Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: Still owned by J.K. Rowling
Author Note: Well, I'm definitely posting earlier than I usually do, but this chapter was so easy to type for me that I thought it would be a good after-Christmas gift for yeh! I hope you all got what you wanted, if you're a Christmas doer! I sure did! Also, please take a look at my MAJOR NOTE at the very top of the screen if you missed it the first time. It's VERY important! It was said that my birthday present from Ron and Hermione was totally stolen from me, no props and they used it word for word. PLEASE keep a lookout for it! Thanks so much, guys!
Story time!
-
23. Mantra
The new year came and went with a passing of emotion that Harry was quite confused about. On the one hand, he was happy that Ron and him had made a quick apology and made a silent agreement not to talk about it. On the other hand, he was extremely sad about Mr. Weasley, who's funeral was held on the day before Harry's return to Hogwarts.
Everyone was silent as those who wore bright colors changed into black in respect for Mr. Weasley. Harry, Ron and Hermione, devoid of mourning robes, changed into their normal Hogwarts attire, Ron and Harry each borrowing a black tie from Lupin. Everyone in the Order went to the Wizarding Funeral, right off of Hogsmede, by Floo Powder to the Three Broomsticks. During the entire service, which was led by Dumbledore, they remained quiet. The whole of the Weasley family stood together, closest to Dumbledore. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were holding each other close, both crying openly. Ron showed no trace of a tear, but was the whitest Harry had ever seen him and was shaking. Bill, Charlie and Percy stood, looking at the earth, hands behind their backs and their eyes closed. Bill occasionally dropped a silent tear, but other than that, the three of them were resolute. Fred and George were both set side-by-side, chins quivering, looking down as well.
The Order Members did not cry, though most of them looked as if they were close to doing so. Tonks' hair was surprisingly changing from red to blue and Harry wasn't quite sure if her emotions were playing with her powers or if she was doing it for some strange reason. Lupin was looking at Dumbledore as though he were quite determined not to look away. Mad-Eye Moody stood, leaning on his staff, his normal eye closed and his electric blue one whizzing around to look at everyone.
Harry and Hermione stood together. Hermione had her arms around Harry's shoulders and she was crying. Harry felt very damp in the front of the robes, but continued to hug her and pat her back. It seemed the only thing he felt he could do for her. If he did not have her to hold on to, his world would crumble. He needed his friends. Their lives were in danger because of him. Fleur and Mr. Weasley were already gone… who was next? Harry's arms went more securely around Hermione as he held her closer, not wanting to risk her death- as though there were a Death Eater just waiting to finish her or Ron off.
It felt strange, somehow, to Harry. He had seen so many deaths, or at least been close by while they happened. So many deaths- yet this was the first funeral he'd ever been to.
Mr. Weasley's coffin was placed in the hole that was dug for him and covered with earth. A hired witch stood up and sang a mantra as the Weasleys each lay a flower on the ground in front of them and cleared out of the graveyard. Mrs. Weasley was first to place her flower down and right afterward, broke into harder sobs. Bill and Charlie hurriedly placed their flowers down and each bent over to grab one of Mrs. Weasley's arms and help her out of the graveyard. Percy followed behind her, his hands on both of her shoulders, leaning in and whispering to her. The twins each placed their own flowers down and followed Bill, Charlie and Percy. Ron and Ginny set their flowers down together. Then Ron put an arm around his younger sister and they walked away. As they passed Harry and Hermione, Harry let one hand go of Hermione and grasped Ron's shoulder. Ron stopped and turned to look at him. Harry gave a weak and (what he hoped was) comforting smile. Ron smiled back before the smile faded and he led Ginny the rest of the way out of the graveyard.
The witch's mantra continued on.
-
Harry woke up the next morning in one of the rooms that had been rented in a hotel close by to the Three Broomsticks. He rolled over in his bed to see Ron already awake, sitting up in bed, his knees to his chest, secured tightly by his arms, staring strait ahead.
"Ron?" Harry asked, but Ron didn't look over at him. He just continued to stare at the wall. "How long have you been awake?"
Ron's staring did not stop.
"Ron?"
"Haven't slept." he whispered finally.
"Why not?"
"Couldn't."
"Why not, Ron?" Harry asked, pushing himself into a sitting position.
"Just too much to think about." he said.
"Like what?" persisted Harry.
"Dad. And what will happan to the rest of us."
"Ron, don't worry about the rest of us."
"I'm not blaming you, mate." Ron said, "But it feels like- like there will be more- deaths… because of- because of you."
"I see." Harry said, his heart falling to the pit of his stomach, but at the same time, both giving a twinge of guilt and a flare of anger.
"I said I'm not blaming you." Ron said quickly. "It just feels that way."
"Hm." said Harry, not knowing what else to say.
"Can you imagine what school'll be like?" asked Ron, sounding as if he were trying to get off the subject of blaming Harry.
"Yeah. People'll think I'm the one to blame." Harry said, looking down at the two lumps in his bed which were his feet.
"Harry-"
"No, look, Ron." Harry said, getting out of bed and pacing. "I know it's my fault that your dad died-"
"I didn't say that-"
"That Cedric Diggory died-"
"Harry, wait-"
"That's Fleur's missing-"
"Don't be thick-"
"That Sirius is dead-"
"C'mon, Harry-"
"And that there'll probably be tons more deaths because of me-"
"That's not fair to-"
"But for one day, I'd just like to be normal." Harry said. At this, Ron stopped talking. He swallowed, and tried tentatively to get a word in.
"What d'you mean 'normal'?"
"I mean," said Harry impatiently, "that ever since I was one, people have treated me different. For years I've had to live with this. Just one day I'd like to not have the blame put on me, or to be picked on just because my parents died, or to be stared at like I'm either a saint or nutters, just because I've got some stupid scar, given to me by some stupid criminal, leaving me with stupid relatives for ten stupid years, who've treated me like some dirt off of the bottom of a shoe, then one day, finding out I have to go to some school where I'm treated as if I'm the favorite when I'm probably having a harder time than any of them put together!"
He took a deep breath and sighed, dropping onto his bed. It seemed strange that he'd only woken up five minutes before and he was already ranting about his life.
Ron was quiet as well. He sat there, in bed, for several minutes. Harry wasn't sure if he even expected Ron to talk. Finally, Ron braved speech.
"C'mon. We'd best get up. We've got to get up to the school soon."
"What time is it?" Harry asked.
"Ten 'til six." said Ron, checking his watch.
"We'd better get ready." said Harry, reaching down to pick up his robes which he'd thrown on the ground the night before after Mr. Weasley's funeral and stuffing it in his open trunk.
-
The beginning of classes started the very next day. At breakfast, the owls swarmed in through the open windows, dropping packages into the cereal bowls of their owners. Some of the owls, like Hermione's zoomed down to drop off the Daily Prophet, get payed then take flight again. Harry wasn't expecting Hedwig to show up; the only one who ever sent him notes was Sirius, and seeing that Sirius was dead, he wasn't likely to get any.
He was, however, surprised to find a large barn owl swoop down and land on his shoulder, dropping something into his lap and flying off. Harry looked down at his lap and picked up the latest issue of The Quibbler.
"Rita's article must have come out." said Hermione from across the table. "Give it here." She extended a hand for it and Harry passed it to her. It did not take long for her to find the article as she flipped through the pages. As she turned to the page, Harry could see an upside-down picture of himself- the one that was used in his fourth year for the Triwizard Tournament. His photographic self waved at Hermione.
The three of them were quiet as Hermione's eyes darted back and forth, reading the article. When she finished, she looked up, angered.
"That cow! Oh, she'll get it. I'm going to march strait to Dumbledore and-"
"What is it?" Harry and Ron asked. Hermione became quiet.
"Well, it's… I mean… it's… well… coming from the Quibbler… I don't think anyone will believe it."
"Let me see it." Harry demended and Hermione handed him the magazine back. Harry avoided eye contact with his picture as he scanned the lines.
SIRIUS BLACK- DEAD OR ALIVE?
Sirius Black- fifteen years ago, he was convicted for the crime of killing thirteen people with a single curse and placed in Azkaban- for life. However, three years ago, his escape led to panicking worry that he might attempt to find his master, You-Know-Who, and bring him back to power. Few have sighted him, yet none have caught him. Black is still on the run.
BUT IS HE?
I, Rita Skeeter, former reporter for the Daily Prophet, in recent times, witnessed amazing news from the very mouth of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'- downfall of You-Know-Who. Known as a madman, a liar, and to make up stories to cover up for anything odd that happened around him, Harry Potter, 16, claims that Black died last summer.
"Me and my friends went to the Department of Mysteries last May to save Sirius." claims Potter on a December day in the widely-known Three Broomsticks pub. "His cousin, Bellatrix killed him when he tried to save me from You-Know-Who last year."
Young and perhaps immature as Harry Potter might be, tears still fill his eyes as he says this. The-Boy-Who-Lived also declares that Sirius Black had been a part of his life for stretch of time;
"I found out he was innocent in my third year at Hogwarts and I saved him from the Dementors."
Sirius Black- criminal, crazed… dead? Are we to believe the word of Harry Potter? One of those that claimed to have gone to the Department of Mysteries with Potter last summer was Luna Lovegood, 15, daughter of the editor of the Quibbler. She gave her account on what happened.
"Harry said he had a dream that You-Know-Who was torturing 'Stubby Boardman' alias, Sirius Black during his O.W.L. exams last year." says Lovegood. "Me, Ginny Weasley 15, Ron Weasley 16, Hermione Granger 16 and Neville Longbottom 16 went with him on thestrals to the Department of Mysteries. Harry found a shiny glass ball that had his name on it and the Death Eaters showed up-"
Death Eaters are/were You-Know-Who's biggest supporters, who did some of his evil deeds for him.
"-and he didn't give it to them. They chased us all around. Then, when they threatened to torture Neville to insanity, he gave it to them. But before they could take it, a bunch of people came in. Three of them were 'Stubby Boardman' 41, Professor Remus Lupin 41 and Professor Alastor Moody 68. That's all I remember… I was knocked unconscious by some Death Eater."
"Potter's always made up stories for everything and he always gets away with it," says one of Potters' closest friends, Draco Malfoy 16. "He's Dumbledore's favorite. That's how he does it. My father's always said that Potter's brain was addled with when You-Know-Who attacked him as a baby."
Draco Malfoy's father, Lucious Malfoy, was caught as one of the Death Eaters that Potter and his friends fought in the Department of Mysteries in late May.
Will the story of two teenagers be enough to prove Black's innocence? Is enough evidence? Even so, it might be too late. For, if Potter's word is true, Black could be dead. Or, is Harry Potter merely weaving another ridiculous tale in order to receive attention once more? The wizarding world may never know the whole truth of the matter.
Harry looked up from the magazine, mouth agape. Ron grabbed it and read it quickly before looking up, disgusted.
"Since when has Malfoy been one of your 'closest friends'?" he said mockingly.
"Oh, Ron, there are more things in this article to worry about than what Rita said Malfoy was to Harry." said Hermione.
"Like what?" Ron retaliated.
"Like the fact that she's trying to make Harry sound like an attention-seeking prat again." said Hermione, but Ron laughed.
"It's not like anyone will believe her. It's written in the Quibbler!"
"Tons of people believed it when Harry gave his interview last year about when Voldemort returned!"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they'll believe Sirius is dead!"
"Oh, shut up, the both of you." Harry said, his temper getting the better of him. He stood up. "I'm sick of you fighting. And just after we've been to a funeral and all. Why can't you two give it a break for one day?"
With that, he stormed off to his first class, Care of Magical Creatures, wishing he could have at least finished his breakfast. Seeing as he was half-an-hour early, he banged on Hagrid's cabin door and heard Fang barking from the inside.
"Get back, yeh brute o' a dog!" Hagrid's muffled voice was shouting and he opened the door. Fang bouned out and jumped on Harry, licking his face.
"Get down, yeh silly mutt." said Hagrid as Harry walked inside, wiping his face. He walked to to the table and sat down in one of the chair. Hagrid sat in one opposite and the two remained silent for several minutes before Hagrid cleared his throat.
"S'nice ter see yeh too, Harry."
"Hi." said Harry.
"Do… do yeh wan' ter tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Harry lied defiantly.
"Where are Ron an' Hermione?"
"Fighting."
"I see." said Hagrid, the corners of his mouth dropping into a frown. "Anythin' else?"
"Did I tell you I did an interview for the Quibbler?"
"Not that I recall, no."
"The article came out today."
"An'?"
"Rita wrote it."
"I see." said Hagrid again. Harry said nothing else. He slumped in his chair, arms folded and avoiding eye contact with Hagrid. It was then that he didn't remember seeing Hagrid at Mr. Weasley's funeral.
"Why weren't you there?" Harry asked.
"Eh?" said Hagrid. "Why weren't I where?"
"At Mr. Weasley's funeral?"
"Ah." said Hagrid. "Sarff's gettin' rather restless. I spent the whole time trying to calm her. Don' know what's up with her. Don' know much 'bout her culture, but I think it's gettin' close to the giant's matin' season."
"Hm." said Harry, not really listening.
-
The end of the day couldn't have come sooner for Harry. Ron and Hermione had refused to speak to each other for the whole day, meaning that Harry was forced to have separate conversations with each of them at a time. On top of the horrible day, both Snape and McGonagall assigned tons of homework and Harry had to correct homework he'd assigned over the break on the pros and cons of the Stunning Charm.
After hours of writing about damages of humans who had tried to turn into magical animals and the useage of frog tongue in three different potions, Harry was six essays into his homework correcting, with maybe fourteen to go.
"You should be checking for content," Hermione pointed out, watching Harry correct Parvati Patil's essay, "Not grammatical error."
"You do it, then!" snapped Harry, losing patience. He threw Parvati's essay and his quill down on the table and rubbed his temples. "I'm not a teacher, I don't know what I should be checking for."
Hermione exhaled deeply.
"Fine, I'll help. Here, give me that." she grabbed up Parvati's essay and began circling and giving remarks on Parvati's work. Harry leaned back in his chair by the fire which he'd managed to get, resting his aching back as the scratching of Hermione's quill could be heard. Crookshanks jumped into his lap and Harry scratched behind his ears absentmindedly.
"What's your grading curve, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Huh?" said Harry, jerking out of a doze.
"What grade would you give Parvati for an 88 percent?"
"Oh, I don't know… just what McGonagall does, I guess…"
"Parvati would have an A." said Hermione. "D'you want me to help you with these?" She gestured to the pile of uncorrected homework.
"Thanks a load, Hermione." said Harry, picking up his quill and Dean Thomas's essay.
"What about me? You don't help me with my work!" Ron said suddenly.
"You, Ron, aren't a teacher, and need help doing the homework, not correcting it!" Hermione said angrily.
"What if I was a teacher, then?"
"Then I might help you, considering you were being nice to me and not being such a-"
"Shut up." Harry said dully as he unconsciously underlined a misused word in Dean's essay. Hermione opened and closed her mouth before making a noise of anger and looking down at an essay that she'd picked up.
"Here, take mine." Hermione said, handing her own essay (which was four rolls of parchment) to Harry. "I don't want to grade myself." Harry took it and scanned it for about five seconds before giving her an O. After about an hour of circling and correcting and Ron's angry mumbling, the essays were finished and not one person got below an E.
Harry set down one of the Ravenclaw's essays and rubbing his eyes tiredly. He looked at the clock to find that it was only ten o'clock and the Common Room was still pretty full. Harry was a bit surprised- the length of time doing and correcting homework felt as if it should be three in the morning.
"Hermione," said Harry suddenly, reaching into his pocket. "I almost forgot." He pulled out the coin that Fred and George had given him for Christmas.
"What's that?" said Hermione taking the coin that Harry handed her.
"We weren't sure." answered Harry as Ron leaned in over his potions homework to listen in on the conversation. Hermione turned the coin over and over, rubbing her thumb over the symbols and outline of a serpent that Harry hadn't noticed.
"It looks really old." said Hermione, more to herself than the boys. After a time, she looked up. "I'll ask Professor Vector- the Ancient Runes teacher, you know?"
"No, remind us again who one of the professors here is." said Ron sarcastically. Hermione ignored him and continued to talk to Harry.
"He's really good with identifying these types of things. He could probably help."
"Alright. How soon can you ask him?" Harry asked.
"I'm really busy, so I'll only be able to ask him in class… on Friday."
Harry groaned. He was so interested in finding out what it was that he didn't think he could wait until Friday. Hermione pocketed the coin.
"Speaking of coins, Harry, didn't you mention you wanted to start D.A. lessons again?"
"What do coins have to do with the D.A.?" said Ron skeptically.
"For your information-" started Hermione.
"Stop it, both of you." snapped Harry. Once the two of them were quiet, Harry spoke.
"Maybe I should start it on Friday night."
"That would be good. Why don't you change the time now?" Hermione said. Harry ran up to his dormitory to reach his hand in to pull the fake galleon out and rush back downstairs. He gave it a tap and the time changed instantly. From not too far away, he heard Neville, Dean and Seamus inhale quickly, in surprise. They all reached in their pockets and pulled out galleons, then glanced at Harry as if it were a joke. He nodded, then turned back round to Ron and Hermione.
"Was everyone just waiting for me to tell them that D.A. was starting soon, or did they just forget to take the galleons out of their pockets?" Harry asked. From around the room, several people were jumping in surprise and pulling out their galleons.
"Hey, Harry." said a voice and Harry jerked his head to see Mark Evans standing in front of him, hands in his pockets.
"Hello, Mark." replied Harry. "How was your break?"
"It was okay. Yours?"
Harry didn't say anything. He merely grunted. Mark thankfully understood and didn't press the conversation. He looked at the galleon in Harry's hand.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Harry, are you really starting D.A. again?" someone called from across the room and Harry nodded. Mark looked interested.
"D.A.?" he asked, his eyes brightening. "What's that?"
"It's-" Harry broke off. Hermione picked up where he left off.
"It means 'Dumbledore's Army'. We made it up last year when our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a horrible old toad."
Immedietely, Mark smiled, interested.
"Who's in it? How often is it? Can I join?"
"Some people from different houses are in it. It varies and you can join if Harry says so." Ron answered. He set his quill down in triumph. "There! I've finished."
"Well, how about it, Harry? Can I join?"
Harry, unsure, looked at Hermione. She simply shrugged.
"I've got a few extra galleons upstairs and we need to teach as many people as we can."
"So I can join?" Mark said.
"Of course." Hermione said. "Just let me get a galleon for you and explain what to do."
-
The week slowly rolled by and seemed like it would never end, but by the time Friday came, Harry realized that through all the homework and preparing for D.A., it had gone by quickly. Hermione told Harry and Ron (whose temper had burned down during the week) that Ancient Runes was her second class, so she'd be able to tell Harry and Ron what happened at lunch.
"Potter," McGonagall said during Transfiguration. "I spoke to Professor Dumbledore and he said by all means, go right ahead and start D.A. again."
"Oh!" Harry said. On the contrary, he'd forgotten that he had even asked permission. "Thanks, Professor."
"And don't forget about Auror lessons tomorrow night."
"Right." said Harry.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione parted ways after Transfiguration, Harry went to the library. Normally, during his break, he would sit and correct homework, or do his own. But today, he dropped his things off on a desk and wandered the library, searching for books that might help his D.A. lesson that night. Occasionally, he would check his watch to see if it was time for lunch yet.
Madame Pince watched him with her sharp eyes as though she thought he would pull out food or speak loudly just to annoy her at any moment. One time, she even scolded him for re-shelving a book in the wrong area.
Harry's mind strayed to Hermione, who was sitting in Ancient Runes, to Ron, who had taken up Muggle Studies at the beginning of term.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the lunch bell rang and Harry put a book he was looking at back on the shelf, grabbed his bag and rushed for the door, eagar to hear what Professor Vector had told Hermione. He had to slow down when he heard Madame Pince.
"No running in the library!" she shrieked after him.
-
Hermione didn't show up right away and Harry was midway through his second bowl of soup before she arrived, looking breathless. Before Harry could even ask, she spoke.
"Professor Vector told me that it looked like it would be an ancient form of Druid and told me to order the book Druid to English Translation Book for the Confused Wizard by Dedra Fillinpole. So I wrote a letter when we were taking notes and ordered it. I just came from the Owlery. The book should come soon."
Harry frowned. He'd hoped for a longer explination of what it was, what it's meaning might be, where it might have come from and all stupid Professor Vector could say was 'order this book'? Nevertheless, he grinned and thanked Hermione as she sat down and nearly inhaled her first bowl of soup. After dinner, the three of them went to the Common Room and sat until it was time to go to the Room of Requirement.
When Harry walked through the door, he felt different, somehow. Maybe it was the fact that this time, he was not entering this room to better Umbridge. When this room was used then, Harry felt rebellious and proud and sure. This time, he felt as if now that Umbridge was gone, what was the point of teaching his classmates? It seemed the light of revolt had gone out.
However, when the faces of those who had believed him when most thought him mad entered the room, talking excitedly, Harry found a new reason.
What did it matter if Umbridge was gone? She was not the only threat in the world. This time, Harry was teaching for a greater matter… the matter of Voldemort gaining power.
After about five minutes, when every pillow was taken, Harry walked in front and began.
"Erm- hi. I'm glad you all- er- felt your galleons. I'd asked Dumbledore if we could start this again and he said yes, so we're not doing it illegally anymore. Well… I know Umbridge is gone… but-"
He caught sight of Cho, sitting near the back. Marietta Edgecombe was not with her. Harry's body suddenly felt warm at the fact that he and Cho had parted on bad terms, yet she was still here- learning from him. He found the courage to speak.
"But the reason for the D.A. in the first place was not to get back at Umbridge. It was to learn to defend youself against enemies like Voldemort."
Everyone who wasn't a fifth year winced, but Harry continued.
"So I thought we'd pick up where we left off. On Patronuses. We only got a bit into them and while some people could do them, some couldn't. And we have new people here as well." He pointed out the first years that Mark had managed to get to come. "So those of you that could do it, help the first years out. So why don't we practice for a bit."
There was a big commotion as everyone stood up and grabbed their wands. Then, the room was considerably lighter as people conjured Patronuses. While everyone was occupied, Harry made a beeline for Cho, who's swan was already floating around her. As soon as she saw Harry approaching her, the swan disappeared.
"Hi." she mumbled.
"Hi." said Harry, unsure of what he was going to say.
"I came." she said.
"Yeah." Harry replied. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Look- I'm… sorry." Cho said.
"Yeah."
"So- so I'll see you later… I suppose." Cho said.
"Yeah." replied Harry and he had no choice but to walk away. He felt slightly happier. Even if their discussion had been short and awkward, they had made up in the end.
-
When D.A. was finally over, everyone left, exhausted from conjuring the Patronus so much. Before Cho left, she gave Harry a small kiss on the cheek. He felt his ears turn red as Dean and Seamus walked by sniggering and eyeing Cho mirthfully.
"Go on," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, "I just have to clear up a bit."
When they left, and Harry was sure they were the last ones left, he turned around to find Neville sitting on one of the pillows.
"Neville," Harry said, shocked. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you." said Neville. "A-about… Sirius Black."
Harry fell silent and sat down at a pillow opposite Neville, eyeing him the whole time.
"It's just-" Neville began again. "I saw the Quibbler on Monday and I thought back to when we were in the Department of Mysterties. Did- did you really know Sirius Black that long?"
Harry felt unsure about answering, but then remembered that Neville had been there with him when Sirius had died and this boy, in front of him, had already experienced what it felt like to lose someone.
"Yeah." Harry answered.
"How did you meet him?" Neville asked.
"Well…" said Harry. "We met when he dragged Ron into the hole in the Whomping Willow back in third year."
"And he was innocent? He didn't kill all those people with one curse?"
Harry nodded.
"He was innocent. It was Ron's rat, an Animagus."
"Who was he really?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Who?" Neville asked. Harry paused for a minute, then answered.
"Peter Pettigrew was one of my dads' best friends when he went to Hogwarts. So were Sirius and Lupin."
"Professor Lupin was your dad's best friend?"
Once again, Harry nodded.
"And Pettigrew-"
"He- he- he betrayed my parents." said Harry. Neville looked down at his crossed legs. He swallowed, his eyes welling up with tears.
"I miss them so much." he said, not looking up.
"Miss who?" asked Harry, knowing that Neville couldn't mean his, Harry's, parents.
"Mum and Dad."
Harry mentally kicked himself. Of course. Neville wanted to talk about his parents.
"They seemed like really nice people."
"My grandmother gloats about my dad all the time. She says he was the smartest wizard of his age." Harry could detect a faint note of proudness. Then, his voice saddened again. "I wish I could stop disappointing my grandmother."
"How d'you mean?"
"I'm not as talented as my dad. I take after my Great-Uncle Algie."
"That's not true." Harry said, hoping his voice sounded confident. "You did really well in D.A. last year."
Neville smiled weakly. He wiped his eyes.
"Thanks, Harry, but I'm not really all that special. Not like you…"
"Now wait a minute-" Harry began, but Neville cut him off.
"Not by being famous or anything." he said quickly. "But you've done so much more than anyone I've ever known. You're really brave and smart."
"I'm not all that smart." said Harry.
"But you're really brave." Neville said. "I could never have stood up to Dementors the way you did on Halloween. I would never have been able to kill a Basilisk all by myself. I would have backed out during all the tasks at the Triwizard Tournament."
"Yeah, well…" said Harry, not really having anything to say.
"My Mum and Dad were really brave. Gran told me that they were in something called the… what was it… the Order of the…"
"Phoenix?" Harry supplied.
"Yeah." said Neville. "How'd you know?"
"My parents were in it too."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I think that you're really brave… just like your parents."
"You stood up to the Death Eaters last year."
"Out of desperation." said Neville quickly.
"But you still did it. And you didn't back down. That's bravery. Bravery doesn't mean being fearless… it's conquering your fear in order to do what's right that makes you brave." Harry stopped. Neville smiled weakly.
"I s'pose you're right."
"'Course I am." said Harry, standing up and taking Neville's hand to help him up. The two boys laughed.
"We're both really alike in some ways, Harry." Neville said. "Both our parents died when we were one… they were in the Order of the…"
"Phoenix." said Harry.
"Yeah. And they died because of Voldemort."
Harry smiled. It was in that moment that he considered telling Neville about the Prophesy that had them both linked together in mystery. Then, he decided against it. Why ruin what was turning out to be a good conversation? He could tell Neville later, if it came to it again.
-
There was a knock at the door.
"Enter," said Harry in a high voice. Wormtail scuttled in, looking scared.
"My Lord, it worked… the Veela have joined you."
"Very good, Wormtail." said Harry, looking down his nose at the vermin in front of him. "Now take the Imperious Curse off the captive. Her mind has been used up beyond repair. Set her free. She is unable to tell anyone about what happened."
"Yes, My Lord." Wormtail said, bowing himself out of the room.
"Wormtail," Harry called the man back and he paused, half of him out the door already.
"Yes, My Lord?"
"You know all the passageways into the castle, do you not?"
"Yes, My Lord, I do." said Wormtail. Harry smiled wickedly.
"Good. Draw me a map of the secret passageways into the castle. I'll need them for when we sneak into the castle to retrieve the weapon."
"Yes, My Lord." said Wormtail for the fourth time. He closed the door behind him and Harry walked to a chair by the fireplace and sat down in it, stroking his new pet snake's head, Ophidia with his long, white, spidery fingers. A small smile grew on Harry's face as he thought of the prospect of getting it… the power he would have…
Harry's scar burned painfully on his forehead and he jerked awake. Realizing that it had only been a dream, he dropped his head back onto his pillow and instantly fell back to sleep, to tired to think.
-L-
What did you think. It was 17 pages! Darn! One less than… chapter 7, I think it was…. However, it was more than the last chapter. I don't know why, but this chapter was just so easy to write and I hope you liked it. I haven't got any agitated notes, 'cause all of you have been so wonderfully kind to my last chapter! I think it was a Christmas gift, 'cause I just felt the urge to write on Christmas! But the thing is, is that I wrote this chapter from seven o'clock to eleven thirty-six. I'm tired! I hope you all had a great Christmas! I know I did! Also, for my birthday, which was recently, I got a cardboard cutout of Legolas and an afghan of Will Turner and Jack Sparrow from POTC and a matching pillowcase! No new books, unfortunately.
GREAT NEWS! If you haven't heard it already, hear it now!
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE COMES OUT JULY 16TH 2005!
I CAN'T WAIT! However, it means I must finish this story before then so you don't get them mixed up. Then, I will work on my 'Year Seven' story, which should give me plenty of time seeing as it takes almost two years for J.K. Rowling to publish books. However, the bad part about this book coming out sooner is that it's not as long! I LOVE the books when they're incredibly long like last time and I think they should get longer with every book! WAH!
Review time!
Trinityelf- I'm glad you're back and I can't wait to see you again! Trin, you're AWESOME! Sorry… just wanted to say that! I LOVE ROTK EE! YAY! I'm glad yeh understand 'bout how it might take some time to get through this story! I've got like, twenty more chapters to go, at least! AAAAAAH! LOL!
Mistopurr- I think that most of the peoples' problems are that they want me to hurry up with the story, but they're just gonna haveta wait, huh? I think that everyone had mixed feelings about Harry and Ron, 'cause it got them all confused! LOL! Talk to you when you have the time! P.S. Did you get my Xmas present from the mail?
Silenttiger43- Thanks a bunch!
Shelly101- Merry Christmas to you too… even if it is after Christmas! I hope you had a good Christmas, then and have a Happy New Year!
Fern12- Thanks!
Ophidia-black- Cool name! How did you come up with it? If it hasn't come from a story published by any author or not) can I borrow the name 'Ophidia' for something? I like it! I'm really happy that you like my story! Please do keep reading 'til the very end!
Huggiebear- I'm glad that some people agree with me on the fact that this story might take some time! There actually have been a few references about the Staff of Merlin which everyone missed. But I'm kinda glad about that, 'cause some of them are major hints to the main plot and I was hoping people would miss them, 'cause I daresay everyone missed a lot of stuff when J.K. was writing the originals! YAY! Thanks a lot!
Facil Glow- I had actually just heard the announcement five minutes before I read your review! Weird, huh? Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for the compliments!
Potter Girl- Thanks!
(Unknown)- I'll try to fix that if I have time! Thanks!
Kiara32- Even though I want Ron and Hermione to have a slight bit of romance, I'm finding it hard to bring them together because they are so opposite I can't find any way that they would become fraternized! That's a cool idea about your two characters! Thanks for the review!
Bahzad- Thanks!
TankerMDK- Ummm… didn't you just review to me? LOL!
Constance Truggle- I hope you had a great Christmas!
Trojan Horse- He was SORT of back in this chapter, but more through Harry. Is that okay?
Allie- I hope that the length of this chapter made up for the length of the last one!
EMPTYSOUL- Thanks!
Emerald-silver Serpent- Voldemort showed up a bit in this chapter, but through Harry. Does that count? I'm not sure. But he'll be more in dreams than anything until the end! I've said more than I should have! Happy New Year!
Larna Mandrea- EVIL MRS. BLACK! LOL! I hope you have the loveliest of New Years Eve…ses… LOL!
Thanks for the reviews, guys!
Happy New Year!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88