Daphne: Merry Christmas!!!!
Now, I know that this may come as a dissapointment to some of you, but the focus of this story is not the Quidditch. In fact, that won't come in until at least the seventeenth chapter, and it won't be that big a part. The biggest Quidditch section will be the finals between the two best schools, or perhaps the two best houses...I'm not going to say. You'll just have to wait and see.
But knowing that, I hope that you will still enjoy and read the story! Thanks to you all for reviewing and telling me what you think!
~*~*~*~
The Phoenix's Prophesy
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 14.
~*~*~*~
Harry woke up bright and early the next morning, to find Neville gone from his bed. The memory of the night before flooded back into his head, and he leapt out of bed, dressing hurriedly in his robes. When he was finished, he shot the still-sleeping Ron a grin, and then left the room, making his way to Rose's room.
"Harry, in here!"
As soon as Harry passed through the wall, he noticed that the 'living-room' door was open, allowing the early-morning sun that came through the windows, to sift into the short hallway. It was Jackson's voice that had called out softly from that room, and Harry quickly made his way there. Inside, Jackson and Neville were sitting on cushions, wide awake.
"Morning, Prongs Jr.!" Jackson called out, surprisingly cheerful considering the time it was. Harry collapsed onto a cushion near them, and then raised an eyebrow at them.
"Why so early?"
"Hmmm...dunno. Just felt like it. Neville came down a few minutes after I came out, so I saw no reason to go back to sleep. We were just about to sneak down to the kitchens to get first picks on breakfast." Jackson murmured. Harry rolled his eyes and grinned.
"I'm with you there. Where's Shane?"
"He woke up a few minutes ago. He's taking a shower and getting dressed." Jackson shrugged carelessly.
"Oh, I feel missed." Shane muttered sarcastically, coming out of his room. His pewter-blonde hair was still wet, though this didn't seem to bother him any. It was then that Harry noticed what Jackson and Shane were wearing.
Both boys wore short-sleeved white shirts, with slacks. Jackson's were black, while Shane's were a dark blue. Their shirts had strange crests on the right sleeve, and were button down, which allowed the ever-daring Jackson to unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt.
"School uniforms. We don't usually have to wear them, but for the first day of school, and special occasions, we do." Shane muttered dryly, tucking in a corner of his shirt. Harry grinned and slightly opened his robes to reveal his school uniform.
"I feel for you."
This comment caused all four of them to burst out laughing, muffing their snickers with pillows. When they finally collected themselves, they made their way silently past the girls room, out the wall, and then out the portrait of the fat lady. Jackson cracked a joke about pink pigs, causing the fat lady to huff and disappear from the painting.
"That was rude." Neville commented, as they walked towards the picture of the fruit. Jackson shrugged.
"I call them as I see em'." He said carelessly. Harry groaned silently. Just like Sirius.
"Tact, Padfoot Jr. Tact." Shane sighed, as Harry tickled the pear. It giggled and then formed the doorknob, which he grasped. The door swung open, and they were immediately greeted by a squeal.
"HARRY POTTER, SIR!"
Harry felt something hug his middle, and he watched as his so called 'friends' struggled not to laugh. Giant eyes blinked up at Harry.
"Hello, Dobby."
"Mr. Potter is needing anything? Dobby is happy to serve!" Dobby announced, ushering the group towards the overstuffed chairs near that back of the room. Harry was startled to see that one of them was already occupied.
"Good Morning!"
"Rose? I thought you were asleep! Why are you awake?" Jackson asked, plopping into a seat next to her. Neville happily sat on the floor near them, while Harry sat beside him. Rose was indeed awake, and already dressed in a white short-sleeved blouse, and forest-green plaited skirt that reached to a few inches above her knees. Her hair was in a single braid down her back, and a forest green beret placed artfully on her head finished off the effect.
"I couldn't sleep anymore. It was the excitement of being in a new place, I suppose." She murmured, flashing them one of her smiles. Harry grinned as Dobby once again asked if he could help them. After Jackson's long list of things he wanted to eat, and the house elves immediate service, Harry found himself contentedly eating through a delicious pastry.
"Ginny decided to sleep in our room last night, and so did Tori. I suppose she was a little nervous about staying in a new place." Rose commented, as she bit into her croissant. Jackson and Shane exchanged a look, that showed they were more than familiar with Victoria's timidness.
"May Winky help Mistress Rose?"
Harry looked down in astonishment, to see another small house-elf looking up at them. It wasn't the fact that this house elf looked any different from any of the other house elves, or even that it was a female. No...Harry had met the house elf Winky, many times, and none of those times were very pleasant. Usually she was crying, or drunk on too much butterbeer.
But this time, Winky seemed quite happy, even perky. Her usually dirty clothes were freshly pressed and clean, and her big eyes, which usually held so many tears, were bright and happy.
"Thank you, Winky. Do you have any orange juice?" Rose asked softly. The house elf beamed and rushed away.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked in amazement. Rose looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"*That*! With Winky. Usually when we come down here, she's a wreck, all crying and dirty. What happened?" He asked, still a little put-off. Rose smiled.
"Oh, that? When I found out about Winky from Dobby, I decided to meet her...when she was sober. You know when we came down here yesterday afternoon? I talked to her, and we came to an agreement."
"What agreement?" Jackson asked, looking suspicious. Rose's smile became a grin.
"She's going to work for us! She refuses pay, and if that's how she feels, I won't pay her. But during the summer, she and Dobby are going to be coming to America with us, and then coming back at the start of next year." Rose explained. Harry looked at his sister in shock.
"You're her new mistress?!"
"Yes. You see, she didn't want to leave Dobby, but she *did* want to work for me. So Dumbledore and I came up with an alternative. She and Dobby will work here during the school years, and then join me in America over summer vacations...at least until I'm out of school. Then I might just keep them for good." Rose's happiness was obvious, but Jackson looked uneasy.
"Just promise, whatever you do during the summer, stay out of my room. I can clean it myself." He told Winky and Dobby, when they returned with Rose's orange juice. The two house elves beamed at him, and nodded in agreement.
"Dobby is being paid, Harry Potter! Dobby is being paid, even when Dobby is not working for Professor Dumbledore!" Dobby looked thrilled, and Harry shot him a smile.
"That's great, Dobby. Hermione would be so proud of you." At his words, Dobby beamed and Winky looked only a little less happy.
"Is Mistress needing something else? Is Master?" Winky asked, looking back and forth between Rose and Jackson. Both shook their heads, though Harry noted that Jackson looked rather pleased to be called 'Master'.
"Um, guys? I think we should be joining the others for breakfast, now." Shane murmured, looking at his watch. Jackson grumbled, shoving all of his extra breakfast things into a bag that Winky had produced. Harry watched this with a slight smile, realizing that Jackson was even more like Sirius than he had ever suspected.
"Shall we go?" Neville asked, standing up and offering his arm teasingly to Rose, who giggled and took it.
"Yes, we shall, good sir!" She answered, linking her other arm through Harry's.
"Goodbye Harry Potter! Visit Dobby soon!" Dobby called out, as they exited the kitchens and began their assent towards the Great Hall.
~*~*~*~
"Well, that was odd." Jackson murmured, as they continued their pompous walk down the halls. On the way, they passed several students who stopped and stared at the strange group, but they ignored them.
"What was?" Shane asked, throwing an arm around Jackson's shoulders.
"Being informed you have a house elf, without ever knowing it before." Jackson shot a reproachful look at Rose, who beamed back at him.
"Oh, come on! I would give anything to have a house elf." Neville groaned. Harry nodded.
"Me too. Then it could do everything my aunt and uncle make me do. That includes gardening, cleaning the house, doing laundry...ugh! I even have to wash Dudley's underwear! Do you know how disturbing that is?" Harry asked, his eyes twinkling as Rose wrinkled her nose slightly.
"Well, it depends. How big are they?" Jackson asked eagerly. Harry winced.
"I'd guess no smaller than a shopping bag...a very *large* shopping bag." Harry muttered, causing them all to burst out laughing.
"Oh, Harry! I've got something for Ron and the girls, since they missed our special breakfast." Rose said, holding up a rather large paper bag. Opening it to give him a glimpse, Harry spotted several croissants, danishes, and other types of pastry. He grinned.
"Ron's going to love you." He chuckled, as they neared the Great Hall. Just then, Jackson decided that it was too quiet, and belted out the starting of a song.
"Standing up on Salisbury Hill..."
"Oh no. Stop him." Neville said dryly, his eyes beginning to sparkle. Rose was already grinning.
"...LIBERTY SHE PIROUETTES!"
"When she knows that I am free!" Shane continued the song, grinning. Both boys began to sing through it, knowing perfectly well that they were skipping most of the lines of the song. Harry was surprised to notice that both of them had extremely good voices.
"New song." Neville called out, his voice filled with laughter.
"NOT A DAY GOES BY, WHEN I DON'T THINK OF YOU!"
"AFTER ALL THIS TIME, YOU'RE STILL WITH ME, ITS TRUE!" Shane carried on for Jackson, clasping his hands together in front of his chest and pretending to look dreamily at the ceiling.
"Ugh! New song!" Rose groaned, a distinct laughter filling her eyes.
"I'VE GOT A LOVELY BUNCH OF COCONUTS!" Shane belted out, causing Neville, Harry, and Rose to laugh hysterically.
"THERE THEY ARE ALL STANDING IN A ROW!" Jackson followed.
"BIG ONES!" Neville suggested.
"SMALL ONES!" Rose giggled.
"SOME AS BIG AS MCGONAGLE'S HEAD!" Harry finished, throwing out his arms to add effect. To his surprise, a barrage of laughter that was not theirs, filled the air. Turning around, startled, the group realized that they had an audience. The Great Hall doors had opened while they were singing, and none of them had noticed.
Harry winced, for many reasons. He hated crowds. He had just been caught singing. His friends were throwing him shocked and amazed looks, while laughing at the same time. And it got worse. Because, it seemed, Jackson *loved* crowds, and *loved* to be the center of attention.
"THE FUN, HAS ARRIVED!!!" Jackson shouted, causing the whole room to erupt in laughter again. Harry groaned softly as many heads turned to stare at their small group. He heard Neville groan lightly behind him, and Rose begin to giggle.
"Look, Harry!" She laughed, discreetly motioning towards the Gryffindor table. Ron and the others were already seated, throwing mock-betrayed glances at them every once in a while. Ron was pretending to pout (though he looked more like he was about to burst out laughing), while Hermione had her famous glare on (though, she too, looked ready to laugh). Ginny had her puppy-dog look on, while Shirah shot them a heated glare, and Raya smiled softly at them.
"Jackson, you're scaring the little kids." Shane announced, a little louder than was completely necessary.
"Really? Am I doing a good job?" Jackson teased, as they continued to walk up the isle. While Jackson and Shane seemed unconscious of all the admiring stares they were getting (mostly from the girls), Harry was uncomfortably aware of them.
"He needs a volume knob." Neville muttered, causing Rose and Harry to snicker into their hands.
"A fine job. Now take your seat before I publicly *ground* you." Came a sweet, laughing voice from the head table. May McBride-Black was looking at them with a sparkle in her eyes, though that sparkle seemed almost dangerous...
"Awe, we were just having some fun. Don't have a cow." Jackson called back jokingly, as he settled into his seat next to Ginny. She raised her eyebrow at him.
"She doesn't have a cow, Jackson. But for your information, you nearly sat on a cat." Ginny informed him, pointing at a small puff of fur on Shirah's lap. Two shockingly bright orbs of reflective blue were staring indignantly at him from the depths of that white fur, and Jackson looked regretful.
"Sorry, Dutch. It was an accident, really." He murmured, petting the ball of white fur. Harry sat next to Ron, who shot him a questioning look, while Rose and Neville settled next to him. Shane had already taken his seat next to Shirah, and was in the midst of explaining where they had been.
"Rose, your cat." Shirah finally said, allowing the animal to walk over the table towards Rose. It was then that Harry got a full look at her, and caught his breath.
It was a pure white Persian, with a brush-mop tail and a finely sculpted head. The cat held it's fluffy tail high, like a flagstaff, and walked daintily across the table. It's ears were alert and straight, and it's bright blue eyes seemed to almost stare right through him, before they finally looked away. It walked with one foot in front of the other, all the way into Rose's arms.
"I didn't know you had a cat." He murmured, staring at the purring animal. Rose beamed, ignoring the fact that much of the Gryffindor table had seen the cat, and were now staring at her with interest.
"May got her for me on my birthday...I had to leave her all summer, so I begged May to let me bring her along. Her name is Duchess." Rose told him, as the cat's eyes once again found his.
"Nickname, Dutch. It makes her sound so much less...hoity-toity." Jackson said, pretending to finger his fork daintily as he said the last two words. Shane snickered while the girls shot them glares.
"I think she's lovely!" Ginny snapped, leaning over to gaze at the cat.
"I agree. She's almost as pretty as Crookshanks!" Hermione announced. Harry and Ron snorted into their food, while Ginny muttered something that sounded like:
"In your opinion."
"Enough about the cat. Rose, put her down." Shirah groaned, burying her face in her hands. Rose smiled and gently set Duchess on the floor, where the cat proceeded to walk down the isle and out the doors.
"She is intelligent." Harry murmured. Rose nodded, then the subject was dropped. Harry, who had had his fill of breakfast in the kitchens, turned away from his un-touched plate to see Dumbledore standing up.
"Students, I would like to bring it to your attention that our guests may have trouble trying to find their classes. That is why I am depending on you to help them if they ask." The old professor said, his sharp eyes landing on each table in turn. Harry noticed, that on Raya's other side, poor Victoria was shaking nervously. She, being the only first year visitor, was rather nervous. Harry smiled as a plan formed in his mind.
When breakfast was through, Harry left his friends and quickly went over to where Matthew Lions was finishing his breakfast quickly.
"Matthew, can I ask you a favor?" The younger boy looked up as Harry said this, and nodded hesitantly.
"One of the Salem Quidditch players is a first year, like you. She is a little bit uncomfortable with finding her classes alone, and I was wondering if you would be willing to help her and maybe even escort her around for a while, until she is more comfortable?" Harry asked. Matthew's brown eyes lit up and he nodded his blonde head eagerly. Harry grinned.
"Great. Come with me." He led Matthew over to where his friends and Victoria were waiting. Harry noticed that when the younger boy caught sight of the slight, pretty girl, a blush rose to his cheeks.
"Matthew, this is Victoria. Victoria, this is Matthew Lions, the first year Chaser for our team. He's offered to help you find your way to your classes." Harry told her. Victoria gave Matthew a shy smile.
"Thank you. I'd like that." She murmured, holding out her hand. Matthew took it and shook it, still looking a bit star-struck.
"Right then. Off you go." Harry gave Matthew a tiny push, and the younger boy blushed again.
"Right. What class do you have first?"
Harry watched as they walked off, Matthew's open and friendly attitude causing Victoria to fall comfortably into his company.
"Harry, that was brilliant!" Raya murmured, watching as her sister disappeared from sight.
"I figured that they had a lot in common, being first-year players and all. Plus, Matthew is a bit shy. He needs to make more friends." Harry said, waving the subject away.
"Fine. Now, Rose, Shirah, Raya? Why don't you come with me. We've got first class together." Ginny said, grasping Rose's elbow and pulling her away from the group. The other two girls followed and they were soon out of sight.
"O-k...well, how about you show us around, then?" Jackson suggested, throwing an arm around Ron's shoulders. Ron grinned and glanced at Hermione, who was looking rather put-out at being the only girl in a group of five boys.
"Oh, come on, Mione'. You should feel lucky, being surrounded by five tall and ruggedly handsome men." Jackson crowed, throwing his other arm about her. Hermione sniggered.
"That is a matter of opinion."
"What is?" Jackson asked, looking confused. She giggled.
"Look in a mirror, Mr. McBride. I think you need a reality check." With this, Hermione left all five young men gaping, as she dashed away.
"Did Hermione just make a joke?" Ron asked, sounding amazed. Harry nodded weakly.
"I think she did."
~*~*~*~
Harry winced as he sat in his last class for the day, Double Potions. Professor Snape had just stood up from his desk, and was now pacing up and down the isles, peering threateningly at the students. He watched as Snape went by several Slytherins without saying a word, and then began to pick on Seamus.
"The old git." Neville hissed, leaning over from across the isle. Ron, who was sitting beside Harry, sniggered, as did Jackson and Shane, who were behind them. Hermione shot them glares, but couldn't keep a smile from entering her eyes. Harry noticed that Lavender and Parvati, who were behind Neville, giggled at Neville's comment. He rolled his eyes and then turned his attention back to his potion, which was actually looking as it should, for once.
"Psst! He's coming over here." Jackson hissed into Harry's ear, leaning over his desk to do so. Harry looked up and saw that indeed, Snape was angling towards their tables. It was then that the Potion Master's eyes met Harry's, and Harry got the shock of his life...thus far. There was something behind the normal loathing, in his eyes. Something that suspiciously resembled...sadness. Yet at the same time, there was acceptance in their depths as well.
Snape looked away and walked past them without a word. Ron looked at Harry in relief, but as Hermione's eyes met his, Harry realized that she too, had seen the change in the professor.
"He looked like he wanted to...cry." Hermione murmured, as they left the dungeons and walked towards the Great Hall. Ron was lagging behind, chatting with Jackson and Shane, so he didn't hear what they were talking about. Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust at the imagery Hermione's statement put in his head.
"No, it looked like he had finally accepted something that he refused to before." Harry countered. Hermione frowned for a moment, and then nodded.
"That was it. I wonder what did that to him. I mean, he didn't say one mean thing to you the whole class." She stated, re-adjusting her bag over her shoulder. Harry had noticed this as well, but chose not to say anything.
"I think he got a reality check." Came Neville's voice. Harry jumped and Hermione squeaked as they realized that he had overheard the whole conversation. Neville smiled guiltily and shrugged.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Just what I said. I think you're right, Harry. He's come to terms with something, and it's not making him very happy...and yet it's not making him mad, either." Neville murmured. Hermione, still astounded by Neville's new confidence and perceptiveness, gaped at him, while Harry thought this over.
"Do you think...it had something to do with me? I mean, usually he'd find *something* wrong with me, whether it be my potion or the hair on my head." Harry said sarcastically, causing Hermione to giggle.
"I really don't know, Harry." Neville's voice was nearly an undertone, almost as if he *did* know, and didn't want Harry to know.
~*~*~*~
As they entered the Great Hall. Harry jumped as he saw several new, empty seats near the Headmaster's.
"What on earth?" Ron exclaimed, spotting the chairs right away.
"I think those are for the judges of the contests." Shane murmured, as they hurried up the isle to where Ginny, Rose, Shirah, and Raya were sitting. Harry noticed that Victoria was no longer clinging to her sister's side, but she was now seated with Matthew and several of his friends a ways down the table.
"Guess who's here." Ginny said dryly, shooting a 'look' at Hermione as she sat down next to her.
"Who?" Hermione asked carelessly, watching her friends sit down. Ginny grinned.
"Well, he's someone you know...someone Ron admires and hates...and someone who calls you a 'ninny'." Ginny said cryptically. Everyone stared at her as if she were crazy, even Hermione.
"Wha'?" Jackson asked sarcastically. Suddenly, Ron sat up straight, his eyes flaring and his back stiff with anger.
"HIM?!?!"
"Yup." Ginny giggled, nodding her head. Obviously, he had figured out who it was, and it didn't please him. Ron shot Hermione a hot look, and then set about pouting in his chair. Hermione looked back and forth between them, confused.
"Who is it?"
"You'll see, Mione'. You'll see." Ginny assured, a sparkle coming to her eyes. Harry frowned and thought carefully. Who was someone Hermione 'knew', Ron liked but hated, and had called Hermione a 'ninny' in the past...WAIT! Harry's eyes widened as he realized, a bit too late, who it was.
"Hello Hermy-own-ninny."
Hermione gasped and turned to see Victor Krum standing directly behind her. He was as tall and burly as ever, though his frown was not in sight. In fact, he seemed a bit *too* happy to be there.
"Victor! What on earth?" Hermione asked, looking pleased. Harry noticed that Ron turned a bright, indignant red, but said nothing. He thought this was strange, considering that Ron was usually outspoken about the whole Krum-Granger deal.
"I am chaperoning for my school." Krum muttered, looking up at the head- table quickly, where the new Durmstrang Headmaster sat.
"Oh! That's wonderful. And you never said a word in your letters!" Hermione giggled. Krum looked pleased and stayed a few more minutes, talking to the others, before he headed towards the head-table.
"That was a pleasant surprise!" Hermione quipped, causing Ginny to roll her eyes and Harry to groan silently. Neville sniggered, but to everyone's surprise, Ron stayed surprisingly silent, staring into space.
"Yeah...*pleasant*." Jackson deadpanned, looking around the room, bored. As Harry's gaze also traveled the room, it came upon a sight that was even less welcome than Krum.
"Er, Ron?" Harry looked over at his friend, who was still staring into space blankly. The other boy jumped at the sound of his name, and looked around as if disoriented.
"What?"
"Look up at the head table."
Ron did as he was told, an immediately his gaze became much more aware. His blue eyes widened and then narrowed dangerously, while his body stiffened warningly.
"Ron, what...oh." Ginny murmured, turning to see what everyone was staring at.
There, at the head table, sat two people where the empty chairs had been. Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley were staring around the room apprehensively, as though afraid they were about to be cursed.
"What is that git doing here?" Ron growled, glaring at his brother.
"Which git do you mean? I see several." Neville asked, looking pointedly in the directions of Snape and Filch.
"He means, what is Percy doing here?" Ginny filled in, looking nervous. Harry could understand why. Percy had just spotted them, and was looking rather uncomfortable himself, under their stares and Ron's heated glare.
"Probably the same reason Fudge is." Harry groaned, as the Minister's eyes swept over him with a holier-than-thou look. Harry stared boldly back, refusing to back down from the man's challenge. He didn't notice that beside him, Rose was getting a strange look on her face.
"Harry, I look a lot like your mom, right?" She whispered, being careful to say *your* mom, instead of *our*. Harry nodded, and Rose made eye-contact with Jackson. His eyes glinted with mischievousness, and he nodded slowly. Harry began to feel uneasy as they slowly stood up, and turned their heads to make eye contact with the Minister of Magic.
"WHAT?!"
Fudge's yelp was enough to make everyone in the room go silent. Jackson and Rose quickly sat, as if nothing had happened, while the Minister stood, trembling. His eyes were glued to Harry, Jackson and Rose, and his face was a pasty white. Everyone stared at him, and then arched their necks around to see what had startled him.
"Impossible! James...Lily...Sirius Black...they're dead!" He muttered, shaking his head, as if in a trance. May, who had begun to look alarmed, relaxed with a smile and looked imploringly at Dumbledore, who nodded and stood.
"You are correct, Cornelius. It is impossible. Those young people you see there are Jackson and Rose McBride, children of Professor May McBride. And you of course, know Harry Potter." Dumbledore finished, his eyes twinkling at Harry. Harry groaned and sank down into his seat, as gasps and murmurs filled the Great Hall. Then came the stares, the 'I don't believe its', and the 'Harry Potter's!'.
"But they...they look..." Fudge couldn't finish. May took this time to stand and throw him a dazzling smile that seemed to make the Minister melt in his place.
"Please don't be alarmed, Minister. It is true they are my children. Actually, Jackson is my own, and I adopted Rose in America. But the resemblance is startling, isn't it?" She asked, smiling again. Fudge could only nod and sit back down, while May threw Dumbledore a 'thank you' glance, before sitting down herself.
"Better now?" Jackson asked cheerfully, as the room began to return to normal...save for the stares of the visiting students...
"No, but I'll pretend to be, to please Rose." Harry muttered, a small grin coming to his face. Rose giggled.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone go so pale. Do you think that if we had stalled any longer, he would have turned into a ghost himself?" Rose asked jokingly. The other laughed and returned to their meals, unmindful of all the stares they were getting...some not as nice as others.
~*~*~*~
"OH! Look!" Hermione cried, pulling something gold out of her pocket. It was later that night, when the group had met in the 'family's' rooms. She held up a gold coin, that was glowing red-hot in places.
"What is it?" Shirah asked, leaning over to peer at the round object. Hermione, however, was looking at Harry in disbelief.
"Tomorrow night? Our meeting is tomorrow night?!" She asked in a shocked voice. Harry grinned and nodded.
"You don't have to be secretive about it, Mione'. It is just the opening class, so everyone can get to know each other. I will also need to make a schedule, so I can know who can come in to help me teach, and on what days." Harry said. Hermione looked impressed.
"Wow. Harry, you've thought this out." She murmured, looking at her coin. Harry smirked.
"I even made sure no clubs, Quidditch practices, etc. were scheduled then." He boasted. Neville was rolling his eyes, while Ron stared at his best friend, impressed.
"We could help, Prongs Jr. We could even teach some of the lesser known spells, that are only taught in Salem Academy. That way, Voldemort will be faced with things even he doesn't know how to counter." For once, Jackson seemed eager about something other than food and pranks.
"Like?" Harry asked.
"Like the ghosting technique." Rose filled in. While Neville nodded eagerly, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny looked at her in confusion.
"The what?" They asked in unison, grinning at each other afterwards. Shane chuckled.
"It is a difficult technique to learn. And it will take time. But in the end, it's worth it. It protects you from every spell, curse, and hex there is." He informed them.
"It even works against 'Avada Kedavra'." Neville added. Harry looked at Rose.
"How do you do it?" He asked. She smiled and shrugged.
"It is easy enough, once you understand how to. Watch." She moved quickly to an empty space in the floor, closed her eyes and concentrated. Then she opened them, and smiled. Nothing had changed, and Harry immediately felt doubt.
"Was something supposed to happen?" Ron asked curiously. Rose laughed.
"Something *did* happen. Raya, can you toss me that book?" Rose asked, motioning to the book she had been reading earlier. Raya picked it up, then threw it to Rose.
The only problem was, when the girl extended her hands to catch it, the book fell right through them, went through her body, and then fell to the ground behind her. Hermione let out a shriek, Ron yelped, and Ginny gasped, all of them looking at Rose with wide eyes.
"See? Nothing can harm you." Rose said. Ginny got up from her cushion with a curious look, and gingerly placed her hand on Rose's arm. It went right through it. Ginny shivered and met Rose's eyes.
"You've got to teach me this one." Was all she could say.
~*~*~*~
Now, I know that this may come as a dissapointment to some of you, but the focus of this story is not the Quidditch. In fact, that won't come in until at least the seventeenth chapter, and it won't be that big a part. The biggest Quidditch section will be the finals between the two best schools, or perhaps the two best houses...I'm not going to say. You'll just have to wait and see.
But knowing that, I hope that you will still enjoy and read the story! Thanks to you all for reviewing and telling me what you think!
~*~*~*~
The Phoenix's Prophesy
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 14.
~*~*~*~
Harry woke up bright and early the next morning, to find Neville gone from his bed. The memory of the night before flooded back into his head, and he leapt out of bed, dressing hurriedly in his robes. When he was finished, he shot the still-sleeping Ron a grin, and then left the room, making his way to Rose's room.
"Harry, in here!"
As soon as Harry passed through the wall, he noticed that the 'living-room' door was open, allowing the early-morning sun that came through the windows, to sift into the short hallway. It was Jackson's voice that had called out softly from that room, and Harry quickly made his way there. Inside, Jackson and Neville were sitting on cushions, wide awake.
"Morning, Prongs Jr.!" Jackson called out, surprisingly cheerful considering the time it was. Harry collapsed onto a cushion near them, and then raised an eyebrow at them.
"Why so early?"
"Hmmm...dunno. Just felt like it. Neville came down a few minutes after I came out, so I saw no reason to go back to sleep. We were just about to sneak down to the kitchens to get first picks on breakfast." Jackson murmured. Harry rolled his eyes and grinned.
"I'm with you there. Where's Shane?"
"He woke up a few minutes ago. He's taking a shower and getting dressed." Jackson shrugged carelessly.
"Oh, I feel missed." Shane muttered sarcastically, coming out of his room. His pewter-blonde hair was still wet, though this didn't seem to bother him any. It was then that Harry noticed what Jackson and Shane were wearing.
Both boys wore short-sleeved white shirts, with slacks. Jackson's were black, while Shane's were a dark blue. Their shirts had strange crests on the right sleeve, and were button down, which allowed the ever-daring Jackson to unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt.
"School uniforms. We don't usually have to wear them, but for the first day of school, and special occasions, we do." Shane muttered dryly, tucking in a corner of his shirt. Harry grinned and slightly opened his robes to reveal his school uniform.
"I feel for you."
This comment caused all four of them to burst out laughing, muffing their snickers with pillows. When they finally collected themselves, they made their way silently past the girls room, out the wall, and then out the portrait of the fat lady. Jackson cracked a joke about pink pigs, causing the fat lady to huff and disappear from the painting.
"That was rude." Neville commented, as they walked towards the picture of the fruit. Jackson shrugged.
"I call them as I see em'." He said carelessly. Harry groaned silently. Just like Sirius.
"Tact, Padfoot Jr. Tact." Shane sighed, as Harry tickled the pear. It giggled and then formed the doorknob, which he grasped. The door swung open, and they were immediately greeted by a squeal.
"HARRY POTTER, SIR!"
Harry felt something hug his middle, and he watched as his so called 'friends' struggled not to laugh. Giant eyes blinked up at Harry.
"Hello, Dobby."
"Mr. Potter is needing anything? Dobby is happy to serve!" Dobby announced, ushering the group towards the overstuffed chairs near that back of the room. Harry was startled to see that one of them was already occupied.
"Good Morning!"
"Rose? I thought you were asleep! Why are you awake?" Jackson asked, plopping into a seat next to her. Neville happily sat on the floor near them, while Harry sat beside him. Rose was indeed awake, and already dressed in a white short-sleeved blouse, and forest-green plaited skirt that reached to a few inches above her knees. Her hair was in a single braid down her back, and a forest green beret placed artfully on her head finished off the effect.
"I couldn't sleep anymore. It was the excitement of being in a new place, I suppose." She murmured, flashing them one of her smiles. Harry grinned as Dobby once again asked if he could help them. After Jackson's long list of things he wanted to eat, and the house elves immediate service, Harry found himself contentedly eating through a delicious pastry.
"Ginny decided to sleep in our room last night, and so did Tori. I suppose she was a little nervous about staying in a new place." Rose commented, as she bit into her croissant. Jackson and Shane exchanged a look, that showed they were more than familiar with Victoria's timidness.
"May Winky help Mistress Rose?"
Harry looked down in astonishment, to see another small house-elf looking up at them. It wasn't the fact that this house elf looked any different from any of the other house elves, or even that it was a female. No...Harry had met the house elf Winky, many times, and none of those times were very pleasant. Usually she was crying, or drunk on too much butterbeer.
But this time, Winky seemed quite happy, even perky. Her usually dirty clothes were freshly pressed and clean, and her big eyes, which usually held so many tears, were bright and happy.
"Thank you, Winky. Do you have any orange juice?" Rose asked softly. The house elf beamed and rushed away.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked in amazement. Rose looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"*That*! With Winky. Usually when we come down here, she's a wreck, all crying and dirty. What happened?" He asked, still a little put-off. Rose smiled.
"Oh, that? When I found out about Winky from Dobby, I decided to meet her...when she was sober. You know when we came down here yesterday afternoon? I talked to her, and we came to an agreement."
"What agreement?" Jackson asked, looking suspicious. Rose's smile became a grin.
"She's going to work for us! She refuses pay, and if that's how she feels, I won't pay her. But during the summer, she and Dobby are going to be coming to America with us, and then coming back at the start of next year." Rose explained. Harry looked at his sister in shock.
"You're her new mistress?!"
"Yes. You see, she didn't want to leave Dobby, but she *did* want to work for me. So Dumbledore and I came up with an alternative. She and Dobby will work here during the school years, and then join me in America over summer vacations...at least until I'm out of school. Then I might just keep them for good." Rose's happiness was obvious, but Jackson looked uneasy.
"Just promise, whatever you do during the summer, stay out of my room. I can clean it myself." He told Winky and Dobby, when they returned with Rose's orange juice. The two house elves beamed at him, and nodded in agreement.
"Dobby is being paid, Harry Potter! Dobby is being paid, even when Dobby is not working for Professor Dumbledore!" Dobby looked thrilled, and Harry shot him a smile.
"That's great, Dobby. Hermione would be so proud of you." At his words, Dobby beamed and Winky looked only a little less happy.
"Is Mistress needing something else? Is Master?" Winky asked, looking back and forth between Rose and Jackson. Both shook their heads, though Harry noted that Jackson looked rather pleased to be called 'Master'.
"Um, guys? I think we should be joining the others for breakfast, now." Shane murmured, looking at his watch. Jackson grumbled, shoving all of his extra breakfast things into a bag that Winky had produced. Harry watched this with a slight smile, realizing that Jackson was even more like Sirius than he had ever suspected.
"Shall we go?" Neville asked, standing up and offering his arm teasingly to Rose, who giggled and took it.
"Yes, we shall, good sir!" She answered, linking her other arm through Harry's.
"Goodbye Harry Potter! Visit Dobby soon!" Dobby called out, as they exited the kitchens and began their assent towards the Great Hall.
~*~*~*~
"Well, that was odd." Jackson murmured, as they continued their pompous walk down the halls. On the way, they passed several students who stopped and stared at the strange group, but they ignored them.
"What was?" Shane asked, throwing an arm around Jackson's shoulders.
"Being informed you have a house elf, without ever knowing it before." Jackson shot a reproachful look at Rose, who beamed back at him.
"Oh, come on! I would give anything to have a house elf." Neville groaned. Harry nodded.
"Me too. Then it could do everything my aunt and uncle make me do. That includes gardening, cleaning the house, doing laundry...ugh! I even have to wash Dudley's underwear! Do you know how disturbing that is?" Harry asked, his eyes twinkling as Rose wrinkled her nose slightly.
"Well, it depends. How big are they?" Jackson asked eagerly. Harry winced.
"I'd guess no smaller than a shopping bag...a very *large* shopping bag." Harry muttered, causing them all to burst out laughing.
"Oh, Harry! I've got something for Ron and the girls, since they missed our special breakfast." Rose said, holding up a rather large paper bag. Opening it to give him a glimpse, Harry spotted several croissants, danishes, and other types of pastry. He grinned.
"Ron's going to love you." He chuckled, as they neared the Great Hall. Just then, Jackson decided that it was too quiet, and belted out the starting of a song.
"Standing up on Salisbury Hill..."
"Oh no. Stop him." Neville said dryly, his eyes beginning to sparkle. Rose was already grinning.
"...LIBERTY SHE PIROUETTES!"
"When she knows that I am free!" Shane continued the song, grinning. Both boys began to sing through it, knowing perfectly well that they were skipping most of the lines of the song. Harry was surprised to notice that both of them had extremely good voices.
"New song." Neville called out, his voice filled with laughter.
"NOT A DAY GOES BY, WHEN I DON'T THINK OF YOU!"
"AFTER ALL THIS TIME, YOU'RE STILL WITH ME, ITS TRUE!" Shane carried on for Jackson, clasping his hands together in front of his chest and pretending to look dreamily at the ceiling.
"Ugh! New song!" Rose groaned, a distinct laughter filling her eyes.
"I'VE GOT A LOVELY BUNCH OF COCONUTS!" Shane belted out, causing Neville, Harry, and Rose to laugh hysterically.
"THERE THEY ARE ALL STANDING IN A ROW!" Jackson followed.
"BIG ONES!" Neville suggested.
"SMALL ONES!" Rose giggled.
"SOME AS BIG AS MCGONAGLE'S HEAD!" Harry finished, throwing out his arms to add effect. To his surprise, a barrage of laughter that was not theirs, filled the air. Turning around, startled, the group realized that they had an audience. The Great Hall doors had opened while they were singing, and none of them had noticed.
Harry winced, for many reasons. He hated crowds. He had just been caught singing. His friends were throwing him shocked and amazed looks, while laughing at the same time. And it got worse. Because, it seemed, Jackson *loved* crowds, and *loved* to be the center of attention.
"THE FUN, HAS ARRIVED!!!" Jackson shouted, causing the whole room to erupt in laughter again. Harry groaned softly as many heads turned to stare at their small group. He heard Neville groan lightly behind him, and Rose begin to giggle.
"Look, Harry!" She laughed, discreetly motioning towards the Gryffindor table. Ron and the others were already seated, throwing mock-betrayed glances at them every once in a while. Ron was pretending to pout (though he looked more like he was about to burst out laughing), while Hermione had her famous glare on (though, she too, looked ready to laugh). Ginny had her puppy-dog look on, while Shirah shot them a heated glare, and Raya smiled softly at them.
"Jackson, you're scaring the little kids." Shane announced, a little louder than was completely necessary.
"Really? Am I doing a good job?" Jackson teased, as they continued to walk up the isle. While Jackson and Shane seemed unconscious of all the admiring stares they were getting (mostly from the girls), Harry was uncomfortably aware of them.
"He needs a volume knob." Neville muttered, causing Rose and Harry to snicker into their hands.
"A fine job. Now take your seat before I publicly *ground* you." Came a sweet, laughing voice from the head table. May McBride-Black was looking at them with a sparkle in her eyes, though that sparkle seemed almost dangerous...
"Awe, we were just having some fun. Don't have a cow." Jackson called back jokingly, as he settled into his seat next to Ginny. She raised her eyebrow at him.
"She doesn't have a cow, Jackson. But for your information, you nearly sat on a cat." Ginny informed him, pointing at a small puff of fur on Shirah's lap. Two shockingly bright orbs of reflective blue were staring indignantly at him from the depths of that white fur, and Jackson looked regretful.
"Sorry, Dutch. It was an accident, really." He murmured, petting the ball of white fur. Harry sat next to Ron, who shot him a questioning look, while Rose and Neville settled next to him. Shane had already taken his seat next to Shirah, and was in the midst of explaining where they had been.
"Rose, your cat." Shirah finally said, allowing the animal to walk over the table towards Rose. It was then that Harry got a full look at her, and caught his breath.
It was a pure white Persian, with a brush-mop tail and a finely sculpted head. The cat held it's fluffy tail high, like a flagstaff, and walked daintily across the table. It's ears were alert and straight, and it's bright blue eyes seemed to almost stare right through him, before they finally looked away. It walked with one foot in front of the other, all the way into Rose's arms.
"I didn't know you had a cat." He murmured, staring at the purring animal. Rose beamed, ignoring the fact that much of the Gryffindor table had seen the cat, and were now staring at her with interest.
"May got her for me on my birthday...I had to leave her all summer, so I begged May to let me bring her along. Her name is Duchess." Rose told him, as the cat's eyes once again found his.
"Nickname, Dutch. It makes her sound so much less...hoity-toity." Jackson said, pretending to finger his fork daintily as he said the last two words. Shane snickered while the girls shot them glares.
"I think she's lovely!" Ginny snapped, leaning over to gaze at the cat.
"I agree. She's almost as pretty as Crookshanks!" Hermione announced. Harry and Ron snorted into their food, while Ginny muttered something that sounded like:
"In your opinion."
"Enough about the cat. Rose, put her down." Shirah groaned, burying her face in her hands. Rose smiled and gently set Duchess on the floor, where the cat proceeded to walk down the isle and out the doors.
"She is intelligent." Harry murmured. Rose nodded, then the subject was dropped. Harry, who had had his fill of breakfast in the kitchens, turned away from his un-touched plate to see Dumbledore standing up.
"Students, I would like to bring it to your attention that our guests may have trouble trying to find their classes. That is why I am depending on you to help them if they ask." The old professor said, his sharp eyes landing on each table in turn. Harry noticed, that on Raya's other side, poor Victoria was shaking nervously. She, being the only first year visitor, was rather nervous. Harry smiled as a plan formed in his mind.
When breakfast was through, Harry left his friends and quickly went over to where Matthew Lions was finishing his breakfast quickly.
"Matthew, can I ask you a favor?" The younger boy looked up as Harry said this, and nodded hesitantly.
"One of the Salem Quidditch players is a first year, like you. She is a little bit uncomfortable with finding her classes alone, and I was wondering if you would be willing to help her and maybe even escort her around for a while, until she is more comfortable?" Harry asked. Matthew's brown eyes lit up and he nodded his blonde head eagerly. Harry grinned.
"Great. Come with me." He led Matthew over to where his friends and Victoria were waiting. Harry noticed that when the younger boy caught sight of the slight, pretty girl, a blush rose to his cheeks.
"Matthew, this is Victoria. Victoria, this is Matthew Lions, the first year Chaser for our team. He's offered to help you find your way to your classes." Harry told her. Victoria gave Matthew a shy smile.
"Thank you. I'd like that." She murmured, holding out her hand. Matthew took it and shook it, still looking a bit star-struck.
"Right then. Off you go." Harry gave Matthew a tiny push, and the younger boy blushed again.
"Right. What class do you have first?"
Harry watched as they walked off, Matthew's open and friendly attitude causing Victoria to fall comfortably into his company.
"Harry, that was brilliant!" Raya murmured, watching as her sister disappeared from sight.
"I figured that they had a lot in common, being first-year players and all. Plus, Matthew is a bit shy. He needs to make more friends." Harry said, waving the subject away.
"Fine. Now, Rose, Shirah, Raya? Why don't you come with me. We've got first class together." Ginny said, grasping Rose's elbow and pulling her away from the group. The other two girls followed and they were soon out of sight.
"O-k...well, how about you show us around, then?" Jackson suggested, throwing an arm around Ron's shoulders. Ron grinned and glanced at Hermione, who was looking rather put-out at being the only girl in a group of five boys.
"Oh, come on, Mione'. You should feel lucky, being surrounded by five tall and ruggedly handsome men." Jackson crowed, throwing his other arm about her. Hermione sniggered.
"That is a matter of opinion."
"What is?" Jackson asked, looking confused. She giggled.
"Look in a mirror, Mr. McBride. I think you need a reality check." With this, Hermione left all five young men gaping, as she dashed away.
"Did Hermione just make a joke?" Ron asked, sounding amazed. Harry nodded weakly.
"I think she did."
~*~*~*~
Harry winced as he sat in his last class for the day, Double Potions. Professor Snape had just stood up from his desk, and was now pacing up and down the isles, peering threateningly at the students. He watched as Snape went by several Slytherins without saying a word, and then began to pick on Seamus.
"The old git." Neville hissed, leaning over from across the isle. Ron, who was sitting beside Harry, sniggered, as did Jackson and Shane, who were behind them. Hermione shot them glares, but couldn't keep a smile from entering her eyes. Harry noticed that Lavender and Parvati, who were behind Neville, giggled at Neville's comment. He rolled his eyes and then turned his attention back to his potion, which was actually looking as it should, for once.
"Psst! He's coming over here." Jackson hissed into Harry's ear, leaning over his desk to do so. Harry looked up and saw that indeed, Snape was angling towards their tables. It was then that the Potion Master's eyes met Harry's, and Harry got the shock of his life...thus far. There was something behind the normal loathing, in his eyes. Something that suspiciously resembled...sadness. Yet at the same time, there was acceptance in their depths as well.
Snape looked away and walked past them without a word. Ron looked at Harry in relief, but as Hermione's eyes met his, Harry realized that she too, had seen the change in the professor.
"He looked like he wanted to...cry." Hermione murmured, as they left the dungeons and walked towards the Great Hall. Ron was lagging behind, chatting with Jackson and Shane, so he didn't hear what they were talking about. Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust at the imagery Hermione's statement put in his head.
"No, it looked like he had finally accepted something that he refused to before." Harry countered. Hermione frowned for a moment, and then nodded.
"That was it. I wonder what did that to him. I mean, he didn't say one mean thing to you the whole class." She stated, re-adjusting her bag over her shoulder. Harry had noticed this as well, but chose not to say anything.
"I think he got a reality check." Came Neville's voice. Harry jumped and Hermione squeaked as they realized that he had overheard the whole conversation. Neville smiled guiltily and shrugged.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Just what I said. I think you're right, Harry. He's come to terms with something, and it's not making him very happy...and yet it's not making him mad, either." Neville murmured. Hermione, still astounded by Neville's new confidence and perceptiveness, gaped at him, while Harry thought this over.
"Do you think...it had something to do with me? I mean, usually he'd find *something* wrong with me, whether it be my potion or the hair on my head." Harry said sarcastically, causing Hermione to giggle.
"I really don't know, Harry." Neville's voice was nearly an undertone, almost as if he *did* know, and didn't want Harry to know.
~*~*~*~
As they entered the Great Hall. Harry jumped as he saw several new, empty seats near the Headmaster's.
"What on earth?" Ron exclaimed, spotting the chairs right away.
"I think those are for the judges of the contests." Shane murmured, as they hurried up the isle to where Ginny, Rose, Shirah, and Raya were sitting. Harry noticed that Victoria was no longer clinging to her sister's side, but she was now seated with Matthew and several of his friends a ways down the table.
"Guess who's here." Ginny said dryly, shooting a 'look' at Hermione as she sat down next to her.
"Who?" Hermione asked carelessly, watching her friends sit down. Ginny grinned.
"Well, he's someone you know...someone Ron admires and hates...and someone who calls you a 'ninny'." Ginny said cryptically. Everyone stared at her as if she were crazy, even Hermione.
"Wha'?" Jackson asked sarcastically. Suddenly, Ron sat up straight, his eyes flaring and his back stiff with anger.
"HIM?!?!"
"Yup." Ginny giggled, nodding her head. Obviously, he had figured out who it was, and it didn't please him. Ron shot Hermione a hot look, and then set about pouting in his chair. Hermione looked back and forth between them, confused.
"Who is it?"
"You'll see, Mione'. You'll see." Ginny assured, a sparkle coming to her eyes. Harry frowned and thought carefully. Who was someone Hermione 'knew', Ron liked but hated, and had called Hermione a 'ninny' in the past...WAIT! Harry's eyes widened as he realized, a bit too late, who it was.
"Hello Hermy-own-ninny."
Hermione gasped and turned to see Victor Krum standing directly behind her. He was as tall and burly as ever, though his frown was not in sight. In fact, he seemed a bit *too* happy to be there.
"Victor! What on earth?" Hermione asked, looking pleased. Harry noticed that Ron turned a bright, indignant red, but said nothing. He thought this was strange, considering that Ron was usually outspoken about the whole Krum-Granger deal.
"I am chaperoning for my school." Krum muttered, looking up at the head- table quickly, where the new Durmstrang Headmaster sat.
"Oh! That's wonderful. And you never said a word in your letters!" Hermione giggled. Krum looked pleased and stayed a few more minutes, talking to the others, before he headed towards the head-table.
"That was a pleasant surprise!" Hermione quipped, causing Ginny to roll her eyes and Harry to groan silently. Neville sniggered, but to everyone's surprise, Ron stayed surprisingly silent, staring into space.
"Yeah...*pleasant*." Jackson deadpanned, looking around the room, bored. As Harry's gaze also traveled the room, it came upon a sight that was even less welcome than Krum.
"Er, Ron?" Harry looked over at his friend, who was still staring into space blankly. The other boy jumped at the sound of his name, and looked around as if disoriented.
"What?"
"Look up at the head table."
Ron did as he was told, an immediately his gaze became much more aware. His blue eyes widened and then narrowed dangerously, while his body stiffened warningly.
"Ron, what...oh." Ginny murmured, turning to see what everyone was staring at.
There, at the head table, sat two people where the empty chairs had been. Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley were staring around the room apprehensively, as though afraid they were about to be cursed.
"What is that git doing here?" Ron growled, glaring at his brother.
"Which git do you mean? I see several." Neville asked, looking pointedly in the directions of Snape and Filch.
"He means, what is Percy doing here?" Ginny filled in, looking nervous. Harry could understand why. Percy had just spotted them, and was looking rather uncomfortable himself, under their stares and Ron's heated glare.
"Probably the same reason Fudge is." Harry groaned, as the Minister's eyes swept over him with a holier-than-thou look. Harry stared boldly back, refusing to back down from the man's challenge. He didn't notice that beside him, Rose was getting a strange look on her face.
"Harry, I look a lot like your mom, right?" She whispered, being careful to say *your* mom, instead of *our*. Harry nodded, and Rose made eye-contact with Jackson. His eyes glinted with mischievousness, and he nodded slowly. Harry began to feel uneasy as they slowly stood up, and turned their heads to make eye contact with the Minister of Magic.
"WHAT?!"
Fudge's yelp was enough to make everyone in the room go silent. Jackson and Rose quickly sat, as if nothing had happened, while the Minister stood, trembling. His eyes were glued to Harry, Jackson and Rose, and his face was a pasty white. Everyone stared at him, and then arched their necks around to see what had startled him.
"Impossible! James...Lily...Sirius Black...they're dead!" He muttered, shaking his head, as if in a trance. May, who had begun to look alarmed, relaxed with a smile and looked imploringly at Dumbledore, who nodded and stood.
"You are correct, Cornelius. It is impossible. Those young people you see there are Jackson and Rose McBride, children of Professor May McBride. And you of course, know Harry Potter." Dumbledore finished, his eyes twinkling at Harry. Harry groaned and sank down into his seat, as gasps and murmurs filled the Great Hall. Then came the stares, the 'I don't believe its', and the 'Harry Potter's!'.
"But they...they look..." Fudge couldn't finish. May took this time to stand and throw him a dazzling smile that seemed to make the Minister melt in his place.
"Please don't be alarmed, Minister. It is true they are my children. Actually, Jackson is my own, and I adopted Rose in America. But the resemblance is startling, isn't it?" She asked, smiling again. Fudge could only nod and sit back down, while May threw Dumbledore a 'thank you' glance, before sitting down herself.
"Better now?" Jackson asked cheerfully, as the room began to return to normal...save for the stares of the visiting students...
"No, but I'll pretend to be, to please Rose." Harry muttered, a small grin coming to his face. Rose giggled.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone go so pale. Do you think that if we had stalled any longer, he would have turned into a ghost himself?" Rose asked jokingly. The other laughed and returned to their meals, unmindful of all the stares they were getting...some not as nice as others.
~*~*~*~
"OH! Look!" Hermione cried, pulling something gold out of her pocket. It was later that night, when the group had met in the 'family's' rooms. She held up a gold coin, that was glowing red-hot in places.
"What is it?" Shirah asked, leaning over to peer at the round object. Hermione, however, was looking at Harry in disbelief.
"Tomorrow night? Our meeting is tomorrow night?!" She asked in a shocked voice. Harry grinned and nodded.
"You don't have to be secretive about it, Mione'. It is just the opening class, so everyone can get to know each other. I will also need to make a schedule, so I can know who can come in to help me teach, and on what days." Harry said. Hermione looked impressed.
"Wow. Harry, you've thought this out." She murmured, looking at her coin. Harry smirked.
"I even made sure no clubs, Quidditch practices, etc. were scheduled then." He boasted. Neville was rolling his eyes, while Ron stared at his best friend, impressed.
"We could help, Prongs Jr. We could even teach some of the lesser known spells, that are only taught in Salem Academy. That way, Voldemort will be faced with things even he doesn't know how to counter." For once, Jackson seemed eager about something other than food and pranks.
"Like?" Harry asked.
"Like the ghosting technique." Rose filled in. While Neville nodded eagerly, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny looked at her in confusion.
"The what?" They asked in unison, grinning at each other afterwards. Shane chuckled.
"It is a difficult technique to learn. And it will take time. But in the end, it's worth it. It protects you from every spell, curse, and hex there is." He informed them.
"It even works against 'Avada Kedavra'." Neville added. Harry looked at Rose.
"How do you do it?" He asked. She smiled and shrugged.
"It is easy enough, once you understand how to. Watch." She moved quickly to an empty space in the floor, closed her eyes and concentrated. Then she opened them, and smiled. Nothing had changed, and Harry immediately felt doubt.
"Was something supposed to happen?" Ron asked curiously. Rose laughed.
"Something *did* happen. Raya, can you toss me that book?" Rose asked, motioning to the book she had been reading earlier. Raya picked it up, then threw it to Rose.
The only problem was, when the girl extended her hands to catch it, the book fell right through them, went through her body, and then fell to the ground behind her. Hermione let out a shriek, Ron yelped, and Ginny gasped, all of them looking at Rose with wide eyes.
"See? Nothing can harm you." Rose said. Ginny got up from her cushion with a curious look, and gingerly placed her hand on Rose's arm. It went right through it. Ginny shivered and met Rose's eyes.
"You've got to teach me this one." Was all she could say.
~*~*~*~