Harry and Su entered Flitwick duelling room as they had every week. "So what do you want to start this time?" Harry asked his companion.
"Duel." Su answered evenly.
"Alright." Harry calmly responded.
The step-up upon the duelling circle and the wards around the arena activated. They drew their wands and bowed to one another. The duel began.
"Stupify!" They both yelled as they weaved to the side. The pair only cast stunners and the shielding charm through-out the duel as thy had the shortest incantations. The duel was long-lasting as both combatants were to fast to hit. Su could cast slightly fast and Harry's spells themselves travelled faster than Su's. Their inability to cast silently was holding them back. It had been like this for just over a month. Their duels would only end when one of them finally made a mistake. But it was taking longer and longer to reveal itself as the weeks went by. It became more luck than skill that decided the victor. This time it was Su who won after hitting Harry's waist.
Su sighs in relief as she lowers her wand and allows herself to relax. She wordlessly walks over to Harry and revives him.
"Ow." Harry groans as he picks himself up off the ground.
"We're at an impasse." Su states.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"We can't cast silently, we're too fast for each other to hit, our accuracy is nearly perfect and we can cast spells at a rapid pace without collapsing of exhaustion." Su answered, slightly frustrated.
"What if we learned some new spell and next time we don't use stupify and protego?" Harry asked.
Su took a moment to contemplate her answer. "That could work." Su had a small smile on her face as she answered. "Let's stop for the day and head to the library."
"Sure." Harry shrugged. With that they continued with that they left the room with no idea that Dumbledore was stood in the corner under dissolution and notice-me-not charms.
A few weeks later.
Lillian Moon exited the Slytherin girls dormitories into their common-room, holding some small posters. She takes one and pins it to the common-room noticeboard.
"What's that? Harry asked from behind her.
Lilian yelped as she jumped. "Harry! Don't do that!" She yelled at him in annoyance.
"Sorry An." Harry responded with a slight smile. Most people called her Lily for short but Harry didn't feel comfortable doing it so he called her An instead. The others had started doing it as well.
Lilian scowled at the wizard a moment longer. "Well to answer your question..." Lilian handed him one of the posters "...my family is hosting a celebration during the summer holidays."
Harry read the poster:
Moon orphanage's annual Summer Solstice celebration.
21st June 4 pm-8 pm
Meet the occupants of the orphanage
Food and drinks will be provided
Entertainment will include; Dancing, Quidditch, Dueling and more
3 Gallon per person admittance
All proceeds will go to the continued running of the orphanage.
Please address all invitation requests to"Moon orphanage" with the names of the guests and the appropriate amount of money.
"Nice." Harry commented.
"Gotta keep the orphanage open somehow. We do receive donations here and there, especially after the war with lords 'trying to prove how sorry they are', but apart from funding, it is also a good chance for one of the orphans to get adopted. Also, it's really fun." Lillian responded with a smile as she reminisced on previous celebrations.
"Well, I'm going." Harry said with conviction as he stuffed his hand in his cloak's pocket and pulled out 3 gallons and offered them to Lillian.
Lillian shook her head and gently pushed the money back to him. "It doesn't work like that. You need the invitations to enter the orphanage. It has some of the best secrecy wards there is."
"How come?" Harry asked.
"The orphanage is full of muggle-borns and was seen as a prime target for Death Eaters. As such some families such as yours, Neville's, Susan's and Hannah's pulled together enough money to get the wards upgraded, then made sure there was no paper trail or ministry medaling." Lillian answered. "Is was a good thing too. Uncle Dylan, my dads younger brother, was tortured to death by Death Eaters trying to get in. I never knew him but Alias was devastated."
Without another word, Lillian walked to the exit of the common-room with Harry following after her. He didn't like any of them walking alone throughout Hogwarts, especially the Slytherin girls. Between Dumbledore, mini Death Eaters, and general arseholes made Harry particularly paranoid. "You don't have to come with me Harry, I'm sticking to the busy areas on the ground floor." Lillian mentioned.
"You still have to go through the dungeon." Harry responded. Harry had seen and been involved in enough confrontations leaving the Slytherin common-room to know it's not exactly safe.
"If you're going to follow me around, you can help me post these up."
"Alright." Harry shrugged.
The pair made their way out of the dungeons with no issue. Apart from Harry's own skill, he was Betrothed to the niece of the head of the DMLE, Godson of Lord Blak who was rumoured to be as calculating as his grandfather Arturus once was in politics, godbrother to the Longbottom heir who had connections to the older lords through his grandmother, and a close friend to the Greengrass heiress who was known to be closer to her farther than most Pureblood daughters were. All in all Harry and his circle of friends were too dangerous to be considered targets.
While they were placed on one of the adverts on the tree in the courtyard. As they began to walk away a voice called out. "Hey, how did your family even end up running an orphanage!?" The pair turned around to face a group of Ravenclaws. They either second or third years.
Lillian sat on a nearby bench and began the story. "A month before the muggle alliance invaded France in what would be known as D-day, a team was dispatched to deal with the wards surrounding France. The group consisted of five people, two combat healers, and three soldiers. My Grandfather, Hector Moon, was one of the two combat healers. The soldiers were; Charles Potter, Theseus Scamander, and Marcus Boot. The other combat healer was Charlus' feuter wife, Dora Black. Throughout their time embed behind enemy lines they saw the destruction ad suffering caused by Grindelwald and Hitler. But the group realized those that suffered the most were the children. Once the war was over, grandfather realized that many children had lost their parent and had nowhere to go. So my grandfather turned our manner into an orphanage and we have been taking in magical orphans ever since."
A moment of silence passed. Once the Ravenclaws were sure the story was over one of them spoke up. "Are Charles and Dora your grandparents?" They asked.
"No, they are my great aunt and uncle. They and their son died shortly after moving to America before the blood war went into full swing." Harry answered.
Later.
At dinner that night Harry was sat at the Slytherin table, when Harry and Lilian had returned to the common room, later on, they had found that someone had set the advertisement Lillian had put up on fire. Only the top right had remained. This had severely disheartened Lilian but Tracy was quick to help cheer her up. Regardless, Harry and Daphne had stuck by her the rest of the day to help her move past it.
As dinner was coming to a close Professor Flitwick approached him. "Mister Potter." He called out.
"Yes, professor?" Harry asked as he and those around him stopped to face their charms instructor.
"Could you and Miss Li see me in my office after dinner?" He requested.
"Sure." Harry answered. Flitwick nodded and left for the Ravenclaw table to repeat the message to Su. They had already had their final charms lesson for the year, so Harry quickly deduced that it involved dueling somehow. But he'd have to wait for the exact details.
After he finished his meal, Harry walked over to the Ravenclaw table. Su noticed him coming and stood up. She gave him a silent nod which Harry returned before they both left the hall. The pair arrived at Flitwick's office without a word. If Harry was asked to describe Su, he that 'she is the most precise, blunt person I know.' She hardly spoke unless spoken to, but when she did it was quick and to the point. She wasn't overly fond of Hermione, Tracy, Hannah, and Lillian. In that order.
Once they reached the office, Harry knocked on the door and they were both soon allowed entrance.
"Miss Li, Mister Potter, please, take a seat." The charms professor greeted them warmly. The pair quietly "How has your practice been coming?" The Harry had proceeded to tell him about their spell predicament and how they had decided to overcome it, with Su adding her own thoughts here and there. After they had finished, Flitwick leaned back into his chair and hummed in thought. "I believe you could use other spells, but you need to figure out how and when. But occasionally restricting yourselves during training is a good idea. I once had to wear weights on my arms and legs while dodging stunning spells. Regardless, I have something for you." With a flick of his wand, two books floated from his desk into the students' hands. They were called; Dueling styles and strategies. How to best the best. Harry looked intrigued, but Su looked from the book to Flitwick awkwardly. Flitwick knew why the young witch was so tense and chuckled. "I suspected you already had a copy, Miss Li, but I added my own observations and references to these copies so there is something for you."
Su sighed in relief and allowed her shoulders to drop. "Thank you, professor."
"Think nothing of it. You are both talented duelists and it would be criminal of me to not help you reach your full potentials." Flitwick responded and both students beamed with pride.
Afterward, Flitwick lead the pair to the dueling room and assessed their progress.
A week later.
The group finished there final lap around the Black Lake before they headed home for the summer. They had managed to persuade Hannah to join them and Daphne and Lilith had dragged Tracy out of bed. "Will I see you during the summer holidays?" Harry asked them as they walked back into the castle.
"My parents are taking me abroad, I won't be back until late August." Hermione answered.
"Well you know you'll see me." Susan joked, to which Harry smiled.
"I'll be visiting hear and there like I usually do." Hannah answered.
"I should be able to visit and Gran definitely wants to see you again." Nevil responded.
"There are really strict rules that have to be followed for us to leave the orphanage without a member of staff, including some forms that need to be filled out. Someone of age would also have to fill out some forms." Lilian explained.
"I would like it if you visited my families manner during the summer if for no other reason than to stop my sister asking me questions about you." Daphne mentioned.
"My family are going back to India for the summer. They said they don't want us to forget our heritage." Padma answered with a smirk. "I think they just want to spend as much with us as they can."
Everyone then looked to Su who shook her head in response. "Busy." She answered. Harry and Tracy noticed that Su began to walk further ahead after the question. Something wasn't right.
The group split up to get changed, with an agreement to meet up for breakfast. Nevile, Hermione, Padama, and Su went up the stairs to their respective towers. After dropping Susan and Hannah off at the Hufflepuff common room; Harry, Daphne, Tracy, and Lilian made their way down to the dungeons. Tracy moaned the entire way about how her feet were sore. They entered the common room and Harry split from the girls. After a shower and a change of clothes, Harry briefly smirked saw Draco had a tin of Sleekeazy's hair potion. A potion that had been invented by his Grandfather, Fleamont Potter. He might have sold the company to the Greengrass', but they still got a cut of the profits. Daphne was as amused as he was upon finding out how much the Malfoy's bought a month from Cyrus.
Soon.
The group quickly reunited at the Hufflepuff table and made small talk throughout breakfast until the mail arrived. Hedwig swooped down to Harry with a letter in her beak. She dropped it onto his plate, snatched some bacon fat from Daphne's plate and hopped onto Harry's shoulder.
"It's a good job I didn't want that." Daphne commented as she scowled at Hedwig, who ignored her.
Harry merely shrugged as he scratched his familiar with on hand and opened the letter with the other one.
Hey Pup. Might seem a bit daft sending you a letter now, but there are some things I thought you should know now.
First of all, I didn't get to teach you everything I wanted to over the winter and spring holidays. Sure we managed to cram in all the things you need to know as Lord Potter that Daphne didn't teach you and a few useful loopholes, but we never got to the stuff I wanted to teach you. You know, a bit of animagus training here, some innuendos there, and few prank spells to top it all off. The good stuff!
Also, I've finally managed to find out why we couldn't find your family's archive. It's under a Flidus charm and protected by blood wards. The secret keeper is a house-elf who works there and the blood wards are keyed to Potters only. So you're going to have to go there alone.
And one more thing. My secret project's finally ready and I'll be launching it after the summer solace.
See you soon Pup.
Sirius
Harry lowered the letter and jumped when he felt two pairs of arms wrap around him tightly. Harry relaxed a little when he saw it was Lilian and Tracy. "Urm... Hi?" The rest of the watched with amusement as Harry displayed how unsure he was about what to do.
"What's he done to get this reaction?" Susan asked with amusement.
The orphanage has just received 100 Gallons from both the Potter and Black families." Lilian answered and gave Harry another squeeze.
"All I did was ask Sirius was how I could donate some of my trust vault." Harry responded to the surprised looks he was getting from the group. "He said, he'd get back to me, and that was the last I'd heard of it."
"Knowing Sirius' hate for his parents, he probably did it to annoy them." Sussan mentioned.
"Nah. If he wanted to do that he'd donate the whole family fortune." Harry responded. "Or at least most of it."
After everyone had finished Nevil announced he was going to the greenhouses and would meet them at Hogsmead station. Hannah soon announced she had "some stuff to do."
Later.
The whole group was sat in an extended compartment for the train ride home. Once Hermione was sat down, she took out her envelop that held her results for the year and ripped it open. She had been anxiously waiting for TWO WEEKS for this letter and refused to wait a moment longer! "SECOND AGAIN!? WHO KEEPS BEATING ME!?"
Padma tensed up in her seat as she knew exactly who beat her the first time, and had a good idea who it was this time.
"Don't worry about her, It'll be fine." Su quietly reassured her.
Everyone else soon looked at their results and was comparing.
"So where did you come, Padma?" Hermione asked the Ravenclaw witch.
Padma swallowed thickly before answering. "First. Again." Timidly.
Hermione just looked at Padma with her mouth hanging open as she slowly processed what she had been told. "Again?" Hermione repeated softly. By this time Su had her wand in hand, ready to react if needed. Hermione finally manages to gain the ability to speak once more she asks a question. "How?"
Padma first thought was to answer with 'I'm smarter than you.' But she doubted that would go down well, so she simply shrugs and answers. "Don't know." Hermione wordlessly sank into her seat and didn't say a word for the rest of the journey.
During the journey, the door to the compartment opened and Parvati Patil stepped in. "Hey, erm, Pad." The usually confident and outgoing twin was peculiarly shy.
"Hi?" Padma answered, as confused as everyone else was at her sister's presence.
"Can I join you?" Parvati asked she quickly blurted out.
"There are no seats left." Hermione stated blankly.
Parvarti was about to say something when Harry stood up. "It's alright, she can have my seat." Harry began. "I need to find more guy friends anyway." With that Harry left the compartment.
"I should probably go and see who he's trying to make friends with." Neville announced as he stood up, before leaving the compartment.
Once the door was closed and Parvarti was sat down, Padma spoke. "So what's this about Pav?"
"Do you remember how mad Mum and Dad were with my grades in the winter holidays?" Parvarti began. Padma nodded to show that she did. Their parents had been furious at how poorly she had done. They had only just let her come to the Ministry's Yule celebration. "Well Professor McGonagall spoke to me in private during the last week before we broke up and told me that I was close needing to repeat the first year." Parvarti was now rapidly blinking away her tears caused by her shame and fear. Pavarti managed to calm herself and dry her eyes before she spoke again. "I know I've been slacking, but that changes here."
"And you think the best way to start is by hanging out with us?" Tracey responded with her question sounding more like a statement.
Pavarti nodded. "You're group's got some of the best in our year, so it can't hurt being around you all. Also being friends with Lavender and Fay is only causing me trouble." Padma smiled at the thought of spending time with her, doing what she wanted.
Tracy sighed as she leaned back into her seat, unsure what to make of the declaration. She was glad that Padma would get to spend time with her sister, but Parvarti should still be her own person. But she had no idea what to do, so begrudgingly kept quiet.
When the train finally arrived at King's Cross, the girls had disembarked and saw Harry and Neville exit further up with Terry Boot and Michael Corner. Once Harry had joined Susan, Sirius and Amelia, the young witch spoke up. "New friends?"
Harry shrugged. "They're alright. Said they want to travel the world together after Hogwarts." He answered.
"The Boots can definitely afford it." Sirius muttered to himself as he thought of the time he and James had made the exact same promise, only for it to be forgotten with the war that had been raging on.