A few hours later found us at the entrance of Hogwarts, breathing in a
familiar misty scent as we stepped through enormous thresh holds of the
castle we had grown up in.
And if we had thought that Dumbledore had gone overboard at our cottage, we were sadly mistaken.
Hogwarts was covered head to foot in what appeared to be tinsel, but was instead a million tiny fairies, all flittering aimlessly along the banisters. The tree in the main hall looked as though it were on fire, and I got the distinct feeling that if I were to get drunk at any point during my stay, I would surely die. The lights would cause my head to explode, and that would be the end of me.
But all in all, it was a welcome sight; rather like coming home.
"You clearly enjoy outdoing yourself," I commented to Albus, who was, even as I spoke, bewitching baubles up to hang from the ceiling in the two inches that weren't already covered.
"This can't be any worse than when you were here," he answered me, and turned away from his decorating to face me.
I quirked an eyebrow. "I think you're losing it, old man. When I was here, there was still a thing called DARKNESS!"
"Silly little thing, darkness. Never helped me to do much more than stub my toe at night on the way to the loo."
"Thank you, that was a very special glimpse into your personal life." I paused, and looked around. "Where is everyone, anyway? They're not all gone for vacation yet..."
"No no, they're just in class right now. You know," he said, all twinkly- eyed and mischievous. "Those things you go to while you're here."
I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Three, I skipped. And it was Snape." His gaze continued to pin me down. "And I had a good reason!"
He nodded. "Twice, you did. Once I believe you decided to pay a visit to a certain Thomas Mulligan--"
"ALL RIGHT!!" I covered my ears and screwed up my face at him. "I don't want to hear about that! Especially from you."
Albus had the grace to pretend to feel sorry. "All right... We won't bring up old flames anymore. Instead, let's discuss where your charges have disappeared to."
"My charges? You mean Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum?"
"Sirius and Charlie, yes."
"Who made me in charge of them?" I whined jokingly. "I don't know where they went. They said something about the Gryffindor common room, reminiscing, McGonagall, and Apparating Squids. I think we should fear for Minerva."
"I think we should fear more for the lives of Sirius and Charlie when she finds a Squid in her water glass..." Albus trailed off and looked up at the ceiling. "Judging by the dwindling daylight, we should be overrun by the hoards of hungry wizards soon. Should we continue this elsewhere?"
I checked my watch, which I had bewitched to work on school grounds, and then looked back to Dumbledore. "Yes, but later. I'm hungry."
"House elves are only too happy to accommodate my quarters," he offered, motioning towards the door.
"Yes, but I want to see the hoards. And the teachers. And why are you so anxious to get me back to your room? Plans for seduction I don't know about?"
Dumbledore grinned. "Blast, my secret's out. Well then, I'll leave you now to get yourself settled in and cleaned up before dinner. I'll expect you at my door at---?"
"Eight sharp," I filled in.
"I'll be there with bells on."
I spent the next half hour wondering if he was literally conjuring bells.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
"Siiiiiiirius," I called, bursting into my room. I looked around room, dimly lit by candles and fireplace. Nothing.
"Fine, we'll play that game too." I walked to the fireplace and tossed a handful of Floo into the fire. "Sirius Black, get your convicted arse over here."
A moment later the fire crackled, and a dark head appeared amongst the flames, grin brighter than the fire. "What is it, my sweet?"
"Dinner's in half an hour. Are you ready?"
One could almost see the canine in him as his ears perked. "Food?"
"Yes, you dolt. Grand hall. We have catching up to do."
"Yes ma'am... I'll be back in your room in fifteen minutes then. Just have to finish up some business here and wash up a bit..." He started to retreat into the flames.
"Sirius..."
"Yes love?"
"What are you doing?"
He paused; grin flickering slightly before returning full force. "Things, Zella."
"What things."
"Just things..." He looked at me with those puppy dog eyes he knew so well. What part of me was supposed to be surprised that his Animagus was a dog?
"What's in your hand."
"How do you know I've got something in my hand?"
"You just admitted it."
Sirius stopped and then dropped his mouth, with a look so comically disgusted with himself that I had to fight not to burst out laughing.
"Give me the Squid," I told him, and held out my hand expectantly.
"How do you know--- Oh HELL, I've just done it again, haven't I?"
I nodded cheerfully, and wiggled my fingers. Into which he deposited a jar of goo, and I struggled not to gag. "Thank you," I managed, and then reached forward and shoved his forehead back through the flames.
I stood and dropped the squid onto the couch to be dealt with later, then disappeared into the bathroom to shower and groom, as it were.
A few minutes later found me showered with relatively little fuss, save for the ghost that floated through midway through my shampooing. Myrtle may never be the same...
Wrapping one towel around my torso, I wrung out my hair and stepped out of the bathroom and into--
"SIRIUS!!!"
"What--- Oiy!! Not Looking, not looking!!" he yelled, and covered his eyes with his hands.
"You're PEEKING!" I screeched, tugging the towel tighter.
"I can't help it, I'm a guy..."
"Oh for God's SAKE.... Move!" I shoved past him, over to the bed where I had tossed out clothes, and then back across to the bathroom's threshold.
"I am going in here to change. . . and I will be OUT in FIVE MINUTES. If I catch you rummaging my drawers and fondling the unmentionables, Your HEAD WILL BE DUST!" With that threat, I stomped back into the bathroom and slammed the door.
I emerged from the bathroom, fully clothed, and found Sirius sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the bed; hands folded and looking rather scared for his life and anatomy.
"Is it safe?" he asked, staring intently at the ceiling.
"Yes, I'm dressed."
"You're sure?"
"Look, do you want to eat or not?"
That did it. He stood and looked me up and down, before nodding. "Not bad; must say I preferred the towel..."
"Sirius!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The grand hall was saturated with students when we got there, and Sirius promptly disappeared to the Gryffindor table. Now that his name had been cleared, those who had known him had sent in a flood of good wishes and begs for forgiveness, and he had become a kind of big brother to the children of his comrades.
Meanwhile, I made my way up to the Grand Table to visit with the staff. Many faces were familiar; McGonagall smiled down at me from her seat next to Dumbledore's, who was not there. Hooch grinned at me cheekily, and cocked her head towards Snape, who had taken one look at me and promptly buried himself under scrolls and dinner.
Pomfrey and Sprout looked up from their conversation and smiled warmly in my direction, while I scanned my way down the row to see whom I had missed. There were a few unfamiliar faces; some teachers had retired (I hoped) since I'd graduated, and there was the ever popular, ever changing Defense against the Dark arts position; a chair that was currently empty.
There were two extra chairs next to McGonagall, one of which was occupied by a tall dark haired man who had his back turned to me. Minerva motioned to the other, so I made my way up and sat down and watched as my dinner materialized in front of me.
The man talking to Minerva was in hushed tones, bent down in half to accommodate her tiny frame. His hair was in desperate need of cutting; shaggy and sticking out at all ends. Oddly enough, it looked quite nice that way.
He looked up when I sat down, letting his eyes linger long enough to try to figure out who I was, and then sat back in his chair to eat.
*Oh, so this is the game we're playing, is it? You're afraid I'm a spy or something and you can't talk in front of me... Let me tell you, buddy, I know more about the Dark Arts then---*
Holy Hell. That's Harry Potter.
*Ok, so I don't know quite THAT much. But I'm CLOSE!*
Minerva remembered her manners quite suddenly and sat up straighter than usual. "Harry, this is Zella Mackenzie. Zella, This is Harry Potter."
I saw him flinch at the sound of his name, and decided as he looked apprehensively into my eyes that I felt a good amount of pity for him; being thrust into a life of fame for something he couldn't even remember.
Ooooo, pity. Best not mention that to him either.
"Pleased to meet you, Harry," I said lightly, and extended a hand, which he grasped firmly and relaxed physically. I didn't bother to double take at his forehead; I knew what was there, and it's not like I could have seen it under the hair anyway. "What brings you back to Hogwarts? Reminiscing about Potion's Class?"
Harry shuddered violently, shaking his head so that his hair flew out further. Minerva shot us both looks, but turned her head towards her meal before either of us could get a good look at the smile.
"Just here to talk about a few things..." he trailed off, glancing at Minerva for backup.
"Involving the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort, the new weaponry he's been developing in the hopes to reduce you to smoldering ashes?" I whispered at him. His mouth dropped.
"Yeeeeeessssss, Harry, I'm a bit more in tune with what's going on then I look."
His cheeks tinged pink. "Well, I just wasn't... I mean, you don't look--"
"Like a witch?"
He nodded slowly, clearly trying to think of something to get himself out of this mess. "You... you don't exactly fit the profile..."
I looked down at myself. It was true enough; everyone else in the hall was in traditional robes, while I sat at the High Table in a sweater and jeans, hair pulled back into a ponytail with strands hanging out every which way from where it had dried.
"All right, so I'm not your stereotypical witch. I spend a lot of time in the Muggle world."
"You're sure you're a witch, though?" Harry asked through a mouthful of his dinner. His green eyes crinkled mischievously.
I looked at my hand for a moment, before opening the fist to show a tiny blue flame suspended over the palm.
Harry's eyes widened, and he swallowed the mouthful suddenly. "All right, you're a witch."
I grinned at him, then turned back to Minerva. "So, has there been any news lately?"
"Nothing worth ruining mince pies over," she answered quietly. "I trust Albus has already lured you into his quarters this evening?"
"I suspect he's laying out a trail of sherbet lemons."
"Then I'm sure he'll fill you in then. There have been a few interesting developments in the past few months... I'm not entirely sure what you've been kept up on."
"Oh, I make my way around," I answered flippantly, then looked around at the table, where the DADA position was still empty.
"What happened to the Defense teacher? You haven't hexed another one into oblivion yet, have you?"
"No," Minerva answered, also glancing down at the gap amongst professors. "She's probably eating in her chambers again, or working in her classroom. Poor child's only been here for a few months, and she didn't go to this school as a youngster, so all this is rather new to her."
"Where did she study, then, if she's working here?" I paused. "You didn't go off all half-assed and hire some veela descendant from Beaubuxtons, did you?"
Minerva shook her head. "We had one apply, but--" She stopped to allow me the convulsion of disgust I'd just had. "If you're finished. We had one apply, but she didn't qualify."
"And so, some semblance of order remains in an otherwise chaotic school," I finished in a fake announcer's voice.
"Yes, well, Albus is rather fond of chaos," Minerva snapped, trying to look stern.
"And you love every minute of it, don't you," I teased as I got to my feet. "Speaking of the old cad, he's probably sending House Elves scattering in all directions for food in anticipation of me."
"You do look a little bonier than the last time I saw you," McGonagall offered, looking me up and down.
"I'm living in exile, woman!" I shook my sweater at her. "I'm nothing more than bones! I'm wasting away! Send food, quick!"
"Pish," McGonagall answered. "I personally see him delivering owls to you three times a week. You eat better than any of us."
"Blast it, my secret's out. All right, I'll see you later. You too, Harry, if you plan on hanging about."
He nodded. "About a week."
"Good, we can share slimy old gittish stories. And if you want, I'll trim your hair so you can see again."
He blushed a lovely shade of crimson, and mumbled a 'sure' sheepishly as I brushed past him again.
Someone wasn't too experienced with the ladies now, was he?
~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Dedicated, as always, to the Beta Puppy, who harassed my ass on this all summer and every time I see her. Good thing too. it saves this poor thing from being dismantled and thrown into the pits of despair. Right next to all those old Geometry notes. ;)
I always appreciate feedback, constructive criticism, comments, and questions, so feel free to review!
Oh yeah. I don't own anybody, blah blah.
And I really can't be held responsible for anything in here. . . Once my subconscious starts making an appearance, I give up and head for high grounds. If you get too scared, just click your heels and say there's no place like fanfic. . . ~~Guess Who!
And if we had thought that Dumbledore had gone overboard at our cottage, we were sadly mistaken.
Hogwarts was covered head to foot in what appeared to be tinsel, but was instead a million tiny fairies, all flittering aimlessly along the banisters. The tree in the main hall looked as though it were on fire, and I got the distinct feeling that if I were to get drunk at any point during my stay, I would surely die. The lights would cause my head to explode, and that would be the end of me.
But all in all, it was a welcome sight; rather like coming home.
"You clearly enjoy outdoing yourself," I commented to Albus, who was, even as I spoke, bewitching baubles up to hang from the ceiling in the two inches that weren't already covered.
"This can't be any worse than when you were here," he answered me, and turned away from his decorating to face me.
I quirked an eyebrow. "I think you're losing it, old man. When I was here, there was still a thing called DARKNESS!"
"Silly little thing, darkness. Never helped me to do much more than stub my toe at night on the way to the loo."
"Thank you, that was a very special glimpse into your personal life." I paused, and looked around. "Where is everyone, anyway? They're not all gone for vacation yet..."
"No no, they're just in class right now. You know," he said, all twinkly- eyed and mischievous. "Those things you go to while you're here."
I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Three, I skipped. And it was Snape." His gaze continued to pin me down. "And I had a good reason!"
He nodded. "Twice, you did. Once I believe you decided to pay a visit to a certain Thomas Mulligan--"
"ALL RIGHT!!" I covered my ears and screwed up my face at him. "I don't want to hear about that! Especially from you."
Albus had the grace to pretend to feel sorry. "All right... We won't bring up old flames anymore. Instead, let's discuss where your charges have disappeared to."
"My charges? You mean Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum?"
"Sirius and Charlie, yes."
"Who made me in charge of them?" I whined jokingly. "I don't know where they went. They said something about the Gryffindor common room, reminiscing, McGonagall, and Apparating Squids. I think we should fear for Minerva."
"I think we should fear more for the lives of Sirius and Charlie when she finds a Squid in her water glass..." Albus trailed off and looked up at the ceiling. "Judging by the dwindling daylight, we should be overrun by the hoards of hungry wizards soon. Should we continue this elsewhere?"
I checked my watch, which I had bewitched to work on school grounds, and then looked back to Dumbledore. "Yes, but later. I'm hungry."
"House elves are only too happy to accommodate my quarters," he offered, motioning towards the door.
"Yes, but I want to see the hoards. And the teachers. And why are you so anxious to get me back to your room? Plans for seduction I don't know about?"
Dumbledore grinned. "Blast, my secret's out. Well then, I'll leave you now to get yourself settled in and cleaned up before dinner. I'll expect you at my door at---?"
"Eight sharp," I filled in.
"I'll be there with bells on."
I spent the next half hour wondering if he was literally conjuring bells.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
"Siiiiiiirius," I called, bursting into my room. I looked around room, dimly lit by candles and fireplace. Nothing.
"Fine, we'll play that game too." I walked to the fireplace and tossed a handful of Floo into the fire. "Sirius Black, get your convicted arse over here."
A moment later the fire crackled, and a dark head appeared amongst the flames, grin brighter than the fire. "What is it, my sweet?"
"Dinner's in half an hour. Are you ready?"
One could almost see the canine in him as his ears perked. "Food?"
"Yes, you dolt. Grand hall. We have catching up to do."
"Yes ma'am... I'll be back in your room in fifteen minutes then. Just have to finish up some business here and wash up a bit..." He started to retreat into the flames.
"Sirius..."
"Yes love?"
"What are you doing?"
He paused; grin flickering slightly before returning full force. "Things, Zella."
"What things."
"Just things..." He looked at me with those puppy dog eyes he knew so well. What part of me was supposed to be surprised that his Animagus was a dog?
"What's in your hand."
"How do you know I've got something in my hand?"
"You just admitted it."
Sirius stopped and then dropped his mouth, with a look so comically disgusted with himself that I had to fight not to burst out laughing.
"Give me the Squid," I told him, and held out my hand expectantly.
"How do you know--- Oh HELL, I've just done it again, haven't I?"
I nodded cheerfully, and wiggled my fingers. Into which he deposited a jar of goo, and I struggled not to gag. "Thank you," I managed, and then reached forward and shoved his forehead back through the flames.
I stood and dropped the squid onto the couch to be dealt with later, then disappeared into the bathroom to shower and groom, as it were.
A few minutes later found me showered with relatively little fuss, save for the ghost that floated through midway through my shampooing. Myrtle may never be the same...
Wrapping one towel around my torso, I wrung out my hair and stepped out of the bathroom and into--
"SIRIUS!!!"
"What--- Oiy!! Not Looking, not looking!!" he yelled, and covered his eyes with his hands.
"You're PEEKING!" I screeched, tugging the towel tighter.
"I can't help it, I'm a guy..."
"Oh for God's SAKE.... Move!" I shoved past him, over to the bed where I had tossed out clothes, and then back across to the bathroom's threshold.
"I am going in here to change. . . and I will be OUT in FIVE MINUTES. If I catch you rummaging my drawers and fondling the unmentionables, Your HEAD WILL BE DUST!" With that threat, I stomped back into the bathroom and slammed the door.
I emerged from the bathroom, fully clothed, and found Sirius sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the bed; hands folded and looking rather scared for his life and anatomy.
"Is it safe?" he asked, staring intently at the ceiling.
"Yes, I'm dressed."
"You're sure?"
"Look, do you want to eat or not?"
That did it. He stood and looked me up and down, before nodding. "Not bad; must say I preferred the towel..."
"Sirius!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The grand hall was saturated with students when we got there, and Sirius promptly disappeared to the Gryffindor table. Now that his name had been cleared, those who had known him had sent in a flood of good wishes and begs for forgiveness, and he had become a kind of big brother to the children of his comrades.
Meanwhile, I made my way up to the Grand Table to visit with the staff. Many faces were familiar; McGonagall smiled down at me from her seat next to Dumbledore's, who was not there. Hooch grinned at me cheekily, and cocked her head towards Snape, who had taken one look at me and promptly buried himself under scrolls and dinner.
Pomfrey and Sprout looked up from their conversation and smiled warmly in my direction, while I scanned my way down the row to see whom I had missed. There were a few unfamiliar faces; some teachers had retired (I hoped) since I'd graduated, and there was the ever popular, ever changing Defense against the Dark arts position; a chair that was currently empty.
There were two extra chairs next to McGonagall, one of which was occupied by a tall dark haired man who had his back turned to me. Minerva motioned to the other, so I made my way up and sat down and watched as my dinner materialized in front of me.
The man talking to Minerva was in hushed tones, bent down in half to accommodate her tiny frame. His hair was in desperate need of cutting; shaggy and sticking out at all ends. Oddly enough, it looked quite nice that way.
He looked up when I sat down, letting his eyes linger long enough to try to figure out who I was, and then sat back in his chair to eat.
*Oh, so this is the game we're playing, is it? You're afraid I'm a spy or something and you can't talk in front of me... Let me tell you, buddy, I know more about the Dark Arts then---*
Holy Hell. That's Harry Potter.
*Ok, so I don't know quite THAT much. But I'm CLOSE!*
Minerva remembered her manners quite suddenly and sat up straighter than usual. "Harry, this is Zella Mackenzie. Zella, This is Harry Potter."
I saw him flinch at the sound of his name, and decided as he looked apprehensively into my eyes that I felt a good amount of pity for him; being thrust into a life of fame for something he couldn't even remember.
Ooooo, pity. Best not mention that to him either.
"Pleased to meet you, Harry," I said lightly, and extended a hand, which he grasped firmly and relaxed physically. I didn't bother to double take at his forehead; I knew what was there, and it's not like I could have seen it under the hair anyway. "What brings you back to Hogwarts? Reminiscing about Potion's Class?"
Harry shuddered violently, shaking his head so that his hair flew out further. Minerva shot us both looks, but turned her head towards her meal before either of us could get a good look at the smile.
"Just here to talk about a few things..." he trailed off, glancing at Minerva for backup.
"Involving the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort, the new weaponry he's been developing in the hopes to reduce you to smoldering ashes?" I whispered at him. His mouth dropped.
"Yeeeeeessssss, Harry, I'm a bit more in tune with what's going on then I look."
His cheeks tinged pink. "Well, I just wasn't... I mean, you don't look--"
"Like a witch?"
He nodded slowly, clearly trying to think of something to get himself out of this mess. "You... you don't exactly fit the profile..."
I looked down at myself. It was true enough; everyone else in the hall was in traditional robes, while I sat at the High Table in a sweater and jeans, hair pulled back into a ponytail with strands hanging out every which way from where it had dried.
"All right, so I'm not your stereotypical witch. I spend a lot of time in the Muggle world."
"You're sure you're a witch, though?" Harry asked through a mouthful of his dinner. His green eyes crinkled mischievously.
I looked at my hand for a moment, before opening the fist to show a tiny blue flame suspended over the palm.
Harry's eyes widened, and he swallowed the mouthful suddenly. "All right, you're a witch."
I grinned at him, then turned back to Minerva. "So, has there been any news lately?"
"Nothing worth ruining mince pies over," she answered quietly. "I trust Albus has already lured you into his quarters this evening?"
"I suspect he's laying out a trail of sherbet lemons."
"Then I'm sure he'll fill you in then. There have been a few interesting developments in the past few months... I'm not entirely sure what you've been kept up on."
"Oh, I make my way around," I answered flippantly, then looked around at the table, where the DADA position was still empty.
"What happened to the Defense teacher? You haven't hexed another one into oblivion yet, have you?"
"No," Minerva answered, also glancing down at the gap amongst professors. "She's probably eating in her chambers again, or working in her classroom. Poor child's only been here for a few months, and she didn't go to this school as a youngster, so all this is rather new to her."
"Where did she study, then, if she's working here?" I paused. "You didn't go off all half-assed and hire some veela descendant from Beaubuxtons, did you?"
Minerva shook her head. "We had one apply, but--" She stopped to allow me the convulsion of disgust I'd just had. "If you're finished. We had one apply, but she didn't qualify."
"And so, some semblance of order remains in an otherwise chaotic school," I finished in a fake announcer's voice.
"Yes, well, Albus is rather fond of chaos," Minerva snapped, trying to look stern.
"And you love every minute of it, don't you," I teased as I got to my feet. "Speaking of the old cad, he's probably sending House Elves scattering in all directions for food in anticipation of me."
"You do look a little bonier than the last time I saw you," McGonagall offered, looking me up and down.
"I'm living in exile, woman!" I shook my sweater at her. "I'm nothing more than bones! I'm wasting away! Send food, quick!"
"Pish," McGonagall answered. "I personally see him delivering owls to you three times a week. You eat better than any of us."
"Blast it, my secret's out. All right, I'll see you later. You too, Harry, if you plan on hanging about."
He nodded. "About a week."
"Good, we can share slimy old gittish stories. And if you want, I'll trim your hair so you can see again."
He blushed a lovely shade of crimson, and mumbled a 'sure' sheepishly as I brushed past him again.
Someone wasn't too experienced with the ladies now, was he?
~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Dedicated, as always, to the Beta Puppy, who harassed my ass on this all summer and every time I see her. Good thing too. it saves this poor thing from being dismantled and thrown into the pits of despair. Right next to all those old Geometry notes. ;)
I always appreciate feedback, constructive criticism, comments, and questions, so feel free to review!
Oh yeah. I don't own anybody, blah blah.
And I really can't be held responsible for anything in here. . . Once my subconscious starts making an appearance, I give up and head for high grounds. If you get too scared, just click your heels and say there's no place like fanfic. . . ~~Guess Who!
