Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Harry had invited Hermione and Draco to arrive an hour earlier than Luna, so that they had time enough to discuss her situation in Ravenclaw. "Sorry that I didn't even ask you before inviting her to study with us," he apologized.
"No need to apologize." Draco smirked. "If you believe that she's not too bitchy to study with us, we'll be good."
Connie chuckled. "No, she's really nice. Are you all right, by the way?" She cast Draco an assessing look.
"Because of Father you mean?"
Connie nodded.
"He got what he deserved. He's evil, and frankly speaking, I'm relieved. As long as he's at Azkaban, he can't try to influence me and turn me to the dark."
Hermione shook her head. "He wouldn't succeed anyway. You're completely different from him, even if I've only met him once."
"When he gave me Tom's diary," Connie added, grimly.
HP
Their discussion was interrupted, when an alarm alerted Harry to the fact that a guest had arrived in his suitcase. He quickly popped inside and led Luna out into the living room, stating that there was no need to spend their time in the suitcase, when they were at home. He introduced her to Regina, Dolly, Hermione, Neville and Draco.
"Do you like to fly?" Connie cast Luna a questioning look.
"Sometimes, but not overly though. I'd love to sit on one of the double brooms if one of you would be so kind as to fly with me."
"I can do that." Neville's voice was still timid, although Harry could not help feeling proud of his friend, who had gained much self-confidence recently. "Harry, may I borrow your double broom?"
In the end, the six friends spent hours flying on three double brooms changing partners every now and then, so that by the end of the afternoon, Harry had the impression as if Luna had already become friends with each of them.
"That was successful." Connie smiled happily, once their friends had returned home.
HP
With assisting Severus at Hogwarts, doing research with the Unspeakables and meeting with their friends including Luna, the holidays passed much too fast for Harry's liking. He felt especially annoyed, because their attempts to find a way to give Connie magic remained unfruitful.
"I think the only of us looking forward to returning to Hogwarts is Hermione," he admitted to Regina and Remus during breakfast on the first of September. "She can't wait for the elective classes to begin."
Remus smiled. "Remember that she doesn't have the opportunity to study various matters that you and Connie have."
Harry nodded. "I know. Mum, are you going to study for the NEWTs, by the way, now that you've taken your OWLs?"
Regina cast him a broad smile. "That's what I intend to do, although I believe that we might have other priorities next year."
Harry quirked an eyebrow in silent question.
"Harry, if everything goes well, you'll be a big brother next summer."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise combined with delight. "Really? That's totally cool. Do you know what it's going to be?"
The adults exchanged a smile. "We don't know," Remus admitted. "We just hope that he or she will be healthy without any traits of lycanthropy."
"And we hope that the baby will be magical," Regina added, smiling.
Harry shook his head. "My sibling is going to be a completely healthy wizard or witch. I'm sure, and I can't wait to meet him or her. When is the baby going to be born?"
"Probably at the end of May."
'Harry, what makes you so happy?' Connie thought to him.
"May I tell Connie? She just asked me why I'm so happy."
"You may tell her. We intend to inform the rest of the family today anyway, even if it's still early, considering what happened to Rebecca a few years ago."
'We're going to have a little sibling,' Harry informed Connie, who dashed into the room in obvious excitement a few minutes later. She was wearing her school clothes and was carrying a rucksack, causing Harry to inwardly grin at her obvious excitement.
"Regina, Remus, is it true? We're going to have a little sibling?"
"Yes dear."
"That's too cool. Congratulations. Sorry, I have to go. I'm running late anyway."
"Come here. I'll pop you over," Harry offered. "Why do you have school anyway, considering that it's a Sunday?"
Connie let out a groan. "Some kind of special project. I hope that it'll be over quickly. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"All right," Harry agreed and gently reached out for her hand. "Shall we go?"
"Thanks Harry," Connie uttered. She leaned over and brushed a kiss onto his cheek, before she held on to his arm, looking at him in clear expectation.
'She kissed me,' Harry thought. 'That was strange, but it felt good.' He had to keep his hand from touching his cheek, where her kiss had caressed his skin. 'I need to get a grip on myself,' he reminded himself, before he turned them invisible and popped to a spot around the corner of her school.
'Did you like it?' she thought to him, causing him to blush.
'Yes, very much so,' he admitted, only to feel uncomfortable at the conversation and quickly change the topic. 'I'll see you later on then.'
'I love you.' With that, she released herself from his grip and headed around the corner to join the crowd of students.
'She is beautiful,' Harry could not help thinking, following her with his eyes. Only when she was out of sight, he quickly popped back home.
HP
"Harry, are you going to take the Hogwarts Express?" Regina cast him a questioning look.
"Harry shook his head. "No, I've agreed with Neville, Hermione, Draco and Luna to pop them to Hogwarts on time for the welcoming feast. Artemis promised to inform me, when the carriages arrive from the station."
"You lot are strange." James and Lily entered the dining room on time to hear Harry's response. "Riding the Hogwarts Express was much fun."
"It's a waste of time, which I'd rather spend at home, won't I, Niamh?" Harry grinned at his sister, who had turned two a month ago.
"Don't go to Hogwawts. Tay wif Niamh."
"Sorry, Niamh, but that won't be possible. I'll still have to stay at Hogwarts for five more years," Harry replied, somehow feeling annoyed at the idea. 'I'd rather study with the Unspeakables and live at home to see Niamh and the other little ones grow up,' he thought.
HP
"Welcome back, students, welcome new first-years to another year at Hogwarts." Dumbledore let his eyes wander over the house tables. "Before we begin with the Sorting ceremony, I wish to introduce our new teachers." He looked over to the far end of the head table, where Hagrid and an Unspeakable rose from their chairs.
"From this school year onwards, Hagrid will be our new Care of Magical Creatures professor." Huge applause interrupted the headmaster, as most students liked the always friendly half-giant.
"Unspeakable Raros will be our professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts."
'Raros? Isn't that Regulus Black, Sirius' brother from team 5?' Harry recalled, only to remind himself that he was neither allowed to let the man know that he was aware of his identity, nor could he tell him that he was Unspeakable Paws. 'Oh well, at least he'll be a good teacher,' he thought, before he informed Connie about the new professors, while Minerva began with the Sorting.
HP
Apart from their new elective classes, the school year began like their second year had ended. The third-years were happy with their teachers, and the main topic turned out to be their first official Hogsmeade visit as students.
"Thank Merlin that we're going to have our first Hogsmeade visit this month, considering that the Quidditch season only starts in November," Draco spoke up, as he handed out biscuits from a package he had received from his mother.
"I wonder why they start so late." Neville shrugged. "Right now, the weather would be much better than in November."
"That's true." Draco took the time to carefully select another biscuit. "Some teams need time to train their new players though. Thank Merlin, the Slytherin team is still complete."
Harry nodded, gravely. "True, but remember that Marcus and a few others are seventh-years. Perhaps, we should get a head start and train new players before the end of the school year."
"That's a brilliant idea. I'll suggest that to Marcus and ask him to make you the new captain."
Harry stared at Draco in bewilderment. "No. You'd make a much better captain, considering all my other obligations, not to speak of the fact that I belong to Ravenclaw as well. I really don't have the time. But I'll suggest you to him."
Before Draco could do as much as protest, Harry telepathically informed Marcus about their discussion.
It did not take more than two minutes, before a sharp knock could be heard and Marcus entered the room.
"Thanks for your message, Harry. Draco, I heard that you volunteer for the position of the Quidditch captain?"
Draco looked wide-eyed from Marcus to Harry. "That was not my idea, but if you believe that I can do that, I will."
Marcus nodded, and Harry had the impression as if he was relieved. "I'll speak with the professor. I'd rather make the change right away, as I really need to concentrate on the NEWTs. I will still play on the team of course though."
Draco agreed, and Marcus dashed away, stating that Salazar was still in the common room.
HP
Needless to say that Salazar agreed with the students' suggestion, and two days later, the change of the Slytherin Quidditch captain was made public.
HP
To Harry's annoyance on the one hand, relief on the other, Ravenclaw followed into Slytherin's footsteps. Martin, who was a seventh-year as well, gave up the captaincy in favour of Cho Chang, who had been on the team as Chaser almost as long as Harry. However, she was one of the girls, who used to harass Hermione and also Luna, and Harry spontaneously decided to quit the team.
"I will not play under a captain, who is harassing younger students," he explained to Martin and also to Professor Flitwick.
"I know what you mean, and I fully understand." Martin let out a deep sigh.
"I, however, do not understand. I only know that there must be a reason for you to take such measures." Flitwick cast Harry a stern look.
Harry let out a deep sigh, before he explained about the harassing that had taken place in Ravenclaw. "They made it uncomfortable for Hermione to be in the common room, also for Connie, when she joined me once for a victory party, and they have been hiding Luna's stuff for a whole year, before Lady Helena alerted me to the problem. Since the beginning of this school year, Luna has been studying together with us. She usually only returns to her dormitory by curfew, just like Hermione."
Flitwick shook his head in apparent disbelief. "Mr. Potter, I wish to see you, Miss Granger and Ms. Lovegood in my office tonight thirty minutes before curfew."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Yes, sir. We'll be there."
HP
Harry and his two Ravenclaw friends were accompanied by Connie, Lucy and Helena Ravenclaw, when they approached Professor Flitwick's office at the agreed time.
"Are you sure that it's all right for me to accompany you?" Connie looked questioningly from Harry to Hermione.
Hermione nodded. "You're the best of us if it comes to talking, plus, you've experienced the bitches' behaviour as well."
"That's true," Connie confirmed, wearing her usual, pleasant expression, when they entered the office.
"Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Lucy and Lady Helena," Flitwick greeted them. "Please take a seat." As soon as they complied with Lucy stretched out on Harry's and Connie's feet, he turned to the topic at hand.
"This morning, Mr. Potter told me that he is going to quit the Quidditch team, because I made Miss Chang the captain."
"Yes sir," Harry confirmed.
"You might not know this," Connie spoke up, "but the four of us are always studying together outside of class, together with two friends from Slytherin, although Luna is not even in the others' year."
"May I ask where you are studying?" Flitwick eyed them with apparent interest.
"In my suitcase, which is equipped with a complete apartment," Harry admitted. "I placed it into my dormitory in Slytherin, and Hermione and Luna access it by Portkey, while Connie takes the Floo."
Flitwick remained pensive for a moment, probably recalling that they were the students who had been top of their year during the last two years.
"Apparently, you have been studying well. Nevertheless, it is unsettling to hear that students in my house harass other students. Please tell me exactly what you experienced. Let's start with Miss Lovegood."
Luna and Hermione explained how the older girls had behaved towards them, and Helena confirmed each of their statements. Harry noticed in relief that Professor Flitwick became more upset by the minute.
"Why did you not come to me and tell me all about it much sooner?"
Hermione shrugged. "For me, it didn't really matter, as I could study with Harry and the others."
"Ms. Lovegood?"
"They told me that things would get worse if I gave them away." Luna's voice was barely audible.
"Ms. Lovegood, I am very sorry that you had to make these experiences. I will see to it that these girls will be suspended for the time being. Can you please give me the names?"
Hermione and Luna took turns stating the names of the girls, and Flitwick scribbled notes onto a small parchment. Finally, he nodded, seemingly contented. "Ms. Granger and Ms. Lovegood, please accompany me to the headmaster's office. Will you please join us as well, Lady Helena?"
"Of course, Professor. The situation in our house has been intolerable these two years."
"Excuse me, sir." Harry cast the half-goblin a pleading look. "I do not want the headmaster to know about my suitcase. Could you please make him believe that we simply studied in an empty classroom?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter. You may as well accompany us…"
"No, thank you, sir." Harry's response was fast and firm.
"One more thing. Mr. Potter, would you be willing to become our Quidditch captain?"
Harry shook his head. "No sir, I am sorry, but I belong to Slytherin as well, and I refused the captaincy there for the same reason. What about Hermione, sir?"
"Ms. Granger, would you be willing to become the captain?"
"Harry, do you think I'd be able to do that? I know nothing about it."
"Of course. We'll all help you," Connie was the first to reassure her, causing Hermione to grin.
"Professor, thank you for your offer, which I happily accept."
HP
It was almost two hours after curfew, when an alarm alerted Harry that someone had arrived in his suitcase. He swiftly climbed downstairs, noticing that Hermione was looking at him wearing a broad grin.
"Thanks for your help, Harry. The girls have been suspended from Hogwarts until Christmas. I just wanted to let you know. The meeting only ended a few minutes ago."
"That's good. Thanks for coming over to tell me."
"I still can't believe that I'm the Quidditch captain."
Harry grinned. "Draco?" he shouted over the stairs. "Will you come down here for a moment please?"
An instant later, the blond boy joined them, looking questioningly from one to the other.
"May I introduce Hermione Granger, the new Ravenclaw Quidditch captain and Draco Malfoy, the new Slytherin Quidditch captain?" Harry smirked.
Hermione and Draco exchanged a look of surprise and possibly delight.
Draco theatrically cleared his throat, before he bowed lightly in Hermione's direction. "My fellow captain, would you give me the honour of accompanying me on a date during the next Hogsmeade visit?"
"Yes, my fellow captain, I'd like that," Hermione replied, smiling, and Harry saw that her expression displayed clear happiness.
Somehow, Harry also felt happy at the idea of his best friends getting together.
'Draco just invited Hermione on a date and she agreed,' Harry informed Connie in excitement.
Her response came immediately. 'Aww, how cool. Hermione must be very happy.'
'I wonder if I need to invite her on a date,' Harry thought. 'We're going together anyway, considering that she's my wife, aren't we?' He wondered if he should consult Hermione about it, however, dismissed the idea, considering that Hermione's situation was completely different from Connie's.
'Err, Connie?'
'What?' she asked in a funny sing-song.
'Eh, I mean, we're going on a date, too, aren't we? Considering that you're my wife?'
Connie sounded amused, as she replied, 'If you wish to go on a date with me, I'm in, husband.'
HP
"Too bad that Luna is only a second-year. Do you think she'd agree to go on a date with me?" Neville looked questioningly at Harry, after Draco had informed him about his upcoming date with Hermione.
Harry smiled at his friend. "I'm sure that she'd be very happy to go on a date with you, but as you said, she can't go to Hogsmeade. Why don't you accompany us to the village in the morning and meet her for a date in my suitcase in the afternoon? Or at lunchtime. I can ask Dolly to prepare a picnic for the two of you in the living room. Since we'll all be at Hogsmeade, the two of you will be completely undisturbed."
Neville cast him a broad grin. "Thanks, Harry. I'd like that, and I appreciate it very much. I just hope that she'll agree."
Harry chuckled. "Believe me, she will."
He observed in amusement how Neville cornered their younger Ravenclaw friend after lunch and asked her to accompany him outside for a moment.
An hour later, when Harry and Neville took their seats in the Potions classroom next to each other for their first afternoon class, his friend was grinning happily.
"Thanks, Harry. She agreed."
"Congrats," Harry whispered back and telepathically asked Dolly for a picnic for Neville and Luna for Saturday.
HP
On Saturday morning, Harry, Hermione, Draco, Neville and Lucy left the castle together and headed towards Hogsmeade, where Connie was waiting for them just outside the wards. Lucy was the first to notice her and dashed over to jump up at her from all sides in happy greeting.
"Hi Lucy, I am very happy to see you too," Connie cooed, as she cradled the canine close.
While they all had been to Hogsmeade before, it was their first official visit as students, and they were extremely excited. They visited all the shops along the main street, such as Zonko's and Honeydukes, where Harry bought a large bag of sweets for Luna. Finally, they made their way to Flourish and Blotts, where they remained until lunchtime.
While Neville then swiftly returned to Hogwarts for his date with Luna using a Portkey that took him right into Harry's suitcase, the other four decided to have lunch together at the Three Broomsticks, before they would separate as well.
"As we need to be back at Hogwarts at five o'clock, shall we meet at the broom shop at four?" Draco suggested, and Harry immediately agreed.
"We'll be there anyway."
Once Hermione and Draco had left, Harry and Connie headed straight to the broom shop with Lucy in tow, where they spent the next three hours as Paws and Turtle answering all possible questions from students and other customers.
Since the Marauders had announced in advance that Unspeakables Paws and Turtle would be present between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on that day, the shop was incredibly crowded with customers as well as students, who just wanted to get a glimpse at the constructors of the brooms.
At one stage, Jamie brought an older wizard to Paws. "Paws, this is Eoin Murphy, the captain of the Irish National Quidditch team."
"Hello Mr. Murphey," Harry greeted the man, who seemed delighted to meet him. "I am Unspeakable Paws, and this is Unspeakable Turtle. What can we do for you?"
"We'd like to buy two sets of brooms for all the positions; however, we have some special requirements."
"Of course, sir." Harry snatched one of the Seeker brooms off one shelf and placed it onto the table, motioning Mr. Murphey to take a seat opposite of him and Connie. "What might these requirements be?"
"One, we wish all our brooms to be green."
Harry nodded in confirmation. "That's no problem, sir."
Murphey nodded, seemingly pleased. "Two, we wish our brooms to leave a rainbow shimmer behind them as they move."
For once, Harry was glad that the man could not see his surprised expression under his robes. "Very well, sir. I'll have to check with our charms mistress how to employ that charm during construction."
Murphey nodded again. "It shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise, contact me and I'll assist with the process." He handed him a small parchment that looked like a muggle business card.
Twenty minutes later, they had made a contract for a full set of brooms for the start team and the reserve team of the Irish National Quidditch team as well as two brooms for referees, and even if Harry gave Mr. Murphy a reduction of twenty percent, the Marauders were absolutely thrilled by the deal. The due date for the complete sets was Christmas, and Harry knew that they had plenty of time to implement the required specifications.
'I should work on bringing out a special broom for a referee,' Harry decided, resolving to work on that specific broom right after finishing the order from the Irish team.
Jamie grinned broadly. "Next summer, the Quidditch world cup is going to take place here in Britain. If the other teams won't get to know about the Irish brooms before that, after the world cup at the latest, all the national teams are going to order their own country brooms. If they get wind of it before the world cup, which I'd expect frankly speaking, we're going to be busy next spring."
When Harry and his friends returned to Hogwarts, Harry could not help grinning broadly. 'That was really efficient,' he thought, contentedly, 'even if they wouldn't have needed me, as Sirius, Remus and James would have been able to make the same deal with them, considering that they're going to have to produce the brooms anyway.'
However, when he voiced his thought to Connie, she contradicted vehemently.
"No, Harry, I think that you'll have to apply Mr. Murphy's wishes during the production process, before you can have the Marauders finish the brooms. You better ask Archie about it."
"I'll do so, my clever wife. Good night."
"Night Harry." Connie leaned over and kissed him, grinning, when Harry shyly reciprocated the kiss.