CHAPTER 16
Harry continued to stare round the clearing. "How did you find it?" He asked Luna as two gnomes tottered in and sat down on one of the large wooden logs.
"Oh, I was just walking when I found it and I thought it was a good place to set up camp. I slept here last night." She smiled at them, but Ron was looking disbelieving and Hermione was looking very shaken.
"You slept here?" Hermione asked sounding disbelieving. "Luna, I'm amazed you're alive! I'm going to have to tell Professor McGonnagal about - "
Luna pulled out her wand and pointed it at Hermione. "I'll sleep wherever I want thanks." She said coldly.
Hermione looked quite taken aback. "Well, surely you don't need to be told what sort of thing lives here?" She said still eyeing Luna's wand nervously.
Luna put her wand behind her ear. "No," she said with a sigh. "I know. I suppose I should have thought about people like you finding me."
"But you can't sleep here!" Hermione said still sounding shocked. "And you shouldn't really come here at all! Don't the Ravenclaw fifth years notice you're not with them?"
"They don't care." Said Luna sadly; gazing at Hermione in a way which made Harry feel very sorry for her.
"Luna, you really mustn't come back here!" Said Hermione sounding frustrated. "Or I really will have to tell someone!"
"This is my equivalent of home!" Moaned Luna putting her edition of the quibbler on top of the large, towering pile.
"Well, at least let's go now!" Said Hermione. "It's getting so dark!"
"Oh, alright." Said Luna, "but I'll come back you know."
They left the forest, the same route they came it, watching out for centaurs, unicorn blood and devil snare.
"Oh silly gift!" Came a small voice from the distance. "Why won't it work!"
"Oh, that's Anna Chang." Said Luna vaguely.
"Really?" Asked Ron. "How d'you know that?"
"Oh, she always has trouble working it. I'll go and see if I can help her. Her father was a good friend of my Dad's you know." Luna hurried towards the direction of the noise, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione staring after her.
"I wonder what she has trouble working." Said Ron as they approached the castle.
"That's good," They heard Katie say. Dennis Creevy was chatting non- stop to her.
"Isn't it!" Squeaked Dennis. "I bet my Dad will be pleased, but he doesn't know much about quidditch. I don't think he even knows what it is, he's a milkman. Colin sent us loads of photos in his first year. Oh Colin! Wait 'till he hears he'll - "
"Yeah, great," said Katie, "look Dennis, just make sure you're there next week ok?"
"Ok," said Dennis happily. "I'll be there Katie, I promise!" He hurried off to a bunch of third year boys, who were kicking the Autumn apples about, Peeves cackling insanely as he tried to kick them back.
"Hi," They said to Katie who was looking very tired.
"Hi," she said smiling at them. "I'm starting to think maybe it was a bad idea choosing him," she pointed over at Dennis Creevy who was having a muggle football match with Peeves. "He never shuts up!" The four of them entered the castle to find it was in the process of being decorated for Halloween the next day. Professor Flitwick was standing on top of a stepladder putting up flashing pumpkin lights while Professor McGonnagal and Professor Sinistra hung black and orange paper chains from one end of the entrance hall to the other.
"What are you doing out of your common rooms this late?" Professor McGonnagal asked them. Harry checked his watch. It was 10 0 clock.
"Quidditch." Said Katie.
"Well, you're lucky this time, but if it happens again I'll be taking points of Gryffindor!"
They hurried up the many flights of stairs to the Gryffindor common room where they found just Ginny, doing her homework in the corner. "Oh! Hi." She said when they approached her. "I've got a nasty potions essay." She tried to hide the long roll of parchment.
"What were you doing at Hagrid's?" Ron asked. "Why were you with Loony Lovegood anyway?"
"Oh, we were just having a chat." Said Ginny, not meeting Ron's gaze.
"Did it have anything to do with all the Luna Lovegood camping out in the forbidden forest stuff?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"No!" Snapped Ginny. "Does she really?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "It's weird isn't it?"
Hermione looked at the roll of parchment Ginny was trying to conceal. She frowned at it for a few minutes then; a look of understanding filled her face. She smiled and hissed something in Ginny's ear. Ginny nodded and smiled at her.
"What?" Asked Ron. "What's that Ginny?" He looked over at the roll of parchment.
"Oh, it's a potions essay," said Ginny in a falsely off-hand voice.
"No it's not," said Ron grabbing it. "It says, 'a charm to change appearances.'"
"Well that's the title of the essay." Snapped Ginny.
"But you do charms in charms, not potions," said Ron pulling the parchment off Ginny again, "look! It says, a powdered root of bicorn horn, a gnashing Wolregoe, a - "
"Well, It might be charms," said Ginny pulling it back.
"But, you said, - " Ron began.
"You're so nosy Ron!" Snapped Ginny, "it's a charm for a friend! Can't you leave me alone for five minutes!"
"I don't see why I bother trying to be friendly," said Ron and began climbing the stairs to the dormitories.
"What it is?" Harry asked Hermione. Ginny was bent over the parchment scribbling furiously, arm curled round the work.
"Oh, Harry, It's - " Began Hermione fighting round for words. "Well, Ginny and Luna are – er, keeping something from us." She finished lamely.
"What?" Asked Harry staring over at Ginny who was writing continuously.
"Well I'm not entirely sure what - " Hermione said, but she suddenly stopped in mid sentence, and stared over Harry's shoulder at Ginny. Harry turned to see not Ginny sitting there, but none other than – No it couldn't be! Anna Chang!
"What – How did you get here?" Harry asked, still looking shocked. "Where did Ginny go? She left her stuff."
"Erm, yes, I suppose she did, well I'll go then." She got to her feet and picked up Ginny's bag.
"Er, Anna, that's Ginny's." Said Harry as she hurried across the room.
"Oh, so it is," said Anna and putting down the bag, vanished from view.
Harry and Hermione stared at each other. "So how can you explain that?" Harry asked her. "She only knows the Hufflepuff password!"
"Well someone must have told her," said Hermione looking thoughtful. "I wonder who, or maybe – no. Someone must have told her." She said firmly.
Harry climbed the stairs to the dormitories to find Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville all up there. "Er, hi." He said. They broke apart looking anxious.
"Oh, hi Harry," said Neville in an unusual high pitched voice.
"Er, what?" Harry asked. All eyes were on him. "Ron?" He said. He looked over at Ron. He was holding a daily prophet article and a letter. "What's that?" He asked gesturing at the items Ron was holding.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said Ron.
"Yeah, ok." Said Harry grumpily, got into bed and pulled the hangings round him. He was tired of having everything kept secret from him. Why was it him? Why couldn't someone else be constantly disclosed from everything, have everyone talking about them behind their back?
"Harry?" Ron pulled at the hangings. "You can see it if you like, but I don't think you really want to." He said lamely.
"Yeah?" Snapped Harry. "Well I do want to."
Ron handed over the article, but kept the letter firmly clutched in his hand. Harry took the newspaper and read:
He Who Must not be Named: Minister's word?
Sixteen year old Harry Potter has believed in the return of he who must not be named since more than a year ago. Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic explained in the papers that Harry spoke the truth, after claiming the dark wizard had been in the ministry. "How did he get there?" Many wizards have asked for the past few months, "Is there any proof?" The fact remains that word of mouth is how many wizards have known about it. "What do you mean they found Harry Potter's body, dead in the ministry?" Ordius Allegro spoke yesterday. "I heard that he was currently in the Sharing cross graveyard!" Harry's original story was published in the magazine 'The Quibbler' (Editor: Ian Lovegood) and many eyebrows were raised at this. Though can we really trust something with no solid evidence yet?
Harry felt a surge of anger sweep through him. They always had to change stories to go with the public mood. "What does it mean! No proof? What about all those Death Eaters in Azkaban!" He shouted, glaring down at the article. "Does Hermione know?"
"No," said Ron, "Seamus found it."
"Oh," said Harry, casting a look at Seamus who was looking uncomfortable and gazing fixedly at Dean's football posters.
"I wonder how the ministry found out. Dumbledore did think up an excellent cover story." Said Hermione next morning at breakfast. It was Halloween and the Great Hall had been decorated accordingly. Peeves was zooming up and down the tables in a bat-like vampire costume, that made Harry think distinctively of Snape, to loud cheers and shrieks from the onlookers who were not either scared of his outfit, or too disapproving to make comment. "I hate that vampire costume!" Harry heard a small first year girl say from across the table. "My brother dressed up like that for Halloween once and he made me jump out of my skin!" He turned to face Hermione who was frowning as Peeves screeched to a halt next to Dennis Creevy and his gang.
"He really shouldn't be doing that," she said, watching both Peeves who had continued gliding and the group of first years sitting opposite them, watching Peeves fearfully. "I hope McGonnagal spots him!"
The only person Harry could see who wasn't watching Peeves' progress round the Great Hall was Luna Lovegood. In fact, she didn't seem to have noticed him at all. She came stomping over to them, looking uncharacteristically angry. Her usually pale face was contorted with rage.
"How dare they!" She shrieked as she came to a halt by the Gryffindor table. "The Quibbler's not a book of rubbish! Daddy went to so much trouble to make people like it when he was the editor! He went all the way round Sweden looking for a crumple horned Snorkack!"
"I know!" Said Harry, "I didn't ask them to print that article you know!"
Luna looked confused. "So you didn't tell them about – about the snake - "
"No," said Harry firmly. "I don't know how they found out." He glanced back at Peeves the vampire who was now surrounded by several teachers all of whom were trying to persuade him to leave the hall. "And I certainly didn't tell them." The teachers had given up and were returning to the staff table looking angry, Peeves back on his journey round the hall. Harry watched him pause at the Hufflepuff table and hiss at a bunch of first and second years, who flinched while a group of third years started throwing bits of toast at him. Harry laughed and turned back to Luna who was still looking cross.
"It's not funny!" She snapped. "They're going to put the Quibbler out of business!" She marched back to the Ravenclaw table and sat down. "Oh for goodness sake!" She screamed at a group of fifth year girls who were sniggering heartily. "It was funny the first time but once you've done it at least six times - " She stood up and left the hall, slithers of glue hanging off her robes.
Hermione glared over at the fifth year Ravenclaws who were still giggling. "It's like Luna says, don't they ever get bored of that joke." She said angrily.
The three of them left the castle and headed towards Hagrid's cabin for their care of magical creatures lesson. "Now today," said Hagrid as they approached, "We'll be revising unicorns." Parvati and Lavender let out wild shrieks of excitement. "Yes, yes" said Hagrid smiling at them. "Well I've managed to capture two this time, we've got one foul and one full grown one. 'Ere they are," he gestured towards the forest, where two unicorns stood, pawing the ground nervously. "You can move in a bit and feed 'em these sugar lumps, then you can write up about 'em."
The unicorns were beautiful, the baby unicorn looked pure gold, whilst the other was so dazzlingly white, it made Harry's eyes sting to look at it. Malfoy, Pansy, Pierres, Crabbe and Goyle arrived. Pansy was clutching onto Malfoy's arm and looking extremely giggly. "Ah, hello." Said Hagrid when they arrived, "you're a bit late, but it doesn't matter, we're doin' unicorns today."
Malfoy and Piers raised an eyebrow at the same time. Pansy giggled madly. "Sorry, Professor." Malfoy drawled. "I can't quite hear you." Crabbe and Goyle grunted with grotesque laughter.
"Er, right, er well, I said today we'll be doin' - " Hagrid continued.
"Sorry?" Said Malfoy, moving closer, "I still can't hear you!" Hermione glared at Malfoy but Harry and Ron looked furious.
Hagrid wiped beads of sweat off his bruised face. "What –was- that -Malfoy?" Ron said loudly and clearly. "I couldn't quite hear you!"
Hagrid tried to distract them, "Erm, yeah well like I said, unicorns - "
Malfoy and Ron both had their wands out. Harry stood up. "Ron!" Hermione hissed, but he paid no attention.
"STUFIFY!" They both yelled at the same time. The two jets of light collided in mid air then rebounded. Ron and Malfoy both landed splat on the floor, there was a trickle of blood issuing from Ron's head where he had fallen and Malfoy had a bad cut across his arm.
Hagrid lumbered over, "We'd better get them up to the hospital wing," he said nervously, examining Ron. Harry and Hermione grabbed Ron while Pansy and Piers took Malfoy. Hagrid, looking uncomfortable, watched them, until they were out of sight, then turned and, not quite as enthusiastically as before, carried on with the lesson.
"What's happened here!" Exclaimed Madam Pomfrey when they arrived at the hospital wing. "They haven't been duelling have they?" Ron and Malfoy were both unconscious. Harry and Hermione trooped back out of the hospital wing just as the bell rang for their next lesson. They headed towards the Defence against the dark arts classroom in low spirits. Harry felt sure Malfoy would make as much a deal out of this as possible. They were both back for the Halloween feast that evening, though Malfoy's arm was heavily bandaged. Harry could see him whispering furiously to Piers, Crabbe and Goyle as he helped himself to chocolate gargoyles.
"Why do muggles associate witches with black cats?" Ginny said as she sat down. "The only person I know of who has a black cat is Ingrid Evans and she's in fourth year. I don't think they're really the fashion anymore, but people from other houses might have black cats." She smiled and piled up her plate. "What?"
Harry had gone very quiet. He was thinking very hard about why what Ginny had said made him so happy. "Sorry," said Harry, "I just thought I recognised that name."
"What Evans?" Said Ginny looking confused.
"Hang on!" Said Ron; "your Mum was called Evans Harry!"
Harry thought about this for a while. "No it's a coincidence," he said, heart sinking, "she had no other sisters apart from Petunia."
"Oh Harry use you brains!" Said Hermione who was listening to the conversation with deep interest. "Sister isn't the only type of relative you can get, why don't you ask Ingrid or her twin brother?"
"It'll be a coincidence." Said Harry, but even so, he let Ginny point out Ingrid and her brother and the four of them approached.
"Er, Ingrid?" Ginny said. Ingrid jumped and looked up. Harry did see her around but he had never spoken to her before. Her hair was long and a very similar shade of dark red his mother's had been.
"Oh, hello Ginny," she said, smiling at her. Andrew and I were just doing our homework." She prodded the boy next to her, who looked up at them as well. He had a similar hair colour to his sisters and Harry could now see that the pair were brother and sister.
"Hello." Said the boy, he surveyed Ginny for a few moments and continued with his homework leaving his sister, who appeared to be a lot more chatty, to continue the conversation.
"Sorry to disturb you, but, Harry was just wondering if you could tell him anything about you family." Said Ginny quietly.
Ingrid's mahogany eyes fell upon Harry. "Yes, I can tell you." Said Ingrid. "I was wondering when you'd ask me actually. It's quite interesting. It turns out we're almost related." She smiled at him. Harry was shocked.
"How are we almost related?" He asked nervously. Andrew paused in his homework to listen.
"Well, you mother," said Ingrid gazing at him admiringly. "Was the cousin of my father." Harry simply couldn't believe this. It had to be a Halloween joke. Why hadn't she ever spoken about it before? "You see, when they were younger, they got along very well, they were practically the same age. My father was a muggle but he never got on very well with Petunia." Ingrid smiled at Harry. "But he and Lily were great friends when they were younger. Dad's told us all about it. "Then they each grew apart. They stopped seeing each other after they married. Then your parents were murdered. Of course I wasn't alive at the time. We were born a year after that. But sadly our mother died in childbirth." She paused, looking at Harry who was still gazing at her in awe.
"But – then why didn't he make any contact with me?" Harry asked. This couldn't be true. His mothers cousin couldn't even be bothered to say hello.
"Well, he forgot I suppose. With our mother dying and everything. I don't think he even knows you're here. Dumbledore told us all this in our first year you see."
"You should let him know. It's awful putting up with the Dursleys all Summer!" Said Harry still staring at Ingrid almost expecting her and her twin brother to start laughing and shout 'fooled you'.
"We will," said Ingrid, "wont we Andrew." She poked her brother who glared at her and sunk into his chair sulkily. "But we'll have to ask Dumbledore first. Anyway, if you don't believe us, we do have proof." She said, still frowning at her brother.
"How come?" Asked Harry. "Do you have photos or something?"
"Exactly!" Said Ingrid. "I keep them in my photo album. I'll just go and get it. Can you put my homework in my bag Andrew?" She said to her brother. "I'll finish it tomorrow." She dashed up the staircase to the girls' dormitories.
"So, did Dumbledore tell you not to tell me or something?" Harry said to Andrew.
"Er, yes he did actually." He said as he piled incomplete homework into Ingrid's schoolbag. "He said not to tell you until you asked." He smiled nervously. "Ingrid really wanted to tell you. She kept begging Dumbledore but he said when you worked it out for yourself, you would truly understand. He looked over at Ingrid who had a large brown book under her arm.
"Here." Smiled Ingrid, handing him the book. Harry opened it and looked at the first photograph. It showed a young girl with red hair who looked no older than five, standing next to a boy of a similar age, same brick red hair as the girl he had his arm round. They were both wearing school uniform. "There, that's their first day of primary school." Said Ingrid pointing at the photograph. "There's your mother." She pointed unnecessarily at the girl. "There they are again," she said turning the page. The next photograph had a thin girl with blond hair, and Harry's mother, who had the same red hair, but it had darkened since the last photo. In this particular photo she looked about nine and the girl standing next to her, around eleven. "That's your aunt." Said Ingrid pointing at the girl with blond hair. "Petunia and Lily. My Dad's cousins." She sighed and turned the page. "She as fourteen or fifteen there." Said Ingrid. Harry looked at the next photo. It featured his mother with the same dark red hair he had seen in the pensive. She was grinning at the camera and holding a wand. "In her fourth year at Hogwarts. It was taken at Christmas." She turned the page. "There!" She said triumphantly. "That's your Dad!" It was his parents wedding day. He had one of his own that was very similar to it. However, this photo was obviously a muggle one, as the figures were completely still. "My Dad wasn't there." Said Ingrid. "This photo was sent to him by one of his friends. Anyway, I think that's it of your parents." She turned the page. There was a photo of two very small children. One girl, one boy with dark red hair, sitting next to a Christmas tree, arms round each other.
"Ahhhh!" aid Ginny, smiling at the photo but Ingrid snapped the photo album shut.
"That was me and Andrew when we were three." She said smiling. "I'd better go and put this back upstairs."
"Thanks for showing us." Grinned Harry. "I'd like to meet your Dad some day."
"Yes, I'm sure he'd like to meet you too." Said Ingrid and hurried up the stairs again.
"See," said Ginny one minute later as they settled down to do some of their own homework. "You are sort of related."
Harry went up to the dormitories to find Dean, sitting on his bed and writing a letter. "Hi," said Harry, making Dean jump. "Who are you writing to?"
Dean grinned, "it's my sister' birthday, can you sign the card?" Harry did so. "I'm telling her all about Halloween here."
"Cool," said Harry, "she doesn't think I'm a mad lunatic does she?"
"Nah," said Dean, continuing to write. "She doesn't read the daily prophet. If anything she thinks I'm the mad lunatic because I keep writing to her about Piers Polkiss! Oh and, by the way are you still having those dreams? I mean, are you still taking Occlumency?"
"Er, no I don't think so," said Harry. Was he still having weird dreams? Was he still hurtling along corridors? No, he didn't think so, then what could Voldermort be up to. He thought about this as he got into bed and had fallen asleep before Ron, Seamus or Neville came in.
He wasn't in the department of mysteries, he was somewhere else, a small, dark room. A high red chair was by the fire and a man was keeling on the floor. "No." Came a cold voice from the chair. "No!" I will not regard such pettiness as loyal!"
"But, my lord," stammered the man. "It is urgent! You must!"
"Never," said whoever was behind the chair, and Harry had a good idea who it was. "He is gone!"
"But, you can bring him back." Stammered the man, whom Harry realised was Peter Petigrew.
"Yes, but I shan't." Said whom Harry realised to be Lord Voldermort. "Memories are awful thing. You shall not dwell on a childhood friend while I am waiting for you to obey my orders!"
"Yes, my Lord, but the memories will not stop until I see him again! Or the other."
"You shall see them" Came the cold voice. "I shall only bring them back when you prove to be a loyal servant!"
"My Lord!" Came Petigrew's happy voice. "You are so merciful!" The chair spun round and an awful face stared at Harry, jet red eyes, long narrow - "
"Harry Potter! Harry Potter...Harry - "
"HARRY!" Harry sat up. His scar was searing with pain. He gasped and looked over to see who had hissed his name like that because it surely wasn't Voldermort. "Harry! You won't believe this! Someone's set off some of those Weasley wild fireworks!"
Dean, Seamus, Neville and Ron were all gazing at a giant electric blue dragon. "I wonder who set them off." Said Neville gazing at the dragon.
Harry felt very annoyed with all four of them. He was just about to see Sirius and his father, is that's who Wormtail had been talking about. Eventually, the excited shrieks from Gryffindor towed died and Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville got into bed. Harry closed his eyes, and once again, found himself in the same dark room. Except, it was no longer a dark room, It was spinning, Harry spinning with it, it was getting faster, it reminded Harry of Snape's pensive, and just like that time, he longed to see his father and Sirius once more, if that's who Wormtail had been talking about...
The spinning subsided. Harry opened his eyes. He was in a small office. Professor McGonnagal's, though she looked a great deal younger. He looked round. Professor McGonnagal sat; arms folded looking down at two boys who looked as though they were in their first year. Harry's stomach turned over. It was his father and Sirius Black. Although they looked a lot younger, James' hair was still sticking all over the place, and Sirius had longish, jet black hair, same as he had had when Harry had seen him in Snape's pensive.
"So you think it funny to try out yet another hex on Severus do you?" Said Professor McGonnagal, peering down her pointed nose at them.
They said nothing, but caught each other's eye and grinned. James tipped back on his chair.
"Well I certainly don't." Snapped Professor McGonnagal. "You've only been here three weeks." She got up and walked round the room, pushing down the back of James' chair so it was supported by four legs again. "You two did him serious damage and he's now in the hospital wing with a spout for a nose."
Sirius and James tried to hide their silent laughter. Eventually they left the office, leaving an angry McGonnagal staring after them. "Spout for a nose!" Snorted Sirius. The pair of them roared with laughter. They reached a flight of stairs. "Slipentify!" He said, pulling out his wand, and the stairs changed to form a slide. They zoomed down and when they reached the bottom, almost collided with two other first years, one of whom was glaring at them disapprovingly.
"You didn't think about people who wanted to get up the stairs did you," said the boy who was frowning as they got to their feet.
James and Sirius grinned at each other. "It's not difficult getting back up." Said James. Attempting to climb the slide and failing.
"Yes, it does look easy doesn't it," said the boy grumpily. Harry stared. It was Lupin! An eleven year old Lupin! And the other boy, who was quite chubby and watching them argue, must be Wormtail.
Another first year arrived; he had very greasy black hair and a hooked nose. "So did they manage to fix your nose? Doesn't look much different to me!" Taunted Sirius watching gleefully as whom Harry recognised to be Snape fought round for words.
"Yes." He said angrily. "Who melted the stairs?"
There was no answer. Snape grimaced. "It's charms next and I need to get there!" He snapped.
"Oh you're right!" Said Sirius in mock worry. "We can't be late for charms can we?"
"We?" Smiled Lupin. "I'm certainly not bothered."
"Me neither!" Squeaked Peter.
"I'm going to find a teacher!" Spat Snape and stormed off.
"Hello." A tall boy with a prefect badge and light brown hair had just arrived. "Is there a problem? Oh, I see there is."
"Er, could you fix the stairs," said Lupin who was had been looking slightly concerned ever since Snape had ran off for a teacher.
"Saxamita," said the boy and the slide returned to steps.
"Hey Lovegood!" Came a loud voice. "Why'd you go and fix the stairs! It's a perfect opportunity for us to miss Transfiguration!"
Lovegood! This couldn't be Professor Lovegood! "I, am a prefect." He said coldly as though this ended the argument.
"Yeah, well - " The angry mob of boys muttered and stalked off. The younger Professor Lovegood climbed the stairs, calling after them, "There's no point anyway! There's dozens of stairs up to the Transfiguration classroom!"
Harry watched as Sirius and James ran round the corner and hid behind the same tapestry Harry had hidden behind so many times before. Lupin and Petigrew followed them. Harry then heard a voice in the background. "It was! They melted the steps and I couldn't get to charms! No, it's not an excuse!"
"Even so, five points from Slytherin for wasting my time," came Professor McGonnagal's irritated voice. They heard her footsteps become distant, and that was when Snape chose to come round the corner.
"You!" He shouted pointing at Lupin and Petigrew, as the others were still concealed behind the tapestry. "You – you'd better – watch out!" He yelled going red.
"Watch out for what?" Sirius and James came out from behind the tapestry. "Your nose, yeah it's big enough to..."
"Me!" Shouted an infuriated Snape and stamped round the corner, leaving all four of them in shrieks of laughter.
The ground spun, Harry felt himself spin round, it was making him dizzy, he was rising the castle vanished, to be replaced with the same, dark room. Except, the small man kneeling on the floor was in tears. "That - " He sniffed. "That was how we came to be friends. Oh we had such fun together, Me, Moony, Padfoot and Prongs, I had forgotten how we met!" He collapsed into renewed sobs.
"This," came the hiss from the armchair. "Is why I do not bother with emotions, friends or memories,"
The room melted, but he remained asleep. Eventually, he woke up to sunlight streaming through the window by Neville's bed. It was morning. "POTTER! WEASLEY!" He looked up. Katie Bell was standing illuminated in the doorway.
"What?" Ron grumbled, opening a bleary eye.
"Quidditch." Said Katie shortly.
"Great," grumbled Ron closing both eyes.
"You'd better get there soon because Slytherin are training this morning." Said Katie and left.
Ten minutes later, Harry and Ron were at the quidditch pitch, dim, morning sun, illuminating the pitch. They changed into their robes and began the game. "Ron!" Came Katie's angry voice. "You're not covering any of your hoops!"
"Oh, sorry." Said Ron going red.
"Dennis! You can't do that!" Roared Katie. Dennis was throwing his club up in the air and catching it as it fell.
"Oh, sorry Katie," said Dennis, holding it with both hands again. "Is this better? I'm not doing this - " he threw the club high in the air. "Anymore." He smiled at Katie, but as he turned, the club slipped through his fingers and headed to the ground, hitting Ron's foot as it went.
"We're never going to get anywhere if we carry on like this!" Snapped Katie. "Go and get the club Dennis!" The beaters club was lying abandoned on the muddy ground. "Are you alright Ron?"
"Oh I'm fine," said Ron, then suddenly, a look of realisation spread across his face. "Actually Katie, can I just go and get it checked out?"
"Alright, but be as quick as possible." Said Katie.
They continued practising. Ginny and Emily were excellent, they managed to pass the quaffle on superbly each time and each scored at least twice. William was good as well, but missed a bludger, so it flew over to Ginny and circled her like a bee. Ron returned, and grinned at Harry as he got on his broom, looking oddly cheerful.
"Block it Ron!" Yelled Katie as a quaffle came up his end. He did block it. It was aimed for his left hoop and he swerved that direction, and caught it. "Excellent!" Said Katie happily. Ron didn't let any goals in at all through out the practise. Each were rebounded almost world Quidditch player standard.
After quidditch practise (when a mass of green and silver Slytherins emerged) they headed up to the castle for breakfast. "You're getting really good," said Harry grinning at him.
"Thanks." Said Ron, but looking a bit uneasy.
Quidditch practise increased by almost double during the next week. Harry and Ron hardly had any time at all to do the mountainous homework that continued to pile up.
Harry continued to stare round the clearing. "How did you find it?" He asked Luna as two gnomes tottered in and sat down on one of the large wooden logs.
"Oh, I was just walking when I found it and I thought it was a good place to set up camp. I slept here last night." She smiled at them, but Ron was looking disbelieving and Hermione was looking very shaken.
"You slept here?" Hermione asked sounding disbelieving. "Luna, I'm amazed you're alive! I'm going to have to tell Professor McGonnagal about - "
Luna pulled out her wand and pointed it at Hermione. "I'll sleep wherever I want thanks." She said coldly.
Hermione looked quite taken aback. "Well, surely you don't need to be told what sort of thing lives here?" She said still eyeing Luna's wand nervously.
Luna put her wand behind her ear. "No," she said with a sigh. "I know. I suppose I should have thought about people like you finding me."
"But you can't sleep here!" Hermione said still sounding shocked. "And you shouldn't really come here at all! Don't the Ravenclaw fifth years notice you're not with them?"
"They don't care." Said Luna sadly; gazing at Hermione in a way which made Harry feel very sorry for her.
"Luna, you really mustn't come back here!" Said Hermione sounding frustrated. "Or I really will have to tell someone!"
"This is my equivalent of home!" Moaned Luna putting her edition of the quibbler on top of the large, towering pile.
"Well, at least let's go now!" Said Hermione. "It's getting so dark!"
"Oh, alright." Said Luna, "but I'll come back you know."
They left the forest, the same route they came it, watching out for centaurs, unicorn blood and devil snare.
"Oh silly gift!" Came a small voice from the distance. "Why won't it work!"
"Oh, that's Anna Chang." Said Luna vaguely.
"Really?" Asked Ron. "How d'you know that?"
"Oh, she always has trouble working it. I'll go and see if I can help her. Her father was a good friend of my Dad's you know." Luna hurried towards the direction of the noise, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione staring after her.
"I wonder what she has trouble working." Said Ron as they approached the castle.
"That's good," They heard Katie say. Dennis Creevy was chatting non- stop to her.
"Isn't it!" Squeaked Dennis. "I bet my Dad will be pleased, but he doesn't know much about quidditch. I don't think he even knows what it is, he's a milkman. Colin sent us loads of photos in his first year. Oh Colin! Wait 'till he hears he'll - "
"Yeah, great," said Katie, "look Dennis, just make sure you're there next week ok?"
"Ok," said Dennis happily. "I'll be there Katie, I promise!" He hurried off to a bunch of third year boys, who were kicking the Autumn apples about, Peeves cackling insanely as he tried to kick them back.
"Hi," They said to Katie who was looking very tired.
"Hi," she said smiling at them. "I'm starting to think maybe it was a bad idea choosing him," she pointed over at Dennis Creevy who was having a muggle football match with Peeves. "He never shuts up!" The four of them entered the castle to find it was in the process of being decorated for Halloween the next day. Professor Flitwick was standing on top of a stepladder putting up flashing pumpkin lights while Professor McGonnagal and Professor Sinistra hung black and orange paper chains from one end of the entrance hall to the other.
"What are you doing out of your common rooms this late?" Professor McGonnagal asked them. Harry checked his watch. It was 10 0 clock.
"Quidditch." Said Katie.
"Well, you're lucky this time, but if it happens again I'll be taking points of Gryffindor!"
They hurried up the many flights of stairs to the Gryffindor common room where they found just Ginny, doing her homework in the corner. "Oh! Hi." She said when they approached her. "I've got a nasty potions essay." She tried to hide the long roll of parchment.
"What were you doing at Hagrid's?" Ron asked. "Why were you with Loony Lovegood anyway?"
"Oh, we were just having a chat." Said Ginny, not meeting Ron's gaze.
"Did it have anything to do with all the Luna Lovegood camping out in the forbidden forest stuff?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"No!" Snapped Ginny. "Does she really?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "It's weird isn't it?"
Hermione looked at the roll of parchment Ginny was trying to conceal. She frowned at it for a few minutes then; a look of understanding filled her face. She smiled and hissed something in Ginny's ear. Ginny nodded and smiled at her.
"What?" Asked Ron. "What's that Ginny?" He looked over at the roll of parchment.
"Oh, it's a potions essay," said Ginny in a falsely off-hand voice.
"No it's not," said Ron grabbing it. "It says, 'a charm to change appearances.'"
"Well that's the title of the essay." Snapped Ginny.
"But you do charms in charms, not potions," said Ron pulling the parchment off Ginny again, "look! It says, a powdered root of bicorn horn, a gnashing Wolregoe, a - "
"Well, It might be charms," said Ginny pulling it back.
"But, you said, - " Ron began.
"You're so nosy Ron!" Snapped Ginny, "it's a charm for a friend! Can't you leave me alone for five minutes!"
"I don't see why I bother trying to be friendly," said Ron and began climbing the stairs to the dormitories.
"What it is?" Harry asked Hermione. Ginny was bent over the parchment scribbling furiously, arm curled round the work.
"Oh, Harry, It's - " Began Hermione fighting round for words. "Well, Ginny and Luna are – er, keeping something from us." She finished lamely.
"What?" Asked Harry staring over at Ginny who was writing continuously.
"Well I'm not entirely sure what - " Hermione said, but she suddenly stopped in mid sentence, and stared over Harry's shoulder at Ginny. Harry turned to see not Ginny sitting there, but none other than – No it couldn't be! Anna Chang!
"What – How did you get here?" Harry asked, still looking shocked. "Where did Ginny go? She left her stuff."
"Erm, yes, I suppose she did, well I'll go then." She got to her feet and picked up Ginny's bag.
"Er, Anna, that's Ginny's." Said Harry as she hurried across the room.
"Oh, so it is," said Anna and putting down the bag, vanished from view.
Harry and Hermione stared at each other. "So how can you explain that?" Harry asked her. "She only knows the Hufflepuff password!"
"Well someone must have told her," said Hermione looking thoughtful. "I wonder who, or maybe – no. Someone must have told her." She said firmly.
Harry climbed the stairs to the dormitories to find Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville all up there. "Er, hi." He said. They broke apart looking anxious.
"Oh, hi Harry," said Neville in an unusual high pitched voice.
"Er, what?" Harry asked. All eyes were on him. "Ron?" He said. He looked over at Ron. He was holding a daily prophet article and a letter. "What's that?" He asked gesturing at the items Ron was holding.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said Ron.
"Yeah, ok." Said Harry grumpily, got into bed and pulled the hangings round him. He was tired of having everything kept secret from him. Why was it him? Why couldn't someone else be constantly disclosed from everything, have everyone talking about them behind their back?
"Harry?" Ron pulled at the hangings. "You can see it if you like, but I don't think you really want to." He said lamely.
"Yeah?" Snapped Harry. "Well I do want to."
Ron handed over the article, but kept the letter firmly clutched in his hand. Harry took the newspaper and read:
He Who Must not be Named: Minister's word?
Sixteen year old Harry Potter has believed in the return of he who must not be named since more than a year ago. Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic explained in the papers that Harry spoke the truth, after claiming the dark wizard had been in the ministry. "How did he get there?" Many wizards have asked for the past few months, "Is there any proof?" The fact remains that word of mouth is how many wizards have known about it. "What do you mean they found Harry Potter's body, dead in the ministry?" Ordius Allegro spoke yesterday. "I heard that he was currently in the Sharing cross graveyard!" Harry's original story was published in the magazine 'The Quibbler' (Editor: Ian Lovegood) and many eyebrows were raised at this. Though can we really trust something with no solid evidence yet?
Harry felt a surge of anger sweep through him. They always had to change stories to go with the public mood. "What does it mean! No proof? What about all those Death Eaters in Azkaban!" He shouted, glaring down at the article. "Does Hermione know?"
"No," said Ron, "Seamus found it."
"Oh," said Harry, casting a look at Seamus who was looking uncomfortable and gazing fixedly at Dean's football posters.
"I wonder how the ministry found out. Dumbledore did think up an excellent cover story." Said Hermione next morning at breakfast. It was Halloween and the Great Hall had been decorated accordingly. Peeves was zooming up and down the tables in a bat-like vampire costume, that made Harry think distinctively of Snape, to loud cheers and shrieks from the onlookers who were not either scared of his outfit, or too disapproving to make comment. "I hate that vampire costume!" Harry heard a small first year girl say from across the table. "My brother dressed up like that for Halloween once and he made me jump out of my skin!" He turned to face Hermione who was frowning as Peeves screeched to a halt next to Dennis Creevy and his gang.
"He really shouldn't be doing that," she said, watching both Peeves who had continued gliding and the group of first years sitting opposite them, watching Peeves fearfully. "I hope McGonnagal spots him!"
The only person Harry could see who wasn't watching Peeves' progress round the Great Hall was Luna Lovegood. In fact, she didn't seem to have noticed him at all. She came stomping over to them, looking uncharacteristically angry. Her usually pale face was contorted with rage.
"How dare they!" She shrieked as she came to a halt by the Gryffindor table. "The Quibbler's not a book of rubbish! Daddy went to so much trouble to make people like it when he was the editor! He went all the way round Sweden looking for a crumple horned Snorkack!"
"I know!" Said Harry, "I didn't ask them to print that article you know!"
Luna looked confused. "So you didn't tell them about – about the snake - "
"No," said Harry firmly. "I don't know how they found out." He glanced back at Peeves the vampire who was now surrounded by several teachers all of whom were trying to persuade him to leave the hall. "And I certainly didn't tell them." The teachers had given up and were returning to the staff table looking angry, Peeves back on his journey round the hall. Harry watched him pause at the Hufflepuff table and hiss at a bunch of first and second years, who flinched while a group of third years started throwing bits of toast at him. Harry laughed and turned back to Luna who was still looking cross.
"It's not funny!" She snapped. "They're going to put the Quibbler out of business!" She marched back to the Ravenclaw table and sat down. "Oh for goodness sake!" She screamed at a group of fifth year girls who were sniggering heartily. "It was funny the first time but once you've done it at least six times - " She stood up and left the hall, slithers of glue hanging off her robes.
Hermione glared over at the fifth year Ravenclaws who were still giggling. "It's like Luna says, don't they ever get bored of that joke." She said angrily.
The three of them left the castle and headed towards Hagrid's cabin for their care of magical creatures lesson. "Now today," said Hagrid as they approached, "We'll be revising unicorns." Parvati and Lavender let out wild shrieks of excitement. "Yes, yes" said Hagrid smiling at them. "Well I've managed to capture two this time, we've got one foul and one full grown one. 'Ere they are," he gestured towards the forest, where two unicorns stood, pawing the ground nervously. "You can move in a bit and feed 'em these sugar lumps, then you can write up about 'em."
The unicorns were beautiful, the baby unicorn looked pure gold, whilst the other was so dazzlingly white, it made Harry's eyes sting to look at it. Malfoy, Pansy, Pierres, Crabbe and Goyle arrived. Pansy was clutching onto Malfoy's arm and looking extremely giggly. "Ah, hello." Said Hagrid when they arrived, "you're a bit late, but it doesn't matter, we're doin' unicorns today."
Malfoy and Piers raised an eyebrow at the same time. Pansy giggled madly. "Sorry, Professor." Malfoy drawled. "I can't quite hear you." Crabbe and Goyle grunted with grotesque laughter.
"Er, right, er well, I said today we'll be doin' - " Hagrid continued.
"Sorry?" Said Malfoy, moving closer, "I still can't hear you!" Hermione glared at Malfoy but Harry and Ron looked furious.
Hagrid wiped beads of sweat off his bruised face. "What –was- that -Malfoy?" Ron said loudly and clearly. "I couldn't quite hear you!"
Hagrid tried to distract them, "Erm, yeah well like I said, unicorns - "
Malfoy and Ron both had their wands out. Harry stood up. "Ron!" Hermione hissed, but he paid no attention.
"STUFIFY!" They both yelled at the same time. The two jets of light collided in mid air then rebounded. Ron and Malfoy both landed splat on the floor, there was a trickle of blood issuing from Ron's head where he had fallen and Malfoy had a bad cut across his arm.
Hagrid lumbered over, "We'd better get them up to the hospital wing," he said nervously, examining Ron. Harry and Hermione grabbed Ron while Pansy and Piers took Malfoy. Hagrid, looking uncomfortable, watched them, until they were out of sight, then turned and, not quite as enthusiastically as before, carried on with the lesson.
"What's happened here!" Exclaimed Madam Pomfrey when they arrived at the hospital wing. "They haven't been duelling have they?" Ron and Malfoy were both unconscious. Harry and Hermione trooped back out of the hospital wing just as the bell rang for their next lesson. They headed towards the Defence against the dark arts classroom in low spirits. Harry felt sure Malfoy would make as much a deal out of this as possible. They were both back for the Halloween feast that evening, though Malfoy's arm was heavily bandaged. Harry could see him whispering furiously to Piers, Crabbe and Goyle as he helped himself to chocolate gargoyles.
"Why do muggles associate witches with black cats?" Ginny said as she sat down. "The only person I know of who has a black cat is Ingrid Evans and she's in fourth year. I don't think they're really the fashion anymore, but people from other houses might have black cats." She smiled and piled up her plate. "What?"
Harry had gone very quiet. He was thinking very hard about why what Ginny had said made him so happy. "Sorry," said Harry, "I just thought I recognised that name."
"What Evans?" Said Ginny looking confused.
"Hang on!" Said Ron; "your Mum was called Evans Harry!"
Harry thought about this for a while. "No it's a coincidence," he said, heart sinking, "she had no other sisters apart from Petunia."
"Oh Harry use you brains!" Said Hermione who was listening to the conversation with deep interest. "Sister isn't the only type of relative you can get, why don't you ask Ingrid or her twin brother?"
"It'll be a coincidence." Said Harry, but even so, he let Ginny point out Ingrid and her brother and the four of them approached.
"Er, Ingrid?" Ginny said. Ingrid jumped and looked up. Harry did see her around but he had never spoken to her before. Her hair was long and a very similar shade of dark red his mother's had been.
"Oh, hello Ginny," she said, smiling at her. Andrew and I were just doing our homework." She prodded the boy next to her, who looked up at them as well. He had a similar hair colour to his sisters and Harry could now see that the pair were brother and sister.
"Hello." Said the boy, he surveyed Ginny for a few moments and continued with his homework leaving his sister, who appeared to be a lot more chatty, to continue the conversation.
"Sorry to disturb you, but, Harry was just wondering if you could tell him anything about you family." Said Ginny quietly.
Ingrid's mahogany eyes fell upon Harry. "Yes, I can tell you." Said Ingrid. "I was wondering when you'd ask me actually. It's quite interesting. It turns out we're almost related." She smiled at him. Harry was shocked.
"How are we almost related?" He asked nervously. Andrew paused in his homework to listen.
"Well, you mother," said Ingrid gazing at him admiringly. "Was the cousin of my father." Harry simply couldn't believe this. It had to be a Halloween joke. Why hadn't she ever spoken about it before? "You see, when they were younger, they got along very well, they were practically the same age. My father was a muggle but he never got on very well with Petunia." Ingrid smiled at Harry. "But he and Lily were great friends when they were younger. Dad's told us all about it. "Then they each grew apart. They stopped seeing each other after they married. Then your parents were murdered. Of course I wasn't alive at the time. We were born a year after that. But sadly our mother died in childbirth." She paused, looking at Harry who was still gazing at her in awe.
"But – then why didn't he make any contact with me?" Harry asked. This couldn't be true. His mothers cousin couldn't even be bothered to say hello.
"Well, he forgot I suppose. With our mother dying and everything. I don't think he even knows you're here. Dumbledore told us all this in our first year you see."
"You should let him know. It's awful putting up with the Dursleys all Summer!" Said Harry still staring at Ingrid almost expecting her and her twin brother to start laughing and shout 'fooled you'.
"We will," said Ingrid, "wont we Andrew." She poked her brother who glared at her and sunk into his chair sulkily. "But we'll have to ask Dumbledore first. Anyway, if you don't believe us, we do have proof." She said, still frowning at her brother.
"How come?" Asked Harry. "Do you have photos or something?"
"Exactly!" Said Ingrid. "I keep them in my photo album. I'll just go and get it. Can you put my homework in my bag Andrew?" She said to her brother. "I'll finish it tomorrow." She dashed up the staircase to the girls' dormitories.
"So, did Dumbledore tell you not to tell me or something?" Harry said to Andrew.
"Er, yes he did actually." He said as he piled incomplete homework into Ingrid's schoolbag. "He said not to tell you until you asked." He smiled nervously. "Ingrid really wanted to tell you. She kept begging Dumbledore but he said when you worked it out for yourself, you would truly understand. He looked over at Ingrid who had a large brown book under her arm.
"Here." Smiled Ingrid, handing him the book. Harry opened it and looked at the first photograph. It showed a young girl with red hair who looked no older than five, standing next to a boy of a similar age, same brick red hair as the girl he had his arm round. They were both wearing school uniform. "There, that's their first day of primary school." Said Ingrid pointing at the photograph. "There's your mother." She pointed unnecessarily at the girl. "There they are again," she said turning the page. The next photograph had a thin girl with blond hair, and Harry's mother, who had the same red hair, but it had darkened since the last photo. In this particular photo she looked about nine and the girl standing next to her, around eleven. "That's your aunt." Said Ingrid pointing at the girl with blond hair. "Petunia and Lily. My Dad's cousins." She sighed and turned the page. "She as fourteen or fifteen there." Said Ingrid. Harry looked at the next photo. It featured his mother with the same dark red hair he had seen in the pensive. She was grinning at the camera and holding a wand. "In her fourth year at Hogwarts. It was taken at Christmas." She turned the page. "There!" She said triumphantly. "That's your Dad!" It was his parents wedding day. He had one of his own that was very similar to it. However, this photo was obviously a muggle one, as the figures were completely still. "My Dad wasn't there." Said Ingrid. "This photo was sent to him by one of his friends. Anyway, I think that's it of your parents." She turned the page. There was a photo of two very small children. One girl, one boy with dark red hair, sitting next to a Christmas tree, arms round each other.
"Ahhhh!" aid Ginny, smiling at the photo but Ingrid snapped the photo album shut.
"That was me and Andrew when we were three." She said smiling. "I'd better go and put this back upstairs."
"Thanks for showing us." Grinned Harry. "I'd like to meet your Dad some day."
"Yes, I'm sure he'd like to meet you too." Said Ingrid and hurried up the stairs again.
"See," said Ginny one minute later as they settled down to do some of their own homework. "You are sort of related."
Harry went up to the dormitories to find Dean, sitting on his bed and writing a letter. "Hi," said Harry, making Dean jump. "Who are you writing to?"
Dean grinned, "it's my sister' birthday, can you sign the card?" Harry did so. "I'm telling her all about Halloween here."
"Cool," said Harry, "she doesn't think I'm a mad lunatic does she?"
"Nah," said Dean, continuing to write. "She doesn't read the daily prophet. If anything she thinks I'm the mad lunatic because I keep writing to her about Piers Polkiss! Oh and, by the way are you still having those dreams? I mean, are you still taking Occlumency?"
"Er, no I don't think so," said Harry. Was he still having weird dreams? Was he still hurtling along corridors? No, he didn't think so, then what could Voldermort be up to. He thought about this as he got into bed and had fallen asleep before Ron, Seamus or Neville came in.
He wasn't in the department of mysteries, he was somewhere else, a small, dark room. A high red chair was by the fire and a man was keeling on the floor. "No." Came a cold voice from the chair. "No!" I will not regard such pettiness as loyal!"
"But, my lord," stammered the man. "It is urgent! You must!"
"Never," said whoever was behind the chair, and Harry had a good idea who it was. "He is gone!"
"But, you can bring him back." Stammered the man, whom Harry realised was Peter Petigrew.
"Yes, but I shan't." Said whom Harry realised to be Lord Voldermort. "Memories are awful thing. You shall not dwell on a childhood friend while I am waiting for you to obey my orders!"
"Yes, my Lord, but the memories will not stop until I see him again! Or the other."
"You shall see them" Came the cold voice. "I shall only bring them back when you prove to be a loyal servant!"
"My Lord!" Came Petigrew's happy voice. "You are so merciful!" The chair spun round and an awful face stared at Harry, jet red eyes, long narrow - "
"Harry Potter! Harry Potter...Harry - "
"HARRY!" Harry sat up. His scar was searing with pain. He gasped and looked over to see who had hissed his name like that because it surely wasn't Voldermort. "Harry! You won't believe this! Someone's set off some of those Weasley wild fireworks!"
Dean, Seamus, Neville and Ron were all gazing at a giant electric blue dragon. "I wonder who set them off." Said Neville gazing at the dragon.
Harry felt very annoyed with all four of them. He was just about to see Sirius and his father, is that's who Wormtail had been talking about. Eventually, the excited shrieks from Gryffindor towed died and Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville got into bed. Harry closed his eyes, and once again, found himself in the same dark room. Except, it was no longer a dark room, It was spinning, Harry spinning with it, it was getting faster, it reminded Harry of Snape's pensive, and just like that time, he longed to see his father and Sirius once more, if that's who Wormtail had been talking about...
The spinning subsided. Harry opened his eyes. He was in a small office. Professor McGonnagal's, though she looked a great deal younger. He looked round. Professor McGonnagal sat; arms folded looking down at two boys who looked as though they were in their first year. Harry's stomach turned over. It was his father and Sirius Black. Although they looked a lot younger, James' hair was still sticking all over the place, and Sirius had longish, jet black hair, same as he had had when Harry had seen him in Snape's pensive.
"So you think it funny to try out yet another hex on Severus do you?" Said Professor McGonnagal, peering down her pointed nose at them.
They said nothing, but caught each other's eye and grinned. James tipped back on his chair.
"Well I certainly don't." Snapped Professor McGonnagal. "You've only been here three weeks." She got up and walked round the room, pushing down the back of James' chair so it was supported by four legs again. "You two did him serious damage and he's now in the hospital wing with a spout for a nose."
Sirius and James tried to hide their silent laughter. Eventually they left the office, leaving an angry McGonnagal staring after them. "Spout for a nose!" Snorted Sirius. The pair of them roared with laughter. They reached a flight of stairs. "Slipentify!" He said, pulling out his wand, and the stairs changed to form a slide. They zoomed down and when they reached the bottom, almost collided with two other first years, one of whom was glaring at them disapprovingly.
"You didn't think about people who wanted to get up the stairs did you," said the boy who was frowning as they got to their feet.
James and Sirius grinned at each other. "It's not difficult getting back up." Said James. Attempting to climb the slide and failing.
"Yes, it does look easy doesn't it," said the boy grumpily. Harry stared. It was Lupin! An eleven year old Lupin! And the other boy, who was quite chubby and watching them argue, must be Wormtail.
Another first year arrived; he had very greasy black hair and a hooked nose. "So did they manage to fix your nose? Doesn't look much different to me!" Taunted Sirius watching gleefully as whom Harry recognised to be Snape fought round for words.
"Yes." He said angrily. "Who melted the stairs?"
There was no answer. Snape grimaced. "It's charms next and I need to get there!" He snapped.
"Oh you're right!" Said Sirius in mock worry. "We can't be late for charms can we?"
"We?" Smiled Lupin. "I'm certainly not bothered."
"Me neither!" Squeaked Peter.
"I'm going to find a teacher!" Spat Snape and stormed off.
"Hello." A tall boy with a prefect badge and light brown hair had just arrived. "Is there a problem? Oh, I see there is."
"Er, could you fix the stairs," said Lupin who was had been looking slightly concerned ever since Snape had ran off for a teacher.
"Saxamita," said the boy and the slide returned to steps.
"Hey Lovegood!" Came a loud voice. "Why'd you go and fix the stairs! It's a perfect opportunity for us to miss Transfiguration!"
Lovegood! This couldn't be Professor Lovegood! "I, am a prefect." He said coldly as though this ended the argument.
"Yeah, well - " The angry mob of boys muttered and stalked off. The younger Professor Lovegood climbed the stairs, calling after them, "There's no point anyway! There's dozens of stairs up to the Transfiguration classroom!"
Harry watched as Sirius and James ran round the corner and hid behind the same tapestry Harry had hidden behind so many times before. Lupin and Petigrew followed them. Harry then heard a voice in the background. "It was! They melted the steps and I couldn't get to charms! No, it's not an excuse!"
"Even so, five points from Slytherin for wasting my time," came Professor McGonnagal's irritated voice. They heard her footsteps become distant, and that was when Snape chose to come round the corner.
"You!" He shouted pointing at Lupin and Petigrew, as the others were still concealed behind the tapestry. "You – you'd better – watch out!" He yelled going red.
"Watch out for what?" Sirius and James came out from behind the tapestry. "Your nose, yeah it's big enough to..."
"Me!" Shouted an infuriated Snape and stamped round the corner, leaving all four of them in shrieks of laughter.
The ground spun, Harry felt himself spin round, it was making him dizzy, he was rising the castle vanished, to be replaced with the same, dark room. Except, the small man kneeling on the floor was in tears. "That - " He sniffed. "That was how we came to be friends. Oh we had such fun together, Me, Moony, Padfoot and Prongs, I had forgotten how we met!" He collapsed into renewed sobs.
"This," came the hiss from the armchair. "Is why I do not bother with emotions, friends or memories,"
The room melted, but he remained asleep. Eventually, he woke up to sunlight streaming through the window by Neville's bed. It was morning. "POTTER! WEASLEY!" He looked up. Katie Bell was standing illuminated in the doorway.
"What?" Ron grumbled, opening a bleary eye.
"Quidditch." Said Katie shortly.
"Great," grumbled Ron closing both eyes.
"You'd better get there soon because Slytherin are training this morning." Said Katie and left.
Ten minutes later, Harry and Ron were at the quidditch pitch, dim, morning sun, illuminating the pitch. They changed into their robes and began the game. "Ron!" Came Katie's angry voice. "You're not covering any of your hoops!"
"Oh, sorry." Said Ron going red.
"Dennis! You can't do that!" Roared Katie. Dennis was throwing his club up in the air and catching it as it fell.
"Oh, sorry Katie," said Dennis, holding it with both hands again. "Is this better? I'm not doing this - " he threw the club high in the air. "Anymore." He smiled at Katie, but as he turned, the club slipped through his fingers and headed to the ground, hitting Ron's foot as it went.
"We're never going to get anywhere if we carry on like this!" Snapped Katie. "Go and get the club Dennis!" The beaters club was lying abandoned on the muddy ground. "Are you alright Ron?"
"Oh I'm fine," said Ron, then suddenly, a look of realisation spread across his face. "Actually Katie, can I just go and get it checked out?"
"Alright, but be as quick as possible." Said Katie.
They continued practising. Ginny and Emily were excellent, they managed to pass the quaffle on superbly each time and each scored at least twice. William was good as well, but missed a bludger, so it flew over to Ginny and circled her like a bee. Ron returned, and grinned at Harry as he got on his broom, looking oddly cheerful.
"Block it Ron!" Yelled Katie as a quaffle came up his end. He did block it. It was aimed for his left hoop and he swerved that direction, and caught it. "Excellent!" Said Katie happily. Ron didn't let any goals in at all through out the practise. Each were rebounded almost world Quidditch player standard.
After quidditch practise (when a mass of green and silver Slytherins emerged) they headed up to the castle for breakfast. "You're getting really good," said Harry grinning at him.
"Thanks." Said Ron, but looking a bit uneasy.
Quidditch practise increased by almost double during the next week. Harry and Ron hardly had any time at all to do the mountainous homework that continued to pile up.