Disclaimer: I do not own HP & Co.
a/n: question end of chapter, please provide feedback, this is as much your story as mine (though author reserves the right to make final decision).
Thanks Reviewers!!!! I love all the positive reviews! Especially those who called me evil (and I am serious, since I often refer to things as evil-in a good way of course), or yelled at me for leaving story like that (again, serious). I hope you all aren't disappointed. SS & HP won't find out until school starts (about a month away story time-but I think August goes by fast, at least compared to July). It wouldn't be any fun if they found out when they are alone...how about if they find out-do you want to know where? Or should it be a surprise? The how would still be a surprise. I'm beginning to think a lot of you are in Ravenclaw, as you piece some things together, althought I won't tell which is correct, If you really want to know, feel free to e-mail me & I just might tell ya.
Chapter 15 holidays and birthdays
Harry woke up early the morning of his birthday. Once he was a wake, he figured there was no better way to start off a day, especially a birthday, than flying around on the quidditch pitch.
He had been out flying for about 30 minutes when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black bird, similar to Raven, but appearing to be smaller in size, flying in a distance. As the bird got closer, Harry realized that it wasn't as small as he thought and that it was carrying something in its bill. The item was mostly green, thin and long, and one end appeared to be splatted with color, pink, blue and yellow. The bird turned away from Harry and flew west before he could figure out what it was carrying and if it might have been Raven.
As the bird flew out of his vision, Harry went back to his own flying, practicing dives and other stunts that could guarantee Gryffindor the House Cup this year, all thoughts of the black bird and what it might have been carrying, flying from his mind.
After another 30 minutes of practicing, Harry went back to his rooms to shower and change before breakfast with Dumbledore. Harry put on the nicest of the clothes he inherited from Dudley that he could find, which, as usual, didn't fit him properly.
He then headed into the great hall and sat down reading about appearance potions until the headmaster arrived.
"Good morning, Harry. Happy Birthday."
"Good morning, sir and thank you."
As they ate, Dumbledore told Harry the plan for the next 2 days. "Mr Weasley and Miss Granger will arrive at 11 this morning, by floo, in my office. Molly and Arthur are expecting them back tomorrow afternoon by 2. The three of you will stay in Gryffindor tower tonight, though you are allowed to show them the room you are using while you are staying at Hogwart's this summer. You will have free reign of the castle, except for the classrooms, and the teacher's offices and private rooms. Do not worry about meeting me for meals. I am sure I can entertain myself for the next 24 hours, just enjoy yourselves. Dobby will bring you your meals, where and when you want him to, just call for him and let him know. If you have any trouble or need anything, please come up to my office, the password is 'birthday cake'.
"Oh, yes, Harry, that reminds me, I believe Dobby is planning on making you a birthday cake for after dinner tonight, so the three of you might want to take it easy on the sweets this afternoon."
"Yes, sir." Harry said, laughing at Dumbledore's password. Harry is sure that this is one password he won't forget, at least, not today. "And sir, thank you for today. I'm sure it will be my best birthday ever."
"Your welcome, Harry. And I am sorry that you don't have happier memories of your birthdays with your relatives. One of my first concerns was keeping you safe from Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
"I know sir, and I do understand," Harry said, still wondering how effective the wards were since he was adopted and not related by blood to Aunt Petunia, after all.
After Dumbledore left, Harry continued reading for awhile before returning to his rooms to pack some items for tonight's stay in the tower. He couldn't wait to see Hermione and Ron. The three had decided not to share their OWL results until they were together. This was especially difficult for Hermione, since Ron and Harry's grades could be just about anything, and that the 2 men were sure that Hermione got all O's. Harry couldn't wait to see Hermione's reaction when he tells her about the '2 O's' that he got in potions, he thought with a snicker.
At 11 o'clock, Harry found himself waiting in Dumbledore's office for his 2 friends to arrive.
"Harry," Hermione cried as she enveloped him in a hug, after brushing floo powder off her clothes. "Happy 16th Birthday."
"Happy Birthday, mate," Ron said from behind Hermione.
"Thanks," Harry said, addressing both of them as he and Hermione pulled back from the embrace.
"Blimey, mate, you GREW!" Ron exclaimed.
At his words, Harry's eyes flew to Ron, while Dumbledore's went to Harry. There was a fleeting expression of shock on his face, that only Hermione noticed, before Dumbledore schooled his features and said "It's a beautiful day, why don't the three of you drop your things off at the tower and head outside to enjoy it."
Since it sounded more like an order than a request the three quickly agreed and left the headmaster's office.
Dumbedore had the strangest feeling that there were a lot of things going on in his castle that he wasn't aware of. All he knew for sure, was that he did not like that feeling one bit. Where were his lemon drops when he needed them, he thought, as he looked through the pockets of his robes. First, Severus's annual 'holiday. After 15 years, he still didn't know the story behind that, and it wasn't for lack of trying or snooping. Now there was Harry, growing in height practically overnight. Not to mention the way Remus was positive that something was up with Harry, and his determination not to leave Harry alone with his relatives this summer. There was also the way Remus was watching Harry like hawk. Hmm, he thought, he just might have to make Remus comfortable to stay around once school, since the wolf would feel uncomfortable putting the students in danger during the full moon. Yes, things were definitely brewing in the castle. Dumbledore just hoped it wouldn't end up exploding like one of Neville Longbottom's potions.
Once outside Dumbledore's office, Hermione looked at Harry and said, "Ron's right, Harry, you have grown."
"Really?" Harry asked, both pleased and shocked, "I hadn't noticed."
"Harry, you're about as tall as I am and are definitely taller than Hermione."
After having that pointed out to him, Harry realized that it was true. Harry looked down at his feet and noticed that he didn't have to roll the pant legs of Dudley's old clothes up, oh, they were still a too long and baggy, but Harry no longer had to worry about tripping on them. Harry shrugged, and said "It's about time I hit a growth spurt. I must not have noticed it before, since most likely it happened gradually in the last month or so. It's probably just so noticeable to you, since you haven't seen me since school got out."
"You must have grown at least 10 cm in a month," Hermione said, with a thoughtful expression on her face. "At their fastest, boys can grow taller by as much as 9cm a yearwhen they hit a growth spurt, but to grow that in a month! That's incredible."
"Maybe Snape slipped you a growth potion in your pumpkin juice." Ron said.
"If anything, Professor Snape would make it a shrinking potion." Harry replied, laughing at Ron's answer to the cause of his growth.
"True." Ron said, laughing as well.
"Honestly, you two, as if Professor Snape would do that." Hermione reprimanded them, "So, what are we going to do today?"
"No homework or studying," Said Ron, "It's Harry's Birthday and I'm sure he doesn't want to spend it in the library or anywhere else reading a book."
"Actually, Ron, that's pretty much what I've been doing all summer."
"Oh, no, Harry, has it been that boring of a summer here that you had to read books?" Harry laughed at the expression of horror on Ron's face.
"Ron!" Hermione said as she hit him on the back of the head. "There's nothing wrong with reading books in the summer, or anytime for that matter.
"Harry, tell me about this research project of yours."
"Um, not right now Hermione. I still want to see what I can find on my own. If I haven't made much progress before school starts, I'll tell you about it."
Harry had led them to his 'room' so that he can pick up his clothes and stuff to bring to the tower for tonight. He said his password and allowed them to enter. "This is where I've been staying this summer, come on in, I'll grab my stuff and then we can head up to the tower. "
Once inside the room, Hermione immediately noticed one of the books that Harry got from the school library. The book was book and sitting on the an end table. Right away she recognized the potion as being one that could only be in an book of advanced potions.
"Harry! Why are you looking up appearance altering potions?"
"Potions! Harry, you must really be bored if you are reading books on Potions!"
"Ron!" Hermione said again, then decided not to comment on the benefits of reading, knowing that he would never understand. "Harry, that's an advance potion. Why are you looking up advanced potions?"
"Harry, don't tell me you got an O on your potion OWLS!"
'OWLS! "I can't believe I forgot to ask how you two did on your owls. I've been asking Ron for the last 2 days, but he refused to answer me until tonight when you were there as well, Harry." Hermione said with a glare at Ron.
"Hey, don't blame me, I just didn't want to be the only one you might've been disappointed in. I figured if Harry was here, he could take some of the pressure off of me, or at least provide a distraction, if you started lecturing me."
"Fine. So tell me, how did you do?"
"Well, I didn't get an O in potions, but I did pass. And I'm okay with that. No more Snape. I got an O in COMC and DADA; an E in Herbology; an A in Transfiguration, Charms and History of Magic; a P in Divination and Astronomy. Luckily no T's, mum would've killed me. Even the twins didn't get any T's"
"Hey, that's great Ron." Harry said, "I can't wait to hear how everyone in the DA did on their DADA OWLS."
"So, Hermione, you got an O in everything, right?"
"Um, actually, no." Ron and Harry stared at Hermione in shock, as she said, "I got an E in Astronomy, but an O in everything else."
"WHAT! Unbelievable" Ron said.
Harry just looked at Hermione and smiled. He remembered the events of the night of the Astronomy practical and could understand why. "No, Ron, I think it's perfectly understandable. There were a lot of distractions that night."
"So, Harry, how did you do? Did you get an O in potions?"
Harry gave them all of is OWL scores, except potions.
"Harry," Hermione said, "You haven't told us how you did in potions. It can't be that bad."
"Yeah, mate. The worst that it could be is that you did get an "O" and have another two years with Snape."
Harry laughed as Ron's idea of a worse case scenario, while Hermione just gave him a look that clearly stated she didn't appreciate that joke.
"I didn't tell you, because I don't know how I did."
"What do you mean you don't know? You took the exam, you should have a score."
"My OWL potion score was recorded as "Incomplete/Unknown."
"Harry, that's not possible. Those aren't even grades. Come on, tell us how you did."
"No, honestly, Hermione. That's what it said. Apparently there was some type of incident in the lab when the examiners were evaluating my work. My practical and written exams were ruined before they were evaluated." He passed his OWL scores to Hermione t show her the proof of his words. "According to Professor Dumbledore, no one has ever received this as a score before."
"It always happens to you, doesn't it Harry?" Ron muttered.
"So, what happens now? How are you going to get into Professor Snape's NEWT class if you don't have an OWL score in potions?"
"I don't know yet, Hermione. Professor Snape isn't here this week. I will have to discuss this with him when he returns. There are a couple of options, he can admit me into his class, without the proper OWL scores; or he can have me create a potion under his supervision, evaluate me on it an decide if he will let me into his class; or if he won't let me in using those 2 options, the only other choice is for me to take a make-up potion OWL exam, that Professor Dumbledore says will be harder than the original exam."
"Blimey, Harry, Is it worth taking the potion OWL again, just to get into his class?"
"Ronald! Of course, it's worth it, since Harry wants to be an auror. But Harry, even if the exam is going to be harder, I don't think it will be on appearance altering potions. I mean, those aren't usually covered until seventh year."
"You never know, Hermione, especially if Professor Snape is involved in the test. Besides, I'm reading just about everything I can, in case he decides to either just take me into his class without the OWLS or have me brew a potion where he evaluates me himself. This is my second chance, to get into his class, I know I won't get a third and I don't want to mess it up."
"Okay, Don't worry, Harry, we'll help you study."
"No!" Ron cried, "No library!"
"We'll just spend 30 minutes in there, just to help Harry find some books and topics he should read. Surely your best friend's future is worth 30 minutes in the library."
"Fine. But not another word about homework or library after that, and I'm dragging you out of there after 30 minutes. Now, how about lunch?"
Hermione and Harry laughed as the three of them left Harry's room and walked towards the tower to drop off their belongings.
While Ron and Harry were finishing their lunch, Hermione headed out to the library, making them promise to meet her there in 15 minutes.
Harry and Ron entered the library and walked over to where Hermione was sitting at a table reading. Ron took a seat across from her, while Harry looked over her shoulder to see what she was reading so attentively.
"Where did you get that?" Harry asked, his tone a bit sharp for simple curiosity.
"Hmm," Hermione absentmindedly murmured as she turned the page. "Oh, it was just sitting out on this table, opened. It's quite fascinating."
"What is it?" Ron asked, not really interested in knowing, but a bit curious since Hermione found it fascinating, of course, Hermione found most books fascinating. No Ron was more interested because of Harry's reaction to the book. Now, Ron usually isn't one to notice things, but he couldn't help but notice the expression on his friend's face. It was part shock and part fear, that Harry, who had fought You-know-who so many times to be afraid of a book, that had to be quite the book, indeed.
Harry appeared to be speechless from shock and didn't answer Ron, Hermione just continued reading as if she didn't hear Ron's question.
"That makes sense," Hermione, replied, commenting to herself on what she read. "Hey, look, Harry, I think this paragraph is talking about you. The timing is right, if it happened in 1981."
"Yeah, unfortunately, that's what I thought as well." Harry was a little wary, since the book that had gone missing for over three weeks, the book that he and Remus have been searching for had suddenly reappeared in the library the same day that his friends were visiting. What more, the book in question was left open on a table. And anyone who knew Hermione, would know that she couldn't resist reading an open book (or any book for that matter), but especially one that was opened, since that indicated that someone else found the information valuable. Harry was getting a strange feeling in his stomach. Something was going on here. He couldn't help but wonder what strange forces were at work inside the castle this summer, it was almost as if someone was toying with his mind.
Harry decided to change to topic, before Hermione either started asking questions or figured out what his 'research project' was. "I thought we were going to look at some books on potions, in case Professor Snape assigns me a potion before he admits me into his class, or in case I have to retake my OWLS?"
"Oh, right, Harry, sorry." Hermione said, as she jumped up form her seat and grabbed Harry's arm to pull him to the potion section, leaving Ron sitting at the table, falling asleep with his head on his arms.
"Harry," Hermione started softly, "I noticed that you've been referring to Professor Snape as just that. Not once have you called him Snape or greasy-git or anything else. Why? Does this have anything to do with what you found out about him?"
"I don't really know why I've been referring to him that way." Harry replied, knowing that he couldn't share his professor's memories with his friend, and ignoring her last question. "I guess it's because he hasn't really been that bad this summer. And perhaps, because I've grown up a bit and realized that he, like all of our other professors are human as well. I mean, he does do a lot for the order and he has saved my life numerous of times. I'm just finally giving him the respect he deserves."
"Oh," Hermione said, not knowing how to reply to that or what he meant by 'realizing that he was human', but also realizing, that he avoided her question about what he found out. She decided that Harry was having second thoughts about sharing it, especially if her suspicions were correct and he found out this information as a result of his occlumency lessons. "So, how's occlumency going?"
"Good, the journal helped a lot. I still don't understand why the school doesn't have that book instead of all the other ones they have. That book sounds like it would be of more help than all the other's combined. They were pretty useless.
"Actually, Hermione, I was wondering if you could help me put some type of security charm on it, so that no one else would be able to read it."
"Of course, Harry, I meant to include a list of locking and protective charms you could apply to it, but in my rush, I forgot to include them. I'll show you a list of some of the charms I was thinking of and we can decide later which one will be best."
During their conversation, Hermione was looking at the potions books on the shelves. "Where are the other books?" There are usually more here." She said.
"Um, they're probably already in my room."
"Then why are we here if the books we need are there. Hey, Ron," Hermione yelled across the library, waking Ron from his nap, "come on, we're going back to Harry's room.
"Yes!" Ron shouted. "Harry, how did you get her to leave the library before the 30 minutes were up? I thought we would have to drag her out of here."
"Ronald," Hermione said, while Harry smirked, "The books we need are in Harry's room, so we are going there instead, where we will look at them for 30 minutes, so I can mark some potions that I think would be beneficial for Harry to review. The time in the library doesn't' count, since it didn't have the books we needed."
Once back in Harry's room, Hermione noticed all the books he had in there. The first time she was in the room, she just figured the books on the shelves were always there, stored in this spare room, looking closer, though, she noticed that the majority of them were from the school library, and that most of them were on potions, charms and occlumency.
Charms? Hermione thought, why is he looking at books on charms? And once more it was an advanced book. She wondered if this had anything to do with his 'research project'. When she first heard about this project she wondered if it might have been for extra credit. Something to keep his mind off of Sirius, the prophecy he never heard, or perhaps just to keep him occupied this summer while he was here. Now she was beginning to think that this project was of an extremely personal nature, especially given his earlier reaction in the library.
She had her suspicions about what this 'research project' might be about. She didn't believe that he had those advanced potions books just because of the situation with his NEWTS. From his comments earlier, he obviously read the other book, but why would he need all these books on potions and charms. The other book had more than adequate information on this topic and most likely answered any question he could've had regarding this situation. If it wasn't found in that book, than the answer probably didn't exist.
"Harry, why do you have so many books on charms? I mean, I understand why you have books on occlumency form the library, and even on potions, due to your owls, but why charms? And most of them are NEWT level books as well."
"Uh, no reason really, just looking at some thing Moony and I were discussing the other day. He mentioned that Lil-er my mom was very talented in charms, so I thought I would do some research, plus I wanted to see if I could find a good spell to protect the journal from anyone else reading it." As he was saying this, he walked over to her and pulled the occlumency books off the shelves and put them into Hermione's hands. "these are the books the school had on occlumency, We should bring them back to the library on the way back, there really isn't anything useful in there."
"Snape probably took all the good books out, so you wouldn't learn occlumency, he probab-"
"Ron!" Hermione interrupted, "Professor Snape wouldn't do that."
"Probably not to his Slytherins and perhaps not to you either, but to Harry, he would do that in a heartbeat."
"Actually, Ron, I realized last week, that Professor Snape has been dropping hints since last year on how I could clear my mind and on where to get information on learning occlumency. I was just too thick to realize it. Luckily Hermione picked up on it and I started to piece it together."
"Really," Hermione asked? "I realize that 'Art of Occlumency' was the name of the book, but what other clues did he give?"
"Oh, just all his comments about hiding my emotions, not wearing my heart on my sleeve, controlling my temper, things like that."
"How was that suppose to help you? Are you sure he wasn't just insulting you?"
"I'm sure he was insulting me, Ron, but he also dropped hints in those insults. Which is probably why it took me so long to pick up on them. I was so mad at what he was saying, that I never really listened, another way my temper got the best of me."
"He really is a Slytherin, to help you in a way that doesn't look like he's helping you." Hermione said, as if she admired him for this.
"Whatever," Ron said. "Why didn't he just come out and tell you what you needed to know last year? It would've made your lessons so much easier."
"Probably because I wouldn't have listened to him, Ron. What would you have done if Professor Snape had tried to have a serious conversation with you, saying that he was trying to help you? This way, I, well, Hermione and I discovered it for ourselves."
"I still think it was kind of snarky of him to do that. Anyways, I thought we were looking up potions, not Occlumency. And this is going to cut into your half hour, Hermione."
End Chapter 15 holidays and birthdays
This is my first fanfic, so any feedback is appreciated.
I know that I have some trouble with the tenses (past, present, future), but I try.
Height/growth spurt: 9 cm 3.5 in (approximately)
Remus: either way, Remus will be school come September, now, should he be the DADA teacher, or should the DADA teacher be a new char (original)? If new, should he/she be evil & after HP like most other DADA profs?
10/23/2004