Anger filled Harry as he sat in the Great Hall eating dinner. He looked at the head table and caught Dumbledore's twinkling eyes. The only other teacher there was Hagrid. Harry silently sat and chewed his food waiting for the arrival of Hailey. He was still upset with Hailey for turning him in to Snape. He was also worried because Snape himself had not arrived yet. This worried Harry because he was aware that even though Snape was not social by nature his presence was required at meals, and he could only imagine what Snape was preparing for tonight's lesson. Snape slunk in with Hailey behind him. Hailey sat in the first seat closest to the door at the Gryffindor's table. Snape billowed past Harry to the head table.
Hailey and Snape hurried through dinner. Hailey stood first and headed for the door, quickly followed by Snape. As he passed Harry he muttered in a stern tone, "Don't forget, Potter." Harry finished his meal, still furious at Hailey, but went straight to the dungeons, where Snape's office was located. "In here, Potter!" Snape barked from the potions classroom. As Harry entered the classroom he heard Snape muttering about taking points from Gryffindors until Christmas if he was late. "Well I'm not late unless you're running by another clock that I'm unaware of," Harry stated.
"Glad to see you made it, Potter. Give us a couple of minutes to clean up this potion and then we can start."
He noticed Hailey was their looking tired and disheveled. Her hair was pulled up sloppily and her right sleeve was rolled up as she scoured a caldron. She bore a potion clad apron. When she saw him she smiled warmly. "Hey, Harry," she said as she finished cleaning the cauldron.
"Isn't it a little early for you to have detention?" Harry asked sarcastically.
Hailey walked over and drew two cushy chairs. "I just wanted to get ahead," Hailey smiled.
Snape snorted, "You are ahead of your class by at least four years, and you're a seventh year." he drew out the word seventh to accentuate it. "Well then," Snape said taking off his apron and straightening himself, "Shall we begin?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Hailey removing her own apron and was unprepared when Snape commanded, "Legilimens!" Harry thought he was doomed but soon a wand was in front of his face and he never felt the effects of the spell.
"No wonder Dumbledore asked me to mediate," Hailey scolded. "That was unfair, Severus, and you know it!" Snape looked sour and Harry thought he could have hexed Hailey in the spot she stood, but he only mumbled, "Fine, you do it then."
"Harry, do you mind?" she asked, "Because if you don't want me to see your thoughts, I won't." Harry did mind but wouldn't tell her that. While she waited for him to respond she was rubbing her necklace again and he knew he had made her nervous. "No, it's okay." Harry replied.
"Okay then, think of nothing," she purred. "Relax, I won't hurt you, I promise." He knew she was trying to get him to relax and to feel like he would be okay. "Legilimens!" A rush of images flew from Harry's mind, happy ones of Hogwarts, of when he was sorted, of Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid. He knew he was supposed to stop her, thus he started to nudge her out of his mind and he could clearly see her standing again. He then he started to see things that weren't his own memories. He saw Snape laugh, Dumbledore scream, a teacher's praise, and felt a jealous pain as a boy kissed another girl. Then Harry was on the floor laughing.
"Ouch, did you have to use that curse?" Hailey said rubbing her wrist. Snape was looking at a laughing Harry
"Did you have to use that one?" he snidely asked. Hailey removed the curse.
"Don't worry, Harry, you will be able to choose the memories you want to see soon. She handed Harry a slab of chocolate and said "See you tomorrow."
"That's it?" questioned Harry. "Yea," she said, "Too much will make your head hurt, trust me, I know."
Harry walked back to the Gryffindor common room by himself thinking about the lesson that he just had. He waited in the common room for a couple hours for Hailey to return until sleep overwhelmed him. Strangely enough, that night his nightmares of Voldemort lasted minutes instead of tormenting him the whole night. When he woke up the next morning he was feeling fairly refreshed for the first time in weeks. He quickly found Hailey in the great hall eating breakfast. There were no teachers in sight. Harry sat at the table next to Hailey and food appeared in front of him.
"Want to fly around the Quidditch pitch?" Harry asked, as he desperately wanted to do that since his arrival at Hogwarts.
"Sorry, Harry I don't think I will have time today," Hailey replied. "After breakfast I am visiting Hagrid, then after lunch I am having potion lessons with Uncle Snape until your lesson with him at eight. However, if you have nothing else to do you can come to the potion lesson before your lesson at eight.
"Well I can go to Hagrid's hut with you, I've been meaning to see him and then we can fly until lunch." Harry said in a chipper tone.
"I really need to see Hagrid alone, Harry, I'm sorry. I know, you can ask Severus to watch you fly, that way you can go."
"I'll just go alone…"
"You will not, Harry Potter! Albus will have your head! Take Severus…" With that warning, Hailey got up and left. Harry left a few moments after and took his Firebolt to the pitch. He lost all time until he heard someone call his name. It was Hailey.
"Harry James Potter, I cannot believe you! Why should you bother with Occlumency if you think you're above supervision? I suggested it for a reason you know. When will you take the people who are trying to save and protect the wizarding world's savior serious? Come to the dungeons later and we will continue your lessons, until then I hope the Dark Lord eats at every single thought you have!" Hailey stormed off. She was absent from lunch later that day. Having nothing better to do Harry went to the dungeons even though he now disliked Hailey more than Snape and Umbridge for all those things she said about him. He then heard murmurs from inside the dungeons.
"He is insufferable, Uncle Snape!" Hailey wailed, "He has no regard for rules, all I asked was he request you come along to watch him play quidditch!"
Then he heard Snape snort. "Yes, because what I want to do is baby sit this insufferable brat you have spoke of all afternoon." Harry couldn't control his anger and he heard something smash in the potions room.
"What was that?" he heard Snape ask.
"Harry?" Hailey questioned, "… I invited him to brew with us but I didn't think he would since he was so angry." She explained to Snape. Harry could visualize Snape's contemplative stare into the moments of silence to follow.
"Get in here Potter." Snape said briskly.
Harry thought of leaving but decided to enter.
"The dust pan is in the corner," Hailey said.
"I know where it is!" Harry bit back sharply. He waited for Hailey to speak but she didn't. Snape explained the potion to Harry and he started to brew it next to Hailey, sharing her ingredients. Snape watched until both potions were complete. Neither him nor Hailey said a word.
"Well, Mr. Potter it seems like you brew potions fairly well away from your fellow students," Snape said.
"You mean more like away from Malfoy, sir." Harry replied.
"Perhaps," Snape said with a slightly comprehensive look. Hailey and Harry cleaned their cauldrons silently. After they were finished Hailey removed her apron and rubbed her wrist through her shirt sleeve.
"Does the curse from yesterday still hurt?" asked Snape questionably.
"No," Hailey said picking up her robe and putting it on, "But I can't stay for Harry's lesson. You will have to do it alone, I'm afraid. Dumbledore is off at the order. You will be fine." She said as she hugged Snape. Snape stiffened slightly and Harry wasn't sure if it was from the hug or having to teach Harry but Hailey left swiftly allowing Snape no time for questions.
Snape's lesson was horrible and made his head hurt. Snape had successfully managed to retrieve every thought that Harry had ever had on Snape and Hailey without Harry even breaking through to Snape's memories once. After Harry fell to the floor for the sixth time, Snape told him to leave and come back at eight tomorrow. Harry climbed back to his common room from the dungeons. In the common room Harry found a note and a piece of chocolate in his favorite chair by the fire. 'Thought you could use this. I'm sorry, Hailey Black'. Harry left the note and chocolate lying on the seat. He went to sleep and almost immediately his dreams turned into a vision. He saw through Voldemort's eyes, and in front of him was a female with black hair and black clad robes to match, both glowing an eerie blue due to the lightening. The female wore no hood and twirled her wand in front of her. Harry could clearly see the dark mark on her left forearm. It was red in contrast to her pale skin. In front of her bowed two hooded Death Eaters with someone between them. The person between the Death Eaters was desperately trying to get up. The female in front of Voldemort walked to the side with her head still facing the Death Eaters, not allowing Harry to see her face. Then Harry saw who was between the Death Eaters. It was Minerva McGonagall. She fought horribly to stand and not bow in front of the lady.
"Goyle, Malfoy, what did you bring me?" the lady chuckled in a cold drawn out voice.
"One of Dumbledore's, Milady" replied Malfoy.
The lady walked up to McGonagall and tilted her chin up with her wand to look her in the eye. "Ah Minerva, fear not; you will not die today. Oh, no you shall not." The lady reached out to touch McGonagall's face, making her flinch. The lady then walked back to her previous spot. "Let her go," She demanded. Harry then felt five hours of curses wrack through his and McGonagall's body. When he thought he would surely die, the lady stopped. "Leave, Minerva," The lady commanded. McGonagall got up as fast as she could and stumbled to the door. "Oh Minerva," the lady called, "Tell Albus Dumbledore I send this with love. Crucio!" she said as McGonagall fell to the floor. The curse lasted minutes. When it was over, McGonagall stumbled out the door. Malfoy and Goyle made to leave but the lady stopped them. "You will let her leave," she said. "Oh, by the way, thoughts of disobedience must be punished. Crucio." she said simply. The curse lasted almost fifteen minutes until she lifted it and the Death Eaters scampered out. Then Voldemort took a step closer and put his hand on her shoulder. "Very well, my daughter," Harry woke up, as these words tumbled from his mouth.
Harry neglected his invisibility cloak and ran as fast as he could to Dumbledore's office. Before he got there however, he collided with Snape.
"Well, well. Mr. Potter, just because school is not in session does not give you the-"
"MOVE!" Harry screamed, interrupting him. Snape grabbed him by the shoulders to hold him back.
"What is the meaning of this?" he spit.
"I have to see Professor Dumbledore!" Harry gritted out.
"Pray tell why?" he said with a smirk
"Professor McGonagall was tortured by Voldemort." Harry said urgently.
"Impossible!" Snape said. At this time Dumbledore arrived where Harry and Snape were arguing.
"Gentlemen, in my office please!" Directed Dumbledore. Harry and Snape followed Dumbledore to his office and seated themselves when he told them to. Harry didn't even give Dumbledore a chance to offer him a candy because he went into his story.
"Its impossible, Headmaster, if he would just practice Occlumency like he is supposed to, this wouldn't be happening."
"How is it impossible?" Harry countered.
"Because I would have tortured her!" Snape bit back before he caught himself.
"Well now that that is out," Dumbledore said, he then turned to Professor Snape. "Is there anyone higher then you in the Death Eater command chain Severus?"
"No, Albus, absolutely not!" Screamed Snape.
Harry then remembered the key he was missing, what he woke up saying. In nearly a whisper he said it, "It was his daughter. It was Voldemort's daughter."
Snape's eyes grew wide. "Albus can it be?" he asked.
Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye and simply said, "I am afraid it is, now leave, gentlemen, so I can find Minerva."
Harry didn't sleep the whole night. He was awake to see the sun rise. For the rest of the week, Hailey taught him Occlumency after they had extra potion lessons with Snape. His lessons in Occlumency were getting harder as Hailey dug up more painful memories in more frequent intervals when he was unaware. Harry flew with Hailey in the mornings or explored the castle when she was unavailable because she was talking to Nick, Hagrid, Peeves, or the Baron. About two weeks before school was to start, the teachers started filtering in. Harry and Hailey, newly reconciled, were walking down the corridor that lead to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, when Hailey sprinted forward and screamed, "Remus!" Lupin turned around just in time to be assaulted by Hailey jumping to embrace him. When Harry reached them they were still hugging. "Mmmm jasmine," Lupin said. Hailey stepped out of the embrace and gave him a questioning look. "Your perfume, quite missed it when you were gone." He stated simply. He then turned his attention to Harry. "How have you been Harry?" he asked as he patted Harry's shoulder. Harry then did something he had never done before: he wrapped his arms around Lupin and hugged him. Then he looked up and said, "Better, Moony, better." Remus' face lit up with a smile and he tussled Harry's hair. "That's great," he said.
"But what are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"Teaching," Lupin said, "Albus refused to take another ministry official unfortunately."
Hailey, Harry and Remus went into Remus' office and had tea, which Hailey excused herself halfway through. Remus and Harry told each other they didn't blame the other for what happened to Sirius. The satisfying conversation left Harry drift off to a peaceful sleep. When he awoke he visited Hagrid, but left when the treacle fudge was offered.
He went to Snape's dungeons after lunch like always. He walked in and got out his potions ingredients before Snape arrived. He was completely set up before Snape entered. He lifted an eyebrow questionably, but simply said "Begin."
"Sir, What about Hailey?" Harry asked.
"She is visiting friends from Beauxbatons," he replied, "If you wish to continue, begin. If not, clean up and leave." His voice held no emotion. Harry began chopping ingredients while Snape sat at his desk to watch him. However, Snape didn't stay seated at his desk for long. He soon stood up and was at the Harry's cauldron, telling him to use different amounts or ingredients to brew a stronger potion. Harry couldn't believe how civil Snape was being.
"You really love potions don't you?" Harry asked innocently.
Snape snarled, "Bottle it and clean up."
Dumbledore arrived shortly after he cleaned. He said very little but gave advice now and then to Snape, who was performing spells on Harry, only one of which he was effectively able to throw off. Luckily Hailey taught him how to find certain thoughts in someone else's mind, so as soon as he entered Snape's mind he could break the connection. A week before school started, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Ginny all arrived at Hogwarts.
"We all stayed at the Black Mansion!" Hermione exclaimed.
"And no cleaning this year!" Ron added
For the most part of three days, Ron, Hermione, and Harry discussed Sirius' death, the prophecy and Harry's feelings on the matter. Of course this had Hermione running to the library to find out everything she could on prophecies. However that didn't stop Hermione from coming with Harry to his lessons in which they continued to brew potions before the Occlumency lessons. On the fourth day of the arrival of Harry's friends they ate breakfast in the Great Hall. The only teachers present were the headmaster and Moony, who were talking quietly amongst themselves. They had just begun eating when the doors to the Great Hall flew open. Standing in the center of the doorway was Hailey, her black hair shiny and straight and she was engulfed in a robe of black as she whisked angrily toward the staff table. When she spoke she was quiet but quite adamant about what she was saying, and Dumbledore was looking angrier by the minute
"I don't trust that one," Ron stated
"I don't know myself," Hermione added. "We should be careful around her."
What do you know about her?" Harry questioned.
"Well in our experience, she has been overly nice," Hermione said.
"Yeah, besides the whole going missing thing," Ron added, "How about you Harry?"
"The same actually," Harry was going to add more when he heard Dumbledore yell.
"You most certainly will not! You will do as your told when you are told! Is that understood, Hailey Black? Now go and leave us!" his voice reverberated off the stone walls.
"Albus come now, Hailey he-" Lupin started.
"I hate you both!" Hailey said before walking out of the Great Hall.
"That was interesting," said Ron, looking warily at Harry and Hermione.
"I wonder what that was about," Hermione thought out loud. "Poor Professor Lupin looks so hurt."
"Really, Hermione we spend all summer with him and you can't call him Remus?"
"He's our teacher Ron!" Hermione said indignantly. Ron was about to say something but Harry interrupted
"Enough you two, I don't want to hear your bickering any more!" Harry said with a contemplative stare. Harry turned his stare towards the head table. He saw a sullen looking Lupin pushing his food around on his plate. His look turned to anger as he wiped his mouth on his napkin, throwing it on his plate as he stood up to exit the Great Hall.
"I wonder where he is going?" questioned Ginny, who had just walked in with Neville and Luna.
"No where," said Harry standing quickly and walking toward the door. As he walked he heard Hermione ask Neville how his trip to the greenhouse with Ginny and Luna was. Just as Harry was about to reach the Great Hall doors he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry, a word with you please." Harry really wanted to go comfort Lupin and tell him Hailey didn't mean it but he went with the Headmaster instead. When they reached the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore told him to take a seat.
"Am I in trouble, Headmaster?" Harry asked.
"Not at all my boy, I just wanted to talk with you before school started. Tea?"
"No thank you," said Harry
"How are you?"
Harry looked some what confused but replied with an honest "Okay".
"Ah quite a feat for someone who has lost quite possibly the only father figure he has ever known and been betrayed by the person who swore to you that you could trust him." Harry finally understood what Dumbledore wanted to discuss.
"Headmaster, honestly I'm fine, err… well I will be," Harry interceded. "Remus and I talked about it. I came to terms with it. I don't like that it happened and I sometimes am depressed about it. I lived yet again and someone else died. Sirius helped me in this war in more ways then he can imagine. When Cedric died, I witnessed it and felt for him; but it wasn't the same paralyzing heart wrenching feeling I felt watching Sirius die."
Dumbledore chuckled. "I see you and Remus discussed this in great detail."
Harry smiled at the twinkle returning to Dumbledore's eyes. "Yes, sir."
"Then I am going to guess that you were going to speak with him when I stopped you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Harry, I have to request that you do not pursue Miss Black or Professor Lupin on this matter."
"But…"
"No Harry, I know it will be difficult but you have to trust me." Harry squinted slightly at the Headmaster as though to figure out his secrets. "Miss Black is very forward about her feelings as you have already experienced. I believe after your lonesome Quidditch match," At this Harry blushed, "Yes, I was watching Harry, It helps if a Headmaster knows more then he should. However, about Miss Black, unfortunately she meant what she said; but she also loves Remus and that means more to her. Hailey is someone who will stand by those she loves even if it means loosing her own life in the process. That is why I tried to keep her away from Hogwarts. For trouble seems to find those who need it the least in these halls, probably Salazar's work." Dumbledore said contemplatively as he studied Harry's face for a moment. "Please don't ask me what enraged Miss Black, for I will not lie to you and fabricate a response."
Harry nodded. "Is that all sir?"
"Yes, you may go back to you common room," Dumbledore said as he dismissed Harry. Harry walked back to the common room, the whole time debating on going to see Moony. When he stepped through the portrait he felt an electrical shock of sorts. He looked around and saw Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna sitting silently, each of them looked slightly worried. He still felt the shock pulsing through him and turned to where he was hearing a commotion. Magic radiated in pulses off Hailey as she paced back and forth while she was screaming a stream of French to herself. Harry walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Hermione.
"What is she saying?" he asked no one in particular
"We have no clue, this is how we found her when we came in," said Hermione.
"Must be really angry that one," Cut in Ron. "I only saw mum pulse this much magic when Fred and George accidentally turned Ginny into a lawn gnome." At this Ginny turned pink.
The stream of French stopped and everyone turned to look at a still pacing Hailey who was breathing slightly heavy. Then she let out a high pitched scream of frustration. When she did, the sound of breaking glass echoed as every window in the tower broke. She stopped and looked at what she did for a moment. Then Harry felt a breeze as the shards of glass reformed and took their rightful place in the window. When Hailey saw this she put her face in her hands and ran up to the girls dorm sobbing.
"That was awesome!" exclaimed Ron, still staring at the windows.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," said Hermione.
"What do you mean?" asked Luna dreamily.
"'Hogwarts: A History' never mentioned anything about the windows being enchanted to repair themselves if they were broken. Actually, if I remember correctly, they were left un-enchanted for a purpose." She paused briefly. "When house rivalries between Godric's and Salazar's houses first started it was innocent fun. One of the first pranks played was by the Slytherins. During a Quidditch match they broke the towers windows with a breaking charm. They then put everlasting dung bombs, which are now banned in the magical community at the tower's base. Individual Gryffindors could fix small windows and not deplete their magic but the big windows remained broken. Thus, the dung smell drafted up through the window. Finally about a week after smelling the dung the Gryffindors met in the common room and as a group they cast the charm to fix the windows. After the windows were fixed by the students, the founders had a meeting about charming the windows to repair for the safety of the students. Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw were huge supporters of this movement. However Salazar and Godric denied it, they said it created house and school unity to fix them. So they were left un-charmed. That means someone fixed them. A very powerful someone."
"But who? We are the only ones here," Ginny said.
"Dumbledore," Harry said decisively.
"How would he know?" asked Ron.
"When I went to his office today he told me not to ask Remus or Hailey what the argument was about, and he told me he knows things like the fight Hailey and I had on the pitch last week."
"Inky," said Ron.
"It would make sense, he is the Headmaster," Hermione said.
"We should go check on her since she was angry at Dumbledore to begin with," Luna said.
Luna, Ginny, and Hermione went up to the girls' dormitory. They came back several minutes later
"I'm worried for her," Luna said sadly.
"Luna and Hailey are good friends," Neville told Harry.
"She won't come out of the room and the doors are magically charmed shut, the only indication she's in there is her sobs."
Almost half an hour later Hailey descended the girl's staircase. Hailey had changed to a deep violet robe and had her hair sleeked back. She looked as though she hadn't been crying. She walked right past the awaiting Gryffindors and Luna.
"Where are you going?" asked Luna. Luna seemed to snap Hailey out of whatever daze she was in.
"Wizards chess tournament, would you care to join?"
Ron's eyes bulged out of his head "Who is playing?" He asked excitedly.
"Severus, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and myself."
Hermione huffed at the use of Snape's first name. "It will be better if we have more participants. It gets boring after a while."
"You mean you've done this before? I bet McGonagall is wicked awesome. I can't imagine Snape ever playing a civilized game." Ron spouted.
"Professor McGonagall is alright, Severus is amazing, and yes we do this often; I think I covered them all eh Ginny?" Ginny who was giggling at her brother managed to get out a muffled agreement.
"So who's in?" Hailey asked.
"I for one, will not participate in some barbaric form of entertainment." Hermione said matter of factually.
"That would be a no then." Hailey said causing Ginny to laugh and Luna to smirk. Hermione glared at them which shut them up quickly.
"That would be a no for us too." Ginny said quickly looking at Luna.
"Yeah a girls day alone" Luna added almost too quickly.
"Alright, anyone else not in?" Hailey asked. Harry was horrible at chess but said nothing and decided to go along.
"Alright," she said. "That's four plus you three, oh dear we do have a problem… you need to find another player." Harry was about to say he wouldn't play when Ron shouted
"LUPIN, he will play!" Hermione hit him as he slapped his hands over his mouth.
"I'll take you to his chambers but, you are asking him" Hailey said stoically. They walked to Lupin's room and knocked on the door. When he opened the door his expression changed from fury to a calm gentleness when he saw Ron. then to sadness when he saw Hailey. However he cordially accepted the invitation.
Hailey took them on a winding route through the dungeons that Moony seemed to know all too well. When they got to a particular spot in the depths of the dungeons she held her hands to the bricks. Suddenly a great wooden door appeared. She bent down and appeared to breathe on the door knob but Harry heard a barely audible, "I am here to see Severus Snape, Master of Potions. I mean him no harm." The door swung open and the first thing they heard was Snape.
"You're late!" he barked then he looked at her sternly. "You brought students to my chambers?" He looked at the visitors. "Touch nothing!" He said in a threatening tone.
"Look around," Hailey said to the boys, "the kitchen is through there" she said pointing, "Help yourselves."
"Lupin" Snape said, "Your potion will be finished tomorrow. You can come here to pick it up.
"Thank you Severus." Lupin replied kindly.
Harry noticed Neville was beginning to slightly tremble when McGonagall walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Relax, have fun," she whispered. The smile she gave him said, "Plus if he tries anything I'll hex him into oblivion." She then winked and turned to look at Snape who was talking with Hailey. Hailey reached in her robe pocket and extracted two bottles.
"Hopping Hippogriffs, Severus, do you know what that is?" McGonagall asked.
"Of course, old woman!" Snapped Snape. "I am not an incompetent dunderhead."
"Those are Phoenix tears! Hailey, where did you get them? They had to have cost a fortune, and so many of them there must be enough to make at least a life time supply of the strongest healing potions available." With this she gave Snape a skeptical look. Snape didn't let Hailey answer. Instead he drew her into a side room. Realizing Snape put up both locking and silencing charms Professor Flitwick flicked his wand at a chalk board set up behind the wizard's chess boards.
"Ah yes, where to begin," He said pensively.
"Okay the first round will be Ron and Minerva, myself and Hailey, Harry and Severus (At which point Harry groaned silently) and Remus and Neville. There will be no loser bracket, only a winner's, the winners from each round advance. Any questions?"
Just as Filtwick finished his speech Hailey and Snape emerged from the room. Snape opened a chestnut cupboard door and put three vials on a shelf. "Ah Severus, Hailey, I have already made the chest assignments. Let's begin!"
Snape sneered slightly when he realized Harry was his first opponent. Snape crushed Harry and advanced. In the second round Neville and Snape faced off and Hailey and Ron faced off while Remus, McGonagall, and Flitwick watched. Snape beat Neville and Ron beat Hailey. When Hailey came over to the group watching she smiled slightly.
"What are you smiling about? You always play Severus, I think this is the first time you haven't made it to the final," McGonagall said.
"I want to wager. 10 gold Galleons says Ron beats Uncle Snape," Hailey replied
"No way could Severus lose! I meet you bet!" McGonagall replied indignantly. "Come on everyone, make your bets!" In the end Harry had to admit his odds were on Snape. Everyone but Hailey voted for Snape to win. Ron beat Snape by a landslide which didn't make Snape happy.
"I just want to know how you knew," McGonagall asked Hailey afterwards.
"It was simple really; I was no contest for him when I played him. He is an excellent player and he keeps his thought pattern irregular. I knew Severus would be watching him the whole time and think he knew his game. But he didn't so he made stupid moves on assumptions." Hailey smiled proudly at herself clutching her money.
"Yes, well everyone, OUT!" Snape snipped, not in a good mood from loosing.
"Such a sore loser," Hailey taunted.
"20 points from Gryffindor" Snape cried.
"And were no even in school yet!" Hailey huffed as she closed the door. The Gryffindors stepped back to watch the bricks reappear and then made their way back to Gryffindor tower. Harry and Ron filled Hermione in on all the events of the Chess tournament which had her searching the library for every potion that used Phoenix tears. Harry, Hailey, and Hermione went to the potions and Occlumency lessons as usual, not even thinking of stopping lessons on the night of the Beginning Feast.