OOF! Sorry for not updating for such a long time...a bit preoccupied with retreats and stuff...
One more thing. It has come to my attention that 16 years ago was when Harry was born, not when Lily and James were at Hogwarts...so change the sixteen years ago to 20 years ago...
Disclaimer: I have no imagination whatsoever and the fact that I could create Harry Potter is preposterous. J.K. Rowling has a beautiful imagination and owns Harry Potter...there.
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"NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Ron wailed, digging his nails into his cheeks. Harry was currently thinking the same thing as Ron, but Hermione seemed a bit more than excited...if you know what I mean.
"Ahhh, I see you three are up. Over at Hogwarts, we have a testing called OWL. It's standard testing for fifth years, but we will test you anyways to see what level you are on," Dumbledore paused. "The tests are Transfiguration..."
Harry felt really nervous and tuned Dumbledore out. He already knew these things anyway. Harry glanced sideways at Ron and saw that Ron was pale and sweaty. He silently agreed that he did not look any better.
"—and without futher ado, let's begin. Mr. Porter, you will be tested on Transfiguration, Mr. Westley on Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ms. Granger on Potions."
Harry snapped out of his daze just in time to hear Dumbledore's last sentence. He threw an envious look at Ron and scanned the room for McGonagall. Harry jogged over.
"Mr. Porter...you know, you look a lot like one of my students. James Potter...that boy does have a lot of talent in Transfiguration," McGonagall murmured. Harry shifted uncomfortably. McGonagall conjured up a tea cup. "I want you to tranfigure this tea cup into a tortoise."
Harry started sweating profusely and racked his brain for the incantation. 'Ohh! What was it? I remember studying about it a few times...' He started picturing the notes he took. 'McGonagall's the same teacher, come on... To transfigure a cup into a tortoise, tap the teacup three times—three times what?' Harry groaned. '—three times—three times—three times...yes!
Harry tapped the cup three times and said, "Fernucas Totai." Harry started panicking when the cup didn't do anything and then breathed a sigh of relief as the cup was changing shape. The next few parts weren't that difficult, although Harry's parrot—which was supposed to be transformed into a goblet--still had a few feathers. The written exam wasn't that hard either, mainly just describing the transformations and stuff. Harry thought he managed to pass it at least.
He then went to Herbology while Ron went to Potions (grimacing wasn't even close to describing his face) and Hermione went to Astrology. The Herbology wasn't that different from the real OWL test so he didn't have much trouble. Next was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Again, Harry felt as if this test was no problem and the teacher, Professor Hummings seemed astounded at his abilities. Potions didn't go as well as the other exams. Even though Snape wasn't there, Professor Septum didn't seem to like him that much either...maybe because of the fact that he looked too much like James Potter...
After about three hours later, Harry's mind was exhausted. He met up with Ron and Hermione and collaspsed into one of the seats next to them. Ron was rubbing his shoulder and grimacing while Hermione frowned.
"So?" She asked.
Ron groaned. "So what?"
"How was it? I think that I did okay in Tranfiguration, Astrology, Defense, Herbology, Arithmathy, and History of Magic. My potion wasn't as clear as it was supposed to be though and the Runes! I kept forgetting the names of the five ancient ones!" Hermione ranted.
Harry, who wasn't paying attention, drifted off and dropped his head on Ron's shoulder, which Ron abrubtly shook off. His exact words were, "Sorry mate, but I don't want people getting the wrong idea, if you get what I mean," which Harry snorted at, but he was too tired to care.
Dumbledore nodded at the teachers, who were telling him of the results. "Very well, you all pass. Term starts on September first and here are your book lists." He hande Ron, Harry, and Hermione thick envelopes which Harry recognized as the letters he usually got. Ron nodded in recognition and Hermione merely pronounced her frown
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"Oh, cheer up Hermione," Ron sighed. "We all passed didn't we?"
Hermione scowled (something which she seemed to do a lot lately). "Oh shut up! You are so ignorant thinking that's all there is, just passing! You want to get the best you can and learn from your mistakes..."
"Mental that one," Ron whispered to Harry. Harry nodded his head feverently and continued packing his things. After the 'exams' they were allowed to come back up to this room and pack their things. Dumbledore politely implied that students were not allowed to live at Hogwarts over the summer.
"Why'd you start it again? She's gonna go on for hours!" Harry said.
Ron had the decency to look abashed. "It's not my fault she has to take everything so seriously. I mean look at us; you and me don't care about how we did as long as we passed and most people are the same!"
"But Hermione's not most people—"
"I know she's nuts isn't she?—"
"—and she's really sensitive when it comes to studying—"
"—but she should have fun once in a while—"
"—and—"
"ARE YOU TWO COMING OR WHAT?" Hermione's voiced boomed out so loud that Harry and Ron turned to look at her. Harry rarely saw Hermione that mad. Her lips were so thin that McGonagall would have had some competition, and her face was red with fury. Her hands were balled up into fists at her side and her hair seemed to cackle with electricity.
"She's looks annoyed about something mate," Ron whispered nonchalantely.
Harry scoffed. "Not about us eh?" Ron's face dawned with recognition as he grabbed his trunk and owl. They quickly jumped out of the door after Hermione and carefully kept a few feet distance away just in case she wanted to blow up something.
"—so irresponsible—"she muttered angrily.
"She's gonna be my mum soon, the way she keeps harping on," Ron said.
"I HEARD THAT RONALD WEASLEY AND IT'S A WONDER YOUR MOM CAN SURVIVE YOU THE WAY YOU BEHAVE. I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER; IF YOU WERE A BIT MORE RESPONSIBLE AND QUIT ACTING LIKE A CHILD—"Harry grinned when Ron cowered under Hermione the way he usually does when
Mrs. Weasley yelled at him but he was quickly jerked out of his thoughts.
"AND WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE HARRY POTT—"Harry clapped a hand over her mouth.
"SHH!! We're not out of the school yet! You want the Professors to hear??" Harry whispered furiously.
Hermione looked down and shook her head. Harry released her. "Sorry Harry," she replied, looking sincerely sorry.
Harry took out the Marauder's Map and checked if the Professors were anywhere around. The closest one was Proffesor Sprout, near the owlry.
"Follow me," Harry beckoned them. He took them down the familiar path to the Statue of Gregory something something..."Dissendium," Harry tapped the statue.
"Harry, why are we going to Hogsmeade?" Ron said.
"Well, Hogsmead isn't really a part of Hogwarts and we can flag the Knight Bus there," Harry replied evenly. Ron looked green.
"I'd rather walk to the Leaky Cauldron than ride that bloody menace again!"
"Too late now," Harry said as he opened the trap door. He could hear voices above the cellar, but they couldn't see them if they walked out. Harry pulled Ron and Hermione out of the passage and crept out, motioning them to follow.
"Okay, so here's how we flag the Knight Bus....Ron—Hermione? Where are you?" Harry looked around and saw that no one was behind him. The villagers of Hogsmeade were bustling around and it was very crowded as usual. "Ron? Hermione?" Harry started panicking; then he saw them being yelled at by a worker. Harry groaned and jogged over there.
"Ron! Hermione! There you are!" Harry exclaimed cheerfully. "Where have you been? I told you to look for—oh hello!" Harry almost barfed in disgust. He sounded like Barney and Friends! "What're you doing with my friends?"
"They were caught sneaking in to the cellars," the woman replied.
"Really? Ron! Hermione! Why would you do that?" Harry mocked, angrily. "You're so irresponsible and awful. You guys are such babies! I can't believe this! I'm terribly sorry ma'am." The woman smiled seeing that Harry wasn't as rude as his two friends. Harry noticed this and grabbed the opportunity to pull her away. "Please ignore them," Harry said in an undertone. "You see, they don't really realize what they're doing...when they were little, they had a high fever and it messed with their brains. That's why I was looking for them. I'm the one taking care of them."
"Oh really!" The worker squealed. "You are so sweet. How I would love to have you as son. You are just so noble." She turned to Ron and Hermione. "It'll be okay," the woman said slowly and making signs with her hands. Harry sniggered under his breath. "You can go with this nice gentleman." She said in the same slow voice.
Ron and Hermione looked at her as if she was crazy. Then Ron spoke slowly too and said, "That's nice. Can we go now?"
"Yyyyeeesss," said the woman stretching out the word. Hremione and Ron walked over to Harry and Ron shot the woman a pitiful glance.
Once they were out of earshot, Harry started yelling at Ron and Hermione. "If we got caught then we can't go through that passage again, stupid I tell you!"
"Okay Harry, we're sorry, really we are...Bonkers, that woman. One moment fine, the other speaking as if she were dumb," sighed Ron.
Hermione however didn't let Harry off so easily. "Harry, she wouldn't have let us go that easy...what did you say to her?"
Harry started coughing uncontrollably. "I'll tell you when we're on the Knight Bus." He pulled out his wand and sure enough, there was a loud CRACK as villagers scrambled out of the way to avoid being hit by the huge bus.
"'ello, 'n welcome to the 'ight Bus. Oi'm Ernie 'n that ower there is Stan! Ain't ya Stan?" Ernie asked the driver. The driver, Stan, looked over the back of his seat and nodded his greeting to Ron, Harry, and Hermione each. Harry was about to say hello when he realized that they didn't know him. 'Oh well, at least no more staring at my scar,' thought Harry glumly, as he paid eleven sickles.
"Where ya goin' to?" Ernie asked.
"The Leaky Cauldron, or Diagon Alley. We need to pick up our books anyway," Hermione said for the three of them.
BUMP! The Knight Bus suddenly started off and Harry was only saved from falling to the ground by grabbing onto a nearby pole and Hermione by grabbing on to Harry. Ron, who wasn't so lucky, fell to the floor head first and crashed into the nearest wall. 'Ouch!' Harry thought. He jumped out of his seat to help Ron when CRACK!! He was thrown right next to Ron too.
"Remember when I said that I wasn't riding this thing again? WELL I MEANT THAT!" Ron glared around.
Harry picked himself off the floor and resumed sitting in his seat, grabbing hold of the pole just in case and just in it was. By the time they got to the Leaky Cauldron, Ron had fallen at least nine times and was muttering about a bruised bottom. Hermione looked like she was about to throw up and hung on to Harry's robes as if it were her lifeline.
"'ere's the 'eaky Cauldron. Com' agin soon!" And with that, Ernie and the Knight Bus disappeared with another loud crack.
"Awww...I feel like my head's been hit with a train," Ron moaned while Hermione nodded vigorously. Privately, Harry felt the same but said, "Come on, let's go find Tom.
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"Room eighteen!" Tom announced as he gave them the key. The trio had all decided on one bedroom as they wanted to save money. Harry grudgingly picked up his trunk and heaved it up the stairs, Ron and Hermione following close behind.
"Sixteen, seventeen, ah..here it is, eighteen," Hermione stated. She shoved the key through the key hole and pushed the door open. Inside was a fully furnished room with two full beds, one bathroom, several sofas, and a few lamps here and there.
"Not bad," Harry said, looking around. "I think Ron and me should share a bed, and Hermione can get her own bed."
"Why does Hermione get her own bed?" Ron said.
"Oh, Ron, honestly, do you want me to share a bed with you too?" Hermione asked, arching a brow. When she saw Ron shrug indifferently, Hermione sighed. "Remember in fourth year when you noticed I was a girl? Have you forgotten?!"
Ron flushed and agreed immediately to what Harry suggested.
"Come on, let's get unpacked. We still need to catch up on news of Voldemort's—Ron shut up!—attacks. We're in a time where he's at his hightest power, and we'd better be careful; who knows who one of Voldemort's spies are," Harry said. Hermione nodded.
"I'll go and get a Daily Prophet newspaper from downstairs. There's one in the pub," Hermione said, grabbing several knuts from her bag and opening the door. Ron looked at Harry, and then at the place Hermione was, and then at Harry again.
"Wait!! Hermione, it's not safe! I'm coming too!" Ron yelped, and sped out after her.
Harry looked at Hedwig, "Crazy that one. He can't leave Hermione in trouble but he can leave me..." Harry grinned. He was going to have a lot of fun with this.
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The next few days, you could find Ron, Harry, and Hermione constantly gathering information on Voldermort. They asked everyone they came across, and one person with a lot of information was Tom, the bartender.
"Yeah, you-know-who is taking over everywhere, can't be too safe these days," he said, while polishing some spoons.
The week before September first, they went into Flourish and Blotts for books and when Harry and Ron went to check out Quidditch supplies, Hermione decided to go to Apothecary's for some other things on the list.
"Whoa, Harry, check this out, Shooting Stars! They are really outdated here!" Ron exclaimed. "Even my Comet's faster than this one!" Harry nodded in agreement. His Firebolt was still in his trunk and he made a mental note to check on it later.
"Come on Ron; let's go find Hermione!" Harry panted, squeezing through the crowd around the broom. They struggled for a bit.
"Ooof, man. These people think this broom is the best or something," Ron said rubbing his arm, which was bruising. "If their lives revolve around Quidditch, they could at least goggle at a nice broom. Bloody stupid—"
"Ron, these are the nicest brooms at this time, remember?" Harry smirked. "They don't know any better broom..."
"Hey, look Harry! There's a joke shop! Let's go!" Ron grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him to a colorful place. There was a rainbow backround and counter and many other bright colors mixed in there.
"Bright enough, isn't it?" Ron said, sarcastically. Harry just spotted some fireworks.
"Hey look! Fireworks—guaranteed to make mayhem where ever they are—bit like Fred and George's, just not as fancy."
"Aww, forget about them, let's go to that ai—Ow!" Ron crashed into somebody.
Harry tore his eyes from a packet of dancing flames and helped him up. "Are you okay?"
"Bloody hell, that hurt!"
"Ohhh, sorry about that. My friends just a bit clumsy," another person came in view.
"No problem," remarked Ron, rubbing his sore bottom. He and Harry looked up.
"REMUS??!!"
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So, they bump into Remus.
I'm trying to decide who everyone ends up with. I think Harry should end up with someone like Ginny (even if she's not here) or Hermione or someone else. I don't know. Care to vote who Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Ron end up with?