Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling, once again… owns it all… save Frost and Sarff… they're mine! Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaa!
Author Note: Please, guys! I know it's a bit petty to beg for you to read something else of mine, but I want to see what people think of my story 'As Fate Would Have It'! It's only one chapter and I want you guys to read it! PLEASE!!!!!!! Yes, I know I sound superficial, but I'm desperate! And-- and review while you're at it! I guess the whole reason for this is, is that I worked so hard on that story to allow it to only get 12 reviews! So, please! Read 'As Fate Would Have It' and I will be eternally grateful!
Story time!
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19. Unintended Revealings
The whole week went by and after every Transfiguration Class, Harry resumed asking McGonagall about starting up D.A. Lessons, just as he had in third year, asking for his Firebolt. And every time, he was met with the same answer.
"No, Mr. Potter. Now, if you'll please stop asking me; I've enough to be getting on with without you persistently asking me. You shall know when you shall know. Good day."
Harry turned and left the room without another word and was met by Ron and Hermione's eager faces, but Harry merely shook his head and their hopeful smiles vanished. Defense Against the Dark Arts Classes were becoming more fun in Harry's Gryffindor/Ravenclaw classes and less bearable in his Slytherin/Hufflepuff classes. Luckily, the Hufflepuffs tried it make it easy and Ernie Macmillan had begun taking notes.
Care of Magical Creatures classes were again being taught by Professor Grubby-Plank who took to bringing in interesting animals for them to study with the help of Professor Frost who began coming to every class, always smiling and winking.
Soon, Friday was over and Saturday rolled around. Harry woke in the early hours of the morning and instantly rolled over, staring at the ceiling of his canopy and listening to the snores of Ron and Neville. After half an hour, Harry got bored of this and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, then pulling the hangings back, grabbing his glasses and jamming them on his face. He stumbled out of bed and changed into his clothes.
Walking into the Common Room from down the spiral staircases, he found that several others were up as well and working on homework to finish it before the Hogsmede Trip, or else they were talking quietly. Harry passed them all and most waved to him and he exited through the portrait hole and began walking, the sound of his footsteps reverberating off the stone walls. He checked his watch. Six thirty. Breakfast had just started.
As soon as he turned the corner, he crashed into something that was going full speed in the other direction. Whatever it was gave a cackling shriek of pain and horror as it spiraled through the air; Harry was pushed sharply into a suit of armor which clanged loudly, echoing. When Harry emerged from the rubble of the polished suit of armor, he looked wildly around while rubbing his shoulder which hit the wall, and found ten feet above him: Peeves.
Though-- this could not be Peeves. Peeves had an obnoxious impish smile and mismatched clothing. This Peeve, however, was wearing black robes with the Hogwarts Crest on the front and a pointed wizards hat. Although, Harry saw, Peeves hadn't given up his ugly orange tie. When Peeves saw who he had hit, the Poltergeist flew down and grabbed Harry's hand shaking it. As he did this, he began murmuring.
"So sorry, Potty, sir. Clumsy, clumsy Peevesy didn't see you. My fault… all my fault… didn't see you--"
"What the devil is going on here?" A croaky old voice said behind Harry and he turned to see Filch walking up to him, Mrs. Norris trailing behind him. Peeves gave a shriek.
"I wasn't doing anything, kind sir. Nice sir, Filchy, nice sir. Nice kitty." he added as he shook Filch's hand too. Filch ripped his hand out of Peeves's grasp looking disgusted.
"Keep away, you filthy Poltergeist! The ghosts may say you have changed, but I'm not believing your tricks for one moment!"
Peeves looked shocked that Filch had rejected him and began to cry loudly, but Filch was not to be swayed, so Peeves continued to cry and turned around in the air and flew around the corner. It took about thirty seconds for his sobs to disappear. Harry and Filch remained where they were, both looking at where Peeves had disappeared off to before Harry and Filch looked at each other.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Filch said, waving an angered hand in Harry's direction. "It's off to the Great Hall for you!"
Harry had no choice but to leave then, so he turned and followed in Peeves's wake until he reached the Great Hall where no one else seemed to have noticed Peeves's strange behavior.
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It was much later in the day when Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Hogwarts grounds in the carriages that were pulled by the thestrals and pulled into the town of Hogsmede. When they stepped out of the carriages, the cold winter air blew through their cloaks and making them shiver as the falling snow stuck to their hair. Harry immediately said his farewells to Ron and Hermione who went off to do a bit of Christmas shopping before having lunch, but Harry headed strait for the Three Broomsticks.
The bell tinkled as he opened the door and stepped inside, out of the freezing weather. He looked around, straining his eyes to glance over the giant crowd of Hogwarts students and townsfolk for Luna. After a tedious search, Harry couldn't see her, so he grabbed the nearest table he could before someone else took it and sat, watching a busy Madame Rosmerta serve Butterbeers to a group of third-year Ravenclaws. He jumped when he heard a morose voice behind him.
"'Lo, Harry."
Harry turned to see Luna standing behind him. But she wasn't alone. There was a thin, balding man with brown hair standing behind her, wearing thick glasses and decrepit robes that were coming apart at the hems. He stared at Harry with the same look Luna always had (though somewhat more surprised) before taking his daughter's leave and scooting in the chair next to her. Harry was so busy looking at this new man that his reaction was delayed when someone else sat right next to him. He turned and scooted towards the wall when he realized that Rita Skeeter had just sat next to him. She wasn't as Harry had seen her last time. Her hair was kempt and her nails were painted in an ugly yellow color to match her robes. She gave Harry a irritated look before smiling, her gold teeth shining in the winter light.
"It's nice to see you too, Harry." she said.
"Harry, I'd like you to meet my dad." Luna said unnecessarily pointing to Mr. Lovegood, who extended his hand and Harry shook it.
"It's nice to meet you Mr. Potter. My name is Rudolph Lovegood. And this is my newest reporter, Rita Skeeter."
"We've met, Rudolph." said Rita.
"Yes." Mr. Lovegood said, clearing his throat. "Thank you for that article last year. It got sales going again."
"Erm-- that's nice." Harry said, feeling uncomfortable and wishing he had someone there whose company he actually enjoyed. "Did--did you catch your-- er-- Crinkled Snorflak, then?"
"Crumple-Horned Snorkack." corrected Luna dolefully. "No, we didn't catch one. They were out of season in Switzerland and were illegal to hunt."
"So, shall we start then?" Mr. Lovegood said.
"Yes." Rita said, grasping her crocodile handbag with both hands and standing up. "First I'll get drinks for us, shall I?" Without waiting for an answer, she walked off, leaving a reserved silence around the table where Harry stared at Luna and Mr. Lovegood and they stared back at him. Harry was beginning to feel awkward and he couldn't remember a time when he was happier to see Rita return when she did with three mugs of Butterbeer and a bottle of Firewhisky for herself.
"Now," she said as she settled herself next to Harry, pulling out a piece of parchment and a regular old quill, "where should we start?"
Harry took a drink and found his Butterbeer tasted funny. Maybe it was the loss of drinking it with friends that took the fun out of even drinking the beverage at all. Rita took a swig of her Firewhisky, but the Lovegood's drinks stayed in their hands.
"What about last year's adventures in the Department of Mysteries?" Mr. Lovegood offered.
"Lovely." said Rita and she dabbed the tip of the quill into the ink well she had just set down next to her drink. "What about it Harry? What was in the Department of Mysteries?"
Harry opened his mouth and closed it again. He wasn't sure if he should answer that. After all, he wasn't even supposed to know what was there and it was by his fault that he found out last year. This thought brought up fresh pains of the loss of Sirius.
"Well?" Rita said impatiently. "What was in the Department of Mysteries?"
Harry fully decided not to answer because it shouldn't be Rita's business. He opened his mouth again to tell her this but--
"There was a platform that had an archway with a veil and I heard people whispering behind it."
Harry sat shocked at what he had just said. He couldn't believe it. Hadn't he just decided not to tell her?
Rita looked down at her parchment and began scribbling furiously, smiling her toothy smile. When she finished and looked up, Harry began to blabber.
"I mean-- no, that's not what I meant-- I meant that there was nothing-- nothing."
"Well was there a platform?" Rita persisted.
"Yes." Harry answered unconsciously. "I mean no! I mean--"
"What else was there?" Rita said and before Harry could stop himself, he continued.
"There were shelves upon shelves of tiny glass balls-- they were prophecies--" he stopped, horrorstruck. "I mean--"
"And why were you down these shelves full of prophesies?" Rita asked.
"To save--" Harry began but he stopped… no… he could mention Sirius. But there was something in the back of his mind, telling him to. What was going on? Why was he suddenly blurting out answers like this?
"Save who?" Rita continued.
"S-S-S--" Harry said painfully. He couldn't say Sirius's name. "S-S-Sn-Snuffles."
The grin disappeared from Rita's toothy face.
"Snuffles? Who's Snuffles?"
The Lovegoods had not said a word during this time. Both sat, drinks untouched, watching Rita interview Harry. Harry took another gulp of Butterbeer.
Who's Snuffles… who's Snuffles… who's Snuffles…
The words faded and Harry blurted out.
"Sirius!"
Rita's smile returned.
"Sirius? Sirius Black, perchance?" she said as she resumed her scribbling. Harry had half a mind to leave right then, but Rita was blocking his way out.
"Y-yes. No!"
"Well… is it?"
"Yes." Harry said, feeling horrorstruck.
"Ah, now this is getting interesting! Do you possibly know of his whereabouts at this time?"
"He's d-dead." Harry said, suddenly feeling tears fill his eyes. Saying this was so painful-- not only was it bringing up memories, but he knew he shouldn't be saying this to anyone-- especially not to Rita Skeeter.
"Really? How do you know this?"
"His cousin, Bellatrix killed him when he tried to save me from Voldemort last year." Harry said quickly. There was a first sign of movement from the Lovegoods as Harry said Voldemort's name, but then they resumed stillness after that.
"So you know her whereabouts?"
"No." Harry said. "She left with Voldemort last year."
"Interesting. So… how long did you know Sirius Black?"
"I-I found out he was innocent in my third year and I saved him from the Dementors." Harry was now terrified. He couldn't stay. He was letting out all the secrets that he, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Hagrid and the Order had been attempting to keep hidden. And here he was, telling the loudest mouth about it all!
"So--"
"I-I've got to go!" Harry said suddenly. Rita and the Lovegoods looked crestfallen.
"No! Why don't you stay a while?"
"No, I've really got to go-- Christmas Shopping, you know-- excuse me--"
He tried to get Rita to move from her booth seat but she wouldn't budge.
"I insist you stay."
"Please move!" Harry said exasperatedly. He pushed at Rita's arm, but she didn't budge.
"Please, Harry! We're getting somewhere here!"
"MOVE!" Harry yelled ramming into Rita and she completely slid off the booth and fell to the ground. Harry jumped over her and bolted out of the door, pushing a disgruntled man out of the way to exit faster.
"Watch it, boy!"
Harry did not heed this man's yells, but ran as fast as he could away from the Three Broomsticks, desperate to find solace-- far away from prying eyes. He ran, pushing though groups of witches and wizards with bags upon bags of presents in their hands. Finally, he caught sight of an alleyway and quickly turned into it, running down the dank lane. Reaching the end, he walked to the wall and turned around, pressing his back to it and sliding down until he was sitting on the cold ground that was free from snow due to the roof above him.
Pulling his knees to his chest, he lay his head down on them and gave short gasps, his shoulders shaking. Tears stung his eyes and he closed them.
"Damn it all!" he shouted into his knees. "What's wrong with me? Why did I blurt everything out like that?! I didn't want to! What the hell is wrong with me?"
"Harry?"
Harry jerked his head up and saw Ron and Hermione standing in front of him, both of their noses red from the cold and their breaths rising in mists. Their hands, too, were filled with bags of gifts.
"What's wrong, mate?" Ron asked.
"Everything." Harry said, leaning his head back and settling it against the wall. Seeing that Harry wasn't going to stand up, Ron and Hermione both sat down on either side of him.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"It's over. It is. I just gave away everything."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Don't you get it, Ron?" Harry said, enraged all of a sudden. He stood up and began pacing in front of his friends who remained seated. "I just told Rita about Sirius!"
Hermione clapped a hand to her mouth.
"Why'd you do that, Harry?" Ron continued.
"I-I don't know! I wasn't going to say anything, but then I just-- I couldn't stop-- I just-- it just came out of me-- I couldn't help it-- I didn't mean to-- I didn't want to!" yelled Harry, tears stinging his eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with me!"
Ron and Hermione stayed silent as Harry stood before them, feeling like an idiot as several tears fell from his eyes. He wiped them away quickly. When his friends remained silent, Harry started speaking again.
"I swear, I really didn't want to! It just came out and I couldn't' stop it! But it's ruined! Now the Ministry is going to start asking questions-- the Order is going to be caught-- and people are going to start thinking I'm mad again-- it's all over."
"What do you think happened?" Hermione asked.
"Weren't you listening, Hermione?" yelled Harry. "I-- DON'T-- KNOW!"
"Alright, alright…" Hermione said, standing up and dusting off her robes. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to help."
"What do I do?"
"Maybe you should snuff Rita." Ron said. "That would solve all our problems."
"No." Hermione said distractedly. "I'll go talk to her for a bit. You two better go back to Hogwarts. I'll meet you in the Common Room."
With that, she walked off, leaving Ron sitting on the ground and Harry standing, gaping at her. When she was completely gone, Harry looked at Ron disbelievingly.
"Does she always have to take everything so calmly? This is serious and she has to have a nice little chat with Rita about my worries and woes."
Ron stood up.
"Best do what she says, mate. The last thing we need right now is for Hermione to go nutters on us."
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A few hours later, Hermione turned up in the Common Room, finding Harry and Ron and sitting down by them, looking very angry.
"She'd gone before I had a chance to find her." Hermione said, not waiting for either of the boys to say anything first. "She saw me running at her and she turned into a beetle and flew off. I hate her! Why can she never think of anyone other than herself all the time?"
"What do I do now?" Harry asked, worried.
"I don't know." Hermione said, glancing around nervously. "I can't think of anything."
"I s'pose all we can do is hope she doesn't put it out."
"Well… on the bright side, it will be in the Quibbler and hardly anyone believes that rubbish." said Hermione.
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Harry said, leaning over and setting his head on his hands.
"Well it's better than being in the Daily Prophet!" Hermione said. Harry leaned back in his chair, rubbing his sore temples.
"We'll see how bad it is when the magazine comes out." Ron said. "Let's just hope she went lightly on the tales."
"What's lightly for Rita is too much information for us." Hermione said darkly, making Harry feel, if possible, even worse.
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I'm so sorry for how long that took! As I believe I said before, updates will be less frequent. Anyway, I was at a loss for words on this chapter which was one of the reasons for it's delayed update.
This chapter was particularly hard to write because I wanted Harry to get emotional, yet keep in his character and it was REALLY hard! I'm not sure how I did according to you guys' ideas of how Harry should cry and have teenage angst, but I think I did rather well.
On the bright side…
My boss called me and told me that work was so slow that she was going to cut my hours down to zilch for the whole month of November! I'm kinda sad, 'cause now I can't make money for Christmas presents, but now I have more time to write! However, I have finals coming up, so that will take up a bit of time, but my classes are pretty easy. I'm confident in my abilities to succeed.
I warn you, the next chapter might take a bit to put up… don't get me wrong! I've been waiting to write this chapter for the past fourteen chapters and I've been mulling over what to write, so I know what to write! It's just that I have so much information to put into it that I'm not sure how I'm going to word everything, which will be why it might take a while. So, for all those Americans, if it takes past Thanksgiving to post, happy Thanksgiving and for all those Brits and Canadians, happy (or sad) Remembrance Day, which, I believe is the same day as Thanksgiving. Isn't that weird that on the same day, while the Americans celebrate freedom and togetherness and thankfulness, the Brits and Canadians are mourning the loss of all of their soldiers? Ironic, isn't it?
PLEASE READ MY AUTHOR NOTE AT THE TOP!!!!!!
Review time!
A. M. Bookworm247- Wow! Thanks for the wonderful review! It made me feel really good about my writings and I needed an ego booster! Your review really helped a lot! Hm… no one seems to like Cho, do they? I like her because she's a fun character to write and I'm sure if you will (or have) written about her, but she's so much fun to write 'cause you never know what she's going to do next! Yes, Snape is way cool! But evil! Thanks for the great review!
EnderWig- Thanks!
WIZ1- Yup! You'll see a lot more of Frost! She's an important character! Oops! ::covers mouth:: I gave too much away!
Gogglehead Lover- YES! ALL FEEL BAD FOR HAGRID! LOL. But yes, I felt horrible when I wrote it. Have you seen the latest Lost where Jack and Sayid torture Sawyer? It was sad! Who are your favorite characters? Mine are Sayid, Charlie, Hurley, Jack, Kate and Claire! But my two most favorite ones are Sayid and Charlie!
Kiara32- Yes, you are recognized! I reply to all my reviewers because I appreciate their reviews! 400th… 401st… either way, you're a wonderful reviewer and ego-booster! I'm glad I sound like Rowling, really, 'cause I feel it gets people into believing that this is what could happen! I actually have written another story outside of and I was hoping to publish it, but when I went back and read it a year and a half later, it sounded really bad, so I'm going to wait until my writing skills are really good, rewrite it, then try to publish it! What do you think? Yeah, there are a lot of Harry/Ginny fics out there! I, personally, don't like them because there are so many of them I get bored with it. I don't really like any romance, to tell you the truth! Unless it's mild teenage puppy love like what Harry and Cho had in book 5. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Shelly101- Thanks! Yes, poor Hagrid!
Fuji the Hobbit- Thanks a bunch! I'm glad you liked my chapter!
Ellen- My hand healed up for which I am happy! LOL. Yay! I made people feel sorry for Hagrid! My work is done!
Trinityelf- Wow! I'd bet that took forever to type! I got confused reading it. Anyway, I talked to you in band, so I really don't have much to say except… Guess what? ROTK EE COMES OUT IN 29 DAYS! I think…
Mistopurr- I tried to get Mark to the point where he was sort of like Krum-- brilliant on the Quidditch field yet shy in real life. I've been stressed out too, but hopefully being jobless for a month should cure that!
Kateydidnt- Action? LOL! That was a funny review! You have no idea how much I would like to do all that stuff you listed, but then it wouldn't make my story interesting then, would it? ::stubbornly mimics kateydidnt by putting hands on hips:: All will come to those who wait! LOL!
Sam4077- I'm still trying to decide whether there should be a connection between Lily and Mark Evans. What do you think? And keep in mind that I'm really stubborn, so even if you give me an answer, I'll probably do the complete opposite! It's weird, I know! I know you're not trying to sound mean and I honestly do try to keep the chapters even with info, but it's getting a bit confusing 'cause people are telling me that I have too much info in each chapter and some are telling me that I don't have enough and my chapters are boring, so I'm sort of stuck in the middle. But thanks for your concern!
Lady Phoenix Slytherin- K!
BlindJedi- Was this chapter better in the sense that Harry wasn't as calm? Also, I call Harry's lack of remembrance 'stress'. I have it too. I have so many things building up that I completely forget to do several things I'm supposed to do. ::cocks head in cute puppy-dog way:: How do you know Ron and Hermione are going to start dating? And even if they did, I think Hermione's a bit too smart (smarter than Harry) to drop grade levels due to Ron. : )
Trojan Horse- You are so warm! Warmer than anyone else on the subject of Fudge! I can't say more than that because then I'd give away the ending, but I think that's enough info for you to mull over for now. : )! Alright! Let me know when you're story is up and I'll give it a whirl!
Jeanne2- You-Know-Who… gotcha… ::winks::
N6uos- First of all, I couldn't understand a word you just said, second of all if you can't take the time to make your flames so they are legible, please don't write them at all. Thirdly, please stop reading my story! I know I have no right to make you, but you've been giving me a load of crap about my story and you aren't giving me any details on what you can't stand about my story. So please, either keep your comments to yourself or stop reading.
EbonyFirePhoenix- 'Ere you are! You reviewed to tell me that I needed to update about half-an-hour after I had updated! LOL! Funny how that works out isn't it?
Anyway, thanks for the reviews!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88
Next time: Christmas; Ron and Ginny are missing and when Harry finds them, they have some terrifying news. Stuff on Merlin comes into play. (FINALLY!)
This next bit is a test… (if they don't show up, I'm trying to see which dividers show up and which one's don't).
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Thank you!