A/N: Hi there! I've got another chapter for you!
The future of this story is strongly influenced by reviews (hint,
hint). Enjoy!
Brynn
Chapter 17: Jane Puckle
"Why?"
The procession somewhere out of his sight meanwhile halted and the Sorting Hat started singing. Most of the people in the Hall were watching and listening to it, so he and Ginny had relative privacy for their conversation.
One Millenium passed had since
Hogwarts stood tall and proud
Only the Hogwarts bell yet rings
And I am singing loud
"She said it would be irresponsible to accept a duty she was unable to button up. That was the first sign of something awry going on there."
Oi, hear me, little Gryffindors,
Be brave in Godric's name
Be cunning, little Slytherins,
And achieve wealth and fame
Harry frowned. He glanced at Hermione and back at Ginny, who shrugged in response to his unspoken question.
Be clever, little Ravenclaws,
For Rowena was bright
Be loyal, little Hufflepuffs,
Represent Helga's light
"Whatever it is, is going to be dangerous – Ronald vetoed me out of it. I know only the message Fawkes told me to pass you."
For times as these call upon you
Give all you've got within
To your school always remain true
Whatever House you're in
"That doesn't make sense. I talked to Fawkes less than an hour ago."
"Uh… yes…" She distractedly pushed a stream of vivid red hair out of her eyes. "It's more recent than that. Harry…"
Follow the lead of wiser men
Protect your weaker friends
If you don't let your heart weaken
In victory this war ends
He gulped, almost scared by the intense look she gave him.
"I think… take a bit of Felix tonight. I honestly have no idea what's going to happen, but I want you to be as safe as possible…"
Nameless evil is foe we face
It's our strength that he fearsNow listen and I shall state the place
Where you'll spend seven years
She clasped his hand under the table. Harry felt nervous about it; had they been friends it would be alright, had she been his girlfriend it would be alright as well, but in the middle point where they were right now it seemed as a promise of something he wasn't sure he could accept.
Sit down, the stool's waiting for you
I'm eager to tell your mind
Learn, love and fight – that's what we do
Your House I'll help you find
"Ginny… why aren't you a Prefect?"
"Oh, please…" She rolled her eyes. "No way. I'm taking the Fred and George route… Although they probably never went to McGonagall to announce that they thought their certain classmate was a much better fit for the position…"
"You're crazy," he muttered. They both laughed and turned around to watch the Sorting itself.
This year there was an inovation – there were actually two stools. Flitwick, with the help of a relatively tall dark-haired first-year, climbed atop the four-legged one and unrolled the parchment he was clutching. It seemed to be normal length, until Harry realised that he was subconsciously comparing it to Flitwick's height.
"Allen, Winston," he read. The boy who was called stepped forward and with quivering hands put the Hat on his head – usually it was done by McGonagall, and Flitwick couldn't dream of managing it from his spot on the stool.
"Ravenclaw!"
While the boy was being welcome by his new 'family', the rest of the school watched the nine remaining children.
"Carrow, Jasper."
The boy who had helped Flitwick calmly placed the Hat on his head without even sitting down. Harry almost gagged, seeing McGonagall behind him groan and hide her face in her hands.
"Gryffindor!" the Hat shouted after about ten seconds. The boy was scowling; Harry was glad he had been the first in the Great Hall and could reserve the best seats – closest to the High Table. There was something wrong going on… The boy didn't walk over to the table, but stood on the end of the line, waiting for something.
Hermione stood up and extended her hand towards Jasper, gesturing him to come to her. He calmly, though still frowning, shook his head.
'Fawkes? We've got trouble down here…'
'I'm there in a bit.'
Flitwick didn't notice anything, hidden behind the parchment.
"Carrow, Justine."
That explained a lot. He could quite well picture Fred and George sitting under the Hat together… though they probably had no doubt they would be meeting in the same house. On the contrary, these kids had doubts. It was obvious – most first-years were scared when being sorted, but the girl that stepped out from the huddle and approached the stool was snow-white and shaking so badly that Harry could see it clearly from the distance. She looked over her shoulder at her brother, who was clenching his fists, and stumbled.
'Your intuition has once again proven to be right, fledgling. We do have trouble.'
'What are we going to do?'
The girl reached the stool and wearily sank on it, glad that she didn't have to rely on her knees for a while. She took several deep breaths and a while later – on the second attempt – she managed to put the Hat on her head. It sank low on her shoulders.
'Nothing. You are going to stand up… now!'
Harry complied, knocking over his cup in the process. Its rattle attracted attention from all over the room. He didn't quite care, watching the Carrow girl and listening to Fawkes's voice in his mind.
'What now?'
'Walk to her.'
'Why?'
'She's going to faint.'
Harry didn't need to hear more. The girl was small and looked fragile; like she could shatter if they let her fall. And there was no one, apart from the closest two first-years, who he couldn't count on, to catch her. In the corner of his perception he noticed the murmuring behind him raise, but it wasn't of greater importance to him than the overly dramatic billowing of his robe that just occurred. Unintentionally. It must have had something to do with buoyancy force…
'Three. Two…'
Harry scowled, at the same time wonderig how could Fawkes know that and thinking that it was arrogant of him to have it counted so exactly. What if Harry himself had stumbled? What if he hadn't obeyed at first?
'One…'
He took the last step and just as the child slumped forwards he scooped her in his arms. The Great Hall let out a huge collective gasp. That made Flitwick finally glance out from behind the parchment.
"Gryffindor!"
Harry craddled the light body to his chest and leant down to the nearest first-year – a girl with blonde pigtails.
"Take the Hat, please."
She was stunned, quite probably too overwhelmed with everything that happened plus Harry Potter's presence on top of it. Fortunately, the one standing next to her was resourceful enough to follow the simple instruction. Harry straightened again, grateful to get a chance to save his back before it was totally destroyed, and walked over to the boy.
"Come with me. Madam Pomfrey will follow soon; you can tell us everything there."
The boy hesitated, then his eyes strayed to Harry's scar and further to the face of his unconscious sister, and he nodded gravely.
"Harry-"
He looked up, from the small figure to one that was taller than himself.
"They'll need pacifying here, Mione; I can take care of this."
"But-" she wanted to argue. Harry didn't want to. Using all the mannerism Fawkes taught him, he gazed at her intently.
"No, Hermione. You are the Prefect, and the most fit person for a Head Girl in this room, even though that badge might not say so. Go help Professor Flitwick – he is going to need it. And the Headmistress, as it seems. I will meet you in the common room."
Without giving her the chance to argue he stepped past her, Jasper Carrow trailing in his wake. The next – and last – stop on his way to the hospital wing was right behind Hermione's back.
'Fawkes?'
'Standing by.'
'Sure. Does Ginny have some Felix on her?'
It took the phoenix a few seconds. For those few seconds Ginny's eyes glazed over. Harry bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying anything nasty. It wouldn't have been deserved, although he felt like saying it very much.
In the end, instead of answering, Ginny reached into Ron's pocket (the redhead was too enticed with the scene behind Harry to notice), brought out a strap with five golden capsules and put it wordlessly into Harry's robe.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." She grinned and waved him off. Jasper stalled for a moment, gave her a curious scrutiny, and then caught up with Harry, walking next to him along the darkened corridor. The door to the Great Hall slammed behind them, only to be opened and closed loudly again when they were round two corners.
'How is it going there?'
'Poppy's on her way, together with Yvette as Minerva's substitute-'
'Yvette?'
'Professor Sinistra. Minerva, as the Headmistress, couldn't leave the Sorting. They're carrying on.'
Harry nodded. The girl in his arms shifted slightly as he they rounded the last corner. He kicked the door open and gestured Jasper inside as first. He followed right after, setting Justine down on the first bed as gently as he was able to.
"Are you Harry Potter?" Jasper asked quietly once his sister was lying.
"Yes."
The boy hushed and watched Harry adjust the covers around his sister. The girl was somewhat smaller than her brother, but had the same shoulder-length wavy dark hair as he did. Now that she was so close, without the Sorting Hat, and with her hair fanned out of her face, Harry noticed that she was missing left ear.
"I-"
He turned around and faced the boy. Jasper seemed startled and hushed again. Harry sighed inwardly, quickly discarded the idea of kneeling down to null the height-difference, and rather gestured the boy to sit up on the bed.
"I'm Jasper… Jasper Carrow…"
"Hi, Jasper. Now, do you know why did your sister faint? Is she sick?"
The boy shook his head.
"Justine's… Justine didn't eat. She was very nervous."
The boy wasn't entirely truthful, but Harry immediately discarded the idea of using Legilimency on him. He was one of the ten – ten! – children who came this year to start Hogwarts. It was his first day. He just couldn't do something as unfair as that…
"Oh my, Potter, where's the girl?" Pomfrey barged in, much more flustered than usually. She hadn't expected someone to need her professional assistence already during the welcoming feast. She fought with her robe, more fancy than the one she nomally wore while working.
"Get out of the way-" She pushed Harry aside probably a bit harsher than she intended to. He landed sitting on the second bed next to Jasper.
"Will Jasmine be alright?"
Harry had no idea, but he couldn't quite tell that to the boy. He struggled for words, watching Pomfrey dote on the girl.
popopopopo
In the end it turned out to be a 'combination of exhaustion, stress and lack of food', and Harry was ushered out of the hospital wing without further comment. Jasper stayed, allowed to keep company to his sister after he claimed that they had never before been really separated and she would be scared if she woke up and he wasn't there. Harry had a strong suspicion that the fear of being left alone went both ways…
As soon as he was out in the hallway, he peeled the crust off one of the capsules of Felix Felicis (they were larger than those which Hermione gave to him) and swallowed it. Not a second later Fawkes materialised with a flash that seemed very levelled-down, as though he was trying to avoid attention.
'What was that for, Harry?'
'I've got a warning from you. And since I don't know what it was about, I took Hermione's advice and prepared in advance.'
'That is clever. But… please, be careful with the potion. It has-'
'Side-effects, I know. Sl- Professor Slughorn told us.'
'Did he…' Fawkes replied doubtfully, 'Well, in that case you can go back; you'll be just in time for the pudding.'
Not asked for his opinion, Harry paced back to the Great Hall, this time with the phoenix to keep him company. Trying to open the door as quietly as possible didn't help; with the addition of Fawkes's presence he caused as much uproar as on the way out.
'Your place is taken. By Carla 'Enfant Terrible' Jorkins.'
Harry halted few steps into the Hall. Fawkes was, naturally, right. On the spot he had abandoned sat a plump girl with short spiky blonde hair, currently in the process of tucking herself with fruit cake. It looked… distasteful, and not entirely unlike Dudley in his younger years. He pitied his friends, who had to suffer sitting next to the small monster all through the dinner. Ginny was the first of the three to notice his comeback; she looked at him wordlessly pleading for rescue.
Harry shuddered, but those frightened, hopeful brown eyes… he caved in within seconds. Fawkes, being carried on his forearm, twittered mockingly, but remained ignored. This walking perch wasn't in the mood for chastisement…
As he stood behind Ginny, she let out an audible gasp of relief. He forced a grin, leant over her shoulder, and dabbed the meaty upper arm of the blonde.
"Sorry, do you think I could squeeze in here?"
The girl turned around and gaped at him perplexed. Harry patiently waited; finally Hermione mercifully explained to the girl that it would be really appreaciated if she moved a bit and created space for him. As the fat body relocated itself, Ginny wiped her forhead and wearily smiled at him.
It was worth all the discomfort.
"Thanks. You saved my life."
'Again and again,' Harry thought with dark humour he seemed to have adopted from Sirius. At least he had something left after his Godfather.
'Peanuts!' Fawkes exclaimed and hastily hopped off Harry's arm on the table. It caused a disruption among the group of first years-
Harry's eyes widened and he turned to Hermione.
"Those all are Gryffindors?"
She nodded gravely, and her eyes swayed to the four kids. It wasn't too much, but when Harry realised that he had to count Jasper and Justine as well…
"Yeah, mate, was a bit of surprise."
"Professor Sprout was on the edge of hystery and Flitwick had to cast a Calming Charm on her," supplied Hermione. Harry looked up to the High Table. The Herbology teacher had red eyes and stared into her goblet with pain-filled melancholy.
"Not a single Hufflepuff this year. One Ravenclaw. Three Slytherins. The rest are-"
"Gryffindors," Ron cut in, deserving a glare from Hermione.
"It's actually comprehensible," Ginny whispered on his side, "These are the kids from the families who were willing to send them away from home. The House traits are in most cases genetic; 'brave' families would have 'brave' children…" It made sense. In a rather twisted way, but Harry couldn't think of a better explanation.
"What about the Ca-"
"What's his name?" asked the girl who had not taken the Sorting Hat when he was leaving, sitting on the opposite side of the table. Harry, momentarily distracted, looked at Fawkes and just avoided rolling his eyes. The phoenix was wrestling the bowl the peanuts originally were in. Needless to say, those peanuts now decorated a large part of the table and the floor.
"Fawkes," he groaned.
'Hey, nothing wrong with amusing the kids, is there? They've had a tough day.'
There was nothing Harry could say to oppose that.
"Is he your pet?" inquired the same girl.
'Sophia Marlow,' Fawkes inserted. So much to not using Legilimency on these kids today.
"No, he's… uh…" for the second time that evening he had found talking to children harder than he had expected. How was he supposed to explain anything without giving everything away? And what was he supposed to say that an ordinary eleven-year-old would understand? "He's my friend."
Sophia smiled.
"He is very pretty," she said mannerly, "Are you Harry Potter?"
Ginny snickered. Hermione and Ron were much too interested in each other (despite having had two months to cuddle as much as they wanted to) to watch. Once again he was left on his own.
"Yes. Is that important?" That shut them up. It was a question too difficult for them to figure out. However, Harry couldn't help but suspect that Jasper would have known exactly what to answer. He looked back to Hermione to continue the conversation, when McGonagall stood up.
The Hall fell silent. As close as they sat, they were one of the few who could see that the Headmistress's smile was actually more hysterical than Sprout seemed to be. Harry contemplated casting one Calming Charm at her, but then he decided that his respect for her didn't allow him to. She could manage on her own. And if not, she would ask for help.
"Now that you are full, listen to a few annual anouncements," McGonagall's voice was shaky, but she held herself proudly.
'That's my girl…'
Harry glanced at Fawkes. The phoenix was intently watching the witch giving the speech.
'Why don't you help her a bit?' he asked. Fawkes peered at him with surprise.
'Harry…'
In a flash he was gone and reappeared on the High Table, in front of McGonagall. Her smile suddenly seemed more rational, and her shoulders straighter.
"The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to everyone, including teachers. The student aren't to leave the castle without supervision of an adult. The full list of objects prohibited in the school can be viewed in the caretaker's – Mr Filch's – office.
Further, allow me to introduce two new additions to our staff this year. Professor Moody will teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts-"
Harry's jaw fell.
"When did he get here? How come I didn't notice-"
"You were in the hospital wing with little Carrows, Harry," Hermione said impatiently and returned her attention to the Headmistress.
"And Professor Puckle will teach Transfiguration."
The applause was weak, mostly stirred up by Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Harry, though the entire staff joined them with vigour. Apparently they enjoyed having an Auror – albeit an eccentric one – in the castle. Tonks received a few suspicious glances instead of a welcome, but, despite Mad-Eye's undisputable qualities, Harry had been clapping for her.
popopopopo
Harry could hardly wait until McGonagall released them; as soon as he was allowed to, he bolted up and virtually ran from the room. He heard shouts behind himself, and eventually forced himself to wait, even if that meant he had to endure the stares of his schoolmates as they passed by him in the corridor. Fortunately, the shadows leant him at least a semblance of privacy, and, well… it was Ginny's voice calling for him.
"Were you in a hurry?" Hermione asked suspiciously, and Harry shook his head. She stared at him, too, and it was making him distinctly uncomfortable.
"Harry, I think we need to talk," she said stiffly, and for a moment her eyes strayed away from him as she surveyed the four new Gryffindors being lead to their dormitories by the fifth-year Prefect. Then they once again bore into Harry's, and he mentally called on Fawkes.
'She is your friend, fledgling,' the phoenix admonished. 'Surely you don't feel threatened by her?'
He scoffed within his head, remembering as Hermione managed to Petrify Neville back in their first year. With her barely hindered access to the library throughout six years, who knew exactly how dangerous the girl might have been now?
"Puckle?" he asked, and Hermione blinked in confusion. Ron, however, caught on pretty swiftly.
"Yeah. Jane Puckle, if you do believe it…"
"Jane Puckle?" Harry repeated, chuckling even as Fawkes scoffed right back at him, with no little amusement.
"Right. We met her dad, by the way, downright decent bloke…"
Harry looked around for the person who caused him to wait in the first place, but Ginny was nowhere in sight. It made him feel slightly nervous, and then reminded him of her warning. Was this – a convesation with Ron and Hermione – the first step to doing what he was supposed not to do?
"He claimed that 'Puckle, Jane Puckle' had a much better ring to it than 'Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks'…" Ron continued, startled as Hermione burst into an uncontrollable giggle. Harry wondered whether she was drunk. But it definitely didn't seem so. "I've got no idea what he meant, but Mione obviously got it…" said the redhead, about as puzzled as Harry himself.
"I let her borrow my mum's maiden name," the girl clarified once she got a grip on herself. Neither of the boys gripped what was so funny about that.
"That's… nice of you," Harry claimed diplomatically, "I just didn't think that Jane was quite the name for her. It seems too… simple."
"That was the point," Ron said, gesturing so wildly that he stuck his hand right through the Fat Friar floating by. He shivered. "She wanted a break from the 'Nymphadora' disaster…"
"That's ridiculous. Nymphadora is a nice name," meant Harry, even though he was grateful to his parents that they had given him a name he could spell.
"Told her so…" Ron exclaimed with another wild gesture, but under his girlfriend's glare crouched sheepishly, and shrugged. "Told her: 'Look, Hermione is called'Hermione'. And you don't hear her complaining'."
"What is that supposed to mean, Ronald?" she snapped, her giggly mood flipping right over to indignation, which Harry preferred to escape from.
"Uh… nothing…" the poor boyfriend made effort to amend, "I like your name. Really."
Harry attempted to melt into the wall.
And, to his own surprise, managed.
