A/N: People, this is my first HP fic, and my first fan fiction in like a
year, and I've only had one person review it...as of when I checked
yesterday. Granted this chapter probably won't be posted for a while, I
would love to hear some of your comments, your criticisms...anything. Please
Read and Review! ;) Thanks! – Me
Chapter Seven
Hermione was still a bit shocked, even by the week following Ron's ingenious proposal. Lupin continued to give her and Harry lessons on counter-curses, despite that this had only been a distraction before. Luna dove into her schoolwork, and wove her life at Hogwarts into the stories she wrote for her father's magazine. Neville began to visit his parents more and more, although none of the Marauders could figure out why. Ginny had even started dating a sixth year Ravenclaw. Ron's ears became red with anger every time she mentioned him. All in all, the Marauders were carrying on with their lives, and preparing themselves for what would meet them in the future.
Harry and Ron walked out of the common room, and headed towards the stairs. "You've put me in a hard spot, Ron. Really, you have." Harry admitted.
"What? What did I do?" Ron whined.
Harry smiled. "Nothing like that. Your proposal and everything...it was so grand scale. I won't be able to surprise Luna like that, even if I wanted to..."
"Why?" asked Ron, scratching his head.
"Because she was in on the plan with Hermione. She'd become suspicious too easily, you see?" Harry explained.
Ron laughed. "Well, I'd never thought of it like that before, but I guess you're right, huh? Sorry, mate." Ron pat Harry on the back.
"Aw man...what am I going to do? There's only a couple more months of school left, and then I have to go back to the Dursley's..."
"What do you mean?" Ron blinked. "You're seventeen! You've almost graduated! You could live right in Hogsmeade if you wanted to." Ron reasoned.
Harry frowned. "I'd still have to go back and get the rest of my things. Isn't it glorious, though? Not like I'm under-age anymore. Let that great oaf Dudley say one word to me out of line..." Harry laughed at the image in his head.
"I've got it!" Ron threw his finger in the air as if a light bulb had just turned on in his head. "The last day of school, Harry. The last day. On the train, even. Would that surprise her enough? You think she'd suspect it?"
"No," Harry shook his head, "long as we weren't whispering about it every time she turns around. Ron, sometimes you amaze me."
Ron stopped. "Hey Harry, could I let Hermione in on it?"
"She'd pummel you if you didn't, wouldn't she?" Harry laughed.
"I think the both of you are ready," Lupin smiled at Harry and Hermione. "You should be able to pass just about every test they throw at you. You both have done a marvelous job."
"Thanks, Professor. Our qualifying tests are this weekend, you know? There are some Ministry representatives coming into Hogsmeade. I got an owl about it just yesterday," Hermione grinned. "You want to come and be our cheering section?"
Lupin grinned. "I'm not sure it's legal you have a cheering section," he whispered, "and besides, I thought that you two were taking different tests?"
"We both have to pass at all those counter curses. Other than that, the tests are different." Harry frowned.
"Well, good luck...although I don't think you need any of it," He waved.
"Harry, after our qualifying tests on Saturday, go with me to the jewelry store in Hogsmeade. I've been there with Luna loads of times..." Hermione whispered so he could barely hear. "I'll help you out..."
"Thanks, Hermione..." The tone in Harry's voice dropped.
Hermione blinked in confusion. "Harry, what's..." but she understood when she saw it. "Oh no! Harry! That's a Dark Mark!"
"Where is everyone? We've got to go tell Dumbledore!" Harry and Hermione bolted for the door they had just came out of, and nearly ran right into Snape.
"Professor, there's a Dark Mark! Outside! It's in the sky above the whomping willow!" Hermione screamed.
Snape did a double take. "A what?! Where? Go get Dumbledore, now! Hurry!" He yelled. He ran outside, but all the students had noticed the mark. They ran for the door before he had to ask them.
"Where's Hermione? Oh god! I can't find Hermione and Harry!" Ron yelled. "Neville? Luna? Ginny?! Where in bloody hell did you go?" he screamed.
"Over here, Ron! Get inside!" yelled Ginny.
"Dumbledore! Open, damn it! Open up!!" The phoenix staircase turned, and Dumbledore ran down it.
"Where is it?" he demanded.
"Outside, above the whomping willow...but no one's here yet..." Hermione whispered.
He nodded. "I want you all to stay inside where it is safe." He ordered and ran towards the main staircase.
"Come on Harry! We've got to find Ron and the others..." Hermione was beginning to loose her composure. "Come on! They could be outside! What's wrong with you?!"
"I don't know!" He shot back at her. "I can't even see! The pain..."
"Damn! I'll drag you if I have to! Come on! We've got to find them before they get hurt!" Hermione cursed.
They did find the rest of the Marauders. The entire school was huddled into the Great Hall. Many were watching the events outside through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Lupin, Snape, McGonnagal, and Dumbledore himself were taking on five Death Eaters that had shown up on the grounds after the mark appeared. Luna was among some of the students watching at the large windows.
"Harry! Harry! McGonnagal just took a bad one, Harry! What the hell? I've seen that woman..." Luna was thinking out loud.
"She killed Sirius." Harry's anger was boiling.
Hermione found Ginny sitting in a corner with Neville, who was rather upset. Ginny had him wrapped in the tightest of hugs. There were some nearby Slytherins covered in sticky pink goo. Hermione imagined that was Ginny's doing.
"Is he all right? Was he hurt?" Hermione worried.
Ginny shook her head. Hermione took a seat next to her. "He's not in good spirits right now. That woman out there...the one Dumbledore was dueling with...she helped...you know...his parents..." She paused a moment. "Those Slytherin gits were making fun of him. I had to do something..."
"Oh," was all Hermione could manage.
Harry's scar was searing now. He couldn't see what was going on outside. He couldn't even think. Occasionally, he would hear Luna trying to talk to him, but the pain...it was blinding, and at this point, deafening.
There was the sound of glass breaking. One of the floor-to-ceiling windows had just shattered into pieces. A trail of red light was traveling through the room. The students jumped to avoid it, but one jumped too late. The Gryffindor first year Melissa Hart was the first person to fall that day.
Hermione screamed. "Oh god, it's Melissa! Where's Madam Pomfrey? Someone find Madam Pomfrey! She needs help!"
"I'm here, child! I'm here!" Hermione could hear Madam Pomfrey. Seconds later, she emerged from the crowd of students. She looked at Melissa, who seemed to still be alive. "Oh, thank god it wasn't Adavara Kadavara..." she whispered to herself.
By the end of it all, two teachers and nearly twelve students who got caught in the cross fire were taken to St. Mungo's. Three of the five Death Eaters had died in the conflict, and one had been hit with one of Dumbledore's memory charms. She was taken directly to Azkaban, and charged with the torture of the Longbottoms and the murder of Sirius Black. The fifth had disappeared before anyone could catch him.
Snape recovered in St. Mungo's in less than a week. McGonnagal, on the other hand, was kept at the hospital until nearly the end of Harry's seventh year. Dumbledore made it a point to cancel the exams. The remainder of the year, he said, could be spent, 'Reflecting over the year and what was soon to come...'
While exams were cancelled, Harry and Hermione's qualifying exams had not been. The two made their way to Hogsmeade just four days after the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts. Ron and Luna followed, making their way to Honeydukes ("We'll meet you right here when you're done!").
"You've passed your apparating test?" asked the Ministry official.
"Yes." Harry nodded.
The official smiled. "You've done excellent on your counter-curse test!"
"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded again.
"Do you recognize this curse?" the official showed him a photo.
Harry sighed. "That's locomotor mortis."
"And this one?" Another picture.
Harry nearly laughed. "The Pacificus Totalis..."
"What's so funny, boy?" He demanded.
Harry jumped. "Nothing, sir. I just remembered something from my first year, is all." He shrugged. He shook his head. Poor Neville. Hermione would know what that was if they asked her.
The official cleared his throat. "May we continue? Tell me what this one is..." Yet another photo was placed in front of him.
Harry stared at it, frowned deeply, and stared some more. "Adavara Kadavara..." he growled.
"And what does it do?" the official asked.
Harry contained his temper long enough to be smart with the official. "I wouldn't know how it works. I've never done it. But I've seen it kill both my parents and my godfather. Is that good enough for you, sir?"
The Ministry official nodded. "Sorry. I had to ask. That's the most dangerous one on their arsenal, you know?" he whispered.
"So? How did I do?" asked Harry, his anger slowly fading away.
"You've passed. I like you, kid. Maybe we'll end up working together?" he smiled.
"What? You're actually an Auror?" Harry's mouth nearly dropped to the floor.
"Yes. Well, what did you think? You mean...they didn't tell you...?" it was his turn to be surprised. "Anyways..." he cleared his throat. "Report to the Ministry two weeks after your school gets out. That's when the training program begins. Congratulations, Mr. Potter, you've made it this far..."
Hermione came out looking very triumphant indeed. She was inside several minutes longer than Harry had been. Harry started heading for Honeydukes the moment he saw her come out the door.
"Harry!" Hermione hissed. "The jewelry store! Did you forget?"
"Oh..." Harry turned around and followed Hermione.
"That's the one she likes..." Hermione pointed to a ring neat the center of the display case. It was gold, and instead of a diamond in the middle, had one of the brightest red jewels Harry had ever seen. He was in awe of it. "Isn't it pretty?" Hermione was giggling.
Harry paid over three Galleons for it, but he had bought Luna the prettiest ring in the entire display. He felt very pleased with himself, and by the time he and Hermione had reached Honeydukes, was in a very good mood.
"So what? Did you guys pass? Look! Neville and Ginny even came!" Luna smiled. "Come on, spit it out!"
Hermione gave her a thumbs up. "We passed." She smiled. "With flying colors!"
"That's...great...Harry...'Ermione..." Neville said in-between his chocolate frogs. He swallowed. "When do you start the training program?"
"Two weeks after school lets out...which gives me just enough time to get my things from the Dursley's and get back here..."
"I want to go with you!" Luna smiled.
Harry looked at her as if she had lost all common sense. "I know you love me, but you don't have to go. Torture isn't conducive to a good relationship. It would be mean to make you go..."
"But you're not making me go. I want to go." Luna promised. "Of my own free will." She added.
"All right. But I think you're nuts." Harry nodded.
They all boarded the Hogwarts Express a week later. Harry made sure all of the Marauders shared a cabin. About half way through the ride to King's Cross, Harry winked at Hermione.
"Hey Luna..." smiled Harry. "I have something I want to ask you." Harry whispered.
"What is it, Harry?" Luna whispered back as if it were a big secret.
Harry took a deep breath. "I know this isn't nearly as exciting as when Ron proposed to Hermione, but we didn't know any other way to surprise you..." he began.
Luna gasped. "Harry!"
"Luna, will you marry me?" he asked.
Luna didn't wait to reply. "Yes!" she laughed. Luna sat on his lap and kissed him, hard. Neville laughed, and made a fake puke-face. He pretended to gag for several minutes. "Honestly, you two! Save it for the honeymoon! Gross!" He laughed. "And with Ginny being so impressionable..." he added jokingly. "I'm not impressionable!" Ginny defended herself hotly. "You watch it, Longbottom!" "We're back to a last name basis, Ginny?" Neville teased. "Shut up, Neville! I'm warning you!" "What are you going to do about it, Weasley?" Neville laughed. "Okay, you two. You're starting to frighten me..." Ron groaned. "Give it a rest, will you? We still have, like, a whole fifteen minutes left on this stupid train." "Yes, and I'm sure you'll go completely bonkers by then, won't you?" Hermione smiled. "Not you, too!" whined Ron.
Several minutes later, the train pulled up to Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. The students filed off. Harry would never be going back to school at Hogwarts again. He had graduated...He was actually partly surprised he'd lived long enough to graduate, but he couldn't complain. He would soon have his hands washed of the Dursley's. Soon, he'd be starting his training, well on his way to becoming an Auror. And even sooner than that, he'd get to start a life on his own in the magical world.
Well, not alone. Luna would be with him. That is, of course, if she didn't throw her ring in his face after spending a week with the Dursley's. Harry frowned deeply when he saw his uncle's car. He had come, after all. Wasn't he going to get a surprise? The next week was going to be very interesting indeed....
A/N: Not done, yet. I've got one or two more chapters still to come...have to put the finishing touches on everything, you know? Ha. Well, hope you liked it. Read and Review please!
Chapter Seven
Hermione was still a bit shocked, even by the week following Ron's ingenious proposal. Lupin continued to give her and Harry lessons on counter-curses, despite that this had only been a distraction before. Luna dove into her schoolwork, and wove her life at Hogwarts into the stories she wrote for her father's magazine. Neville began to visit his parents more and more, although none of the Marauders could figure out why. Ginny had even started dating a sixth year Ravenclaw. Ron's ears became red with anger every time she mentioned him. All in all, the Marauders were carrying on with their lives, and preparing themselves for what would meet them in the future.
Harry and Ron walked out of the common room, and headed towards the stairs. "You've put me in a hard spot, Ron. Really, you have." Harry admitted.
"What? What did I do?" Ron whined.
Harry smiled. "Nothing like that. Your proposal and everything...it was so grand scale. I won't be able to surprise Luna like that, even if I wanted to..."
"Why?" asked Ron, scratching his head.
"Because she was in on the plan with Hermione. She'd become suspicious too easily, you see?" Harry explained.
Ron laughed. "Well, I'd never thought of it like that before, but I guess you're right, huh? Sorry, mate." Ron pat Harry on the back.
"Aw man...what am I going to do? There's only a couple more months of school left, and then I have to go back to the Dursley's..."
"What do you mean?" Ron blinked. "You're seventeen! You've almost graduated! You could live right in Hogsmeade if you wanted to." Ron reasoned.
Harry frowned. "I'd still have to go back and get the rest of my things. Isn't it glorious, though? Not like I'm under-age anymore. Let that great oaf Dudley say one word to me out of line..." Harry laughed at the image in his head.
"I've got it!" Ron threw his finger in the air as if a light bulb had just turned on in his head. "The last day of school, Harry. The last day. On the train, even. Would that surprise her enough? You think she'd suspect it?"
"No," Harry shook his head, "long as we weren't whispering about it every time she turns around. Ron, sometimes you amaze me."
Ron stopped. "Hey Harry, could I let Hermione in on it?"
"She'd pummel you if you didn't, wouldn't she?" Harry laughed.
"I think the both of you are ready," Lupin smiled at Harry and Hermione. "You should be able to pass just about every test they throw at you. You both have done a marvelous job."
"Thanks, Professor. Our qualifying tests are this weekend, you know? There are some Ministry representatives coming into Hogsmeade. I got an owl about it just yesterday," Hermione grinned. "You want to come and be our cheering section?"
Lupin grinned. "I'm not sure it's legal you have a cheering section," he whispered, "and besides, I thought that you two were taking different tests?"
"We both have to pass at all those counter curses. Other than that, the tests are different." Harry frowned.
"Well, good luck...although I don't think you need any of it," He waved.
"Harry, after our qualifying tests on Saturday, go with me to the jewelry store in Hogsmeade. I've been there with Luna loads of times..." Hermione whispered so he could barely hear. "I'll help you out..."
"Thanks, Hermione..." The tone in Harry's voice dropped.
Hermione blinked in confusion. "Harry, what's..." but she understood when she saw it. "Oh no! Harry! That's a Dark Mark!"
"Where is everyone? We've got to go tell Dumbledore!" Harry and Hermione bolted for the door they had just came out of, and nearly ran right into Snape.
"Professor, there's a Dark Mark! Outside! It's in the sky above the whomping willow!" Hermione screamed.
Snape did a double take. "A what?! Where? Go get Dumbledore, now! Hurry!" He yelled. He ran outside, but all the students had noticed the mark. They ran for the door before he had to ask them.
"Where's Hermione? Oh god! I can't find Hermione and Harry!" Ron yelled. "Neville? Luna? Ginny?! Where in bloody hell did you go?" he screamed.
"Over here, Ron! Get inside!" yelled Ginny.
"Dumbledore! Open, damn it! Open up!!" The phoenix staircase turned, and Dumbledore ran down it.
"Where is it?" he demanded.
"Outside, above the whomping willow...but no one's here yet..." Hermione whispered.
He nodded. "I want you all to stay inside where it is safe." He ordered and ran towards the main staircase.
"Come on Harry! We've got to find Ron and the others..." Hermione was beginning to loose her composure. "Come on! They could be outside! What's wrong with you?!"
"I don't know!" He shot back at her. "I can't even see! The pain..."
"Damn! I'll drag you if I have to! Come on! We've got to find them before they get hurt!" Hermione cursed.
They did find the rest of the Marauders. The entire school was huddled into the Great Hall. Many were watching the events outside through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Lupin, Snape, McGonnagal, and Dumbledore himself were taking on five Death Eaters that had shown up on the grounds after the mark appeared. Luna was among some of the students watching at the large windows.
"Harry! Harry! McGonnagal just took a bad one, Harry! What the hell? I've seen that woman..." Luna was thinking out loud.
"She killed Sirius." Harry's anger was boiling.
Hermione found Ginny sitting in a corner with Neville, who was rather upset. Ginny had him wrapped in the tightest of hugs. There were some nearby Slytherins covered in sticky pink goo. Hermione imagined that was Ginny's doing.
"Is he all right? Was he hurt?" Hermione worried.
Ginny shook her head. Hermione took a seat next to her. "He's not in good spirits right now. That woman out there...the one Dumbledore was dueling with...she helped...you know...his parents..." She paused a moment. "Those Slytherin gits were making fun of him. I had to do something..."
"Oh," was all Hermione could manage.
Harry's scar was searing now. He couldn't see what was going on outside. He couldn't even think. Occasionally, he would hear Luna trying to talk to him, but the pain...it was blinding, and at this point, deafening.
There was the sound of glass breaking. One of the floor-to-ceiling windows had just shattered into pieces. A trail of red light was traveling through the room. The students jumped to avoid it, but one jumped too late. The Gryffindor first year Melissa Hart was the first person to fall that day.
Hermione screamed. "Oh god, it's Melissa! Where's Madam Pomfrey? Someone find Madam Pomfrey! She needs help!"
"I'm here, child! I'm here!" Hermione could hear Madam Pomfrey. Seconds later, she emerged from the crowd of students. She looked at Melissa, who seemed to still be alive. "Oh, thank god it wasn't Adavara Kadavara..." she whispered to herself.
By the end of it all, two teachers and nearly twelve students who got caught in the cross fire were taken to St. Mungo's. Three of the five Death Eaters had died in the conflict, and one had been hit with one of Dumbledore's memory charms. She was taken directly to Azkaban, and charged with the torture of the Longbottoms and the murder of Sirius Black. The fifth had disappeared before anyone could catch him.
Snape recovered in St. Mungo's in less than a week. McGonnagal, on the other hand, was kept at the hospital until nearly the end of Harry's seventh year. Dumbledore made it a point to cancel the exams. The remainder of the year, he said, could be spent, 'Reflecting over the year and what was soon to come...'
While exams were cancelled, Harry and Hermione's qualifying exams had not been. The two made their way to Hogsmeade just four days after the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts. Ron and Luna followed, making their way to Honeydukes ("We'll meet you right here when you're done!").
"You've passed your apparating test?" asked the Ministry official.
"Yes." Harry nodded.
The official smiled. "You've done excellent on your counter-curse test!"
"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded again.
"Do you recognize this curse?" the official showed him a photo.
Harry sighed. "That's locomotor mortis."
"And this one?" Another picture.
Harry nearly laughed. "The Pacificus Totalis..."
"What's so funny, boy?" He demanded.
Harry jumped. "Nothing, sir. I just remembered something from my first year, is all." He shrugged. He shook his head. Poor Neville. Hermione would know what that was if they asked her.
The official cleared his throat. "May we continue? Tell me what this one is..." Yet another photo was placed in front of him.
Harry stared at it, frowned deeply, and stared some more. "Adavara Kadavara..." he growled.
"And what does it do?" the official asked.
Harry contained his temper long enough to be smart with the official. "I wouldn't know how it works. I've never done it. But I've seen it kill both my parents and my godfather. Is that good enough for you, sir?"
The Ministry official nodded. "Sorry. I had to ask. That's the most dangerous one on their arsenal, you know?" he whispered.
"So? How did I do?" asked Harry, his anger slowly fading away.
"You've passed. I like you, kid. Maybe we'll end up working together?" he smiled.
"What? You're actually an Auror?" Harry's mouth nearly dropped to the floor.
"Yes. Well, what did you think? You mean...they didn't tell you...?" it was his turn to be surprised. "Anyways..." he cleared his throat. "Report to the Ministry two weeks after your school gets out. That's when the training program begins. Congratulations, Mr. Potter, you've made it this far..."
Hermione came out looking very triumphant indeed. She was inside several minutes longer than Harry had been. Harry started heading for Honeydukes the moment he saw her come out the door.
"Harry!" Hermione hissed. "The jewelry store! Did you forget?"
"Oh..." Harry turned around and followed Hermione.
"That's the one she likes..." Hermione pointed to a ring neat the center of the display case. It was gold, and instead of a diamond in the middle, had one of the brightest red jewels Harry had ever seen. He was in awe of it. "Isn't it pretty?" Hermione was giggling.
Harry paid over three Galleons for it, but he had bought Luna the prettiest ring in the entire display. He felt very pleased with himself, and by the time he and Hermione had reached Honeydukes, was in a very good mood.
"So what? Did you guys pass? Look! Neville and Ginny even came!" Luna smiled. "Come on, spit it out!"
Hermione gave her a thumbs up. "We passed." She smiled. "With flying colors!"
"That's...great...Harry...'Ermione..." Neville said in-between his chocolate frogs. He swallowed. "When do you start the training program?"
"Two weeks after school lets out...which gives me just enough time to get my things from the Dursley's and get back here..."
"I want to go with you!" Luna smiled.
Harry looked at her as if she had lost all common sense. "I know you love me, but you don't have to go. Torture isn't conducive to a good relationship. It would be mean to make you go..."
"But you're not making me go. I want to go." Luna promised. "Of my own free will." She added.
"All right. But I think you're nuts." Harry nodded.
They all boarded the Hogwarts Express a week later. Harry made sure all of the Marauders shared a cabin. About half way through the ride to King's Cross, Harry winked at Hermione.
"Hey Luna..." smiled Harry. "I have something I want to ask you." Harry whispered.
"What is it, Harry?" Luna whispered back as if it were a big secret.
Harry took a deep breath. "I know this isn't nearly as exciting as when Ron proposed to Hermione, but we didn't know any other way to surprise you..." he began.
Luna gasped. "Harry!"
"Luna, will you marry me?" he asked.
Luna didn't wait to reply. "Yes!" she laughed. Luna sat on his lap and kissed him, hard. Neville laughed, and made a fake puke-face. He pretended to gag for several minutes. "Honestly, you two! Save it for the honeymoon! Gross!" He laughed. "And with Ginny being so impressionable..." he added jokingly. "I'm not impressionable!" Ginny defended herself hotly. "You watch it, Longbottom!" "We're back to a last name basis, Ginny?" Neville teased. "Shut up, Neville! I'm warning you!" "What are you going to do about it, Weasley?" Neville laughed. "Okay, you two. You're starting to frighten me..." Ron groaned. "Give it a rest, will you? We still have, like, a whole fifteen minutes left on this stupid train." "Yes, and I'm sure you'll go completely bonkers by then, won't you?" Hermione smiled. "Not you, too!" whined Ron.
Several minutes later, the train pulled up to Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. The students filed off. Harry would never be going back to school at Hogwarts again. He had graduated...He was actually partly surprised he'd lived long enough to graduate, but he couldn't complain. He would soon have his hands washed of the Dursley's. Soon, he'd be starting his training, well on his way to becoming an Auror. And even sooner than that, he'd get to start a life on his own in the magical world.
Well, not alone. Luna would be with him. That is, of course, if she didn't throw her ring in his face after spending a week with the Dursley's. Harry frowned deeply when he saw his uncle's car. He had come, after all. Wasn't he going to get a surprise? The next week was going to be very interesting indeed....
A/N: Not done, yet. I've got one or two more chapters still to come...have to put the finishing touches on everything, you know? Ha. Well, hope you liked it. Read and Review please!