AN: Hey. I'm really sorry it took me so long to update but as I've said before I got Bat Mitzvahed in October. I've written an extremely long chapter for everyone and it has taken about three days to write what I'm about to put up. I want to add more (I have a quidditch scene in this chapter but I haven't finished it) so check back in a couple of days (I should have the last part up before the end of the week) and then review the whole thing. I know Leah may seem a little out of place now that she's showing her power but really I need her to be good at everything for the very end of their seventh year. I'm going to try and get a new chapter up soon. I'm in the fall play right now and I have rehearsal until 6 for the next two weeks but I'll still try to update. I am really really really sorry I haven't been able to update sooner. If I see any of my readers in school yell at me and then ignore me until I update. I have some stuff about Sirius in here but I want to know what you think. I need to know if you want me to bring him back or have Leah's attempt fail (I really hope you want me to bring him back because I have something planned to happen that would be even funnier if he came back) Please tell me this is crucial to my storyline.
I want to thank everyone that has reviewed and I want to thank my friends in particular. Thanks to Serpena (as usual) Eileen, Michaela (I spelled ur name right right?) Bunn Ya, Meryl, Jilli, all of my other friends that have reviewed and any of the other people I've talked to on FF.N.
This chapter is dedicated to Bob: 5/03-10/10/03. (I'll have a speech about him when this chapter is complete.)
The next morning Harry took out his schedule. (An: because I didn't do anything at the Dursley's you don't know his OWLs and I don't feel like making them up so just assume he got good grades if he's in NEWT level classes.) He had NEWT level Charms with Hermione first thing this morning. He quickly scanned the rest of his schedule (Monday: NEWT Charms morning, NEWT Herbology afternoon, Tuesday NEWT Care of Magical Creatures afternoon, Wednesday NEWT Potions morning, Thursday DADA afternoon, Friday Transfiguration morning.) As it turned out Hermione and Leah were in all his classes. Hermione being Hermione had gotten into the NEWT class for every one of her classes. Leah had gotten into them just to test her skill. Ron had gotten into Charms, DADA Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology NEWT classes.
The four of them headed off for the Charms room after breakfast. Leah was nervously talking to Hermione about what she had learned the night before. From the sounds of the conversation Leah had learned a lot in one night. This morning Ron was talking to Harry, Hermione and Leah again. Harry was glad because he hated when him and Ron didn't get along. Nothing was ever the same. "How late did you two stay up?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"We weren't up that late. I only no the first ten charms you guys learned and some other ones Hermione told me you used a lot," Leah shot back.
"Ten spells. What do you mean you learned ten spells in one night! Do you know how long it took me and Harry to learn ten spells?" Ron shouted.
"Will you stop being so jealous? Leah is just talented ok, Hermione sighed.
"I'm sorry it upsets you that I'm smart but there are just some things about me I can't explain," Leah said quietly. "When Hermione started showing me the first spell with her wand I was going to get my wand from my trunk, but I had noticed that a lot of weird things would happen when I snap the fingers of my right hand, so I decided to snap and see what happened. That's how I learned ten spells. I'll bet you I can't even do one with my wand." Harry and Ron looked at her in awe and disbelief. He had a feeling she wasn't lying but he didn't want to believe her story. He looked over to Hermione. She didn't look surprised but Harry still wasn't sure. "Hermione is that true?" he asked.
"Yeah. It was pretty amazing actually. We had a lot of fun last night. She's almost as bad as Fred and George," Hermione replied.
"I like to have fun. Besides there is something about Parvati and Lavender that really annoys me. I'll figure it out soon," Leah laughed.
"Making their posters say nasty things to them and turning their beds into piles of smelly, dirty socks is not funny," Hermione sniffed.
"Yes it is. I could have done something a lot worse but I didn't. That wouldn't have been funny," Leah said laughing harder. Hermione sighed and shook her head. Harry, Ron and Leah were hysterical though. "That does sound like something Fred and George would do. We should tell you the story about everything they did last year," Ron finally got control of himself.
"Do you think they could give me some ideas? Hey what about that bastard that I met on the train yesterday. The blonde one who thought I was going out with Harry, do we have any classes with him?" Leah's face lit up in a malicious grin.
"What are you planning to do now, Leah? You have to remember that you're a prefect," Hermione said.
"Nothing big," Leah said calmly. "I was just gonna make his pants fall down in front of everyone." That caused another burst of laughter from the four of them. Even Hermione found it amusing.
Once they reached the door to the Charms classroom Leah's laughter suddenly stopped and she went extremely pale. Hermione pushed her inside gently. Leah was breathing deeply no doubt trying to calm herself.
"Hermione, why am I in this class I'm not smart enough for it. I'll look so dumb. I won't have any clue what's going on," Leah whispered.
"You'll do fine. Don't worry about it. You said you read through half of Standard Book of Spells Grade 6. Just relax and pay attention," Hermione said. Leah was visibly shaking as they al took seats near each other. If Harry and Ron had thought Leah was pale one look at her after Professor Flitwick walked in told them they were wrong. Her skin was almost as white as a unicorn's. After welcoming them back and giving a pithy speech about being in a NEWT level class, she relaxed a little bit. As Hermione predicted she did fine. In fact she probably did the best in the class.
Once Charms was over they all had a free period. Ron thought it was a good time to tell Leah about Fred and George so they went outside and sat on the edge of lake while Harry and Ron told the story. As soon as they told her about the fireworks she started laughing and asking questions. "They invented those fireworks themselves? Wow, I'll have to talk to them about things I can do to people that piss me off," she said.
"Wait until you hear what they did as a 'distraction' so Harry could sneak it our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's office to talk to Sirius!" Ron said, but as soon as he had said "Sirius" Harry went silent. Ron realized what he said after the damage had already been done. Harry had refrained from thinking about it all summer. In the midst of meeting Leah he had forgotten all about Sirius. Slowly he got up and walked away towards Hagrid's hut. Leah had no idea what was wrong so she jumped to her feet and followed him. "Harry what's wrong?" she called.
"Nothing," he said turning away from her and walking faster. "Something's wrong, Harry. I'm not an idiot. Can you just tell me?" she said placing her hand on his shoulder. (AN: no Leah is not gonna end up with Harry)
"I don't want to talk about it ok," he threw her hand off his shoulder. Harry started to run but Leah was faster and she jumped in front of him. She grabbed his wrists and held them forcefully. "Look," she said, "I know I haven't known you for a really long time but Hermione gave me a little background information on you last night. I understand how you feel. What I don't think you realize is that we have a lot in common. I haven't had the best life in the world. My life used to be all fantasies and daydreams. I've lost people I love at a young age. Just tell me what's wrong maybe can help."
"You couldn't help. It was my fault he died--"
"—No it isn't. You have to stop blaming yourself, Harry. Like I said I think I can help. All you have to do is tell me what happened when he died. Reliving it might be painful but it will help just trust me on this one," Leah smiled. Harry reluctantly recounted the whole story for her. He looked over at her from time to time and she looked like she was in deep thought. At the conclusion of his story she said, "Take me to Dumbledore. I need to ask him a few questions
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They rounded the corner to the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Harry had no idea what the password would be this year. He told Leah and she said, "Does he have any specific patterns, like naming his passwords after famous witches or wizards?"
"Yeah, he usually names them after candy," Harry sighed.
"I remember that candy I had on the train. What was it called? Oh yeah! Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!" Leah exclaimed. Once she had said the name of the candy the gargoyles sprung aside to let them in. "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" Harry repeated. "I thought he didn't like those. He shrugged his shoulders and the stepped on the moving stairs. Leah knocked on the wooden door and Dumbledore admitted their entrance.
Leah stepped inside and looked around in amazement. Dumbledore obviously startled her when he spoke. "What did you want to talk to me about, Leah?" he said in his calm voice.
"Harry and I were talking about Sirius. Hermione had told me a little bit about what happened the night before. When Harry described for me how he died, I had an idea. I can bring things back from the dead. How I did it, I don't know. It started with a dance I choreographed when I was bored once. I noticed that once I had gotten it down perfectly the plants that had recently died perked up," she explained.
"I see, but maybe it was just that one dance and just those plants," Dumbledore suggested.
"Do you think I'm dumb?" she laughed. "I tested it on other dead things. I was thinking that it might even work to bring Sirius back. I apparently can't physically get near him it probably would work, since what I do involves absolutely no physical contact. You would just have to take me to where he was last seen. That is if you want me too," Leah finished.
"Please, can we try Dumbledore? In a few weeks or something after we've all gotten settled in," Harry liked the idea of being able to see Sirius. He hoped Leah's spell would work.
"I think I might be able to arrange something. How about three weeks from now on Saturday?" Dumbledore advised.
"Fine with me," Leah agreed. Harry just nodded his head. They agreed to meet in Dumbledore's office at 10:00 that day.
Harry and Leah left his office just before lunchtime. Leah was abruptly overcome with a burst of energy and started running down to the Great Hall. Harry followed but only half jogged. They met Ron and Hermione at the doors. The group of four trooped to their table. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Malfoy looking at Leah with a funny expression on his face. They took seats around Seamus and Dean. "Is the food always as good as it was last night?" Leah asked. Everyone started laughing at her. She made a sad face. "You guys are so mean. I haven't been here for six years how am I supposed to know," That made everyone laugh even harder. Once things had calmed down a little Harry and Leah told Hermione and Ron their plan.
"Yeah but how do you know it will work," Hermione said.
"We don't know but it's worked before on other things. You don't think I go searching for dead humans to bring back. I've never tried it on a human before. We're just hoping for the best," Leah clarified. Hermione sighed and went back to her food.
Shortly after lunch, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Leah trooped back outside for their Herbology lesson. Leah quickly paled again but she didn't seem as nervous as she had before. Professor Sprout had a similar speech to Professor Flitwick. She told them that as it was a NEWT class she expected they were well behaved and earned good marks. Then they got to work on plants that heal. She named several different kinds of plants that heal, what they heal how they heal, and if they were a plant muggles used or not. She assigned them homework choosing one of the plants she had mentioned in class and writing an essay a foot long.
"Homework on the first day!" Leah exclaimed as they walked back to the castle.
"You can do it. I'll help you if you need any," Hermione said.
"How come you'll help her but you never help us!" Ron cried.
"You aren't in your first year taking sixth year courses now are. And I never said that I was going to let her copy off me,"
"Hmph," Ron and Harry didn't have any other classes for the rest of the day. Leah and Hermione went off to Arithmancy (Leah's choice surprisingly).
"Hey mate, why don't we go play some quidditch. That way we can get some practice in before everyone is using the field," Ron recommended.
"Great idea lets go get our brooms." They went up to their dorm and collected their brooms. Harry made a mental note to tell Leah that he wanted to start her with flying lessons tonight. The boys released the snitch and for a while just played catch the snitch. When they had played about five rounds (Harry winning all of them) they went and got a quaffle. Ron positioned himself at the goals while Harry went to the center of the pitch. Ron's accuracy had improved a lot ever since the final the year before. Harry and Ron didn't go back inside until it was about dinnertime. They put the quaffle back and washed up in their dorms.
Hermione and Leah were already at the Gryffindor table talking excitedly about Arithamncy. "I don't know what they see in that subject," Ron muttered in Harry's ear. He laughed quietly and whispered back, "From the sound of it Leah's pretty good."
"She's good at everything no wonder she's friends with Hermione," Ron said.
"Hey guys what's up?" Leah smiled.
"Nothing. Oh I want you to meet me at the quidditch pitch at seven tonight." Harry informed her.
"Why?"
"I thought we'd get a start on your flying lessons. I was hoping that if you could fly well enough by the end of the week, maybe you would try out for the Gryffindor quidditch team," Harry said. Leah's eyes widened at the word quidditch. "Cool. I'll be there."