WHEN TIME STANDS STILL
LittleEar BigEar's sis: The Patronus will be next chapter, but I hope you like this one too.
Trinity Day: That was a sudden inspiration;) Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.
Amerz1: Not exactly soon, but I've updated.
SilverKnight7: Here it is.
Savi2070: Here you go. If you have any good ideas, tell me.
Stefanie: I'm happy you like it. This chapter is short too, but I'll try to get longer ones out soon.
Amandinka: Thanks for the encouragement; it means a lot.
petites sorcieres: That's an idea; maybe I'll do that.
Lily EvansPotterBlack: I like them too, but there aren't all that many. Too bad!
Bekah: Thanks; I will.
Patricia Black: Thanks, and I did.
girlknight: Yes Yes Yes
Indiangurl: You'll have to wait for that! For now, read this.
Prophetess Of Hearts: Yeah, I imagine they would have been a bit idiotic.
star estrella: Thanks, and don't underestimate your work.
gaul1: Thank you; I'm glad you like it.
Vicous Pixie: Next chapter Patronus, and then full moon. ;) And James will like Harry later - I'm not as mean as all that!
ping*pong5: I couldn't make this chapter very long, but I'll try with the others.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: No, I guess not. But they'll have to sort themselves out.
penny: There's a bit in this; more to come later.
Author's Note: I'm sorry about the delay in posting this. I was out of town. I have exams next week so it may be a while before I post again. Thanks for your patience!
On with the story...
CHAPTER 5: EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER 4
Harry had drawn the curtains around his bed and lay pretending to be asleep. He had had plenty of practice at that in his own time.
He heard the dormitory door open and Remus' and Peter's voices as they entered. Remus and rat! He clenched his fists under the bedclothes, willing himself not to leap out of bed and denounce Pettigrew.
"Potions tomorrow," Peter moaned. "And Snivelly's going to try to explode my potion, I know he is. He'll want revenge for today. He's too scared to pick on James and Sirius; he knows they'll get back at him if he dares..."
Idly, Harry wondered whom he would support if Snape and Pettigrew had a fight. Might be a nice opportunity to hex both of them and pretend they had cursed each other...
"Peter," Remus said patiently, "Snape might be nicer to you if you did not snigger manically when James and Sirius torment him."
Peter began to protest hotly, but Remus shushed him.
"I have a long day tomorrow," he said, with slight emphasis. "I'm going to bed. Good night."
Harry heard him draw back the curtains of his four-poster and climb into bed. There was a moment of silence, then somebody opened the door with a crash.
"Really, Prongs," Peter said, "you don't have to come in like a rampaging Hippogriff."
There was an incoherent but aggressive-sounding growl from James. Peter made a squeaking noise, and a swift patter suggested that he had run for shelter. Harry tried to peek through the crack in the curtains.
"Filch," he snarled. "That slimy, evil git took the Map!"
There was a torrent of questions from Remus and Peter, but Harry heard nothing. He only sank back into his sheets, immensely relieved.
*~*
NOTICE TO STUDENTS:
To comply with a special request from the Minister for Magic, it is now compulsory for all students to have a signed note of permission from the Headmaster to borrow books in the Restricted Section of the Library. Only students taking Defense Against the Dark Arts NEWT classes will be permitted to borrow books pertaining to Dark magic.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number 4.
Signed
Professor M McGonagall
Harry and Lily read the notice silently.
"That's odd," Harry said. "Why would the Minister be worried about what Hogwarts students read?"
"Hogwarts has a very famous library - there are spellbooks here that are found nowhere else, spells and hexes and charms that haven't been performed since the Dark Ages. A lot of that magic could be dangerous in the wrong hands... especially now."
Harry shivered. For the past five years, he had lived with Voldemort trying to kill him, with curses flying at him, with spending more time in the hospital wing than out of it. He knew what Voldemort was and what would happen to him - or at least some of it. All the same, he felt distinctly uncomfortable whenever somebody alluded to the Dark Lord's rise.
"Let's go to Professor Dumbledore's office then," he said, trying to keep his voice light. "As well to do it now."
Lily nodded and they set off.
Professor McGonagall had been called away on 'urgent business' - Order business, Harry suspected - leaving the Gryffindor Sixth-Years free. Lily had suggested using the time to start their Charms assignment.
When they reached the gargoyle, they found Snape there.
"So," he said, "the two Mudbloods have made friends. What's the matter, Thomson? Are Potter and his gang too rough for the little baby?"
Harry reached for his wand, simultaneously racking his brain for a strong enough jinx. Lily stopped him.
"He's not worth a detention," she said. "Ignore him."
Harry was suddenly, forcibly reminded of Hermione.
Fortunately, before the conversation could proceed further, Lucius Malfoy came out of Dumbledore's office with a scrap of parchment in his fist, and Snape went in.
"By the way," Lily said casually, as they waited for Snape to come out, "you might want to watch out for Professor Xeno."
"Professor who?"
"Professor Xenocleia Sheppard. Everyone calls her Professor Xeno. She's the Divination teacher - they say she's really a Mindreader - and she walks around the corridors every evening pouncing on unsuspecting students. She'll reveal your innermost thoughts to everybody in hearing." She laughed. "A lot of mysteries are solved that way. But if you have any secrets that you'd like kept secret, stay clear of her."
Harry groaned inwardly as Snape came out and he and Lily went in to see Professor Dumbledore. Exactly what he needed, some daft witch who would announce to all of Hogwarts that he came from the future. All it needed was for some nutter to let a few Blast-Ended Skrewts loose in the Gryffindor Common Room.
LittleEar BigEar's sis: The Patronus will be next chapter, but I hope you like this one too.
Trinity Day: That was a sudden inspiration;) Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.
Amerz1: Not exactly soon, but I've updated.
SilverKnight7: Here it is.
Savi2070: Here you go. If you have any good ideas, tell me.
Stefanie: I'm happy you like it. This chapter is short too, but I'll try to get longer ones out soon.
Amandinka: Thanks for the encouragement; it means a lot.
petites sorcieres: That's an idea; maybe I'll do that.
Lily EvansPotterBlack: I like them too, but there aren't all that many. Too bad!
Bekah: Thanks; I will.
Patricia Black: Thanks, and I did.
girlknight: Yes Yes Yes
Indiangurl: You'll have to wait for that! For now, read this.
Prophetess Of Hearts: Yeah, I imagine they would have been a bit idiotic.
star estrella: Thanks, and don't underestimate your work.
gaul1: Thank you; I'm glad you like it.
Vicous Pixie: Next chapter Patronus, and then full moon. ;) And James will like Harry later - I'm not as mean as all that!
ping*pong5: I couldn't make this chapter very long, but I'll try with the others.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: No, I guess not. But they'll have to sort themselves out.
penny: There's a bit in this; more to come later.
Author's Note: I'm sorry about the delay in posting this. I was out of town. I have exams next week so it may be a while before I post again. Thanks for your patience!
On with the story...
CHAPTER 5: EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER 4
Harry had drawn the curtains around his bed and lay pretending to be asleep. He had had plenty of practice at that in his own time.
He heard the dormitory door open and Remus' and Peter's voices as they entered. Remus and rat! He clenched his fists under the bedclothes, willing himself not to leap out of bed and denounce Pettigrew.
"Potions tomorrow," Peter moaned. "And Snivelly's going to try to explode my potion, I know he is. He'll want revenge for today. He's too scared to pick on James and Sirius; he knows they'll get back at him if he dares..."
Idly, Harry wondered whom he would support if Snape and Pettigrew had a fight. Might be a nice opportunity to hex both of them and pretend they had cursed each other...
"Peter," Remus said patiently, "Snape might be nicer to you if you did not snigger manically when James and Sirius torment him."
Peter began to protest hotly, but Remus shushed him.
"I have a long day tomorrow," he said, with slight emphasis. "I'm going to bed. Good night."
Harry heard him draw back the curtains of his four-poster and climb into bed. There was a moment of silence, then somebody opened the door with a crash.
"Really, Prongs," Peter said, "you don't have to come in like a rampaging Hippogriff."
There was an incoherent but aggressive-sounding growl from James. Peter made a squeaking noise, and a swift patter suggested that he had run for shelter. Harry tried to peek through the crack in the curtains.
"Filch," he snarled. "That slimy, evil git took the Map!"
There was a torrent of questions from Remus and Peter, but Harry heard nothing. He only sank back into his sheets, immensely relieved.
*~*
NOTICE TO STUDENTS:
To comply with a special request from the Minister for Magic, it is now compulsory for all students to have a signed note of permission from the Headmaster to borrow books in the Restricted Section of the Library. Only students taking Defense Against the Dark Arts NEWT classes will be permitted to borrow books pertaining to Dark magic.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number 4.
Signed
Professor M McGonagall
Harry and Lily read the notice silently.
"That's odd," Harry said. "Why would the Minister be worried about what Hogwarts students read?"
"Hogwarts has a very famous library - there are spellbooks here that are found nowhere else, spells and hexes and charms that haven't been performed since the Dark Ages. A lot of that magic could be dangerous in the wrong hands... especially now."
Harry shivered. For the past five years, he had lived with Voldemort trying to kill him, with curses flying at him, with spending more time in the hospital wing than out of it. He knew what Voldemort was and what would happen to him - or at least some of it. All the same, he felt distinctly uncomfortable whenever somebody alluded to the Dark Lord's rise.
"Let's go to Professor Dumbledore's office then," he said, trying to keep his voice light. "As well to do it now."
Lily nodded and they set off.
Professor McGonagall had been called away on 'urgent business' - Order business, Harry suspected - leaving the Gryffindor Sixth-Years free. Lily had suggested using the time to start their Charms assignment.
When they reached the gargoyle, they found Snape there.
"So," he said, "the two Mudbloods have made friends. What's the matter, Thomson? Are Potter and his gang too rough for the little baby?"
Harry reached for his wand, simultaneously racking his brain for a strong enough jinx. Lily stopped him.
"He's not worth a detention," she said. "Ignore him."
Harry was suddenly, forcibly reminded of Hermione.
Fortunately, before the conversation could proceed further, Lucius Malfoy came out of Dumbledore's office with a scrap of parchment in his fist, and Snape went in.
"By the way," Lily said casually, as they waited for Snape to come out, "you might want to watch out for Professor Xeno."
"Professor who?"
"Professor Xenocleia Sheppard. Everyone calls her Professor Xeno. She's the Divination teacher - they say she's really a Mindreader - and she walks around the corridors every evening pouncing on unsuspecting students. She'll reveal your innermost thoughts to everybody in hearing." She laughed. "A lot of mysteries are solved that way. But if you have any secrets that you'd like kept secret, stay clear of her."
Harry groaned inwardly as Snape came out and he and Lily went in to see Professor Dumbledore. Exactly what he needed, some daft witch who would announce to all of Hogwarts that he came from the future. All it needed was for some nutter to let a few Blast-Ended Skrewts loose in the Gryffindor Common Room.