Star Crossed Lovers
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts in the hope of getting his life back on track after Sirius. But he finds comfort in the arms of a familiar face. Harry/Susan
Two households, both alike in dignity. . . The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage. . .
(Romeo and Juliet prologue)
The inspiration for this fanfiction came from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Only inspiration, it's not a translation of Romeo and Juliet into the world of Harry Potter I can assure you. In fact it's very different.
I also thought it was interesting that the name 'Susan' means 'Lily' in Hebrew. I was thinking since Ms Rowling has a liking to link people's names to their personalities (e. g Remus because he's a werewolf and this ties in with the story of Romulus and Remus; the founders of Rome who were raised by a wolf e. t. c). So I figured maybe J. K Rowling is letting history repeat itself in a way by letting Harry fall in love with Susan.
I don't know really it's just one of my theories. Maybe you could email me and tell me what you think and let's face it; Harry has to find some girl so why not Susan?
Hope you enjoy! Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters from the magical world which belongs to J. K Rowling.
Rated R for sexual situations, language and violence.
Star Crossed Lovers
Chapter One – A Familiar Face
Three friends sat in a long forgotten room with dreaded anticipation of what was to come. All of them were sixteen now, and the cold realisation that they were growing up fast was starting to dawn on them. None of them had realised how hard it was to get older.
The tallest of the friends (although you couldn't tell because they he was sitting on the ground) was a ginger-haired boy becoming lankier by the year and he was flicking through the pages of the Quibbler. He had tried to occupy himself by reading the unorthodox magazine but his nervousness kept creeping up on him so by this stage he had read the heading: NASTY NARGLES – BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU KISS.
A bushy-haired girl kept pacing around her two friends, muttering to herself and talking at a fast rate (something she did when she was nervous).
The other of the three friends was a boy with jet-black messy hair, round glasses and a lightning shaped scar on his forehead. He was sprawled out on the floor, counting the cracks in the ceiling, trying to take his mind off the coming of his O. W. L results, like his other two friends were.
Only, it was much worse for Harry because he had just lost his godfather – the only person he looked on as a father. He was dead, gone, never to return. For weeks after Sirius' death Harry had pretty much kept to himself. He didn't trust himself to be around other people as that usually resulted in him telling them to go away and leave him alone.
But now he was used to Ron and Hermione being around. Being alone had made him feel lonely. So he was very grateful when Ron had found this room at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. It had become their secret hide out where they came to be alone and talk.
"I can't stand this any longer", Hermione said fretfully. "Do you think they've lost our results? Maybe they were stolen." She cast an anxious look at Harry and Ron.
"Don't be daft, Hermione", Ron said rolling his eyes. "Besides", he added glumly, "no one in their right mind would want my results. Unless the person wants a piece of parchment which says TROLL all over it . . ." Ron averted his eyes back to the Quibbler.
Hermione went back to her pacing which Harry really wished she wouldn't do.
"I'm sure you didn't fail any, Ron", Hermione muttered, more to herself. "Unless they added up our marks wrongly." She stopped dead in her tracks. "You don't think they added them up wrongly do you?"
"Oh for the love of . . . Hermione would you just sit down and be quiet?" Ron snapped viciously. "You're making me nervous!"
Hermione looked at him, like a wounded animal but then flopped down onto the ground, giving him a stern look every now and then and making huffing noises. Harry couldn't describe his gratefulness to Ron. Only Ron could get away with arguing with Hermione.
What seemed like hours passed until all three of them heard the sound of someone running up the stairs, their footsteps pounding on each step as if in a hurry. All three of them were paralysed to the spot and none moved until Mrs. Weasley came running into the room. Her face was flushed and in her hand she held three envelopes.
"Ron . . . Hermione . . . Harry . . ." she gasped, handing them each their letter. Mrs Weasley stood in the doorway, looking as nervous as Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Harry held the crisp, white envelope in his hands which were shaking uncontrollably. A million thoughts passed through his head that had never occurred to him before now.
What if the marks had been added up wrongly?
What if he failed?
What if he had done so badly that he couldn't get back into Hogwarts?
He hadn't thought of that. Now that Sirius was no longer here he couldn't stay with him at Grimmauld Place. Harry remembered that the last time he was this nervous he was about to go into a trial at the Ministry. Back then things weren't so bad since Sirius was still there to stay with him if he was expelled from Hogwarts. But Sirius wasn't here anymore. Visions of Sirius' body lying on the ground kept creeping into Harry's mind and Harry had to concentrate hard on pushing them back out again. Sirius' eyes were empty and blank. The pupils had revolved backwards; there was no soul in him anymore.
"Harry dear?" Mrs Weasley coaxed him. Harry snapped out of his thoughts only to realise Mrs Weasley, Ron and Hermione were standing looking at him. Somehow in the space of what seemed like a few seconds they had torn open their letters and were now anxiously awaiting Harry's reaction to his own results.
"I can't do it!" Harry exclaimed. "I can't do it! What's the point?" He threw the envelope which was a little wet from his sweaty hands and ran from the room. He tore down the hallway and into his room, locking the door behind him.
One thing Harry couldn't do was cry. He'd tried, but it was no use. He didn't think it would help him anyway. He just sat on his bed and stared into space, wishing he was someone else for a change.
Things are never going to be the same again, Harry thought.
What was he going to do when he left school? Sirius' will hadn't been sorted out yet and Harry wasn't fussed on going through all of it. All he was worried about now was where he would stay when he left school.
"Harry?" A hoarse voice was calling him from the other side of the locked door. Immediately Harry knew who it was.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry sat up on the bed and looked at his door.
"Yes, it's me Harry. May I come in?" Lupin asked politely. The last person Harry wanted to talk to about Sirius was Lupin but it had been ages since Lupin had seen Harry; he had been away on Order business and it was nice to hear his voice again.
"Sure, whatever", Harry called half-heartedly. Lupin cast the spell 'alohamora' and the door swung open. Harry's old Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher stepped inside the room; his face was paler than usual and his hair had even more grey streaks. Often Harry felt pity for him, but right now he felt even sorrier for himself. He knew he was being selfish but he couldn't help it.
"Are you all right, Harry?" Lupin asked him from across the room, afraid to step up too close to Harry in case he wasn't truly welcome.
Harry just stared at him.
"Stupid question wasn't it?" Lupin said quietly.
"Mmmmm", Harry agreed, then returned his gaze to the ceiling.
"It's not easy is it? Being here on your own?" Lupin asked finally coming over to sit on the end of Harry's bed. When Harry didn't answer he went on, "But you see, Harry, what you don't realise is that you're not alone. Not truly alone. Believe me Harry I know what utter loneliness feels like."
How dare he patronise me? Harry thought.
Harry's anger had now come so close to the surface he felt as if he were going to erupt in a fit of roaring but Lupin didn't give him the chance.
"This is the second time I've lost Sirius." Harry's anger subsided. How could he be so cruel to forget? "When your father died I lost all my best friends at once. Peter had been 'murdered' by Sirius, James had been murdered by Voldemort and Sirius was a cold-hearted killer. As far as I was concerned Sirius was dead to me."
Harry had sat up on the bed and was listening intently to Lupin. For the first time in weeks he felt thankful that someone was opening up to him. Lupin was bearing his soul and Harry could look deep into his heart and find comfort. But somehow even Lupin's sadness couldn't open up Harry's own heart.
"Now, I've lost him again. And do you know something?" Lupin asked, his voice nearing breaking point. Harry shook his head, his eyes down looking at the floor. "For some reason this time round I feel much worse. Do you know what I mean?" Harry nodded. He knew what he meant.
"Dumbledore once told me", Harry said, "that death is the next great adventure."
Lupin smiled a watery smile. "Dumbledore's a wise man. You'd do well to listen to him", he said.
Harry smiled back and nodded, his head felt heavy. "I seem to do that best a lot these days. I can't really talk to people", Harry admitted.
"Oh, don't worry. You will eventually. Take your time. No one's making you pour your heart out. And maybe if you even feel you never want to talk about it you don't have to." Lupin placed an arm on Harry's shoulder in a fatherly way. "But I would advise you to talk about it because if you keep these feelings bottled up they'll come back to haunt you.
You'll feel better talking about this. Sirius wouldn't want you to be unhappy, Harry. He was so proud of you. Like you were his own son. He loved you Harry. Never forget that, and he'll always be with you. There'd be something wrong with Sirius if he didn't look out for his friends. So just imagine how much you mean to him, because you're much more than a friend to him."
Harry put his head in his hands. He'd rather go through a million duels with Voldemort than this. Harry nodded silently.
"Where's my exam results?" Harry sniffed, trying to hold back tears.
"Why I have them right here." Lupin held up the envelope. "Here you are."
Harry stared at the envelope. "I'd rather you opened them professor, if you don't mind."
"Are you sure?" the teacher asked, the letter suspended in this hand. Again Harry nodded.
Lupin sighed heavily and raised his eyebrows. "Here we go then!" He tore the top of the envelope and slipped his forefinger and thumb inside, emerging with a yellow parchment. Harry noticed his fingers were shaking and felt his own insides squirming.
With ease he flipped the folded letter open and his eyes scanned quickly down the parchment, while Harry's started to close in cold fear.
"Dear Mr. Potter", Lupin began, his voice trembling slightly, "we thank you for taking part in the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations. Enclosed in this letter are your results. If you have any queries please contact us . . . Blah, blah, blah . . . Harry!" Lupin's exclamation nearly made him fall off the end of the bed.
"What is it?" he cried.
"This is tremendous! You've done very well. In Divination you've obtained an E, O in Defence Against the Dark Arts, O in Transfiguration, E in Charms, E in Care of Magical Creatures, I'm afraid you've not quite managed History of Magic; you got a D, but listen to this Harry!"
Harry leaned in to look at the parchment. The D wasn't much of a let- down. He knew he'd do poorly in it since he hadn't really even done the exam. But Lupin's voice was getting shaky with excitement.
"You've got-"
"An O in Potions?" Harry exclaimed in an awed voce as he read over Lupin's shoulder. "An O in Potions?" He couldn't believe his own eyes.
"That's right!" Lupin beamed. "You should be thrilled Harry!"
"Yeah. . ." Harry said stunned. "I just don't believe it." Snape wouldn't either.
"Well start believing it because that's what it says down here. It also says you've got to make your subject choices within this week and send them by owl to Hogwarts. Have you any idea which subjects you'd like to do?"
Harry sat in silence for a while, taking everything in. "Yes, yes I do. Transfiguration, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and . . . do I have to do Potions to be an Auror?"
Lupin laughed softly, "Unfortunately yes, Harry. A professional Auror must be able to brew potions which will help him or her in the occupation. You know, like Polyjuice Potion for disguise or whatever is needed." Harry's heart sank but at least he'd be able to face Snape this year without feeling like the biggest dunce Snape ever taught.
Something Harry hadn't expected when he arrived at Hogwarts on the train was to be glad to see people. For months he had hidden himself away and dreaded facing the students. But now as he stood on platform Nine and Three Quarters, with the Hogwarts Express in front of him he was relieved to see everyone's smiling faces greeting him, asking him if he'd had a good summer.
"Hey Harry! Had a nice summer?" Harry turned to face Neville's smiling face, with Trevor in his hands. "Guess what? I passed all my exams! Even Defence Against the Dark Arts!"
Harry felt a surge of pride for Neville. After everything he had been through it was nice to see him doing well. "Nice one mate", Harry said placing his hand on Neville's shoulder.
"Well", Neville beamed, "You helped."
"Yeah", Harry remembered. "I wonder how everyone else got on in their O. W. L s."
At that moment Harry looked around. His eyes scanned the crowd for members of the DA but his eyes rested accidentally on Cho. As always she was surrounded by her giggling friends and Marietta who was looking very pleased with herself. It didn't take Harry long to work out why; she had a shinny Head Girl badge pinned to her chest.
"Why has she been made Head Girl?" Harry demanded. "Has Dumbledore lost his marbles?"
Neville took his time to answer, afraid he would upset Harry. "I suppose Dumbledore thinks it will encourage her to be more faithful to Hogwarts. I heard she got top of her year in the summer exams too. She must be really smart."
"Yeah, smart enough to convince Cho she's 'a nice person really'", Harry grumbled, recalling Cho's words. He wasn't bitter about Cho anymore; and it didn't bother him when Michael Corner came over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. It was over between himself and Cho.
"Oh, look Harry." Neville nudged him, bringing Harry back down to earth. Neville was looking at the train; the doors had opened, allowing students to board. Ron and Hermione had just arrived back from prefect duties so Harry decided to board with them. Picking up his heavy trunk he shuffled into the crowd. First years slid in past Harry, nearly knocking him off his feet, forcing him to move back constantly, until very soon he found himself near the back of the queue.
"Bloody midgets! I should just step on them!" Ron cried as another first year accidentally stepped on his feet in a desperate attempt to get to the front.
"You could at least say sorry!" Hermione snapped at the little boy, who quickly spun around to face her.
"I'd rather eat a booger flavoured Bertie Botts bean", he said rudely. Hermione's mouth dropped open so wide the boy could've thrown in ten booger flavoured beans all at once and they would all have landed successfully in Hermione's mouth.
"Well I never!" Hermione cried indignantly as the boy disappeared into the crowd.
"I know", Ron said shaking his head slowly in disbelief. "We were never that rude when we were his age."
"Tell you what", Hermione told Harry and Ron, "you two split up and find an empty carriage. When you do, throw your bags on the seats and tell the other. I'll try to find that ignorant little first year."
Harry smiled and pushed his way into the train. Already nearly all the carriages were filled up. Ron moved off down one end of the train and Harry went down the other. Eventually he found one compartment that didn't seem to be full from the outside. He slid the door open, only to find a girl sitting on her own, gazing out of the window. It was obvious from the look on her face that she was surprised to see Harry. Her bright eyes lit up in realisation of who he was and she nervously pushed a long strand of hair out of her face. However Harry was used to surprising people, he was after all Harry Potter and the concept of people looking at his scar was normal now; he could deal with it.
"Are these seats taken?" he asked the girl. Undoubtedly she was pretty, her long blonde hair cascaded down her back and her pale face was illuminated by her blue eyes but Harry had the distinct feeling he'd seen her somewhere before. When he had come into the carriage she had gasped, making Harry wonder what was wrong with her. But she had quickly recovered and now she answered him.
"I'm really sorry but I'm keeping these seats for Hannah, Ernie and Zach", she said, looking genuinely sorry that the seats were taken. "They've just gone out for a while."
Suddenly realisation dawned on Harry. Of course! How could he forget? The girl was Susan Bones; the niece of Madam Bones who had questioned him at his hearing. But she looked different this year; it was surprising to find what a difference a few months could make to a person's appearance. Susan had been the quiet one in the DA. Usually she had picked up on the spells quicker than everyone else so Harry hadn't had much social contact with her at all. But he would have thought he could at least have recognised her.
"You're Susan, right?" Harry asked awkwardly; he didn't like to come across like he was interrogating her as she looked very nervous.
"That's right", she said, breaking into a smile. "I was in the DA remember?"
"Yeah I do", Harry replied, remembering with pleasure how she had stunned Zacharius Smith on numerous occasions. "How did you get on in your exams by the way?"
"Oh! I passed Defence Against the Dark Arts with an O", she told him proudly. "How did you get on?"
"Same as you", Harry said. He was so glad that his help had benefited others. "Well, I'd best get going", he said gesturing towards the door.
"Harry!" Susan called him back as he was leaving. He moved his head around the compartment door to look at her.
"I wouldn't have got that result without you", she said smiling a sweet smile. "Thanks for all your help." For some reason Harry felt his insides doing a summersault and searched his mind for something intelligent to say back.
"No problem", he said smiling back. Did that sound too pompous? Was it too casual? His mind bombarded him with questions. Oh for heaven's sake! It was just a passing comment, he told himself as he walked down the aisle in the desperate hope for a free compartment.
It was only occurring to him now, but Susan was a really friendly person. She was sweet, pretty and kind and she must've gone away for the summer because her legs really suit that tan. . .
Oh stop thinking like that! Harry scolded himself. She's just a girl, you're through with girls. I can still dream can't I? Harry argued. There's nothing wrong with dreaming. . .
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