Chapter 5:
That night, supper, though not as crazy as everything else had been that day, was extremely wild. Those at the dinner table were Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Lenore, Ginny, Bill, Fred, George, Angelina, Katie, Fleur, her sister and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin, and, finally, Harry. There were not enough seats, so Mrs. Weasley set up a second table in the dining room where the teens were seated.
As soon as Harry took his seat with his friends, Fred and George immediately began complaining.
"I can't believe Mum's making us sit at the kiddie-table!" said George indignantly.
"The nerve! This is crazy! I haven't sat at a kiddie-table since I was eleven!" chimed in Fred. "Oh, the shame!"
Hermione sighed. "You two are so full of it! Drama Queens!"
"Hey!" said Fred. "I am not a Drama Queen!"
"Yeah," added George. "Me either!"
"Oh, grow up," laughed Katie affectionately, ruffling his red hair. George scowled cutely.
"You need to learn some respect for your Pr- Ouch, Fred, what'd you do that for?" Fred exclaimed suddenly as his twin stomped pointedly on his foot. Then his eyes widened in remembrance. "Oh!" he exclaimed, throwing a hand over his mouth. "I got ya, Bro.!"
"What're you talking about?" asked Ron through a mouthful of food, earning looks of distaste from every female in the room besides Luna, who stared at him dreamily. Suddenly conscious of all the stares, Ron started in surprise. "What? Is something on my face?" Ginny sighed loudly, Lenore arched her eyebrows, and Hermione tutted loudly. Angelina and Katie shook their heads in mock sadness.
Harry leaned over, rolling his eyes. "Uh, Ron, mate, I think they want you to close your mouth while you speak." Harry chuckled.
Hermione gasped in mock surprise. "No!" she exclaimed sarcastically. "You think?"
"Really!" chimed in Lenore. "I had no idea!"
"Sorry," said Ron as he swallowed. He grinned and unconsciously ruffled his hair. "But what were you saying, George? What does 'pr-' stand for?"
"It, er, stands for…uh…Present…giver…thing," he explained.
"Yeah," said Fred hastily, "so mind your business." Ron looked at Harry questioningly, but Harry simply shrugged, knowing that he probably wouldn't be getting much out of the twins. The table then grew immensely quiet, so Lenore took it upon herself to begin a new conversation. She had obviously already been introduced to all of the Order members.
"So, Katie," she started happily, "Are you looking forward to being the new captain of that sport…what do you call it? Quidontch?"
"Quiditch," replied Katie, "and yeah, I really am. Somehow, though, I don't quite think I will have the team working as hard as Angelina did." She laughed, seeing the indignant expression on Angelina's face. Harry grinned, remembering the old days when Angelina was captain. When he was allowed on the team, anyway. He scowled, thinking of Umbridge.
"I didn't work you all half so hard as Oliver did!" she exclaimed. "And, anyway, it's a tough job! The next thing you know, you'll be pushing the team just as hard!" Katie snorted into her goblet.
"Right, Angelina. That's what you think."
"But, Lenore," began Neville, finally joining in the conversation, "Didn't you play Quiditch in the States?"
"Oh, no," laughed Lenore. "I mean, I'd heard of it before but it wasn't halfway so popular over there! In the USA, we played Norbwiir. I really miss it too; I was due to be team captain." Lenore sighed sadly.
"How do you play?" asked Harry quickly in attempt to cheer his second cousin up. "Maybe you can teach us; is it played on brooms?"
Lenore brightened immediately. Hermione, seeming to get the drift that this conversation was headed in no direction other than sports for the time being, pulled out a heavy volume about the size of an encyclopedia and began reading. Harry caught a glimpse of the title. The book was called Hogwarts: A History of the Less Appealing Myths and Legends in the Past 1000 Years. Harry sighed and chuckled to himself.
Lenore than started about Norbwiir and how it was played on broomsticks, there were eight to a team, and it was played with just one ball-
"One ball!" exclaimed Ron, "Where's the fun in that?"
-And how the point of the game was to score as many points as you could in just one hour, by getting the ball through a hoop without being tagged. The game didn't sound very interesting, and Harry found himself zoning off. He was only snapped into reality by Katie asking worriedly if he'd gotten his broom back, and he was delighted that the conversation was now on Quiditch once again.
"Oh, yeah, Katie. McGonagall gave it back at the beginning of summer."
"Thank Merlin!" Katie exclaimed. "Wouldn't it be disastrous if you were still banned?" Everyone at the table but Luna and Lenore nodded fitfully.
"What?" asked Lenore, surprised. "You were banned? By whom? What on earth for?"
"Ugh," began Ginny, "You don't want to know."
"Yes I do," persisted Lenore. "So tell me."
"All right," said Harry. "There was this horrible woman last year named Umbridge, and she looked like a toad. She was a spy against Dumbledore, and she was evil." Everyone but Lenore nodded fervently, even Luna. "And she made up all these restrictions, she was a complete power-monger, and she despised me. You see, the Minister of Magic, her boss, and I aren't exactly on the best of terms. And so one day this git Malfoy was provoking me after we'd just beat them at Quiditch, and so George and I punched him, and Umbridge banned Fred, George, and I from Quiditch."
"Oh my gosh, are you serious?" asked Lenore. "That's horrible! But why did she ban Fred?"
Harry shrugged, and Fred and George glared at their dinners. "She was evil. But then, Fred and George escaped from school and pulled all sorts of pranks on her. They were bloody brilliant."
Lenore grinned in awe, but suddenly looked apprehensive. "She's not still there, is she?"
"Nah," said Hermione, looking up from her book. "Harry and I led her to a herd of centaurs, and they carried her away.
"Oh," said Lenore, not bothering to ask about the strange circumstances. "So what are the houses again? I hope I get into a good one!"
"The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," said Ginny, scrunching up her nose at the last house.
"Are you all in Gryffindor?" asked Lenore, remembering it being mentioned before on several occasions.
"All of us but Luna," answered Neville happily.
Luna looked up from the Quibbler, which she had taken out earlier. "Wit of great measure is man's greatest treasure," she recited before going back to the magazine. Lenore exchanged glances with Harry, who shrugged.
"Luna's in Ravenclaw," he said. Lenore grinned.
"Ahh." She paused. "I hope I am in Gryffindor, I know the most people in that house.
"Don't worry," said Ginny. "Even if you're not, you'll make friends quickly."
"Thanks, Gin," smiled Lenore.
After supper was over, the teenagers migrated into the new gameroom upstairs. They were extremely bored and had no idea of what to do until Hermione, who was in one of her giggly moods, suggested a game of truth or dare. Everyone agreed, and in a few minutes they were all sitting in a circle, waiting for Hermione to go first. But before she went, she pulled out a glass ball. She asked Katie to hex it so it would turn green when the person told the truth and red if they lied, as Hermione still was not of age. Katie agreed, and the game commenced. "I'll go first," offered Hermione. She peered into the eyes of everyone in the circle. Harry felt a lurch in his stomach as her eyes bore into his, having a vague idea of what she'd ask him. Don't pick me, don't pick me! Thought Harry desperately. Luckily, Hermione passed over him and she grinned maliciously when she landed on Ginny.
"Ginny," she said evilly. "Truth…or dare?"
"Truth," said Ginny quickly.
"Ah," laughed Fred. "Not the brave little Gryffindor we thought you were, huh?"
"Yes I am," said Ginny defiantly. "I just…want truth."
"Right," snorted George.
"Okay," said Hermione. "Ginny. Tell us what you dreamed about last night. I heard you talking in your sleep." Ginny flushed a bright red as Hermione passed her the ball.
"Um," started Ginny, blushing furiously, "I don't remember." The ball turned red. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"C'mon, Gin, tell us!" taunted George. Ginny glared at him.
"All right. I dreamed that I was snogging…. That's it."
"Who? Tell us, Ginny, or else we'll hex you!" said Hermione. "It can't be that bad."
"It is," said Ginny doubtfully. "All right, it was… Malfoy…"
"EEEW!" screeched everyone at once but Lenore. "Ginny! Uck!" yelled Ron. "DON'T tell me you fancy him!"
"Gross, no!" shouted Ginny. "It was only a dream, sheesh!"
"Who's Malfoy?" asked Lenore.
"A filthy, stuck-up, evil Slytherin," said Ron angrily. "He's in our year."
"Oh," said Lenore. "Okay, your turn, Ginny."
Ginny looked around the room, smiling maliciously. "Neville. Truth or dare?"
"Um…Truth," said Neville resignedly.
"You people are so boring!" exclaimed Fred.
"Okay…who do you fancy?" She passed Neville the ball.
He took a deep breath. "Parvati."
"Oh my gosh!" squealed Ginny. "That's so sweet!"
"Don't tell her," warned Neville.
"Oh, I won't," smiled Ginny.
"All right, my turn…" Neville looked around the circle. "Fred."
"Dare," replied Fred instantly, grinning.
"All right, go upstairs, and set loose all of the pixies in that cage in your room. Put them in a box and seal it and put your Mum's name on it and go deliver it to her singing the song from Ginny's valentine to harry in our second year, your fourth year."
"What now?" asked Fred as Ginny blushed and Harry chuckled, remembering the singing messengers Lockhart had set on the school.
"You heard me," said Neville cheekily.
"Right then. I'll be upstairs getting the package ready, I'll come get you when I finish. George, take my place."
"Right-O," said George. "Katie, truth or dare."
"Dare."
"I dare you to kiss the person of your choice that is in this room." He grinned happily. Katie rolled her eyes, stood up, and kissed her boyfriend on the cheek.
"Awwww," sighed Ginny, Lenore, Hermione, and Angelina. Katie smiled.
"'Mione, truth or dare."
"Truth."
"How long have you fancied Ron?"
"Um…" Hermione blushed scarlet. "Since third year." She smiled shyly at Ron, who grinned freely at her.
"Hermione, I'd had no idea! I've like you for ages, I wish you told me!"
"You could've told me," said Hermione.
"Fair point," said Ron.
"So," said Hermione. "Harry." Harry's stomach lurched. Oh, great.
"Dare," he said quickly. Hermione grinned.
"Tell the person you fancy that you fancy her. And we all know that she's in this room." Harry's eyes darted to Ginny, who was blushing furiously. But, thankfully, he was saved, because, at that moment, Fred darted downstairs.
"Come on, everyone. I'm doing it now." Harry gladly jumped up and hurried upstairs. Lenore caught up to him, though.
"It's Ginny, right?" she asked, smiling.
Harry looked into the emerald eyes that matched his own. He smiled. "Possibly. But come on. Let's watch this, it should be great, and Moody's not even here to tell everyone what's in the box!"
"Yeah," agreed Ron, who'd just caught up with them. Everyone but Fred listened to the kitchen with some extendible ears as Fred walked inside. They listened quietly.
"Excuse me everyone. But I have a present and a singing valentine for Mum." All of the adults withdrew from their conversations as Fred began singing.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair is as dark as a blackboard. He sure is divine, how I wish he were mine! The hero who conquered the dark lord!" Everyone who'd been an eyewitness to the real thing in Harry's second year giggled helplessly; even Ginny couldn't suppress a grin.
"Here Mum." Harry listened attentively as Tonks giggled at the song and he could picture Mrs. Weasley's look surprise, laughter, and anger. And, suddenly, there was a loud shriek and they heard the pixies fly away, destructing the kitchen. Fred ducked out of the door, laughing.
"Ooh, Fred, you'll be in trouble!" said Ginny. "You should've done that to Umbridge; she'd've loved the part about Harry being a hero and such. Everyone giggled appreciatively, thinking of Umbridge's face if that happened.
Needless to say, Mrs. Weasley had grounded Fred and George, though the other Order members had thought the prank was quite funny. Angelina and Katie had gone home, Fred and George were rounding up the last pixies, Hermione, Ginny, Lenore, and Luna were all in their bedrooms, and Harry, Neville, and Ron had just gone to bed. Harry drifted off to sleep thinking of the wonderful day he'd had, back with his old friends. He thought about Lenore, and still couldn't believe he had family. But that also meant he was related to Voldemort. Harry shuddered.
That night Harry's nightmare began seeing Sirius fall into the veil, but quickly changed to a new dream, a nightmare that gave him a terrible feeling. He was in a stone room, and there were two shadows on the wall, flickering and talking.
"Godric, I'm sorry. I truly am. But I'm in love with Salazar, and he's in love with me. And it isn't his fault, for he had no idea about us. He still thinks you love Rowena. Rowena loves you, Godric. Be with her. I'm sorry."
"No, Acacia, please! You don't know Salazar…he would break your heart. Please, Acacia, please…" The shadows flickered and died, and Harry awoke the next morning with a start, remembering everything he'd seen.