Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns these guys but as of this chapter, I will own someone! Sarff! You'll see who that is in a minute… but other than that, J.K. Rowling owns the rest!
Author Note: My reason for taking so long to update is at the end of the chapter.
Another Author Note: Many of you know that I got a 'flamer' from Taa. I would like to let you all know that Taa e-mailed me and we talked it over and have agreed to disagree. She and I are more-or-less friends, now, even if she doesn't agree with my story. But she's told me that she's gotten some hate mail from people. May I please ask you to stop sending her hate mail/reviews, because she was merely expressing her opinion to me. And by sending her hate mail/reviews, you're doing no more than what she did to me. Thanks, all of you who were sending her hate mail/reviews, for stopping. Because the point of isn't to start a war and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Thanks again, for understanding.
Yet Another Author Note: I know this is completely besides the point, but if anyone could send me any information they know about Port Royal (1655-1692), because I have an idea for a book, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Story time!
10. Sarff
Saturday morning, Harry woke early due to his dying-parent riddled dreams. Unable to fall back to sleep, he collected up his new Quidditch Stadium from his nightstand and went down to the common room.
"Lascivio," Harry said, tapping the small 'Equipment'-marked box beneath the stadium and the fifteen players flew out and began taking up their places. He poked his wand at the tiny flags and turned the players into the Gryffindor team from three years before and the Ravenclaw team. The Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho, was riding close by to Harry, tailing him in case he went for the Snitch. Her long, shiny, black hair rippled gracefully in the false wind. He watched the players fly around, playing a game and he watched with rapt attention. Several times, the miniature Harry went into a false dive and the real Harry would look around for signs of the Snitch in the direction the tiny Harry was headed.
At one point in the game, a Bludger headed right towards Harry and he put on a burst of speed, avoiding it, only to have Cho following him close enough to get pummeled by the Bludger. She fell from her broom (which was only a few feet off the ground, so it didn't hurt her) and landed flat on her back and the shrill whistle from the referee rang clear, calling a time out. It took several minutes for Cho to get back up in the air.
It was then that Harry remembered that he could tell the players what to do.
"Erm--" he started, not knowing how to tell himself what to do, "--Potter-- do the Wronski Feint."
His tiny self went into a spectacular dive and Cho followed him, thinking he'd seen the Snitch. However, when Harry's player reached out his hand and grasped the tiny Snitch in his hands and the whistle rang out, he blinked-- he hadn't even seen the Snitch there. Harry then supposed at that time, it wasn't his job to catch the Snitch; it was the figurine's job.
It was then that Ron jumped down the stairs, looking breathless.
"Harry, I forgot--" Ron panted, "Quidditch tryouts-- they're today!""What? Why didn't you tell me?" Harry said.
"I posted a sign-up sheet Monday morning, but in all the excitement of you becoming a teacher and all, I forgot."
"Oh," said Harry, "Alright-- I'll come. Oh, but I've got Occlumency with Snape."
"What time?" Ron asked.
"Dunno. I supposed he'd tell me today at breakfast. And don't forget, I've got to see Hagrid today as well and finish that essay McGonagall assigned."
"That's not due for another week!"
"I've got a lot on my plate, Ron!" Harry said exasperatedly. "I don't know when I'll have time to do homework again! Finite Quidditch!" he yelled, rapping the tiny box with his hand to stop his tiny self from flying around with a gloating look on his face, holding the Snitch high so everyone could see. All the players flew into the box and once the whole thing snapped shut, Ron spoke again.
"Alright, but Quidditch tryouts are starting at four o'clock, so we can practice before it gets dark out. You can leave early if you need to."
"Right." Harry said. "You want to head for breakfast?"
"She's on her way down." Ginny said, walking down the Girls' Dormitory stairs. "She told me to tell you to wait for her."
"I have to put this back anyway," Harry said, grabbing the Quidditch Stadium and rushing back up the stairs with it. Once he had bounded down the stairs again, Hermione had joined the world of the conscious and they all walked to breakfast. Ginny walked with them.
"What are the parts that are needed for Gryffindor's team, again?""Well, you're the Seeker and I'm the Keeper, so we won't be needing any of those. It's a shame that we have to wait another year before Jack Sloper graduates; that is, if he isn't held back." Ron snorted. "He knocked himself out with his own club last year, remember? Anyway, we don't need Beaters, but we need three Chasers, so basically, it's a Chaser tryout. Ginny here is trying out."
Ginny blushed.
"I reckon she'd do alright, because she's been practicing all summer on the broom that Mum got her for becoming Prefect." Ron said.
"What d'you mean I'd do alright?" Ginny asked, turning to her brother. "You've seen me practice."
"What d'you want me to say; 'Oh, Ginny! How absolutely smashing! You're such a wicked player and I would pay you to honor me by becoming a member of my Quidditch team!'"
"Well," Ginny said, "You forgot to mention that you would do my homework for me, seeing as I would spend all my time practicing to honor you by becoming a member of the Quidditch team. What did you mean by your Quidditch team? Harry's been on it longer!"
"Hello?" Ron said, waving a hand in front of Ginny's face, "I'm Quidditch Captain!"
"Fine." Ginny said as they reached the Great Hall and she went off to join Dean Thomas (who avidly asked her to join him at the Three Broomsticks on the next Hogsmede trip and Ron shot Dean a nasty look as if to dare him to harm Ginny in any way).
"Hey, Harry," Ron said, nudging Harry with his shoulder, "there's that Evans Kid. Go say hi. You said you knew him."
"He's probably all wrapped up in the 'That Potter Boy' rubbish that my aunt and uncle spread about me." Harry said.
"Which is what?" Hermione asked, frowning as they sat down and helped themselves to the eggs and bacon that was lying in front of them.
"That I go to St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys." answered Harry quickly.
"But, now he'll know that that is a load of nonsense, because he'll have seen you here!" Hermione said.
"I s'pose." Harry said, "But, you know… I don't feel like risking it now… maybe later."
"Well, you'll have to deal with it later," Ron said as Harry took a drink of his Pumpkin Juice, "Because he's trying out to be a Chaser." Harry spat his juice onto his plate, earning himself accusing looks from those that were sitting around him.
"But-- but he's a first year!" Harry said, wiping his mouth.
"Yeah. But he approached McGonagall and gave her some sort of speech on how you made it on the team and you were in the first year. And he asked her why he couldn't be if you were, because that was favoritism at it's highest point. So, you know McGonagall-- she didn't want to make it seem like favoritism, so she talked to Dumbledore about it and he signed something that said that they were allowed. Evans was the only one brave enough to sign up."
"Good for him!" Hermione said, taking the Daily Prophet from an owl that had just flown in to deliver it to her. She glanced at the front page, then began her search elsewhere in the newspaper. "It's nice to see that he's someone that will stick up to what he believes in-- no, nothing is in here, for once." Hermione said, rolling up the Daily Prophet and setting it in her bag.
"That's a good thing as it means no one's been killed." said Harry.
"Good morning, Potter," Harry heard Snape's voice coming from behind him. Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Your remedial potions class, if you haven't already forgotten, what with your mind on Quidditch and girls, Potter, will start tonight at eight-thirty sharp. Do not be late, because I could be spending that time doing something useful…" he stalked away without another word.
"Right," Harry said mostly to himself, "Can't wait, Professor, to have you shouting your head off at me tonight, Professor. Wonderful weather, eh, Professor? No, I insist, I'll show up half-an-hour early because I feel like having my face yelled at and I enjoy the sensation of having someone filing through my memories, looking at anything that could, and probably will, turn out to be blackmail. But, no, Professor, I really don't mind that you don't give a damn about me… I'll just sit here, acting like I don't know what's going on in the world around me, as you think I don't, when really, I've got more to worry about than you probably ever did…"
"That's enough, Harry." Hermione said absentmindedly, eating her bacon.
"No, I liked that. He was quite good at being sarcastic." Ron said, grinning.
"Not funny, Ron." Hermione said, standing up, "Well, I'm off to the--"
"Oh, let me guess… the Library!" Ron said.
"Good guess!" Hermione said sardonically and stormed away.
After breakfast, after saying goodbye to Ron (who was going up to the Common Room to prepare for Quidditch Tryouts), Harry stepped out of the castle and was met by a wave of cool September air. He shivered slightly, but carried on down the stairs, walking towards Hagrid's house. The grass crunched beneath his feet (a bought of morning frost had covered them) and there was no sound of a bird. Harry instantly wished that he had not left his cloak in the Dormitory.
When he knocked on the door of Hagrid's house, Fang the Boarhound could be heard from the inside, scratching on the door and barking.
"Down, Fang. Back!" Hagrid's voice called out and he opened the door and Fang jumped on Harry the instant he could get by Hagrid and started licking Harry's face enthusiastically.
"Down Fang! I said 'down' yeh ruddy mutt!" Hagrid roared, seizing Fang around the middle and carrying him inside. Harry followed in Hagrid's wake, wiping slobber off his face and glasses as he went.
"'Bout time yeh showed up!" Hagrid said, setting Fang down who ran for Harry again and set his head on Harry's lap, drooling excessively. "I've been waitin' all day."
"It's not even noon, yet, Hagrid." Harry exclaimed.
"Well, tha's not importan' righ' now," Hagrid said. "'Ere, do yeh wan' some o' the tea I'm makin'?"
"What did you want, Hagrid?" Harry said, accepting the large teacup from Hagrid, that was full of steaming tea. "Only, I've got to be back by four-- Quidditch Tryouts, you know-- they start at four thirty."
"Alrigh', well, I won' take long. I just want ter show you somethin'."
"What is it?" Harry asked, interested and taking a sip of his tea. Fang had left his lap and crawled up onto Hagrid's bed and falling to sleep.
"Now, now, I'll show yeh soon enough. Firs', I wan' ter know how yer firs' week went." Hagrid said, sitting across from Harry. "How were yer Defense Agains' the Dark Arts classes?"
"What did you want to show me?" Harry persisted. Hagrid laughed.
"Firs' tell me how yer week went, then I'll show yeh."
"Well, my Gryffindor and Ravenclaw classes are going alright, I suppose, but my Slytherin and Hufflepuff classes… well, they're a nightmare…"
"Malfoy?" asked Hagrid, understandingly.
"Malfoy." answered Harry wearily.
"Don' worry 'bout 'im, Harry, he's jus' a git lookin' fer attention."
"Well, he's getting it." Harry said.
"Just give him the wrong attention an' he'll wear off soon enough."
"I've been trying to for the past six years." Harry said. "The only reason he's acting this way is because his dad hates me."
"Maybe he's jealous." Hagrid insisted. Harry gave a grim laugh.
"Malfoy-- jealous?" Harry said almost humouredly. "If he's jealous of me, he's jealous of the wrong person. He's got parents and money and a home and friends--"
"An' enemies." Hagrid cut in, his eyes twinkling.
"Hagrid, don't tell me I don't have my own enemies." Harry said, "At least his enemies aren't deadly, or suck out his soul or have greasy hair and a big nose…"
Hagrid chuckled.
"Quite the teenager, aren' yeh, Harry? But maybe Malfoy does have those kindsa enemies. His dad's a Death Eater an' tha's a big risk, being a Death Eater."
"Can we get off this subject?" Harry begged.
"Alrigh'… 'ere, I'll show yeh wha' I wanted ter." Hagrid stood up and grabbed his crossbow.
"Come on." he said.
"Where're we going?" Harry asked, standing up, leaving his full teacup on the table.
"Ter see Grawpy." Hagrid said. Harry's heart gave a lurch.
"I've already seen him, Hagrid."
"I wan' ter show yeh his lady friend, Sarff."
"Sarff? Who named her?" Harry asked.
"Tha's what she calls herself." Hagrid admitted. "Can' change it now tha' she only answers to tha'."
Harry checked his watch. It was almost eleven o'clock.
"Alright." Harry said.
"Righ'," Hagrid said, opening the door, "Come on, Fang."
Fang bounded out the door.
Harry and Hagrid entered the Forbidden Forest and Harry's stomach gave off the familiar sense that someone was watching him. He walked behind Hagrid, who had his crossbow ready in front of him.
"Hagrid," Harry said, "Are the Centaurs around?"
"Don' know… usually, they're farther in, bu' they've been known ter come closer to the edge of the wood. Won' go near Grawpy, though…"
"Well, I don't want to see the Centaurs. They haven't taken much of a liking to me as of last year."
"Heard 'bout tha'." Hagrid said. "Don' worry… s'long's yer with me, yeh won't be harmed." he patted his crossbow proudly.
Hagrid led Harry down the path towards Grawp's clearing. Harry hated going this way as it was the way that he had once taken to see Aragog, the giant spider, and he wasn't keen to go again. It wasn't long before they turned at a tree and Harry came face-to-face with two humongous giants.
"Grawpy's grown, he has!" yelled Hagrid proudly, staring up at his brother.
"Er-- good." Harry said, not feeling any pleasure at this news. Grawp looked familiar (Harry didn't know how a massive, boulder-like giant could change in appearance) but the giantess beside Grawp stared at Harry blinking her tiny eyes stupidly (Harry only supposed it was a her, by Hagrid's word). She looked like Grawp-- she had gray skin, and had a giant loincloth tied under her armpits and trailed down past her knees and her hair was a knotted mess and had thousands of tiny twigs tangled in.
"Grawpy--" Hagrid said, "Yeh remember Harry-- Sarff, this is Harry-- he's a friend o' yers. Go on, Harry, say hello-- don' be shy."
"Er-- hi, Sarff." Harry said, feeling rather stupid as he didn't know if Sarff could understand him at all. She didn't make any sudden movements to show that she had, but just sat, staring at Harry as though he were a boring piece of talking lint, speaking a different language. Then, she opened her large, lopsided mouth and in a booming voice, shouted something that Harry couldn't quite make out, but knew that she was attempting to say his name.
"Haw…ree." she said it as though it were two words instead of one.
"There yeh go, she likes yeh!" Hagrid said as Sarff reached out a massive hand and poked Harry in the ribs rather hardly, so Harry stumbled backward, completely winded. Sarff broke into laughter that reminded Harry of Crabbe and Goyle's guffaws and Grawp joined in. Harry very much doubted he even knew what was funny… he probably just like making the noise.
"Sarff won' pick yeh up." Hagrid explained, "she's female an' females are more keen ter jus' leave things as they are and examine them an' prod them. Bu' she won' pick yeh up. Be careful o' Grawpy, though… he'll pick you up and stick yeh in his mouth if yeh fit."
"Thanks for the warning," Harry said angrily, ducking as Sarff made to pat his head.
"Anyway," continued Hagrid, as though he didn't hear the anger and annoyance in Harry's voice, "I was jus' wantin' ter run yeh by them to see if they reacted differen'ly to others 'sides me."
"Why?" Harry asked, putting his hand in his pocket and grasping his wand firmly. He knew he would never hurt the giants-- Hagrid wouldn't be too happy-- but he did it out of habit if he felt like something was attacking him.
"I was thinkin' ter teach the students 'bout giants an' how they act an' stuff… wha' d'you think? Do yeh think they'd make a good class."
Harry had just dived behind a tree and stood up, panting. On the contrary, he didn't think anyone would take to Grawp and Sarff, but he didn't want to hurt Hagrid's feelings either-- not when Hagrid was looking excited and enthusiastic.
"Absolutely," said Harry firmly and Hagrid beamed. But his smile didn't last long as Sarff pulled the tree from Harry's back and Grawp grabbed-- and ribbed- Harry's robes so the sleeves of the robes were holding on by a few threads.
"Grawp!" Hagrid called as Grawp lifted Harry by his robes up in the air. "Set Harry down! NOW!"
Grawp didn't pay attention and Harry started to panic and pulled his wand out of his robes, just in case they ripped and Grawp trampled on it.
"GRAWPY!" Hagrid boomed. "Put Harry down NOW! An' I mean it, or yeh won' be gettin' dessert fer a week.
"Hagrid!" Harry called, "Get me down!"
"Don' worry, Harry, don' worry, I'll get yeh down!" Hagrid said, staring around as though he thought the solution would be carved in the tree and looked helplessly up at Harry again. Harry pointed his wand at Grawp.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry yelled, shouting the first name that came to him. Grawp let go of him and he fell down twenty feet. At the last minute, he ducked into his knees, pulling himself into a ball and rolled several feet along the ground. Hagrid came stomping towards him and pulling him to his feet, he dusted Harry off with his giant hands.
"Are yeh alrigh', Harry?" asked Hagrid worriedly.
"Yeah…" Harry gasped, looking around to see where Grawp had ended up. Apparently, the curse repelled him strait into Sarff and the two of them went flying into some trees, knocking them all down. The two were howling in pain, pulling twigs from each others' backs, but other than that, they looked unharmed.
"Sorry I had to use the disarming charm on him, Hagrid," Harry apologized.
"Well, now he knows not ter grab people or he'll pay fer it later," Hagrid said, looking very white. Hagrid and Harry then watched Grawp and Sarff for a minute, as the two giants helped each other up, then, Hagrid turned to Harry sheepishly.
"Maybe I should wait a few weeks afore I bring the classes down 'ere to see them." he admitted, smiling with embarrassment. Harry felt annoyed.
At four o'clock, Harry set back to Hogwarts. He had endured several hours of Grawp and Sarff as Hagrid insisted that he teach them English. For all the good it did, he might as well have taught the tree, for the giants completely ignored him (probably afraid he would hex them again) and stomped around the clearing merrily, occasionally guffawing for no apparent reason.
But Hagrid sat back proudly watching Harry attempt to communicate with his brother and his brother's girlfriend and Harry had to be honest with himself-- to see Hagrid happy brightened his whole day, so he continued to attempt to teach Grawp and Sarff, even if it was no use to even try.
Harry smiled to himself and pulled his ripped robes up-- he realized that the robes had not only been ripped at the seam of the both the sleeves, but also the back had been torn to shreds.
Once Harry entered the Common Room, several heads turned and some people asked him what he had done to his robes.
"I tripped over them," he said and some laughed.
Up in his Dormitory, he found a note lying on his pillow. He opened it to find Ron's messy handwriting;
Harry,
I've gone down to the Quidditch Pitch to set up for later… see you when you get there!
Ron
Harry folded up the letter and put it on his nightstand. He took off the torn robes and threw them into his trunk, even though they were now useless and he could have thrown them away and pulled on his scarlet Quidditch robes and took out his Firebolt. Then, walking back down to the Common Room, he saw that Hermione had joined the crowd of Gryffindors.
"Hello!" she said brightly.
"Hi," Harry said, sitting next to her and sitting next to her.
"What did Hagrid want?" Hermione asked.
"To introduce me to Sarff, Grawp's girlfriend." answered Harry.
"How was it?" Hermione asked as though this news were not shocking at all and all of her friends brought home their giant brother and his giantess girlfriend.
"She kept prodding me until Grawp picked me up and ripped my robes. I used the Disarming charm on him and they ignored me the rest of the time." Harry said.
"That's nice," said Hermione absentmindedly, looking around, "have you seen Ron?"
"He's down at the Quidditch Pitch to set up." Harry said.
"Already?" Hermione asked.
Harry checked his watch again.
"It's a quarter to four, anyway," he said, standing up, "I'll see you later."
"Don't forget-- Remedial Potions with Snape at eight-thirty!" she yelled behind him as he climbed out of the portrait hole and walked to the Quidditch field. Ron was already flying around on his broomstick and so were close to fifteen students that Harry had seen around the Common Room, but had never talked to. Harry did recognize Mark Evans and Ginny Weasley zooming around and Dennis Creevy was riding his broomstick rather badly (it kept stopping abruptly; it was one of the school brooms). Harry saw that Jack Sloper, a Seventh-year Beater and Andrew Kirke-- a Fifth-year-- were riding around, their scarlet robes flaring out behind them.
Harry mounted his own broomstick and kicked off from the ground. After being banned from Quidditch and his broomstick for so long, it felt good to be up in the air where he belonged. He raced over to Ron, who hadn't noticed he was there.
"Hey, Ron!" Harry called, "I'm here!"
Ron swiveled around to face Harry.
"Hey, Harry!" Ron called back, "Are you ready?" Without an answer, he reached under his shirt and pulled out a whistle and blew hard. Everyone stopped dead, watching Ron.
"Alright! Everyone on the ground!" Ron said. Harry and Ron had an unspoken race to the ground (Harry won by a considerable amount) and Harry lined up with the rest of the team, looking at the nervous-looking candidates, all hoping for the same position.
"Now, to be on my Quidditch team, you have to have three things." Ron said, pacing, reminding Harry of Oliver Wood. "One; the skills. You have to be good at catching, throwing and scoring as well as dodging if a Bludger comes your way. Two; companionship. These players--" he gestured towards Harry, Sloper and Kirke "--all made it on the team partly because they could work together as a team-- well… no, I take that back… Harry got on because he was just dead good at catching small objects at breakneck speed-- but he still got along with everyone. It is definitely important to not be afraid to speak up. The three of you have to work together as a team in order to get the Quaffle through he hoops. And three-- patience and dedication. It's hard work, being on a team and you have to be present for every game as well as practice, unless you're in the Hospital Wing. But other than that-- if you don't show up, don't consider yourself part of the team."
Harry stared at Ron with part admiration. He had never before heard Ron speak so comfortably in front of anyone before.
"Now--" Ron said, pulling out a piece of paper. I'm going to let the Bludgers loose and sit over here, watching you and taking notes. Harry," Ron said, turning to Harry, "I'm not letting the Snitch out now, so you'll play Keeper, alright?" Harry nodded. "Alright-- pretend Harry here is a big, ugly Slytherin and you want to kill him with your bare hands."
Harry looked at Ron apprehensively and Ron caught himself. "Oh-- wait! Just pretend Harry is a greasy Slytherin and your life's ambition is to get the Quaffle past him. Sloper-- Kirke… get out your bats. I'm going to let the Bludgers loose in a minute. Right now, you're all playing Chasers on the same team and I want to see teamwork. Harry, go to those goalposts over there." Harry mounted his broomstick and took off towards the goalposts at one end of the field. He watched Ron give the last of the instructions to the candidates and then walked to a crate and opened it. Two Bludgers zoomed out and flew around the field. Sloper and Kirke took off and the rest of the applicants kicked off from the ground. Ron threw the Quaffle up into the air and the game started. To Harry, Keeping seemed much easier, because most of the candidates became overwhelmed and shocked if they caught the Quaffle, froze up and threw the Quaffle through the wrong hoops. Harry could hear Ron shouting at them.
"YOU JUST SCORED A POINT FOR THE OTHER TEAM! WE'RE BEHIND NOW!" he shouted as though this were a real game, which Harry supposed was a wise thing, because it showed how the Chasers dealt with stress of a game. The ball was caught by Ginny, who threw it expertly to Mark Evans who rocketed towards Harry, who tightened his grip on his broom handle. Dodging some crazy second year who obviously thought that Mark was the opponent instead of Harry, Evans threw the Quaffle, but Harry was too fast and caught it easily, tossing it back into the game. Evans swore and shot off like a bullet after the Quaffle. He caught it and tossed it to a fourth-year girl who got nervous and chucked it strait at Harry, even if he was several yards away from her at the time and the Quaffle did nothing but fall. Ginny caught it and tossed it to Dennis Creevy. He attempted to rocket towards the goalposts, but his broomstick prevented him from going more than five miles an hour and before long a Bludger came from nowhere and Dennis cried out in terror (Kirke hit the Bludger from Dennis at the last moment), throwing the Quaffle back to Ginny, who zoomed right over to Harry and threw the Quaffle. Harry caught it.
This went on for a long time and it seemed that the only ones that could keep there heads whilst holding the Quaffle were Ginny, Dennis, Mark and Joshua Cameron, a fifth-year boy. Everyone else aimed wrongly or didn't throw hard enough, or threw in the wrong direction. One time, when Harry wasn't expecting it, a Bludger came around and he barely dodged it, but realized too late that in leaving the goalpost empty, some wild boy on a broomstick Harry had never noticed before in the Common Room, decided to fly through the hoop, carrying the Quaffle. Unfortunately for the boy, flying through the goal hoop was illegal and no points could be scored.
At the end of the tryouts, Ron blew the whistle and called everyone down.
"That was okay," Ron said once everyone had landed, "Great job, all of you. The people that made the positions will know they made it in one to two days. It'll be posted on the Common Room notice board."
Everyone left except for Harry and Ron.
"Great job." Harry said to Ron. "That was wicked, it really was."
"Thanks for goaltending," Ron said. "I don't know how I'm going to choose between them. It was kinda hard to catch all their moves when I was writing half the time."
"You can borrow my Quidditch Stadium to replay it, if you need to." Harry insisted.
"That'd be great, thanks, Harry." Ron said exhausted.
"Well, I have to run, Ron. Occlumency."
"Right. When did it start again?"
"Eight-thirty."
Ron checked his watch and looked horrified.
"Harry, you really have to run. It's eight fifty-two!"
"What?" Harry gasped, horrified. "B-but it didn't seem that late! I thought it was closing in on eight o'clock!"
"Harry, stop talking and start running." Ron said. As Harry sprinted away across the ground, Ron called out, "And pray that Snape doesn't skin you alive!"
Harry continued to sprint and even when he'd run past the Chaser candidates who were all chattering happily, making their way slowly up to the castle. Harry pushed the doors open and ran inside. It seemed like he'd been running forever (especially when Peeves tried to trip him while he was invisible) and it felt like forever when he finally found himself outside Snape's office. He knocked quickly and pushed the doors open. Snape's sallow face, large nose and evil eyes met Harry on the other side of he door.
"I'm-- I'm sorry…" Harry panted, but he felt as if his ribs were piercing his sides.
"Tell me, Potter. What time did I tell you to come here, this morning?" Snape asked.
"Eight-- eight… thirty." panted Harry.
"And what time is it now?" Snape's face grew, if possible, uglier as he looked livid. Harry looked at his watch.
"Eight fifty… fifty-nine." he answered.
"That's right. You are nearly half-an-hour late. That is thirty minutes of my time that I have spent waiting for you. Thirty points also, will be taken from Gryffindor for your tardiness."
"But it's after hours!" yelled Harry indignantly, recovering.
"Yet I am still the teacher and you the pupil and as long as that is a fact, so are my teaching powers."
"Fine."
"What?" Snape sneered.
"Fine, sir." Harry growled angrily. "But I was at Quidditch Tryouts!"
"That makes no difference… you were still late." Snape looked happily amused. "If you wish to waste time flying uselessly through the air rather than learn something important, leave now." He pointed to the door.
Harry would have gladly stormed out of the office then and there. He had a strong desire to do so as he sat and stared at Snape's sneering face. But Dumbledore wanted him to learn and it was that and only that, that kept Harry seated right where he was, still in his Quidditch robes, glaring at Snape, anger boiling in his chest.
"Good." said Snape quietly. "Now, stand up and pull out your wand."
Harry obeyed reluctantly.
"Did you practice over the summer?" Snape asked.
"No." spat Harry. "I figured that when you said you didn't want me in your office ever again, I wouldn't have to learn Occlumency."
"Potter, the Dark Lord is at large, and your idea of being prepared is coming to my class half-an-hour late and telling me lies."
"I wasn't lying!" Harry yelled, "I wasn't lying and you know it."
"Silence!" Snape hissed. Then he smiled silkily, "Fifteen more points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter. Now… let's begin. Legilimens!" Snape shot the spell at Harry so fast and unexpectedly that Harry didn't have time to react. He then saw flashes from his past life. He saw Neville being tortured at the end of last year-- Sirius falling into the veil, never to return…
"NO!" Harry yelled, but Snape didn't lift the spell and continued to file through Harry's memories. It wasn't until the memory of being locked in the cupboard under the stairs by Dudley that Harry felt a sharp pain in his knees. He felt the spell lift off him and he found his face to the floor.
"You are not trying hard enough!" Snape said. Empty yourself of all emotion.
"You didn't give me time to prepare!" Harry said, standing up and shaking.
"Don't give me rubbish, Potter. No one would tell you if they were going to put it on you in a real situation. Let's try again and this time, empty your mind of all emotion."
"You tell me to do that like it's easy." Harry said, gritting his teeth as though that was keeping him from attacking Snape.
Snape chose to ignore the comment.
"One…" he started counting, "Two… Three! Legilimens!"
Harry's last thought, before he found his memories floating in front of his eyes, was that this was more trouble than it was worth. A perfect way to end a hectic day, Occlumency… if only it actually did any good for him. Harry's attempts to get out of the spell, Harry thought as he saw the spell shoot towards him, were just about as easy as teaching Grawp and Sarff to speak English, or even pronounce his name right…
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Wow! LOOOOOOOONG chappie! For that I am glad. Sorry it took me so long to update this; I went to my cousin's wedding and my mom then told me that we were going on a five-day vacation. I think I sprained my toe, because on the way to the heated outdoor pool, I stubbed my toe on the curb and I heard something crack and it hurts if I move it… but that's besides the point…. Then, when I got home after about seven hours of driving in the car, I had to go to work and I got home and did nothing but type! It was almost two in the morning before I decided to quit. Anyway, I'm not sure when the next chappie will be coming up, but as I promised on my bio page (to those who read it) I will never take up to two weeks to update unless I'm on vacation… and maybe if I need to take a break. I might need one of those soon, but I'll let you know when I will take one… I'm very busy! AHHHHHHHH! Anyway, I hope you all liked the chappie!
Mistopurr- Yup, yup, yup, Harry's learning to stand up for himself… I'm glad you liked the present idea… a lot of people said that they liked it. I read that part to my mom and she thought it was genius! That's cool. Now that we are both vacationed out, maybe we can get back to normal e-mailing standards : )! Hee, hee! Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chappie!
The evil witch queen- Note, I didn't forget you this time! Yay! I'm glad everyone enjoyed the present for Harry! It would be cool if that was real, wouldn't it sighs longingly. But I'm really excited, because I've got some humor-related things that will happen with the present. I hope Malfoy learns to behave, because it's hard to have Harry react like Harry would in J.K. Rowling's books, but it needs to be done in order to have fun with the story! Yes, Cho really needs to straiten out her life… got plans for her as well! Talk to you later and I am awaiting your e-mail telling me that you updated!
Leggylover03- Thanks!
Snow-angel222- I'm glad that they were better than you thought they would be. In the last chapter, I rated my writing (compared to J.K. Rowling's) to be about a six out of ten, because I really don't think Harry would have reacted that way to Malfoy… but then again, Harry changes in each book… some may not notice it, but I think he's becoming more witty and that was just a taste of it.
Sirius1fan- Thanks a bunch! I'm glad you liked the present!
JeanieBeanie33- Well, at least your pacing yourself and that's good. At the moment, I feel like Hermione, because I've got so many things to do, but I still write. It's kinda nice, 'cause my mom's proud of me for writing just because I feel like it, because you don't really get that out of many teenagers, do you? I enjoyed writing about the present and thought it was so much fun! MALFOY EVIL! Heh, heh… sorry! Random moment!
Pipaluga- Thanks! My sister plays neopets sometimes. Why?
Wytil- Ummm… I want to ignore this, but I have to write to explain-- and ask-- why does there have to be any connectivity towards the story when I'm only ten chapters in? Yes, I'm sure I have the right match-up. But, if you notice, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone/Chamber of Secrets, didn't have anything to do with the story until the last few chapters. Even if they built the story to be that name… I'm only ten chapters in and Harry's only been at school for a little more than a week, so I don't see why anything dramatic would have happened by then. Please, don't start with the 'good girl' stuff, because you're not my mother and I don't think you have the authority to coach me to make my story the way you want it to be. Just to make you able to breathe, I did, in fact, write up a story outline, but please, don't make it seem like this is your story as well. Don't get me wrong-- I don't mind reviews-- but I don't like it when people try to get me to make the story what they want it to be. I apologize if I seem harsh in this response-- I'm really quite friendly if you get on my good side-- but I was just a little annoyed… sorry again. Thanks for taking the time to review. : )
Black Sentinel- Thanks! I'm glad you really liked the idea and you can NOT steal the idea!!!! But you can borrow it : )! But on one condition; you give me a little credit for thinking of it in the first place-- that, and $100,000,000,000.99! I'm just kidding! That would be a good idea if Harry were to save Pansy Parkinson whilst Draco runs away like a coward-- it would show that Harry has morale fiber! Talk to you later! Sorry this review wasn't that long!
Lady Aioria- Sorry… I'll try to name the chapters better in the future-- I just didn't have any ideas of what to call it… I'll probably go back and choose a new name whilst posting this story. My sister's best friend gave me a small poster of Orlando holding a book and it said 'READ' on it, so that was nice! I really like the picture! Orlando is such a sweetie, innie?
Starsmiles- Yes, Cho is an interesting character… that's why I like her, she's fun to write and when I write her (you never know what she's gonna do) so I just kinda stop thinking and let her and Harry have the conversation and however it turns out, it turns out, and I don't really have their conversations planned out, unless something is supposed to happen. She's so much fun! I'm happy that so many people liked my idea for a present! YAY! Thanks for reviewing!
Facil Glow- Thanks a whole bunch! Got your e-mail… LOVED IT!
InDePeNdAnT-cHiK- Wow! That's a mouthful to write! I like your name, but it took so long to type it-- my computer's word check kept making it 'independent-Chick' but never mind. McD's… ah… good times… I love the Big Macs, but I decided never to eat them again, because I must lose weight… I do like the McNuggets, though… Yes, clueless Harry… but I'm sure I would be clueless of what to do if someone that I always argued with was sobbing into my shoulder… wouldn't you? LOL, talk to you later!
Shedoc- I never thought that this could be the return of the bouncing ferret… but then again, Moody did that. And I bet Harry would lose position as DADA teacher were he to turn anyone into a ferret. Hee, hee…
Ellen- That would be cool if your dad went to Orlando (the actor)! But unfortunately… it is only Florida… sob. I'm not sure, but I think you're with Trin at the moment… how's she? Can't wait to talk to her again, 'cause I'm bored! But guess what… ah, I can't tell you (online, anyway)… but ask Trin what I got and she'll tell you… if she can't remember, remind her with this clue-- massage jets and hot water with built-in CD player… well, I'm sure you can guess it, but whatever… talk to you later!
Charmed-103- EVIL Slytherins! If you could be in one house, which one do you think you'd want to be in as opposed to which one you probably would belong in? I would want to be in Gryffindor, because I really like what it's known for, and I'm not sure whether I would belong in Gryffindor… I could, because they're supposed to be brave, value friendship above anything else, be gracious, caring, serious, courteous… and I've got those qualities. I would definitely want to be in Gryffindor… what about you?
Fuji the Hobbit- When I said Island, I meant North America, because it is like one big island, isn't it? I'm happy you guys sent help… and thanks if it means anything. Don't judge me by how you think Americans act, though! : )! But I don't think that's all the way true, because other countries did send help and I'm sure everyone was grateful for that. Thanks for telling me what F.R.E.D. was!
Vicster- I sort of feel bad for Harry… setting him up with the Slytherins, but it must be done! WAAAAA! Thanks for the compliment on the present!
Panther28- That's true that Harry doesn't really have to go to the next World Cup game, but even so, it's probably more fun to do so… 'cause you're there, right? I like the model! YAY!
Thanks all for your reviews and I will try and post soon! But I got 19 reviews is like a record for me, so thanks all for contributing your thoughts, comments, and suggestions to me. Thanks a bunch and I'll talk to you all later!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88
L