The Map Never Lies
Chapter Eight: Emotion Flood
-(Hallway)-
Ginny and Harry made their way back to the library, still holding hands, and not caring what the other students of Hogwarts thought of them. The Daily Prophet thought he was with Hermione, weren't they going to go ballistic over this scene?
When they reached the library, Ron and Hermione were already there waiting for Harry and Ginny.
"What were you two up to?"Hermione asked.
Harry and Ginny looked at one another, unsure whether or not to tell them that Lily and James were back. The two finally decided it was best, and began talking.
"We can't really tell you up here because it's really private,"Ginny said.
"Where to, then?"
"The Room Of Requirement?"Harry suggested.
"Good idea. That'll give us privacy,"Ginny said.
-(Room Of Requirement)-
In the RoR, the four sat down on a couch. Ron and Hermione looked at Ginny and Harry expectantly.
"Oh, come on!"Ron said. "Tell us all ready."
"All right,"Ginny and Harry grinned.
"What is the big surprise? What were you discussing in Dumbledore's office?"
"My parents,"Harry explained.
"Harry, your parent's are d-"
"No, they aren't, Hermione,"Ginny interrupted. "I met them in Dumbledore's office."
"How do you know they aren't deatheaters?"Ron asked.
"Marauders Map."
"Oh."
"Oh Harry, I'm so happy for you!"Hermione squealed and threw her arms around him.
"Er…thanks, Hermione,"Harry said.
"So, what are you going to do now, Harry?"Ron asked. "I mean, you live with Sirius and Remus now…but your parents are back…"
"I don't know, maybe we'll all live together or something,"Harry suggested, shrugging.
"That is a good thought, Grimmauld Place IS big enough,"Hermione said.
"Too true."
"Well, what do we do now? Shall we leave and go to the feast, which starts soon, or do something else?"
"FEAST!"
"Ron!"Hermione said with an exasperated sigh.
Harry and Ginny laughed. "You're gonna have to get used to it, Hermione."
"How can I?"
Ginny and Harry shook their heads sadly. "We'll meet you guys there."
"Okay."
Hermione and Ron left the RoR, leaving Ginny and Harry alone.
"Hey Ginny, thanks for helping me today."
"No problem, Harry,"she stated. "What do you think Voldemort was happy about?"
"Who knows…nothing good I bet…"
Suddenly, the two of them were so close they could feel each other's breath…
-(Dumbledore's Office)-
"Oh, no Dumbledore, please tell me you don't mean who I think you mean,"Lily said nervously. "Harry doesn't need that!"
"I'm sorry, Lily, but the boy is a wizard and he will have to attend,"Dumbledore said apologetically ( I think that's the word you were looking for)
"Who are you talking about, Lil?"James asked.
"He means the Dursley's son is attending Hogwarts,"Lily sighed.
James's eyes widened. "Can't they attend Durmstang or some other school?"
"Sorry, James."
"You told us that Vernon was going to go to jail for what he did to Harry, why isn't he there?"James asked.
"He paid the ammount to get out."
"We should burn their money."
Lily sighed heavily. "What if they do anything to him while they are here?"
"I have never seen Harry away from any of his friends while he is at Hogwarts, surely when they know the Dursleys are at the school, Harry will be with them at all times,"Dumbledore stated.
"All right,"James said. "Do tell us what Lily told you to tell us before."
"That would be….."
"What happened in our son's past,"Lily finished for him.
Dumbledore sighed and began explaining everything from where Voldemort used the killing curse on Harry but it got deflected and that was how he got the name 'The Boy-Who-Lived', a few of his years at the Dursleys, when Hagrid retrieved him from there at age 11 and took him to Diagon Alley, his first train ride, meeting Ron and Hermione, his years at Hogwarts, meeting Sirius and Remus, the Dark Lord's rebirth ceremony, and the battle at the Department Of Mysteries with Voldemort in Harry's fifth year.
"What about Quidditch?"James asked, after a moment of silence because Dumbledore's tale had left everyone speechless.
"He's the seeker for Gryffindor, and he made it in his first year,"Dumbledore replied. "Youngest seeker in a century."
"Really?"
"Ever since Harry was on the team, they have only lost one match, if I am not mistaken, due to the Dementors which were keeping guard over Hogwarts, but the Dementors were not to come beyond the grounds."
"Why dementors?"
"When we all thought our dear Sirius here was a criminal, Cornelius Fudge, Minster of Magic, had pursuaded me to take them in to keep a close watch."
"Gee, they did such a good job of it, too, headmaster, they ended up almost giving Harry the dementors kiss!"Sirius exclaimed.
Lily and James looked positively horrified at this. "How, Sirius?"
"He was trying to save me from dementors and since Harry has had such horrors in the past, they feed on him as well,"Sirius explained to them.
"Oh, Merlin….."
"He also has a enemy, kinda reminds me of you and Snape, James,"Sirius smirked.
"Oh, and who would that be now?"
"Lucius Malfoy's son, Draco."
"Really?"
"Yes-"
Sirius didn't get to finish, because Professor McGonagall came walking in with the Dursley family. It seemed that they didn't want to part with Ickle Duddikins yet.
Lily, James, Sirius and Remus stayed close, just incase they tried anything. When the Dursleys noticed the four other occupants of the room, their eyes widened.
"You two are supposed to be dead!"Petunia shrieked.
"Well, we're not,"James glared.
-(Great Hall, after The Dursleys and Marauder's 'TALK')-
When Ginny and Harry got to the Great Hall, it was all quiet. They were wondering what the problem was, when Ginny and Harry's eyes widened. When they sat at their seats in the Great Hall, which were surprisingly beside each other, they saw the Dursley family in front of the teacher's table. They looked at each other worriedly. What the hell were they doing here and what the hell did they want now?
"They just got here a few minutes before you two did,"Hermione said, gesturing to the Dursleys.
"Did Dumbledore say WHY they are here?"Harry asked, feeling uncomfortable. His Uncle Vernon had noticed him, and he was giving him a glare of hatred.
"He said something about Ickle Duddikins attending Hogwarts,"Ron snickered at the name.
"That's the last thing we need,"Harry said. "Was he sorted?"
Ron and Hermione looked at one another nervously. "Yeah….."
"Please don't tell me….."
"Sorry mate, he's in Gryffindor."
"He's not brave at all, though,"Neville whispered, overhearing their conversation. "Just when he walked into the Great Hall and saw the sky ceiling, he jumped and hid behind his mum."
Ron and Harry snorted in their drinks. He sure was a wimp.
"So, after this, is bed, eh?"
"At least Duddikins won't be in our specific dormitory, we are sixth years, he's a…..wait, if he's sixteen, why wasn't he accepted when he was 11, like me?"Harry asked.
"Maybe nobody traced his magic,"Hermione suggested.
"Wizards sometimes miss other wizards,"Ron said.
"Maybe they didn't have enough room here,"Neville said.
"Oh, Neville, just look at all our Gryffs, there are people in our house from ages 11-17, and three other houses. Surely they would have enough room for Duddikins at age 11."
"Who gave him that nickname, anyway?"
"I'll take the credit for that,"Harry said, smirking. "Of course, Aunt Petunia calls him that all the time."
"Even with his muggle friends? Oy, that must be embarrassing,"Ron said, snickering.
"He embarrasses himself all the time so I really don't think it matters,"Harry whispered. The others laughed.
-(Teacher's Table, Great Hall)-
…
NOTE:
Sirius and Remus: D.A.D.A Teachers
Lily: Soon to be Charms professor
James: Soon to be Transfiguration teacher
…
Lily, James, Sirius and Remus looked at the Dursleys table and then at the Gryff table, where Harry and his friends were talking and laughing. Of course, when they looked at Vernon Dursley, they saw hatred in his eyes when he was looking at Harry, which is what the oaf seemed to be doing all the time the feast was going on. It annoyed them greatly.
"I bet the oaf wants to hurt him again,"Sirius muttered.
"Probably found pure pleasure in it,"James agreed with Sirius.
"I swear I'll rip out his eyes if he does anything,"Sirius said, glaring at Vernon.
-(Back At The Gryff table)-
Harry and Ginny looked at one another, wondering if they should tell Ron and Hermione and everyone else what happened in the RoR. Earlier on, they had kissed. They had then pronounced themselves a couple, and to tell everyone they were when they were ready. This looked like the perfect opportunity to do so.
"Guys, we have to tell you something,"Ginny said.
"And that would be….."Ron said.
"Why don't we show them, Gin?"Harry smirked at her, and she nodded.
They moved their heads closer until their lips met, earning gasps from everyone in the Great Hall.
-(Teacher's Table)-
Everyone was shocked at the display shown at the Gryff table by Harry and Ginny. They were…..kissing. They looked to be enjoying it as well. When they parted, the four could hardly see Harry and Ginny because they were being hugged by every Gryff member, congratulating them on their relationship with one another.
"Finally, I was wondering when they would hook up."
Remus, Lily and James looked at Sirius. "You knew?"
"No, I just thought they fancied each other, like Hermione and Ron do."
"Well, there is another person with unwanted fame."
"What are you talking about, Remie?"
"Dumbledore told you two about Harry being the Boy-Who-Lived, right? Well, this will be in the paper for weeks,"Remus replied.
"Too true."
-(Gryff Table, After Kiss)-
Everyone was congratulating Ginny and Harry on their relationship, but Ron and Hermione were left speechless. They weren't congratulating, because they didn't know what to say. Ginny was Ron's sister, and Harry was their best friend, it was too odd. They sat speechless through the whole feast and watched as their friends congratulated Harry and Ginny on their relationship with one another.
"Congrats, Ginny, you're with the most famous wizard in the world,"Dean Thomas congratulated the two of them, who both blushed.
"Yeah…..this'll be in the Daily Prophet for weeks."
"Ronnikins, why are you so silent?"the twins asked. (1)
"I don't know….."
"Ah, being the protective older brother, I see."
"No, I'm not, it's just weird seeing my sister kiss my best friend, you know?"
"What's weird about it, Ronnikins?"
"Quit questioning me all ready!"Ron exclaimed.
Fred and George grinned. "Congrats, Gin, Harry. Wait 'til Mum finds out."
"You two are going to tell her, aren't you?"Ginny asked.
"Whatever gave you that idea, my dear Ginny?"the twins chorused, an evil glint in their eyes.
"I've lived with you for 15 years, I know when something is up,"Ginny rolled her eyes at the twins' antics. "Harry, they are just like Sirius and James."
"I know."
-(Dursleys Table)-
The Dursley family was watching the display at the Gryffindor table as well. The reason why Dudley was also at the table instead of the Gryffindor table was because he might hurt Harry, not might, will hurt Harry, and the staff and headmaster decided to take action, and keep Dudley with his parents instead of putting him at the table, where he could easily hurt Harry.
They were also wondering who could ever love a freak like Potter. Possibly a freak that was just like him. They looked at the teachers table, to see that everyone highly expected a relationship from those two. They wondered why. Did they know each other well? Were they best friends or something? Are they more than that now?
Of course, one Dursley, never cared. He was just watching Harry with an evil glint in his eyes, hoping to get back at the freak someday. But for now, he just sat back and watched him from a distance, and waited to pounce…..
TBC…
Words: 1938