AN: Thanks for the reviews! I'm aiming to get at least a hundred reviews by the end of this story so please, constructive criticism and reviews are welcomed greatly!
I am concluding that those readers who have stayed with me this long like long reads, as this has twenty-three planned chapters and as I'm writing around 6000 words per chapter I expect this to reach at least the 110000 mark.
Review responses:
Maclir: Wow, thanks! I like all sorts of reviews but yours just boosted my writers-ego! Thank you!
Elizabeth Mahoney: Loosing sleep? Cool, I didn't know that I could write that good! Lol. I know what you mean though; I persistently check some of my favourites!
Madskillzpro: I don't know what to make of your review! But I will continue writing anywayz!
Lynn-50670: I like Harry/OC's too, thanx for the review!
Lensman: In order to your review. Thanx, I will keep the story, I'm glad you enjoy them and if you had seen some of the other stuff I wanted to make out of my OC's then they wouldn't be very believable! To be completely honest with you I wrote my first story with over forty OC's (though they WERE the Weasley family mainly!) and that made it so stupid. I thought I had too many OC's but thanx!
(BTW, as the thing I planned as Parseltounge speech didn't work out, I'm changing it to this: "&Parseltounge speaking&" and also, I don't really do the whole sssss thing, it bugs me too much to write because of this damn computers spell-checker.)
Go ahead and read now!
Chapter 9 – Halloween and Order Meetings
Two knocks were sharply pronounced on the door of the sixth year boy's dormitories.
"Wait a moment!" Dean shouted at the door, making sure his towel was firmly fixated at his waist.
"Come in." Neville called out as he looked up from his book and at the door.
"All decent?" Came a teasing voice.
"Ginny!" Dean exclaimed, nearly dropping his towel. Ginny blushed on seeing her boyfriend's undressed state as the other two girls laughed. Hermione and Charlene had followed Ginny into the dorm.
"Can't you keep your voice down Dean? It's the weekend!" Ron complained from his bed, Hermione opened his curtains and sat on his bed, opening his eyes at the extra weight Ron yelped and jumped back in shock.
"Mione!" He exclaimed, "Why are you in here?" He asked as his blush came to his embarrassed face at being caught in just the boxers he slept in.
"They obviously want something." Harry stated, coming in from the bathroom in just his towel, Charlene struggled with her 'gift' to stop the colour rising in her currently light brown face.
"We wanted to head down to Hogsmeade today." The colourmorphus stated, looking anywhere but at Harry's wet body. The Boy-Who-Lived smirked and walked up to her, her wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply, to which she responded eagerly.
"Get a room." Seamus said, throwing a pillow at the pair, the rest in the room laughed.
"Well mind me a moment whilst I get changed." Dean said, closing the curtains around his bed to change behind them, Harry copied the idea and looked at Ron, the only other boy in the dormitory not already at least half-dressed; though Ron didn't seem to mind as he held Hermione to him and whispered into the blushing young woman's ear, telling her things that made her giggle and nod. Not wanting to know, Harry pulled the curtains around his own bed and changed quickly.
An hour later found Harry, Charlene, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Dean, Seamus, Neville and Luna making their way down the path to Hogsmeade. Seamus looked a little left out as he was the only guy not with a girlfriend but he shrugged it off and just joined in the fun in the end.
"So what's everybody doing today?" Hermione asked.
"Me and Charlene are going to go get some lunch." Harry stated as he slipped his arm around Charlene's slim waist.
"We are?" She asked, Harry nodded.
"Yep." He replied.
"See, I told you I got the best one." Charlene said to Hermione and Ginny, poking her tongue out.
"Me and Dean are going for lunch too." Ginny stated indignantly.
"Yes but I was surprised." Charlene replied pompously, Hermione laughed at the two girls who were playfully bickering.
"It doesn't really matter." She cut in, "Just keep it as a nice lunch and not a competition."
"Ah well, I suppose that means that I have to eat that picnic myself then." Ron said with a mock sigh.
"Picnic?" Hermione asked with wide-eyes, Ron nodded and kissed her cheek softly.
"Yep, picnic." He replied, Hermione turned back to the girls.
"I have the best one." She stated, causing everyone to laugh happily.
"We had better head off, lets meet up after lunch sometime." Harry suggested
"How about the Three Broomsticks at three?" Ginny asked, the others all nodded and went their separate ways.
"Whoa! Neville, you're not leaving me too are you mate?" Seamus asked, Neville nodded.
"Yep, me and Luna are going to Madam Puddifoot's, sorry." He told the Irish boy, not really sounding sorry at all before he left.
"Great, now what do I do?" Seamus asked himself.
"Harry, take your hand down already." Charlene said with a small giggle as he held her firmly around the waist with one hand and covered her eyes with the other.
"Not yet." Harry whispered in her ear, watching with delight at the way she shivered at the feeling of his breath tickling her neck.
Harry led Charlene to a stop and slowly took his hand from her eyes; he got the response he wanted so badly when she gasped softly. He had taken her to a new restaurant on the edge of town and had asked for a private room (to keep away the press as the two were both famous) and for a single red rose to be placed on the small table.
Harry led Charlene to her seat and pulled out the chair for her. After he had pushed her chair back in her went to the other side of the table to sit down himself.
"Do you like it?" Harry asked with anxiety.
"I love it Harry, this is too much." Charlene said in wonderment, Harry shook his head.
"No it's not." He replied self-consciously. "I also wanted to tell you something." Charlene looked intrigued and Harry looked her in the eye.
"I don't think I love you anymore." He stated, Charlene's intrigued face turned to one of confusion and anger.
"What?" She asked, "You invited me on this perfect date to tell me something like that!" She exclaimed and made to stand up but Harry placed his hand over hers.
"I don't think I love you anymore because I know that I love you." He stated, Charlene's features softened and tears glistened in her eyes. Harry took her silence badly, "I know that it's only been two months and everything but I really love you and-" Charlene reached across the table and put a finger on his lips.
"I love you too." She said softly, Harry smiled and met her at the middle of the table in a heartfelt kiss that seemed so much different than the other kisses they'd shared, it was amazing.
They broke out of the kiss with smiles on their faces and settled for playing footsie under the table for the rest of their meal.
The minute Harry and Charlene stepped out of the restaurant a small handful of reporters and photographers hounded them. Harry quickly tried to shield him and Charlene from their view and walk off but they were followed.
"Mr Potter, how does it feel to be a victim of this love circle?"
"Miss Therney, did you know-"
"Mr Potter can I ask you a question-"
Harry looked at Charlene discreetly and saw her turn to him.
"How about we give them something to talk about?" Charlene asked quietly so that the reporters wouldn't hear them as they the couple attempted to walk off and back into the main town.
"Well what were you thinking?" Harry asked with an impish grin, he noticed the flashes of cameras behind them get steadily closer. Charlene stopped and stopped Harry as he was holding onto her hand, Harry turned to ask what she was doing when she wrapped her arms around his neck and started kissing him. After getting over the initial shock Harry kissed her back and snaked his arms around her waist, he even went as far as to sneak one underneath her cloak and onto her backside.
Charlene pulled back with a slick sound and mischievous grin.
"Now we run." She said with a giggle and grabbed his hand. They ran away quickly from the reporters all the way back to the town, laughing the whole way.
"They'll catch up with us you know!" Harry said whilst gasping for breath.
"Let them, I wouldn't mind doing that again." Charlene stated, Harry grinned and pulled her into another deep kiss into which he smiled.
"This is the middle of town Harry! Get a freaking room!" Seamus called as he walked over with armfuls of bags.
"Yeah yeah." Harry muttered and waved a hand to dismiss it. "What have you been doing then?"
"I met up with some of the Ravenclaw's but now they've only gone and lost themselves in the book shop." Seamus complained, Charlene giggled. "So what did you two do?"
"We went to that new restaurant on the edge of town and-" Harry broke off with a groan.
"What?" Seamus asked, Harry pointed behind the other teen and indicated the reporters who were looking for him and Charlene. "Oh." Seamus muttered in reply.
"Yeah, they aren't going to leave us alone are they?" Charlene asked with a sigh.
"Nope." Harry said as the reporters spotted them and made their way over.
"Do we run again?" Charlene asked, Harry shook his head.
"They'll keep coming to Hogsmeade weekends for interviews then, can't avoid them forever." Harry stated.
"Mr Potter!" One of the reporters exclaimed and Harry groaned at who it was.
"I hate her." Charlene muttered, Harry grinned at her.
"Don't worry, we can easily blackmail her." Harry told her as the group came right up to them.
"How?" Charlene whispered into his ear as the reporters quickly crowded them.
"I'll tell you later." Harry whispered to her and then started listening to the reporters, Charlene glared up at him briefly before she leant into his side to try hide her face, Seamus was shocked as he stood behind the crowd and Harry looked over to the Irish teen desperately, he seemed to get the message and walked off hurriedly to find somebody.
"Mr Potter, are you aware that you're in the middle of a famous love circle?" One male reporter asked, Harry laughed sarcastically.
"You mean the one with Mione and Viktor Krum? Well I know that's what this is according to the Daily Prophet right? I don't really read that rubbish anymore." Harry said dismissively, Charlene looked shocked at his behaviour as the reporters scribbled it down. "Anyway, Hermione's not going out with Viktor, she's with Ron." He added and looked around for a teacher or someone.
"Ronald Weasley?" One reporter asked, Harry nodded quickly, his attention drawn from searching.
"How long have you and Mr Potter been together Miss Therney?" One reporter asked.
"Just over two months." Charlene replied politely.
"So you two met in the holidays?" A tall black woman asked from behind them, Harry turned to the black woman and Charlene answered the question with a nod. "Where did you meet then?"
"At a party." Harry replied.
"A party? A celebrity party?" A short reporter next to the tall woman asked.
"No, a family party." Charlene replied.
"So this is incest!" One reporter exclaimed, Harry pulled a face.
"No!" He shouted, "I babysat her cousins a few times over the summer and their parents invited me to a party!"
"What's going on here?" A woman asked from the side and behind the reporters, Alessandria stood with Seamus, Ron and Hermione and also McGonnagal, Snape, Hagrid and Remus, who had Jake. Harry mouthed a thanks to Seamus who nodded with a smirk.
"Leave!" McGonnagal exclaimed, the reporters scattered and Charlene sighed with relief.
"Argh! How annoying is that?" She asked and leaned into her boyfriend's side, Harry laughed.
"I think you two are going to be mentioned as well." He said to his two best friends, Hermione scowled and folded her arms over her chest.
"Why?" She asked.
"Well the first thing they asked about was the 'Love Circle'." Charlene sated, Hermione groaned.
"Great." The bushy haired young woman replied.
"Thanks." Harry said to the professors (And ex-professor).
"It was no problem Mr Potter." McGonnagal said with a smile.
"Are we still meeting with Ginny at the Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked his three friends.
"Yep." Ron stated.
"Good, now I think I'm going to head for Honeydukes, I promised Sara I'd get her some sugar quills for classes." Charlene stated.
"She'll get caught." Ron, Hermione, Harry and Seamus said simultaneously as they started to walk off at a slow pace.
"I told her that!" Charlene said with a laugh, she hit Harry's hand from where it was creeping further down her back and he pouted at her.
"They're good kids." McGonnagal stated.
"Let's just hope that other prophecy isn't about them." Remus said with a sigh as they watched Harry pick Charlene up and twirl her around. Hermione took some of Seamus' small sweets and threw them at the couple, Harry broke out of the kiss and threw a handful of the sweets back at Hermione, and this resulted in a small sweet fight between the five teens.
The professors headed back for the Three Broomsticks and left the teens to themselves having fun whilst they could.
The rest of the trip went smoothly and the large group of Gryffindor's made their way back up to the school an hour before the Halloween Feast was due to start.
They walked towards the lake and settled down under a willow tree in the darkened grounds.
"Hey, I've never realised these before." Ginny said suddenly, she twisted in Dean's arms and ran her finger down some engravings that rested in a small crevice made by the deformed trunk of the tree.
"What?" Hermione asked as she leant into Ron's side, her head resting on the redhead's shoulder.
"These engravings." Ginny stated, "J.H.P heart's L.R.E." She read out then looked at the next one along, "R.J.L heart's A.A." She laughed as she read the next one, "Here's another one, 'The Marauders were here 1979'." She stated with a grin and then ran her fingers over the carvings.
"It actually says that?" Harry asked in shock and shuffled around to get a closer look. Ginny was still running her fingers over the numerous carvings in the crevice when her fingers came across a knot. The knot glowed slightly and Ginny quickly pulled her hand away, her elbow whacking straight into Dean's ribs.
"Ow!" Dean exclaimed, rubbing the spot. Ginny didn't even bother saying sorry as she shared a look with Harry.
"You saw that too?" She asked, Harry nodded slightly and the others crowded round.
"Saw what?" Hermione asked.
"The knot in the tree glowed." Harry stated.
"&You're smart.&" Zodiac hissed sarcastically from Harry's wrist, the teen rolled his eyes along with Ginny.
"Shut up Zodiac." The two said simultaneously.
"&I was just expressing my views.&" The snake stated, "&And I thought you might like to know that there's a hollow part in that tree underneath that knot and there's something in there.&"
"&Really?&" Harry asked, accidentally replying in the language that his friends cringed at, though he didn't realise as it sounded completely normal to him.
"&No, I was just saying that.&" Harry swore that Zodiac rolled his eyes at him and scowled.
"I wonder how we're meant to get the box then." Ginny said thoughtfully, confusing the others.
"Box? What box?" Hermione asked.
"The box that's in the hollow bit of the tree." Ginny explained with a wave of her hand.
"Hollow of the tree?" Dean asked, "It looks pretty firm to me."
"&Thick humans.&" Zodiac complained, "&It has enchantments around the hollow bit, many of them.&"
"Zodiac said that there's enchantments all over the hollow bit." Harry stated as he studied the area around the knot.
"It could be something to do with the Marauders." Hermione suggested.
"And it's just like them to do something like that." Ron added for her.
"Should we ask Remus?" Harry asked.
"Might as well." Ron said with a shrug.
"Come on, the Feast will be starting soon enough." Dean said and they all got up to make their way to the Hall. Harry shot a look at the old Willow Tree as they walked off; there was something about it and he was determined to work it out.
"I have an idea." Ron stated as they entered the entrance hall, he led them the opposite way to the Great Hall.
"Where are you taking us Ron?" Hermione asked confusedly as he led them further down.
"Yeah mate, where are we going?" Dean asked, Ron just shook his head and took out a few bottles from his pocket.
"I brought these today." He stated.
"And?" Harry prompted.
"They're hair colourant potions." Ron finished with a wicked grin.
"And?" Charlene said over-exaggeratedly.
"Has Ginny taken you to the kitchens yet Dean?" Ron asked falsely curious. Hermione was the first to realise what he was going to do.
"No Ron! You can't!" She exclaimed.
"Why not?" He asked, "They are perfectly harmless!"
"Yeah Hermione, it'll be interesting." Ginny stated.
"Please?" Harry asked with puppy-dog eyes, Hermione sighed when the six others joined in.
"Alright then." She said resignedly and they hurried towards the kitchens.
Ron tickled the pear excitedly and it transformed into a handle. Charlene jumped back slightly in shock but went forward when Harry did.
"Mr Harry Potter Sir!" A squeaky voice exclaimed, a small creature bulleted it's way to Harry and dove into the teen's stomach.
"Oof." Harry muttered as the air was knocked out of him. "Hi Dobby." He wheezed.
"Mr Harry Potter Sir! Dobby is happy you are here Sir!" Dobby said excitedly.
"Dobby." Ron said, getting straight to business, "I have some potions here that I need you to put into each of the juice jugs for me."
"Why would Dobby need to do that Ron Wheezy?" Dobby asked curiously.
"Because it's medicine." Ginny said quickly, "The school are all ill and you need o give them the cure."
"Oh no!" Dobby said with wide-eyes. "Dobby will do all he can Miss Wheezy!" He said, taking the vials from Ron. The group made to leave.
"Oh and Dobby," Harry aid, turning back around, "Can you make sure that none of the houseelves tell anybody we gave you those? We can't risk everybody hurting us because we found the cure before them, we want Dumbledore to take credit for it."
"Dobby promises his best Mr Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby exclaimed and started ordering the houseelves around.
"Oh my God! How did you lie like that?" Charlene asked with a laugh as they closed the door to the kitchen. Ginny shrugged.
"You learn when you're the youngest of six." She stated.
"And I lived with the Dursley's." Harry stated.
"We had better hurry up there now or they'll know it was us!" Hermione exclaimed and they took off at a run to the Great Hall.
After sitting down and starting the feast, the group looked around eagerly, waiting for the start of their prank.
"Why isn't anything happening?" Ginny asked Ron in whispers.
"Because it takes a little time." Ron whispered back. They carried on eating and soon shrieks erupted from some girls at the Slytherin table. Their hair was bright yellow. Ore shrieks followed and hair of neon colours filled the hall, pink, blue, green and yellow. The only person who had gotten away with it was Charlene miraculously enough.
Snape (now with neon yellow hair) glared down at the girl. He got up and strode to the Gryffindor table.
"YOU!" He shouted, the whole hall turned around to see Snape pointing his finger at Charlene and the teen was looking innocent.
"What about me?" She asked curiously, Harry was amazed at how she pulled it off.
"You done this!" Snape shouted, McGonnagal, Alessandria and Dumbledore came down from the Head table also (they had green, pink and blue hair respectively).
"Now Severus you can't jump to conclusions." Dumbledore stated calmly. "Miss Therney did you do this?" He asked.
"No sir." Charlene replied confidently, Harry could've sworn he saw a flicker of a smile from both McGonnagal and Dumbledore, Alessandria was trying to hold in her laughter but was unsuccessful, letting giggles escape.
"She must have! She's the only one unaffected!" Snape shouted.
"Sir, I'm colourmorphus." Charlene stated. "Colour potions and spells don't affect me, you should know that."
"She's right y'know Sev." Alessandria said with another giggle.
"Her and Potter done this." Snape sneered.
"But you have no evidence Sevvy." Alessandria said almost tauntingly, her brother turned and set his most terrifying glare at her. "That's never worked on me and you know it." Alessandria stated and patted his hair, "Just go make the counter potion or wait till it wears off bro." Snape glared witheringly at Charlene once more before storming out of the room.
The group went to the Common Room laughing that night and stayed up talking in the Common Room until quite late.
"I'm hungry." Ron complained around a yawn.
"You're always hungry." Hermione replied with a roll of her eyes. Harry and Charlene were resting on the single seater opposite the two sprawled on top of the settee. They were the last ones left in the living room at nearly twelve.
"How about we go on a midnight trip?" Harry suggested, an excited glint came to his girlfriend's eyes.
"Can we?" She asked exuberantly, Hermione rolled her eyes.
"do you think that the house elves will want us back there after what we done?" She asked incredulously.
"It's late, they probably won't be in there." Ron stated.
"Well-"
"Great, me and Harry will go get the cloak." Ron said and jumped up, knocking his girlfriend of two weeks to the floor.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed quietly as the two boys made their way up the staircase. "I did not say we were gonna go." She muttered to herself and Charlene just grinned knowingly.
"Ouch! Ron that's my foot!" Charlene said in pain, they had cramped under the invisibility cloak just barely and it still showed around their ankles.
Harry had the Marauders Map in front of him and was using it to guide the way.
"Hey, there are Order members in the Great Hall." Harry whispered as he used his wand as a light over the map again.
"Really?" Hermione asked and stopped suddenly, causing them to tumble to the floor.
"Yes." Harry muttered with a glare at the prefect as they righted themselves again.
"Lets go then." Ron said. The group quad made their way to the Hall and were about to go in when Hermione stopped them.
"Moody can see through cloaks!" She exclaimed, "And so can Dumbledore!"
"Well Moody's not there." Harry stated. "Let's just open the door a little bit."
They pushed the door open slightly so that the voices floated out into the corridor. Harry stuffed the map in his pocket.
"...and is currently at HQ." They heard Dumbledore say.
"I bet Bill's happy then." They heard Alessandria state with relief.
"Yes he is. I spoke with him earlier today and he said that he' doing all he can to make her feel normal again but the poor girl went through a lot." Molly's voice came and Ron looked shocked. "Mum!" He mouthed in alarm, they prompted him to be quiet with 'Shh!'.
"Does Marie remember much?" Kingsley asked as he looked around for an answer.
"Some of it." Tonks stated, "She's in shock though, being kidnapped by him is a trauma." She stated as she leaned into Charlie even more, his grip visibly got tighter on her.
"Yes well, I also wanted to discuss with you the prophecies-" Dumbledore cut off as he thought he heard something.
"What is it Albus?" Arthur asked.
"I thought I heard something." He stated quietly and silently made his way over to the doors, "Like I was saying I would like to discuss the-" He pulled the door open at that point and watched as he saw four teens fall to the floor in front of him. Harry looked up sheepishly at him.
"Evening Professor." He said with a weak grin, Dumbledore gazed disapprovingly at the four and pulled the silvery cloak from them in one swift motion. Molly gasped along with Tonks and the others looked shocked.
"Ronald William Weasley what do you think you are up to?!" Molly shouted.
"William?" Harry asked, momentarily forgetting the situation they were in.
"Harry James Potter!" Molly continued angrily, "Hermione Jane Granger And Charlene Therney WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" She shouted.
"Molly stay calm." Arthur chided and placed a hand on her arm.
"At least she doesn't know my middle name." Charlene muttered.
"What is it?" Harry asked out of the side of his mouth as Molly ranted at them.
"Leanne." Charlene replied with a snort of disgust.
"You four go to your common rooms, you each have a detention and ten points from Gryffindor for being out after hours." Dumbledore stated as Molly paused for breath. The four nodded and made themselves scarce.
"I wonder how much they heard?" Kingsley muttered to himself.
"I wonder what prophecies he meant."
AN: Soz, it's shorter than usual, I have just had to rush things recently due to school work! NO!!! I skived because of a special meeting today but I can't tomorrow! NO!!!
Can anybody think of ways to annoy Slytherins? Witty lines or jokes? I'm going to need all the ideas I can get, preferably anything that can get it to a lot of witty remarks for something that will be later in this story or maybe in the sequel. Just make sure you leave a name if you're anonymously reviewing because I will need to give credit to you!