*Potter's Manor*
"So you're telling me you didn't find who it was. Not even a hint?" Lily paced nervously.
The Potters, Marauders and the Longbottoms were all gathered in the Potter's living room.
"Lils, you don't really think this has to do with Voldy, do you?" Sirius asked.
"I do. Don't you all?" She looked at them confused.
"Lily, Voldy is gone," Sirius assured.
"Gone? You really think he's really gone?!" Lily scoffed. "Then why were we all hiding all these years?"
Sirius sighed. "Because his followers think he is not gone."
"But you think he is?"
Sirius looked around. None of them looked sure that he was gone. "I think we are all forgetting who fought him. There is nothing like unfinished business when it comes to Pryde. Especially when she wants to win."
"We know that. I personally know that," Lily replied seriously.
"The vault was emptied that very same day. By Hagrid," Alice added. "That is not a coincidence." "Anyone could have tried to rob the bank!"
"Yes, but we can't just ignore. Especially when it's linked to Dumbledore," Frank added. "We've been hiding all these years and everything was calm. And these boys turn 11 and things restart. We ought to be careful, Sirius."
"We cannot ignore any minor movement," James patted on Sirius' shoulder.
Sirius nodded. "I know, I just don't want to believe that something is going on. The war has taken everything from us. I'm not ready for another one yet." He got to his feet and walked out.
"He's still in denial, isn't he?" Alice asked, concerned.
"It's... It's been years," Frank sighed. "So..." He turned to James. "Planning on getting back to the Ministry? Moody would love to have you."
"I'm not sure," James glanced at his family. "We need to think about it."
"It'd be really nice to get back on track. It took us a while. But, we'd be okay," Alice smiled. "Now that the kids are at school, we don't have to worry much about anything."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What do you think?" James asked, massaging Lily's shoulders. "Last time you said we'd talk about this later."
She was cleaning up after dinner.
"I... I don't know," she sighed.
"Lily," James turned her to face him. "You know. You think you aren't ready. You don't have to push away your dreams. I'm sorry we had to go through all this –"
"It's not your fault," Lily cut him off. "It wasn't our fault. None of it was, or is, or will be. We made our choices. But no matter what, we are in this together."
James smiled and kissed her. "Exactly my point," he looked straight into her eyes. "We are all in this together. None of us like to sit at home doing nothing. And we've been hiding for a long time. Now that Harry is at school, I think we should go back to our normal lives. Our normal selves. We had our dreams."
"You're right. But that was…years ago. But now.. we all are –"
"We all are the same people, love. We are still young."
Lily looked away. James noticed her shoulders drop. "You're hesitating. Lily," he turned her to face him.
"What is bothering you?"
"I'm not sure if I can do this," she replied.
"No," he shook his head. "You've run an apothecary all these years. You've healed people. You've made your own potions –".
"But that's different! Going back to St. Mungo's is a different thing altogether!"
"It's all in your head. Lily, all these years we were in hiding, we never went to Mungo's. Why? Because you were our healer. You treated Harry, you took care of us, and our injuries….you took care of Remus and his condition. Not being able to finish your internship and work in Mungo's as a healer doesn't mean you can't do it now. You always had it in you. It's just our unfinished business." Lily closed her eyes and sighed.
"Frank and Alice went into hiding with us. But they got back to being aurors a few years ago. It still isn't late for us."
Lily nodded.
They heard someone clear their throat and turned to see.
"We've got a letter from Hogwarts," Sirius waved the letter in his hand with a smirk. "I wonder what it is!"
Remus and Peter joined them.
James's eyes widened. He jumped and took the letter from Sirius. "He's been sorted! I hope it's Gryffindor! My boy! My boy!" he quickly opened the letter and began to read. He actually ignored most of the letter and just focused on the first line, 'I'm a Gryffindor!' "What does it say?" Sirius asked eagerly.
"HE'S A GRYFFINDOR!" James jumped up and down.
Lily shook her head and took the letter from his hands. "There is more," she read through the letter.
"What more?" Remus asked, taking the letter from her.
"Well, apparently the sorting at took it's time to sort him. It suggested Slytherin but Harry – " "SLYTHERIN?!" James and Sirius gasped in disbelief.
"Suggested," Lily stressed on the word. "And Harry chose Gryffindor. The hat accepted his choice," she finished.
"Ron and Neville are his roommates. And so are Seamus Finnigan and…Dean Thomas," Remus glanced at them."
Wow! She wasn't kidding about the roommates," Sirius mumbled thinking back on time when Kitty talked about Harry's school life.
"How could the hat suggest SLYTHERIN?!" James was still in disbelief.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Slytherin doesn't stand for evil. People who are ambitious, resourceful, determined, and self-preserved are sorted into Slytherin. Not all Slytherins are evil," she raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah, yeah," James and Sirius mumbled.
"True," Peter chimed in, taking a sip of his firewhiskey. "I was a hatstall myself. It wanted me to put in Slytherin. I chose Gryffindor."
"We all know some good Slytherins," Remus raised his eyebrows.
Sirius and James made faces.
"So, back to our discussion," Remus ignored the pair and turned to Lily. "Will you be going back to Mungo's?"
Lily looked at them nervously. She took a deep breath. "Maybe I should give it a try."
James and Sirius cheered. Remus gave her a warm smile.
"Why don't we meet Healer Lynch this weekend and see what we could do? Besides, it was her who suggested you should get back," James said.
"Healer Lynch?!" Lily asked, surprised. "But… she is one of the head Healers!"
"Yeah, we go way back," James grinned.
"Alright then," Lily sighed. She was still nervous.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Hogwarts*
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."
Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black and had no warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. . . . I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of amaryllis to an infusion of wormwood?"
Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.
"I don't know, sir," said Harry.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything." He ignored Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter.
"I don't know, sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes. He wasn't used to such contempt or hatred. Did Snape really expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?
Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not pleased.
"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, amaryllis and wormwood make a calming potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Euphoria. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville.
"You — Potter — why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."
This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron."Don't push it," he muttered, "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty."
As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low. He'd lost two points for Gryffindor in his very first week — why did Snape hate him so much?
"'If anyone, especially a teacher messes up with you, just write to me,'" Harry remembered Sirius' words. 'Maybe I should write to him,' he thought.
"Cheer up," said Ron, "Snape's always taking points off Fred and George.
Harry too thought he should let go of it. He didn't want to come off too whiny. He thought he could handle it on his own. Besides, every Gryffindor kid agrees that Snape is nasty when it comes to Gryffindors.
After they were done with classes, Harry, Ron and Neville decided to go see Hagrid. They heard he takes care of different magical creatures.
Hagrid welcomed them into his Hut.
The trio were bewildered at the sight of Hagrid's dog, Fang. Hagrid assured him Fang was harmless.
They talked about school and how Snape hates Harry.
"Rubbish! Why would Professor Snape hate you? Don't worry. He has a bad temper," Hagrid said, not meeting Harry's eyes. This got him thinking Hagrid knew Snape hated Harry.
Harry picked up the newspaper cutting from the table. It was from Daily Prophet. "Hagrid, is there any news on Gringotts break-in? Who would dare to do that?"
This time Hagrid didn't look at anyone and changed the whole topic of discussion. He talked about bowtruckles.
Harry realised Hagrid knew something.
xxxxxxxxx
The Gryffindor boys collectively groaned when they spotted a notice pinned up in their common room. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday and Gryffindors would be learning with Slytherins.
Harry had never believed he'd actually hate someone until he met Draco Malfoy.
"Not with Slytherins!" Neville groaned.
"Potions was more than we can take," Ron joined. "I cannot do with Malfoy going on every second about his amazing flying skills and whining about how first years never getting on House Quidditch teams."
"I nearly escaped Muggles noticing me from their helicopters," Harry mimicked Malfoy.
The boys snickered.
"I bet he's all talk," Ron said.
Though they hated clases with Slytherins, they were all looking forward to flying lessons.
Ron didn't understand why Dean and Harry get excited about muggle soccer. He couldn't understand what's so interesting about people playing with a ball where no one was allowed to fly! He even prodded Dean's poster of his favourite soccer team go make the players move.
Hermione was however nervous about the flying lessons. This was something one couldn't learn by heart out of a book - not that she didn't try. On Thursday morning at breakfast, she bored them all with tips she has read from a book in the library. The muggleborns found it helpful. Her lecture was interrupted by the arrival of mails.
Harry received a letter from his parents. "Finally!" He smiled.
"What?" Ron asked.
"They're going back to their old lives. Dad and Sirius joined the Ministry, and mum got back to St. Mungo's!" He grinned.
"Wow! That's great news!" Ron smiled.
Neville unwrapped his package.
"What is it?" Dean asked.
"It's from my Gran," he excitedly took out a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. "It's a Remembrall!" He explained. "Gran knows I forget things - see if you hold it like this it —" his face fell. "It turned scarlet. It means... I forgot something," he looked confused. He was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Draco Malfoy who was passing by their table, snatched the Remembrall from his hands.
Harry and Ron jumped to their feet. They were hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy, but Professor McGonagall who could spot trouble quicker than any other teacher was there in a flash.
"What's going on?!"
"Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor!"
"Just looking," Malfoy scowled as he dropped the ball on the table, and sloped away with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
At three thirty, the Gryffindors hurried down onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. The Slytherins were already there, and there were also about 20 brooms lined on the ground. Harry remembered Fred and George complaining about how rubbish the school brooms were.
"They vibrate if you fly too high!"
"Some always fly slightly to the left!"
Madam Hooch, their flying teacher, with short grey hair and yellow hawk like eyes barked at them to hurry up and stand by a broomstick.
Harry glanced at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "And say 'Up!'"
Everyone shouted, "Up!"
Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Hermione's broom rolled on the floor. Ron's and Neville's hovered in the air.
Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. They were delighted to when she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years.
Malfoy gave them a dirty look as they sniggered.
Soon they were practicing take off and landing. Though Harry's broom looked old, it worked better than Ron's and Neville's.
"This broom has gone bonkers!" Neville grunted.
It seemed like the broom was hurt, it started vibrating and flew higher.
"What the—" Neville looked confused.
"Come back, boy!" Hooch shouted.
Neville was raising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle — ten feet ...twenty feet. Neville tried to control the broom. It was not shaking violently. It took a 90⁰ turn and Neville lost his grip, and with a loud thud, he fell on the ground. The broomstick rose higher and higher and drifted towards the forbidden forest.
Harry and Ron tried to help Neville up but he winced in pain.
Hooch examined him. "A broken wrist," she muttered. "Come on, boy! It's alright, up you get," she helped him up, and turned to the rest of the class. "None of you move. Leave your brooms where they are until I return or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you even say Quidditch!" She put her arm around Neville and took him towards infirmary.
As soon as they were out of ear shot, Malfoy burst into laughter. "Have you seen the fool!" The Slytherins joined him.
"Shut up, Malfoy," snapped Parvati Patil.
"Oooohh! Sticking up for Longbottom?" Pansy Parkinson said.
Malfoy darted forward, snatching something from the ground. "Look! It's his stupid present," he lifted the Remembrall. It glittered in the sun.
"Give that here, Malfoy," Harry said quietly.
Silence feel.
Malfoy gave a nasty smirk. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. How about...up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Harry yelled.
But Malfoy lept onto his broom and had taken off.
Harry grabbed his broom.
"No!" Hermione shouted. "Madam Hooch told if not to move! You'll get us all into trouble!"
Harry wasn't in a mood for lectures. His blood was boiling. He shot into air as fast as he could.
"What an idiot!" Hermione muttered.
Harry heard screams and gasps from people, and an admiring whoop from Ron.
He turned his broom sharply to face a stunned Malfoy.
"Give it here or I'll knock you off your broom," Harry said.
"Oh yeah?" Malfoy tried to sneer, but looked worried.
Harry shot towards Malfoy like a javelin. Malfoy just got out of the way in time. Harry made a sharp about - face turn and held the broom steadily.
"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck," Harry called.
Malfoy seemed to realise the same. "Catch it if you can!" He shouted and threw the ball high into the air and streaked towards the ground.
Harry saw the ball rise up in the air and start to fall. He leaned forward and sped up in a steep dive, racing the ball. He could hear people screaming. He stretched out his arm..a foot from the ground... Caught the ball and pulled the broom up just in time and toppled on the grass carefully.
"HARRY POTTER!"
His heart sank faster than he'd just dived. Professor McGonagall was running toward them.
He got to his feet, trembling.
"Never — in all my time at Hogwarts —" Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, "— how dare you — might have broken your neck —"
"It wasn't his fault, Professor —"
"Be quiet, Miss Patil —"
"But Malfoy —"
"That's enough, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."
Harry caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's triumphant faces as he left, walking numbly in Professor McGonagall's wake as she strode toward the castle.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!" James jumped up and down in the living room.
"HE'S OUR SON! YEEEESS!" Sirius joined. "HE'S MAKING HISTORY!"
"IN A GOOD WAY!"
"YEAAAAHH! IN OUR WAY!
Lily and Remus looked at each other and sighed.
"I just hope they don't overdo," Lily commented.
Remus scoffed. "Oh, they would," he shook his head.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You're joking!" Ron stopped eating midway and stared at Harry in disbelief. "Seeker?! But first years never — you must be the youngest House player in about —"
"— a century," Harry grinned, shoveling pie into his mouth. He felt particularly hungry after the excitement of the afternoon.
Ron gaped at Harry. He impressed and amazed.
"Don't tell anyone. They want it to be a secret. My training starts next week," Harry told him.
Fred and George walked over to them.
"Good job," Fred said slowly. "We're on the team too."
"I tell you, we're going to win the cup this year. I've never seen Wood so excited," George added.
"Alright then! We've got a secret passage to check!" The twins left.
"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back home?" Harry and Ron sighed at the unwelcomed visitor.
"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," said Harry coolly looking at Crabbe and Goyle.
As the High Table was full of teachers, neither of them could do more than crack their knuckles and scowl.
"I'd take you on anytime on my own," Malfoy scowled. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only — no contact. What's the matter? Scared?"
"Yeah, a lot," Ron scoffed, wheeling around. "I'm his second, who's yours?"
Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up. "Crabbe," he said. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."
"I'm gonna hex him to oblivion," Harry told Ron. "My uncles have taught me several spells without mum knowing."
"He'll never mess with us agian. That loser," Ron laughed. "Wait till he sees you in the game."
"Excuse me!" a voice interrupted them.
"Can't we eat in peace?" Ron asked, irritated.
Hermione ignored Ron. "I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying —"
"Bet you could," Ron muttered.
"— and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's really very selfish of you."
"And it's really none of your business," Harry said.
"Good-bye," Ron added, as they both got up and left.
"We just need to make sure we don't get caught by Filch," Harry reminded Ron.
At half past eleven, the boys hurried down the spiral stairs with their bathrobes and wands. They slowly crept around the common room.
"I can't believe you're doing this!" A light flickered and Hermione was waiting for them.
"You!" Ron said furiously. "Go back to bed."
"I almost told your brother, Percy! He could put an end to it!" She said exasperatedly.
Harry was losing his calm. "Come on," He called Ron and pushed the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"You're going to lose points we're earning!" Hermione followed them. "You're being selfish! I want Gryffindor to win the House cup!"
"Go away!"
"Alright! I've warned you! You both are —" she didn't finish. "What am I supposed to do?!" She asked shrilly.
"The Fat Lady is gone," Ron said.
"Might be on her night strolls," Harry replied. "It's your problem now."
Before they reached the end of the corridor, Hermione joined them. "I'm coming with you."
"No you're not!"
"What am I supposed to do? Stay there and get caught? Then I'll have to tell them why I'm out in the first place!"
"You have the nerve—"
"Shut up, both of you!" Harry snapped. "Someone is here."
They heard shuffling and carefully looked, squinting through the dark.
"Neville?"
"Thank goodness you're here! I've been out here for hours! The password has been changed!"
"It's pig's snout. But you can't go in. The Fat Lady's gone off somewhere."
"How's your hand?" Harry asked.
"It's alright now. Bloody broom," Neville grumbled. "Where are you three going?"
"Malfoy," Harry replied.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Neville said.
"That's what I've been trying to say!" Hermione sighed.
"But I'll go with you. He's got those huge idiots with him."
Hermione groaned.
"Why are you here?" Neville asked Hermione confused.
She opened her mouth to speak. But Harry hurried.
They flitted along corridors watching each other's back and reached the trophy room. Harry slowly opened the door, and the boys pulled out their wands in case Malfoy jumps on them. There was no one.
"Told you he'd chicken out," Ron whispered.
"This could be a trap," Hermione added.
They raised their wands as they heard someone speak.
"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in the corner."
"Filch!" Hermione gasped.
"This way," Harry mouthed to the others, petrified, they crept along a large gallery of suits of armour.
Mrs. Norris was approaching them.
"RUN!" Harry yelled, and the four sprinted without looking back whether Filch was following them or not, with Harry in the lead and not knowing where they're going.
Few moments later they found themselves at their Charms classroom.
"I think we've lost him," Harry panted, leaning against the cold wall.
"I told you! Malfoy tricked you. He tipped off Filch," Hermione was gasping for breath.
Harry agreed with her. But didn't say out anything aloud.
"We need to leave!" Ron said.
"We have to get back to the tower," Neville added.
"Let's go."
They hadn't even taken a dozen paces, a door knob rattled and something came out shooting through the door.
"Peeves," they groaned.
"Ickle firsties," Peeves cackled.
"You're going to get us caught! Shut up!" Neville said.
"Wandering around at midnight!" Peeves cackled louder. "Should I tell Filch?"
"Get out of the way!" Ron snapped at Peeves taking a swipe at him.
It was a big mistake.
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves yelled.
Ducking from under Peeves, they ran for their lives down the corridor where they slammed into a door. It was locked.
"Fck! We're done for!" Ron growled.
They heard Filch's footsteps approaching.
"Oh, move over!" Hermione snarled. She grabbed Harry's wand and tapped the door, "Alohomora!"
The lock clicked and the door swung open. They piled in and shut the door behind them.
They could hear Filch and Peeves talking. It was actually Peeves taunting Filch.
"Where are they?"
"Shan't say nothing. Say please,"Peeves cackled.
"Alright. Please."
"NOTHING!" Peeves cackled.
They heard Peeves whooshing away and Filch cursing.
"He thinks this door is locked," Harry whispered. "I think we'll be okay — get off, Neville!" For Neville had been tugging on the sleeve of Harry's bathrobe for the last minute. "What?"
Harry turned around — and saw, quite clearly, what. For a moment, he was sure he'd walked into a nightmare — this was too much, on top of everything that had happened so far.
They weren't in a room, as he had supposed.
They were in a corridor. The forbidden corridor on the third floor. And now they knew why it was forbidden.
They were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses, twitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs.
It was standing quite still, all six eyes staring at them, and Harry knew that the only reason they weren't already dead was that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise, but it was quickly getting over that, there was no mistaking what those thunderous growls meant.
They ran for their lives slamming the door shut behind them.
"What the hell were they thinking keeping that thing locked up in the school?" Ron finally broke silence. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."
They were on the floor of the common room gasping for breath.
Hermione has got her breath and bad temper back. "You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you? Didn't you see what it was standing on?"
"The floor?" Harry suggested. "I wasn't looking at its feet. I was too busy with the heads."
"If you hadn't noticed, it had three," Ron added.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "No. Not the floor. It's standing on a trapdoor."
"It's guarding something," Neville spoke finally.
She stood up and glared at them.
"Now, if you don't mind. I'm going to bed before anyone of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse... Expelled!' she stomped as she left.
"She thinks we dragged her?!" Ron looked at Harry and Neville, shocked.
"What is it guarding though?" Harry asked.
"Something really really important," Neville said lost in thoughts.
"Whatever it is, I don't really care. Let's go," Ron got to his feet.
Malfoy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Harry and Neville at breakfast, looking tired but cheerful.
"Coward," Harry mouthed out to him.
"Chicken, bak bak," Ron flapped his hands.
Malfoy glared at them as if he wanted to punch them right away.
Harry, Ron and Neville thought it was quite an adventure with the beast.
"What do you think it could be?" Harry wondered.
"Something powerful," Ron said stuffing his face.
"Or something dangerous," Neville said.
"Or both," Harry said. "Do you think it has something to do with the break in at Gringotts?"
Ron shrugged.
"Come to think of it, Hogwarts is the second safest place after Gringotts," Neville said. "But I don't see a connection."
Hermione was refusing to speak to them at all.
Harry and Ron didn't mind. All they wanted was a way to get back at Malfoy.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Well, that was a close save," Sirius laughed.
"Shut up! They could've gotten injured!" Remus said, putting the letter down.
"Hey, don't forget who raised him," James laughed. "He'll be alright."
"He will be," Remus nodded. "You're going to tell this to Lily?"
"And what?" James scoffed. "I don't want to die."
"Touché. Besides, Harry would never write to us agian."
"Ah, I'm looking forward to meeting my cousin," Sirius said biting into his sandwich. "I expected Cissy to do a better job."
"He'll come around," James laughed.
"Don't you think you're spoiling the kids?" Remus said looking at a heap of packages in the corner.
"Come on! Our son's the youngest Seeker in a century!" Sirius laughed.
Remus shook his head.
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It was the first day of Harry's training. He and Ron hurried to the quidditch ground.
As they were approaching the team, they saw familiar faces.
"Harry? Is that —"
"Dad?!" He shouted running over. "Sirius? Remus?"
"There there!" James laughed and pulled Harry into a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Harry was surprised to find them there. "Don't tell me you came to watch the practice."
Sirius took one of the long packages from the heap they brought with them, and gave it to Harry. "Here! Open it," he grinned. "I got your first broomstick when you were one."
Harry and Ron shared a quick glance and quickly unwrapped the package.
There were collective "What the —" as the team was waiting to know what's in the packages.
"It's Nimbus 2000!" Ron shouted in excitement.
"Grab one guys," James winked at the team.
"Us?" All the members looked shocked.
"Shame that Gryffindor hasn't been winning the House cup since Charlie Weasley graduated, don't you think?" James said.
"Mr. Potter," Wood looked at him in shock. "You bought Nimbus 2000 for the whole team?"
"A present from the best Chaser and Beater Hogwarts has ever seen," Sirius laughed. "Now, I want the cup!"
"Harry's a natural Seeker, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black. The cup will be ours," Wood said rather proudly.
Harry felt a little flustered.
"Alright then. Try out your brooms. Let us see what you can do," James said in his Captain voice.
"And team, remember the element of surprise," Remus smiled at the team.
The team thanked the adults and rushed to try out their new Nimbus 2000s.
Giving out few tips for the Chasers and Beaters, the marauders took a leave.
The Gryffindors knew they're going to win the cup for the coming years.
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Harry and Ron were returning to their dorm after practice laughing and chatting away. Out of nowhere they were barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy noticed Harry was hiding something behind him.
"That's a broomstick," Malfoy said. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."
Ron couldn't resist. "It's just not a broomstick. It's Nimbus 2000," he smirked. "What did you say you've got at home? A Comet 260? Comets look flashy but they are not in the same league as the Nimbus."
"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle, Malfoy snapped back. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."
Before Ron could answer, Profesor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow.
"Not arguing, I hope, boys?" He squeaked.
"Potter's got a new broomstick, Professor," Malfoy said quickly.
"Yes, yes, that's right," Flitwick said beaming at Harry. "Professor McGonagall has told me about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"
"A Nimbus 2000, sir," Harry said, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it."
Harry and Ron headed to the tower, laughing at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion.
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AN : Thank you for being patient till now. I know I haven't updated for the past two years. Sorry for that. I'll try to update as regularly as I can.
Love :*