WARNING – OotP spoilers!
The Legacy of the Founders :: By: JoC a.k.a JkReviewer
::
Chapter III – Legendary Legacy
"Firs' years over 'ere!" a roaring voice sounded just as they exited the train. Harry was relieved to find that Hagrid was greeting them all – just as he always had. "Thank god everything isn't different this year…" he murmured to himself. They made their way over to the nearest free coach, throwing their stuff in first. Just as he was about to close the door, Marietta – Cho's friend – appeared right in front of them. She stared intensely at Harry for about two seconds, before turning her gaze to the ground.
"I'm really sorry about last year, Cho told…" She was suddenly interrupted by a very furious Ron. "Well take your petty excuses somewhere else! Sneak…" Ron gave her a look like she was lower than the dirt under his shoes. Marietta started sobbing, and although Ron had said exactly what Harry, himself, was thinking – he still felt a little sad for her. Hermione gave Ron a look of disgust, and then turned to Marietta. "What were you saying?"
She looked a little shocked from being yelled at. Tears began to drop from her eyes, and she ran of sobbing loudly. Ron sat back, white with rage.
"Why do you always have to be so forgiving to people?" Ron yelled at Hermione. She was wearing her don't-mess-with-me face, but somehow Ron had found courage enough to express his opinion. Harry thought he had learned from past experiences that you shouldn't mess with Hermione, when she was mad. "Why do you always have to such a heartless git?" She took a deep breath, as if preparing to unleash a full barrage of arguments. "She just said she was sorry and she even did it in person!"
The argument lasted all the way to the castle, when Hermione closed it by yelling to a very defeated Ron: "…and wouldn't you have done the same if some guy you didn't know, told you do the opposite of what your parents told you?"
Normally it would take Hermione and Ron the rest of the day, or at least a couple of hours to cool down again, but this time they just eyed each other for a couple of minutes, before turning their gaze to Harry and the flowered letter. He had taken it again for a little refreshment "That looks just like that 'quickup' letter you had at King's Cross!" Ron smiled stupidly. "Has Cho become your personal health-carer?" He said with a smirk. Hermione giggled.
Harry didn't want to talk about Cho right now. He didn't even know how he felt about her. A week ago if anyone had asked him, he would have answered that would have nothing to with that crybaby. But now he wasn't so sure anymore.
It started raining just as they reached the steps to the main entrance. All the students stood in line, 7th years first and 2nd years last. The 1st years were still in the boats on the way over the lake. Being a 6th year student did have its benefits after all Harry thought, as they got to inside fairly quickly compared to the lower grades. They looked fresh out of the pool and Ron couldn't help laugh a bit, getting even more looks from Hermione.
Professor McGonagall took pity in all the wet students when she greeted them, using some sort of mass-drying spell to make everyone clean and fit for the feast. The doors to the hall swung open and everybody hurried inside, eager to get their hands on the delicious food. Harry sat next to Ron, Hermione on the other side. She smiled warmly to the petrified first-years that had just walked in. "Good luck with the troll…" Ron suddenly said to an already scared blonde-girl. "Don't mind the fangs…" he continued to the next one in line.
"Ron! Stop it, you scaring them witless!" Hermione said, while giving Ron a swooping palm hit to the back of his head. "But Hermione it's tradition to scare the first years…" Ron defended. She gave him a very disapproving McGonagall face. Ron sighed. "Yes, mother…" Harry could help but laugh. He remembered his first day, like it was yesterday. How scared he had been of the sorting "test", how much he begged the Sorting hat not too put him Slytherin. And speaking of Slytherins, Harry wondered why he and Ron had only gotten one pair of insults each until now from Malfoy? Maybe that Whistle really has scared Malfoy – but knowing his usual determination it had to be something else! Harry put it out of his mind for now.
The hunger in Harry's stomach returned swiftly, and he wasn't sure he gathered much of the sorting hat's song. Something with "…the three had to act… made a special legacy… nice juicy steaks…" He wasn't quite sure he had heard the song complete correct, but who could ask him not to listen to his stomach when it growled like that?
Harry turned his attention back to the Sorting. Ulrike Barnes had just been sorted into Ravenclaw, receiving huge applauses from her Housemates. "Dachs, Martin" was called to forth. Harry noticed that his blond haired boy, with bright blue eyes – seemed very confident. Not like any of the other first years. He had barely lifted the hat from the chair before it yelled: "HUFFLEPUFF" This didn't seem to be a surprise to Martin at all. "I wish I had his confidence" as small voice behind Harry sighed. Harry turned around to see Neville Longbottom, another one of his dorm-mates eyeing the Hufflepuff boy jealously. Harry tried smiling encouraging. "Don't worry Neville about it Neville…" Neville just shook his head and turned his attention to the Sorting ones more.
When the last first year ("Xander, Lisa") had been sorted into Griffindor, and the applauses had faded, Dumbledore made his usual speech about not going to the Forbidden Forest and no magic in the corridors, then: "As you have all probably figured out, Dolores Umbridge is not the Defence against arts teacher this year!" Harry was sure he could spot a small smirk on Dumbledore's lips. "Instead it is my great pleasure to present the new teacher, miss Nymphedora Tonks!" Harry's mouth dropped, and so did Ron's. Hermione quickly joined the ovations. "Maybe we can finally learn from someone else than Harry this year…" His cheeks went red, but no one noticed. Tonks stood up, and started waving at everyone, knocking her wine glass of the table. "Hehe… Just as clumsy as always!" Ron grinned.
"And now…" Dumbledore spoke again "Feast!" Everybody at the Griffindor table seemed to be eating like they hadn't had any food for days. But then again, who could resist juicy steaks, butter-roasted potatoes, green beans – Harry's mouth was watering like never before. The subject of talk at the table quickly went to how everybody had spent their summer vacation, most people it seemed, had gone through it without it without giving You-Know-Who to much thought – but one 3rd year had almost lost her uncle in a Death Eater attack. "It hasn't really begun yet," a 7th year said to his girlfriend opposite. They exchanged gloomy looks before returning to their Pumpkin pies.
Two hours later when everyone had finished their third helpings of pancakes and ice cream, it was time to head for the Griffindor tower. The walk up all the stairs seemed longer to Harry than usual, but that might have something to do with him not sleeping much the past days. He just felt like walking in a trance, and at some point he almost fell asleep while turning a corner. Ron and Hermione tried to carry him some of the way, but he was just to heavy. "Now what do we do? Leave him?" Ron asked while yawning. Hermione just shook her head. "Don't be silly" She took out her wand and conjured an invisible stretcher that held Harry floating in mid-air. "We still have to drag him though." They both sighed and dragged Harry all the way to the picture of the fat lady.
Hermione (who was getting a bit annoyed with sleeping Harry) slapped him, not so gentle to wake him up. He awoke, and slowly rolled over off the stretcher. Ron just managed to hide his laugh in a cough. "Aww..! That really hurt!" Harry looked at them like they pushed him of it. "Transfiguru" Hermione said loudly as if to burn it into Harry's still half-sleeping mind. "It's the password…" she said while walking through.
Harry must have fallen asleep again after walking through because the next thing he remembered was lying in his bed, fully dressed. He tried lifting his arm but he was just too tired. The small letter Cho had given him fell out of his inner pocket. He unwrapped it slowly, taking in the flowery scent. Even the awakening charm on it couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. He fell a sleep with a strange smile on his face wishing that tomorrow would go as smooth as today!
* * *
Harry's naive dream of a pleasant day was already taken away from him at the breakfast table, when everybody was handed their schedules. "Double potion's Monday morning?" Ron said while banging his head at the table. Harry felt like joining him. The chances of Snape acting fairly towards Harry and the other Griffindors, was just as good as Malfoy and Ron being best friends. Why had he taken N.E.W.T year potions? "We don't have Defence against the Dark arts until tomorrow." Hermione noticed. Harry couldn't wait to see how Tonks would handle it this year. Harry looked to where Tonks was sitting at the teacher's table. Her hair was a bright neon blue colour, and was about a meter long. She smiled and waved at him, when she saw he was watching her. Harry returned to his toast, buttering it quickly, realising that Potions started in five minutes. He ate it in three bites and poked Ron in the side. "Aww… What did you do that for?" Harry sighed. "We gomma be lade 'orr potioms!"
Ron gave him a puzzled look, but Harry didn't wait to tell him again. He picked up his stuff and started walking, while gesturing to Ron to follow him. "Ohh… right! Potions! Why didn't you just say so?" Harry shook his head, trying to hit Ron on the head for his stupid comment. Hermione joined them on the stairs to the Dungeon. Harry noticed that there were a lot of people he didn't really know walking the sae way he did. "Who are they?" He said, having finally swallowed his food. "I think they're from Ravenclaw. In N.E.W.T year there aren't enough people who choose those Potions so keep the classes separated!" Ron looked like Christmas had come early. "Does that mean we will be rid of Malfoy?" His eyes lit up like lumos spell.
"I see the standards has been lowered this year…" a familiar sneering voice said behind them. "Mudblodds and Weasels are accepted too. This school is going down the drain faster than expected!" Malfoy seemed to have regained some of his "charming" attitude. Ron was fumbling with his pockets, obviously trying to find the whistle when Harry retaliated. "How was summer vacation Malfoy? I bit lonely without daddy?"
Malfoy's face went white with fury. "You'll pay Potter…" he hissed with gritted teeth. "You'll pay sooner or later…" He went for his wand but just at the same moment Ron had found his whistle and blown it. This time it wasn't the hand that appeared, but a big slimy pool of living mud. It crept towards Malfoy and was just about to attack him, when it turned to dust. Ron stared dumbfounded at the big pile of dried up mud. "Cute toy, Mr. Weasley…" Snape had appeared out of nowhere just in time to save Malfoy. "But no magic in the hallways, means no magic in the hallways! Ten points from Griffindo… oh that's right. You don't have any points. Well detention then, Mr. Weasley!" Snape's evil grin broadened. "Report to Mr. Filch office tomorrow evening at seven!"
Two hours later, after having to endure endless accusations about his mental state from Snape, the Potions class was over. Nobody said anything. They had been brewing silence potions and the effect lasted for 15 minutes. Harry wondered why the bothered making a silencing potion, when the Silencio hex existed. But who was he to explain the thoughts of Snape. *Sigh*
When they returned to Great hall later that day for lunch Harry overheard two seventh year students talking. "Finally we have a good DADA teacher again! Not since Professor Lupin have I been able to stay awake a whole class." The guy smiled at the girl next too him like that was a great accomplishment. "Uhg… Sometimes I even wonder why you are in Ravenclaw!" He didn't hear her or he didn't care – either way he just looked like he had won a gold medal. Harry kept staring at him while me made his way over to another person, possibly to share his amazing story. So Tonks' lessons had been good. Harry smiled.
"Hi Harry" a voice just behind him, said. He spun around, faster than he meant to – almost toppling over. It was Cho. "Eh… Hi" Harry's mind was frozen solid. "I just wanted to know, is DA still on?" She looked anywhere but straight at him. It took him what seemed like ages to find his tongue. "I-I don't know, I mean the new DADA teacher should be quite good!" His reply seemed to have saddened her. "Damn" Harry thought. "But it might be, I'll talk to Hermione about it!" Cho scowled a bit. "Well, I'll talk to you later then." And with that she was walking on following her housemates to the Great Hall.
Harry still stood petrified. What was wrong with him, why did she still make him feel this way? Hadn't he just a month declared that he didn't care what she did, and who she dated. Harry shook his head, as if to empty his head of thoughts. In a way it worked, because his head hit the wall he was standing next to, and he almost passed out. "Harry!" Hermione came running over. "What are you doing? Come on lunch is waiting…"
Harry didn't eat much his thoughts kept wandering of. Ron noticed this. "So… thinking about anyone special!" he smirked. Harry knew he was only teasing him, but he still didn't want to talk about Cho. "Ehh… Just wondering about DA this year!" he said to Hermione as if it was her decision. "I don't know Harry – I mean Tonks must be quite good at Defence against the Dark arts. She is an Auror after all!" she said. Harry shrugged he didn't know either. Maybe he would know after their DADA class tomorrow.
After lunch the 6th years had History of Magic, which was still a required class. Binns, the ghost professor was the most boring of all. Ron's keep-awake record last year was 22 minutes, and although he had mentioned something about breaking it – Harry wasn't so sure he could make it. "Today's subject is about the founding of Hogwarts." Binns said while floating through the blackboard. Although this could have been an exiting subject, Harry felt his concentration slip with each word out of Binns mouth. "…the founder started to disagree…" Harry stared at his quill, which at this moment was very interesting compared to Professor Binns storytelling. "…and as you all know Salazar made the chamber of secrets…" His attention level rose a bit, but it seemed he was the only one. Harry's mouth dropped to the floor. Even Hermione slept and she was always awake. "… the three others suspected this, but they of course couldn't find it…" Harry even lifted his head from the desk to look now, a very rare happening indeed. "… legend say they constructed their own chamber, one that took not one but all three heirs to open, and that concludes this lesson. Good day!" Binns turned around and flew through the blackboard one again.
Harry couldn't keep his mind of the story – somehow he felt he needed to know more. He wanted to know all there was to know about it He chuckled to himself, this must be how Hermione felt all the time. Ron, who mistook Harry's absence in mind for love thoughts, teased him for hours getting into several arguments with Hermione. Harry didn't really notice, he still hadn't ditched his loss of sleep completely and went to his dorm early. "See you tomorrow guys," he said halfway through a yawn.
He was just about to close his eyes, went a loud Hooting broke it of. A big owl with very distinct markings over the eyes landed on his chest. "Get off!" he tried showing it away, but it was too heavy. The owl looked at him, like he had done something wrong. "What?" Harry said, forgetting the owl wouldn't answer him. It bit his fingers hard with it's beak, before giving him another look. It dropped a small folded letter, and took of out the window. "Bloody crazy bird..." Harry murmured to himself. He opened the letter, which was obviously from Cho.
Hi Harry
I just wanted to thank you for accepting my apology and all, and I'm really sorry about what happened in the train! I talked to a few of the other DA members, and they seem to want clarity to… Can we meet tomorrow in the astronomy tower at 11 pm?
Sleep well,
Cho
Harry folded the letter. Clarity? Somehow being their teacher last year had made Harry fell important and trusted, but he wasn't sure he could teach them anything new. Well, this would have to wait until tomorrow of he had had his first lessons with Tonks! He really hoped they would be good…
* * * * * *
Weeeee… I kept over 3000 words in every chapter so far… that's good right?
Disclaimer: If I did own Harry Potter I wouldn't be writing a fanfic about his 6th year would I? Hmm…
Maybe I would – anyways: I don't own any thing related to the Potter-universe that you can recognize! It all belongs to J.K.Rowling & Co.
Any criticism or comment you might have, about the story, the grammar, my weird sense of humour – I would be happy to hear it!
Pyromaniac – Thanks I guess. It's better being number two then being number 10! :)
I hope you will continue reading, I hoping to produce a chapter every day or every other day – and it should get better!
I hope that more people would want to review, what do you think of my writing style! Chapters too long? Any comment appreciated, eh… except comments like mo12's!
Please review – cuz those things are like energy bars to my creative brain! :D