wearing old fashioned clothes, boys with lots of make up, strange hats, rings and other things.
The professors looked confused. All of them turned their atention to the Gryffindor's table looking for Harry, Paul and the Twins. Their confussion grew more and more when they didn't see them there.
"Let's get out of here before these charms dissapears!" Whispered in a fit of laughter Harry to the group while the teachers went to the Slytherin's table to help the students of the House.
The whole group left the Hall once again and began to walk to a empty classroom. There Harry removed the charms and all of them burst out in laughter once more.
"It was the best prank I've ever seen!" Said Alicia trying to control her laughter.
"Ok, if anyone asks, we went to the Tower to get our brooms. Let's go before anyone get suspitious and begins to look for us." Said Harry leading the way back to the Gryffindor Tower.
****
"Weasley! Weasley! Potter! Potter! Come here right now!" Shouted McGonagall to Harry, Paul and the Twins 20 minujtes later, when she found them at the pitch flying and training with the other players.
"Which Potters?" Asked Paul going on flying.
"Harry and you!" Shouted Minerva seriously to Paul.
"Yes, Professor?" Asked Harry putting his most straight face when the 4 of them landed next to their Head of House.
"Who did it?" Asked McGonagall angrily, while Lily, James and Dumbledore went to them.
"We don't know what you are talking about, Professor." Said Fred putting his most straight voice and face.
"The prank of a while ago!" Said Minerva furiously.
"What prank?" Asked Alicia landing next to he teammates, faking confussion.
"We've been here for almost 1 hour!" Said Paul showing his broom.
"You know very well what we're talking about, kids." Said Lily sternly to her sons and the Weasley boys.
"We don't!" Exclaimed everyone at the same time.
"Why do you always suspect of us when something happens?" Asked Fred with a groan.
"Because you are always behind it!" Said McGonagall furious.
"What proof do you have to say that we did whatever has happened this time?" Asked George in a serious tone.
"We weren't even there when it happened!" Added Harry defending himself and the others.
"At least you have a way to prove that Fred, George, Harry or Paul did it, we'll continue with our training!" Said Alicia before she kicked off and started to fly again. Her teammates did the same a few moments later.
The 4 Professors watched them in confussion. It was true, they didn't have any way to prove it, but all of them knew that they had done it in one or another way. Defeated, they returned to the Hall, knowing that the pranksters had done it and got away with it.
Although none of the teachers saw it, there was a look of victory in the faces of the players and the pranksters. That look didn't go from their faces in the whole weekend.
****
"One of them did it!" Said Minerva when the 4 adults were in Albus' office a while later.
"We know that! But they are right in something: we can't prove it!" Said Lily angrily.
"They were there! If any prankster plays something a prank like that, he would like to be there to see it!" Said James who was the most experienced prankster in the group.
"But we can't prove it!" Said McGonagall angry and defeated.
"The questions are 2: who and how did it? Where were they? If they were at the Hall, why didn't we see them?" Said Lily.
"If I have to put my money on someone, that one is Harry. He's the only one who could have done it." Said James with a proud grin.
"Still we don't know where they were or why we couldn't see them if they were at the Great Hall in that moment." Said Lily in an angry tone of voice.
"Invisibility Charms." Said Albus with his eyes twinkling with full joy.
"They casted one in themselves." Said Minerva understanding everything.
"They were there, but no one saw them. They took the Chasers with them, so they could say that they went to the Pitch when the prank was played. They thought in everything." Said James conecting every clue in his head.
"They tricked us. We know that it was them, but still we can't prove it." Said Lily understanding everything.
"You said it: they tricked us. It worked perfectly well." Chuckled Albus.
"They knew that we would suspect of them inmediately after the prank was played. They dissapeared a few minutes before, watched it invisibles, went to the tower, took their brooms and went to train after the work was done. No one saw them in the moment of the prank, doing it or casting the charms, so they can't get caught or punished by it." Said Minerva with anger.
"They tricked us and did a great job in it." Summed up Dumbledore with a smile.
"An excellent one." Said James defeated. The same feeling was in his wife and in Minerva.
****
Harry, Paul and the Twins decided to stop with the pranks for a while. They knew that if something happened, they would be suspected again. They were sure that the Professors had realized the trick with the charms and would be ready for a next time that it was used.
All the professors began to watch very carefully their movements. James and Lily ussually had the Map ready to watch them. When they saw that no prank was played, they realized that the 4 pranksters had decided to wait a while till the things had calmed down to play a new one. The adults had to wait till that moment.
The monday, the classes would begin again. Harry had a mix of feelings about it: the thoughts of loss about Ron and Hermione had returned once more with a little more of strenght. It would be his first year without them: no study sessions at the library, Divination's faked schoolwork, long chat in the Common Room, no misteries to solve, no teachers trying to kill them. It would be a hard year.
His parents, Godparents, Remus and Dumbledore hoped that he would be able to survive and could go on with his life again normally. But they knew that it only depended of Harry. They decided to wait for his reaction.
The Monday's morning, Harry woke up and went down to the breakfast with the other boys of fifth year. He began to talk with Dean and Seamus about the things that they had studied in the previous years and what they suspected that they woul study that year.
"Maybe McGonagall will begin with Animagus this year." Said Dean sitting with the girls of their year at the table.
"Not till seventh year." Said Alicia listening his words.
"Pity." Said sadly Dean.
"When will be the tryout for the Seeker position, Alicia?" Asked someone.
"It's filled. Harry's the new Seeker. He was tested the Saturday by me, Alicia and Angelina and passed the exam with the best marks." Said Katie with a wide smile.
"Hey, why don't you have tryouts to the reserve team? I mean the 5 of you graduates this year, and I don't know how long I'll be at the School." Said Harry to the other players.
"Yeah, I guess we can do it." Said Alicia thinking a few minutes.
"We'll talk it with Hooch and McGonagall later." Added Katie before everyone stood up and went to classes.
Harry checked his schedule and sighed. His first class was with his Godmother. He wasn't sure that he wanted to see her after the prak of the saturday. He followed the others and sat down at the end of the classroon abd began to wait till the Professor came in and started the class.
"This year," Began McGonagall when she entered the Classroom, "all of you will have the O.W.L.s. This exams will be very important for your future and your education.
"You will sit for exams in every subject that you study. These will be: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, History of the Magic, Astronomy, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Also there will be exams for: Ancient Runes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggles Studies. In those exams you'll be tested in everything you have learnt in the School these last 5 years, or 2 in the cases of the optatives.
"You can get a basic, intermediate and advanced O.W.L.s. in the regular subjects and basic and intermediate in your selectives. The most that you can get are 25 O.W.L.s." Finished Minerva her explanation.
"Which is the usual number that the students get, Professor?" Asked Parvati.
"Usually, among 8 and 15. The most O.W.L.s that a student in this School has got are 19. That student was in the School 2 centuries ago. I don't remember his name now." Explained McGonagall to the class.
After a few more explanations, they began with the work: they had to change a plate to the things listed in a parchment. Harry found that it was rather easy for him and before 45 minutes later the beggining of the class, he had finished his work.
Bored, he took an old quill that he had in his pocket and began to make a few transfigurations to it. He decided to change it in a teddy bear, but he would add a few things to it. First he changed it to the teddy bear, then he did it in a leather jacket. His next one was red wig, then he changed it in a pair of glasses and a book later. He turned it in a drawing of a lightning and a cigarrete in the end. Picturing the Teddy bear in the way that he wanted, he flicked his wand once more.
He couldn't help but smile when he saw the teddy bear at the last transfiguration. It had red fur as the wig, was wearing a leather jacket with a lightning in the back, a book in his left hand, a cigarrette in his mouth and a pair of glasses like his ones.
He was thinking if he would return it to the quill or leave it like the bear, when everyone began to clap. Surprised, he turned around and saw that all of the students and the Professor were watching him in awe. Harry blushed completely, he hadn't noticed that he was watched.
"Nice work." Said Minerva watching the bear carefully with a smile in her lips.
"Thanks." Said Harry sheepisly. Then he added to his godmother: "I hadn't realized that all of you were watching me."
"You caught our atention." Chuckled Minerva before she added: "50 for Gryffindor for your excellent job."
"Thanks. Do you want a copy? It cost 5 Sickles." Said Harry with an evil grin.
"You are selling it?" Asked McGonagall shocked.
"It was my quill. I need to buy a new one." Laughed Harry shrugging his shoulders.
"You are crazy." Said Minerva before she took the money and gave it to him.
"Duplicatus." Said Harry pointing his wand to the bear. Inmediately, there was another bear next to the original. Harry took the money from his Godmother and gave the bear to her.
"Thanks." Said the Head of Gryffindor putting the bear in her desk.
The rest of the class passed quietly without any disturbance. When the bell rang and all of them got ready to go to Care of Magical Creatures, the next class, McGonagall called all the boys saying that she needed to speak with them.
"I'm sure that you have noticed that I didn't name any Prefect of the boys this year. I've decided that I'll choose one of you after the first 2 weeks of classes. To be chosen, I'll take consideration of your work in all the classes, points lost and earned and behavior. In our first class of the third week of this term, I'll tell who is it. Is that clear?" Asked the Professor in a serious tone of voice to the 5 boys in front of her.
"Yes, Professor." Said all of them nodding.
"Mr. Potter, stay a minute, please. The rest, go to class." Said the Head of Gryffindor dismissing the other students.
"What's wrong, Professor?" Asked Harry confused when the others left.
"Where did you learn the invisibility charm?" Asked the Professor seriously.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Harry faking confussion.
"You know very well what I'm talking about. If you want the badge here, stop with the pranks for 2 weeks. After that, do whatever you want. Is that understood?" Asked Minerva to her godson seriously, when the the seventh year's students came in the classroom.
"Yes, Professor, very clear." Nodded Harry solemnly before he asked: "Something else? I don't want to loose points my first day of class after earning 50."
"Miss Spinnet, come here a moment please." Called McGonagall to the Head Girl.
"Yes, Professor?" Asked Alicia confused.
"Like both of you want to be trained in Animagus, I would like to make a schedule for it. Come here tonight after the dinner and we'll decide it. Does any of you have problems with that?" Asked McGonagall seriously to the students.
"No, Professor." Said both students at the same time.
"Go to your next class, Mr. Potter." Said Minerva dismissing Harry and turning her atention to the class.
Harry left the Classroom and began to run towards Hagrid's Hut. Checking his watch, he saw that he was almost 20 minutes late for it. He ran faster and reached there breathing hard and taking his ribs that started to hurt again.
"Are you ok, Harry?" Asked Lily worried watching her son's actions.
"Yes, I'm fine. Damn it! The ribs didn't heal completely!" Said Harry touching them trying to calm his pain.
"How did you break them?" Asked his mother confused.
"Vernon used me as a hitting bag this summer." Said Harry trying to calm down the pain but failling miserably.
"Why don't you go with Poppy? She'll be able to heal them." Said Lily angry with her brother in law and worried by her son.
"I guess you are right. See you later." Said Harry beggining to walk towards the Castle.
When he reached there, he began to walk slowly to the Hospital wing. His ribs hurted like the hell. It was really hard to do it. He had to stop every few meters to rest a while.
"Are you ok?" Asked someone near him. Harry turned to see the person and found Remus watching him worriedly.
"Can you help me to go the Infirmary? I can't walk very well." Said Harry before he blacked out.
****
When Harry woke up, he found himself in a hospital bed again. He tried to remember what had happened and the memories of the pain went back. He sat slowly in the bed and saw that he was alone.
"You are awake, I see." Said Madame Pomfrey going to his side.
"How long? What happened?" Asked Harry drinking a glass of water.
"You fainted 6 hours ago. You had a few broken ribs that I had to heal. You were in a bad shape, I'll tell you." Said the Matron seriously checking Harry once more.
"I didn't realize it, Madame Pomfrey." Said Harry sarcastically, before he asked: "When can I leave?"
"In a while." Said Poppy before she called his parents through the fireplace.
James and Lily appeared a few moments later. James began to talk with Pomfrey while Lily when to sit with her son. After a few moments, James went with them.
"Why didn't you tell us about the ribs?" Asked Lily sternly.
"Pomfrey healed them in my Universe. I guess that something went wrong. After all, I went through a Mentalus Imagus Charm, a duel with Voldemort and one or two more things. If you don't know, that Charms isn't very pleasant." Stated the teen seriously to his parents.
"Sorry, we were worried. Suddenly, Remus went to see us saying that you fainted in the half of the corridors." Said Lily worried.
"It's ok." Said Harry with a tired smile, before he changed the subject and asked: "So, you discovered the trick of the prank?"
"You did it, right?" Asked James interested in his words.
"I will never admit it." Said the teen with a mischievious smile.
"He did it!" Thought both professors at the same time, but none of them told those thoughts.
"Don't worry, for 2 weeks I won't play any prank." Said Harry with a little groan.
"Why?" Asked Lily curious.
"If I want the Prefect's badge here, I have to stop doing them for the next 2 weeks." Explained Harry.
"Two quiet weeks!" Chuckled Albus entering the room and listening Harry's words.
"Quiet from me! I don't control the twins or Paul!" Said Harry laughing.
"We'll survive with their pranks." Said James laughing.
"If you say so." Said Harry getting up from the bed.
"What are you doing?" Asked Lily seriosuly.
"Didn't I tell you that I hate hospitals?" Said Harry with a sigh. When they nodded, he added: "I'm leaving."
"I'll call Poppy." Sighed Lily going to look for the Matron.
Madame Pomfrey checked him carefully, especially his ribs. After she finished, he was allowed to leave and return to the Tower with 1000 indications from her. Harry nodded and shook his head when it was necessary. He just wanted to leave as fast as he could.
"Did you listen any of his recomendations?" Asked Albus chuckling when they left the Hospital and went to the Great Hall.
"After 5 years and more than 7 visits here, I never did, do or will listen them." Said Harry simply sitting in the Gryffindor Table for dinner while the 3 adults went to the High Table.
"What happened with you?" Asked Katie when he sat and began to eat.
"We were told that you fainted." Added Alicia worried.
"This summer, I broke a few ribs and they didn't heal completely. From time to time, they hurt. After I left Transfiguration's Classroom, I ran towards Hagrid's hut and they hurted a lot. When I tried to reach the Hospital Wing, I blacked out in the middle of a corriedor." Explained Harry eating a piece of chicken.
"Are you ok now?" Asked Fred after he finished speaking.
"Madame Pomfrey healed them. They shouldn't cause me more problems." Said Harry simply.
"Are you planning something else like the Saturday's prank?" Asked George interested.
"If I want a chance to get the Prefect's badge this year, I don't have to play any prank for 2 weeks. After that, I'm free to cause terror once more at the School." Said the teen with a mischievious smile to his friends.
"2 WEEKS???" Asked the Twins and Pual terrified with the news.
"2 long weeks." Sighed Harry.
"Bad!" Sad Fred with a groan.
"Yep, very bad." Said Harry with a groan before he said in a whisper: "It doesn't mean that I can't give ideas for pranks." In his face there was a big and evil grin.
"Anything in mind?" Asked the 3 pranksters at the same time.
"Give me 3 or 4 days, and I'll get something." Said Harry misteriously, before he turned to Dean and asked him about the things that they had done in class after Transfiguration.
After the desserts and before they went back to the Tower, Harry saw that his Godmother was talking animatedly with his parents and Sirius. He followed this with atention. He saw the Teddy Bear with her and guessed that McGonagall was telling them about it. The 3 seemed impressed by this. Lily's expression changed suddenly of proud to one of anger.
"She told her about the 5 Sickles." Thought Harry watching his mother calling him to leave the Hall with her.
"What did you do this time?" Asked confused Fred watching her call and Harry standing to leave.
"A bussiness with McGonagall." Was Harry's answer before he left the Hall.
Lily and Harry left the Hall silently. The teen, remembering that he had to talk with McGonagall after dinner, leaded his mother to her classroom. Lily looked at him confused by this, but followed him. They closed the door after they entered.
"I have to speak with her after dinner." Said Harry simply.
"Tell me that Minerva was kidding about the bear." Said Lily angry.
"If you mean if I sold her, she wasn't. She bought her copy for 5 Sickles." Said Harry before he added: "You can buy a copy too at the same price."
"Are you crazy?!?" Asked the Professor shouting furiously.
"Yes, completely insane." Said Harry with a smile.
"Harry!" Exclaimed exasperated Lily watching her son carefully.
"What? It was my quill! I have to buy another one. With the money, I will." Said Harry with an innocent smile.
Lily began to take deep breaths. In that moment she was tempted to kill him. After the prank, now he had decided to make bussiness with the teachers! She needed almost 5 mknutes to get her control over herself again.
"What's wrong with it? If she didn't want to do it, she didn't need to buy it!" Said Harry defending himself of a sure death.
"Don't do more bussiness like that, is that understood?" Warned Lily calming herself completely.
"I don't promise nothing." Said Harry simply.
"What do you need to talk with her about?" Asked Lily, seeing that she wouldn't win that argument.
"I asked her to train me." Explained Harry as if it was a little detail.
"Animagus training?" Asked Lily a little shocked and confused
"Yes." Said the teen with a smile.
"Why didn't you ask help to dad, me or Sirius?" Asked Lily shocked by the words.
"I Want to do it alone without you." Said Harry simply watching Minerva and Alicia entering the Office in that moment.
"Goodnight, Professor Evans, Harry." Said Alicia seeing her teacher and her teammate.
"Goodnight, Miss Spinnet." Said Lily before she turned to leave the Office. Before she left, she turned towards Harry and said: "Our conversation hasn't finished." After that she left the office.
"What's her matter?" Asked Alicia to Harry in a whisper.
"I'll tell you later." Said Harry before he turned his atention to McGonagall.
"To train you, I'll put only one condition: both of you will be registered. I will NEVER EVER train a student to become an illegal animagus. If any of you had in mind be illegal, I'll ask you to leave now." Warned their Head of House in a tone that left no place to arguments.
Both students remained in their places. It was more then obvious that if they asked help to her, the idea of being illegals was impossible. Harry had in mind register himself at the end of the year if he was in this Universe or after his Graduation in case he returned to his own Universe.
"Tonight, I'll cast the Charm to know your Animagus Form if you have one. Also, we'll decide the schedule of the training. Does any of you have any question before we start?" Said Minerva watching the students.
"How long will it take us to become an Animagus?" Asked Harry, thinking in something that has rounded all the summer.
"Maybe for Easter or before, the training will be finished." Said McGonagall thinking a few minutes.
"Is it possible to have more than a form?" Asked Alicia curiously.
"Possible, yes. But it's rather unusual and rare. Something else?" Asked McGonagall.
"No." Said both students shaking their heads.
"Who will be the first?" Asked the Professor to the teens.
"The ladies first." Said Harry with a smile giving the first place to Alicia.
"Thanks." Said the Chaser nodding to her Head of House.
"Animas Bistear!" Said McGonagall pointing her wand to the Head Girl.
Inmediately, a white light involved Alicia and her shadow began to change slowly. After almost 10 minutes, the 3 of them could see her form: a Unicorn. Alicia watched this with a wide smile.
"Nice form, Alicia." Said Harry before he nodded to McGonagall so she would begin with the spell.
The Head of Gryffindor repeated the spell on him and ghis shadow began to change. This time, it didn't show only a form. It showed 5 different ones: a hawk, a Phoenix, a Dragon, a tiger, and a Gryffin.
The 3 people in the room were completely shocked and looked the shadows in awe. It took them 10 minutes to get the control again and could speak coherently.
"5 forms." Said Alicia when she could think something to say.
"Cool." Said Harry with a smile trying to pass the initial shock.
"Nice forms, Mr. Potter." Said McGonagall with pride after the shock had dissapeared.
"I guess having 5 forms was something nearly impossible, right, Professor?" Asked Alicia remembering what her Professor had said before.
"Before this, my answer would be yes, Miss Spinnet. This proves that it's possible." Said Minerva, before she changed of subject and said: "Ok, we could start training next week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday after dinner. In case that you have training in Quidditch, we'll change that day. Is it ok for both of you?" Asked to the students.
"It's ok for me." Said Alicia while Harry nodded to this.
"Very well, come here next Monday and we'll begin." Said Minerva dismissing the 2 students.
"Great forms, Harry!" Said Alicia excited when they left the Office and began to walk towards the Tower.
"Yours isn't bad either." Chuckled Harry.
"What happened with your Aunt?" Asked the girl remembering the warning of Lily.
"She got a little angry by something that I did with McGonagall." Said Harry and explained to her what had happened in class with the bear and the sale of it.
"Can I see the bear?" Asked Alicia interested.
"Sure." Said Harry taking it off from his bag. He had the bag with him after he left the Infirmary.
"5 Sickles? Do you sell them by 5 Sickles?" Asked Alicia watching the tedy bear with a nice face.
"Yes. Maybe I'll make others later. But, I'll sell them at that price. Do you want to buy one?" Said Harry when they reached to the Common Room after giving the Password to the Fat lady.
"Wait a minute here." Said Alicia before she went upstair to her room. When she came down, she gave Harry 5 coins.
"Duplicatus." Said Harry poin ting his wand to the bear. A copy of the original appeared next to it. Harry took her money and gave the copy to her.
"Thanks." Said Alicia putting the bear at her pocket.
"Do you have an old quill? If I want to make more, I need something like that. And this bear was created with my last one." Said Harry putting the money in his pocket.
"I don't have any, but I think Katie does. I'll ask her tomorrow." Said Alcia standing up and yawning.
"See you tomorrow, Alicia. I'll go to sleep too." Said harry going to his dorm.
"See you tomorrow, Harry." Said the girl going to her dorm.
When Harry entered his dorm, the other boys were already sleeping. In silence, he put his pj and went to sleep. He fell asleep 5 minutes later.