H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 20
Making Peace
--
Harry and Hermione arrive at Hogwarts and face the echoes of the past battle in their minds.
--
The next morning Harry awoke to his father snarling for him to get up in his ear. "Go away!" He buried his face in his pillow.
"Oh, no you don't." James yanked off the covers. "Its going on half past eleven and you're set to leave at noon for Hogwarts."
"I'll catch up later." He didn't want to think about going back yet.
"Move your ass Harry James!" James swatted him a few times on the rear.
"Hey!!" Harry rolled over and glared at his father. "Don't do that again!"
"Oh, I'll do more than that now get up!" James went to swat at him again and Harry reached over for his specs before getting up.
He wasn't pleased with his rude awakening so on his way to the bathroom; he flipped him the bird before slamming the door.
"He's upset about going back so I will let that one slide." James grumbled under his breath.
"You were asking for that James." Lily had been watching his way of waking up their son.
"He had to wake up didn't he?" James glared at her.
"You didn't have to go drill sergeant on him. This is going to be a hard day for him so be nice." Lily growled.
"Be nice when he goes all smart ass like that?!" James muttered.
"In the mood he's in right now, he's highly capable of jinxing you from here, to the other side and back." Lily gave him fair warning.
"I would listen to Mother if I were you." Harry was dressed to travel in jeans and a Gryffindor sweater. "It was nice of them to at least leave something for me to wear today. Where are all the trunks?"
"They were all taken to Hogwarts as soon as all of you finished packing, so you wouldn't be able to change your minds about going." Lily watched for a reaction and was surprised when he took that news calmly.
"That saves us having drag all of it outside and loading it into the limo." Harry tied his loafers.
"Sirius and Kreacher decided to make sure that your things got to their destination, so he's also already there with our portraits." Lily watched as he looked over his room.
"This is the first room that has really ever been truly mine." He went about making the bed. "I'm going to miss it."
"There's something else that arrived while you and Hermione were out nearly all night." James went to go bring Harry what Wood had dropped off. "I believe it's a uniform of some sort."
Harry stared at the garment bag that looked like it contained more than just a uniform. "Is this what I think it is?" He looked excitedly over at his parents.
"There's only one way to find out." James grinned.
Harry unzipped the garment bag revealing Puddlemere United uniforms of royal blue and gold with H Potter and the number 5 on them, new armor to match the uniform, numerous pairs of team sweats, and a team jacket. He took out the jacket and zipped up the garment bag. "This is choice." He tried on the jacket made from the finest dragon hide.
"Good your up." Draco walked in dressed in similar clothes. "The uniforms were a nice surprise last night and the jacket, well, it's wicked cool."
"The jacket is brilliant." Harry slung the garment bag over his shoulder and headed out of his room. "So how are you gonna get all of our electronic gadgets to work at Hogwarts?"
"I figure that between the four of us we'll be able to figure a way around it." Draco followed him out of the room. "So are you gonna put the mark on Flitch when we get there?"
Harry's face broke into a wicked grin. "He's a squib but downright dark, so it wouldn't hurt would it."
"What wouldn't hurt?" Hermione came out of her rooms dressed to go wearing her own Puddlemere United jacket. She had the scrapbook in her arms.
"Making old Flitch pass the Dark Wizard test." Draco smirked. "Wood told me to tell you that there's a spot open for you if you ever change your mind and that for now you're an honorary member of the team."
Hermione looked at the cast on her arm and then at the two of them. "It's nice to know that they feel that way, but this is fine with me."
Harry noticed that she had a death grip on the scrapbook. "So I take it that you like your present?" He watched as her eyes lit up with happiness.
"I would kiss you, but I have to find something, so this doesn't get harmed during our trip." Hermione beamed.
Harry went back into his rooms and reappeared with the leather case for the book. "I believe that this is what you're looking for."
"I didn't sleep at all this morning all I did was pour through the scrapbook." She set the book inside the protective case.
"We now know where most of Colin's pics went. He was taking pictures for Aunt Minerva. She's the one that started that scrapbook and various teachers have added things to it. Uncle Albus really got creative with much it. I like the way they make fifth year with stormy illustrations to show my mood for that year. Ron's parts even have the 'Weasley is our King' final song. It really is a never ending present." Harry was feeling a little better about going back.
"Ginny went to round up Crooks and Isis, but they don't wish to travel in their travel baskets." Draco looked down at the entryway where Ginny was chasing Isis. "Hedwig, Aristotle, and Pig are already at Hogwarts. They were going to take the cats, but Percy suffered a serious scratch when he tried to get Crooks in the basket." He chuckled.
"Harry, I have the garment bag and that's it so could you go get it for me." Hermione stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
"Sure angel I'll be right down." He went into her room to get it.
"You really did just blink at him and say 'Harry could you go to the restricted section in the library' didn't you?" Draco shook his head in disbelief.
"Well he had the cloak and we needed to find out more information about the Philosophers stone and Nicholas Flamel." Hermione headed down the stairs.
"Ron was right when he used to say that you're brilliant, but scary sometimes." He teased.
"In her defense we did almost get her killed first year when we locked the troll in the girls' bathroom, so after that she made it her mission to keep us in line." Harry joined them.
"Someone had to keep you alive. After all, most of the time you two were clueless." Hermione almost tripped over Crooks. He was hiding at the bottom of the last step. "Naughty cat you have to get in the basket at least until we're in the limo." She scolded her cat.
"Gotcha!" Ginny scooped up the cat and set him in his basket. "We're all set to go now."
"Harry James, put that down and come eat something. You only have ten minutes until your ride arrives to collect you." Mattie came out of the kitchen.
"I'm not really hungry." Harry answered.
"Nonsense you need to eat something." She tossed him an apple.
"Yes Nana." He obediently bit into the apple.
"So how are we going to get there in one limo?" Hermione frowned.
"You four are going on ahead of us and we'll see you at dinner." Remus came out of one of the other rooms.
"You know this therapy crap really sucks!" Harry glared at Remus.
"Look kid. You need to face it by yourselves..." Remus didn't want them to have to relive those memories, but there really was no choice.
"Yeah, right it's for our own good to face things alone. That's our life story isn't it?!" He stalked out the front door.
"He does have a point. The two of them have never really counted on any adults to back them up. They just counted on themselves." Draco slung the bag that was hanging in the entryway over the basket containing Isis and left the house.
"These two weeks were supposed to be enjoyable and besides a few instances it wasn't." Hermione picked up Crooks basket and followed Draco.
"They should be civil when the rest of you arrive." Ginny, carrying her own garment bag, tried to give Remus some hope.
"I really don't see that happening on the first day or night back. Have a safe trip we'll see you at dinner." Remus watched as Ginny walked out the door.
"I smell a disaster in the making." James appeared behind him.
"Perhaps or they might unleash their temper on Flitch." Remus smirked.
"Harry will take him down a few pegs, that's for sure. He isn't the least bit afraid of him or that cat of his." James growled.
Harry walked back in the door. "Oh yeah, I forgot my frickin manners. I will see all of you at dinner! Good-bye!" With that said he slammed the door.
"Oh yeah, Flitch is toast." Remus and James agreed.
--
Harry stalked out to the lane and held out his wand, both the Knight Bus and limo appeared with a resounding crack. "Hey, guys we get to choose this time. Its looks like the brothers are competing for our services!"
Dan shot out of the Limo and stalked over to his brother, who was standing in front of the Knight Bus. "Get that piece of junk off the road this instant!" He bellowed snootily.
Stan's face turned several shades of red before he spoke. "This is the Knight Bus! Something the Wizarding World has used since the invention of the automobile!! That is a high-class eyesore!" He snarled.
"Anyone want to risk a four-person two cat Disapparation?" Harry felt a headache coming on.
"No offense to Stan, but I don't wish to ride the Knight Bus." Hermione opened the door to the limo and set Crooks inside.
"Me neither." Draco got in with Isis.
"Well where he goes I go." Ginny got in after Draco.
"Thanks a lot now I have to go tell Stan." Harry threw the bags into the limo and then went over to the two brothers. "Is there a problem here gentleman?" He gave him his best HBP glare.
"You called for the Knight Bus and he says you called for him!" Stan growled.
"Stan things have changed. The ministry will no longer allow me to ride in this glorious blue machine of yours. I instead have to suffer with that stretch monstrosity over there. You do understand that I have no say in this and my Uncle Albus Dumbledore has declared it so. Now we're already late to see him as it is and he doesn't fancy being kept waiting." He risked a glance at Dan and winked at him before returning his gaze to Stan.
:Well done young master way to smooth things over in a pinch.: Leo applauded him. :Your temper and attitude towards your elders still needs work though.:
Harry ignored that last comment and focused on the problem. "I'm Half-Blood Prince now Stan and I have new rules that I've gotta follow. It's just royal protocol so no bad feelings."
Stan shuffled his feet for a minute or two. "No bad feelings, Harry. I'm just sorry that you got saddled with my prat big brother."
Harry looked over at Dan, who looked as if he were about to deck his little brother. "Now Stan, maybe your brother didn't get the honor of conducting the Knight Bus like you did, and this is what he was offered instead." Harry didn't want to referee a war.
Hermione got out of the limo and walked over to them. "In about one minute the royal guard is going to descend on us and I really don't like to deal with Tonks and Kinglsey when they're in bad moods. Moody considers them the best in his security team." She decided that scaring Stan was in order. "Did I mention that they are Aurors and were at the final battle against the Dark Lord?"
"Your pullin' me leg you are!" Stan rolled his eyes at her.
Two loud cracks echoed around them.
"Do we have a problem!?" Kingsley narrowed his eyes at Dan and Stan, his wand pointed at Stan.
"I say Kings! It looks like he's fighting over Harry." Tonks scowled. She looked as if she'd just been rudely awakened and had thrown on her clothes. "I say we teach him that no one messes with our Harry, ever."
"I tried to warn you Stan, but it looks like they were pulled away from other activities to come deal with the two of you." Hermione smirked.
"Hello Dan. You can get into the Limo, we'll deal with Stan." Kingsley advanced on Stan.
"Thanks Kings." Dan walked over and looked into the limo. He took out the garment bags and then put them in the trunk.
"I don't want no trouble with the law. I just... Well... He stuck out his wand and that means he needs a ride." Stan was visibly sweating now.
"That's how it should be, but when you saw the limo you should have moved on." Tonks growled.
"Look Stan. I promise that if I need it the Knight Bus will be on the top of my list." Harry and Hermione went and got in the limo.
"Get your sorry arse into that bus and go pick up the fifty passengers that have been hailing you for ten minutes!" Kingsley barked.
Stan didn't need telling twice and within seconds the Knight Bus was gone.
"Which one of us, gets to ride with them?" Kingsley arched a brow at Tonks who was sporting flaming orange hair.
"You can go along. I have quality time to get back to with Charlie." Tonks winked at him.
"You and Charlie have been seeing a lot of each other." Kingsley grinned.
"That Kings is none of your business. Have fun teen-sitting." She winked at him before Disapparating.
Kinglsey got into the to the front passenger side door and sat down. "Let's get going he's late as it is." He closed the door.
"So when is Becky due?" Dan started them on the way to Hogwarts.
"She's due in late August or early September and has entered the grouchy phase of her pregnancy." He yawned. "That and she craves muggle fast-food at odd hours of the night."
"Sorry that you got a rude wake up call." Dan sympathized.
"It's not a problem. I had just got into work when I got the message from Albus. It looked like Harry was handling it though." Kingsley wanted to nap during the drive so he closed his eyes.
"He gave Stan the whole prince routine, but Stan is stubborn when he gets a burr up his ass."
"No offense my friend, but you both are. Now not to be rude, but I'm going to rest until we reach Hogwarts."
Dan focused on driving.
--
"That was interesting and a headache that I didn't need." Harry raided the wet bar for something to eat.
"You really are getting good at this prince thing aren't you?" Draco was looking through the scrapbook with Ginny.
"It didn't work because now we have Kings with us." Harry grumbled.
"I imagine it's more of the fact the limo didn't move and the Knight Bus was way behind schedule which rarely happens." She was using Harry's shoulder for a pillow.
Ginny changed the subject. "I think you owe Colin an apology. These shots are amazing, especially the ones that he took of the Triwizard tournament."
"I guess this puts everything into perspective about how big of an ass I really was." Draco was looking at the shot of Hermione decking him. "He must hide in corners or something."
"Draco did you have to change your underwear after that?" Harry chuckled.
"Actually, I had to go to Hospital wing and explain it to the nurse." Draco smirked.
"How about after I scared the crap out of you by the Shrieking Shack, to the point that you went off screaming like a girl?" Harry was munching on a pumpkin pasty.
"Oh yes, that was the day when we got to see whether you, Crabbe, and Goyle wore boxers or briefs." Hermione giggled.
"Ron crapped his drawers too!" Draco had to admit that it was funny. "You were the only one that wasn't scared."
"I knew that it was Harry. I think before I panic. I could see the trail that he was leaving." Hermione yawned.
"Now this one brings back memories." Ginny was looking at Draco after she had hexed him in Umbridge's office. "Here's the one where we jinxed you into something that resembled a huge slug."
"That was the year I ended up in St. Mungo's till the end of August." Draco growled. "I did deserve it, but that wasn't a pleasant summer."
"Sorry Draco. We'll be nice." Harry tossed him a bottle of Butterbeer.
"This just catalogs my darker time, so if I need a reminder I just have to flip through some pages." Draco popped open the cap of his Butterbeer and took a swig from the bottle.
"Well that isn't you it's Draco Malfoy." Ginny kissed him on the cheek. "See this is you Draco Black." She flipped to near the end of the book. There were pictures of them by the pool, playing Quidditch, at the festival, and more.
"She's right you know. Malfoy died and you took his place."
"That's right. You're family now, so don't dwell on the past so much." Hermione was talking in her sleep.
"Is she sleeping or just resting her eyes?" Draco looked over at Hermione.
"She's sleeping has been for a few minutes. She's just aware of the conversation." Harry yawned, looked outside through the tinted windows, and saw that they were just leaving Wales. They still had a few hours to go. "I think I'll rest as well." He closed his eyes.
Ginny had put away the scrapbook and was curling up for a nap. "I didn't get all that much sleep either." She yawned.
"No none of us did." Draco decided to nap too.
Kingsley awoke when the chatting stopped behind him. "It's too quiet back there, remove the glass barrier."
Dan let him look. "So what are they doing?"
Kingsley went back to his nap. "They're all sleeping."
"Well I guess that's better than snogging all the way to Hogwarts." He left the glass down.
"Don't give them any ideas." Kingsley grumbled.
--
The limo pulled to a halt right in front of the main gate, the four of them had slept through almost the whole drive.
Albus and Minerva opened the door to the Limo before Dan could get out of the car.
"Albus they look so peaceful." Minerva looked inside and saw that they were all asleep.
"Yes, but awaken them we must." Albus sighed.
Harry opened one eye to look at who was talking. "Hello Uncle Albus, Aunt Minerva." He yawned.
"Hello Harry welcome home." He smiled.
"We're at Hogwarts?" He was still too sleepy to grasp anything.
"Harry! Hermione! You're finally here!!" Ron popped into the limo scaring everyone except Ginny out of his or her slumber.
Four wands pointed at Ron.
"Damn it to hell! Why did ya have to do that?" Kingsley grumbled.
"We're here?" Ginny blinked her eyes open.
"That's right baby sis, its time for you to wake up now." Ron grinned.
"If I wasn't so bloody tired I would jinx you and I can do it because we're back at Hogwarts now." Hermione growled at him.
"Now that you're up let's get you settled in the castle." Albus smiled.
"Then we can get some food into the four of you." Minerva smiled.
They all reluctantly piled out of the Limo said good-bye to Dan and made the long trek up to the castle.
Harry could hear echoes of their hard fought victory, as they passed various spots on the grounds. He could almost smell and taste the battle that once had raged here.
"I can handle this." He muttered under his breath.
Hermione was having a similar reaction. She could hear the centaurs and Grawp fighting as if it was still happening.
"Just relax. You can get through this." She chanted to herself.
Albus carefully watched the four of them and saw that only Harry and Hermione looked like they had become tangled in memories. Draco and Ginny were fine as far as he could tell, but that could be because they were holding the cats in their arms.
Harry made it as far as the front doors and then stopped, as did Hermione. "We need to go inside alone." He turned to look at his Uncle and Aunt.
"Of course my boy, you and Hermione need time alone. We'll take another way into the castle." Albus left the two of them to make peace with the war going on inside their minds.
--
Harry took Hermione's hand in his; the two of them opened the doors, and walked into the entranceway.
The past replayed itself in their minds.
Luna met them halfway. "Harry...Hermione...welcome back." She floated up to them with a dreamy smile on her face.
"You died right there." Harry pointed to where she was hovering.
"Oh, this isn't good not good at all...you're reliving it." Luna sighed miserably. "Yes Harry, I died right here in Ron's arms." She nodded sadly.
"We were just finishing dinner and then after Ginny came to tell us about you they came crashing through the windows." Hermione let go of Harry's hand to walk over to the staircase that led to the Grand stairway. "I fought Bella here and then got hit from over there with a spell." She pointed to one of the corners. "I don't remember much after that not here in this area anyway." She could hear Bella's sick laughter echoing around her.
"I fought a dozen Dark Wizards in here and then the Dark Lord made his appearance right through the front doors as if he owned the castle." Harry was actually retracing his steps that led him to the final show down with Voldemort. "We dueled for what seemed like hours until it led up these stairs and through that door." He frowned at the door it had been replaced by a new one. "It wasn't like this though."
He opened the door to the Grand Staircase and the noise in his mind became almost unbearable. He fell to his knees and grabbed his head in agony.
"I was winning against him. I had him on the defense and then I looked up and my world as I knew it ended. He had been toying with me just to get me here to let my friends watch my death." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
"It wasn't fair it couldn't end like this!!" His cry echoed around him.
"I had no choice. I just couldn't risk them getting killed. It would kill me if something were to happen to them..."
Harry was in his own nightmare. "No it would kill me if something were to happen to her."
"I was so helpless and all I could do was watch you give up." Hermione was standing where Bellatrix had held her captive. "You just gave up fighting..." Tears streamed down her cheeks as well. "And I was going to watch you die."
Ginny, Draco, Minerva, and Albus watched silently as the two of them tried to make peace with what had happened.
"I was ready to die and then Bella went to cast Crucio on Hermione and something snapped in me...I became someone else, it was if a part of me had been sleeping, and that moment had awakened it. I felt so much hate towards her that I was easily able to use the unforgivable curse. Oh, god what have I done... Hermione was lying on the floor lifeless it was for nothing. I could still save Ron, so I hit Lucius with a stunning spell that matched the fury of the last spell that I'd cast on Bella. That worked he let go of Ron, but I forgot to keep my eye on him and he sent the unforgivable curse at Ron. This it I have nothing left to live for so it's now or never..." He was seeing all of it play out in his mind again.
"You aren't afraid, pain is nothing, you have a destiny to fulfill, and the Wizarding World deserves a chance at peace! Their deaths will not be in vain!! He cast the unforgivable spell on me, but it doesn't work, then Crucio and it had no effect! Get the wand. Use your mind. Focus on the goal. Yes! Now finish the snake once and for all! Damn it where did Wormtail come from!? Out of my way, you filthy rat traitor!! Who did that? Oh it's Dumbledore he got him out of my way. Good now focus... Cast the spell and then touch him until you know there is no way he will ever rise again..." Harry was reaching out as if touching someone and Albus was now standing beside him. "Die you snake let them all have some peace. Let our sacrifice be worth something!! It's done...I had an interesting life. It was never dull or boring...I just want to sleep..."
Albus touched his shoulder and he came out of his trance soaked to the skin with sweat, crying, and exhausted.
Hermione raced down the steps and knelt down in front of him. "We survived Harry and that means we can live now in peace and without this on our shoulders." She had tears streaming down her cheeks her voice was hoarse from crying.
Harry fell into her arms and the two of them cried over the loss of their friends, who stood watch beside them.
Ginny and Draco were holding each other, tears streamed down their cheeks. It all hit home listening to what had happened from the two who had lived it.
--
Harry looked up at his Uncle with a deadly serious expression on his face. "There are two traitors left at Hogwarts and they let them on the grounds. How could I have been so blind not to see it?! My scar reacted to him more than once! I always thought it was Uncle Severus that it reacted too, but it was the two of them!" He got to his feet and headed off in search of his prey as Prince.
Draco followed him as Dragon.
"Hermione what's he doing?" Ginny frowned.
"He's going to go skin a cat and a caretaker." Hermione growled.
"Is he thinking its Argus? How is that possible he's a squib?" Minerva frowned.
"Harry is never wrong Minerva." Albus set off after Harry and Draco. "I fear that my kind heart has once again shown bad judgment."
"No it's not that! He fooled everyone, but someone had to have let the Deatheaters on the grounds, or in the dungeons more than once after Draco. This school was on lockdown and they got past the barriers." Hermione explained her theory as they made their way to where Filches office was.
"HEADMASTER!!"
Prince had cornered Argus in his office and Dragon was sizing Mrs. Norris up for his next meal.
"Prince! Dragon! Come here!" Albus commanded the two wolves.
Prince had a hold of Filch's leg and wasn't about to let go anytime soon.
"Prince you don't know where that has been! You release it at once!" Hermione walked over and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
Prince let go glaring at Hermione.
"Dragon! That cat might have some disease back off!" Ginny growled.
Dragon did as he was told and sat by Ginny.
"YOU TWO BROUGHT WILD WOLVES INTO MY SCHOOL!!" Argus bellowed angrily.
"They brought two wolves into my school, Argus. Special wolves that only attack Dark Wizards or witches and they just attacked you and Mrs. Norris." Albus pointed his wand at the cat. "Be as you really are or I will make you reveal yourself!"
An older hag like witch took the place of Mrs. Norris. She had silver and black peppered straggly hair, dark evil almost black eyes, and was aged and wrinkly in her black robes. "Old fool you finally figured it out did you!"
"Actually, I figured it out and sent these two after your pathetic person." Hermione had her wand out and ready to do some damage.
"If it isn't Hogwarts resident Miss Goody-Goody you would be the one to figure it out." The woman cackled sarcastically.
Hermione hit her with Imperio. "You will stay where you are and you will not move!"
"HEADMASTER DO SOMETHING!" Argus roared. "SHE USED AN ILLEGAL CURSE SHE DID!"
"Hermione is an Auror-in-training and is on school grounds, so I will let that one slide." Albus glared at him.
Prince and Dragon left the room after hearing Minerva calling to them out in the Hallway.
Draco and Harry walked in with their wands pointed at the two dark ones.
"This won't hurt much." Harry walked over and placed his hand that Flitch had managed to wound on her arm. It sizzled like bacon and the old witch screamed in agony.
"NO!! YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE!" Filch went to attack and found himself hit by Imperio this time it came from Draco's wand.
"Oh, you'll get yours! Just wait your turn!" Draco snarled.
"I want Azkaban!" The witch cried out in agony, as her body began to turn to dust, first her arms, and then the rest was slowly decaying.
"That isn't going to happen it's done." Harry stepped away and let her turn to dust in front of her husband. "Once it starts it can't be stopped."
"MURDER!!" Argus roared breaking the hold that Draco had on him.
"What did you just call me?!" Harry turned to glare murderously at him. "You have nerve calling me that after all the crimes that you have committed under the guise that you are a squib!" He touched his face and to his disappoint all it did was brand him.
"I am a squib! My wife was the witch!! You murdered her!" He snarled.
"I didn't do anything! I'm a Dark Wizard hunter and she was a Dark witch. I merely did my job and now it seems that you're going to be spending an eternity in Azkaban." Harry left him on his knees in the dust of what was once his wife.
"Evanesco!!" Albus disposed of the dust. "Kingsley!" He called for the Auror to enter the room.
"YOU?!" Kingsley looked at Argus in shock. "Tonks suspected you, but then we ruled that out because you're a squib!" He took him into custody.
"It wasn't just him Mrs. Norris was an unregistered animagus." Hermione growled.
"Where is she?" He looked around.
"She didn't make the grade." Draco looked over at Harry, who was leaning on Hermione to stay on his feet.
"So she went the way of Toad bitch did she?" Kingsley knew that using his gift affected Harry. "I think you should get the prince out in some fresh air."
--
"I haven't been here for an hour and already I get put to work." He let Hermione lead him out of the room. "I just need something to eat then I'll be fine." He hadn't eaten hardly anything that day and was low on energy.
Minerva saw that Harry wasn't doing so well and that worried her. "Let's get some food in you." She led them back into the main entryway and towards the doors to the Great Hall.
"What happened now? You haven't been here for an hour yet?" Sirius greeted them then noticed Harry and that he was leaning on Hermione.
"Filch and Mrs. Norris was Dark Wizards." Hermione informed him. "She was an animagus, and he is still a squib."
"I thought there was something unusual about that cat!" Sirius snarled.
"She isn't gonna be bothering anyone ever again and Filch is being taken in by Kingsley." Harry took in the Great Hall and felt a major migraine coming on. They had replaced the stained glass windows. "Don't you think you went a little overboard with the windows?"
"No I think that since the previous windows honored the past the new ones should honor the ones that saved our future." Minerva smiled.
"I understand that Aunt Minerva, but it just screams favoritism." Harry sighed in defeat.
"It does not. There is the marauders window featuring three generations of mischief-makers. James, Remus, and Sirius were the first generation. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan are the second generation and you, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco are the third." Minerva pointed out one of the windows.
"Thanks goodness you left out the rat." Hermione approved.
"The next one is of many generations of the Half-Blood Princes. Did you know that usually only once in a century does one truly become the HBP?" Minerva lectured.
"Lucky me…" Harry grumbled.
"Bloody hell the windows are different!" Draco's shout of astonishment rang around the hall.
"Dragon that's because the windows were blown out by the Deatheaters please try to keep up." Ginny rolled her eyes at him.
"Sorry Peaches, but at the time I was being targeted by Deatheaters in the dungeons. I never did make it to dinner."
"Sorry about that Dragon my mistake." Ginny pouted.
"I missed the whole event which is fine by me. I got locked down in the Slytherin Common room by my Uncle." Draco looked at one of the windows. "Bloody hell, it's a Four-Hearts window. Talk about putting a relationship all out in the open! Not to mention that it screams hey look its Dumbledore's favorites!"
"No kid it screams hey look you blockheads we did all of this while you were safe and sound in your Common rooms." Sirius commented.
"Each window depicts a year of our time at Hogwarts." Harry was taking a closer look with Hermione. "Then there are windows for Hermione, Neville, and I and a memorial one for Ron, Luna, and Cedric. Well I guess its okay this is one of my homes and it was family that thought of us." He sat down in front of his usual spot at the Gryffindor table. "I'm starving."
"Don't worry dear boy you'll be fed." Albus, Sibyll, Severus, and Flitwick walked into the great hall.
"Hello professors." Harry smiled at them.
"My word boys have you grown a foot or are my eyes playing tricks on me?" Flitwick barely made it to their knees now. "Girls you have blossomed into beautiful young ladies."
The boys grinned and the girls blushed.
"My word is that really you Miss Granger?" Sibyll stared at her intently with her huge coke bottle spectacles.
"Yes professor and as much as I hate to admit it you do have some sort of seer qualities and you aren't a fraud. I have discovered that I too have the ability to peek into the future if I wish to." Hermione answered her coolly.
"I'm very proud of that last prophesy. In fact I was actually allowed to remember that I did it." Sibyll smiled then looked at Draco and Ginny. "As for you two being a couple, Draco saw this in class. Oh yes he was in denial, but Draco is a gifted seer. Even though he's never taken it seriously…" She sniffed.
"Well remember when you kept telling Harry the grim was after him all those times?" Draco grinned.
"Why yes and I believe that I apologized fifth year and told him that he was going to have a big family and be happy with his truelove." Sibyll frowned.
"Well the thing is professor that I, uh, am the grim." Harry chuckled.
Sibyll fainted.
For that little bit of mischief Draco gave Harry the high five.
"HARRY JAMES!!" Minerva growled.
"Well he isn't lying. He does look like the grim in his Prince form." Severus smirked.
Hermione and Ginny were laughing so hard that they were almost in tears.
Albus tried to keep a straight face as he spoke. "Dear boy that wasn't very nice." He smothered a chuckle.
Harry turned into Prince, padded over to Sibyll, who was still out cold, and licked her face. Then sat there and waited for her to wake up.
Sibyll opened her eyes and looked over at the huge black wolf sitting next to her. He had gentle green eyes and looked like he was grinning at her. "My word dear boy, you saw yourself as an animagus in your third year. It wasn't a grim… I was seeing you in this form." She sat up and stared at Prince.
"The thing is that I can transform into a silver furred wolf." Draco transformed into Dragon.
"I'm a Kneazle." Hermione transformed into Princess.
"So am I" Ginny transformed into Cleo.
"So Minerva what are your plans now? Since even the littlest one has become an animagus?" Severus smirked. "I know that I can challenge their minds, but there isn't much left to transfigure if they have mastered transfiguring themselves."
"I'll just have them review all year. That should get them ready for their N.E.W.T'S. Although, one of the practical tests is to perform their most advanced transfiguration and that's obviously the animagus form. We need to keep that information on a need to know basis, but we'll handle that when the time of the N.E.W.T'S arrives." Minerva sat down in front of an empty plate.
"Review is fine with me. I have to help teach DADA with Uncle Remus, as well as go to Potions, Charms, Herbology, and Transfiguration." Harry was once again himself and sat down next to Hermione.
"You have it easy. I have Arithmancy, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Runes, and DADA." Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"Please feed them before they start growling at each other again." Draco pleaded with Albus.
"Yes, Draco I believe you have a point. Tuck in." The table was loaded with an assortment of food and everyone proceeded to eat.
--
When lunch ended the other teachers left to go about their days.
This left the four of them with Albus and Minerva.
"I believe its time that we showed you your new rooms. I suppose that you will find that they are quite different from the dorms which you are accustomed to. In fact The Fat lady is waiting for you to come up with the new password for this term." Albus and the others were walking up the stairs of the Grand Staircase.
"That one is easy the password is going to be Thunderbolt." Harry grinned.
"Thunderbolt?" Draco frowned.
"What's a Thunderbolt besides a bolt of lightning?" Ginny frowned.
"That's the future of racing brooms and Harry gets one in a few years." Hermione grinned.
"I was thinking along the lines of Aqueductus, but then if someone says that with a wand in their hands it will get her all wet." Draco chuckled.
"I was thinking Love Bangs." Ginny giggled.
"Thunderbolt it is." Hermione stated flatly.
Isis and Crooks were waiting for them on the seventh floor landing.
The six of them stood in front of The Fat Lady who was very happy to see them all. "Welcome home you four now what is my new password?"
"Thunderbolt," Harry grinned.
"Interesting password not really easy to guess and Longbottom will be able to remember it." She approved of the password and allowed them entry.
"So this is the Gryffindor Common room." Draco took in what would be his home for the next year. "This has more of a homelike feeling than what Slytherin had; there it was all only the best and snob central."
"We have sunshine too." Ginny grinned.
"Draco those are windows and this Common room actually has them." Harry teased.
"Yeah, that's right you got to see the Common room when you used that potion to become Crabbe and Goyle. That was Hermione's brainstorm wasn't it." He smirked.
"Yes, well, it worked for two of them anyway." Hermione bit down on her lip.
"Now I will show the boys their new rooms and Minerva will show you yours." Albus wanted to see their reaction to the surprise that was waiting for them up the two sets of dormitory stairs.
"Lead the way Uncle."
Harry and Draco followed him up the stairs until they were past where they would normally have stopped. They continued up till they reached near the top of the tower and found themselves staring at a new portrait of Ron, who was currently grinning at them. "Hello boys. I'm your entry into the top tower."
"Ron you have a portrait?" Harry stared at him in surprise.
"Top of the tower?" Draco was not too keen on the idea.
"Yeah, I do isn't it cool." He chuckled. "Your rooms are up the stairs behind this wall. Now the password that gets you through is four hearts."
"Four hearts no one will guess that." Draco liked that idea.
"That's the idea, Black."
The wall slid open reveling another stone stairway that led up into a library/study area.
"This is the area that separates your separate sleeping quarters and you will find that it's the only place in the castle where muggle electronic devices will work. I did this to insure the two of you would be occupied enough to make it through your seventh year. I knew that just Quidditch would not be enough to hold your attention, now that you and Draco have been corrupted by muggle technology. I tried the Quidditch game and can see that this can become somewhat habit forming." He winked at them.
"This year is gonna rock!" Draco and Harry were happy about this surprise.
"Boys no one except for Dean, Seamus, and Neville are to know about this little secret or else it ceases to exist." He became deadly serious.
"No problem we don't wish to share them anyway." Draco grinned.
"What about the girls?" Harry frowned.
"This area is fine, but the portraits in your rooms will make it hard for them to see you after hours." Albus told the two of them.
Harry walked into his room and there was his parents Portrait. "Yeah, that would rule that out."
"Rule out what Harry James?" Lily was sitting on the identical bed that had been in his room at The Meadows.
"Nothing Mum. I like the room. So where's Dad?" He looked around.
"He and Sirius are exploring the castle." She rolled her eyes. "Now as for you after what you did a while ago to Filch and his witch, its time for a rest."
Harry started to leave his room.
"Harry James Potter that was not a suggestion take a nap!" She snarled.
Harry's face flushed crimson. "Yes mother." He went to take the rest that his body was screaming for him to do.
"Oh yes dear boy mother knows best." Albus looked in on him and found that he was sound asleep in his bed with his mother watching over him.
--
Hermione and Ginny had similar quarters, but theirs were more female oriented. There was a study area, but also a long window seat nook that they could curl up on with a good book. They each had a dressing area in their rooms and more room for their clothes and official clothing.
"This is nice." Ginny was sitting on the window seat. "We actually have space to breathe up here. "
"It's brilliant! We don't have to study down in the Common room." Hermione was on cloud nine.
"I wonder what the boys have in their rooms." Ginny got up to leave the study room.
"I bet that they got to have their toys." Hermione was curious as well.
"Oh, yes, they got to have their muggle toys, but if anyone finds out about it then the toys go to Albus' chambers." Minerva was just about to leave them to their rooms, but had caught the end of their conversation.
"How is that possible Aunt Minerva?" Hermione frowned.
"Their study area is the only place in the castle where it is possible for them to use Muggle electronics. It was his gift to Harry and Draco to keep them happy. I think that they can live without it, but Albus thinks differently." Minerva did not seem too pleased about the situation.
"I'll bet that Harry and Draco are playing the games as we speak." The girls headed down the steps and past Luna's portrait.
"Girls you don't know if they wish to have company or not!" Minerva called after them.
"We aren't considered company!" They were almost out of the dorms
"Well those two are in for a surprise because they can only be in the boys study area." She smiled.
--
The girls found Draco playing a game and no Harry.
"Hi ladies have a seat." Draco looked over and grinned at them.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione pouted.
"His mother ordered him to rest and that's what he's doing." Draco reset the game, so Ginny could play it with him.
"I'll check on him then." Hermione opened the door to Harry's room and found that she was face-to-face with Lily.
"Hello dear and where may I ask are you going?" Lily had a serious you-are-not-getting-in-here expression on her ghostly face.
"I was going to check on Harry."
"Harry's sleeping. There are rules to these rooms. You and Ginny cannot enter their sleeping areas without alerting James, Sirius, or I. The other people that get alerted are Aunt Minerva, Uncle Albus, Remus, and Severus. So you can't get past this threshold without landing in hot water." Lily explained the rules. "That includes Animagi form."
"You don't trust us at all do you?" Draco heard the rules.
"Trust the new marauders? I don't think so. Especially, when the four of you are soul mates and stuck with each other for life." James appeared behind Lily.
"You see we were you once, so we know what you're capable of." Sirius was sitting on the window seat.
"Gee thanks for the support and the trust." Ginny grumbled.
"I guess we should count ourselves lucky that they didn't enchant the stairs like they did in the girl's dormitory." Hermione grumbled. "Well we understand the rules so you don't have to stand watch anymore."
"Hermione, it's not that they don't trust you and Gin. They don't trust Harry and me." Draco grinned sheepishly. "He has a James side and I have a Sirius side and they really aren't well-mannered gentleman."
"I know that, but it takes two for that and Ginny isn't ready nor am I." She grumbled. "I'm going to go to Hogsmeade then. When his highness awakens from his nap he can find me there." She stalked down the stairs in a huff.
"Yeah, right like I'm gonna tell him that." Draco shook his head.
"She's going there by herself?"
"This isn't even hour four and she's bored." Draco sighed. "She's gonna go out of her mind."
"Not possible she's up to something." Ginny frowned.
"Who's up to something?" Harry walked into the room. "Where's Hermione? Her mood woke me up."
"She went to Hogsmeade." Ginny was back to playing her game.
"Excuse me?" Harry glared at them. "You let her go there alone?"
"It's Hogsmeade not Knockturn alley, besides she just left." Draco rolled his eye at him.
"Why didn't she just wake me up?"
"We can't enter either room or we get in trouble." Ginny grumbled.
"That rule bites." Harry snarled.
"Yep," Draco growled. "It includes their animagus forms."
"You know I hate it when they feel they need to leash us!" He shouted into his room. "Isn't trust in their vocabulary?!"
"Not when it comes to you and your actions around Hermione!" James voice shouted back.
"I'm not you! I don't attack my betrothed every chance I get!" Harry stalked down the steps.
"You haven't even begun to explore your relationship. This is only a failsafe precaution." James trailed after him.
"I AM NOT YOU!!" Harry's roar echoed in the stairway.
"Well that's strange, because we could be twins if your eyes were hazel!" He taunted.
"Leave me alone Dad!"
"Or you'll do what Junior?" James snarled back.
"I will jinx your ass to the other side and back!" They were in the Common Room. Harry pulled his wand out and pointed it at his father.
"No Quidditch, no Hogsmeade, and no Hermione." James played his ace.
Harry turned into Prince; he flashed his tail at his father as if to say up yours, and left the Common room.
"Cheeky little bastard isn't he." Sirius chuckled.
"He just flipped me off again didn't he?" James shook his head in defeat.
"Oh yeah, Prongs in spades." Sirius liked this side of Harry.
--
"PUT ME DOWN WILLS!!" Hermione's screech echoed in the entryway.
"You are not going off to Hogsmeade by yourself and that's final!" Wills slapped her on the butt.
"Ouch!! That hurt you royal pain in the ass!" She pounded him on the back with her fists.
"Ouch!! Behave brat!" Wills swatted her again.
"Wills stop doing that." Kate noticed Prince who didn't look happy at all.
"Katie she's acting like a brat and she's trying my patience!"
"I know that, but Prince doesn't like what you're doing to his mate." Kate pointed to the wolf standing on the top stairway snarling at him.
"Prince, now let's not overreact!! She hit me in the head with her cast!" Wills eyed the wolf warily he was advancing on him with his teeth bared.
"Get him Prince! He hurt me!"
"Hermione Anne Diana Granger I did nothing of the sort!" Wills was staring down at a very grouchy Prince. "Back off Prince!"
"Get him Prince!"
"PRINCE!!" Remus walked in with Gene. "Stand down this instant!" He commanded.
Prince was looking at Wills leg as if it was dinner.
"Um, Will's swatted Hermione's rear twice and he saw it." Kate filled him in.
"Hermione what's going on?" Gene looked at the girl slung over Wills shoulder.
"I was going outside and he manhandled me back into the castle!" Hermione lied.
"Why you little pain in the ass!"
Prince was not backing down. He swiped at his pant leg with his left front claws and easily sliced the jeans without hurting Wills.
"Were you off to Hogsmeade by chance?" Remus gave Hermione a look.
"Well since I can't even so much as check on Harry in his room! I had to find something to do!!" Hermione snarled.
"Oh yes that... I was afraid you weren't going to like that part of your new quarters, but since they can't even walk up your staircase, it's only fair to offer them privacy as well." Remus pointed out.
"I didn't think of it that way."
"Obviously neither did Prince." Remus watched, as Harry reverted to his normal form.
"Wills, please put Hermione down." He gave him a look, his wand pointed at him ready to jinx.
Wills didn't need told twice, he set her back on her feet, and she promptly made him sing soprano with her knee. "I knew that she was going to do that." He fell to his knees in pain.
"Next time don't manhandle me!" She growled at him from her place in Harry's arms.
"Angel, you aren't suppose to go off to Hogsmeade by yourself, at least not until you're seventeen. So he was doing his brotherly duty in stopping you." Harry looked down at her.
"Well I don't have to like it!" She huffed. "Where are my parents and the tweebs?"
"The twins are having a snack in the Great Hall. I believe that Albus is in there with them having a talk with Hermione's parents." Remus answered her question.
"I half expected to see Filch and Mrs. Norris skulking around." Gene looked around for them.
"Mrs. Norris was an unregistered animagus Dark witch and is no longer in this existence. Filch is on his way to Azkaban." Harry told him.
"Tonks is going to rub that one in with Kingsley. She's suspected them since fifth year." Remus grinned.
"I have suspected him since first year. He's just way too mean to be even close to a good person." Hermione felt caged. "Let's go see Hagrid. I need to get some air."
"We made peace with what happened in the castle, but the walls still close in on us in the entryway, and Grand staircase." Harry put his wand away and then slung Hermione over his shoulder. "See you at Dinner."
--
"Harry put me down!" She growled.
"Behave." He playfully swatted her on the rear as they headed out the doors.
"This isn't the most comfortable position you know." She blew the bangs out of her face, as he carried her out of the courtyard, and onto the front grounds.
"I'll set you down in a minute." He kept walking until he had reached the beech tree by the lake. "This is a safe distance, so you can yell all you want, and it won't send anyone running." He set her down on her feet.
"I feel trapped here ok!" Hermione hissed. "September first is normal and I can handle that, but we have almost two weeks here and that Order of Merlin first-class ceremony! For the first time in my life I don't wish to study 24/7. I wish to actually go out and do things!"
"Let's go to a movie then." He suggested.
"Are you daft!? Are you out of your mind?! We're stuck here and are expected at dinner!"
"I'm not crazy and we aren't stuck here." Harry smiled down at her his eyes twinkled with mischief. "You see my love, all I have to do is walk out that gate, take you in my arms, think London, and we're there."
"We'll be caught before we even get to sit down." She pouted.
"The singing tent was a fluke. I only get caught when I wish to get caught." He pulled out the invisibility cloak from his jacket pocket just enough so she could see it.
"We need muggle money and that's up in our dorm rooms." She paced in front of the tree.
"I do own a wallet you know, it does have money in it, and it's in my pocket." Harry pulled out his wallet and showed her the wad of cash inside it. "I've more than enough to get us into the movies, dinner, and whatever else your heart desires."
"We'll be in so much trouble when we get back." Hermione bit down on her lower lip.
"Tomorrow is Uncle Remus's wedding and the next day we get the Order of Merlin. What are they going to do yell at us?" Harry arched a brow at her.
"Take away your toys for one." Hermione pointed out.
"They aren't only my toys. Draco isn't doing anything wrong, so why punish him. Look, you wish to do something fun and I'm giving you the green light to go to the movies and dinner. We're betrothed and that means that we can date. They can't fault us on that!" Harry was confused she wanted to go out and have fun, but she didn't wish to break the rules.
He pulled out the Marauders Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He tapped the map with his wand.
It came to life and he could clearly see what everyone in the castle was doing. His Uncle was pacing the Great Hall. His Aunt was talking to Hermione's parents and the twins. Remus and Gene were well together...hmm didn't need to know that. Severus was talking to Draco and Ginny up in their study. Now that was something out of the ordinary it was still broad daylight and he didn't seem to like the sun. Sirius and his father were tormenting Peeves on the fifth floor. He looked for his mother she was talking with Hagrid. "It's now or never Hermione. Do you wish to go out or stay here and brood?"
"I just don't wish to get into trouble on our first day back." She was Head Girl and had to set an example.
"This is family time. This is home. We can and are going on a date." He took her hand in his and they raced towards the gates.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!!" Lily's shout echoed around them.
"We're toast!! She's been really cross today!" Hermione whimpered.
They made it out of the gates and into the clear.
"We're out of here." Harry pulled her closer to him, thought of where he wished to go, and disapparated.
"Drat I was just going to ask if they had enough money to go on their date." Lily sighed in defeat.
"Harry always has some sort of back up plan." Ron was next to her.
"That's what worries me." Lily sighed.
"That's what makes him Harry." Luna smiled.
--
Chapter 21
Night Out
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008