The Adventure Continued
Chapter 9: Black from the Dead
A/N: For anyone who is wondering why Ginny is so angry at Harry, and to answer GiGiFanFic's question:
Ginny is angry at Harry for a lot of reasons, one because she's trying to get away from Harry and here he is getting a job next to her, and two, he's named Head of Gryffindor which she wanted. But because the story is mainly following Harry and he's not great at understanding women, we're not going to find out just yet. Anger is usually a sign of disguised hurt, and Ginny is feeling a lot of that these days (I.e. there is more 'juicy stuff' to come; please be patient!).
Thanks to 5CANDALOUS, IamSiriusgrl, IAMSOAP, gldnsunsprite21, and GiGiFanFic for reviewing :). You guys are awesome!
"First years!" called out a woman's voice above the commotion of students jumping off the train. "First years, over here!" Harry was unsurprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank calling out to all the first years, ready to take them on the annual boat ride across the lake. The giant that Harry had befriended and loved had been missing since the end of the war. Rumors flew that Rubeus Hagrid went and married his love in France, but whatever his reasons were, he was not meeting the first years and Harry felt the disappointment hit the bottom of his stomach.
After taking a nice ride in the carriages, Harry, Romilda, Hannah, and Ginny walked into the Great Hall. It was definitely much bigger than Harry remembered, leaving more space between the house tables, and the tables were much longer and roomier. For some (including Harry), it meant more food.
"Hello, Harry, Ginny," a dreamy voice came from the table and Harry looked to see a sight he'd never thought he could imagine. Oh no…
"Luna?" Harry looked wide-eyed at the girl he once went to school with. She definitely didn't resemble the Luna that Harry remembered; she no longer wore the unusual jewelry, such as the butterbeer cork necklace or the radish earrings, but her personality certainly didn't change. This is what McGonagall had in mind? What did she want to do? Brainwash these kids? Harry could already imagine it: the owls from all the parents, the end of Hogwarts before it began…
"Of course, who did you think it was?" she smiled happily, scooting over to let Harry sit between her and Hannah, while Ginny moved to the other side of Luna. Well, maybe it won't be that bad. "I had a feeling a wallybog might have gotten to you, with all that you have suffered. They are tiny butterflies that feast on stressed minds, often making them forgetful." Never mind.
Harry hid his head in his robes, holding back his laughter. At one point this might have seemed usual, but it had been a long time since he endured Luna's strange mind. "What are you doing here?" Harry managed to ask.
Luna grinned happily. "Professor McGonagall gave me the job as History of Magic teacher. I have always had a knack for history…" Her dreamy voice droned on as McGonagall stood up to address the school (thankfully).
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" McGonagall announced as Professor Grubbly-Plank brought in the first group of students: the fourth years. Harry didn't realize until he looked around how empty the tables were. Well, of course! With the school being closed, four years of students needed to be sorted! This was going to be a really long night.
"Oh, I might be a bit more tattered,
I might be a bit more patched,
But don't think any less of me,
I can find the house you match!
Of Gryffindor, the brave will find
A challenge to earn their glory,
Of Ravenclaw, the brilliant mind
Soars past the Hogwarts' story.
Of Slytherin, the cunning dwell,
Use every mean to fame,
While Hufflepuff, the most loyal,
Are faithful to their name.
So, put me on, find your fate,
And you will be sorted out.
There is no need to worry,
Where you land, there is no doubt!"
The song ended with a round of clapping, although Harry groaned, realizing that he must suffer through this three more times.
Four hours and many groans later later, McGonagall stood up to give her first, end-of-the-feast speech. There was nothing Harry did not already know, such as the forbidden forest somehow being off-limits to students (funny, that students still didn't realize that, although the name was "forbidden"), students are not to use magic in the halls, and absolutely no Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products are allowed outside the common rooms (how this was going to be enforced, Harry did not know, but with the infamous Filch back to work, you can't second-guess anything).
"Heads of Houses will be taking students to their new common rooms! Good night!" McGonagall finally ended the announcements, to Harry's great pleasure, and he crossed the Great Hall to find the large group of Gryffindors waiting for him. Professor McGonagall had given Harry an idea of where the new common room: somewhere on the ninth floor behind a painting of Madam Yolanda.
When the group of Gryffindors reached the ninth floor, Harry met the painting of Madam Yolanda, a witch that reminded Harry of Professor Trelawney with jet black hair and a wart on her nose.
"Well, if it isn't the famous Harry Potter! I have heard so much-" she began in a raspy, harsh voice.
"Patronus!" interrupted Harry with the password before the painting to could go on. After years of goggling, you'd think people would let up a bit.
Madam Yolanda smirked before opening the portrait hole, revealing the spacious common room. Harry allowed the students to enter before climbing in and looking around. It was much bigger and spread out than the common room that was on the seventh floor, and once again, Harry ached for the days when had been a student.
The small walk down to his own office turned out to be a quest for the Holy Grail. When rebuilding the castle, most of the corridors and staircases had been changed and it took Harry nearly half-an-hour before he ran into Ginny. Literally. Really, who was in charge of building this place? They should have been fired!
"Watch where you're going, Potter," Ginny snarled, getting back on her feet. "Is somebody lost?"
"Of course not," Harry lied, walking past her. "I'm just exploring the castle. A lot has changed. Are you lost?"
Ginny grimaced before turning down another corridor. Despite her tough attitude, Harry could see the expression in Ginny's eyes, revealing the truth that she was just as lost as Harry, but he decided to worry less about Ginny and more about his first class in the morning. He could get around to talking to Ginny at a more convenient date…hmm, date, Harry daydreamed before running into a suit of armor.
A half an hour and seven wrong turns later, Harry found his office and sleeping quarters. It was a plain room with a desk in the middle, shelves and a few windows looking out over the Quidditch field. Nothing fancy, but to Harry, it seemed a lot brighter than Grimmauld Place and Privet Drive put together.
"Hello, Harry."
Harry turned on the spot to see him face to face with Sirius Black. Well, Black's portrait, at least.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed. The portrait was hung next to Harry's desk where Harry could always see him. "You have a portrait? But how?"
"An enchantment. Each Black that lived in that house has a portrait of himself hung there. Of course, you have never seen mine because you never go into my mother's old room," Sirius laughed. "I can't blame you, though. She was a scary woman. Anyways, Mrs. Weasley created this portrait to connect with my other one. She thought it would cheer you up."
A small tear dropped down Harry's face and landed on his desk, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. It was like Mrs. Weasley to think of the little things, although Harry couldn't remember a time when she even liked Sirius.
"It's good to see you again, Harry," Sirius said huskily. "Now, I can always fulfill my godfather duties."
Harry smiled, trying to stifle a yawn. It was well past midnight, and the trip to Hogwarts along with the extra-long feast had tired him out. Before he knew what he was doing, he had collapsed onto his bed, falling fast asleep before hitting the sheets…dreaming of the day when he could have Ginny all to himself, taking her on a midnight ride on Buckbeak, and then kissing her under the full moon. And it was a wonder to the staff and students the next morning when Professor Potter greeted them all with big, childish grin.