Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.
I will continue to use the occasional song lyric in the story and will give credit at the time when needed.
This is the fifth book in my Slytherin Harry series.
Book 1: Harry Potter and the Muggle's Daughter
Book 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Book 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book 4: Harry Potter and the Blood Traitor's Daughter
Book 5: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
If you haven't read books 1-4 you won't know what's going on. But the bonus is you've got four completed books before you even get to this one!
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
CHAPTER V
One of Those Dreams
HPHPHP
Harry dashed up the stairs into the massive entrance hall with its magnificent marble staircase in an effort to get out of the torrential rain. The end of summer had come and once more he and his friends were back at Hogwarts. He wasn't certain he had made the right decision coming back again and he wasn't given reason to feel better about it when not seconds after stepping past the threshold a giant red balloon filled with freezing water landed on his head.
"AARRGH!" he bellowed. Drenched and spluttering he stumbled into Neville just as a second balloon plummeted down from above. Ginny deftly sidestepped the missile. "PEEVES!" Harry shouted.
The poltergeist flew a loop. "All wet anyway, what's it matter?"
Harry drew his wand but Luna grabbed his arm and pulled it down. "Don't she warned. Hermione hit him with a Drying Charm.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall demanded. She pushed her way into the crowd. "Peeves, off with you," she ordered. The poltergeist blew a raspberry at her but flew off, cackling madly about pranking planks and Potters potted with pansies.
"Thanks," Harry said to Hermione.
"Move along now," Professor McGonagall ordered the students.
Ginny took Harry's hand. "Come on, Harry." Still fuming, or rather steaming from Hermione's charm, Harry allowed Ginny to pull him to the Great Hall where they, along with Daphne, separated from the others as they all went to sit at their house tables.
As always the Great Hall looked spectacular, decorated for the start of term feast. Hundreds and hundreds of candles floated above, illuminating the golden plates and goblets set at the tables. The benches were already about half filled with students chattering excitedly as they reacquainted themselves with friends they hadn't seen since the end of last term. Cedric intercepted the three. He greeted Ginny and Daphne with hugs. "Doing all right?" he asked Daphne.
"I'm fine," she answered. "Thank you for asking." She indicated the badge on his robes. "Congratulations are in order I see."
He gave her a tight smile. "Yeah, could hardly believe it. They almost never pick a Head from the same house two years running."
"You earned it, Cedric," Harry said. He stuck his hand out.
Cedric shook his hand, eying Harry up and down. "Crap, Mate, you grew." Harry blinked. "That's all I needed." He glanced at Ginny. "You too, I think."
Harry slowly started to grin. Cedric was still significantly taller than he was, but it wasn't quite the head and a half it had been last year. "Already thinking about quidditch, are you?"
Cedric snorted. "The hell with quidditch, I'm more concerned about getting my arse kicked six ways from Sunday. The only thing I had going for me was your status as the school runt." Ginny snickered.
Harry pretended to look over her head. "Did someone hear something? I'm thought I heard Ginny, but she's so small I can't find her."
Ginny's wand slid into her hand, meeting his pointing directly at her. "I'm more than big enough to handle the likes of you," she said.
Harry grinned at her. "Sounds fun, when do we start?"
"Now, if you've got the guts."
"You wanna throw down here," he asked, "in front of the Head Boy?"
"Your move, Potter."
Harry sent his wand away. "Tomorrow, Gorgeous."
"Ugh," Ginny groaned. "Don't remind me." She sent her wand away as well. "5:30 is going to hurt."
"So we're still training?" Cedric asked.
"Yep/Yes/Unfortunately," Harry, Ginny and Daphne all said at the same time.
"Brilliant," Cedric said.
"You've been keeping up?" Harry asked.
The older boy nodded. "I even found a place I could take lessons this summer."
"Cool," Harry said. "We'll see you in the morning then?"
"You got it, Harry." He glanced at the entry. The flow of students had slowed to just a trickle. "Best get to our seats. See you in the morning."
"See you," Daphne and Ginny said. The three moved to the Slytherin table where they found empty seats with Xui, Anwen and Gwyneth. "It's my three favorite second-years," Harry said. He hugged each of the girls in turn.
"Hello, Harry," they greeted him.
"How are you?" Daphne asked. "Did you have a good summer?"
The girls shrugged. "Not really," Anwen said.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Know what you mean."
"She was my best friend," Gwyneth croaked.
"Oh, Gwyneth," Daphne sighed. She wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders and pulled her tight.
The world went suddenly quiet for Harry. The chatter and commotion around them continued, but he couldn't seem to make out words, instead only hearing what sounded like the hum of background noise as he watched Daphne try to comfort Gwyneth. His eyes shifted to Ginny as she comforted Anwen and Xui before drifting to the Hufflepuff table where he found Cedric flanked by Jessica and Veronica, the two Hufflepuff girls Astoria had been closest with. His eyes shifted to the Gryffindor table. Hermione and Neville were sitting with Fred, George, Lee and the girls of the Gryffindor quidditch team. They seemed well enough, but Hermione's eyes continually sought out Luna at the Ravenclaw table. As expected, she was with Dan and Andrew with not another member of their house closer than two spots away.
Harry was struck with a feeling of impending doom. Last year it had been Astoria. Whom would it be this year? Which one of his friends was going to be hurt when Voldemort and his followers came at him this time? Who in this hall wouldn't be alive next year because of him? He was startled out of his thoughts by Ginny's hand on his. He gasped and jerked away.
"Sorry," he said quickly with the hurt look to cross her face. He grabbed her hand. "Sorry, you just startled me."
She studied him. The initial shock of touching him had only ever been sharper when he'd grabbed her arm in the Entry Hall after getting yelled at by David after quidditch practice second year. This hadn't been painful like that but it was intense. His hand on hers now was still intense. It was settling, returning to just the wonderful sense of belonging they had found over the summer. "What were you thinking?"
Harry glanced at the others. "Later." She frowned. "Promise." He gave her hand a squeeze. She opened her mouth to say something but the doors of the Great Hall opened and silence fell. Ginny laced her fingers with his and turned to watch. Professor McGonagall marched in with a long line of sopping first-years following. Wet as the ride in the carriages had been the first-years looked like they'd swum across the lake to get to the school. A great cloud of steam was rising off them as she marched them to the front of the hall. Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool on the ground and sat the sorting hat on it. The first-years, along with everyone else stared at it. A moment later the hat seemed to straighten a bit. A long tear near the brim opened wide and the hat broke into song.
A thousand years and more,
I have sung my song of yore.
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
A wish, a hope, a dream,
To educated young sorcerers,
A prayer built upon a daring plan,
This is how Hogwarts School began.
Now each did value different virtues,
So each did, their own house form.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
Cunning Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
Thusly they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy
When they were dead and gone?
Yes, I was made to choose instead!
Now, slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your head
And tell where you belong,
But as you make your home,
Remember this one thing
Hogwarts would not be
Without the four that made me.
The Great Hall rang with applause as the Sorting Hat finished. "You ever notice it always finishes with the idea we need to come together?" Ginny asked, clapping along.
"It's got a point, right?" Harry said. "It took all four of them to make this place."
"Just to bad Slytherin went dark," Ginny muttered.
Professor McGonagall unrolled a large scroll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will come forward, and sit upon the stool. I shall place the hat on your head and it will sort you. When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table.
"Ackerley, Stewart."
A boy walked forward, still steaming from the Drying Charms, and visibly trembling from head to foot he climbed up on the stool. Professor McGonagall set the hat on his head and everyone waited. "Hufflepuff," Harry hissed quickly.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted.
"Bollicks," Harry muttered. Ginny sniggered and they watched as Stewart Ackerley took the hat off and hurried to a seat at the Ravenclaw table where everyone was applauding him. "Hope he turns out to be smarter than the rest of them."
"Luna's in Ravenclaw."
"One out of hundred," Harry countered.
"Dan and Andrew," Ginny reminded him.
"Baddock, Malcom!" Professor McGonagall announced.
"Slytherin," Ginny said softly.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Ha!" Ginny said, clapping politely while the rest of Slytherin house cheered loudly.
"Luck," Harry retorted.
"As if," Ginny sniffed disdainfully.
"Branstone, Eleanor!"
"Ravenclaw for sure," Harry said.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Damnit!" Harry complained. Ginny sniggered.
"Cauldwell, Owen!"
"Gryffindor," Ginny said.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bugger."
Harry snorted.
"Creevey, Dennis!" Ginny blanched.
"Gryffindor," Harry said, continuing their game.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Ha! All tied up," Harry crowed.
"Dewer, Amanda!"
Harry nudged Ginny. "Come on Weasley, or are you afraid I'll kick your arse."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"I'm gonna guess the next one if you don't," Harry warned.
"Dorne, Gabriel!"
Ginny gave herself a shake. "Hufflepuff."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Ha!" Harry taunted. "Good thing you're cute, cause you've got no future as a seer."
Ginny elbowed him. "I see you spending the night with your elbow stuffed in your ear if you don't shut it, Potter."
With three students left to sort, Harry had pulled ahead to a ten/eight lead on Ginny. If she didn't get this one, he'd win. "Gryffindor," she said.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"HA!" Harry crowed. "How's it feel to lose, Weasley?"
Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "Why do I like you?"
"You're addled, most likely."
"Addled!" she demanded.
Harry held his hands up in mock surrender. "Just the messenger, Weasley." She opened her mouth to retort but closed it again when Dumbledore stood. He spread his arms wide and smiled that grandfatherly smile that made Harry wand to stab him with a rusty spoon.
"Three words," Dumbledore said. "Welcome… Tuck in."
"Finally," Ginny said. She reached for a dinner roll. "If I had to listen to your whiny voice another second I was going offer to let Peeves shatter my eardrums." Harry opened his mouth and she shoved the roll in. "Shut it and eat, Potter."
Daphne laughed. "Well played, Ginevra."
"You better have washed," Harry said around his mouthful.
"Noppa," she said. She poured water on a napkin and made a show of washing her hands before serving herself. Harry glowered at her. She blew him a kiss.
Before he could respond, David Akers, Slytherin's quidditch captain the last two seasons, drew their attention. "Oi, Potter, Weasley." Paden Urquhart and Terrance Higgs, Slytherin's beaters were with him
The two turned to him. "What's up?" Ginny asked.
"Urq, Higgs," Harry acknowledged the other two.
"You two are playing again, right?" David asked.
"Damn straight," Harry said.
"And you're not fighting?"
Harry glanced at Ginny. "I don't know, are we fighting?" he asked.
"He hasn't hacked me off in the last half hour," Ginny said. "But he's barely above a Neanderthal so ask me again tomorrow."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "You know, I almost liked you two better when you were fighting."
"Cool," David said. "Sinistra already told me tryouts will run the same. Tiffany and Amber say they're playing again so we should return every player."
"Bril," Harry said.
"Did you fly much this summer?" Ginny asked.
"Near every day," Terrance said.
"With Wood gone, it'll be us and the Puffs for the title this year for sure," Paden said.
"Don't underestimate Ron," Ginny said. "I promise you, he can play."
"Yeah, but he ain't Wood," Terrance said.
"He got picked up by the Pride, didn't he?" David asked.
Harry glanced at Daphne. "I think so." Actually, he knew Pride of Portree had picked Wood up, but the Falcons had just made a trade for the Lion's departed keeper two days ago.
"Well, wherever he is, it isn't the bloody Gryffindorks, right?" Terrance said.
"Right," Harry agreed.
"Cool," Paden said. They talked quidditch a bit longer before the conversation shifted to whom the new Defense teacher would be.
"Can you believe they had a werewolf teaching us?" Terrance asked. Harry clenched his fist. Beside him Ginny stilled. Her hand moved to his leg and squeezed. "I mean we're lucky were not all dead."
"Terrance," Daphne warned, "have you forgotten Harry left school every night to visit with Professor Lupin when he was in hospital last spring."
Terrance glanced at Harry warily. "Oh, right, sorry. He's a family friend or something then?"
"You could say that," Harry said tightly.
"Right," Terrance said a bit nervously. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine," Harry said. He reached for a slice of cherry pie. "Cake or brownie?" he asked, turning to Ginny.
She smirked. "Yes." Harry put one of each on her plate and turned his attention to his dessert. Terrance wasn't worth getting into a fight with and he didn't have to like him anyway, he just had to fly with him. "Mmm," he moaned, "by the goddess that's good." Soon though the puddings had been demolished. Conversation was building to a roar again when it fell silent in less than an instant. Dumbledore was on his feet again.
"So," he said, smiling, "now that we are all fed and watered I have a few start of term announcements to make. Firstly, Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked you be made aware that Yodeling Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs have been added to the list of banned items. I believe the list is up to four hundred and thirty-seven items now and would encourage you all to visit Mr Filch's office where it is posted on the door to make yourselves familiar with it.
His eyes twinkled and the corners of his mouth twitched. Clearly, Harry thought, Dumbledore was delivering that warning tongue-in-cheek. "Secondly," Dumbledore went on, "all students are reminded the Forbidden Forest is just that. Also, Hogsmeade is forbidden to all students below third-year.
"This brings me to our big announcements for the year." Harry sat up a bit. He already knew what Dumbledore was going to say, but it was a big deal. However, before Dumbledore could go on a deafening rumble of thunder shook the windows in their frames. A flash of lightening turned the Great Hall brighter than the brightest summer day and the massive doors slammed open. Harry blinked the spots in his vision away.
Every head in the hall swiveled to the man now stood in the entry. A great cloak, slick with rain shrouded his face and he leaned upon a heavy staff. A scared hand reached up and pushed back his hood. He shook out his long mane of grizzled, dark gray hair and began walking to the head table.
He moved with a step/thunk that echoed in the silent hall. Limping along his head swiveled about. And what a head it was. His face looked to have been carved of weathered wood by someone using a dull hatchet. Not even Harry's back, laced with thin white lines from being whipped, was as scared. It didn't seem even an inch was unmarred. His mouth was a diagonal gash and a large chunk of his nose was missing. As frightening as all that, his eyes were the worst.
One was small, black and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye moved ceaselessly, without blinking. It rolled left, right, up, down, side-to-side, completely independent of the normal eye and then it rolled right over. Harry assumed, because all he could see was white, the eye was looking straight into the back of the man's head. The man step/thunked his way to the head table, made his way to Dumbledore and stuck his hand out.
So this was Alastor, Mad-Eye, Moody, the legendary auror responsible for the apprehension or death of over two hundred dark wizards and witches. Harry leaned over to Daphne. "Good call," he said under his breath, "waiting for a normal looking magical eye."
She smacked him in the back of the head. "Vulgar cretin." Ginny sniggered.
"Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said into the silence that held the hall. "Professor Moody." Besides Hagrid, Harry was the only person to join Dumbledore in clapping for the new professor. Every eye in the hall, including Moody's whirling one, focused on him.
"What?" Harry demanded. "Tell me he isn't going to know what he's talking about?"
Moody grunted, pulled a knife from his cloak, stabbed a sausage from the plate, raised it to what was left of his nose and sniffed it. He waited a second or two, seeming to catalog the scents and then took a bite.
"That will be enough, Mr Potter," Dumbledore said. Moody stopped chewing and focused interestedly on him again.
Harry gave a small nod. "Yes, Sir." Moody reached in his cloak again, pulled out a flask, uncapped it and took a long swallow.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Now, where was I?"
"Big announcements, Sir," Harry called.
"Ginevra," Daphne said, "I do believe your boyfriend has been switched with a cave troll."
"A cave troll?" Harry asked.
"Well, how else am I to explain your sudden growth in graciousness and manners?" Ginny bit her lips. Harry flipped her off.
"My mistake, he's back."
"Ahh," Dumbledore said brightly. "Of course, thank you, Mr Potter. Big announcements indeed. First, it is my sad duty to inform you the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year." Harry glanced at his fellow teammates. As if Moody weren't enough to create a disturbed silence this latest announcement left most of the students looking as if they could be knocked over with a feather. "This is due to a single-round tournament to be held between the four houses of Hogwarts and teams from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons Academies as Hogwarts plays host to the Triwizard Tournament!"
"You're joking!" Fred, or maybe it was George, Harry couldn't tell at this distance, exclaimed loudly.
Dumbledore grinned and his eyes did that twinkly thing they sometimes did. Harry wondered if Lockhart might have picked it up from him at one time or another. "I most certainly am not, Mr Weasley. But I did hear one about a troll a hag and a leprechaun…"
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"Erm, maybe another time. Right. The Triwizard Tournament. Now for those of you who know what it is, please bear with me for those who don't. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago between the three greatest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. A single champion was selected to represent each school, with the three champions competing against each other in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of fostering ties between the youth of our nations — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high the tournament was discontinued."
"Death toll?" Harry heard Anwen whisper. She seemed to be one of the few to have even caught it. Near everyone else looked excited beyond measure. Other than his five closest friends and the five girls who had been close with Astoria he didn't see a nervous or concerned face in the hall.
"There have been numerous attempts over the years to restart the tournament," Dumbledore was saying. "Needless to say those attempts have failed till now. Staffs of all three schools, as well as Ministries representing those schools, have worked hard to ensure no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger and Hogwarts is thrilled to have been chosen to host the five hundred ninety-ninth, Triwizard Tournament.
The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlisted candidates for champion in early October with the selection ceremony to take place on Halloween night. An impartial judge will decide which student from each school is most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons prize money!"
"I'm going for it," Miles Bletchley, a seventh year who had been a backup slasher on the Slytherin team since Harry's first year, said. His face was lit with enthusiasm at the idea of such glory and recognition for himself. Harry could see a number of people around the Great Hall had the same idea as they talked excitedly with their friends. Frankly, Harry thought they were nuts. He knew what the tasks were and having basically done very similar things; mountain trolls, philosopher's stones, dragons, basilisks and rescuing Astoria when she was kidnapped to name a few, his mum really hadn't needed to threaten to skin him alive if he tried to enter. Besides, he had more than enough fame and money to be going on with. He didn't need more.
"Now, I know many of you are very eager to bring the Triwizard Cup home to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "However, in an effort to take every precaution possible the Heads of each school along with their Ministries have agreed to limit participation only to students who are of age — that is to say, only those students who will be seventeen or older at the time of selection — will be allowed to put their names in for consideration. This," — Dumbledore raised his voice as a number of students had made noises of outrage at his last words — "as the tournament tasks remain very difficult and quite dangerous, measure is necessary to ensure the safety of the competitors. Believe me when I say, I know the tasks the champions will face, and were I to be given the chance to give a bit of advice to my seventeen year-old self, I would tell him to consider, at great length, before putting his name forth. Sixth year students who will be of age, you especially, should consider my warning. As such, to ensureno student who is underage enters themselves, I will personally see to it that none of you are able to hoodwink your way to becoming a champion." He cast a glance out over the students.
"Now then, the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in October and be staying with us for the greater part of this year. I expect that all of you will welcome them and extend every courtesy while they are our guests. I also hope to see, no matter which house Hogwarts' champion comes from, that you will all support him or her with great spirit. Now, it is late and some of you have very busy days tomorrow, so off to bed with you. Chop chop!"
Dumbledore sat down and turned to Moody while there was a great scraping of benches and feet on stone as students made their way to the double doors and the entrance hall where they split for their respective common rooms.
"First year, Slytherins!" a voice called.
"I don't care what he says," Harry heard one of Ginny's twin brothers saying as they pushed their way through the throng. "I'm entering."
"Champions will get to do things the rest of us never will," the other twin agreed.
"Well," their friend Lee said, "I turn seventeen the week before the ceremony. You better believe I'm entering."
"A thousand galleons prize money," the first twin said.
"So are we," the second finished. "Just need to find a way to get past whatever Dumbledore sets up and we'll be good."
"We're only a few months short," the other twin agreed, "no reason we can't enter if we want."
"Do me a favor," Harry hissed to Ginny. "Convince them not to."
Ginny looked at him funny. "Why?"
"Because you've lost enough," he answered.
"I swear, Ginny," Daphne said, "you better never break up with Harry again." The two girls were in their room sitting on Daphne's bed. "I thought I was going to swoon when he said that about your brothers and you having lost enough. You break up with him and I'm picking up the pieces and never letting him go."
Ginny blushed. "Didn't you call him an uncouth simpleton at dinner?"
Daphne waved her off. "That was before. Dinner was vulgar cretin."
Ginny sniggered. "That's it."
"I mean it Ginevra. You let him go and girls will be on him like there's no tomorrow. You might be fighting them off even if you don't. I saw more than one eyeing him tonight."
"Who?" Ginny demanded.
"And have you tearing them limb from limb tomorrow, I should think not."
Ginny scowled for a moment but brightened. "Well what about you? The tournament might be idiocy, but there is the ball. Surely you've picked out someone appropriate." Daphne blushed. "You have!" Ginny squealed. Who?" Daphne just raised a brow at her. "Come on, Daph, who?"
"Honestly, Ginevra, who do you think?"
"I have no idea," Ginny protested. Daphne rolled her eyes. "Well I don't! Neville is the only boy besides Harry I even know you've talked to." Daphne tipped her head. "Neville?" Ginny said incredulously. "You're joking."
"And what, Ginevra, is wrong with Neville?"
"Nothing," Ginny backpedalled. "I've just never thought about him I guess."
"That's because, despite most of the last two years, you've never considered anyone but Harry." Ginny scowled. "It's true and you know it, Ginevra. And well it is, because that boy was put here for you."
Ginny sighed. "You saved me, you know. You and Luna."
Daphne took Ginny's hands. "And you saved me. All of you; even your heathen boyfriend." Ginny stretched forward and hugged her. Daphne returned her hug fiercely. "I love you, Ginny."
"I love you too, Daph," Ginny whispered. She sat back, again holding hands with Daphne. "So, do you think he likes you?"
Daphne blushed. "I'm not certain. We've spent quite a lot of time together this summer, but I rather thought he had a thing for Susan Bones last year."
Ginny considered. "Did you notice if he talked to her at all today?"
"I don't believe so, but I did see him looking her way during the feast."
Ginny frowned. "Well, we just need to give him reason to look a different direction then, don't we?"
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked warily.
"Just what I said." Daphne studied her. "Come on Daph. Don't tell me in all that training your mother gave you there was nothing about catching the eye of a boy."
"Ginevra," Daphne said, "I was born with a husband. Catching one was never part of the equation."
"Then what was the point of trying to look nice for Marcus?" Daphne cocked her head. "It's no different, Daph."
Daphne pursed her lips. "I think it may be time Mr Longbottom became aware I'm a girl," she said.
"And a very pretty one at that," Ginny said.
"Good night, Luna," Hermione said softly into her mirror.
Luna smiled and blew her a kiss. "Sleep well, Hermione."
"I will." Luna shut her mirror down and Hermione called Harry.
"Hey," he said, coming on after a moment. "How's life in the tower?"
She shrugged. "Good actually. The twins were fine. Angelina, Katie and Alicia were fine. My roommates actually asked about my summer. Even Ron and the rest of the idiots Neville rooms with were decent."
"Wow," Harry said. "Sounds nice. Can I move in?"
"Slytherin still Slytherin?"
Harry shrugged. "Well, it's loads better than it was since I got rid of Snape. Zabini actually acknowledged me. I think he and Nott may be starting to realize Malfoy's an imbecile." He shrugged again. "I just hate it down here. It's dark and wet. My things are always damp unless I hang them over the stove for the night."
"You did choose it," she reminded.
"I know what I picked, Hermione. I'd do it again a thousand times over too. "You're crazy, Harry."
"Ginny didn't want to be in Slytherin either, Hermione."
"Are you sure?"
"Are you really picking this fight again? What does she have to do to prove herself to you?"
"Well she could start by not hurting you for longer than two months straight."
"Are you going to hold yourself to the same standard?" Harry demanded.
"Excuse me?"
"It hurts, Hermione, that you can't be happy for me."
"Harry—"
"No, I'm done. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Harry!" But the mirror had gone dark. "Harry!" she tried again. "Harry!"
"What?" he demanded, shimmering into view.
"I'm sorry."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Just, you keep apologizing, Hermione. You keep holding a grudge against Ginny but you expect me to keep forgiving you."
"I'm sorry, Harry. I really am. I don't know what's wrong with me."
Harry sighed. "You've got to get over this, Hermione. Ginny is my choice. She's always going to be my choice. Even if she eventually leaves me."
"But why, Harry? Why not someone else, like Susan Bones or maybe Amber from the team or even Daphne?"
"So Daphne is alright with you now? I seem to remember you liking her even less than you do Ginny."
"Harry, I like Ginny just fine. As long as she's not with you."
"Well she is, Hermione. I suggest you get used to it."
Hermione opened her mouth but stopped. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Harry blinked. "Seriously?"
"I can't promise to be perfect, but I promise to try harder."
"Just be happy for me, Hermione. Ginny will prove herself. You'll see."
"I'll try, Harry. For you."
Harry studied her through the mirror. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"See you in the morning?"
Harry groaned. "I miss summer already."
"7:00 is far nicer than 5:30," Hermione agreed.
"Way nicer," Harry said. "Which is why I'm going to bed now."
"Night, Harry. Love you."
"Love you too, Hermione."
"How about you, Longbottom?" Dean Thomas asked.
Neville glanced up from the book he was perusing. "Sorry?"
"What'd yeh do this summer?" Seamus Finnigan asked.
Neville glanced between his roommates. Ron hadn't said anything, but was waiting for him to answer. "Went to Inverness with my gran for a week." Neville shrugged. "Otherwise I spent most of it at Harry's place.
"You're really friends with that snake?" Ron demanded.
Neville glowered at him. "Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Luna, your sister, they'd die for me. You lot couldn't be bothered to do anything but laugh behind my back." The three boys shifted guiltily. Neville reached out and whipped his bed curtains closed. "Morons," he muttered and went back to his book.
Luna was lying in her bed when she heard a scream followed by a loud thud. She sat up and poked her head outside her bed hangings. Her roommate, Lisa Turpin, was lying on the floor, unconscious. Her other roommates, Isobel MacDougal and Mandy Brocklehurst were standing behind Lisa with horrified expressions on their faces. "I did warn you to leave my things alone this year," Luna said.
"What did you do to her!" Isobel demanded.
"I, didn't do anything to her. She did it to herself. You two would do well to remember that next time you try and mess my things about." She smiled pleasantly at them. "Tell her, when she's ready to promise never to mess my things about again, things will go back to normal… Have a good sleep." She ducked back behind her hangings and pulled them closed.
"You can't leave her like this!" Mandy cried. Luna smiled happily and ignored them. She rather suspected she might receive a stern speaking to from professor Flitwick for it, but she was quite finished with having her things messed about. Lily might not be able to perform magic any longer but that didn't mean she didn't know the most interesting of spells. She had to admit a bit of curiosity herself. After all, what girl wasn't at least a bit curious about having a penis; even if it was only in her head and wasn't actually real? But the thought she'd believe her breasts were disappearing while she grew a penis didn't sit well with her at all. Her breasts weren't overly large to begin with; she certainly wasn't endowed like Hermione or Daphne. But they were hers and she was quite fond of them. She was also quite looking forward to the day Hermione touched them. It was actually a bit of a tossup which she was looking forward to more, touching, or being touched. Both sounded rather delicious to her. And it was with that rather delicious thought she rolled over and closed her eyes. Perhaps she'd be really lucky and have one of those dreams again.
Kai flitted along the tower, peeking in the windows till she found the one she wanted. The sash was already open so she raised her hand to her lips and blew. A tiny cloud of glittering dust wafted into the room and settled on the occupants. She considered to do more but she had Spent far more than she should last spring. This would have to be enough.
Author's notes:
I like making Luna just a bit more aggressive. It works well with all that intellect.