"Oh, I can't wait, this is going to be amazing!" Wood yelled giddily.
The entertainment team chuckled at how bombastic Oliver Wood got.
"So, you're really excited about relieving this?" Harry asked in amusement.
"Yes!" Wood cheered. "I really thought we had our work out for us after last year. You were the miracle that fell into your lap."
"He really was," Ron said. "Wouldn't you agree, Malfoy?"
Malfoy just responded by gritting his teeth and grumbling.
"Well, he seems excited," Sara said. "Are you all ready for this?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Let's get on with it then," Astra said.
"Chapter Nine," Gideon said. "The Midnight Duel."
"A duel?" Constantine asked.
"Yes, a duel," Harry agreed. "Just…you'll find out what happens. It's actually a fascinating little adventure."
"I thought this chapter was Harry's first flight," Wood said.
"Oh, it is, just be patient," Harry said.
Images appeared on screen.
"Wait, I don't remember this from the books," Lita said.
"Of course," Harry said. "This is new."
Now everyone's attention went to the screen, including those who read the books, multiple times.
Harry had been deep in thought about the class with Snape and what Hagrid told him. Or didn't tell him.
"Potter?"
Harry turned around and caught a glimpse of a first-year Slytherin student with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. The girl's gaze fell onto him for a second.
"Yes?" Harry asked.
"Quite the spectacle in Potion's class the other day," the girl said. "Snape really made a fool out of you."
Harry felt kind of annoyed at this being brought up.
"And I suppose you had a laugh about it," Harry said.
"No," she told Harry. "It wasn't funny. Snape should not have asked you advanced questions. Just like he should not have blamed you for Longbottom's mishaps. But, he won't be the first to try and make you look foolish. There are people who will follow you to the ends of the Earth. And there are some who want to watch you fail."
Harry looked at this Slytherin, trying to figure out what she was getting at.
"And you are?"
"Daphne Greengrass," she said. "I was sorted before that excitable Muggleborn that you singled out in Snape's class. Granger, I think her name was. Clever to try and put all of the attention on her. Clumsy how you did it, but you'll learn sooner than later. And it's not like she hasn't craved the attention."
Greengrass slipped a piece of paper into Harry's hand.
"Recommended reading," Greengrass said. "To not give Snape any more reasons to single you out."
"You're a Slytherin," Harry remarked.
"Yes, I'm aware of what house I'm in," Greengrass said with amusement."I would highly recommend acquiring those books. So you don't look like an idiot."
Harry felt annoyed at being called an idiot.
"I'm sure you think all Slytherins are evil," Greengrass said. "There hasn't been a bad witch or wizard who hasn't come out of Slytherin. Right? Well, unfortunately, we are a bit too gleeful in celebrating the worst of us. Funny, consider we're supposed to be cunning. Yet, we have people who are more loud and boisterous about their deeds, putting even the most stereotypical Gryffindor to shame."
Greengrass walked off and left Harry to ponder.
"Her?" Hermione asked. "You talked to her? That early."
"Yes," Harry said coolly. "But, you and I weren't friends at this point. To me, you were this annoying, nosy girl, who stuck her nose into everything. And you seemed like a bit of an attention whore."
"I was not an attention whore!" Hermione said crossly.
"Sorry, but kind of," Zari said. "You wanted attention. No one raises their hand on every question."
"Greengrass actually talked to you, that first week," Malfoy said.
"And to think, if I had met her before I met you, I might have been in Slytherin," Harry remarked lightly.
Malfoy crossed his arms. Yes, Greengrass made it known to others that it was Malfoy's attitude who robbed Slytherin of Harry Potter, once Harry trusted her and confided in her enough to tell her this. Malfoy blamed Dumbledore's giant stooge, personally, for poisoning Potter's mind.
"She doesn't seem too bad," Lita said. "Helpful, although I think she's trying to figure out how you fit into her life."
"That's Daphne," Kara remarked with a shrug. "She's a bit out there at times. Not as much as…other friends of Harry's, but she has her quirks."
"So, she was there," Nora said. "I wondered."
"Not too much in those early years," Harry told them. "It's not really a spoiler, because she really wasn't included in the novelizations."
One time, Daphne was mentioned in passing. And the fandom ran wild with what she might be like. And some of their assumptions, well they greatly amused Daphne.
"I don't know about her, sometimes," Hermione said.
"Why don't you like her?" Astra asked. "She seems fine."
And Astra liked Daphne well enough when they met. More than she was liking Hermione, either past or present. Exactly how Harry and Hermione became friends, well, Astra was dying to know.
And they were not friends right now. Rather cool towards each other.
"She's okay, Greengrass is," Ron said. "I don't think she liked me too much. But to be fair, I didn't make the best impression on her. And you didn't either, Hermione."
"I'm not trying to impress the likes of her," Hermione said.
"Okay, there's some friction there," Lena said. "Not sure why."
"Oh, I know why," Harry said. "But, if Hermione wants to share it with the rest of the class, she can. But for now, let's continue."
"Lets," Sara agreed.
The lead up to the first flying lesson is shown, with Harry remarking how he would make a fool out of himself in front of Malfoy.
"As if!" Wood shouted, almost scandalized.
"I have to agree," Astra said. "There's no way you would make a fool out of yourself on a broomstick. Even if you don't have those memories anymore, Mum took the both of us to that park. We flew loads of times."
"I remember the first time," Harry said. "I was so terrified I would fall."
"And I told you, I wouldn't let you," Astra said.
"He is really a great natural flyer," Kara said.
"High praise coming from you, honey," Harry said.
Kara just smiled.
"Not like he needs a broom either," Sara said. "With his…"
"Sara, let's not share that secret," Harry interjected.
"Sorry," Sara said. "But, you are amazing!"
Everyone who knew smiled. And everyone who did wondered while the others were smiling.
More talk about flying and all the various misadventures students had on their brooms.
"Actually, it wasn't talk," Malfoy said.
"You knew what a helicopter was?" Nora asked.
"Yes, and Mum freaked out when I almost was cut by the blades," Malfoy said. "But, it wasn't talk."
"You weren't just as good as Harry," Wood said
"Yes, I was second best to Potter, but I beat Diggory, Chang, and the rest every time out," Malfoy said.
"Is that a spoiler?" Astra asked.
"Malfoy being extremely arrogant is not a spoiler," Harry said. "He has a point. He's pretty good at flying. It's just I'm much better."
"Because, you had the better broom," Malfoy argued.
"Let it be clear, I don't need a broom to outfly you," Harry said.
"Oooh," Kara said. "He's right though."
Malfoy folded his arms and pouted. And everyone chuckled.
Neville's nerves about the broomstick, and Hermione's as well. And Harry thinks that Neville has enough accidents on the ground.
"Neville is nice enough, but damn if you don't have a point," Astra said.
"He just needs a bit of confidence," Ava suggested.
"Would help if his relatives quit trying to drown him or drop him out of windows," Zari responded.
"Yes," Astra said darkly. "It would."
"And Hermione, you really need to dial it down to about a seven," Zari said. "Because, I wasn't there, and I would have thrown something at you if you just didn't stop."
"I was trying to help," Hermione said. "But, seriously, I don't like flying."
"It's amazing though," Ron said.
"I agree with Weasley," Malfoy said. "I can't believe I just said that."
"And you really can't learn something like that out of a book," Astra said.
"Which is why Hermione doesn't like flying," Harry said. "Because, it's something she's not good at. And that she can't learn it out of a book."
Hermione scowled in response.
"It's just not my thing," Hermione said.
"Which is fine, but you shouldn't insult people who do like it," Ron said. "And I feel like you badmouthed Quidditch just because you can't fly."
"Fine, yeah, I'm not good at flying, because I'm scared to death when I'm off of the ground," Hermione said.
"Do you like flying on planes?" Lita asked.
"I wouldn't like flying one, but I don't mind being a passenger," Hermione said. "Although, I don't like flying over water."
"You weren't the only one with anxiety, Hermione," McGonagall said. "But, you weren't helping with others by trying to recite everything you're read."
"To be fair, those brooms don't really help," Ron admitted. "They haven't upgraded those since Binns was alive."
"A slight exaggeration," McGonagall said. "But, not as much as one would think. I had gone to Dumbledore numerous times. So did Madam Hooch. We both said they were a safety hazard, but much like the multiple teachers per subject, Dumbledore said he would take it to the Ministry."
"And absolutely nothing was done," Harry said.
McGonagall nodded.
"Amazing what happened, even on those antiques," Wood said.
"Yes, Potter is amazing, we're well aware," Malfoy said. "Could we get this over with?"
"If you insist," Sara said.
Remembrall arrives and Neville struggles to remember what he forgotten.
"Useless junk," John said. "Those things light up all of the time, but what's the point if you can't remember in the first place? They're one of the biggest magical cons ever."
'Which is saying something," McGonagall agreed. "Augusta really should know better. All it is going to do is ruin Neville's confidence even more than it already was."
Malfoy's almost theft of swiping Neville's property is shown.
"Apparently, Malfoy didn't think it was so useless," Sara said.
"It was useless," Malfoy said.
"And this is another point of you reminding me highly of Dudley," Harry said. "Doesn't matter how useless the toy was. If I was playing with something, he would swipe it. Did not want it at all, but since I had it, he had to take it."
"I'm nothing like him," Malfoy said crossly.
"Seems to me like you're nothing but a bully and a thief," Kara said. "At least back then you were."
"And what did the Longbottom boy ever do to you?" John asked.
"I didn't have a good reason," Malfoy said. "I just wanted to get a rise out of Potter and Weasley."
"Oh, well that explains it," Astra said. "You were just being a dick."
Malfoy could Astra's theory.
"Nice to see Granger's not the biggest attention whore in your year," John said.
Both Hermione and Malfoy tried to protest that they were not attention whores.
"Sorry, but the evidence is pretty damning," Harry said. "There was no good reason for you to steal that thing."
"Bet you can't even sell that tacky piece of shit for much," Mick said.
"Didn't it break like a month later?" Ron asked.
"I think so," Harry said.
The first flying lesson, up until Neville's rather sickening landing.
The sounds of bones shattering when Neville hit the ground could be heard. The entire group winced.
"And you really should have replaced those bloody brooms," John said. "A long time ago."
"Damn, it's bad enough he was scared to death," Kara said. "But, his first time on a broom and he breaks his wrist."
"He's lucky that's all he broke," Astra said. "Those brooms are hideous."
"I wouldn't use those to sweep the floor," Ava said.
"Every year," McGonagall said. "There's at least one accident. And every year, I went to Dumbledore."
"You were lucky that no one got hurt," Wood said. "Damn lucky."
"Don't you think I know that, Wood," McGonagall said.
"Breaking your wrist like that, it sucks," Mick said.
"Tell me about it," Harry said. "Even with magic, the pain's still there."
"Neville's strong," Ron said. "But, that was scary to watch. And Fred and George were right about the brooms having a mind of their own."
"And you wonder why I don't like flying," Hermione said.
"I can't argue with you on that one," Lena said. "If brooms like that are your first impression, flying really would scare the daylights out of anyone. Especially if you had a fear of heights in the first place."
"Only a prodigy could handle a broom like that without any trouble," Astra said.
Wood looked giddy. He had only heard from McGonagall how good Harry was. This was the first time he would see it in action.
"Hold that thought for a minute," Harry said.
Hooch brings Neville to the hospital wing. And Malfoy makes fun of him afterwards.
Every single person in the room looked at Malfoy with disgust, who threw his hands up in defeat.
"I'm sure if you fell off your broom, you would be dancing around and singing," Lita said.
"I was the worst," Malfoy said. "Happy?"
"What did Neville do to you, you little…." Astra said.
"He didn't do anything to me, I just…it doesn't matter," Malfoy said. "I warned you how rotten I was. I don't know why any of you are surprised with how I'm acting."
"Your behavior was reprehensible," Hermione said. "Astra's right. Neville didn't do anything to you. Why did you go after him?"
"Because, I knew he wouldn't fight back," Malfoy said.
"Which makes you a bully," Zari said.
"Yes," Malfoy agreed.
"And everything Snape thought you would be," Ron murmured to Harry. "Amazing how that works."
More of the scene, with Malfoy getting the Remembrall again.
"Are you part Magpie?" Sara asked.
Malfoy said nothing.
"I told you, he doesn't really want it, he just wants to take it, because someone he doesn't like has it," Harry said. "Just like my cousin."
"He really is like a slimmer version of Dinky Duddydums," Zari said.
Malfoy felt annoyed that he was compared to that fat whale spawn in any way whatsoever.
"It's coming though," Wood said.
"Yes, Oliver, it's coming," Harry said.
Oliver Wood almost did a happy dance to the amusement of everyone involved.
"Should I be concerned he looks as giddy as a schoolgirl with a new vibrator?" Zari asked.
"Well, there's an image I could do without," Sara replied dryly.
Back and forth between Harry and Malfoy.
"You challenged Harry Potter?" Sara asked. "You're just asking to get humbled now."
"Oh, you're going to get on one of those flying death traps," Astra said. "Harry, you're good but…"
"He's amazing," Wood said. "Just watch."
Wood watched. Wood did not blink.
Hermione shouted that Harry would get them all in trouble.
"I don't know why I thought that would work," Hermione said. "Boys."
"Do you mind explaining that really sexist remark to us?" Sara asked coolly.
"Well it's just that a couple of boys would get into a fight over something that stupid," Hermione said.
"Well, I'm a woman, and I find that comment to be bullshit," Sara said.
"It's not like Harry can back down," Zari said..
"And he was making fun of Neville, he doesn't deserve it," Kara said.
"I…I really didn't want to see anyone get hurt," Hermione said.
"Well, you should have led with that," Lena said.
"I didn't think Harry would listen to reason," Hermione said.
"Well, if you tried to articulate yourself, he might," Astra said. "Although, he can be stubborn."
"I was right," Hermione said.
"No, in this situation, he had to go after Malfoy to get Neville's property," Kara said. "Before he throws it into a tree."
"Although I wish he had a better broom," Astra said.
"I wish I had a better broom," Malfoy murmured in disgust. "And I really wish I never picked that stupid thing up."
"Too late now," Ron said.
"Do you enjoy the fruit basket I send you every year, Malfoy?" Wood chimed in.
Malfoy just shoots Wood and Ron both the nastiest looks of loathing.
"No need to rub it in, gentlemen," McGonagall said, although she was smiling. "I'm sure Mr. Malfoy regrets it enough."
Harry's adventures on the really poor school broom, and his amazing flying, is shown where he outclasses Draco Malfoy in every way.
Everyone watched in awe. Astra's mouth hung open.
Finally, Wood turned to McGonagall with an accusatory expression in his eyes.
"You understated how good he was!" Wood shouted. "He controlled that thing, like it was an International Standard broom. Smooth as silk!"
"Almost like the broom wasn't there," Kara whispered to Harry.
The two exchanged a knowing look. Sara stifled a laugh, and Astra looked at them, confused.
"Later," Harry told her.
"Right," Astra said.
"Okay, that was impressive," Hermione said. "But, I thought for sure you were going to break your neck."
"Well, I didn't," Harry said. "To me, it was as easy as breathing."
"Watching that, wow," Lita said. "You are completely insane to make that work for you."
"And what were you thinking?" Ava asked Malfoy.
"I was scared to death up there," Malfoy said. "Potter controlled that school broom like it was professional standard. It wasn't even human. He should not have been able to do that. It was scary."
"Especially when he threatened to knock you off of his broom?" John asked.
"I realized then how badly I had messed up," Malfoy said. "Even more with what followed."
Everything came back to Malfoy. Snape was not too happy that Malfoy's grandstanding got Gryffindor the best possible seeker. And neither was the rest of Slytherin. They just did not make their displeasure public, although Malfoy quietly served a week of detention due to Snape's edict. Only because he made Potter look impressive in front of the entire first year.
In private, Malfoy was a pariah for a very long time. He did not start to regain any sort of political capital until his father bought those brooms. Although it was still shaky ground for him.
"And you shat yourself when he reminded you the two goons weren't up there," John added.
Malfoy groaned in response. He was a bit terrified when Potter reminded him that he was out there without any kind of protection.
Harry catches the Remembrall, and all is well. And McGonagall pops up.
"I can only imagine what was going through your mind at that point," Harry said.
"Relief that you weren't splattered all over the grounds," McGonagall said. "I was impressed. Even if you shouldn't have been up there and you were playing a dangerous game flying a school broom like that."
"But, it all worked out well," Wood said.
"I couldn't have…known that at the time," McGonagall said.
Harry is led off, with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looking amused.
"I would say you're awful," Lita said. "But you're about to be bitchslapped by some serious karma."
"Don't I know it," Malfoy grumbled.
"Smug little shits, the lot of you," Astra said. "Really wish Harry would have knocked you off of that broom. He had every right to."
"You can't be seriously thinking Harry should have murdered Malfoy," Hermione said.
"Maybe not murder," Sara said. "But, maybe the fear of God should have been put in him a lot sooner and reminded him that his actions have consequences."
"Do you honestly think that I got out of this without any consequences?" Malfoy asked.
"Sure seems like it from where we're standing," Ron said.
Harry's worries about being sent back to the Dursleys are shown.
Everyone cringed at the thought of it.
"I'd say you were a bit melodramatic," Kara said. "But, that's really a genuine fear."
"Makes you think," Nora said.
"If Harry's terrified to go back there, he'll bend over backwards to make sure he pleases the people who have that happy power," Astra said. "Really glad that Dumbledore seems to have his best interests in mind, aren't you?"
"The Dursleys were bad, but if Harry was in any real danger, Dumbledore would have stepped in," Hermione said.
"Do you not understand that he was sent back there with his mind wiped after he almost escaped?" Astra asked. "And Dumbledore had to have seen his memories to know which ones to erase."
Hermione opened her mouth and shut it. She had no defense for that one.
"The problem was, I wasn't in any real danger," Harry said. "But, that doesn't mean I was exactly having a good time there, isn't it?"
"Well, we've established a long time ago you have a very skewed sense of how dangerous certain situations can be," Sara said. "I learned that the first time I met you."
"She has a point," Ron said.
"They wouldn't kick you out though," Wood said. "You're Harry Potter."
"Wood's correct," Malfoy said. "Do you realize what would have happened if Beauxbatons or even Durmstrang would have swooped in and offered you a place at their school? Or any school for that matter? They would gladly take you because you're you."
"So, you think I could have practically gotten away with murder so the Ministry did not lose face," Harry said.
Malfoy nodded.
"Doesn 't explain fifth year," Harry said.
"Umbridge and Fudge were too drunk on their own power and thought they did not need you anymore," Malfoy muttered in undertone. "Even if you gotten thrown out after your trial, the same thing still applies. And the Ministry would have looked monumentally stupid."
"More so than usual," Harry said.
Malfoy nodded.
More of Harry's worries.
"In hindsight, I was kind of melodramatic," Harry said.
"Just a little," Ron said with a bemused look. "Just a little."
"We can excuse it," Kara said. "The Dursleys did a number on you."
"And even after you go to Hogwarts, they still haunt you," John said. "Abusive assholes really are more terrifying than any demon or monster."
"The Dursleys are monsters," Astra said.
No one disputed that.
"They really were that bad?" Wood asked.
"They kept me in a cupboard for the first ten years," Harry said.
Wood's expression darkened. He could not imagine how anyone could treat a child like that, never mind Harry Potter.
"And to think, my parents would have loved to have you," Wood said. "And it would have been cool to be the older brother of Harry Potter. Teaching you all about Quidditch."
"Many families would have liked to have Harry," Ron said. "But, when Dumbledore tells you to jump, a lot of people ask him how high."
"I thought he was great," Wood said.
"We all did at one point," Kara said. "But he really shouldn't be making certain decisions."
Harry's comment about Wood potentially being a cane followed.
"Never at Hogwarts!" McGonagall exclaimed, practically scandalized.
Astra fumed at what Harry was implying. They better not. They better not.
"Ooh, that's really bad your mind went there," Ava said. "So, Harry, did they…"
"Vernon's sister suggested I should have a cane used on me to make me more obedient," Harry said. "But, Vernon and Petunia never did."
"I'm surprised," Kara said grimly.
"Petunia must not be completely stupid,"John said.
"She did marry Vernon," Lena said. "And reproduce."
"Thanks, thanks for that," Lita said.
"I like how they never really leave, after you left them," Astra said.
"They're a memory now," Harry said.
Astra nodded. Not dead. Having to live with the fact they would be forever known as the abusive relatives of Harry Potter. It almost made up for the childhood trauma in Astra's eyes.
"I thought this would be a happy stroll down memory lane," Wood said. "Never thought I would be this depressed since we lost the Cannons."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"No offense, you did put together a good side, and we underestimated you," Wood said. "Next time though, next time."
"Look forward to the rematch," Ron said.
"Let's continue," Zari said.
Wood and McGonagall have a chat about Harry and his Quidditch skills.
"All my dreams come true, is putting it mildly," Wood said. "You don't know how bad that Seeker before you was."
"Wasn't that Charlie Weasley though?" Lita asked.
"Um, no," Wood said.
"When did the oldest Weasley brothers actually go to Hogwarts?" Lita asked.
"Ron," Harry said.
"Charlie left four years before I went, and Bill, six," Ron said. "Not sure what Rowling was on when she gave their ages."
"I told her, Ron," Harry said. "She decided to make Bill and Charlie younger."
"Well, they weren't offended," Ron chuckled.
"She used what Harry told her in the early books, the math lines up about as well as Rowling's math normally does anyway," Nora said. "But, she retconned things later, I guess."
"And for the mobile game," Lita said. "You know, Hogwarts Mystery."
"Still playing that?" Zari asked.
"Yeah," Lita said.
"How far are you?" Zari asked.
"I'm about to start Year Six, Chapter Eighteen," Lita said.
Zari winced.
"I'm…not going to spoil anything," Zari said.
"What happened?" Lena asked.
"No spoilers," Zari said.
"Isn't that the one where…"
And Nora's tongue got tied to prevent her from spilling the tea.
"We're kind of getting way off track," Sara said. "Harry's the world's best flying and Oliver Wood is happy."
"Putting it mildly," Wood said. "Can't tell you how bad the game against Slytherin last year went. We were hammered badly and then the Seeker knocked himself out, when we were a hundred and forty points down. It was crushing to say the least."
"So, anything would be an upgrade," Sara said.
"Pretty much," Wood agreed
Harry and Ron talk about Harry getting on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. And how Wood wants to keep it a secret.
"Good luck that that one," Lita said. "News travels fast."
"Even more so with the Hogwarts rumor mill," Harry said.
"Tell one person, who tells a friend, who tells another friend, and pretty soon, the whole school knows," Kara said.
"Hogwarts in a nutshell," Hermione agreed. "Especially with the portraits being gossips."
Fred and George find out and talk to Harry and Ron.
"Well, I had to tell the team," Wood said. "I thought they would understand how they should keep it a secret."
"Didn't work out too well overall," Harry said.
"Unfortunately, but I had to keep a lid on it as much as possible," Wood said. "All it takes is to have a private conversation in front of the wrong portrait."
"Especially that Violet," Ron said. "You know the Fat Lady's friend? She has a big mouth."
"That's for sure," Harry said in remembrance.
Harry and Ron have a confrontation with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"He is brave with his two goons," Lena said. "Reminds me of Lex. He's a big shit talker when he has the advantage. If Oits and Mercy watched his back, he thought he was invincible. Although it's an insult to Otis and Mercy comparing them to Crabbe and Goyle."
"Unless they're slugs, it would be," Malfoy said. "And of course I was a lot braver with them. They're the perfect shield if someone attacks me. And please don't compare me to that sociopath again."
"I'm not going to even comment on how you're an awful person," Sara said.
"Because, it goes without saying," Malfoy said.
Malfoy challenges Harry to a Wizarding Duel and Ron accepts on his behalf.
Ron cringed at how stupid he was in this situation.
"You really took leave of your senses, didn't you?" John asked. "You accepted a challenge, to a duel on someone else's behalf. Which means, you're on the hook if something happens to them and take on any burdens or debts they do if that person gets killed."
"I didn't know," Ron said.
"Yes, you didn't," Harry said.
"I'm sorry about that one," Ron said. "That was one out of line. I never should have accepted that duel on your behalf."
"Why did you? "Astra asked.
"Malfoy knew how to push all my buttons," Ron said.
"Of course, he wanted to push someone's buttons, he was humiliated," Astra said. "And I thought you had some sense. You could have gotten Harry killed!"
Ron leaned back. Yeah, he did a really stupid thing there.
"Good thing that I don't think the little wanker had the stones to actually show up," John said.
"Keep reading," Malfoy said.
Ron and Harry talk and Hermione intervenes.
"You were eavesdropping on their conversation?" Astra asked.
"I…"Hermione stammered.
"You were concerned, is that it again?" Astra asked. "You know, you keep intervening when your opinion is not asked for."
"I…I didn't want them to cause any more trouble," Hermione said.
"You really needed a hobby," Zari said.
Hermione had been really embarrassed how she came across in these early days at Hogwarts.
Hermione's comments about losing points that she gained had been played.
"Selfish?" Astra asked. "Selfish?"
Hermione refused to back down, and so did Astra.
"I can't, I just can't," Astra murmured.
"That was the wrong thing to say," Hermione said.
"You think?" Kara asked.
"While your intentions were noble, Hermione, your methods could use work," McGonagall said.
"You never had friends before Hogwarts, "Nora said.
Hermione said nothing, but her stormy expression said everything.
Harry and Ron prepare for the duel. And running into Hermione again.
"You know something, maybe you should have told someone," Ava said.
"What?" Sara asked.
"No, I'm serious," Ava said. "If she was so concerned, she should have told them everything that happened. That Malfoy made the challenge and that Ron accepted on Harry's behalf."
"It makes sense," Astra said. "So, why didn't you?"
"I thought I could talk them down," Hermione said.
"So, you thought you could do better than a teacher," McGonagall said.
"I didn't, Professor, honestly," Hermione said. "I thought I could talk them down. Make them see sense."
"Did you actually try and have a conversation with them, or did you just tell them what you thought they should do?" Zari asked.
Malfoy just grinned. He was happy that Granger was getting grilled.
Harry snapped time so only he and Hermione could speak.
"Two years later, you went to a teacher because you were concerned," Harry said. "You didn't think I could listen to reason then. When you knew me."
Hermione could tell that Harry still had not quite forgiven her for going to McGonagall over the Firebolt. Or trusted her as much as he used to before that.
"I…I don't know why I didn't try and talk to you, then," Hermione said. "Do we really need to talk about this now?"
"I warned you, you're going to have to face some awful things you did in the past," Harry said. "And you betraying my trust like that was one of the first big breaks overall."
"I'm beginning to think that our friendship wasn't as strong as we all thought," Hermione said. "You've changed. Your new friends don't like me at all."
"You can't say you are coming across as the best right now," Harry said.
"No," Hermione admitted. "I can't. But, I got better."
"At times," Harry said. "And at times you were worse."
Hermione sighed and could not disagree.
"I must be mental agreeing to this," Hermione said.
"The world is mad," Harry said.
Harry started time and Hermione let out the breath she was holding it.
Hermione continues to nag Harry and Ron, bringing up points she got for the Switching Spells again. And how she did not want Slytherin to win.
"Nice to see Ms. Tolerance and Understanding is really against Slytherin like the rest," Malfoy said before anyone could pipe up. "There are two other houses you know."
"I know, but I was hoping to appeal to them," Hermione said.
"You were hoping to nag them into submission and for them to fall in line like a couple of scolded puppies," Kara said to her.
"And there is, about the house points again," Astra said. "Is that all you care about?"
Hermione folded her arm and just scoffed.
"Nothing I can say is going to change what I was like back then,' Hermione said.
Hermione gets locked out and come with Harry and Ron on their little trip into the hallways, lecturing them all the way.
"I would have thrown your smug ass underneath the bus," Astra hissed angrily.
"Would you have, Harry?" Kara asked.
"Not sure what I would have done," Harry admitted. "She was trying to stop us. Although, she really was arrogant in how she went on appealing to us."
"I did have some nerve thinking that I could make you understand that way," Hermione said quietly.
Hermione could not believe the gall of her eleven-year-old self, and she felt anger at herself looking back on it.
"Shouldn't have been out there," Ron admitted. "We know that."
"But, you didn't give us a reason to want to listen to you," Harry said.
"You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar," Zari said.
"Wish I would have figured that out sooner," Hermione said.
Hermione was not looking forward to Halloween. At all.
Neville joins them after a scare with them thinking it was Mrs. Norris.
"At least he's fine," Astra said.
"Bit of a bother having both of them out of there," Wood said.
McGonagall's eyes narrowed when she realized that Neville would not have been out there, if the Fat Lady had not gone galivanting.
"She's unreliable," Harry said.
"I know," McGonagall said. "But, you know what the alternatives are."
Harry remembered third year and shivered.
"Dare I ask?" Astra asked.
"We'll get there soon enough," Lena said.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville talked for a minute, with Ron's threat to use the Curse of the Bogies if Neville and Hermione got them caught.
"Unfair I took things out on Neville," Ron said. "Not his fault he was out there."
"It was stressful," Harry said.
"But, it was my fault? Hermione asked.
"Did we ask you to follow us?' Harry asked.
"No," Hermione said. "Fine, I chose to go out there. Happy."
"For the moment," Harry said.
"So much could go wrong," John said.
"So much did," Malfoy murmured.
They arrive at the Trophy Room and looked around.
"This should be the point where the fact it''s a trap should really be occurring to one of you," Sara said.
"It should be," Harry agreed.
Astra rocked back a little bit and waited. She gripped Harry's hand so hard that nails dug into the side of it.
"It's fine," Harry said.
"That comment becomes less reassuring with each chapter," Astra said.
"She's got a point," Ron said.
"Yes, she does," Kara agreed.
"Let's get this over with," Astra murmured.
Filch and Mrs. Norris arrived with the entire group panicking in the process and almost knocking over a suit of armor.
The loud echoes of clanging armor caused the entire group to be on edge.
"Of all the luck!" Nora yelled. "It would have to be the creepy school janitor and his demon cat."
"Sounds like something out of a horror movie," Mick said. "RUN FASTER!"
"Potter, you better run!" Wood yelled at the visual display.
No one dared tell Oliver Wood that this already happened.
The group runs up until Hermione doing the "I told you so" bit.
Astra said nothing to Hermione. She had been angered beyond words because of the situation already.
"Really not the time or the place for I told you so," Ava said.
"Okay Miss Smarty Pants," Sara said. "Why didn't you try and tell Harry and Ron that it could be a trap? Maybe they would have listened."
"We might?" Ron asked.
"I would have heard her out, if she had bothered to explain her points, instead of lecturing us," Harry said.
"So, why didn't you say that in the first place?" Kara asked.
"I…I really don't know," Hermione said. "Maybe, I assumed they knew."
"You know what they say about people who assume," Mick said.
"Damn lucky that it was a set up," John said. "And damn lucky that Harry didn't know his rights. Because, if he did, he could have disgraced and dishonored the entire Malfoy family. Took everything including that gaudy pimp cane Luicus Malfoy strutted around with like a pompous peacock."
"Oh, that thing was an eyesore," Malfoy said.
"Lucky, I didn't know a lot of things," Harry said.
Malfoy swallowed and nodded in response.
Neville, Ron, Harry, and Hermione ran headlong into Peeves.
"Oh, shit," John said. "The Poltergeist. This could go really well, or extremely tits up in a hurry."
"He better not ruin this," Wood said.
More of the scene with Peeves, culminating in Ron taking a swipe at Peeves and Peeves bellowing.
"In hindsight, not one of my better ideas," Ron said.
"How do you get out of this one?" Astra asked Harry.
"Let's keep going," Harry said.
The scene plays up until Hermione opening the door with a simple unlocking spell.
Here, McGonagall's eyebrows narrowed and she gasped in shock. Hermione could open that door. With an unlocking spell?
"At least you're out of harm's way," Astra said.
"Mmm," Harry said.
"Now what?" Astra asked.
"Oh, Rao give me strength," Kara breathed when she realized.
The scene of Peeves tricking Filch with double negatives.
The entire group laughed with some much needed levity.
"I love that guy," Mick said.
"He has his moments," Harry said.
"I guess, he was useful there," Hermione said.
"Lucky he wanted to screw with Filth more than he wanted to screw with you guys," Lita said.
'Thankfully," Lena said. "Kara? Are you okay?"
"Just keep going," Kara said.
Kara clung onto one of Harry's arms.
Harry comes to the realization that he's in the third floor corridor. And what was inside?
Everyone looked horrified at the realization.
"Three headed dog?" Lena asked. "There's a Cerebus behind that door!"
"Why is a Cerberus in Hogwarts?" Astra asked.
"WHY IS A FIRST YEAR ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH AN UNLOCKING SPELL?" Wood asked. "Is Dumbledore trying to get my new Seeker eaten?"
"Minerva," Harry said. "Explain."
"There should have been stronger spells on that door," McGonagall said. "Dumbledore assured me that it would be safe."
"Despite warning of a certain death to any student who went up there," Sara said.
"I don't understand it, either," Hermione said. "I shouldn't have been able to open that door. Did Dumbledore make a mistake?"
"That's a big mistake!" Ron yelled. "A huge mistake!"
"A huge three headed mistake," Kara said.
"Well, anyone who knows the Greek myth should be able to get past it anyway," Nora said. "Shouldn't they?"
"Hermione, I'm surprised you didn't know," Harry said.
"I'm not one for Greek Mythology," Hermione said with a shrug.
Scratch that, Harry was surprised that Voldemort had to get Hagrid drunk to find out.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville escape the Third Floor corridor and run up to the Gryffindor Common Room.
Astra knew everything was fine. Harry was here, wasn't he? Yet, her heart was still pounding.
"You came this close to getting ripped apart," John said. "Because, Albus Dumbledore thought it was a good bloody idea to put a bloody Cerebus in his bloody school! And he called me negligent and irresponsible!"
"I can't disagree," McGonagall said.
"And what would Dumbledore do if someone with less wits that Potter entered that corridor?" Malfoy asked.
"We would have an ugly matter to deal with," McGonagall said.
Harry knew it got worse. He held Astra in close and kissed her lightly.
Wood let out a sigh of relief.
"I didn't know about that," Wood said.
"Well, no one did," Harry said.
The group was back in the Common Room. Hermione makes her comment about them not noticing what the dog was standing on.
"Oh, maybe the floor?" Astra snapped shortly. "Not too concerned with the feet. I would be a tad bit too distracted with the heads!"
Harry makes a similar comment reading the heads.
"Are you sure you two aren't secretly twins?" Lita teased Astra and Harry.
"Don't be ridiculous," Astra said.
"Great minds think alike," Harry said.
"And strange ones do too," Nora said.
Hermione says the famous "killed or worse expelled" line.
Several people rolled their eyes and Hermione face palmed at her own past self and what she said.
"Priorities, much?" Zari asked.
"Oh, I can't even defend that one," Hermione said
"Then don't even try," Kara said.
"Although good eye on the trap door," Sara said.
"Yeah, I guess it was," Hermione agreed. "But, I just happened to glance down at the right time. And it was lucky it did not take a bite out of me."
The final revelations were made as Harry figured out the grubby little package from Gringotts was hidden at Hogwarts.
"And that's the end of that chapter," Harry said.
"You got out of it, just fine, Potter," Malfoy said.
"Well, it's not like you didn't, Malfoy," Harry said.
"The squib and his pet cat kept an eye on me for the next month, hoping to catch me doing something out of line," Malfoy said. "Filch wasn't pleased that he did not catch anyone out of bed. He thought I was pranking him."
"What would have happened if you did get caught?" Lena asked.
"Nothing good," Harry admitted. "Although, maybe the poor security on that door would have been brought to someone's attention."
"We can only hope, Harry," McGonagall said.
"That was quite the emotional roller coaster ride," Sara said.
"One of the more eventual chapters yet," Lita agreed. "And seeing you perform those death-defying flying moves were amazing."
"No spoilers, but you've seen nothing yet," Harry said.
"He's gotten better," Kara said.
The two smiled knowingly.
"Sara's right, that was an emotional roller coaster ride," Astra said. "I wanted to know about everything. And that meant everything."
"You did," Harry agreed. "So, Oliver?"
"I'll be back for your first Quidditch match," Wood said.
And if all goes right, a few more old friends would be coming along for the ride.
"And I'll be back later as well," McGonagall said. "There's more than enough to unpack after the climax of that last chapter."
"Yes," Harry said. "Can't change anything."
"No, but I've got a bottle of scotch with my name on it," McGonagall said. "After seeing Miss Granger unlock the door that easily. And four first years being close to death."
"Better save up some for later," Harry told her.
McGonagall understood what Harry was talking about. Wood and McGonagall left, to return later on in the book.
"So, coffee break?" Sara asked.
"Good idea," Harry said. "Next chapter's an important one."
Ron and Hermione both nodded in agreement. They knew what was going to come.
"We can also eat some of that candy that Harry brought us," Lita said. "So, who is brave enough to sample the best Bertie Botts has to offer?"
To Be Continued.