The Difference One Choice Makes
31st October 1991
Thirty-five minutes later…
"It's leviiooosaaaa" sneered Ron as he, Harry, Neville, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas and Joshua Sloper walked across the courtyard to go to their History of Magic lesson.
"That's not fair Ron… she was only trying to help you" said Harry with a hint of iciness in his voice.
Ron did not care for his words.
"She acts like she's superior to everyone just because she does a spell first" said Joshua Sloper with bitterness in his voice.
"Why does it matter, someone has to be the first in lessons to perform the spells, Hermione obviously works hard" said Neville who like Harry was growing frustrated at the words of Ron and Joshua.
By the looks on their faces, Seamus and Dean were also getting wound up by the jealous spiteful words as well.
"She's a nightmare honestly… she must've noticed no one likes her" sneered Ron.
Harry and Neville moved away from Ron and Joshua as did Dean and Seamus before they heard Janet shouting "HERMIONE!" from behind the other boys.
They saw Hermione now in tears barge past Ron and Joshua running off towards the castle doors as Janet chased after her stopping as she reached the two Boys.
"Hermione's worth ten of you Weasley" spat Janet at a shocked Ron before chasing after Hermione calling out to her.
As she chased after Hermione, Harry saw the Ravenclaw Rose Snape chase after Hermione as well followed by Jennifer and Parvati Patil.
After several moments it became clear that both Harry and Neville had the same idea as they both took off after the other girls.
Twenty minutes later…
Chasing after the girls through the castle eventually brought Harry and Neville to a halt close to one of the girl's bathrooms located in the dungeons.
Outside the bathroom, they saw Eileen and Rose Snape stood outside the bathroom near the door with the Boys only able to tell the concerned twins apart due to their different uniforms. Also stood next to them were Parvati Patil and Jennifer who looked equally as concerned as the other two girls.
As the two boys slowly made their way over they saw Rose Snape turn to face them with a bitter look on her face.
"Haven't you done enough damage Potter?" spat Rose Snape in a harsh tone that Harry imagined that both of their Father's would use with each other.
"Hey, don't speak to my Cousin like that Snape!" shouted Jennifer angrily.
The Snape Twins turned to look at Jennifer.
"Why, clearly he's following in his Father's footsteps when it comes to picking on undeserving students" spat Eileen Snape before glaring at Harry and Neville.
"Harry and Neville didn't do anything to Hermione… it was Weasley and Sloper" Parvati spoke up having kept up an uncomfortable silence so far.
"They didn't do anything to stop them did they though?" said Eileen fiercely.
"We told them not to say stuff like that Snape, but they wouldn't listen" said Neville with a hint of nervousness.
The young students could have carried on arguing forever had a very surprising voice called out to them bringing a swift silent halt to their argument.
"Don't you all have lessons you should be attending?" called out the stern voice of Dumbledore as he approached them with a concerned look on his face.
Harry and Neville slowly walked towards the girls as Janet Spinnet finally exited the bathroom closely followed by Hermione who was still wiping the tears from her eyes.
Catching sight of the still tearful Hermione Dumbledore straightened up.
"Would anyone like to explain what has upset young Miss Granger so much?" said Dumbledore calmly which surprised Hermione that the Headmaster who defeated the two darkest Wizards of the last century was able to recognise her even though they had never interacted with each other before now.
"Ron Weasley and Josh Sloper were being horrible to Hermione after our Charms lesson Headmaster" said Jennifer politely.
"And Potter and Longbottom stood by and did nothing" said Rose Snape bitterly.
"Wait" said Hermione sadly.
Everyone's attention was suddenly on her.
Taking a deep breath as she wiped some more tears from her eyes Hermione looked up at Dumbledore.
"I heard Harry and Neville telling the other two boys not to say things like that, they didn't do anything wrong" said Hermione sadly.
Janet nodded before turning to Dumbledore feeling slightly nervous in his commanding presence.
"Harry and Neville didn't do anything wrong Headmaster" said Janet.
Jennifer and Parvati nodded in agreement while the Snape Twins sighed in agreement.
Feeling satisfied Dumbledore gave them all an appreciative nod.
"Thank you… if you would accompany me to my office please Miss Granger" said Dumbledore kindly.
Hermione nervously made her way over to him.
"As for the rest of you… I suggest you head off to your lessons, I shall let your teachers know why you were late" said Dumbledore.
As the group dispersed with Harry, Neville and Parvati heading for their History of Magic lesson while Jennifer and the Snape Twins set off for their DADA lesson, Janet made her way over to Professor Dumbledore as he led Hermione away from them.
"Professor Dumbledore… can I come with Hermione, I need to tell you something important" said Janet.
The two turned to face her and after a few seconds, Dumbledore nodded to her giving her permission to join them.
Fifteen minutes later…
Dumbledore led the two girls into his office where they were in awe at the sight before them.
His office was a large, beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it was the shabby, motionless Sorting Hat.
They followed Dumbledore up some steps to his desk in the centre of his office.
They came to a halt in front of his desk while he took his seat.
"Help yourself to some lemon drops girls" said Dumbledore kindly gesturing his hand towards a small bowl of yellow sweets on his desk.
He waited for the two girls to help themselves to a sweet apiece before leaning forwards with his elbows on his desk and his chin resting on his joined hands.
"Would you feel comfortable telling me what happened earlier Miss Granger?" said Dumbledore in his famous grandfather-like voice.
Hermione nodded as she sucked on her lemon drop before telling him about the events of her Charms lesson and everything that happened after that.
Once Hermione had finished telling Dumbledore her side of the story the kind Headmaster straightened up slightly.
"I shall pass the events of today onto Professor Mcgonagall, she will see to it that Mr's Weasley and Sloper are properly punished for their actions" said Dumbledore kindly.
He then turned to look at Janet.
"And what would you like to speak to me about Miss Spinnet?" said Dumbledore kindly.
Janet sighed before glancing at Hermione giving her a short apology. She went on to tell Dumbledore about how some people in Gryffindor house would openly insult Hermione behind her back owing to her constant attempts to help people even when they did not want it which upset her friend once more.
"I'm sorry Hermione… I just couldn't stay quiet any longer" said Janet regretfully as Hermione wiped a few tears from her eyes.
Dumbledore sent a small comforting smile to Hermione.
"You have a very kind and equally loyal friend in Miss Spinnet here Miss Granger" said Dumbledore kindly.
Hermione wiped the rest of the tears from her eyes before giving her friend a small smile.
"It is human nature to want to help people Miss Granger, but sometimes those people do not want or need our help and it can do more harm than good" said Dumbledore softly.
Hermione managed a small nod.
"I shall pass your concerns about Miss Granger's mistreatment on to Professor Mcgonagall Miss Spinnet, though as she is your Head Of House I am surprised you did not go to her first" said Dumbledore.
Janet frowned knowing that this could have been sorted out long ago had she voiced her concerns to Professor Mcgonagall earlier.
As Janet felt a bit of shame at her decision, Hermione caught sight of a familiar couple in a photo on Dumbledore's desk.
"Is that Professor Snape?" said Hermione curiously.
Dumbledore glanced at the photo of the Order Of The Phoenix identical to the one owned by the Potter's which sat on Dumbledore's desk along with a few other photos.
"Yes… Professor Mcgonagall told me that you had met him and his family on your way to the platform in September" said Dumbledore in a soft voice.
Hermione managed a small smile remembering the day she had met the first friends she had made in over a year.
"A photo from so long ago" said Dumbledore solemnly still feeling guilt for all of the occupants who were not around today.
He composed himself.
"Now off you go, as your History of Magic lesson is almost over you might as well spend the time as you wish… the Halloween Feast will be starting in a few hours, you won't want to miss it" said Dumbledore kindly.
Both girls thanked the Headmaster before turning and walking out of his office.
As the door shut Dumbledore let out a weary sigh as he looked at the photograph once again seeing its occupants smiling up at him.
"Your sacrifices will never be forgotten" thought Dumbledore solemnly.
Later that night…
With small handfuls of sweets and chocolate in their hands, Lavander Brown, Ellen Morrison and Parvati Patil walked through the door into their dormitory.
Having come upstairs earlier than the three girls, Hermione and Janet had already changed into their pyjamas while there was a small pile of sweets and chocolate on the bedside table next to Janet's bed.
As Lavender and Ellen saw Hermione sat on her bed they felt a pang of guilt having been pulled into Professor Mcgonagall's office before the Halloween Feast in regards to their comments about Hermione.
Though Professor Mcgonagall had a reputation among students and staff to be stern and no-nonsense, she was far kinder about the whole situation with them than they expected. She had instead asked them how they would feel if they found out such comments were being made about them.
"I would be really upset" said the light brown-skinned, long black haired Ellen Morrison regretfully.
"I would want to cry" said the curly dark blonde haired Lavender Brown with equal regret at her actions.
Professor Mcgonagall was stood upright in front of her desk looking at the two girls opposite her with a frown on her face.
Also stood in Professor Mcgonagall's office with them were Ron and Joshua Sloper both of whom were stood by the door with looks of guilt on their face knowing that their punishment was going to be more severe.
"I imagine that is how Miss Granger feels right now… perhaps you should bear that in mind whenever you are thinking about doing such a thing again" said Professor Mcgonagall sternly.
Lavender and Ellen bowed their heads in shame before Professor Mcgonagall let them go.
As they walked out of the office they saw Ron and Joshua approach the desk at Professor Mcgonagall's summon.
"We're sorry Hermione" said Ellen regretfully.
Hermione looked up at them as Parvati stepped to one side giving the two other girls some space as they apologised for their actions.
"It's just… we were getting this impression from you that you thought you were better than us and we didn't like it" said Lavender sadly.
"You were always pushing yourself on us even when we didn't want it, saying we should do this and that with homework and in classes" said Ellen.
Hermione frowned.
"I never meant for it to be that way, I was just trying to help" said Hermione regretfully.
"We know you didn't mean it like that Hermione" said Janet softly as she reached out and squeezed her friend's hand.
Lavender and Ellen nodded.
"But we still shouldn't have behaved like that" said Ellen.
"Can we just… put this behind us and start again?" said Lavender hoping that they could just put this whole sorry affair behind them.
To their relief, Hermione nodded to them clearly agreeing with them that they should just start over.
Twenty minutes later…
"What do your Parent's do then Hermione?" said Lavender eagerly as she popped a white chocolate mouse in her mouth.
"This is a strange new world for Miss Granger, unlike the four of you… she has not grown up in our world" said Professor Mcgonagall sternly as her gaze lingered on Ron and Joshua stood near the door.
Turning her gaze back to Lavender and Ellen she straightened up.
"Is this how she should be welcomed into our world, by being mocked behind her back just because she works hard… or out loud for nothing more than managing a spell before you Mr Weasley" said Professor Mcgonagall sternly as she locked eyes with Ron again causing him to bow his head in shame.
Hermione slowly picked up a toffee coated apple knowing that her Parent's who worked as dentists never let her over-indulge on sweets and chocolates thinking about how they would not approve if they saw her tonight.
Over the last fifteen minutes. Parvati, Lavender and Ellen had opened up about how some of their families live to Hermione who had been curious about Janet's Parent's working in the Misuse of Magic Office.
Parvati's mother was a stay at home Mother while her Father worked at the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Lavender's Mother worked as an editor for the Witch Weekly magazine while her Father worked as a Cursebreaker at Gringott's. Ellen meanwhile had a Muggle Mother working as a Nurse in Newcastle while her Father worked as a Magizoologist.
"My Parent's are dentists… they tend to people's teeth" said Hermione with the last phrase coming after they saw the confused looks on Parvati and Lavender's faces.
"Isn't that dangerous?" said Parvati in slight surprise.
Hermione shook her head.
"Not really no… but one boy Robby Benwick did bite my Father once" said Hermione with a hint of amusement in her voice.
To her relief, the other girls found her words amusing and joined her in laughter.
4th November 1991
Harry, dressed in his red Gryffindor Quidditch robes, leather chest and arm pads along with his leather fingerless gloves followed Oliver Wood towards the players entrance holding his Nimbus 2000 in his right hand. Following behind them in identical outfits were Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and finally Fred and George Weasley.
Oliver brought them all to a halt outside the entrance to the stadium and they mounted their brooms in preparation.
After nearly two minutes of tense silence, the Gryffindor Quidditch team shot out of the player's entrance to roaring cheers from around the stadium.
As they did their customary lap around the stadium Harry caught sight of his Parent's and Euphemia sat in one of the towers with Sirius and Eric cheering and applauding for him with great pride.
Taking their positions high in the air in the centre of the pitch they saw the Slytherin Team already waiting for them with Harry's first impression of them being that they were all big bulky Boys.
Below them with the large crate containing the Quidditch balls and a broom by her feet was Madam Hooch dressed in her black and white Quidditch Referee robes, goggles and her whistle.
He heard the voice of the Third Year Gryffindor Lee Jordan introducing the Slytherin Team to jeers and boos from most of the student filled stands using a microphone enhancing his voice.
"And now introducing the Gryffindor team, Captain and Keeper Oliver Wood, Beaters Fred and George Weasley, Chasers Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, who still won't go out with me no matter how many times I-!" shouted Lee as the stadium erupted into mighty applause.
"JORDAN!" shouted an irate Professor Mcgonagall from next to him in one of the other towers with the rest of the teachers while Angelina Johnson rolled her eyes at her friend's words.
"Sorry Professor, and lastly Harry Potter!" shouted Lee.
Most of the stadium erupted into applause while Harry did a backwards loop on his broom when his name was called feeling the excitement coursing through his veins.
"Now I want a nice clean game, from all of you" said Madam Hooch sternly fixing her eyes on the Fifth Year Slytherin captain Marcus Flint with that last sentence.
She used her wand to open the box releasing the bludgers and the golden snitch which flew past Harry and the Slytherin seeker before flying high into the sky as Lee Jordan announced how the Seeker who caught the snitch would score their team 150 points and end the game.
Madam Hooch picked up the quaffle and threw it upwards towards the players starting the game.
Harry drifted away from the Slytherin seeker scouring the pitch for the snitch as Angelina Johnson caught the quaffle and soared off towards the Slytherin hoops.
"JOHNSON, TO BELL, TO SPINNET, WHO ONLY MADE THE RESERVE TEAM LAST YEAR BUT HAS MADE IT INTO THE MAIN TEAM THIS YEAR… SHE DODGES AVERY'S BLUDGER AND SOARS UP THE PITCH, PASSES TO BELL AGAIN… BELL SENDS IT ACROSS TO JOHNSON!" shouted Lee as Angelina Johnson launched the quaffle through the unguarded left hoop giving the Fifth Year Slytherin Keeper Myles Bletchley no chance.
The stands erupted into deafening cheers and Harry saw his family celebrating the goal even if Narcissa did not look as enthusiastic as the others obviously remembering her Slytherin roots.
"WHO FIRES IT PAST BLETCHLEY, TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!" shouted Lee.
Harry gave a little clap before going back to searching for the snitch.
Half an hour later…
As the game went on, Harry saw that despite Madam Hooch's wish for a nice clean game, the Slytherin players obviously did not get the message as they committed foul after foul on the Gryffindor players with Oliver taking most of them.
As Katie Bell scored her third goal of the game bringing the score up to 90-40 in favour of Gryffindor, Harry spotted a glint of gold hovering near the Slytherin hoops and took off after it.
"Potter's on the move… has he seen the snitch?!" shouted Lee to cheers of anticipation.
As Harry neared the Slytherin hoops the snitch took off into the air again.
Using as much speed as he could get from his broom, Harry followed it as the Seventh Year Slytherin Seeker Terrence Higgs ended up next to him and shoulder barged him.
"FLINT SCORES FOR SLYTHERIN… GRYFFINDOR STILL LEAD 90 TO 50!" shouted Lee to a chorus of boos from most of the students.
Harry did the same thing with the two barging each other back and forth while following the snitch around the pitch as they approached the large tower where Sirius and the others were sat.
The Snitch suddenly dove vertically towards the ground with Harry and the Slytherin Seeker following it all the way down.
The crowd oooh'd and gasped with anticipation as the two got closer and closer to the ground. Harry could just imagine the look of what must have been fear on his Mother's face as the ground got closer with each passing second.
Eventually, the Slytherin Seeker couldn't take it any more and pulled out of the dive twenty feet from the ground.
Harry kept going and pulled his broom up, bringing himself level eight feet from the ground as the snitch changed direction and shot forward once again.
He surged his broom forward using all of its speed reaching his right arm out as he got closer to the snitch. Just as he was was fingertips away from it the snitch prepared to rise into the air again but Harry quickly snatched at it.
Feeling it in his hand Harry felt a great sense of pride and excitement having just won the game for Gryffindor and his teammates.
"HARRY POTTER'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH… GRYFFINDOR WIN WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 240 TO 50" shouted Lee to thunderous applause from most of the students who were glad to see Slytherin lose.
Harry soared back up into the air where the team met in a mid-air group hug before returning to the ground as the cheers from the stands drowned out all of their voices of congratulations from the seven teammates.
They all walked back to the changing rooms cheering and laughing about their victory as the never-ending applause continued.
26th December 1991
Jennifer sat down in one of the plush armchairs in the small playroom of Potter Manor where the Potter children and their friends would play together as the years went by.
Sitting down on the large settee with her was her Brother Eric Black with both siblings wearing Christmas jumpers which were dark red in colour with Christmas trees that changed colours.
Also sat down on the furniture in the playroom also dressed in Christmas jumpers of varying colours and patterns were Edward, Harry, Euphemia, Neville and Frank Jr Longbottom who had just turned 10 nearly a month ago, the Lupin siblings, Lacey Heather aged 10, John James aged 8 and David Carl Lupin aged 5, Susan Bones and her 8-year-old Brother Jamie Donald Bones.
The reason behind the children's presence at Potter Manor was the annual Christmas party held by the Potter's on every Boxing Day for close friends and family of the Potter's with the Tonks's also attending each year as well.
As the children enjoyed themselves in the playroom talking about all of the presents each of them got, the adults were sat enjoying drinks in the sitting room across the hall with all of them dressed in fancy clothes often worn at dinner parties.
James and Narcissa, Sirius and Amelia, Frank and Alice Longbottom, David and Melanie Bones both aged 35, Remus and Julia Lupin nee Layfield who at 32 years old was a year younger than Remus, James and Sirius at Hogwarts.
Remus and Julia had met each other at St Mungo's in late 1978 when Remus had some healing work done on his scarred arms. The couple had been together for twelve years and had been married for ten years having gotten married three months after their Daughter Lacey was born.
The other attendees at this party were the short light brown haired Edward Tonks and Andromeda Tonks both of whom were now 37 years old, while their now 18-year-old long bubblegum pink haired Metamorphmagus Daughter and Auror Trainee Nymphadora Tonks who preferred to be called by her surname of "Tonks" or simply "Dora" was itching to go and meet up with her friends in the Fairy Lounge for their own Boxing Day celebration.
The fact that Dora wanted to go and celebrate with her friends instead of her Family was causing friction between her Mother and her Grandmother Druella Black now aged 58 though she looked around ten years younger than that age with long blonde hair and no sight of wrinkles making it obvious that the older Woman took a great deal of time and effort into looking younger than she was.
As Narcissa watched the tension rising between her Mother and older Sister she knew that it was getting close to breaking point. Even Sirius who was watching the scene unfold was glad that his own Parent's were not attending this party knowing that his Mother in particular, would have made the situation a lot worse.
He had already forced himself, Amelia, Jennifer and Eric to spend most of Christmas Day with Orion and Walburga which had been an eventful thing of its own.
Year after year Sirius would say that he would rather just avoid Christmas with his Parent's and join the Tonks's or Potter's for Christmas instead, as Orion and Walburga would often go on about how Andromeda and Nymphadora would never be known as part of the Black Family while Orion and Walburga were still alive.
After another few minutes of light conversation between the adults, Dora finally had enough and said her goodbye's before heading for the Floo to go and meet up with her friends instead.
Once Dora had left Druella turned to Andromeda with a stern look on her face as she sipped her Elf Wine having brought a bottle of her own, only wishing to drink the best possible wine.
"You should teach your Daughter some proper courtesy and manners Andromeda… instead of letting her just walk out on a family engagement" said Druella curtly.
"Mother" said Narcissa with a weary sigh as Andromeda gritted her teeth.
"Unlike you Mother… I do not see the problem with my 18-year-old Daughter wishing to spend tonight with her friends as long as she spends some with her family first" said Andromeda stiffly.
Safe to say, the relationship between Andromeda and Druella was not much better off than it had been when she married Ted all those years ago.
Though Narcissa loved her Mother, her visits to Potter Manor when they would hold parties would always result in very tense affairs owing to her Mother's curt and sometimes cold attitude.
"I would have expected her to stay longer than an hour… and address me properly as Grandmother while she is at it, instead of Lady Black" said Druella stiffly making a small reference to Dora's preference of calling her Lady Black instead of Grandmother.
"You sound just like my Mother now" said Sirius sarcastically.
"Sirius" hissed Amelia.
Druella ignored his words however and stood up.
"I'm going to see my Grandchildren" said Druella curtly before leaving the sitting room.
Once she was gone Narcissa breathed a small sigh of relief as the tension in the room slowly faded away.
"Thank Merlin she's gone" said Sirius sounding relieved.
Some of the others in the room made visible signs of agreeing with his words while Andromeda and Narcissa felt slightly at ease with the absence of their Mother.
Meanwhile…
"Grandma!" said Edward running over to Druella as she appeared in the doorway.
Druella straightened up.
"Edward Potter… its Grandmother remember?" said Druella sternly.
Edward gave her a small hug.
"Yes Grandmother" said Edward as Harry and Euphemia made their way over to Druella to say hello to her.
Once she had said hello to her three young Grandchildren she used her wand to summon three magnificently wrapped presents to her hands.
"Edward… Harrison… Euphemia" said Druella handing a present to each of them in turn.
The three unwrapped the wrapping paper and opened the parcels revealing expensive white silk shirts and black trousers for the boys and an expensive deep blue gown for Euphemia.
"From the finest shops in Magical Paris" said Druella proudly as the three looked at their presents with excitement.
"Thank you Grandmother" said Euphemia excitedly as she held her new dress in both hands.
"Such a beautiful dress will make look even more beautiful than me or your mother ever were when we were your age" said Druella proudly.
Not long after she had given them their presents, Druella returned to the sitting room to resume her conversation with the rest of the adults until it was time for dinner.