Beta: None, as AriArlene is busy with classes.
Original Release Date: 2/14/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Forty Two – Stormy Day and Recovery
Groaning as he slides gently into his chair, Sirius closes his eyes for multiple moments before opening them and noticing the letter with beautifully flowing cursive with his and Remus's name on it. As he reaches for the letter on the table, a voice stops Sirius momentarily, "Work is difficult, isn't it?"
Looking up at his smirking wife, Sirius gives a weary smile before answering while carefully removing the frilly lace around the scroll, "That it is, but I knew that before I decided to open a French branch."
"What is your next step in this direction?" inquiries Amelia sitting down across from Sirius with a cup of tea in her hands.
Absentmindedly unrolling the parchment and straightening it, Sirius answers wearily, "I just need to hold some interviews and get some feedback from Remus. Or at least I'd like to hear what Moony has to say, but with the full moon tomorrow evening I figure he'll be busy enough as is."
Amelia sips at her tea while Sirius reads the letter, moving it closer and farther away from his face all the while squinting. A few minutes later as Sirius sets the letter down before rubbing his eyes gently.
"You know that you shouldn't put off getting corrective eyewear just to not be considered old. You do remember I have my monocle to assist me" comes Amelia before taking another sip of her tea.
Closing his eyes momentarily, Sirius nods his head before answering, "Maybe you're right. What's the guy who checks Harry's eyes every year?"
"Henry Smith. That's the ophthalmologist that Harry sees in London" states Amelia giving Sirius a hard stare.
As seconds tick by without either one speaking, Sirius finally speaks, "Fine, I'll make the appointment."
Smiling, Amelia comments, "Good. So who wrote you a letter?"
"It was a Miss Fleur Delacour. She had an intriguing idea of having a place on our network that would allow users to be themselves, let others see what has happened in their lives, photos that they've taken, and the likes" answers Sirius with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"That is very intriguing. It looks like what was based off of the rest of the world has now become a pioneer in what hasn't been done yet of what I read. A virtualized society on the Marauding Network would be a boon to the budding network, but there are some concerns I have before I'd agree to let you and Remus set it up" states Amelia.
"Allow us? Please elaborate as I'm quite confused" remarks Sirius with a hint of steel in his voice.
"Privacy, who can see what each 'user' or person posts or releases onto the network? Security, how can someone not be set up with a false profile and have their friends be duped? And what about if a crime is committed, how do we get the information to prosecute the violater(s)?" answers Amelia openly.
Pausing before opening his mouth, Sirius quickly closes it for a minute or two before finally answering, "Those are valid points. Of course Remus and I will consider while designing the system. With those kind of aspects in heavy consideration, are you fine with some of the more developmental aspects moving forward so that there is a clearer idea of what overall would need to be achieved?"
Thinking quietly, Amelia replies after multiple long moments, "I suppose so. I would suggest you get someone not part of the company to take a look over the design and see if they spot any potential problems."
"I suppose you're right" says Sirius quietly, leaning back in the chair as Dobby and Kreacher bring out dinner.
As Dobby and Kreacher begin to head back to the kitchen, Sirius raises his voice a bit, "Don't forget to have some of this meal, you two cook quite nicely."
Dobby turns around and smiles before continuing to the kitchen with a little skip in his step. "So the first Hogwarts Quidditch match is this coming Saturday" remarks Amelia.
"I'm planning on watching it, even if I have to temporarily close the store" states Sirius with a smile and enough determination to sink a battleship in his voice.
"I expected as much from you" chuckles Amelia.
/*Monday*/
Sitting in Defense Against the Darks Arts classroom, Harry pauses as the sight of billowing black robes flash appear alongside greasy black hair and a look on the face of the individual that could have been caused by a having stepped into a pile of dog waste.
"I will be your professor for this period and we will be reading upon" announces Snape before flipping through the textbook sitting on Remus's desk and stopping suddenly near the back of the book, "werewolves. I expect detailed notes on the subject."
"Professor, how will you know if we've taken detailed notes if you aren't our permanent professor?" inquiries a male voice from the back.
Smiling dangerously, Snape responds, "I'll know by the two rolls of parchment due to me in a week's time."
"T-two rolls, s-sir?" comes a female voice from the front of the room, on the opposite side of the room from Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron.
"Did I stutter Miss Brown?" comes Snape's dangerous and drawing voice.
"You did all those years ago until James saved you, no thanks to myself" comes a voice from behind Snape.
Turning around with a flourish, Snape snares, "Black! How DARE you enter Hogwarts without permission from the Headmaster!"
With a bark of laughter Sirius answers, "I am both here and not here. The more important question is why are you teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts when you fell into the Dark Arts all those years ago."
"EVERYONE, OUT!" shouts Snape producing his wand from within his robes almost instantly.
Quickly and quietly the students file out with Harry stopping and saying, "Hope you win professor", before exchanging a look with Sirius and leaving.
As the door closes behind them the quiet of hall surrounds the third year Gryffindor students. Looking around, Harry finally speaks loud enough for everyone to hear, "Don't worry, no harm will come to either adult."
"How are you so certain?" asks Lavender.
Chuckling softly, Harry answers, "Because I noticed that there was an Omni Play on the floor behind Professor Lupin's desk, and if my guess is correct, Sirius is just projecting himself into the room. But that means we've got to scatter before Professor Snape figures out and storms out of the classroom."
Understanding, the students break into three and four person groups and quickly disperse through the castle. Making their way quickly back to the Gryffindor Common room, Ron finally asks, "Why did Professor Lupin miss class today?"
"He was suffering from the full moon" answers Harry quietly as they enter through the portrait hole.
"Wait…he's a werewolf?" asks Ron incredulously.
"He is and has been for many years. Since his Hogwart days if you can believe it" remarks Harry.
"Potter! Bad news, we aren't playing Slytherin as planned on Saturday. Instead it's Hufflepuff, as Slytherin has convinced Madam Hooch that Malfoy needs more time to recover from his injury or something" calls out Wood as he descends from the boys dormitory.
Glancing at the weather outside, Harry sighs, "I'm not too terribly surprised that Malfoy did that."
"This changes everything that we've practiced for so far!" announces Wood angrily.
"Wood, don't worry so much, we'll survive" remarks Harry.
/*Saturday/the day of the game*/
Sitting in the Great Hall early, Harry eats slowly while Ron sits down across from him.
"This should be a fun match" remarks Ron sarcastically.
Pausing to finish his mouthful of food, Harry answers, "With the blowing wind and driving rain, it'll be a wonderful match. At least it'll be interesting."
"At least our game is almost done" adds Ron in an attempt to change the subject.
"True. But we'd still need some people to test it" answers Harry.
"And that is once you get me the rules and the design so I can enter it into the system to appear to everyone" comes a voice from behind Ron.
"Oh Professor" answer Harry and Ron in unison.
"However, please worry about that later and focus more your homework. Oh, and stay safe out there Mr. Potter. I don't wish to report to your guardians that you've been injured…again" remarks Remus with a sly grin on his face before continuing on to the staff table.
As Luna sits down, the overall conversation turns to more light hearted things before after a while Wood taps on Harry's shoulder impatiently. As the entire Gryffindor Quidditch enters into their locker room, they shake off the beads of rain that cover their uniforms.
"Team…we face Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin. I'll be honest, the weather's terrible" begins Wood.
"But is it Ivan the Terrible terrible?" questions George interrupting Wood, laughing.
Giving George a withering look mixed with confusion, Wood continues, "But we have three chasers that are nimble-"
"And cute, we can't forget cute" interrupts Fred smiling.
"One seeker that has caught the snitch in spite of many odds as while as face down a basilisk, and two beaters that knock the bludgers back at the opponent, time after time" finishes Wood giving the twins another look apiece.
"And equipment to help us see in the rain as well. That'll be helpful" adds Harry removing his glasses and putting his prescription pair of Quidditch goggles on.
"That's true" remarks Wood as he and the others withdraw their respective pair from their lockers, previously untouched.
Trooping out into the dreary weather conditions, both teams take to their brooms and zoom into the sky after the third shrill blast on Professor Snape's whistle, the surprise referee for the match. Slogging their way into a gruesome ten point lead over Hufflepuff, the Gryffindor team continues with an ever so slight lead. Sitting atop his broom without moving, Harry peers around at the arena, glad that the spectators are under double layered cloth and wooden protection from the elements.
Spotting a glint of gold a bit above him, Harry zooms into action, eager to finish the match and get out of the cold. Higher and higher climbs Harry hand outstretched to catch the snitch when it stops moving. Not realizing that ice had begun to cover his broom, Harry pauses to reflect on continue his ascent when a yellow clad figure also climbing pushes Harry into continuing his ascent. As a woman's scream fills his head and blurs his already greatly diminished vision, Harry fails to recognize the falling sensation until hundreds of feet later.
Feeling a sudden and painful sensation on both of his arms, Harry looks around at what is causing the pain, noticing Fred on his left and George on his right, each holding one of Harry's arms high above the ground.
"Thanks Fred, thanks George-" begins Harry before a speeding bludger comes crashing into his chest, knocking him free of the twin's grip, falling to the ground.
From the stands, the spectators watch silently as Harry tumbles out of the sky until an individual jumps out of the control booth, higher than the rest of the spectator seats, but much lower than Harry's height from the ground, transforming into a shaggy black dog midway down to the ground. All players stop as Harry hits the ground and doesn't move, the shaggy black dog the only individual moving before transforming back to a human.
"Harry! HARRY!" shouts Sirius as he checks Harry's pulse.
The combination of weak groans from Harry and the presence of a pulse causes Sirius to release the breath he had been holding. "Let's get you to the hospital wing son" states Sirius as he gently picks Harry up and carries him off of the field at a slight jog towards the castle.
Waking up, Harry groans while his right hand reaches out for the bedside table, searching for his glasses. Putting them on, Harry's eyes widen at the look of the small crowd of individuals at the foot of his bed talking softly.
"He's awake!" comes a female voice above the others, but still quiet enough for the hospital wing.
Shooing the visitors away, Madam Pomfrey begins checking Harry over before harrumphing and allowing the visitors to continue.
"Thought you were a goner, Harry" remarks Fred.
"Nah, we both knew you'd be just fine once you regained consciousness" states George looking at Fred with a smile.
Giving a smile that became more of a grimace, Harry asks, "What about the match?"
The once present smiles on the visitors faces disappears as Katie Bell answers, "Cedric Diggory got the snitch right before the match ended. Despite his protesting, in which he really did try to get a replacement match, Cedric was unable to convince Professor Snape to void the match's results."
"But the main thing is you're alive and not permanently injured" comes a more mature male voice from the door of the Hospital Wing.
Smiling at the presence of two of his three guardians, Harry adds, "And I'm sure it's thanks to your protective gear that has saved me once more from certain death."
Chuckling slightly, Sirius answers, "Maybe not from certain death, but from a worse outcome, yes.
"We're so glad you're alright Harry" remarks Hermione giving him a smile.
Yawning, Harry says, "Thanks Hermione."
"Now it is time for Mr. Potter to get his medicine and rest" declares Madam Pomfrey assisting Harry with his medicine.
Author note: Thanks to everyone who has been patient with me. I have been working on getting a repository of my notes and the likes together for this fanfic, but due to large volumes of work, moving to my own apartment, some network issues (which ten new Ethernet cables should hopefully fix), etc.
To some of the reviews regarding what to call the television like device, I'll list what I can here. 'The Specto', 'OmniView', 'Mega Video Projector' or 'Mega Video Player'. I'll take some more ideas alongside hearing which one(s) you all would like to see happen. Thanks to all who have made suggestions, credit to the winning idea in addition to all who gave suggestions be will given in the chapter where a name is given. I just didn't want to keep using the 'Omni' part of the naming scheme, not knowing how everyone felt about it. :)
-Teachergirl – I'm sorry that the last chapter didn't have enough action. I'll try to keep things moving along and more action filled. Thank you for your review.
-As to my link to my Google Drive with the extra information, etc, it is here. It is fairly bare as the computer with most of the information is currently packed up for work. I'll add the content in as I can. Currently a link to the Pintrest page is there, but a chapter or two with alternate text (going down a different path that ultimately never made it to you all), a spreadsheet with items and some basic prices (most of them may need updating). This will be updated as I can (please don't expect weekly updates) and randomly with whatever hits my interest.
drive{}google{}c-o-m/folderview?id=0B9nouHvc4_Dfb0xmRzhGX0NtaU0&usp=sharing [replace the {} with periods.]
Hope everyone has an enjoyable Valentines Day. I'll be in my apartment by myself, having a glass of wine perhaps, and watching some anime. :)