Harry could never remember having so much fun at Hogsmeade. He showed Mandy around to all his favorite places. She especially loved Honeydukes where she bought some Fizzing Whizbees that she later mentioned she was sending to Madame Maxime because they were her favorite. Ron and Hermione joined them at the Three Broomsticks where they all talked and laughed over butterbeer. As Harry watched Mandy toss her long brown hair as Hermione lectured her earnestly about the importance of S.P.E.W., Mandy caught his eye and smiled at him. He rolled his eyes at Hermione and smiled back. He knew he had not had such a good day since he had lost Sirius. They were still enjoying their conservation when Ron, who was facing the pub's door, stood up abruptly and knocked over his chair.
"Percy!" Ron exclaimed, and Harry quickly turned to look at the door.
Percy Weasley was indeed walking through the door with none other than Cornelius Fudge. Percy and Fudge headed straight to their table.
"Hullo, little brother," Percy said, patting Ron on the back. "Hullo, Hermione, Harry, and . . . "
"Oh, sorry," Ron said, getting over his disbelief. "This is Amanda Mallason. Mandy, this is my older brother Percy and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Mandy just transferred from Beauxbatons."
Mandy stood up and shook Percy and Fudge's hand.
"It's very nice to meet you both," she said politely.
Harry didn't say anything. He hadn't liked Fudge since last year with good reason. Also, the dream he had a few weeks ago was still unsettling him, and Harry just didn't trust Fudge. Then Fudge looked right into Harry's eyes and blew him out of the water with his next statement.
"Harry, I would like to personally apologize for my actions last year. I was very rude to you, and I'd hope that you could forgive an old man for his mistakes."
Everyone at the table had gone quiet, never expecting Fudge to apologize to Harry face to face. Ron sat with a stunned expression on his face, and Hermione scratched her mane of bushy hair. Mandy simply looked from Fudge to Harry not having known what happened last year.
"Er," Harry stammered, at a complete loss for words. "It's no big deal."
Harry suddenly became fascinated with his mug of butterbeer.
"Oh, that's good then!" Percy said loudly. "Now everything's okay between everyone now."
Harry had a very strong feeling Percy was feeling a little extra guilty for the long estrangement with his family.
"What are you doing in Hogsmeade, Percy?" Ron asked the question everyone wanted to know the answer to.
"Oh, Cornelius had some business with Dumbledore at the school, and we were hoping to meet Harry here on our way out," Percy said.
Fudge whispered in Percy's ear and pointed at his very expensive looking watch.
"Well, the Minister and I have some appointments in London we must attend. Nice to have met you, Amanda. See you soon, little brother," Percy said.
"Good-bye, everyone," Fudge said, and with one last look at Harry, he turned and left.
"What in the bloody hell was that about?" Ron said, looking at Harry.
"No," Mandy said. "The question is what in the bloody hell happened last year because I am completely lost."
Hermione turned to Mandy and launched into the story of Fudge and Umbridge, and Harry leaned into to talk to Ron.
"Percy sure was, er, enthusiastic," Harry said.
"He's been like that," Ron said. "Mum said he's at the Burrow a lot trying to help. He bought Ginny a new broomstick and bought about a thousand Galleons worth of stuff at Fred and George's shop. He is making an effort to make things better, but he was quite the git last year."
"Percy didn't surprise me that much, but Fudge sure did," Harry said.
"Yeah, that was weird," Ron agreed. "At least he apologized. You deserved it."
"Well, I still don't trust him," Harry said.
Ron nodded, and Harry leaned back as Hermione was finishing up the summary of their fifth year.
"This Umbridge woman sounds foul," said Mandy, her pretty face breaking into a scowl. "I can understand why she didn't come to Beauxbatons. She was obviously scared of Madame Maxime, since she is a half-breed. But I can tell you if she had, she would have been in danger of me."
Harry nodded in agreement knowing that Mandy's love for her "adopted mother" Madame Maxime was equal to his love for Hagrid.
"She was horrible," Hermione said. "Her dislike of half-breeds was ridiculous. She said they were dangerous, but I read in Half-Breeds and Beyond that a large majority are completely docile."
"We don't need books to tell us they're usually not dangerous, Hermione," Harry said, pointedly.
"I know," Hermione said. "Hagrid is wonderful."
"Madame Maxime is quite kindhearted," Mandy interjected. "Yet, she can have her moments."
Mandy smiled, and Harry understood. He had seen Hagrid's temper mount beyond control, but Harry knew Hagrid couldn't hurt a pixie.
"Anyway," Ron said. "Who wants to go toDervish and Banges?"
"What's that?" Mandy asked.
"Let's just show you," Harry said, and they all quickly downed their butterbeer.
Mandy loved Dervish and Banges, and afterward they all walked down the road a bit to enjoy one of the last nice days before winter.
"We've got to take her to the Shrieking Shack," Ron said. "We have to show her where Malfoy got a face full of mud when you were under the Invisibility Cloak!"
"You have an Invisibility Cloak," she asked, her green eyes widening in astonishment. "Those are really rare!"
Harry nodded and smiled proudly. Ron then launched into the story of Professor Lupin and the Whomping Willow.
"I've missed so much," Many said regretfully as Ron finished. "I wish I could have joined you on all your adventures."
"They're not all glamorous and exciting as they sound," Harry said, looking off down the road.
He remembered during their fourth year when they brought food for Sirius right over on that rocky hill.
"Oh, I'm sorry-," Mandy began, but Harry put a hand up to stop her.
He took a few steps so he could see better. He could have bet his Firebolt he had just seen a green light right by the rocks.
"What is it, mate?" Ron asked, now looking with Harry.
All of them instinctively reached for their wands.
"I just saw some kind of green light," Harry said, walking steadily down the dirt path toward the base of the hill.
"Like the Avada Kedavra light?" Hermione asked.
"Not quite . . . " Harry trailed off, as he thought about what she'd said.
This light hadn't been as harsh or as menacing as the killing curse. It was softer, but still very eerie. They had reached the base of the hill, and Harry began to search around it. The other three followed him looking very concerned. Harry put his hand on the cool gray rock as he walked the length of the small mountain. He stopped when he reached a very narrow entrance into the center of the hill. It could only fit two people shoulder-to-shoulder, and it was pitch black.
"What is this?" Mandy asked.
"I have no idea, but I intend to find out," Harry said.
He saw Ron and Hermione share a nervous glance. They gathered themselves up and walked into the passageway. Harry and Ron went first to protect the girls.
"Lumos!" all four of them muttered.
It was far beyond second nature for them by now. They walked, not saying anything for about ten minutes, and then the path started to widen ever so slightly. Harry then saw the soft green light in the distance.
"Can everyone see that?" he asked.
There had been plenty of times before when he could see things his best friends could not.
"Yes, mate. We see it," Ron said nervously.
"I might sound stupid," Hermione said. "But I don't get a bad feeling from it."
"Me, neither," Mandy said. "But that doesn't mean we should be off our guard. For all we knew, it could be making us feel that way on purpose."
They continued to walk toward the eerily, beautiful light. Harry could now make out that the light was coming from a torch stuck into the hard, dirt floor. Harry's stomach dropped as he recognized as the Green Flame Torch from his dreams. They all stopped about five feet from it, and Harry could see a small person was standing beside it, not moving. It was the young redheaded girl from his dreams that he couldn't recognize. Harry's heart leapt at the thought of finding out who she was, but he wasn't about to go any closer.
"Hullo," Harry said loudly.
The torch flickered in response. They all looked at each other nervously because there was no wind in the passageway.
"Will you answer our questions?" Hermione called out.
The torch flickered once.
"Once for yes, and twice for no," Mandy said, clenching Harry's arm from behind.
The torch flickered once more.
"Did you summon us here to tell us something?" Hermione asked.
It flickered once.
"Did you come from Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
It flickered twice.
"Is someone in danger?" Harry asked and raised his wand light to try and see the girl.
It flickered once. They were silent for a moment absorbing the information, and they were all scared to ask who.
"Is the girl standing next to you controlling you?" Harry asked instead.
It flickered once.
"Do I know this girl, and can I see her properly, please?" Harry said becoming increasingly agitated in his lack of answers.
The torch flickered once, and then they were plunged into complete darkness.
"Maybe she's shy," Ron said, chucking nervously.
"Shut-up!" Harry hissed listening closely.
All of a sudden, the air was filled with an earsplitting wail, and they all put their hands over their ears. And then as suddenly as it began, it stopped. They all took their hands away from their heads, but were immediately blasted by a wind so strong, they had to clasp their wands tightly in their hands.
"What the hell is going on!" Ron shouted desperately over the roaring wind.
Before anyone could answer the green light flashed brightly once more, and Harry was the only one looking at the place where it had stood moments before. He finally saw the girl clearly. She was about eleven or twelve and wore Hogwarts robes. She had sleek red hair which didn't move in the howling wind, and then Harry saw her eyes. He knew those eyes, and they were looking at him urgently as if she wanted to tell him something important. And then the torch's green light went out, and the wind stopped.
"Lumos!" Mandy said, her voice shaking badly.
They all faced Harry who leaned against the rock completely stunned.
"I saw her," Harry said in a voice that did not sound like his own.
"Did you recognize her?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Harry replied slowly. "It was my mother."
"Well," Ron said, turning to Mandy. "How do you like being part of our adventures?"