Dear Dad, Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus,
Guess what! I made it to Gryffindor! And the common room and dormitory are everything you told me about! I am sorry I am writing just one letter but I would have to duplicate the same letter and I feel lazy. Thank you for the map, Uncle Sirius! (Come on, Dad! Don't act surprised, you knew I would end up with a map of my own, just like you knew you would hand over the cloak to me in the end.) As I was saying, thank you for the map Uncle Sirius, it has been of immense help in getting us to classes. Ron Weasley, my new friend, is thoroughly awed with it! I think he now lives in awe of you three which is just fine because the rest of the school is acting ridiculous!
No matter where I go, people start whispering. Some have even bombarded Arianna and Neville with questions about me. Anna threatened to hex every one and Neville hexed a couple of them. Thank Merlin, no one was around otherwise he would have been in huge trouble and I don't think Aunt Alice would have been all too understanding. There are a lot of Weasleys here and they are some of the few people who really treat me like Neville does. You would love Fred and George, everyone reckons they know as much about the secret passageways of the castle as does Filch.
Filch is our caretaker, and I thought you were kidding when you said he was evil but he really is evil. He has this evil cat with him, I don't think he had her when you were around. That cat is the worst thing in this world. You put one toe out of line in front of her and she would go and call Filch, who would zoom in before you could say "Quidditch".
The classes are all going fine. Professor Flitwick got a little excited about me during our first class and Miss Minnie is not herself! She treats Neville and me as if she hasn't known us all our lives. However, I earned some points with her. I was the only ones who was able to transfigure my matchstick into a needle in one go. Neville was close behind along with this muggleborn witch called Hermione Granger. In fact, thanks to Uncles Moony and Sirius, Aunt Alexandra, Uncle Percy, Mum, and you; the first year course looks easy. No wonder Arianna is top of her class. Neville is a wizard at Herbology and Charms, Hermione and I are close seconds in Charms but I am definitely lagging in Herbology. I don't think I have a green thumb, Grandma would disown me.
Defense Against the Dark Arts is a bit of a joke really. Its alarming, Quirrell doesn't know his stuff. Ron, Neville and I are practicing on our own. Basically, Neville and I are practicing what we already know and we are teaching Ron too. I think Dean and Seamus (other first year Gryffindors, Muggleborn) would join us soon though, they looked pretty miffed about DADA.
History of Magic is the most boring class ever. How did you survive it? I can't help falling asleep! Thanks Uncle Moony for making history so interesting. I at least have your notes to help me with assignments. Neville sends his thanks too. I have been writing this letter in parts for the entire week and so far the week was good but this morning was the absolute worse!
Snape is such an old bat! I know you asked me to treat him with respect Uncle Moony but he seems to hate me for no reason at all! First, he mocked me during roll call. I didn't ask to be a celebrity! Thank you very much. Then, he asks me all sorts of questions like what would he get if he added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? (In case anyone is wondering, it's draught of living death). I didn't know this one. However, I did tell him where he would get a bezoar from and its uses, along with the fact that Monkshood and Wolfsbane and Aconite are all the same thing. (Come on! I grew up with a werewolf, I am bound to know this one.) Also, Thank mum and Uncle Moony, I know I cribbed a lot about potions but had you not shoved it down my throat, I am sure Snape would have found some excuse to give me a detention. He took two points from me! One for pointing out that I didn't know the answer to his first question but Hermione did and maybe he should ask her (he said I am cheeky!) and the other because Neville accidentally collapsed Seamus' cauldron and Snape blamed me for not paying attention to Neville and Seamus. Neville got a bad case of boils and had to be taken to the Hospital Wing. But Snape was so awful to him! Neville was whimpering in pain and he just kept on yelling at him. Draco Malfoy (a first year Slytherin, of course! And a world class prat, might have a dungbomb explode in his cauldron during our next class. Just a heads up in case you get a letter.) laughed himself silly, claiming Neville was an idiot and nothing more could be expected from him because of who his parents were.
Anyway, Ron and I visited Hagrid for tea this afternoon. Neville was too tired after the potions fiasco, so he was sleeping. I avoided the rock cakes like you asked us to. But have you met Hagrid's dog, Fang? Huge beast but so much fun! I forgot the ugly morning. Hagrid is so nice. I don't understand why people are so mean to him. Can we please invite him over during the holidays?
Please write back soon. See, I wrote a long letter so write back too. The castle looks beautiful at night and the kitchens are awesome! The house elves sent Neville and I back with so much of food, it lasted two nights! The other boys are awestruck and Neville and I decided that we would keep the kitchens our secret for a while. So, that's all about my entire week at Hogwarts!
Write back soon.
Love,
Harry.
P.S.- Don't be mad but is Dumbledore off his rocker? He has banned everyone from entering the east wing corridor on the third floor unless we want a very painful death. Do you know something about it? Also, I saw the news today, you guys still don't know who broke into Gringotts and what were they trying to steal?
"That's a really long letter." Remus said moving away from James' shoulder.
"Snivellus is an arse!" James muttered as Sirius nodded in agreement. "Harry has done nothing to him. He could have been a little nicer."
"Come on, James. We knew Snape would be a little antagonistic." Remus reasoned.
"A little!" Sirius exclaimed, "Neville was whimpering in pain and instead of sending him to hospital wing, the bloody git was shouting at him."
"Yes, well that's Snape." Remus replied, "We can't really do anything in the way he handles his class. So, let it be."
"He looks happy though." James said with a small smile. He missed Harry a lot.
"Of course! He made it to Gryffindor!" Sirius said happily. "Now, come on! I want to write back immediately. Make sure he gets the letter with the morning post."
Harry couldn't believe himself, it was his first weekend at Hogwarts! He ran down to breakfast, knowing he would get his letters soon enough. And just like he had predicted, Hedwig glided in with three letters and a huge package. Harry quickly stuffed down his breakfast, told Neville and Ron that he was going to the common room to read his letter in peace. The package containing Honeydukes' best chocolate bars had already been opened and distributed at the breakfast table itself. Neville insisted on saving Harry at least two bars of the chocolate as the others around them shared on the rest.
Dear Prongslet,
Congratulations, little man! How I miss our dorms, I wish I had told you this before, but James and I scratched our initials on the underside of our beds. Take a peek, I hope they are still there. I hope you got at least one of ours. There were only four of us during our time at Hogwarts, and Moony was too much of a good boy back then to vandalize school property. Anyway, I am glad you are putting the map to good use and please be discreet about the dungbomb in Snape's class. Keep a poker face! I don't want him to give you a detention. Merlin knows what that git would come up with (Don't tell your Dad, I said that). It has been pretty boring without you. Work is fine, we are still looking into the Gringott's robbery and Dumbledore might slightly be off his rocker, after all at his age, they all go senile.
I am glad you found yourself some friends. The Weasleys are decent people, Arthur Weasley is one of the nicest people I have ever met. We knew Fred and George Weasley's Uncles, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, they were Frank's friends. Trouble maker pair of twins those two, I guess Molly's twins have taken after them. Ignore the rest of the pipsqueaks. They don't really matter. I am proud of you though. I know I have made it look like studies are secondary to having fun, but keep in mind that the Marauders were a bunch of top students too. If you let your grades slide, you would be entering a prank war with the one and only, Sirius Black. Now, if you can wing it, send some roasted chicken and chocolate truffle from the kitchens for me. Ask the house elves to put a stasis charm on the food.
Now be good, but not too good. Have fun. Don't duel someone till you know how to (although we have taught you well, but the other person must know how to duel too). Welcome to Gryffindor!
Love,
Padfoot
P.S.- Your Uncle Remus, father and I have come to an agreement. Every time we get a letter home about some line you cross, we would have a toss. If I win, you get a howler congratulating you! Merlin forbid, if Remus wins, you get a letter or a howler depending on his mood. Your dad is a secret card. Just won't say which way he will swing. But he would send you a letter under all circumstances.
Hey Little Troublemaker,
Congratulations on making into Gryffindor! I am so proud of you. Your mother would have been so proud of you. Don't mind Snape. Anna said he was just as awful to her. I think that's his overall personality. I know it is annoying, but ignore the others too and if someone harasses you, prank them, harmlessly. Please don't turn into the nightmare I was at school, it was a miracle Lily ever agreed to go out with me. I doubt you would find yourself a kind, beautiful, intelligent, spirited young woman by being a prat. Keep up on your studies. Prank as much as you want but please do not let your marks slide.
Can't wait for you to come home for Christmas. The house is empty without you. Honestly, I am not much worried about you though, you have a good head on your shoulders. You should be fine. Don't do anything I wouldn't. And while I agree that Dumbledore might be a little crazy, he is also a genius, he must be having his reason for keeping the corridor out of bounds. Don't go snooping! You take too much after me and I would have gone snooping and I don't know how my mother was so calm about me risking my life. You, young man will NOT put me through any of that! Have some fun and the Quidditch supplies are available, keep practicing on weekends. It would also help break the routine.
Write back soon. Your old man waits eagerly.
Love
Dad
P.S. I got you as many chocolates as Hedwig could carry. Share some with your friends, Neville and Anna. But be a little selfish and save some for yourself too. It is your special treat for becoming a Gryffindor and doing well in your classes.
P.P.S. Are you eating well? Are you missing home cooked food? Hogwarts serves some of the best food in magical England but if you are missing anything just write home, I will send it to you. Okay?
Dear Harry,
First off, Congratulations! Needless to say we are all very proud of you. Your dad didn't stop grinning for an entire day and pretty much everyone in the Auror office know that Harry Potter is now a Gryffindor and is doing very well in his classes, thank you very much. I know you are shaking your head in exasperation but you know your father and Sirius do go overboard when they are excited. I am very happy that you are doing well in classes. A little cheek is fine, I am so proud that you showed Snape. Don't tell anyone I said that, but the man was being a prat. No, you are not allowed to disrespect him because he is a prat. He is still your teacher and I have taught you better than that.
Also, if your mother finds out, she will be highly disappointed too, though she was very excited about your letter. She was so excited about your sorting. She sends you all her love. I am pretty sure James didn't mention this. You know how he is, he still misses her with his heart and soul. Anyway, I am losing the point here. No disrespecting Snape, no matter how justly he deserved it. Are you eating your fruits and vegetables? Now that I am not there to supervise you, you cannot eat your heart's fill in treacle tart. You need to eat healthy.
I am pretty sure Sirius or your dad must have told you about the bet but honestly, I won't reprimand for getting in trouble. I might criticize your technique, ask you to be a little sneakier but I would send you a howler only if your pranks hurt someone. We will also not tell your dad or Sirius about this. Let them believe I am the strict disciplinarian; they need someone to keep them in check.
Oh! Nearly forgot, well, I found a job as tutor for other magical children. Frank, Alex, Alice, Sirius and James put in a good word for me and now a lot of people have approached me to be a private tutor for their children. Thank God, James and Sirius opposed Umbridge's bill. I am tutoring 4 children, three of them are pretty young but I offered to teach Arthur Weasley's youngest. Your friend Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley, quite a spirited girl, sometimes she reminds me of your mother.
She is very taken with you. Talks a lot about you, James and Sirius are amused beyond belief. Prepare yourself for merciless teasing. Write soon, little Marauder, we miss you so much.
Love
Uncle Moony
Harry had never believed he would meet a boy he hated more than Dudley Dursley, but that was before he met Draco Malfoy. Still, first-year Gryffindors only had Potions with the Slytherins, so they didn't have to put up with Malfoy much. Or at least, they didn't until they spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room that made them all groan. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday - and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together.
"Typical," said Harry darkly. "Just what I always wanted. To listen to Malfoy brag about his excellent Quidditch skills."
He had been looking forward to flying lessons more than anything else.
"I know Malfoy's always going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet that's all talk." Ron said confidently.
Malfoy certainly did talk about flying a lot. He complained loudly about first years never getting on the house Quidditch teams and told long, boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters. He wasn't the only one, though: the way Seamus Finnigan told it, he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone who'd listen about the time he'd almost hit a hang glider on Charlie's old broom. Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. Ron had already had a big argument with Dean Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer. Ron couldn't see what was exciting about a game with only one ball where no one was allowed to fly. Harry had caught Ron prodding Dean's poster of West Ham soccer team, trying to make the players move. Harry had also avoided to comment on the entire topic because he like Football just as much as he liked Quidditch and he didn't want people to know he was good enough, it would only make them stare at him more.
Neville was a decent flyer but he managed to meet unusual accidents both in air and while his feet were firmly planted on ground. Neville as excited as he was about flying was also nervous about meeting with some accident. Hermione Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was something you couldn't learn by heart out of a book - not that she hadn't tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all stupid with flying tips she'd gotten out of Quidditch Through the Ages. Everybody was very pleased when Hermione's lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.
Harry hadn't had a single letter since he replied to the letters he had received, but he figured they would write to him at the end of the week, just like he was planning to. A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. He opened it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. Harry and Neville exchanged amused grins and Arianna snickered. Trust Neville's grandmother to tease her only grandson!
"It's a Remembrall!" he explained. "Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red - oh..." His smirk grew, because the Remembrall had suddenly glowed scarlet,
"You've forgotten something..."
"I can't remember what I have forgotten though." Neville finished with a lopsided grin, grabbing his bag to check his belongings as the others laughed.
Neville was still looking through his bag when Draco Malfoy, who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall from the table. Harry and Ron jumped to their feet. They were half hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy, but Professor McGonagall, who could spot trouble quicker than any teacher in the school, was there in a flash.
"What's going on?"
"Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor." Neville said with an innocent look, too innocent in Harry's opinion.
Scowling, Malfoy quickly dropped the Remembrall back on the table.
"Just looking," he said, and he sloped away with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Neville, Ron, and the other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.
The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Harry had heard plenty of people complain about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate if you flew too high, or always flew slightly to the left or could sometimes act extremely temperamental.
Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, gray hair, and yellow eyes like a hawk.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" she barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. He was pretty sure that a broomstick this old was already sitting in the display in their broom shed at home and that his dad had explicitly banned him from using it, ever.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up!"'
"UP!" everyone shouted. Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Hermione Granger's had simply rolled over on the ground, and Neville's hadn't moved at all.
Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. Harry and Ron were delighted when she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle - three- two -"
But Neville, in his eagerness, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.
"Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle - twelve feet - twenty feet. Harry saw Neville point his broom down and knew that it would be an easy landing, but the broom jerked to the left some ten feet above ground.
"I can't come down!" Neville shouted, "This broom is not listening- aaaaaaahhh"
The broom had just flown off straight towards a wall, Neville tried to pull the broom to the right. The broom jerked violently. Harry saw Neville slip sideways off the broom and -WHAM - a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay face down on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher, and started to drift lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight.
Madam Hooch was bending over Neville, her face as white as his.
"Broken wrist," Harry heard her mutter. "Come on, boy - it's all right, up you get."
She turned to the rest of the class.
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."
Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him.
No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?"
The other Slytherins joined in.
"Shut up, Malfoy," snapped Parvati Patil.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. "Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
"Look!" said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching something out of the grass. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up.
"Give that here, Malfoy," said Harry quietly. Everyone stopped talking to watch.
Malfoy smiled nastily. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find - how about -up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Harry yelled, but Malfoy had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. He hadn't been lying, he could fly well. Hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak he called, "Come and get it, Potter!"
Harry grabbed his broom.
"No!" shouted Hermione Granger. "Madam Hooch told us not to move -you'll get us all into trouble."
Harry ignored her. Blood was pounding in his ears. He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him -and in a rush of fierce joy he realized how much he had missed flying since joining Hogwarts. He pulled his broomstick up a little to take it even higher, and heard screams and gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron.
He turned his broomstick sharply to face Malfoy in midair. Malfoy looked stunned.
"Give it here," Harry called, "or I'll knock you off that broom!"
"Oh, yeah?" said Malfoy, trying to sneer, but looking worried.
Harry leaned forward and grasped the broom tightly in both hands, and it shot toward Malfoy like a javelin. Malfoy only just got out of the way in time; Harry made a sharp about-face and held the broom steady. A few people below were clapping.
"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck, Malfoy," Harry called.
The same thought seemed to have struck Malfoy.
"Catch it if you can, then!" he shouted, and he threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back toward the ground.
Harry had played Quidditch with ace players like his father. Although his father was a chaser, Harry preferred the seeker position. His seeker instincts kicked in as soon as Malfoy threw the Rememberall. He jumped into a steep dive, he could distinctly hear people scream and silently cursed the snail speed of his broom. Too slow for Harry's liking, the broom eventually drew close enough for him to snatch the glass ball from the air. Luckily he was just one foot from the ground, because the broom was too slow to respond to Harry as he tried to pull out of the dive. Harry toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist.
"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 hurriedly in Professor McGonagall's wake as she strode toward the castle. He was in for big trouble, they probably won't expel him but he would get at least three weeks worth of detention. Harry tried to hide his satisfied smirk, his father and uncles would be proud. Professor McGonagall was sweeping along without even looking at him; he had to jog to keep up. Professor
McGonagall didn't say a word to him. She just marched along corridors with Harry trotting beside her. Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened the door and poked her head inside.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?"
Wood? thought Harry, bewildered; why would she ask for Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team?
Wood came out of Flitwick's class looking confused.
"Follow me, you two," said Professor McGonagall, and they marched on up the corridor, Wood looking curiously at Harry.
"In here."
Professor McGonagall pointed them into a classroom that was empty except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard.
"Out, Peeves!" she barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned to face the two boys.
"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood - I've found you a Seeker."
Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to delight.
"Are you serious, Professor?"
"Absolutely," said Professor McGonagall crisply. "The boy's a natural.
I've never seen anything like it. Been training with your father I suppose, Potter?"
Harry nodded silently. He really didn't want to believe the things he had heard Professor McGonagall say. He was trying real hard to keep his excitement at bay. Oh! His dad would throw a fit about this.
"He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive," Professor McGonagall told Wood. "Didn't even scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."
Wood was now looking as though all his dreams had come true at once.
"Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?" he asked excitedly.
Harry glared at Wood, "Of course! I have."
"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team," Professor McGonagall explained.
"I know!" Harry replied, still affronted about Wood's question.
"He's just the build for a Seeker, too," said Wood, now walking around Harry and staring at him. "Light - speedy – do you have a broom at home, Potter?"
"Yeah," Harry replied, "A Cleansweep seven. I can write home and get it sent to me."
"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first-year rule." Professor McGonagall said, nodding approvingly at Harry, "Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks..."
She peered sternly over her glasses at Harry.
"I want to hear you're training hard, Potter, or I may change my mind about punishing you."
Then she suddenly smiled.
"Your father would be so proud," she said. "He was an excellent Quidditch player himself. He had the potential to play for England, but those times required something else from him." She had a regretful expression as she lamented James Potter's Quidditch career.
"You're joking."
It was dinnertime. Harry had just finished telling Ron, Neville and Arianna, what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Ron had a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it. Neville was staring at Harry dumbfounded and Arianna had a satisfied smirk on her face. Arianna loved Quidditch, she was a decent flyer too but she wasn't as fanatical about the game as Harry was.
"Seeker?" Ron said. "But first years never - you must be the youngest house player in about-"
"-a century," said Harry, shoveling pie into his mouth. He felt particularly hungry after the excitement of the afternoon. "Wood told me."
Ron was so amazed, so impressed, he just sat and gaped at Harry.
"Uncle James is going to have a fit of excitement." Arianna commented, grinning broadly, "If you ask him for a Nimbus right now, he won't say no."
Neville snorted into his kidney and steak pie, "Imagine Malfoy's face when he realizes that he helped you get on the team."
Ron, Harry and Arianna laughed.
"I start training next week," said Harry. "Only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
Fred and George Weasley now came into the hall, spotted Harry, and hurried over.
"Well done," said George in a low voice. "Wood told us. We're on the team too - Beaters."
"I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this year," said Fred. "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You must be good, Harry, Wood was almost skipping when he told us."
"Anyway, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."
"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you."
Fred and George had hardly disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to your muggle loving fool of a father?"
"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. There was of course nothing at all little about Crabbe and Goyle, but 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," said Malfoy. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only - no contact. What's the matter? Too chicken?"
"Nice try, Malfoy." Arianna said, towering over him. "But we are not idiots. You think you would come challenge him for a duel and lure him out and then set Filch on him and he would take the bait? I thought you would be a little less obvious."
"No one asked for your opinion, Potter." Malfoy snapped.
"But the game's on, Malfoy." Arianna replied. "You want a fair duel, then why don't you challenge him for Saturday. After lunch, trophy room, it is always unlocked."
Malfoy glared at Arianna, who rolled her eyes and walked off with Kate Shafiq.
"What's the matter, Malfoy?" Neville asked, "Too chicken?"
"Saturday it is then. Take it or leave." Harry said exchanging a mischievous smirk with Neville. "Neville would be my second. Who is yours?"
Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.
"Crabbe," he said.
When Malfoy had gone, Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"Do you even know how to duel?" Ron asked.
Harry smirked choosing to take a sip from his goblet.
"Of course we do!" Neville exclaimed, "We were brought up by a bunch of Aurors. Mad- Eye Moody sort of adopted my mum after her family was killed. He has trained us since we were eight."
"Yeah." Harry said, "We had practice wands. It used to light up when we did a spell correctly."
"Wow!" Ron whispered, amazed at the revelation.
"Take it from me, Ron." Neville said seriously, "It isn't as awesome as it sounds, especially if Moody is teaching you. Harry and I had to cover our backs and run from him. He used to attack us with stinging hexes. The number of days we have avoided sitting..." He shook his head, as if to get rid of a particularly unpleasant memory.
"Hey, but Uncle Moony, Uncle Padfoot, Your parents and my dad used to be fun!" Harry said fairly, "They taught us loads of stuff. I guess all Aurors teach their children stuff. We were always under the threat of an attack."
"Damn! And I was going to suggest that you throw your wand away and punch him on the nose, because I assumed you wouldn't know enough," Ron suggested. "Malfoy really wouldn't know what hit him!"
"Excuse me." All three of them looked up. It was Hermione Granger.
"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" said Ron.
Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying -"
"Bet you could," Ron muttered.
"-and you shouldn't go for the duel, 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," said Harry.
"Good-bye," said Ron.
Neville gave her an apologetic smile.
Dad,
I made it into the Gryffindor Quidditch team! Seeker! No, I am not kidding. Professor McGonagall would write you a letter soon. She said she wanted to give me the chance to break this news to you. I broke a record of one hundred years by the way. Yes, you heard it right, youngest seeker in a century! Don't ask how, it is a long, long story. I will tell you when I come home, I promise. Just know that I really thought, I was going to get three weeks of detention, but then McGonagall surprised all of us. Can you please send me my broom? I really need it. I am not supposed to tell anyone about it either but I start practice from Monday. Would love to have it by then.
Also, I think Professor McGonagall would write to you about it, but umm… Snape gave me a detention today. Well the day started normally, I loosened a Dr. Filibuster Firecracker in Malfoy's cauldron, and when Professor Snape came to check, it started bubbling and smelling of shampoo. I guess it was too obvious. He was livid, docked off twenty points and gave me detention for two weeks! Be proud of me, please.
Tomorrow I will serve my first detention. I will write back soon!
Love,
Harry
PS: Youngest player in a century! That's your son, Harry Potter- the wonder boy!
Dear Mr. Potter,
As head of Gryffindor house, I have been assigned with the regretful duty of informing you that your ward has been given a detention for two weeks by the potions master for disrupting his class. Young Mr. Potter not only threw a Dr. Filibuster's firework in a fellow student's cauldron. He also charmed it to froth and smell like shampoo whenever the potions master approached it.
He would be serving detention with Professor Severus Snape, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for two weeks. From 8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on weekdays and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekend. We hope this punishment would be enough to drive home the fact that such behavior is not tolerated by this institution.
Yours faithfully
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear James,
Excellent Charm work by Harry. Needless to say he has inherited Lily's as well as your talents. I should have resigned when I had the chance. Don't be too hard on him. It was a harmless prank. Nothing compared to what you did in School.
Love
Minerva
"Did you get his letter?" Sirius asked walking into James' kitchen.
James grinned, beaming with pride and happiness.
"Youngest player in a hundred years!" Sirius exclaimed. "He takes after me, the little tyke."
James punched Sirius' arm and laughed.
"If I win the toss, I plan to send him a howler, congratulating him for the detention and the post." Sirius said.
"Hi! Just got Harry's letter." Remus said, walking in to join his friends. "I can't believe McGonagall awarded him for breaking rules."
James shrugged, "She offered me tea and biscuits after I had an ugly fight with Avery, once."
"That woman is devious." Sirius said shaking his head.
"Do we need a toss for this one, Padfoot?" Remus asked skeptically, "I am not all that mad at him. It was a harmless prank and I would like to write to him. I miss him."
"We all do." Sirius said, making a face. "And we can slide this one out. I was going to send him a howler congratulating him, anyhow."
"That would be so embarrassing." Remus said fighting off a smile.
"But how will he ever experience all the joys of childhood if his family doesn't embarrass him from time to time?" James asked innocently.
"So…" Sirius said, "Howler?"
"Howler." James confirmed. "Moony?"
"I think two howlers should be enough. I will send him a letter."
"I was also thinking about getting him something special." James said thoughtfully. "He made it to the team."
"Dragon hide seeker gloves?" Remus said.
"Add the latest version of Quidditch Through the Ages. It has three new illustrated moves." Sirius said.
"I was thinking, more like a Nimbus 2000." James said, "It is an excellent broom for seekers. According to Which Broomstick, all the seekers in the league teams are using it this year."
"I say we get him all three." Sirius said his eyes shining with excitement.
"Are we spoiling him though?" Remus asked.
James shrugged, "He hardly ever asks for anything." He said, "Even now, he is happy to get his old broom but I don't know. For him it must have been an achievement. Before he left for Hogwarts, all he could talk about was, wanting to join the team like me. I guess we should celebrate this achievement. Especially since he broke a record."
Remus smiled. "He is a good kid. How he turned out to be so good is anybody's guess."
"Are we planning to go for his first game?" Sirius asked. "I will apply for a leave on Monday itself."
"His first Quidditch match…" James whispered gob smacked. "I can't believe it. Feels like yesterday when he was zooming around the house in the broom you had gifted him. Where did the years go?"
"Yeah. He is serving his first detention." Remus said. "Wow!"
"You know," Sirius said thoughtfully, "No matter what the future holds, Harry would always be our first child."
The other two nodded, lost in the memories of the years gone by.
Harry was walking back from his detention with Snape, who had made him scrub cauldrons clean, without magic. All the while that Harry was there Snape kept making snide remarks about his father and his friends. Harry couldn't believe that his mother was friends with someone like Snape. He wished he could tell Snape the same, but his Aunt Alice had forbidden him from even breathing this detail. Harry wasn't really looking as to where he was going and bumped into someone.
He was about to apologize when he noticed the person. Malfoy, with his cronies.
"We had an arrangement, Potter." Malfoy said.
"We will have to reschedule." Harry replied with more confidence than he felt. "I have detention for two weeks."
"Well, I can't wait that long, so let's settle this here." Malfoy replied sardonically, as Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles.
"Trust me, you don't want to do that." Harry said, trying to sound threatening. He didn't want a repeat of what happened with Dudley Dursley.
"Well, I am not good with trusting muggle, loving fools." Malfoy said as Goyle advanced towards Harry.
"Is there a problem here?" Neville asked, emerging from the tapestry behind Malfoy, Ron in tow.
"Just settling the duel, Longbottom." Malfoy said lazily.
"Three against one seems a little unfair." Neville said, walking lazily to join Harry. "Now we are even."
Malfoy's eyes flashed angrily. "The duel was between Potter and me." He said coldly.
"Very well." Harry replied stepping forward, "Let's get this over with."
Malfoy was on the floor in less than a minute. When Crabbe and Goyle tried to attack Harry; Neville and Ron joined Harry in hexing the two. In the end, the three Slytherins were on the floor. Ron whooped as Neville and Harry exchanged satisfied grins.
"Looksie!" Peeves said, "What do we have here?"
"Oh no!" Neville muttered.
"Please, Mr. Peeves Sir." Harry said immediately, "Please don't call anyone. We were just going."
"I don't think so little Potty!" Peeves said gleefully, "Magic in the corridors is strictly prohibited."
"Get lost." Ron muttered angrily, and Neville groaned.
"MAGIC IN THE CORRIDORS!" Peeves screamed, "STUDENTS HEXING EACH OTHER NEAR THE GRYFFINDOR TOWER!"
The three boys heard the distinct mewling of a cat from the tapestry that Neville had used to reach Harry and they belted down the opposite side.
"What the hell is wrong with that Poltergeist?" Ron yelled as they kept running, "I swear-oof!"
Ron had collided headfirst with Hermione Granger and they were both sprawled on the floor in a tangle of limbs.
Ron jumped to his feet as Neville helped Hermione up.
"I think we lost him." Harry panted.
"They are not too far, my sweet. Students attacking students! We will find the culprits, yes we will." Filch's voice floated to them.
Harry, Ron and Neville exchanged panicked looks and started running away.
"Wait!" Hermione called as she ran after them.
"Go back." Neville said.
"I-would-" Hermione panted as she ran to keep up with them. "-But- Filch- attack-students-I-am-not-taking the blame."
Ron skidded to a halt and the other three went crashing into him.
"Its locked!" Ron said glumly.
"Then move," Neville said, "Alohomora. Now get in, quick."
Hermione shut the door in time and pressed her ear against it.
"I think we have lost him for good." Harry whispered.
"What were you thinking?" Hermione shrieked, "What did you-"
She stopped abruptly as she heard a growl behind her. Harry looked at Neville who was tugging at his sleeve and then at the creature he was pointing at.
Now, he knew why the east wing corridor on the third floor was out of bounds. Towering over them was a hell hound and the reason they weren't dead was because he was as shocked to see them. Although from the looks of it, his shock was quickly wearing off.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled shoving her against the door, "Move!"
Hermione didn't need telling twice. She wrenched open the door and ran headlong into the corridor followed by the three boys, Harry slammed the door shut. They kept on running till they reached the Gryffindor Tower.
"What happened to you lot?" The fat lady asked, "Why aren't you at dinner?"
"Never mind that - pig snout, pig snout," panted Harry, and the portrait swung forward. They scrambled into the common room and collapsed, trembling, into armchairs. It was a while before any of them said anything. Neville, indeed, looked as if he'd never speak again.
"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" said Ron finally. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."
Hermione had got both her breath and her bad temper back again. "You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?" she snapped. "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 its heads."
"No, not the floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something."
She stood up, glaring at them. "I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed -or worse, expelled. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get some dinner."
Ron stared after her, his mouth open.
"No, we don't mind," he said. "You'd think we dragged her along, wouldn't you."
But Hermione had given Harry something else to think about as he made his way down to the Great Hall. The dog was guarding something... What had Hagrid said at Diagon Alley? Dumbledore had sent him to pick something important from the vaults. The same day someone had tried to break in and steal something from Gringotts. Maybe, that exact same thing was being guarded by that three headed monstrosity.
On Sunday Morning, Malfoy was disgruntled to see Harry, Ron and Neville at breakfast. The news of Draco Malfoy and his two cronies being found on the floor, hexed into next week, that too near the Gryffindor tower had spread like wildfire. No one knew who to blame and Malfoy wasn't saying anything. Ron reckoned that Malfoy won't be able to say anything without explaining exactly what he was doing near the Gryffindor tower in the first place. Also, Harry had a solid alibi, as he had detention with Snape.
Hedwig dropped three letters on his plate and two of them were red and smoldering on the ends.
"Uh-oh!" Neville said looking alarmed.
"Bloody Hell!" Ron said, "Open it, it would be worse otherwise."
Harry gulped and opened the first letter.
"HEY PRONGSLET," Sirius Black's voice rang out in the hall. "YOU ARE PUTTING US TO SHAME, YOUNG MAN! HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO GET IN SO MUCH IN TROUBLE IN ONE WEEK? I AM PROUD OF YOU! I KNOW I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THE THING THAT I WON'T TALK ABOUT BUT YOU BEAT THE GREAT JAMES POTTER. GOOD ON YOU, MATE. AND ONLY TWO WEEKS OF DETENTION? I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU BETTER. YOU BETTER BREAK OUR RECORD, OR WE WILL BE HAVING WORDS WHEN YOU GET HOME.
WE HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU! I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THAT EITHER. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING DOWN. WASTE OF ENERGY OVER A VAGUE LETTER, SO HERE I AM SHOUTING IT OUT. YOU MAKE US PROUD!
LOVE
PADFOOT
The whole hall stared at Harry who was staring at the now burning letter with a wide grin on his face. He looked at the staff table to see Dumbledore pass something to Professor McGonagall who accepted it with a smug expression.
"HARRY POTTER!" James' voice rang out, making Harry jump. The howler had burned itself up. "WHAT HAVE WE TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING TOO OBVIOUS? BUT GOOD ON YOU, CHAMP! YOU ARE THE PRIDE OF MY EXISTENCE. IT JUST HAD TO BE YOU, ISN'T IT? NOW I KNOW YOUR GODFATHER MUST HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE SURPRISE, WELL THERE ARE TWO. THE FIRST SHOULD REACH YOU BY MONDAY. USE THEM WELL! ALSO WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SCHOOL AND DECIDED WE WOULD ALL WRITE BACK ANYHOW. WELL DONE, TROUBLEMAKER. EXCELLENT CHARM WORK. YOUR MOTHER WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD! ERR… AFTER BERATING YOU TO DEATH, THOUGH. IF YOU KEEP GOING DOWN THIS PATH, I AM PRETTY SURE YOU WOULD BEAT OUR RECORD IN NO TIME. AFTERALL WE WERE REALLY INNOCENT DURING OUR FIRST TERM. JUST STAY OUT OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST. IT'S FORBIDDEN FOR A REASON. WORK ON YOUR STEALTH.
LOVE
DAD.
The whole hall burst into laughter as the letter burned itself. Neville was grinning excitedly and Arianna was shaking her head in exasperation. Professor Snape strode out of the Hall, his expression murderous. However, Fred and George hurried over, their eyes wild with excitement.
"Did that howler say Padfoot?" Fred asked excitedly.
"Yeah. Padfoot is my Godfather."
Fred and George stared at Harry in awe.
"I can't believe it got out so soon!" Arianna said, "It was too much fun!"
Fred stuck his tongue out at Arianna while George looked at Harry calculatingly.
"The Marauders are definitely your dad and his friends. Your Godfather is Padfoot. And your dad is Prongs."
Harry nodded.
"You are the son of the Gods of trouble making." Fred said reverently. "Auror James Potter is a Marauder. I can die in peace now."
"Do you think we could ever meet our idols?" George asked, his expression dreamy.
"Yeah. Whenever." Harry said with a shrug.
"Hey, Potter." A sixth year Gryffindor called. "Your dad is cool."
Harry grinned and he kept on smiling for the rest of the day as random people would come up to tell him that they thought his guardians were the height of cool. Harry confessed to Ron that night, that he didn't mind this kind of attention. The kind of attention he got because he received a funny howler from home. It felt like the most normal thing. Harry snuggled into bed before opening the letter from Remus. Even Uncle Moony had reprimanded him on being too obvious and congratulated him for making the team. Harry's grin remained in place as he closed his eyes that night, Monday was taking a bit too long in arriving.
Author's: Longest Chapter ever. Major chunks of it have been borrowed from "The Potion's Master" and "The Midnight Duel" from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I have tried to keep it as canon as possible. Please do read and review. Let me know what you think.
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Love
The Fishes
