Chapter thirty one....hmmm, its wrapping up.
Apparition and Augments
Three days later, and people still quickly cleared the way for him in the corridor, still whispered when he went past. All at once he would feel lonely, but happy because he was with Ron and Hermione.
On the fourth day, Ron woke him up with a yell.
"Harry! We forgot to take our Apparition tests!"
Harry rolled over, entertained the thought of dumping water over Ron's head, but decided against it.
"So?"
"So we had better ask to take it!"
"Why so eager?" Harry grumbled, "especially at," he squinted at the clock, "SIX O'CLOCK?! THAT DOES IT!"
Ron was still covered in water ten minutes later when Neville finally woke up.
"What's going on now?" he grumbled, rolled sideways and fell out of bed.
Harry laughed. So did Ron, but only after he'd covered Harry in water too. For some reason, this made things funnier and Harry rolled around laughing.
Somehow he ended up on the floor like Neville. He lay there, trying to catch his breath and looked up at his wand, which was just visible over the edge of his bedside table, lying where he had dropped it a few minutes ago.
"dry." He said.
They dried, and immediately all the boys stopped laughing and started staring. Harry rolled to his feet and yawned.
"Come on, time to get going. Double potions first, ugh."
On their way down stairs, Ron leaned over and asked Harry, "How did you do that?"
"What?"
"Do that spell without touching your wand?"
Harry paused, staring at his friend, "There's something different about my wand, after... I'll tell you later, when we get out of school."
It was the first reference that Harry had made to what had happened to him that night, and Ron dropped the subject.
They took their apparition test three days later, and both managed to pass, though Harry only by the skin of his knuckles (he landed three meters away from where he should have, headfirst into a rose bush). Ron had not trouble, and had no worries abut gloating just a little. Harry let him go; he was too busy pulling thorns out of his rear.
Ron was still gloating when they returned to school (Hermione had refused to come, wanting to read up on Apparition first) and Harry was still limping.
They were ascending the great staircase when a hoot from above interrupted them. A large tawny owl landed on the banister next to them, and Harry took the offered letter, giving the bird a knut for its effort. The letter informed im that one Lucius Malfoy would be tried by the Wizengamot on the 3rd. one week away, and that he, a mister Harry James Potter would be required to give evidence.
Ron watched his friend read the letter, watching the hardening of the expression around his eyes. He had changed, subtly, but changed nonetheless. He was quieter, and didn't laugh as much.
"What is it?"
"Notice of Malfoy's hearing."
"Which Malfoy?"
"Huh?" Harry was miles away, in a dark graveyard...
"Which Malfoy?
"Oh, sorry, Lucius."
"And why have they let you know?"
"Because I'm required to give evidence. It's the day after school ends (An; I have no idea what date school ends and I can't be bothered looking it up so I'm just making this up as I go along)."
"Oh. Is that bad?"
Harry shook his head thoughtfully, "no, not at all, but it means I'll have to have a bodyguard, apparently, in case Death Eaters take offence."
"oh." Said Ron again, as they resumed their climb, "do you think they will?"
"Dumbledore thinks so."
"Do you?" Ron persisted.
"I don't now. Maybe. Probably." Harry thought, then said, "Hey, Ron, do me a favor, ok?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Don't tell anyone. I'd feel better if no one knew."
"Ok."
"You and Hermione will get letters too, expect them."
Ron sent him a blank look, "you think so?"
"You were at the Hole, weren't you? And in St Mungo's and on the street with the giants?"
"I suppose."
"Hey guys!" Hermione called brightly as they came in the door, "how'd it go?"
"Passed!" said Ron easily, sitting down.
"passed." Said Harry dully, tucking the letter into his pocket.
Talk turned to the coming end of year banquet. There would be a small ceremony when all year sevens would have their names read out and be congratulated on surviving their years at Hogwarts. They wouldn't officially graduate until they got their NEWT results. But the talk wasn't about that, it was about the fact that there were no hourglasses anymore. They had disappeared and no one seemed to know where they were. Therefore, no one knew where the house points were, who was winning.
Harry wasn't overly concerned. He was more worried about the speech he and Hermione were required to give. He winced every time he thought of it.
Hermione wrote him one, but he rewrote most of it, as it used big words and everyone would know he didn't write it. And time went quickly. Harry's emotions became more and more confused. He was overwhelmingly relived that he had survived what fate had required he do, but at the same time he was leaving Hogwarts. Hogwarts had been his home for seven years and he knew the castle so well he could walk through it blindfolded. He knew every trick of Peeves' every painting worth knowing, which steps to skip. And now he was leaving, and unsure of what to do.
The night of the banquet came, and as usual, Dumbledore got up to speak.
"This year has been full of dark times, but I, as Headmaster of Hogwarts, and all the teachers with me, have something to say. We are all incredibly impressed by your willingness to put away old habits and to begin a fresh. The way this school banded together with Durmstrang and Beuaxebatons (an; spelling?) will be remembered for ever, and, I have on good authority, the next Hogwarts a History edition will have a whole chapter devoted to our part in last months battles."
There was a scattering of clapping and cheering.
"I would like to say that no batch of Hogwarts students have ever made the school prouder than our leavers this year. Under their leadership Hogwarts not only survived the battles, but won a great victory. It is because of that victory that the house championship has been disbanded this year."
A murmur of interest ran around the room
"So this year we celebrate not the achievements of our leavers, or of our houses. This year we celebrate as Hogwarts, and what Hogwarts has achieved."
The clapping almost took the roof of. They stood, clapped Dumbledore, clapped each other, heck, they just clapped. Harry smiled more than he had ever smiled at an end of year banquet.
He and Hermione said their speeches (an; I can't think right now, any suggestions?something like' wow, what a year...?) and Harry as very happy when it was over, but anxious still. He had no idea what he was going to do. Probably live at the Black Residence until.... until what? What was he supposed to do? What do hero's do after 'happily ever after'?
He was pondering this when Hermione asked him if he was going the trial tomorrow?
"Yep, unfortunately. I kinda hoped I'd never see either of them again, I guess, though in a strange way I pity Draco."
"You know, that's how I feel!" exclaimed Seamus, "I mean, growing up in that family, what can you expect? That's the sad thing- that we kind of expected him to turn."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Said Ron, frowning thoughtfully, "but anyway, Harry, you gonna come and stay?"
"I don't think that's a very good idea." Said Harry gloomily.
"Why?" demanded Ron
"There are still Death Eaters around, Ron." Hermione said sternly, "Harry cant put any more people in danger."
"Oh thanks Hermione, any 'more' people! That sounds just great." Grumbled Harry, stuffing a baked potato into his mouth.
"You know what I meant!" snapped Hermione crossly, causing both boys to stare blankly at her.
"What?" she asked nonplussed.
"nothing." both went back to shoveling food into their mouths,
"Well, when can you come and stay?"
"dunno. Whenever they catch the other Death Eaters, I suppose." Said Harry with a sigh. He just felt tired of having to watch where he went, with whom and how.
The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking along a split level heading for the stairs, Harry lagging a little way behind, looking down over the banister/railing at the tiled floor underneath and wondering if he'd break any bones if he jumped, on their way to meet their escort to the trial when McGonagall found them, and...
"Mr. Potter! I want a word with you!"
When Hermione and Ron stopped to wait she waved them on, "of you go you two, I said I want to talk to Mr. Potter!"
They went, but not happily.
"You were waiting for me to all you, weren't you, Mr. Potter" asked McGonagall, eyeing him over her glasses, "I saw you dawdling."
Harry sighed, "Yeah I was waiting to be called. How am I going to get there?"
"Brooms are out of the question, and as you've just got your apparition certificate, I've been instructed to guide you to the ministry myself, via apparition."
"Oh." Harry gulped; he had not apparated over such a distance before.
"Ready?"
The old lady stepped away a little so he could concentrate and stumbled on her robes. Harry, who had been just about to shut his eyes, froze. He turned his head, slowly and stared at the lady.
"clever." He muttered, fingering his dueling strap, "only the third time that someone's done it."
Then he moved, springing forwards towards the railing, and vaulting over it. Airborne and memories of the griffon attack assailing him. Then with a loud smack that stung his feet he hit the marble floor and ran towards Ron and Hermione, who were just going out the great doors.
An explosion hit the ground behind him. A shock wave caught him throwing him off his feet; he tumbled for a millisecond and then hit the marble and slid towards the feet of his astounded friends.
The explosion had bought Tonks and Lupin (their escort) up the stairs and they stopped in surprise when they saw it was McGonagall brandishing the wand. Harry scrambled to his feet as more teachers and students arrived,
"polyjuice!" he said to Lupin, who's expression cleared and he pointed his wand at the imposter. His statement was proved true by McGonagall (the real one) arriving, her face amazed as she beheld the Death Eater in her favorite robes. Dumbledore wasn't far behind.
"You'll pay!" screamed the imposter, beginning to loose the grey hair color, "you'll pay! All of you!"
More spells shot from the wand.
An; im tired, but I managed to finished me Psychology homework so it's all good. C ya next chappie (up sometime next week, methinks.)
Apparition and Augments
Three days later, and people still quickly cleared the way for him in the corridor, still whispered when he went past. All at once he would feel lonely, but happy because he was with Ron and Hermione.
On the fourth day, Ron woke him up with a yell.
"Harry! We forgot to take our Apparition tests!"
Harry rolled over, entertained the thought of dumping water over Ron's head, but decided against it.
"So?"
"So we had better ask to take it!"
"Why so eager?" Harry grumbled, "especially at," he squinted at the clock, "SIX O'CLOCK?! THAT DOES IT!"
Ron was still covered in water ten minutes later when Neville finally woke up.
"What's going on now?" he grumbled, rolled sideways and fell out of bed.
Harry laughed. So did Ron, but only after he'd covered Harry in water too. For some reason, this made things funnier and Harry rolled around laughing.
Somehow he ended up on the floor like Neville. He lay there, trying to catch his breath and looked up at his wand, which was just visible over the edge of his bedside table, lying where he had dropped it a few minutes ago.
"dry." He said.
They dried, and immediately all the boys stopped laughing and started staring. Harry rolled to his feet and yawned.
"Come on, time to get going. Double potions first, ugh."
On their way down stairs, Ron leaned over and asked Harry, "How did you do that?"
"What?"
"Do that spell without touching your wand?"
Harry paused, staring at his friend, "There's something different about my wand, after... I'll tell you later, when we get out of school."
It was the first reference that Harry had made to what had happened to him that night, and Ron dropped the subject.
They took their apparition test three days later, and both managed to pass, though Harry only by the skin of his knuckles (he landed three meters away from where he should have, headfirst into a rose bush). Ron had not trouble, and had no worries abut gloating just a little. Harry let him go; he was too busy pulling thorns out of his rear.
Ron was still gloating when they returned to school (Hermione had refused to come, wanting to read up on Apparition first) and Harry was still limping.
They were ascending the great staircase when a hoot from above interrupted them. A large tawny owl landed on the banister next to them, and Harry took the offered letter, giving the bird a knut for its effort. The letter informed im that one Lucius Malfoy would be tried by the Wizengamot on the 3rd. one week away, and that he, a mister Harry James Potter would be required to give evidence.
Ron watched his friend read the letter, watching the hardening of the expression around his eyes. He had changed, subtly, but changed nonetheless. He was quieter, and didn't laugh as much.
"What is it?"
"Notice of Malfoy's hearing."
"Which Malfoy?"
"Huh?" Harry was miles away, in a dark graveyard...
"Which Malfoy?
"Oh, sorry, Lucius."
"And why have they let you know?"
"Because I'm required to give evidence. It's the day after school ends (An; I have no idea what date school ends and I can't be bothered looking it up so I'm just making this up as I go along)."
"Oh. Is that bad?"
Harry shook his head thoughtfully, "no, not at all, but it means I'll have to have a bodyguard, apparently, in case Death Eaters take offence."
"oh." Said Ron again, as they resumed their climb, "do you think they will?"
"Dumbledore thinks so."
"Do you?" Ron persisted.
"I don't now. Maybe. Probably." Harry thought, then said, "Hey, Ron, do me a favor, ok?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Don't tell anyone. I'd feel better if no one knew."
"Ok."
"You and Hermione will get letters too, expect them."
Ron sent him a blank look, "you think so?"
"You were at the Hole, weren't you? And in St Mungo's and on the street with the giants?"
"I suppose."
"Hey guys!" Hermione called brightly as they came in the door, "how'd it go?"
"Passed!" said Ron easily, sitting down.
"passed." Said Harry dully, tucking the letter into his pocket.
Talk turned to the coming end of year banquet. There would be a small ceremony when all year sevens would have their names read out and be congratulated on surviving their years at Hogwarts. They wouldn't officially graduate until they got their NEWT results. But the talk wasn't about that, it was about the fact that there were no hourglasses anymore. They had disappeared and no one seemed to know where they were. Therefore, no one knew where the house points were, who was winning.
Harry wasn't overly concerned. He was more worried about the speech he and Hermione were required to give. He winced every time he thought of it.
Hermione wrote him one, but he rewrote most of it, as it used big words and everyone would know he didn't write it. And time went quickly. Harry's emotions became more and more confused. He was overwhelmingly relived that he had survived what fate had required he do, but at the same time he was leaving Hogwarts. Hogwarts had been his home for seven years and he knew the castle so well he could walk through it blindfolded. He knew every trick of Peeves' every painting worth knowing, which steps to skip. And now he was leaving, and unsure of what to do.
The night of the banquet came, and as usual, Dumbledore got up to speak.
"This year has been full of dark times, but I, as Headmaster of Hogwarts, and all the teachers with me, have something to say. We are all incredibly impressed by your willingness to put away old habits and to begin a fresh. The way this school banded together with Durmstrang and Beuaxebatons (an; spelling?) will be remembered for ever, and, I have on good authority, the next Hogwarts a History edition will have a whole chapter devoted to our part in last months battles."
There was a scattering of clapping and cheering.
"I would like to say that no batch of Hogwarts students have ever made the school prouder than our leavers this year. Under their leadership Hogwarts not only survived the battles, but won a great victory. It is because of that victory that the house championship has been disbanded this year."
A murmur of interest ran around the room
"So this year we celebrate not the achievements of our leavers, or of our houses. This year we celebrate as Hogwarts, and what Hogwarts has achieved."
The clapping almost took the roof of. They stood, clapped Dumbledore, clapped each other, heck, they just clapped. Harry smiled more than he had ever smiled at an end of year banquet.
He and Hermione said their speeches (an; I can't think right now, any suggestions?something like' wow, what a year...?) and Harry as very happy when it was over, but anxious still. He had no idea what he was going to do. Probably live at the Black Residence until.... until what? What was he supposed to do? What do hero's do after 'happily ever after'?
He was pondering this when Hermione asked him if he was going the trial tomorrow?
"Yep, unfortunately. I kinda hoped I'd never see either of them again, I guess, though in a strange way I pity Draco."
"You know, that's how I feel!" exclaimed Seamus, "I mean, growing up in that family, what can you expect? That's the sad thing- that we kind of expected him to turn."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Said Ron, frowning thoughtfully, "but anyway, Harry, you gonna come and stay?"
"I don't think that's a very good idea." Said Harry gloomily.
"Why?" demanded Ron
"There are still Death Eaters around, Ron." Hermione said sternly, "Harry cant put any more people in danger."
"Oh thanks Hermione, any 'more' people! That sounds just great." Grumbled Harry, stuffing a baked potato into his mouth.
"You know what I meant!" snapped Hermione crossly, causing both boys to stare blankly at her.
"What?" she asked nonplussed.
"nothing." both went back to shoveling food into their mouths,
"Well, when can you come and stay?"
"dunno. Whenever they catch the other Death Eaters, I suppose." Said Harry with a sigh. He just felt tired of having to watch where he went, with whom and how.
The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking along a split level heading for the stairs, Harry lagging a little way behind, looking down over the banister/railing at the tiled floor underneath and wondering if he'd break any bones if he jumped, on their way to meet their escort to the trial when McGonagall found them, and...
"Mr. Potter! I want a word with you!"
When Hermione and Ron stopped to wait she waved them on, "of you go you two, I said I want to talk to Mr. Potter!"
They went, but not happily.
"You were waiting for me to all you, weren't you, Mr. Potter" asked McGonagall, eyeing him over her glasses, "I saw you dawdling."
Harry sighed, "Yeah I was waiting to be called. How am I going to get there?"
"Brooms are out of the question, and as you've just got your apparition certificate, I've been instructed to guide you to the ministry myself, via apparition."
"Oh." Harry gulped; he had not apparated over such a distance before.
"Ready?"
The old lady stepped away a little so he could concentrate and stumbled on her robes. Harry, who had been just about to shut his eyes, froze. He turned his head, slowly and stared at the lady.
"clever." He muttered, fingering his dueling strap, "only the third time that someone's done it."
Then he moved, springing forwards towards the railing, and vaulting over it. Airborne and memories of the griffon attack assailing him. Then with a loud smack that stung his feet he hit the marble floor and ran towards Ron and Hermione, who were just going out the great doors.
An explosion hit the ground behind him. A shock wave caught him throwing him off his feet; he tumbled for a millisecond and then hit the marble and slid towards the feet of his astounded friends.
The explosion had bought Tonks and Lupin (their escort) up the stairs and they stopped in surprise when they saw it was McGonagall brandishing the wand. Harry scrambled to his feet as more teachers and students arrived,
"polyjuice!" he said to Lupin, who's expression cleared and he pointed his wand at the imposter. His statement was proved true by McGonagall (the real one) arriving, her face amazed as she beheld the Death Eater in her favorite robes. Dumbledore wasn't far behind.
"You'll pay!" screamed the imposter, beginning to loose the grey hair color, "you'll pay! All of you!"
More spells shot from the wand.
An; im tired, but I managed to finished me Psychology homework so it's all good. C ya next chappie (up sometime next week, methinks.)