Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: Own nothing, do I.
Author Note: This a mercy plead. I'm sorry for the long wait, however, hopefully it won't be in vain. Also, could you guys check out my one-chappie story 'As Fate Would Have It'?
Story time!
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18. Hagrid's Bad Luck
With November full of homework and Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons (Harry had begun giving out homework), it went by without so much as a thought and soon December winds were roused and several mornings were white with snow. Lessons with Hagrid were becoming less bearable than ever before. Not because of the cold, but because Grawp and Sarff were becoming more interested in picking students up and staring at them. In Transfiguration, they had now proceeded into turning themselves into water animals. While Harry was having a hard time turning into a turtle and Ron couldn't turn into a goldfish, Hermione needed bigger and bigger tanks as she turned herself into a Dolphin and an Orca. Neville was even doing well by turning himself into a manatee.
During nights in the Common Room, Harry heard loads of stories from students not in sixth year about Professor Frost's classes.
"Did she tell you about the time she wrestled a Chief Mermaid at a lake in Scandinavia, just for the fun of it?" a first-year asked a second-year excitedly.
"No! That's wicked!"
"Professor Frost didn't give us any homework," a seventh-year was saying, relieved, to a fourth-year, "It's a miracle. It'll help me catch up on Snape's essay on the importance of the banana slug in most tickling stews. Honestly, if you want to tickle someone, just tickle them with your hands…"
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the corner, unable to have gotten good seats by the fire and Harry was reading up information on the Sticking Charm as Hermione corrected his Charms homework and Ron was trying to write the theory of the weather charm. Harry looked up from the large book he had checked out from Madame Pince, the Hogwarts Librarian and looked over at a table of first years, all of whom were chatting away, except Mark Evans, who was watching him. When Evans realized Harry had seen, he looked away.
"Harry, I'm talking to you--"
"Wha--?" Harry said, jerking his head to face Hermione, who had his paper in his hands, but was looking at him.
"Like I was saying," said Hermione, rolling her eyes, "this is good, Harry, really good. But you need to change this bit here. 'The weather charm is but nothing of a something except what it is.' It just doesn't make any sense."
"Sorry," said Harry, taking his paper up and scratching out the sentence, "I'm just really tired."
"You look it, Harry. Why don't you go to bed and get an early night's sleep."
"I'll do that," Harry said, putting his Charms homework in the large book of spells and snapping it shut. "'Night."
"'Night." Hermione and Ron said together, though Ron had not looked up from his scribbling.
As Harry passed Evans again, he found that the first-year eyed him all the way to the dorm stairs when Harry disappeared from his sight as he walked up them. When he made it into his dormitory, he threw the book onto his bed and found he was not tired anymore. To save him from going back downstairs where Hermione would insist if he weren't going to bed, he should study, Harry opened his trunk and, for no apparent reason, started going through it. He pushed past his broom, robes, Sneakoscope, books, papers, extra ink and quills, still not sure what he was looking for. When he reached the very bottom, he found the album of his parents that he had not looked at since the summer. So much seemed to have happened between then and now that Harry began to think what would have happened if Fawkes hadn't come with Dumbledore's letter. He reached in and pulled the album out, but before he could close the trunk, something else had caught his eye. Reaching in with tentative fingers, he pulled out a mirror. The mirror in which Sirius had given him. A lump was caught in his throat as he saw the broken glass. Setting the album aside and reaching in his pocket for his wand, he pulled it out and tapped the mirror.
"Reparo." Harry said clearly and the glass renewed itself. As he stared at his reflection, to his complete horror, his image changed. His jet black hair grew longer and shaggier, his thin face grew gaunt and his vivid green eyes turned to a gray color. Sirius was staring back at him, not talking, not moving. Just staring. Harry stared back and wondered if it was truly Sirius. Sirius's eyes blinked.
"S-Sirius?" Harry gasped. Sirius nodded. Then, he opened his mouth and gave out a long high-pitched laugh and his hair shortened again and his emaciated face grew long and Harry saw Tom Riddle laughing at him. He threw the mirror back into his trunk in horror and slammed the lid shut, gasping. He grabbed his album and put it on his nightstand, along with the large book of spells. Then, he flung himself onto his bed without undressing and closed the curtains shut around him, falling asleep long before Ron or any of the others had even come in. That night, his dreams were of Voldemort laughing and Sirius stretching his hand out, begging for help.
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"Harry, you need to eat something," Hermione said, nodding towards the whole plate of food that sat in front of Harry, yet had not been touched. Since Harry's troubled sleep and experience with the mirror last night, he had lost any appetite he had had before.
"I told you, I'm not hungry." Harry said. He had not yet told Ron or Hermione about what he had seen last night.
"C'mon, 'Arry." said Ron, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth. He swallowed. "You need your strength for Quidditch practice."
"That's not 'til Friday." Harry said, his hands folded in his lap, looking at the food in front of him. "It's Tuesday, Ron."
"You're seeing the Slytherins today." Hermione persisted, picking up where Ron dropped off. "You'll need your strength for that."
"Yeah." Harry said, grabbing his fork, then setting it back down.
"What was that for?" Ron asked at Harry's sudden movement.
"I dunno." Harry shrugged. "What?" he asked as Hermione eyed him annoyingly.
"Nothing." she said stiffly. She wiped her mouth, stood up and slung her bag around her shoulder. "If you're not going to eat, we might as well head to Potions early."
"Are you mad?" Ron asked. "More of Snape?"
"Yes. Come on." With that, she turned and walked to the entrance of the Great Hall, forcing Harry and Ron to run to catch up with her. As they exited the Great Hall, they passed Professor Frost, who was coming in for a late breakfast.
"'Morning, Harry." she said, smiling. She was wearing the same clothes, as yesterday, although the rips were different.
"'Morning, Professor." Harry said as he walked past her and down to Snape's dungeons.
………………………………
"Very good, Potter. That is certainly an improvement from last week." Snape said as Harry picked himself up from the ground, panting hard. "However, it was not perfect. Let's try again, shall we?"
The week had ended slowly, yet nonetheless had ended and Harry stood in the middle of Snape's office, completely drained from teaching English to Grawp and Sarff, to running to the Quidditch Pitch for practice, then running from there to Occlumency. It was ten o'clock in the evening and Harry felt like dropping to the floor for a long sleep. Instead, he nodded to Snape's question.
"One… two… three… Legilimens!" said Snape, pointing his wand at Harry, who instantly felt his mind go blank and saw flashes from his memory. He saw Aragog's children scuttling towards him and Ron, then saw Fawkes appear at his window, a letter clutched in his claw--
"STOP!" Harry felt himself yell and his voice echoed all around the dungeon walls. As soon as he had said it, the memories stopped and he stood, facing Snape, who had not yet lowered his wand, but was looking at him as though he was not sure if he should be impressed or his usual mean self.
"That was admirable quickness, Potter, I must admit that," Snape said in lowered tones, "Yet I want you to close your mind. As soon as you hear my voice, close your mind."
"If someone's attacking me with that spell, I'm not going to be able to close my mind, especially when you're counting down to it." Harry pointed out, annoyed. Then, he added, "sir."
"You are not trying hard enough, Potter." Snape said, regaining his usual oily angered voice. "I'd have thought that with all your showoff Quidditch reflexes, you would be able to close your mind at the sound of the word 'Legilimens' before the attacker had time to attack."
"Yeah, well, you try it sometime." Harry said, angered. "It's not that easy."
"Everything must be easy for you to accomplish, Potter." Snape hissed. "Your father was the same way; making it easy for himself, just so he could get good grades and the attractions of every female who crossed his path."
Harry would have dearly loved to say 'he didn't do that and neither do I,' but the words stopped in his throat. Judging by what he's seen in Snape's Pensive last year, Snape was right.
"Y-yeah, he did." Harry said, his fists clenching as hard as his teeth. "I won't deny that, sir, but I'm not like that-- like him. You don't see me cursing people for the fun of it. And I don't curse people when they don't expect it."
The two of them became silent. Though it had sounded as if Harry had been describing his father, he had put an emphasis on the last ten words trying to make it sound as if he'd been referring to Snape from when he hit Harry with the Legilimens Spell in Potions.
"That was merely to see if you'd been practicing and not cramming for lessons right before seeing me!" Snape spat.
"I don't practice at all! I think this is stupid! And if you hate me so much, why are you even trying to help me practice for Occlumency?!" Harry yelled. There was no rebuttal from Snape at these words. Instead, he let Harry's echoing voice die before whispering in a deadly sort of way.
"I don't do this for you, Potter. In fact, if Dumbledore was not counting on me to help you, I wouldn't be, you can know that much. This is merely for Dumbledore's trust that I am down here, wasting my Saturday evenings, teaching you something you don't even practice for. If you can get that information through your thick head, maybe we'd get somewhere."
Both Harry and Snape had a firm hold on their wands, both itching to use it. The longest silence followed before Snape turned on his heel, his billowing black robe swaying and he said, "You are dismissed. I'll have a word with the Headmaster about this."
"Fine." Harry said, his voice shaking. He turned too and walked out of the room, slamming the wooden door shut behind him and stomping all the way to the Common Room.
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The following morning, Harry's anger had burnt out until he saw Snape glaring at him from the Teacher's Table. Hermione and Ron made to get his attention off the night before by asking him about how Auror lessons had been going. However, the conversation didn't hold long as Harry realized there was something wrong with the Teacher's Table.
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron both turned their heads and scanned the table, trying to find Hagrid.
"That's odd." Hermione said. "May-maybe he's sick."
"Yeah." said Harry and the three of them sat down, disrupted seconds later by Luna.
"Hello, Harry." she said glumly.
"Hi, Luna."
"I can't stay long." Luna said. "Next weekend is a Hogsmede trip. Can you meet my dad for the interview?"
"What inter--" Harry asked, then he remembered. "Oh-- right. Sorry. I forgot for a second. Yeah… yeah I can do it."
"Good." Luna said, drifting back off towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Barking mad, that one is." Ron said, but then he was cut off when there came a call from the Slytherin table.
"Hey! Hey, Potter!" Harry heard Malfoy yell from over the heads of his friends, "How's your big oaf of a friend? Or I suppose they chucked him in Azkaban where he belongs!"
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" snapped Ron and Malfoy laughed, holding up a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry turned to look at Hermione.
"Is your copy coming today?"
"It should be…" Hermione said, gazing at the owls which had just burst into the room, "Yes! There it is."
A gray owl floated down onto Hermione's shoulder, dropping the newspaper on her breakfast and holding out the leg in which had a small leather pouch tied to it. Hermione paid the owl and it flew off. She glanced at the front page and scanned through the lines. She dropped the newspaper down back onto her plate, clapping a hand to her mouth and gasping, "Oh my goodness!"
Harry and Ron both shot out a hand to grab the newspaper. Harry reached it first and read the heading.
Giants Run Amuck-- 206 Killed
Last night, December 5th, ten giants were found stampeding through London, killing all in their paths. By the time the Accidental Crew, the Deadly Creature Committee and a number of Dragon Workers got to the scene, the giants had already killed 206 counted-- many were found missing. The Accidental Crew spent the next several hours modifying the memories of 392 Muggles who had managed to get away from the rampaging. Though the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was unable to speak, being ill, his Junior Undersecretary Percy Ignatius Weasley, was able to give some ideas of what happened.
"Several Muggles were able to give us information on who was behind these attacks." Young Weasley says. "I mean to say-- the giants have never attacked or even come close to civilization before-- we assumed there had to be someone. Anyway, several described a tall, thin man with red eyes that looked horridly like a snake was standing on the shoulder of the Gurg, the head Giant, giving instructions. We used this description and matched it with my brother Ron's friend, Harry Potter's description of him in The Quibbler and last summer's article of the Daily Prophet and discovered that it was in fact You-Know-Who.
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Jane Umbridge also gave an account on what happened.
"Of the 392 Muggles that had seen what happened, only about twenty of them were able to tell what happened. The others were either not right in the mind, or did not wish to remember what they saw and easily submitted to us putting a memory charm on them. However, one Muggle did not appear for memory wipes and we found that he had gotten pictures of the giants and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and sent them into the Muggle newspaper. It's all over London. Thankfully, however, the pictures are in what Muggles called 'tabloids' which are commonly known for putting in ridiculous stories about ridiculous things and none of the other Muggles believes it."
If this call wasn't close enough, there was a meeting with several representatives from the 'Care of Magical Creatures' section of the Ministry of Magic and they had to succumb to the fact that the giants are unsafe now and went to where the giants were kept in the mountains. What they found was drastic; bodies of giants laying everywhere. They were all dead-- killed. The Ministry members did a count of them and found twelve were missing, among them, the Gurg.
"We have come to the conclusion," said a Ministry Official, who had just finished modifying the last Muggle's memory, " that You-Know-Who has, in fact, been looking for followers and found the company of ten deadly giants, who made there presence known last night."
Harry rolled up the paper and handed it to Ron and opened anxiously and read through it. When he'd had a look at it, he looked up and stared at the other two.
"I can't believe it!" Ron said. "What are we going to do?"
"Do? Ron, we can't do anything!" Hermione said. "What can we do?
"We can make sure that everyone can protect themselves as much as they can here." Harry said. "I think it's time to start D.A. lessons again."
"Harry, we only had D.A. lessons to lean while Umbridge was here. She's not and you're teaching."
"Yeah, but what if someone wants to know how to fight against Voldemort. Frost probably doesn't know what that's like!"
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said. "I don't want to argue with you. Do it if you want, but I think we should ask permission first.""You weren't saying that last year!" Harry said, outraged.
"Last year, as I said before, Umbridge was here." said Hermione pointedly.
"Fine." Harry said. "I'll ask McGonagall tonight."
"What d'you think Malfoy meant 'is Hagrid alright?'" Ron asked suddenly.
"I dunno." Harry said, standing up and bringing his legs over the bench, "I'm going to find out."
"Harry, you have loads of homework to catch up on!" Hermione said.
"And Quidditch in half-an-hour." Ron continued. Harry rounded on the pair of them, suddenly angry again.
"Oh, so homework and Quidditch are so important to me that I can't go down to see how my friend's doing?" Harry said loudly.
Ron and Hermione were quick to react to this.
"Harry, you're falling behind as it is and Hagrid can take care of himself." Hermione said.
"I don't care if I'm getting T's in every single class!" Harry yelled at her. "If Malfoy knows something about one of my friends before I do, there's a problem!"
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed outside, instantly wishing he'd thought to bring a cloak with him as freshly fallen snow was surrounding the castle. Every step he took was followed by a crunching of the snow until he found himself in front of Hagrid's cabin. He knocked loudly on the wooden door and Fang's barks began, but nothing else answered. Harry's heart stopped as he knocked again. Still, there was no answer.
"Hagrid?" Harry called. "It's Harry!"
No answer. Harry pushed the door open and was immediately jumped on by Fang. Once Harry was able to push him off, he saw that Hagrid was sitting at the table, mug in hand and tears running down his face.
"Hagrid?" asked Harry. Hagrid glanced up, then back down at the table where his eyes had been resting before.
"S'over." Hagrid said, his voice slurred by drink. "S'all over"
"What do you mean, Hagrid?" Harry asked, sitting across from Hagrid. A tear leaked out from Hagrid's black eye.
"Ended this mornin'." Hagrid continued.
"What?" Harry asked again.
"I've been sacked." Hagrid said and he led out a giant sob.
"What?" Harry gasped. Hagrid nodded, his shaggy hair swaying.
"Yeah. Fudge came down this mornin' an' told me I wasn' ter be workin' with yeh anymore."
"But why, Hagrid?" Harry asked. "What did you do?"
"Well," Hagrid said, then took a giant swig from his mug and then continued, "yeh see, las' nigh', there was ten giants tha' killed a bunch 'o people-- Muggles. They said twelve've been missin', but only ten was wif You-Know-Who. The other two, I suppose was Grawpy and Sarff."
"They didn't find out about Grawp and Sarff, did they?" Harry asked concernedly.
"Nah. S'not the point I was tryin' ter make. Anyways--" Hagrid said, taking another mouthful of his drink, "--Umbridge, I suppose, suspected me tha' I had some sort 'o influence and was in it wif You-Know-Who. So, she wen' ter Fudge and he agreed tha' I was a dangerous criminal an' had me sacked this mornin'."
"What did Dumbledore say?" Harry asked, scratching Fang's ears.
"Dumbledore tried everythin' 'e could ter get Fudge ter reconsider an' all. S'no use. Fudge's mind was made up an' there wasn't nothin' Dumbledore could do ter help me. Fudge jus' wouldn't listen. An' Umbridge kept makin' suggestions on wha' Fudge should do wif me. Fudge jus' agreed wif everything she said… been actin' odd lately, Fudge…."
"What did Fudge decide to do with you?" Harry asked, feeling his breath get caught in his chest.
"Nothin'." Hagrid said. "Jus' ter have me sacked. Thanks ter Dumbledore. Umbridge was sayin' I should be sent to Azkaban, but Dumbledore said no."
A shiver ran down Hagrid's spine at the mention of the wizard prison. He emptied the remainder of his drink and stood up and walked to the sink and placed it in.
"Why was Dumbledore able to say no to sending you to Azkaban, but couldn't stop Fudge from having you sacked?" asked Harry.
"There's a big difference between deciding on imprisonment and unemployment." Hagrid said. He then walked to the door and grabbed his crossbow.
"Well, Harry, I've gotta go check on Grawpy an' Sarff and you need ter get ter Quidditch practice…"
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"Very good, Potter. Excellent." McGonagall said at Auror Training that evening. They had been practicing Concealment and Disguise and Harry had successfully changed his image from looking like himself to turning into an exact image of Professor McGonagall and back again. "Now, keep in mind that most of these advanced spells wear off. The more difficult the spell, the smaller the life span. So, if you were to turn into me, you would have maybe five to ten minutes before changing into yourself again, whereas, if you were to change into your father, whom looks so much like you with a few minor details, you'd have maybe twenty minutes to half-an-hour, because less needed to be changed."
"Just like animals, right, Professor?" Harry said. McGonagall smiled.
"Yes, Potter. Now, I believe we are done for tonight. Very good work."
"Goodnight, Professor." Harry said, walking to the door. When his hand touched the doorknob, he stopped and turned around as she walked to her desk.
"Professor?" Harry said and she turned from the papers she was stacking. "Can I ask you a favor?"
"Certainly, Potter." McGonagall said, not turning around.
"Well…" Harry began, "You know that thing that happened today with the giants?"
"Indeed."
"Well, Ron, Hermione and I talked it over and we were wondering if we could start the D.A. again?"
McGonagall straitened up and turned around to face Harry.
"It would not be my decision to make, Potter. However, I can talk to Professor Dumbledore for you."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry said, turning, yet again, to the doorknob, then stopped and turned around again.
Did you know my parents very well?"
McGonagall stiffened.
"Why is this important for you to know, Potter?" McGonagall asked. Harry shrugged.
"I dunno. I just wanted to know if you knew them."
McGonagall's hands quivered before she spoke.
"Yes. I did know them, Potter. They were very good friends of mine and your mother was my best students. Now, if you don't mind, I have a lot of things to do. Goodnight, Potter."
Harry exited her room and walked to the Gryffindor Common Room, thinking about all that had happened that day. When he climbed through the portrait hole, he scanned the room for any sign of Ron or Hermione. He couldn't find either of them.
"Hiya, Harry!" said a familiar voice. Harry looked in front of him to see Colin Creevy standing there, Prefect Badge pinned to his chest.
"Oh-- hi, Colin." Harry said. "You haven't seen Ron or Hermione have you?"
"Ron's at Quidditch Practice and Hermione's helping Professor Flitwick put ornaments on the trees in the Great Hall."
"Figures." Harry said.
"You can sit with me and my friends, Harry!" Colin suggested, just as he had done in Harry's third year.
"Er-- no, that's okay, Colin. I've--" he caught his eye on Mark Evans eyeing him from the corner, "--I've got something else I need to do."
"Oh. Alright. Well, maybe some other time, eh, Harry?" Colin said and walked off to rejoin his friends. Harry, on the other hand, made for Evans. When Evans saw Harry was looking his way, he looked down at his feet and didn't look up until Harry was standing right in front of him.
"Hi." said Harry awkwardly.
"Hello." Mark said.
"So," Harry said, "good game against the Slytherins."
"Yeah." Mark said.
"Er-- can I sit down."
"If-- if you really need to." said Mark. Once Harry had pulled a chair up and sat down, leaning back on the back legs of the chair as Sirius had always done, Harry continued to speak.
"Why aren't you at Quidditch practice now?"
"I was," Mark said, "I got hit with a Bludger and Weasley told me to go to the Hospital Wing, then here."
"Oh." said Harry shortly. There was silence. Then, Harry decided it was time to stop beating around the bush. "Why have you been acting oddly towards me?"
"I haven't." Mark said instantly.
"You have." Harry answered quickly. "You never look at me when I'm close by, but you eye me when I'm far away, like you think I'm going to explode at any moment."
"I don't."
"You do." Harry continued, getting a bit impatient. "Don't deny it. I've seen you at it. Why?"
"It's just--" said Mark. "Well-- I-- it's hard to explain."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Not to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys?"
There was another long pause in which Harry stared at Mark disbelievingly.
"Is that what this is about?" he asked. Mark nodded.
"Your aunt and uncle are always saying that and I hear things about you around the neighborhood-- about how you're dangerous and can get violent--"
"Do they, now?" Harry asked. "Well, I'm used to it. You'll find soon enough that I'm not normal anywhere I go."
"And your cousin--"
"Who I am, thankfully, nothing like--" Harry said.
"He hit me last summer."
"Yeah, well… he hit me too when I was younger. It's just your rotten luck he chose you as his new punching bag."
"Does he still hit you?"
"No." said Harry sharply.
"How'd you get him to stop?"
"My aunt and uncle and Dudley are terrified of magic. If you still think I go to St. Brutus's, stop it. I go here. My aunt and uncle just made that up to explain why I'm never there."
"All those odd people that visit you… Mrs. Figg?"
"She's a Squib." Harry said.
"What's that?"
"It's someone born to a magical family but has absolutely no magical power."
"Like Filch?" Mark asked.
"Yeah."
"Mrs. Figg is always weird." said Mark.
"Try having her baby-sit you 'til the age of eleven." Harry laughed. "I know the name of every cat she's owned in the past twenty years."
Mark laughed too.
"I'm sorry for being really cold towards you, Harry. I was nervous. I didn't know if the rumors were true."
"You'll find more rumors out later from loads of places about me." Harry said standing up. "None of them are true."
"Okay. Well, bye, Harry." Mark said as Harry made his way up to his dormitory, flinging himself on his bed as he had on Friday night. At least one thing had gone right that day. And Harry fell asleep right where he was, drained of all energy from changing into McGonagall so many times, yet happy that he had finally made peace with Mark Evans.
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Note: If you don't like Mark Evans, you'd better learn to like him, 'cause from now on, you'll hear a lot more about him.
Anyway, thanks so much for being patient with me, guys! I've been really busy (what else is new) but I found out that blowing you guys off paid off in my grades! For the fist time in my life, I've gotten all A's (for those who don't know about the American grading process, that's a top mark)!!!!!! I'm really happy about that, but I have to keep it up for the rest of the trimester, where the grades actually count!
Also, I've been watching the new television show 'Lost' with Dominic Monaghan in it and it's such a good show!
Something funny happened! I was typing this, then took a break for dinner and put a bowel in the microwave. When I took it out, I took off the cooking glove to see if the thing I was microwaving was hot yet. It wasn't so I grabbed the bowl again… it burnt my hand! I had to put ointment on it and I now have four band-aids on my right hand! It really hurts, so I'm typing this slower than usual, because my right hand is my good hand and it can't move without hurting, so excuse it if some spelling is off somewhere! It's kinda a funny story!
I also got to go see 'King Lear' by Shakespeare with my Shakespeare class and it was soooooooo good! I didn't understand it at first, but then, by the end, I could understand every word! In November, I get to go see 'Midsummer Night's Dream'. I want to see 'Macbeth' 'cause I just read it for a project! Anyway, you can tell I love Shakespeare's works!
Let's see… work's going okay and our last marching show is on November 5th, so then there won't be anything after school on Tuesday except Band Council, which I love! It makes me feel so involved! We just read 'The Canterbury Tales' in Brit. Lit. and me and my friend performed a skit as the Wife of Bath. I got to say 'I wear lots of clothes to get the attention of all the men and maybe even find that special sixth husband'. Then, I winked at my teacher. It was funny 'cause everyone laughed and he looked a bit worried.
Last night, our football team, the Cougars fought the Dragons and we beat them 48 to 0! We should have at least allowed them a pity goal! But we also had a halftime band show in which we did two songs from 'Westside Story'. That's such a beautiful movie! I love it so much! But we did better than I thought we would!
Anyway, that's a bit about my life thus far and it is now time for reviews!
Kiara32- Wow! Lots of reviews at once! However, you helped me get over 400 reviews! I'm glad to know that so many people think that I sound just like J.K. Rowling, because it really makes me feel like I'm actually doing something that people enjoy! I used to have the biggest crush on Daniel Radcliffe! No kidding! I was constantly 'Daniel Radcliffe this and Daniel Radcliffe that'! I even got an autograph from him, which turned out to be a faulty, but it was still the prospect! Whose ppl? That's what you said. You said that Harry pushed ppl out of the way and I was just wondering who that was. Yes, I've gotten plenty of pretty unhappy reviews telling me that they hate Cho. I, on the other hand, enjoy her character, 'cause she makes Harry's life interesting and funny! I don't mind that they don't like Cho, but when it's this huge issue I don't like it. She's just a character! Anyway, I'm not inquiring anything! I made a goal long before I even started writing this story that I would make every chapter at least 10 pages and so far, I haven't broken it! Yes! Go class of 07! Also, if you like this story, you might like my one-chappie story called 'As Fate Would Have It'.
Gogglehead Lover- Cool name! And thanks a lot for the review!
Trinity-33- Thanks for the ideas on how to change the first chapter to make it better! Your reviews aren't mean at all! I don't mind a bit of help on what to write and I honestly don't mind criticism, but it's just that I'm getting more criticism and I just feel like saying 'Hello! It's just a story!'. However, yours isn't bad at all, 'cause put positives with negatives and I need positives as much as negatives! Anyway, thanks for the wonderful and inspiring review!
Mistopurr- Remember that picture I sent you, telling you that she was going to be a big part of my story… that's what she looks like! If you need me to send the picture again, I'll do so! I honestly don't mind! But Frost is so cool! I love her character!
Melusine07- Thanks for that, mate! Yes, I sometimes do use the wrong word and need to know, so thanks for that! About the review you sent me for chapter 11. I'll number them just like you did, that way, we can stay organized.
1.) About the Minister's word being law, I'm not sure if you're right or not. The thing about what you said is that Fudge might not have that power. I disagree with you right there. Seeing as he is the Prime Minister (I'm only saying that, because J.K. Rowling hasn't mentioned anyone of higher status and Fudge is the one that decides everything and he's the Minister) I assumed that his word was law. However, I'm not sure if you're from Britain. If you are, then I fully apologize, because I haven't looked up anything on government in Britain and you probably know more than me on the matter. Instead, I'm taking what I know from Harry Potter and compiling that.
2.) There was never any information that anyone, besides Harry, Hermione, Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad that knew anything about Umbridge trying to perform the Cruciatus Curse on Harry. Therefore, I assumed that no one had told anyone and no one can put her in Azkaban if they don't know that she attempted to do it in the first place.
3.) About Ron saying 'Umbridge is such a witch.' That is what I like to call 'humor'. It's the antithesis of the quote that made it funny.
In any words, those were excellent points to bring up and if you have any other problems, feel free to review to me again, because I like a good challenge of the mind! And I am glad that at least one of my reviewers likes Mark Evans. Everyone seems to thing that because J.K. Rowling said he is not Harry's cousin that he won't be a big part of the next two books! And how do we know she's not lying? And as much as I would like for Harry to kill Percy, I'm afraid he's important for later parts! Tea… coffee… what's the difference (don't answer that!)? LOL. What do you mean about Dudley's diet starting at the beginning of the summer? It's started at summer in book four. And yes, Harry got five O's! Yay him! Anyway, thanks a bunch!
The Forest Ranger- THL? What's that?
Sally Fan (Eliot- ::chuckles bashfully:: Well, I'm sure what J.K. Rowling has in plan for Harry outstrips my ideas by a mile! But thanks! I'm really glad that people are enjoying my story and it's always nice to get wonderful reviews!
DiAToR- Good point. However, not everything must be perfect. And maybe there was a reason for him showing up the way he did!
Melinda- Thanks!
Ms. Me- I'm glad you like Professor Frost! She's one of my favorite made-up characters! Thanks for reviewing for 'As Fate Would Have It'! I really enjoyed writing that!
Trojan Horse- Cool name! And I didn't stop! See, I'm back! Sometimes, I just need a break to get away from the stress of writing. As much as I love writing, sometimes, it's just nice to get away from it for a while! And thanks! Yes, I choose to not listen to flamers! Either that, or I write flame reviews back. I've gotten a lot of compliments for my funny replies to flamers from other-- nicer-- reviewers! It's funny, isn't it? Right? Right? ::taps computer:: Hello?
Phoenix Friend- Did you reply to 'As Fate Would Have It'? I'm looking for more reviews for that story 'cause I love it too much to only let it get 12 reviews!
Iamfifi- Thanks for waiting, guys!
Tara- That was a funny review! I was laughing! Yes, Umbridge is evil, isn't?
Trinityelf- Thanks for the review! I love Frost's character! She's just so cool! Good luck with homework!
Huggiebear- ::Jumps back in surprise:: Wow! Thanks for the cool review!
BloodRedSword- Thanks!
Facil Glow- Be mad at what? Sorry, I must have a short memory span! Anyway, I must go!
Shelly101- Um… thanks!
Eternamente- Yeah, that's one of my biggest fears, however, I was writing that in Computer Applications class when I was supposed to be working, so I didn't have time to write anything. And this isn't a full-blown Harry/Cho fic. I wish I could trick-or-treat! However, I'm far too old for it! I will, however, be dressing up as Jack Sparrow and trick-or-treating for Unicef, or however you spell that fund for children around the world! Anyway, thanks!
Ellen- Thanks for the review! I don't have much more time to talk, so this won't be too long of a review, but I hope your book report went okay! And is your goldfish Harry still alive?
Gwen- I mustn't tell whether Umbridge has Fudge under the Imperious, 'cause then you might not keep reading! The thing about it is that there have been a few times when they said that James Potter was a Chaser and then more people say that he was a Seeker. And I'm only assuming that he was a Seeker because he was playing with a Snitch in Snape's Pensive!
Pather28- Yay! I gave you something to look forward to!
The Best witch of all- Thanks!
Trunk2598- Thanks!
JeanieBeanie33- Yeah. I like telling you guys when I'm next going to update, because one, you guys know when to return and two, it gives me a deadline. And about borrowing Frost, I guess you can if you can first e-mail me a scene of your story in which she would be in. I figured that if she looks nothing like Frost, and it doesn't have her name, just her personality, I'm supposing it would be alright.
Angela- Did my e-mail help?
Michelle- Hmmm… interesting comments…
Von- Alright.
Janet- Well, if I had my reviews set to only accept signed reviews, then you wouldn't have been able to review, because your review wasn't signed in.
Alright, that's all for now! Thanks again for being patient with me and hopefully, the next chapters will come faster!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88
Next time: Peeves is behaving oddly and Harry meets Luna's father at Hogsmede