Most of this story besides the plot belongs to JKR. I'm not JKR.
Nat's list of titles is growing. She's now Beta, Slytherin Specialist, Jarvey, Dumbledore, and the official supplier of Buffy references. Most of which I don't even understand. But she rocks, so it's okay. She's also captain of a certain canoe. Just ask her about it.
Italics denote Molly WeasleyYay for reviews!
I hope you guys like this chapter, it was a tough one to write.
That being said.
*****
"I don't want to go to history of magic today!" Ron declared as he, Harry and Hermione all packed their bags at the end of their Defense Against the Dark Arts class three days after the spoon transfiguration lesson.
"Maybe Professor Binns will be sick and we won't have class," Harry laughed. Ron laughed appreciatively at Harry's joke but Hermione just rolled her eyes, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and headed towards the door of the classroom.
"It is not wise to let your previous experiences color your perceptions of the present. Go into each encounter with an open mind. You may be surprised at what you find," Dumbledore said just before sweeping out of the room in a flurry of starry blue robes. Harry and Ron exchanged a surprised glance while Hermione stood impatiently by the door.
"Hermione, calm down. Fred will still be there when we get to lunch," Ron laughed. Hermione had to laugh at him too, and, did indeed calm down. Harry took his turn at rolling his eyes and started towards Hermione at the door. Ron followed him closely. The three friends turned into the hallway and started down towards the great hall for lunch.
"Harry!" a female voice called from just behind them. Harry turned around and found himself face to face with none other than Cho Chang. He turned back to his friends and waved them towards the Great Hall. Hermione raised her eyebrow at Harry, but Ron pulled her along. Cho turned to the boy she had been walking with. She dropped his hand and he also started towards the Great Hall.
"Hey," Harry said.
"Hi," Cho replied. She looked down at her feet.
"How are you?" Harry asked. He realized that the butterflies in his stomach were noticeably absent and he could form coherent sentences.
"I'm doing pretty well, how are you?" Cho said.
"I'm all right," Harry replied.
"How was your summer?" Cho asked.
"As good as can be expected I think. The muggles weren't completely unbearable," Harry said, "yours?"
"Like you said, as good as can be expected. Getting to spend time with William was really great."
"William?" Harry asked.
"William Sanguinis. The guy I was walking with. He moved into my neighborhood this summer. He's a Hufflepuff seventh year. He really helped me in dealing with everything because he knew Cedric pretty well and everything," Cho explained.
"That's great," Harry said.
"Yeah," Cho replied, "I'm really lucky to have him." The starry look that developed in her eyes made Harry believe she really was. Harry smiled at her.
"So how is the Ravenclaw Quidditch team looking this year?" Harry asked. He was unsure of what to follow her comments about Cedric with, so he decided to play it safe and talk about Quidditch.
"We're good, but we're probably no match for the side you've undoubtedly put together," Cho replied.
"I'm not the captain," Harry said.
"What?" Cho asked, "What was McGonagall thinking?"
"She was thinking the Weasley twins need responsibility," Harry laughed.
"So which one is captain?"
"Both of them. The fate of the Gryffindor team has been placed in the hands of Hogwarts most famous pranksters in a very long time," Harry laughed.
"So maybe Ravenclaw will be a match for you all," Cho said.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that. While Fred and George are a little, shall we say crazy? They're still good Quidditch players," Harry said, "and they've been pretty good captains so far."
"So I suppose we shall see when we play you all," Cho laughed.
"I suppose we shall," Harry agreed. He pulled open the door of the Great Hall and allowed Cho to step inside.
"Well it was nice talking to you," she said, and started off towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Nice talking to you too," Harry replied. He headed towards his friends at the Gryffindor table.
"What was that about?" Ron asked before Harry could even take his seat.
"She just told me that I don't have a chance," Harry laughed.
"What? She told you that?" Hermione asked.
"In not so many words," Harry explained, "She stopped to tell me all about her new boyfriend."
"And then you started a conversation on Quidditch because the other conversation made you nervous," Ginny said.
"How did you know?" Harry asked. Hermione, Ron and the twins all erupted with laughter.
"You're a guy, that's a typical guy response," Ginny explained. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well she's right," a small voice said from the other side of George.
"Well hey Astrid, what are you doing back at this end of the table?" Harry asked, jokingly.
"We decided to sit down here today," Astrid explained. Only then did Harry notice Dennis Creevey sitting on the other side of Ron.
"You don't seem to upset about the conversation with Cho," Hermione commented.
"I'm not. I realized a while ago that I don't have a chance with her," Harry admitted.
"Gee Harry, what tipped you off?" Fred asked.
"Was it the 'I can't go to the ball with you because I'm going with, er, someone else' bit?" George added. Harry instantly looked towards his food with a sad expression on his face.
"George Clancy Weasley, that was totally uncalled for!" Ginny exclaimed when she noticed Harry's reaction to George's joke.
"No Ginny, it's alright," Harry said more to his plate than to Ginny.
"Wait, did you say his middle name is Clancy?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Ginny replied. Hermione didn't notice the nervous glance the three Weasley brothers exchanged over her head.
"What are Charlie, Bill and Percy's middle names?" Hermione asked.
"Don't tell her!" Ron cried.
"Please don't tell her," Fred begged. Hermione looked imploringly at Ginny.
"Bill's is Griffith, Charlie's is Rowan and Percy's is," began Ginny.
"Percy's is Rufus!" George exclaimed. Fred and Ron both glared at him.
"What! She's going to figure out, so why can't I make fun of Percy in the process?" George asked. Hermione began laughing.
"I don't get it," Harry said, looking up from his plate.
"All of their middle names mean red, red-haired, or red hair!" Hermione cried. Harry looked from Ron to George to Fred. All three of them nodded.
"Really?" Astrid asked.
"Griffith means 'with red hair,' Rowan means 'red', Rufus means 'red head', Bayard means 'with red brown hair', Clancy means 'redheaded fighter,' and Alroy means 'red-haired youth'," Hermione laughed. Astrid, Harry, Dennis and Ginny slowly joined in their laughter, but the three Weasley brothers just scowled.
"I don't think it's that funny," Ron said after a minute of laughing from his friends.
"Mom reckoned it would be cute," Fred added. Hermione tried to stop her laughter.
"It is," she gasped.
"Your middle name is really Alroy?" Astrid asked Ron.
"She was running out of names by the time she got to ickle Ronniekins," George laughed. He reached across the table to pinch his younger brothers cheek, but Ron smacked his hand away.
"You have no room to talk, Clancy!" Ron spat.
"So if she was running out of names by the time she got to Ron, then why are you laughing at them?" Dennis asked Ginny.
"She decided to stop with the red names," Ginny laughed.
"Doesn't Eirene mean peace?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, which is exactly why I can laugh at my brother's names," Ginny replied.
"Virginia Eirene?" Astrid asked.
"Yes, Virginia Eirene," Ginny replied, smiling at the little girl. Astrid nodded and turned back to her food.
"Gin is obviously the favorite child," Fred laughed. Ron and George both glared at him.
"Bayard is a more tolerable middle name than Alroy!" Ron insisted.
"Or Clancy," George added.
"That's what you get for being lazy, George," Fred laughed.
"What?" Astrid asked.
"Fred is older by about five minutes," George explained. Astrid rolled her eyes and looked at her plate.
"Are you or your brother older?" Fred asked the little girl.
"Keiran is about fifteen minutes older than me," Astrid explained, more to her plate than to the twins. Fred looked to George and raised a questioning eyebrow. George just shrugged.
"What do you guys make of Dumbledore's comment at the end of Defense?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron to pull the topic of conversation away from twins.
"Typical Dumbledore," Harry laughed.
"Yes. I'm not seeing a very new or interesting perspective on the Goblin rebellions," Ron said.
"Any of them," Harry added.
"If you guys would just pay attention you might find some of the stuff he tells us very interesting," Hermione scolded.
"Interesting maybe, useful, no," Ron said.
"The way I see it, my brain has a limited amount of space. If I fill that space with dates about the Goblin Rebellions that I'm never going to need to know again, then I may run out of room for important stuff like some of the things we learn in Defense or Transfiguration," Harry reasoned.
"History is important though," Hermione argued, "because it repeats itself. If we don't study history we run the risk of making the same mistakes those before us."
"Well how about this, I'll fill my brain with important stuff and we can reserve yours for history and other fluff like that," Harry suggested.
"How about you all go to class and drop this argument before it turns into something massive," Fred suggested sensibly. He placed a hand lightly on Hermione's arm. She turned to look at him and smiled.
"I still maintain that he kicked himself in the balls," Dennis mumbled to his plate, eliciting strange looks from the Weasleys, Astrid, and Harry, and a glare from Hermione.
"Never mind," he said when he noticed them staring at him.
"To History then?" Ron asked his friends.
"To History," Harry agreed, grabbing his bag from under his spot on the bench. Hermione looked at Fred who looked at George.
"To History and then Transfiguration?" Fred asked.
"How about just to Transfiguration, I'll meet you there," George suggested. He glanced down the table to where Lee Jordan, Marissa Lucas, and Dani Carmichael sat.
"Sure," Fred agreed. He stood up and picked up Hermione's bag from under the table and slung it over his shoulder. She stood up and laced her fingers through his. They started towards the door of the Great Hall with Harry and Ron close behind them. Harry, Ron and George had finally given up on making gagging noises every time Fred and Hermione showed affection, just as Ginny and Astrid tried to keep their "AWW!!'s" to a minimum.
"Maybe we won't study the goblins," Ron said as they followed Fred and Hermione up to the History of Magic classroom.
"Maybe Binns isn't dead!" Harry replied quickly.
"Maybe the Goblins killed Binns and that's why he teaches us about them all of the time," Ron suggested.
"Maybe not!" Harry exclaimed.
"Binns died in front of the staff room fire," Hermione added.
"You forgot to say maybe," Fred chided. Ron and Harry both glared at him.
"Maybe I didn't want to," Hermione replied. Harry and Ron laughed appreciatively.
"Why do your goons laugh at your jokes and not mine?" Fred asked.
"We're not goons!" Ron insisted.
"Okay, body guards," Fred amended.
"We're not body guards either!" Ron cried.
"Friends don't threaten to force feed friends' boyfriends their intestines with a spork either," Fred replied as sweetly as someone talking about eating his own intestines could.
"It wasn't just intestines," Ron reminded Fred of his actual threat.
"This is rated for a younger audience," Fred quipped. Harry looked around before responding to Fred's comment. "I don't see any first years."
"How do you know about ratings anyway?" Hermione asked.
"Marissa Lucas is muggle-born. A bunch of us got together at her house for her birthday this summer and we watched some movies," Fred explained.
"You were at Marissa Lucas's house?" Hermione asked.
"All of the seventh years were," Fred said. Hermione smiled and stopped at the History of Magic classroom door. Harry and Ron hurried inside to avoid the good-bye kisses Fred and Hermione would surely shower each other with.
"Eventually the two of them will be caught by prefects," Ron muttered as he took his seat in the back row of the classroom.
"We are prefects and so is she," Harry said, sliding into the desk next to Ron's.
"Prefects who care," Ron amended.
"We care," Harry reminded him.
"We care too much to take off points," Ron said.
"True, true." Hermione entered the room red faced and smiling. She took a seat in front of Ron. Ron and Harry both rolled their eyes at her. Neville sank into the seat next to him.
"I heard from some Ravenclaw sixth years that we actually do something besides take notes in this class now," he announced. Ron and Harry exchanged an excited glance, but Hermione looked slightly disappointed.
"What are we going to do?" She asked.
"They didn't say, but they did mention that it was Dumbledore-mandated," Neville replied. Ron and Harry smiled broadly at each other, but refrained from exchanging a high five as Professor Binns floated lazily down towards his desk from the ceiling.
"Good afternoon class," He said. All the fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs looked at him a little less than excitedly.
"Today, we will be halting our study of the Goblin rebellions to begin a semester long group project." Most of the class looked as though they could barely contain their excitement of the prospect of a day away from the Goblins.
"This project will be done in groups of two," continued Professor Binns, "and your topics will relate to Voldemort's first reign. Any questions? Anyone… Anyone?" Hermione's hand shot into the air.
"May we pick our own groups?" she asked.
"No you may not, but you may pick your topics," Professor Binns. "In addition to a written report, each group is expected to give a presentation of your findings to the class at before Winter Holidays. You may use this class period to being your research."
"Are there any unsuitable topics?" Ron asked.
"Quidditch, Mr. Weasley, is probably an unsuitable topic," Professor Binns said. "And only Mr. Potter's group may use Mr. Potter as a resource," he added as almost an afterthought. Ron and Hermione both looked more than slightly disappointed.
"I am posting the list of partners right here. Check it and then go straight to the library. I have to go substitute for one of Professor Sprout's classes. You must check in with Madame Pince and tell her your topic. If someone else has already chosen the topic you want, then you must pick another. If you don't follow these instructions, you will have to serve a detention with Professor Snape and with Filch," Binns threatened. With that, he tacked a piece of parchment to the wall and floated back through the ceiling. Ron and Harry looked at each other before they both got up and headed towards the list on the wall. Most of the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors had done the same, so Ron's height came to his advantage.
"Harry, you're with Hannah Abbott!" Ron announced. He and Harry both missed Hannah's face turning bright red. Harry instantly thought back to the conversation he had overheard in the girls bathroom and realized he was going to have a very interesting History of Magic class indeed. Ron turned and waded his way through the crowd back to where Harry was standing.
"You're with Hannah, I'm with Amanda Princeton, and Hermione's with Ernie McMillan," Ron recounted the pairs for him. The two friends headed back towards where Hermione was still sitting.
"Who am I with?" Hermione asked as they approached her.
"Ernie McMillan," Ron responded.
"And you?' Hermione asked.
"Amanda Princeton," Ron replied.
"And I heard you yelling about Harry being with Hannah Abbott," Hermione said. Ron laughed as Harry turned bright red. Hermione gathered her books, and Harry and Ron grabbed their bags. They all three started towards the library.
"So what do you think you'll do your projects on?" Hermione asked as they walked down the corridor.
"Quidditch," Ron promptly replied.
"Binns said," began Hermione.
"Binns didn't factor Ludo Bagman into the equation either. I'll find a way to make it work so well he won't be able to fail me." Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Harry.
"Probably the fall of Voldemort," Harry admitted.
"Since he was the responsible party and all," Ron quipped. Hermione and Harry both glared at him.
"I'll have to wait and talk to Hannah," Harry said.
"She's got the expert on the topic as her partner," Ron said, "why would she object?"
"I'm hardly the expert," Harry replied. Hermione pulled open the doors to the library and a vulture-like stare from Madam Pince silenced the two boys. Harry noticed Hannah waving at him from a corner of the library. He waved goodbye to his friends and headed over towards his partner.
"Hey," Hannah whispered when he approached.
"Hey," he replied. "Have you already signed in?"
"Yes," she said, "so you'll have to give her our topic."
"What would you like to do the report on?" Harry asked.
"I was thinking maybe the way the Ministry Responded to Voldemort's attacks," Hannah said, "like their standard procedure on dealing with one."
"That's a good idea."
"Did you have any ideas?" Hannah asked.
"I was thinking maybe the Fall of Voldemort," Harry replied, "If you don't think that's too pretentious of me, that is." Harry could see the proverbial wheels in Hannah's head turning.
"It's not pretentious of you at all," Hannah replied, "It could be a very interesting project and in all actuality I was hoping you would suggest that." She and Harry both laughed softly.
"Alright then, the fall of Voldemort it is," Harry said. He turned around and headed towards Madame Pince to check in and tell her of their topic. Hannah watched him go. She was absolutely amazed at her luck and made a mental note to tell Mandy at dinner that she and Harry Potter were working on a project together. Not just any project either, a semester-long project. Hannah had kept a crush on Harry since sometime during third year. Of course he didn't know anything about it, and she planned to keep it that way. Unless of course something happened between the two of them during the course of their project. Then she supposed he could know.
"Madame Pince said something along the lines of 'how disgustingly typical' when I told her our topic," Harry laughed as he eased himself into the seat next to Hannah. Hannah jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," He immediately apologized.
"It's alright," Hannah replied. "So what should we research?"
"Well, most people already have a basic idea of what happened," Harry said, "so an insiders point of view is probably the best route to take in presenting the information."
"You're the insider," Hannah said, "So could you tell what you remember?"
"I was 14 months old," Harry replied.
"Which makes things considerably more difficult," Hannah muttered.
"However through alternate means, I have been able to regain some memory of what happened that night," Harry admitted, staring at the table.
"Are you going to be able to talk about it?" Hannah asked.
"I don't know if I can," Harry said, still staring at the table.
"Would you rather write what you can remember down and let me read it for the class?" Hannah suggested.
"Not that you're reading wouldn't be great, but I think it's my story and I need to tell it," Harry softly replied.
"Reasonable enough," Hannah agreed.
"It's just hard. Ron and Hermione are my best friends and they don't even really know what happened."
"Just not something you like to talk about?"
"Would you like to talk about it if you were in my position?" Harry asked.
"No," Hannah admitted, "So maybe this report will be a bit much. I doubt it's too late to change the topic."
"I think it's something I need to do," Harry replied with an element of steely resolve.
"You, Ron and Hermione should talk it out first," Hannah suggested.
"I don't think so," Harry countered, "This is one thing they can find out with the rest of you. Well, not really you, I suppose, since you'll need to know what I'm going to say before our presentation."
"Not if you don't want me to," Hannah said. Her mind was racing at the thought of being the first person to hear Harry's version of what happened that faithful night.
"No, I think you need to hear it," Harry replied, "that is if you want to listen."
"Of course I want to listen," Hannah insisted.
"We should probably also interview some people who were present at what happened or showed up shortly there after," Harry suggested.
"Yes," Hannah agreed, "We should probably ask Dumbledore about it."
"Yes we should," Harry said, "but I know for a fact we should interview McGonagall, Dumbledore and Hagrid."
"Why them?" Hannah asked.
"They were the three who left me on my relatives door step after rescuing me from my house," Harry explained.
"You got left on a doorstep?" Hannah asked, her voice filled with awe.
"Yes, I did. Left in a basket on a doorstep for my muggle relatives to find," Harry almost laughed.
"How romantic!" Hannah squealed.
"You don't know the Dursleys" Harry laughed.
"I guess not," Hannah said.
"So are we just going to get up in front of the class and talk?"
"Could we make a layout of the house," Hannah suggested.
"Then talk about exactly what happened before going into some eyewitness accounts," Harry added.
"Then do you want to culminate it all with your speech?" Hannah asked.
"It would be a good closing point," Harry admitted. "We should get together later this week and discuss what I'm going to say."
"Unless you're willing to wait until next Sunday, it's going to have to be tonight. I've got Quidditch practice," Hannah said, "and then trials Friday."
"Same here. Fred and George are making us practice quite a bit to ensure that as many Gryffindors as possible make the team." Harry explained, "but we don't have practice tonight either."
"I think Ravenclaw managed to book the field," Hannah laughed.
"So tonight then?" Harry asked.
"Tonight," Hannah repeated. "Charms classroom?"
"Alright then," Harry said, smiling at her.
"So about the Gryffindor Quidditch team," Hannah laughed.
"What about us?" Harry asked.
"How are you all this year?"
"We're pretty much the same as two years ago, only a little older. And we have Ron rather than Wood."
"How is Ron?" Hannah asked.
"He's pretty good,' Harry admitted. "How is the Hufflepuff team looking?"
"It's been difficult this year, without Cedric and all."
"I'm sure," Harry said, instantly looking at his hands where they were folded on the table.
"Oh Harry, I'm sorry," Hannah said. She placed a soft hand on his forearm. Harry looked over at her.
"It's okay," He replied, "So how are you guys?"
"Well, we're okay. William has been killer as a captain."
"William?' Harry asked.
"William Sanguinis, Cho's new boyfriend," Hannah explained.
"He's captain?" Harry asked.
"Yes. He's the new captain and the keeper," Hannah said.
"Who else is on the team?"
"Eloise Midgen and Danny Gudgeon are the beaters and Justin, Amanda and I are the chasers," Hannah explained.
"I didn't realize you play Quidditch," Harry laughed.
"I do," Hannah replied, "but this is my first year on the team, not all of use can make it as first years."
"That was Draco Malfoy's fault."
"I know. I think we all heard Cedric rant for most of our first year about how unfair it was that Gryffindor got to use a first year," Hannah laughed. Harry managed a small smile.
"He did?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes," Hannah laughed. "He ranted, complained, fussed, and even resorted to begging Sprout to hold a trial for the first years."
"Did she comply?"
"Yes, but nothing really came out of it. None of us save Amanda and Danny were very interested in Quidditch, and neither of them were that good at the time," Hannah said. Harry laughed politely at her critique of her teammates.
"Oi Harry!" Ron called from the door of the library.
"Madame Pince said we could go because we've been working so diligently. We were just headed back to the common room if you want to come," Hermione said.
"If you want to," Ron added. Harry looked at Hannah.
"See you tonight," she replied with a smile.
"Tonight then," Harry replied. He headed over towards Ron and Hermione.
"How did it go?" Ron asked.
"It went really, really well," Harry said as they entered the corridor outside the library.
"That's cool, what are you doing your project on?" Hermione asked.
"Take a guess," Harry laughed.
"The fall of Voldemort," Ron guessed.
"Very good!" Hermione said. Harry smiled at both of them.
"How was spending time with Hannah!" Ron teased.
"She's a really sweet person," Harry replied.
"Sure," Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"At least he kept command of the English language," Hermione commented. Harry turned bright red.
"So what are your projects on?" Harry asked to change the subject.
"Quidditch," Ron promptly replied.
"The Ministry of Magic during Voldemort's first reign," Hermione said. Ron and Harry both rolled their eyes. "It seems as though Ernie is very interested in working for the ministry after we graduate."
"That's cool," Ron said.
"Hannah and I talked about Quidditch," Harry laughed. Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered "figures" under her breath.
"For your information, SHE started the conversation!" Harry laughed.
"Oh my goodness! A girl prompted a Quidditch discussion?" Ron asked.
"Yes!" Harry cried.
"Baby buggy's rubber bumpers," Hermione said.
"I'm sorry dear, you didn't say the password fast enough," the fat lady replied.
"I'm killing my boyfriend." Hermione muttered.
"That's not the password either," the fat lady said.
"Baby buggy's rubber bumpers!" Harry exclaimed as fast as he could.
"That, my dear, was barely satisfactory," the fat lady said as she swung herself open to allow the three friends through.
"Fred and George are going to get it," Hermione said as they all walked over towards the couch.
"Hey look, isn't that Hermes?" Harry asked, pointing at an owl tapping at the common room window.
"Yeah, it is," Ron said. He rushed over to the window and opened it to allow his older brother's owl in. He pulled the letter off of the owl's leg and pointed it in the direction of the owlery.
"Who is letter from?' Hermione asked.
"It's to 'The Weasley Children' and I'm pretty sure this is mum's handwriting." Ron said. He unfolded the letter, sank into a chair and began reading. Harry and Hermione took seats on the couch across from him and watched him intently as he read the letter. His reading was punctuated by several amusing facial expressions, a few "oh my goodness"'s and one "BLOODY HELL!"
"What is it?" Hermione asked when Ron finally dropped the parchment to his knee. He folded it up and threw it to Hermione.
"Read it," He instructed, "both of you." Harry moved closer to Hermione and Hermione opened the letter.
Dear Fred, George, Ron and Ginny,
I hope this letter finds you all doing well. I hope your marks are all satisfactory. Fred, George, you haven't received too many detentions have you? Ron, Ginny, I'm sure you're both staying out of trouble as well. Ron, tell Harry and Hermione I say hello.
The real purpose of this letter is to inform you of some family news that affects you all. Percy has moved out of the Burrow into a flat in London to be closer to the ministry. He has also proposed to Penelope Clearwater. She accepted and they are have set the date for sometime in January or February of next year.
Bill has been seeing Arabella Figg almost every day since we dropped you all off for school, and even before that they had been owling each other daily. When the news of Percy and Penelope's engagement broke, Bill proposed to Arabella so his younger brother wouldn't outdo him. Surprisingly enough, she said yes, and they've set December 21st as the date. Bill, as the oldest, feels it is his duty to be first in everything. You all will all be home for the wedding because of Winter Holidays. Harry and Hermione, as I'm sure Ron has let you read this, you all are both welcome to come for the wedding. Harry, Dumbledore has already deemed you staying with us for the entire holiday's perfectly acceptable. Also, Ginny, you may invite Braeden over if he's in England around the date.
Congratulations, Ron and Ginny, on making the Quidditch team. Your father, Bill, Arabella and I plan on coming to some of the matches this year to see you all play. Charlie said he might even try to floo in for one.
I believe this is all of the news for now. I will write again soon. Please write back. I love you all very much.
Love
Mum
"Oh wow," came Hermione's reply before Harry had even finished writing the letter.
"I got a letter from Bill the other day and he mentioned nothing about Arabella," Ron laughed.
"Isn't three weeks a bit of a short time to date before getting engaged?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ron said.
"Not if they're in love," Hermione replied.
"It's not long enough," Ron declared.
"They knew each other in school," Hermione countered.
"What about Percy and Penelope?" Ron asked.
"They're probably about the same age Harry's parents were when they got married," Hermione said, looking at Harry for conformation.
"I don't know," Harry replied.
"You don't know?" Hermione asked.
"No I really don't" Harry said, "Ron, how old was Bill when you were born?"
"I think he was fifteen, but don't quote me on that," Ron replied.
"So a fifth year then?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ron replied.
"Making me being born in the summer between Bill's fifth and sixth years," Harry said.
"How much older than Bill were your parents?" Hermione asked.
"He was a first year when they were fifth years," Harry replied.
"So if Bill was fifteen when Ron was born and he was a first year when your parents were fifth years, that means they were only nineteen or twenty when they had you," Hermione reasoned. Harry thought about it for a moment.
"Making them only twenty or twenty one when I got this," Harry said pointing to the scar on his head.
"So Percy and Penelope really aren't too young by that standard," Hermione said. Ron shrugged and Harry looked at his feet, thinking about how little he knew about his parents. Hermione draped an arm lazily over his shoulders. Harry jumped to his feet. "I'll see you guys at dinner," He said quickly and headed out of the portrait hole.
"Where do you think he's going?" Hermione asked.
"Three… Two… One…" Ron counted then pointed at the door to their dorm. On cute, the door flung open and Harry's Firebolt sped out. "Does that answer your question?"
"I guess it does," Hermione replied.
*****
"HARRY!" a vaguely familiar voice called from the Quidditch pitch. Harry looked down from his broom high above the pitch to see a small girl standing in the center waving. She had blonde hair and looked vaguely like Astrid from his altitude. He had been flying since he left Gryffindor tower just to sort out of his thoughts about his parents and what he was going to have to tell Hannah. He pointed the broom towards Astrid and pushed it into a steep dive straight at her. She didn't move and he leveled out just over her head.
"What did you need?" he asked.
"Hermione and Ron said I might find you out here," Hannah replied. Harry looked below him and realized the figure he had thought to be Astrid was actually his History of Magic partner.
"Our meeting!" Harry exclaimed. "I am SO sorry!"
"No it's okay. I just noticed you weren't at dinner, so I asked them and they told me to come check out here," Hannah replied.
"I missed dinner?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Hannah said. Harry steered the broom towards the ground and hopped off. "I brought you a sandwich." She held out a brown paper bag to him. He took the bag and peered inside. "What kind is it?"
"I'm sorry if you don't like it, but Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George all insisted it was your favorite, if could be just another prank on the Weasleys' part," Hannah began. "It's a banana jelly and cheese." She grimaced as she said the type of sandwich.
"Thanks for listening to them Hannah; they're actually right," Harry said, smiling at her. "So do you want to go up to the Charms classroom like we'd planned."
"If you'd rather, we can sit out here and talk," Hannah suggested, looking up at the sky.
"That would be great," Harry replied.
"I know a place over by the lake," Hannah suggested.
"Lead the way," Harry instructed. Hannah started walking towards the lake. Harry shouldered his broom and followed her, sandwich in hand.
"So how are you?" Hannah asked.
"I'm awwight," Harry replied thickly through a mouthful of sandwich. "An' oo?"
"I'm doing pretty well," Hannah said.
"That's good to hear," Harry said. He had swallowed his bite of sandwich and his speech was normal for a moment.
"Why did you skip dinner?" Hannah asked.
"Hermione, Ron and I had a conversation, and then I realized I needed to get my thoughts together before this meeting," Harry replied, "So whenever I need to think, I fly."
"Me too," Hannah said. "And while my Cleansweep isn't nearly as nice as the Firebolt, it's still relaxing."
"Would you like a go on the Firebolt sometime?" Harry asked. Hannah's face lit up brightly and she turned to Harry with a smile on her face.
"Could I really?"
"I don't see why not," Harry said, with a smile.
"If you weren't eating, walking and carrying a broom all at the same time, I'd hug you right now," Hannah squealed. "Well, that and the whole I just really started talking to you this morning bit." Harry laughed at her.
"Fanks," Harry mumbled.
"Well, here we are," Hannah said, stopping at a particularly grassy spot on the bank of the lake. She sank down onto the grass. "This place is ideal to watch the sunrise, and while I realize it's not morning, I still like the spot."
"It's nice," Harry replied. Nothing particularly special about the spot stood out to him.
"I know it doesn't seem like much now, but in the morning it looks like there are two skies, one on top of the other. You can't tell where heaven stops and the earth begins," Hannah said, looking out across the lake. Harry looked too, and tried to imagine it.
"I'm, sure it's beautiful."
"It is, but we've got History of Magic to discuss," Hannah said, "and I'm sitting her blabbering on like some sentimental fool."
"It's perfectly okay," Harry replied. Hannah looked over at him and smiled Harry took another bite of his sandwich and smiled back at Hannah.
"So I suppose this is really your time to talk, if you want to," Hannah said.
"Yeah," Harry muttered thickly. Hannah pulled a bottle of butter beer from the pocket of her robe and handed it to him.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
"Dobby," Hannah replied.
"Dobby?" Harry asked.
"Yes. I told him it was for you and he gave me a bottle," Hannah explained.
"Great!" Harry exclaimed. Hannah watched him as he took a sip of the drink to wash down the last of his sandwich. "So what do you want to know?"
"Whatever you feel prepared to and comfortable telling me," Hannah replied. "You realize you don't have to do this. I can find out right along with everyone else."
"On an academic level, that wouldn't be fair to you," Harry reasoned, "And I'm going to have to start talking about it sometime."
"Fair enough," Hannah said, "but wouldn't you rather tell Ron and Hermione?"
"Not really. Because if I wait around to tell them, they'll never find out unless a reason for them to know comes up. The way I look at this, you need to know. And don't object," Harry instructed.
"Alright then," Hannah replied.
"So what do you want to know?"
"Again, whatever you feel comfortable telling me," Hannah said.
"So I suppose I should start at the beginning then?"
"That would make sense."
"I was 14 months old when my parents died," Harry began. He took a deep breath before he continued. "As you know, Voldemort killed them, and then tried to kill me but his curse rebounded and all but killed him instead."
"Yes," Hannah said. Harry took another deep breath. "I lived because my mother died trying to protect me."
"Seriously?" Hannah asked.
"As best as I can figure out from dreams and assorted visions, Voldemort came into our house, killed my father and then tried to kill me. My mother refused to step aside and let him get to me, so he killed her too. Because she died solely because of her love for me, I was protected from the curse Voldemort threw at me." Harry stopped because he noticed Hannah shuddering every time he said Voldemort's name.
"Do you mind me saying his name? I'll stop if you want me to," he said.
"No, it's fine," Hannah said.
"I'm glad you say that. I believe that the fear of a name only increases the fear of an object or entity," Harry explained.
"What a very Dumbledore-ish thing to believe," Hannah laughed.
"You thought that was an original idea?" Harry asked. He and Hannah both laughed.
"Anyway," Hannah said, when they calmed down.
"That's about it," Harry admitted.
"You remember all of that?" Hannah asked.
"No. I remember all of that because of dreams and what dementors do to me."
"Dementors?"
"Every time I get near one, I hear the deaths of my parents replaying in my head."
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but how does that go?" Hannah asked.
"Basically I hear maniacal laughter and then my mother's voice begging for my life. Then Voldemort says 'stand aside you silly girl, stand aside now.' My mother keeps begging him not to kill me and then she begins begging for mercy. Then it's all over," Harry's voice trailed off and he looked out across the lake. Hannah stayed silent for a moment.
"Wow," she finally said, "so that's why you fell off your broom during that match in third year."
"Yes. I heard that scene play out in my mind and it made me black out and fall off my broom," Harry admitted. Hannah dropped her arm around his shoulders.
"I think the dreams are the worst," He continued.
"Oh?" Hannah asked.
"They're the visual interpretation of what I hear with the dementors. I see Voldemort and my mum. My mum screams. Voldemort pushes her aside, puts a curse on her and then I see a blinding green light. I always wake up at that point from the pain in my forehead."
"So your mom really did die to protect you," Hannah commented.
"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her. And I realize everyone can say that about their mothers, but most mother's don't give their children life more than once."
"You got it twice," Hannah sort of laughed.
"Three times," Harry corrected.
"Three times?" Hannah asked.
"Yes," Harry said. Hannah waited silently for an explanation. Harry took another deep breath.
"Last year, at the end of the third task," Harry began.
"But she'd been dead for," Hannah interrupted.
"Thirteen years," Harry completed her sentence as she struggled to do the math. "At the end of the third task, as you probably already know, Cedric and I were transported by port key to a graveyard where Voldemort and the Death Eaters were gathering. One of the Death Eaters killed Cedric and then Voldemort went through a ritual to get his body back. They used some blood from my arm in the ritual."
"Your arm?" Hannah asked. Harry held out his right arm and pushed back the sleeve of his robe. A fresh pink two inch long scar stood out stood out just on the forearm side of his elbow. Hannah tentatively brushed her fingers across the scar.
"I helped Voldemort get his body back," Harry whispered.
"Not willingly," Hannah insisted.
"So then Voldemort made me duel with him," Harry continued. His voice never rose above the steady whisper.
"You dueled with Voldemort?" Hannah asked. Harry nodded solemnly. "Our wands share a core, so when we cast spells at each other at exactly the same time, they met in mid air and wouldn't go any farther. Somehow, I managed to push his spell back into his wand. This caused his wand to start regurgitating shadows of the spells it had preformed in reverse chronological order."
"What?" Hannah asked.
"Ghost looking forms of the previous spells climbed from the tip of his wand."
"So you saw Cedric?"
"I saw a shadow of Cedric. He told me to bring his body back. Then a hand flipped out, followed by the shadow of an old man. Then my dad came, followed my mum. Mum told me what to do to get back to Hogwarts, so I snapped the connection between the two wands and ran for it. Cedric was too heavy to carry over to the port key, so I summoned it and brought myself and his body back here."
"She saved you twice," Hannah said.
"Yes," Harry replied. Before he could stop himself, tears formed in his eyes. He scrubbed them away with his fist. Hannah jumped to her feet.
"Come here," she instructed. He stood up next to her. She flung her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shoulder. Only Molly Weasley had hugged him with as much ferocity. He wrapped his arms awkwardly around her shoulders and leaned his cheek on the top of her head. After a moment, she pulled away with him.
"Sorry, you just looked like you needed a hug," she explained.
"Don't apologize," Harry reprimanded.
"I think that's enough for tonight, we can talk about this some more next week," Hannah said.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. He and Hannah started towards the castle.
"Are you okay?" Hannah asked.
"Yes," Harry half-lied. The first time really talking to anyone about his parents' deaths had hit him harder than he'd expected it would.
"Thank you," Hannah said when they were about halfway back to the castle.
"For?" Harry prompted.
"For telling me all of that. You honestly made me realize how lucky I am," Hannah said. Harry simply nodded. "And don't worry. I realize we're not that close, but I won't tell a soul. I have a vague idea of how hard it was for you to tell me, so."
"Thank you," Harry replied. For some reason, he felt he could trust her. He pulled open the door of the castle and allowed her to walk through.
"Well, I think this is where I leave you," Hannah said, starting over towards the stairs towards the kitchens.
"I think so. See you in Herbology on Wednesday," Harry replied. He started towards the stairs but then turned back and pulled her into a quick hug. She hugged him back tightly before they parted to head towards their respective common rooms.