Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, or well....hm....I do own one,
but I really don't own much at all. Let see, I have 68 cents in my pocket
and a gun wrapper. If you still want to sue, you are wasting your time.
Harry Potter and the Mage of Lemarac
Chapter 4: The Beginning
Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was one of the most popular shops on Diagon Alley, students of all ages would go in empty handed and come out with an armload of stuff. This fact was partly just because Fred and George once went to Hogwarts, and they knew plenty well how to prank someone. As Harry and his friends approached the store laughter could be heard emanating from the inside and two flaming red heads could be seen bobbing among the customers. Ron cautiously neared the door, pausing a moment before pulling it open.
" We were wondering when you three would show up," Fred smiled jovially seeing them standing near the doorway, yet none of them seem to be listening as they gazed around the shop. Around them, shelves upon shelves of colorfully boxed and packaged pranks and jokes, all of them with a small smiling portrait of the twins on the side. Below the photo the initials W.W.W. - Pure Prank Goodness! It somehow reminded Harry of Gilderoy Lockhart.
" Yeah, we've been waiting forever to have the Harry Potter visit. He is after all our founding sponsor," George said pushing Harry, Ron and Hermione further away from the door, Harry's face a shade of red.
" You always believed in us Harry, that means so much to us," Fred's tone caused Harry to turn an even deeper shade of red.
" That was deep, Fred," George said, placing his hand over his heart in fake sentimentality, this caused them all to smile. " Gosh, what happened to your sweater, Harry?"
" Nothing, some girl wasn't looking where she was going. It's nothing."
" That blows, mate. Any who, what can we do for you all?" Fred said.
" Not much," Hermione said, " We just wanted to check out the shop, but you guys seemed to be doing well."
" Surprisingly so," George laughed to himself, " for the first time in our life we're more successful than Percy. Oh! Ron, did you tell those two?" Both Harry and Hermione stared at Ron. " No, he didn't!" chirped Hermione.
" Percy, the big git! He comes home about three weeks ago, full of apologies saying how sorry he is, and how wrong he was about not believing that Voldemort was back and trusting Fudge the entire time. The whole time mom sobbing for joy, babbling about how her baby came home, dad just staring blankly at him. Even Percy started crying, saying he missed us all so much. The entire scene was ridiculous, and frankly, the loser will have to do a lot more then admit he was wrong to regain his entire family," Fred stated, both Ron and George both nodding in agreement, " He caused far too much trouble to just expect that we'll just take him back!"
" What a dumbass!" George exclaimed, following an awkward moment of silence. " How did you three do on your O.W.L.'s?" A sunken expression appeared on Harry and Ron's face, while Hermione was positively beaming. " That bad, huh?"
" I did far better that I expected, considering how distracted I was at the end of last term, I didn't do nearly enough studying," Hermione said happily, " There was only one score I would have wanted to improve upon, but it'll have to do." Both Ron and Harry seemed to be gazing at the floor.
" I didn't do...the best," Harry said, Ron nodded in agreement.
" I wouldn't be too worried, it might not be as bad as you think. You do realize-"
" Fred!"
"What?!"
" They can't know that, you're not even suppose to know that!" George said, smacking Fred upside the head. " What is it?!" Ron stammered excitedly.
" Nothing that you won't know soon enough, with school starting tomorrow and whatnot." Fred smiled rolling his eyes at George. After Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a few more moments in happy conversation; Hermione reminded them that they had to meet Mr. Weasley by the car in ten minutes. Each were giving a bag a free samples before making there way out of the shop and making their way back down the alley. Mr. Weasley and Ginny were both waiting by the car eager to get home and have supper. The car ride back to the burrow consisted mostly of excited conversation about the beginning of the school year and The Galactica 360, the load of books and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But like all previous years Mr. Weasley wouldn't disclose any information about who it was, and would always try advert the question by simply talking about there O.W.L., which after awhile made both Harry and Ron so glum, most conversation in the car ceased.
*** *** ***
The last night in the Burrow was surprisingly calm. After a supper with the family, including Percy, Mrs. Weasley sent Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry to bed early. Before making their way up the stairs Percy tried several times to apologize to Harry, who eventually stopped ignoring him and accepted, more because he want to go to bed than anything else. Ginny and Hermione said goodnight and then went off to their separate room, Harry sleeping a in a bed set up in Ron's room. They talked for a few moments about the new school year, and Percy, but Ron seemed too tried to talk much longer so Harry let him be. Ron fell asleep rather quickly, leaving Harry to stare at the ceiling.
Harry's mind fell over the usual pattern of looking at the previous hours, then the day, and finally ending up where he started, Sirius. He didn't know why he would even think of it on a day like this, no hardship or troubles. The entire time spent with friends, absorbed in getting ready for school to start, all the excitement of being a sixth year. Yet somehow all of his inner troubles, the ones that you could never fully tackle, took over once he was alone or at peace. Peace, he thought, that's what they say happens when you die, you get a peaceful existence, far away from our world of deceit and lies. Would Sirius really want that peace, never having the feeling of danger encompass his life again? That Harry couldn't answer; suddenly the strangest thought entered into his mind, the girl with the dark hair, the one who ran into him today.
He could still see her face; it was round and symmetrical, pleasant to look at but at the same time almost ordinary. She had a pale face and the almost startling crimson lips, those too small and round. Why was he thinking of her now, she was just a random girl who ran into him, wasn't even paying attention. Somehow this memory made him sleepy and a strange wave of warmth swept over him drawing him further way from his thoughts of Sirius. Odd, he smiled, she wasn't even that pretty, Cho was prettier, but she had the most beautiful raven hair....
*** *** ***
" Harry! Oh Geez!! Harry! We overslept!!! Damn it!!" Ron's startled voice brought him out of slumber.
" What?!" Harry gasped as he sat up, both putting on his glasses and starting to look for a clean pair of pants.
" The alarm didn't go off," Ron exclaimed, apparently also scrambling to put on his cloths and get ready. Luckily they had packed most of their stuff last night, but now they were expected to leave in 5 minutes.
" Damn. Just what I need," Harry said, throwing any last minute junk into his trunk, Ron was doing the same.
" Boys!" Mrs. Weasley's voice came from downstairs, " Bring yours trunks down, we're loading the car! We need to get going, can't wait forever!"
" Coming, mum!!" Ron yelled back, scanning the room for anything he might of missed. " Ready, Harry?"
" Yeah, I think so," Harry said, he too feeling just a little rushed. Mr. Weasley appeared in the doorway.
" Good," he said smiling. With a flick of his wand both trunks were shut and were floating a foot from the ground. Carefully he floated them down the stairs with Ron and Harry following. Outside Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and the twins were waiting by the car.
" What were you two doing up there? You missed breakfast, you know," Hermione said as the boys approached the car.
" And good morning to you, too," Ron said sarcastically, " For your information, our alarm didn't seem to go off this morning." Hermione rolled her eyes, before Ron and the twins helped Mr. Weasley get to two trunks into the car, which had been enchanted to allow for more room. Mrs. Weasley gave them all a large hug, wishing them well for the upcoming year, and then handed them each a bag of sandwiches for the train. The twins and Percy also said their goodbyes, saying they would probably see each other soon. The girls and Ron piled in the back, while Harry and Mr. Weasley took the front. Then they pulled out of the burrow, waving back until they had lost site of the house.
" I wonder what the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is like?" Ginny said turning back around.
" We've already gone over this. We don't know anything, so we'll just have to wait till the beginning of the year feast, and then Dumbledore with announce it and we'll see for ourselves. I don't know why our so eager anyway. You've have a new teacher ever since you started at Hogwarts," Ron replied, still a little testy from being awoken so abruptly.
" Gosh, Ron! You don't need to be grouchy."
" I'm not grouchy!" Ron exclaimed. Ginny decided not to push the matter any further, and the rest of the car ride was spent in silence. Soon they were pulling into the train station, a bustle of early morning passengers, though through the crowd you could occasionally make out an owl cage or two. Everyone got out of the car; trunks were put onto their respective trolleys and wheeling toward platform nine and three-quarters. They made their way through the barrier smoothly, each taking a turn, and then walked down to what appeared to be a fairly empty compartment.
" Good bye," Mr. Weasley smiled, pulling Ginny into a hug.
" Dad! Not right now, people might see," Ginny protested, stepping swiftly out of his arms.
" You're right, heaven forbid," he said, still smiling broadly. He pulled both Ron and Hermione into a hug and finally Harry. " Have a good year, you four." They all said their final quick goodbyes and then made there way onto the train, yet Harry heard his name behind him.
" Harry, a moment," Mr. Weasley said.
" Sure, what is it?" Harry said turning around.
" I just want you to, as a favor, personal favor...can you try and stay out of trouble this year," Harry was about to interrupt when he continued," I know you don't ask for it, but just try to have a quiet year, relax, focus on your studies. Just don't...just take a breather," Mr. Weasley finished.
" Well, I.....er....don't...thanks Mr. Weasley," Harry stammered, not quiet knowing what to say.
" Have a good year, Harry."
" You too," Harry smiled half heartily, slightly unsettled by his advice. He started walking toward the train, lost in thought of what this year would truly hold.
A/n: Sorry for the shorter chapter, I have more on the way, but there really wasn't a great stopping point without starting something else. Anyways, thanks to anyone who reviewed in the past, and keep them coming. Thanks much! Chapters on the way!! Thanks!!
~A Very Sticky Elf
Harry Potter and the Mage of Lemarac
Chapter 4: The Beginning
Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was one of the most popular shops on Diagon Alley, students of all ages would go in empty handed and come out with an armload of stuff. This fact was partly just because Fred and George once went to Hogwarts, and they knew plenty well how to prank someone. As Harry and his friends approached the store laughter could be heard emanating from the inside and two flaming red heads could be seen bobbing among the customers. Ron cautiously neared the door, pausing a moment before pulling it open.
" We were wondering when you three would show up," Fred smiled jovially seeing them standing near the doorway, yet none of them seem to be listening as they gazed around the shop. Around them, shelves upon shelves of colorfully boxed and packaged pranks and jokes, all of them with a small smiling portrait of the twins on the side. Below the photo the initials W.W.W. - Pure Prank Goodness! It somehow reminded Harry of Gilderoy Lockhart.
" Yeah, we've been waiting forever to have the Harry Potter visit. He is after all our founding sponsor," George said pushing Harry, Ron and Hermione further away from the door, Harry's face a shade of red.
" You always believed in us Harry, that means so much to us," Fred's tone caused Harry to turn an even deeper shade of red.
" That was deep, Fred," George said, placing his hand over his heart in fake sentimentality, this caused them all to smile. " Gosh, what happened to your sweater, Harry?"
" Nothing, some girl wasn't looking where she was going. It's nothing."
" That blows, mate. Any who, what can we do for you all?" Fred said.
" Not much," Hermione said, " We just wanted to check out the shop, but you guys seemed to be doing well."
" Surprisingly so," George laughed to himself, " for the first time in our life we're more successful than Percy. Oh! Ron, did you tell those two?" Both Harry and Hermione stared at Ron. " No, he didn't!" chirped Hermione.
" Percy, the big git! He comes home about three weeks ago, full of apologies saying how sorry he is, and how wrong he was about not believing that Voldemort was back and trusting Fudge the entire time. The whole time mom sobbing for joy, babbling about how her baby came home, dad just staring blankly at him. Even Percy started crying, saying he missed us all so much. The entire scene was ridiculous, and frankly, the loser will have to do a lot more then admit he was wrong to regain his entire family," Fred stated, both Ron and George both nodding in agreement, " He caused far too much trouble to just expect that we'll just take him back!"
" What a dumbass!" George exclaimed, following an awkward moment of silence. " How did you three do on your O.W.L.'s?" A sunken expression appeared on Harry and Ron's face, while Hermione was positively beaming. " That bad, huh?"
" I did far better that I expected, considering how distracted I was at the end of last term, I didn't do nearly enough studying," Hermione said happily, " There was only one score I would have wanted to improve upon, but it'll have to do." Both Ron and Harry seemed to be gazing at the floor.
" I didn't do...the best," Harry said, Ron nodded in agreement.
" I wouldn't be too worried, it might not be as bad as you think. You do realize-"
" Fred!"
"What?!"
" They can't know that, you're not even suppose to know that!" George said, smacking Fred upside the head. " What is it?!" Ron stammered excitedly.
" Nothing that you won't know soon enough, with school starting tomorrow and whatnot." Fred smiled rolling his eyes at George. After Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a few more moments in happy conversation; Hermione reminded them that they had to meet Mr. Weasley by the car in ten minutes. Each were giving a bag a free samples before making there way out of the shop and making their way back down the alley. Mr. Weasley and Ginny were both waiting by the car eager to get home and have supper. The car ride back to the burrow consisted mostly of excited conversation about the beginning of the school year and The Galactica 360, the load of books and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But like all previous years Mr. Weasley wouldn't disclose any information about who it was, and would always try advert the question by simply talking about there O.W.L., which after awhile made both Harry and Ron so glum, most conversation in the car ceased.
*** *** ***
The last night in the Burrow was surprisingly calm. After a supper with the family, including Percy, Mrs. Weasley sent Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry to bed early. Before making their way up the stairs Percy tried several times to apologize to Harry, who eventually stopped ignoring him and accepted, more because he want to go to bed than anything else. Ginny and Hermione said goodnight and then went off to their separate room, Harry sleeping a in a bed set up in Ron's room. They talked for a few moments about the new school year, and Percy, but Ron seemed too tried to talk much longer so Harry let him be. Ron fell asleep rather quickly, leaving Harry to stare at the ceiling.
Harry's mind fell over the usual pattern of looking at the previous hours, then the day, and finally ending up where he started, Sirius. He didn't know why he would even think of it on a day like this, no hardship or troubles. The entire time spent with friends, absorbed in getting ready for school to start, all the excitement of being a sixth year. Yet somehow all of his inner troubles, the ones that you could never fully tackle, took over once he was alone or at peace. Peace, he thought, that's what they say happens when you die, you get a peaceful existence, far away from our world of deceit and lies. Would Sirius really want that peace, never having the feeling of danger encompass his life again? That Harry couldn't answer; suddenly the strangest thought entered into his mind, the girl with the dark hair, the one who ran into him today.
He could still see her face; it was round and symmetrical, pleasant to look at but at the same time almost ordinary. She had a pale face and the almost startling crimson lips, those too small and round. Why was he thinking of her now, she was just a random girl who ran into him, wasn't even paying attention. Somehow this memory made him sleepy and a strange wave of warmth swept over him drawing him further way from his thoughts of Sirius. Odd, he smiled, she wasn't even that pretty, Cho was prettier, but she had the most beautiful raven hair....
*** *** ***
" Harry! Oh Geez!! Harry! We overslept!!! Damn it!!" Ron's startled voice brought him out of slumber.
" What?!" Harry gasped as he sat up, both putting on his glasses and starting to look for a clean pair of pants.
" The alarm didn't go off," Ron exclaimed, apparently also scrambling to put on his cloths and get ready. Luckily they had packed most of their stuff last night, but now they were expected to leave in 5 minutes.
" Damn. Just what I need," Harry said, throwing any last minute junk into his trunk, Ron was doing the same.
" Boys!" Mrs. Weasley's voice came from downstairs, " Bring yours trunks down, we're loading the car! We need to get going, can't wait forever!"
" Coming, mum!!" Ron yelled back, scanning the room for anything he might of missed. " Ready, Harry?"
" Yeah, I think so," Harry said, he too feeling just a little rushed. Mr. Weasley appeared in the doorway.
" Good," he said smiling. With a flick of his wand both trunks were shut and were floating a foot from the ground. Carefully he floated them down the stairs with Ron and Harry following. Outside Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and the twins were waiting by the car.
" What were you two doing up there? You missed breakfast, you know," Hermione said as the boys approached the car.
" And good morning to you, too," Ron said sarcastically, " For your information, our alarm didn't seem to go off this morning." Hermione rolled her eyes, before Ron and the twins helped Mr. Weasley get to two trunks into the car, which had been enchanted to allow for more room. Mrs. Weasley gave them all a large hug, wishing them well for the upcoming year, and then handed them each a bag of sandwiches for the train. The twins and Percy also said their goodbyes, saying they would probably see each other soon. The girls and Ron piled in the back, while Harry and Mr. Weasley took the front. Then they pulled out of the burrow, waving back until they had lost site of the house.
" I wonder what the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is like?" Ginny said turning back around.
" We've already gone over this. We don't know anything, so we'll just have to wait till the beginning of the year feast, and then Dumbledore with announce it and we'll see for ourselves. I don't know why our so eager anyway. You've have a new teacher ever since you started at Hogwarts," Ron replied, still a little testy from being awoken so abruptly.
" Gosh, Ron! You don't need to be grouchy."
" I'm not grouchy!" Ron exclaimed. Ginny decided not to push the matter any further, and the rest of the car ride was spent in silence. Soon they were pulling into the train station, a bustle of early morning passengers, though through the crowd you could occasionally make out an owl cage or two. Everyone got out of the car; trunks were put onto their respective trolleys and wheeling toward platform nine and three-quarters. They made their way through the barrier smoothly, each taking a turn, and then walked down to what appeared to be a fairly empty compartment.
" Good bye," Mr. Weasley smiled, pulling Ginny into a hug.
" Dad! Not right now, people might see," Ginny protested, stepping swiftly out of his arms.
" You're right, heaven forbid," he said, still smiling broadly. He pulled both Ron and Hermione into a hug and finally Harry. " Have a good year, you four." They all said their final quick goodbyes and then made there way onto the train, yet Harry heard his name behind him.
" Harry, a moment," Mr. Weasley said.
" Sure, what is it?" Harry said turning around.
" I just want you to, as a favor, personal favor...can you try and stay out of trouble this year," Harry was about to interrupt when he continued," I know you don't ask for it, but just try to have a quiet year, relax, focus on your studies. Just don't...just take a breather," Mr. Weasley finished.
" Well, I.....er....don't...thanks Mr. Weasley," Harry stammered, not quiet knowing what to say.
" Have a good year, Harry."
" You too," Harry smiled half heartily, slightly unsettled by his advice. He started walking toward the train, lost in thought of what this year would truly hold.
A/n: Sorry for the shorter chapter, I have more on the way, but there really wasn't a great stopping point without starting something else. Anyways, thanks to anyone who reviewed in the past, and keep them coming. Thanks much! Chapters on the way!! Thanks!!
~A Very Sticky Elf