Chapter Seventeen
Weasley vs. Weasel
Harry woke up the next morning feeling worse than he had ever felt. The sun was still in the rising, and from what he saw everyone in his dorm was asleep. He put on his glasses and lay back down and closed his eyes. He wanted to let go of everything he was hanging onto. He was longing to fall and he didn't want to care. but he did. Harry suddenly felt an urge to do something. anything. just something to get his mind off of whatever it was. He got out of his bed and went to his trunk. the stupid Potter box he couldn't open. his dad's invisibility cloak. the Marauder's map. nothing in here that sparked something for him to do. Actually, all this things made him sick. He didn't want to know anything else about his dad. his dad was dead, nothing would bring him back. Finally he just grabbed his broom and took off.
The castle was quiet and it seemed everyone was taking advantage of the first morning they had of rest. He stepped out onto the fresh, crisp morning. Harry made his way to the Quidditch Pitch. The breeze was prefect, the ground was hard and excitement ran through Harry's veins. It was like his first match, his first time flying. he closed his eyes. The only friend he had now was the pitch. It freed him with no questions of what and possibly the reason his year last year stunk so badly for was because he didn't have Quidditch to look forward to. He kicked off and everything fled from him. Pressures, pain, tears, laughter, smiles, lie, truths, trust and Sirius. they all dripped from his skin and fell to the ground. Up here there was nothing but him.
Harry didn't know how long he was in the air, but when he finely touched down a tiny crowd was sitting in the bleachers with breakfast in napkins watching him. Cheers rang out when he landed. People screamed, "We missed you Harry!" and other, "Harry Potter isn't famous for no reason!" Harry turned red and ran back to the castle.
He was sweating, his clothes stuck to his skin. He wanted to cry, but crying was a weakness, he wouldn't cry. The rest of the day Harry hid in the dungeon class room doing homework. Finally, after his stomach gave the last annoying growl he could take; Harry packed up and went to dinner.
When he entered the Great Hall and it froze. Slytherin all gave him a glare and pretend to ignore him. He quickly took a seat next to no one and piled his plate with food. He felt eyes bore into the back of his head and he messed with his hair.
"That was some flying out there." Katie Bell sat down beside him. "I want you back on the team."
"Katie." Harry began.
"No, just listen for a second. I don't know if you're discouraged because we won last year without you or if it's about the suspension thing or if you just don't feel like playing anymore. But Harry, honest, no one can go out there and fly that well with out having heart in it."
"Katie, I'm suspended, and being able to win the cup with out me just proves you don't need me."
"Don't let pride stand in-between you and something you want. Now, I had a talk with Professor McGonagall and she said that she wouldn't give that old loon Umbridge that satisfaction to keep you suspended."
Harry's eyes' lit up, "So I can play?"
"Hell yeah!" Katie yelled, possibly a bit too loud. Harry just grinned, speechless. maybe the world didn't have it in for him. Katie smiled back. She grabbed Harry's ears, pulled his face forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. Harry chuckled and turned a soft pink. What Katie did next horrified him even more. Katie jump onto the table, not the seat, the table. "Hey, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin; you all better watch your ass this year because Gryffindor has their Harry Potter back!" Katie rounded her hands in the air. The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, even Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw applauded. Slytherin turned about as green as the detail in the robes and the Quidditch players put their hands in their hair.
"Miss Bell!" Professor Snape yelled, standing up. "Twenty Points from Gryffindor, now sit down."
"That's okay Snape, we'll win them back and more this year." A third year chimed, patting Harry on the shoulder. The hall exploded in claps again. It was insane.
The rest of the night people were clamping him on the shoulder or erupting into praise when ever he entered a room. At long last, the common room thinned, Harry finished all his homework and he nearly forgot everything that was bothering him that morning. "Hi Harry."
He looked up to see a red face Ron staring at him. "Hi." Harry managed to say.
"Look, I'm sorry." They said together. Both of them smiled and nodded.
"I need to give you room and let you tell me when you fell like it."
"And I shouldn't keep things from you. but I got to. for now that is."
Ron rubbed the back of his head. "We don't need to talk about this right now. Let's talk about something else."
"Yeah. so, what's up?" Harry said.
Ron chuckled. "We're acting like we don't know each other."
"In some ways we don't." Harry said matching his laugh, "Sometimes we barely know our selves."
"I guess." Ron sat down on the couch next to him, staring into the fire.
They sat there staring into the flame for awhile. "Ron," Harry said, turning and raising an eye brow. "Percy was here today."
"Oh, God!" Ron sighed. "What did he want?"
"Apparently Fudge wants to punish me for using an Unforgivable Curse on Lestrange and Percy and Umbridge came with him."
"Umbridge too. geeze, I feel for you man."
"That's not the half of it. Dumbledore knows Percy is a Death Eater and he doesn't care. Umbridge admitted to sending the Dementors after me last year and Fudge was furious." Harry smiled remembering the look on her face.
"Dumbledore is a touch in the head and Fudge is actually doing something descent."
Harry smiled. "Charlie was here too."
"Really? And where was I?" Ron said, becoming equally amused with the conversation.
"He saw Percy and pinned him to the wall; threatened to beat the crap out of him too."
"I knew I always liked Charlie best."
"Angel had to pry him off and by the time that was all over, Umbridge had run for it and was half way out of Hogsmead before anyone realized."
"Damn, how do all these people get away?" Ron cried throwing his arms in the air dramatically.
Harry smiled. "We've gotten away our share of times you know."
"Yeah, we have haven't we?" Ron said with a mischievous grin. "Harry, I except we've been good for too long. You're bound to get off tomorrow, I mean it was Lestrange. they'd be crazy to do anything. So, let's get Percy good tomorrow."
"Alright. let's." The boys talked late into the night, laughing, planning and even giggling at times. In most ways, it was like meeting each other again and Harry didn't feel guilty about not telling Ron about the Prophecy. for now.
The next morning, or afternoon, I should say, Ron and Harry started getting ready for their little prank. After Dinner Dumbledore ask Harry to his office, "Right away Professor." And he turned to Ron with a huge smile upon his face.
"This is going to be bloody brilliant!" Ron hissed when Dumbledore was out of ear shot.
"Look, I'll going to slowly make my way to his office, run back, get the cloak and I'll meet you in that old classroom."
"Got it man." Ron hit him on the back and ran from the Great Hall.
Harry did in deed take his time. He slowly finished his steak, refolded his napkin, placed his silverware in perfect position and slowly strutted in between the tables, waving at people who called his name and holding his fist in the air when someone commented Quidditch. By the time he made it to the empty class room, Ron was waiting. "Geeze, man. did you wait till you're supper was digested or what?" Ron teased.
"Oh shut up!" Harry snapped playfully. "Okay, put the cloak on and let's go."
"Yes sir!" Ron saluted Harry and threw the Invisibility Cloak over him before Harry could hit the back of his head.
Harry slowly walked down the corridor, making sure he couldn't hear the foot step behind him. if he could hear them, some one else could too. They made it to the gargoyle. "Stag", it opened and Harry entered, yielding that Ron had safely gotten in.
"There you are Mr. Potter." Fudge said, coming to his feet from the chair. "Suppose you were finishing up dinner?"
"Yes sir," Harry answered politely, eyeing the room for a hint of where Ron was. And to Harry's relief, Percy was sitting in the other chair, parchment in his lap writing furiously. Fudge was also there of course and there was Tonks, Professor McGonagall and Mr. Weasley himself. Harry snorted a laugh and turned away before someone could ask him what was wrong.
"Well, I guess we may get started." Fudge said, taking his seat again. "The convicted: Harry James Potter."
"Harry James Potter." Percy repeated, scribbling it down.
"Has really big ears..." Some behind Percy said in a perfect masking of his voice. And even though Ron was invisible, Harry could tell his cheeks were busting red, holding in laughter.
"That's not called for." Tonks said; a mischievous grin on her face. Today she had blue hair that went the middle of her back. Her face was almost exactly like it always was except she had one purple eyes and one deep blue eye.
"But I didn't. someone else. but I." Percy stuttered, eyes big.
"Now, now." Dumbledore said calmly. "Continue please Minister."
"Right.Chief Interrogator: Minster of Magic - Cornelius Oswald Fudge."
".Cornelius Oswald Fudge.." Percy repeated again.
".is a bloody loser with no taste in hats." Ron mimicked again.
"PERCY!" Mr. Weasley cried.
"But I didn't. but it wasn't."
Fudge held his hand up, now very irritated by this. "Interrogator: Auror- Nymphadora Byron Tonks.." Percy didn't repeat it this time. His cheeks were so scarlet it matched his hair. "Guardian Figure: Author Benedict Weasley.." Percy snorted slightly and wrote it down, spelling "Weasel" instead of "Weasley".
"You spelled it wrong." Harry heard someone hiss.
"ARUGH!" Percy jumped up and away from the voice.
"Percy, dear God, what's wrong with you?" Fudge demanded.
"Nothing. nothing Minister." He hurriedly scratched though his "mistake" and wrote it correctly.
"If you say so. Witness to hearing: Head Master of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry - Albus Percival. err. what's the rest of it Dumbledore?" Fudge asked scratching his head.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Dumbledore answered chocking back a laugh.
"Right." Fudge sighed. "Okay, and Witness to Crime in Question: Minerva Michelangela McGonagall."
Percy only nodded and wrote the names down.
"Right then, this should be quick. now, Harry tell us what happened."
As Harry went on retelling the Minister what happened, Tonks was smiling at something beside Percy that Harry guessed was Ron. Percy was twitching slightly, jerking away as though being poked. When Harry finished McGonagall only nodded and said it was true. Fudge smiled and clapped his hands together. "I guess you're not suspended then Harry."
"WHAT?" Percy gasped, dropping his quills. "He used the unforgivable curse on another human being! That isn't even legal for persons over the age of 17, not to mention he's still in school!" Percy was shaking a finger at Harry the whole time.
"Yes, but times have changed Weasley. Sometimes it calls for more dramatic terms to deal with something. I applaud Mr. Potter for braving what he has even though the Minister and myself were not behind him."
"You're honoring him!" Percy squealed. "If it were anyone else you would have them expelled."
"I pay him heed that if he does it ever again without the special circumstances I will."
"Bellatrix Lestrange is still a human being, bad or good. she is still a.." But Percy's eyes went big. A shot of purple light came out of mid air and hit him the back. Percy hunched over on all four and right before their eyes he turned into a Weasel.
Tonks fell to the floor in laughter, McGonagall laughed but Mr. Weasley jumped on the floor looking for his transformed son. "Percy!" Fudge screamed. "What happened to him? Dark Magic!" Fudge started feeling around the room. Something touched Harry's shoulders. Fingers dug into his skin and a body was pushed into his back. Harry pressed his lips together not to laugh. but Percy changing into a Weasel was about two times as funny as Dudley gaining a pig's tail.
Finally Mr. Weasley jumped up with a weasel squirming in his hands. He held it out to Dumbledore and it changes back to a now white red headed boy with big eyes and a bad attitude.
"Oh, Percy, are you okay?" Mr. Weasley breathed, touching his son's shoulder.
Percy jerked away and left the office. One more shot from behind Harry and Percy disappeared with elf ears. "Dumbledore I don't know what you're playing at." Fudge said sternly.
"How can you blame it on him Minister. why would he curse Percy?" Tonks said though laughter.
"Yeah, he even liked the boy enough to make him Head Boy." McGonagall added.
Fudge looked crossed eyed at them all and left, Mr. Weasley giving a wave to Harry, following behind him. McGonagall existed after them, stalked by Tonks, who leaned over to Harry. "Nice one Weasley."
Harry grinned, pushed the invisible boy toward the door and they left.
Weasley vs. Weasel
Harry woke up the next morning feeling worse than he had ever felt. The sun was still in the rising, and from what he saw everyone in his dorm was asleep. He put on his glasses and lay back down and closed his eyes. He wanted to let go of everything he was hanging onto. He was longing to fall and he didn't want to care. but he did. Harry suddenly felt an urge to do something. anything. just something to get his mind off of whatever it was. He got out of his bed and went to his trunk. the stupid Potter box he couldn't open. his dad's invisibility cloak. the Marauder's map. nothing in here that sparked something for him to do. Actually, all this things made him sick. He didn't want to know anything else about his dad. his dad was dead, nothing would bring him back. Finally he just grabbed his broom and took off.
The castle was quiet and it seemed everyone was taking advantage of the first morning they had of rest. He stepped out onto the fresh, crisp morning. Harry made his way to the Quidditch Pitch. The breeze was prefect, the ground was hard and excitement ran through Harry's veins. It was like his first match, his first time flying. he closed his eyes. The only friend he had now was the pitch. It freed him with no questions of what and possibly the reason his year last year stunk so badly for was because he didn't have Quidditch to look forward to. He kicked off and everything fled from him. Pressures, pain, tears, laughter, smiles, lie, truths, trust and Sirius. they all dripped from his skin and fell to the ground. Up here there was nothing but him.
Harry didn't know how long he was in the air, but when he finely touched down a tiny crowd was sitting in the bleachers with breakfast in napkins watching him. Cheers rang out when he landed. People screamed, "We missed you Harry!" and other, "Harry Potter isn't famous for no reason!" Harry turned red and ran back to the castle.
He was sweating, his clothes stuck to his skin. He wanted to cry, but crying was a weakness, he wouldn't cry. The rest of the day Harry hid in the dungeon class room doing homework. Finally, after his stomach gave the last annoying growl he could take; Harry packed up and went to dinner.
When he entered the Great Hall and it froze. Slytherin all gave him a glare and pretend to ignore him. He quickly took a seat next to no one and piled his plate with food. He felt eyes bore into the back of his head and he messed with his hair.
"That was some flying out there." Katie Bell sat down beside him. "I want you back on the team."
"Katie." Harry began.
"No, just listen for a second. I don't know if you're discouraged because we won last year without you or if it's about the suspension thing or if you just don't feel like playing anymore. But Harry, honest, no one can go out there and fly that well with out having heart in it."
"Katie, I'm suspended, and being able to win the cup with out me just proves you don't need me."
"Don't let pride stand in-between you and something you want. Now, I had a talk with Professor McGonagall and she said that she wouldn't give that old loon Umbridge that satisfaction to keep you suspended."
Harry's eyes' lit up, "So I can play?"
"Hell yeah!" Katie yelled, possibly a bit too loud. Harry just grinned, speechless. maybe the world didn't have it in for him. Katie smiled back. She grabbed Harry's ears, pulled his face forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. Harry chuckled and turned a soft pink. What Katie did next horrified him even more. Katie jump onto the table, not the seat, the table. "Hey, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin; you all better watch your ass this year because Gryffindor has their Harry Potter back!" Katie rounded her hands in the air. The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, even Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw applauded. Slytherin turned about as green as the detail in the robes and the Quidditch players put their hands in their hair.
"Miss Bell!" Professor Snape yelled, standing up. "Twenty Points from Gryffindor, now sit down."
"That's okay Snape, we'll win them back and more this year." A third year chimed, patting Harry on the shoulder. The hall exploded in claps again. It was insane.
The rest of the night people were clamping him on the shoulder or erupting into praise when ever he entered a room. At long last, the common room thinned, Harry finished all his homework and he nearly forgot everything that was bothering him that morning. "Hi Harry."
He looked up to see a red face Ron staring at him. "Hi." Harry managed to say.
"Look, I'm sorry." They said together. Both of them smiled and nodded.
"I need to give you room and let you tell me when you fell like it."
"And I shouldn't keep things from you. but I got to. for now that is."
Ron rubbed the back of his head. "We don't need to talk about this right now. Let's talk about something else."
"Yeah. so, what's up?" Harry said.
Ron chuckled. "We're acting like we don't know each other."
"In some ways we don't." Harry said matching his laugh, "Sometimes we barely know our selves."
"I guess." Ron sat down on the couch next to him, staring into the fire.
They sat there staring into the flame for awhile. "Ron," Harry said, turning and raising an eye brow. "Percy was here today."
"Oh, God!" Ron sighed. "What did he want?"
"Apparently Fudge wants to punish me for using an Unforgivable Curse on Lestrange and Percy and Umbridge came with him."
"Umbridge too. geeze, I feel for you man."
"That's not the half of it. Dumbledore knows Percy is a Death Eater and he doesn't care. Umbridge admitted to sending the Dementors after me last year and Fudge was furious." Harry smiled remembering the look on her face.
"Dumbledore is a touch in the head and Fudge is actually doing something descent."
Harry smiled. "Charlie was here too."
"Really? And where was I?" Ron said, becoming equally amused with the conversation.
"He saw Percy and pinned him to the wall; threatened to beat the crap out of him too."
"I knew I always liked Charlie best."
"Angel had to pry him off and by the time that was all over, Umbridge had run for it and was half way out of Hogsmead before anyone realized."
"Damn, how do all these people get away?" Ron cried throwing his arms in the air dramatically.
Harry smiled. "We've gotten away our share of times you know."
"Yeah, we have haven't we?" Ron said with a mischievous grin. "Harry, I except we've been good for too long. You're bound to get off tomorrow, I mean it was Lestrange. they'd be crazy to do anything. So, let's get Percy good tomorrow."
"Alright. let's." The boys talked late into the night, laughing, planning and even giggling at times. In most ways, it was like meeting each other again and Harry didn't feel guilty about not telling Ron about the Prophecy. for now.
The next morning, or afternoon, I should say, Ron and Harry started getting ready for their little prank. After Dinner Dumbledore ask Harry to his office, "Right away Professor." And he turned to Ron with a huge smile upon his face.
"This is going to be bloody brilliant!" Ron hissed when Dumbledore was out of ear shot.
"Look, I'll going to slowly make my way to his office, run back, get the cloak and I'll meet you in that old classroom."
"Got it man." Ron hit him on the back and ran from the Great Hall.
Harry did in deed take his time. He slowly finished his steak, refolded his napkin, placed his silverware in perfect position and slowly strutted in between the tables, waving at people who called his name and holding his fist in the air when someone commented Quidditch. By the time he made it to the empty class room, Ron was waiting. "Geeze, man. did you wait till you're supper was digested or what?" Ron teased.
"Oh shut up!" Harry snapped playfully. "Okay, put the cloak on and let's go."
"Yes sir!" Ron saluted Harry and threw the Invisibility Cloak over him before Harry could hit the back of his head.
Harry slowly walked down the corridor, making sure he couldn't hear the foot step behind him. if he could hear them, some one else could too. They made it to the gargoyle. "Stag", it opened and Harry entered, yielding that Ron had safely gotten in.
"There you are Mr. Potter." Fudge said, coming to his feet from the chair. "Suppose you were finishing up dinner?"
"Yes sir," Harry answered politely, eyeing the room for a hint of where Ron was. And to Harry's relief, Percy was sitting in the other chair, parchment in his lap writing furiously. Fudge was also there of course and there was Tonks, Professor McGonagall and Mr. Weasley himself. Harry snorted a laugh and turned away before someone could ask him what was wrong.
"Well, I guess we may get started." Fudge said, taking his seat again. "The convicted: Harry James Potter."
"Harry James Potter." Percy repeated, scribbling it down.
"Has really big ears..." Some behind Percy said in a perfect masking of his voice. And even though Ron was invisible, Harry could tell his cheeks were busting red, holding in laughter.
"That's not called for." Tonks said; a mischievous grin on her face. Today she had blue hair that went the middle of her back. Her face was almost exactly like it always was except she had one purple eyes and one deep blue eye.
"But I didn't. someone else. but I." Percy stuttered, eyes big.
"Now, now." Dumbledore said calmly. "Continue please Minister."
"Right.Chief Interrogator: Minster of Magic - Cornelius Oswald Fudge."
".Cornelius Oswald Fudge.." Percy repeated again.
".is a bloody loser with no taste in hats." Ron mimicked again.
"PERCY!" Mr. Weasley cried.
"But I didn't. but it wasn't."
Fudge held his hand up, now very irritated by this. "Interrogator: Auror- Nymphadora Byron Tonks.." Percy didn't repeat it this time. His cheeks were so scarlet it matched his hair. "Guardian Figure: Author Benedict Weasley.." Percy snorted slightly and wrote it down, spelling "Weasel" instead of "Weasley".
"You spelled it wrong." Harry heard someone hiss.
"ARUGH!" Percy jumped up and away from the voice.
"Percy, dear God, what's wrong with you?" Fudge demanded.
"Nothing. nothing Minister." He hurriedly scratched though his "mistake" and wrote it correctly.
"If you say so. Witness to hearing: Head Master of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry - Albus Percival. err. what's the rest of it Dumbledore?" Fudge asked scratching his head.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Dumbledore answered chocking back a laugh.
"Right." Fudge sighed. "Okay, and Witness to Crime in Question: Minerva Michelangela McGonagall."
Percy only nodded and wrote the names down.
"Right then, this should be quick. now, Harry tell us what happened."
As Harry went on retelling the Minister what happened, Tonks was smiling at something beside Percy that Harry guessed was Ron. Percy was twitching slightly, jerking away as though being poked. When Harry finished McGonagall only nodded and said it was true. Fudge smiled and clapped his hands together. "I guess you're not suspended then Harry."
"WHAT?" Percy gasped, dropping his quills. "He used the unforgivable curse on another human being! That isn't even legal for persons over the age of 17, not to mention he's still in school!" Percy was shaking a finger at Harry the whole time.
"Yes, but times have changed Weasley. Sometimes it calls for more dramatic terms to deal with something. I applaud Mr. Potter for braving what he has even though the Minister and myself were not behind him."
"You're honoring him!" Percy squealed. "If it were anyone else you would have them expelled."
"I pay him heed that if he does it ever again without the special circumstances I will."
"Bellatrix Lestrange is still a human being, bad or good. she is still a.." But Percy's eyes went big. A shot of purple light came out of mid air and hit him the back. Percy hunched over on all four and right before their eyes he turned into a Weasel.
Tonks fell to the floor in laughter, McGonagall laughed but Mr. Weasley jumped on the floor looking for his transformed son. "Percy!" Fudge screamed. "What happened to him? Dark Magic!" Fudge started feeling around the room. Something touched Harry's shoulders. Fingers dug into his skin and a body was pushed into his back. Harry pressed his lips together not to laugh. but Percy changing into a Weasel was about two times as funny as Dudley gaining a pig's tail.
Finally Mr. Weasley jumped up with a weasel squirming in his hands. He held it out to Dumbledore and it changes back to a now white red headed boy with big eyes and a bad attitude.
"Oh, Percy, are you okay?" Mr. Weasley breathed, touching his son's shoulder.
Percy jerked away and left the office. One more shot from behind Harry and Percy disappeared with elf ears. "Dumbledore I don't know what you're playing at." Fudge said sternly.
"How can you blame it on him Minister. why would he curse Percy?" Tonks said though laughter.
"Yeah, he even liked the boy enough to make him Head Boy." McGonagall added.
Fudge looked crossed eyed at them all and left, Mr. Weasley giving a wave to Harry, following behind him. McGonagall existed after them, stalked by Tonks, who leaned over to Harry. "Nice one Weasley."
Harry grinned, pushed the invisible boy toward the door and they left.