Lily walked down the hallway with a purpose. She could barely hear the footsteps behind her.
"I know what you're trying to do."
Sara approached Lily from behind.
"I'm not letting my son grow up like this," Lily said.
"I understand your concern," Sara said. "And I know it's hard to tell you to let it be. I've known Harry for a long time and I know he's extremely stubborn when he sets his mind to something. And I know he had to get it from somewhere. But, we can't mess with the timeline. Harry's orders."
"How can you stand by and let this happen?"
"Not easily," Sara said.
Lily waited for a few seconds and took in a deep heaving breath.
"It's just hard," Lily said. "All of my friends are dead or worse, it seems. Harry's sent to live there. And Dumbledore's playing games. And there's some time assassin after us. And they already tried to hurt James. Bad."
"What's going on with James?" Sara asked. "Ava told me how he reacted when Harry touched him."
"Harry had to correct the timeline before," Lily said. "I can't tell you anymore, but…it's James Potter if you're wondering. And it will be James Potter until that Halloween night."
Sara raised her eyebrow.
"Harry didn't tell me everything," Lily said. "Likely for a wise thing."
"Mmm," Sara said.
"Prongs, you really should do what the nice doctor tells you."
"Padfoot, I'm fine. I want to hear about my son's life as well. I can't believe those people put bars on his windows and starved him! What the hell was Dumbledore thinking?"
Sirius walked out and James did, with Alex walking up behind them as well.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked him.
"Take a lot more than some nutter with a dagger to get rid of me," James said.
Lily turned to Alex.
"Is he okay?"
"Physically speaking, he's fine," Alex said. "Although you likely should not let him or Harry come into contact. Caitlin, that's to say, Doctor Snow is running more tests. I think he'll be fine to join you for the reading."
"As long as I don't go near my son," James said. "Why did making contact almost erase me?"
"It's…we're not sure," Alex said. "Caitlin will get back to you on that one when she can."
"So what did I miss?" Sirius asked. "I've been filling in Prongs along the way."
"Well," Lily said. "Our son had to fly a car to Hogwarts after the barrier at Platform Nine and Three Quarters got shut down."
James whistled and the trio walked away. Sara turned to Alex.
"So, are you joining us?" Sara asked.
"Um, maybe I'll stick around for a little bit," Alex said. "Keep an eye on him. So, Harry was locked in his room at age twelve and starved because of some house elf?"
"Yeah, but you know that," Sara said.
"This casual abuse bullshit is a lot easier to swallow when you don't know the person is real," Alex said. "So, Ava check back?"
"No, she's still helping Tonks, Behrad, and Nate hunt down our little time assassin," Sara said. "Ava?"
"The trail ran cold in 1988," Ava said.
"Is that significant?" Sara asked.
"I'll look into it," Nate said over the communicator. "Our time traveling hitman could be sending us on a wild goose chase. And we're going to have to keep an eye on other prominent figures throughout Harry's history."
"So, what's the chances we're going to have to save either Voldemort or Dumbledore and bring them in on the reading?" Tonks asked.
"Let's hope not," Sara said.
Sara knew she might not be able to protect either of those two from any kind of violent retaliation.
"And what's to stop them from trying to go for a different version of Lily, the Marauders, or the others?" Alex asked.
"Well, there's a lot of timey whimy shit that will prevent them from trying that," Sara said. "Of course, we don't know what this person is capable of. So, it's imperative we hunt them down."
"Right, Captain," Nate said. "You can count on us."
Sara and Alex moved down the hallway.
"Two versions of Snape?" James asked. "Can I return back to the med-bay?"
"You think I'm pleased about this, Potter," Snape said.
"I'm not, especially with how dour my future self is," Severus said.
"Well, I don't recall myself being that blissfully ignorant," Snape said.
Severus and Snape got into a sneering contest. Lily just rolled her eyes.
"So, come to join the party?" Kara asked Alex.
"For a little bit," Alex said. "Harry?"
"Just relieving some cherished childhood memories," Harry said.
Introductions were made all around the board. Ava had not returned yet from her little mission.
"So, let's get rolling?" Sara asked.
"Chapter Six," Gideon read. "Gilderoy Lockhart."
"An entire chapter about him?" John asked. "Bloody hell."
"Potter, I demand you to send me back to Hell," Snape said. "Nothing anyone down there can conceive can be bad as relieving that twat."
"Oh, suck it up, Snivellus," Sirius said. "If we have to go through this, you do as well."
Breakfast this morning features Hermione looking rather cold towards Harry and Ron. And also Neville interaction with Harry and Ron, mentioning there's some items he forgot. And here comes the post, with Errol almost crashing down onto the table.
"That poor owl," Nora said.
"I'm all about getting your money's worth," Zari said. "But, that's a bit much."
"That's Arthur's owl from when he was at Hogwarts," James said. "Left a couple of years before we went, but I've seen the owl enough times when Molly's brothers, Gideon and Fabian received post."
Fred and George looked solemn at the mention of their departed uncles. Another victim of the noseless terror.
"Nice bloke," Sirius said. "Bit eccentric, but nice bloke. Would give you the robes off of his back if you didn't have any clothes."
"That's Dad," Ginny said.
"And here it comes," George said.
"Errol almost died for Mum's displeasure," Fred said.
Ron looked a bit anxious. Those who knew shot him a sympathetic look.
Hermione thinks that Ron is worried that Errol is dead. However, Ron is petrified because a howler had been sent.
"Oh, why aren't those dreadful things banned?" Natalie asked.
"It's humiliating to get one," Regulus said.
"After a while, you grow a callous towards it," Sirius said. "You get your fair share of comments about how your mother is an absolute unhinged nutter. As if I didn't know."
"Not surprised you got a few," Kara said.
"Yeah, a few a week," Peter said although his expression was humorless.
"Always did something wrong to bring shame upon the family name," Sirius said.
"Auntie really needed to take a step back," Bellatrix said. "They thought she was a deranged nutter."
"And meeting her would remove all doubt," Nora said.
Harry doesn't get a straight answer with what a howler is. Neville tells Ron to open it and it will be all over for a few minutes.
"Oh God," Lita murmured. "Gideon, you're really not going to…"
"I would suggest everyone take a moment to brace themselves," Gideon said.
"Can't be any worse than my mother," Sirius said.
"You want to bet on it?" Ron asked.
"Oh, Molly has a set of lungs on her," Bellatrix said. "But Auntie can cause problems."
"Sorry, Ron," Peter told him. "Just sorry."
"Thanks," Ron said.
"We should be used to it by now," Fred said.
"Okay, guys, this is not a drill," Sara said. "Earmuffs in place."
Earmuffs appeared and everyone hoped that would block out the sounds of the replication of Molly Weasley's impressive yelling from her howler.
Molly Weasley's howler. Just Molly Weasley's howler.
The earmuffs only worked mostly.
"Bloody hell!" James yelled. "Did she find a way to make those things even more loud and obnoxious than usual?"
"These things work on Mandrakes," Ginny said. "But not Mum's voice."
"That's out of line," Alex said. "Sure, discipline your child if you have to. I would be pissed if one of my kids took a flying car to school."
"Considering this is the sort of thing you would have done," Kara teased her sister.
"Not the point," Alex said. "My point is, that there's no good at humiliating your child in front of the school. And it's not something anyone could ignore. You're going to hear it."
"So, how bad is it if you ignore it?" Ruby asked.
"Amplified by ten times," Sirius said.
"Damn," Mia said. "Good thing Ron opened it."
"Yeah, I put the earmuffs on and I even took five years off my hearing," Junior said. "Nice mother you have there."
"Wouldn't want to have to live with her," Peter said shaking his head. "Be better off going to Azkaban."
"I can't say I disagree, Pettigrew," Severus said.
Those who knew the future remained stoic.
The aftermath, with Ron snapping a bit at Hermione.
"Out of line," Astra said.
"Oh, what I said?" Ron asked.
"Not you, her," Astra said.
"But..."
"No one deserves to have one of those things," Astra said. "How would you feel if you had your dirty laundry aired in front of the entire school?"
"Not pleasant," Hermione said.
"Exactly," Kate said.
"Hermione, dear, you should have been outraged on your friend's behalf," Charlotte said.
"I just…I thought that it would teach him a lesson," Hermione murmured. "Instead it humiliated him."
"Exactly," Harry said.
"To be fair, they forgot about it in after week when Mum sent us a howler," George said.
"Not sure why she bothered," Fred said. "Can you even remember what it was about?"
"They all blend together," George said.
After the Howler, Hermione is acting more cordial to Harry and Ron.
"Hmmph," Kate, Astra, and Ruby all said in unison.
"Oh, Hermione," Charlotte said. "I don't understand."
"They didn't deserve that," Lena said.
"No, but it's not her fault that it happened," Alex said. "It's Hogwarts for allowing those blasted things to be sent to students in the first place."
"Why were they allowed?" Harry asked. "Or is this another Dumbledore had his reasons thing?"
"We both know the answer to that one, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "If it were up to me anyone who sent one of those things would not be allowed to send post to the school."
"And yet, you bow before your dear leader," Bellatrix said. "You don't change much, do you Minnie?"
"I'm not…"
"Enough," Sara said. "Howlers are the worst. They should be banned."
Lockhart gives his "guidance" to Professor Sprout. Who is not too pleased to receive it.
"Hey, everyone," Lita said. "It's that one guy who claims to know anything, but knows nothing."
"What does he think he is, a social media influencer?" Ruby asked.
"Ouch," Zari murmured. "That one hurt."
"Sprout knows more than Lockhart ever will," Remus said.
"I wouldn't trust Lockhart to prune my weeds," Junior said.
Sprout ushers the class in. Lockhart wants a quick word with Harry.
"How about no?" Astra asked.
"Guy seems really intent on getting you alone," Mick said.
"Oh, damn, don't put that thought in my head," Sirius groaned.
"He better not have," Lily said.
"He didn't," Harry said. "But thanks for your concern."
"He really shouldn't be around children," Mia said.
"That's for sure with how he's been acting," Zari said.
And Lockhart shuts the door on Sprout's face.
"Rude," Sara said.
"I'm surprised the teachers put up with him at all," Kara said.
"It wasn't easy," Snape said.
Lockhart acts like his usual charming self, and brings up the flying car.
"Ugh," Astra said. "His swarminess just radiates of the page"
"So, you've noticed," Kara said dryly.
"He's gotten worse," Junior said. "He's gotten more arrogant."
"How does someone like this get published?" Remus asked in disgust.
"He's got the perfect smile to put on the front of books," Ginny said.
"Yeah, he's camera friendly," Zari concluded.
Lockhart thinks that he gave Harry a taste of publicity. And won't let Harry defend himself. He keeps prattling on and on about Harry. Says more than a few people heard of Harry thanks to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But it's nothing compared to winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award.
"If I could suspend my disbelief and believe Lockhart had any self-awareness at all, I almost would think he's making a joke," Lita said.
"He is the joke," Mick said. "To think they published him. It's bullshit!"
"Yes, it is," Junior said. "Although, I'm curious how he managed to spin all of his tales."
"We'll find out later," Alex said.
"And Lockhart did sincerely believe that award was better than beating Voldemort," Harry said.
"I'll believe it," Sara said.
"I would pay money to see someone hex all of his teeth out," Sirius said.
"Don't tempt me," Lily said.
"I'll be first in line, if he doesn't watch it," James said.
Harry finally escapes Lockhart and we have Herbology. Which we learn about Mandrakes.
"And yet, less stressful on the ear drums than Mum's howler," George said.
"No kidding," Fred said.
Hermione naturally answers the questions and gets some points from Gryffindor.
"Of course, you did," Malfoy said.
"You're the type of person who always answers the teacher's questions, right?" James asked.
"Yeah, most of the time, why?" Hermione asked.
"You should let others have a crack at it," James said.
"They won't learn anything if you keep having all of the answers," Alex said.
"But I just wanted to…"
"You wanted to prove yourself,' Harry said.
"But, it's never enough," Natalie said.
"Got to wait to see if anyone else knows," Lily said.
"I…I do that a lot," Hermione said.
"We know," Ron and Harry said in unison.
The class puts the ear muffs on and deals with the Mandrakes. They are ugly to say the very least.
"Fugly is the perfect word for them," Lita said.
"I always liked that lesson," Lily said.
"No one wanted to take the pink earmuffs," Zari said. "Well, at least wizards have some sense of style."
"It's not like when we had that class," Sirius said. "When we gave them no choice?"
"You turned all of the earmuffs pink," Kara said.
"Of course," Sirius said. "Damn good bit of magic as well."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione meet Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"Sounds like a bit of a snob to me," Lena said.
"Oh, Justin's…he's got rich parents," Hermione said.
"He's not got much of a brain though," Ginny chimed in.
Justin talks about all of the things that Lockhart is capable of, gushing over him like a fanboy. The highlight is is defeat of a werewolf at a phone booth.
"Well, there's someone who blindly believes Lockhart's lies," Astra said.
"He looks like the type who would grate on you after a while," Lita said.
"Lockhart's books wouldn't be half bad fiction," Harry said.
"It's just that he wanted people to believe they were real," Sara said.
"So, is this a spoiler that Lockhart's a fraud?" Ruby asked.
"No, it's having eyes," Junior said. "And see just how much of an idiot he is."
Justin mentions he was down for Eton, but that's all the time they have for, as the ear muffs are on.
"Very rich, very prestigious school," Lena said. "Which makes the Finch-Fletchleys akin to the Malfoys, at least in the Muggle world."
"Ugh, please don't compare me to that toolbag," Malfoy said.
"It's true though," Mia said. "Even in my time, it's a place where only the richest go to."
Transfiguration class. Ron's malfunctioning wand is a highlight, causing him to squash his beetle by accident.
"You let a student with a malfunctioning wand in class?" Narcissa asked McGonagall in surprise.
"I…I really don't have an excuse for that one," McGonagall said.
"The fact Ron could perform any magic at all really is remarkable," Nora said.
"Given the wand was held together by tape and a prayer, I would agree," Harry said.
"The idiot boy should have been taken by the hand to Diagon Alley and forced to get a new wand," Snape said. "If he was in Slytherin, he would be."
"Hell Snape has a point," James said. "Why didn't you take him there, Professor?"
"I had my hands full with other things," McGonagall said.
"Teaching seven years of Transfiguration, Deputy Head, and Head of House," Kara said. "I think you had too much on your plate."
"We've established that, Ms. Danvers," McGonagall said. "I was as glad to see the summer as the students were at times. Although, there was still work to be done even after they're gone."
Ron is not going to write home for a new wand, fully expecting to receive another howler back.
"Yeah, a child expecting to get yelled at because they need an important tool is really a healthy environment to deal with," Alex said.
"Plus, he should get his own wand," Natalie said.
"And yet, I didn't," Ron said.
"You should have," Sirius said.
"Can't get very far with an ill-fitted wand," Peter said.
After Transfiguration, Harry made his way down the corridor and came face to face with a young Slytherin in his year.
"Potter," Daphne said. "Eventful summer?"
"Oh, that's one way to say it," Harry said.
"Between the hoovering charm and taking the car to Hogwarts, you do live dangerously, don't you?" Daphne asked.
"I…."
"Both happened for a reason," Daphne said. "I can't believe we got stuck with Gilderoy Lockhart of all people And his blinding smile."
Harry eyed Daphne for another moment.
"So, how are you?" Harry asked.
"Oh, the usual," Daphne said "Top of my year barely, although I know Granger's going to work hard to be her best. And I heard that Malfoy wants to prove himself. And my sister's at Hogwarts this year. Astoria."
"Oh?" Harry asked. "Slytherin?"
"Yes," Daphne agreed. "She is. She wants to meet you. And we can do so discreetly. Third floor corridor. I heard it's no longer deadly."
Harry recalled the last year and nodded.
"My father passed this summer," Daphne said.
"I'm sorry," Harry said.
"He worked hard, and his work caught up with him," Daphne said. "He said that I should appreciate the friends I have. And I think we could be friends. If we give it a chance."
Daphne put her hand up before Harry could respond.
"Last year, you did something wonderful," Daphne said. "And reckless. But, I like a little excitement in my life."
"What are you up to?" Harry asked.
Harry tried to figure out Daphne Greengrass. She was in Slytherin. And yet rather cordial. And almost impish towards him.
"Mmm, maybe something, maybe nothing," Daphne said. "Maybe I like your company, Potter. It's a shame that you weren't put in Slytherin."
"I…I belong in Gryffindor," Harry said.
"Do you?" Daphne asked. "Have a nice day Harry. See you on the third floor tonight."
"I'm not sure if I would have trusted her," Sirius said. "She could be setting you up for something, just like what happened in your first year."
"Just because she's a Slytherin, doesn't mean she's a Death Eater," James said.
"Not all Slytherins are Death Eaters," Malfoy agreed. "But, a lot of us are pushed that way. I wonder why."
"Draco," Narcissa said softly.
"I didn't live up to anyone's expectations in the end," Malfoy said. "Not even my own."
"Daphne, she really wants to be your friend," Kara said.
"Kind of reminds me of us a little bit, when we were just feeling each other out," Lena said.
"A little, yes," Kara agreed.
Hermione mentions they have Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Ron snarks about Hermione having Lockhart's lessons in little hearts.
"Ooh let's hope not," Lita said.
"I can't stand the revulsion if she did," Regulus said.
"Oh, she has a little schoolgirl crush, leave her be," James said. "Although she could stand to have better taste."
"Yes," Hermione said. "And I didn't."
"At least you have some taste then," Bellatrix said.
Harry is jumped by an overexcited first year named Colin Creevey and his ever present camera.
"Kid really needs to switch to decaf," Zari said.
"Oh, Colin," Harry murmured. "He's harmless."
"Just a bit annoying," Ginny said. "But, he's got heart."
"He does," Harry agreed.
"I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner, to be honest with you," Zari said. "Trying to get a picture of you, I mean."
"With how your average wizard reacts, me too," Harry added.
Colin wants a picture and explains how his father is a milkman and how he wants to prove he met Harry. And maybe Harry can sign it.
"Harry Potter sign a photo?" Alex asked. "Fat chance of that happening."
"So, Dad's a milkman?" Lita asked.
"Should have no trouble getting the ladies, that one," Kate said.
A few of them snickered in response.
"I can see how this kid would grate pretty quickly," John said. "Although, he was only in the Wizarding World for a little bit and he starts hero worshipping Potter."
"Some people jump in fast," Zari said.
"I could get ill reading this," Snape groaned.
"Were you the one to have a camera shoved in your face, Snape?" Harry asked.
Malfoy comes up to talk about how Harry's giving signed photos.
"I swear, you show up at the worst possible times," Sara said. "Pretty convenient."
Malfoy raised his eyebrow in response.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're stalking him," Bellatrix said.
"I'm not…"
"Sure does come across it that way at times!" Bellatrix sang.
"Sounds like he's still butthurt for Harry not shaking his hand over a year ago," Astra said.
The usual sniping between Harry, Ron, and Malfoy, with Ron telling Malfoy to eat slugs.
Ron shuddered and his twin brothers patted him on the back sympathetically.
"What happened?" Lena asked.
"You'll know soon enough," Ron said. "Let's just say it wasn't Malfoy eating slugs."
"Oh Rao," Kara groaned.
And Lockhart shows up to make matters worse. And offers to take a portrait with Harry and they would both sign it.
"Well, that didn't happen," Zari said.
"Cat Grant has the only signed photo Harry gave," Kara said.
"And she basks in that fact," Lena said.
"That she does," Kara agreed.
"This idiot," Sirius growled. "He just made matters worse. Because these people are going to think that Harry's the same as Lockhart."
"And he just gets poor Colin's hopes up," Nora said.
Lockhart gives Harry some advice. And says that signed photos are not something that he should be doing at this stage in his career.
"Piss off!" John snapped.
"My sentiments exactly," Snape said.
"How could anyone think he was qualified?" Mia grumbled.
"Well," McGonagall said. "It wasn't as if we were overburdened with good help."
"That's for sure," Harry grumbled.
"Even a slug would be a better teacher than that," Kara said.
Everyone agreed with Kara's assessment.
Harry tries to do everything to avoid looking at Lockhart.
"Good idea," Regulus said. "I would want to hurl if I looked at him."
"The thought did cross my mind," Harry grumbled.
Ron mentions the possibility a Harry Potter fan club if Colin and Ginny got together This doesn't go over to well Harry.
Ginny could not be too mad about what Ron said. Because he had a point.
"Oooh," Ginny said. "Eleven year old me would be all over that one."
"I would be as well," Lita said.
"Can we agree that we do stupid things when we are kids?" Nora asked.
"There's several unofficial Harry Potter fan clubs," Kara said. "But, Harry's never endorsed any."
"Nor will I," Harry said.
"And most certainly not that age," Ron said.
Lockhart gives his glorious intro.
"Should have known he would be talking about his favorite subject," John said.
"Never changes," Junior remarked.
"This guy just gets more punchable by the word," Mick said.
"He started that way with me," Astra said.
"Imagine having to be his co-worker," Snape dryly said.
Lockhart gives his quiz. About the subject of Lockhart.
"Oh, shocking, that one," Kate said.
"And knowing Hermione, she must have done her very best regardless of the poor subject matter," Lena said.
"Well, I thought he was brilliant," Hermione said. "He was very convincing."
"If he looked like Filch, would he be that convincing?" Sirius asked.
Hermione thought about it. And she hated the answer which she was coming up to it.
Hermione answers all of the questions right and gets full marks.
You've gotten full marks,"Zari said. "But, you lost all of your cool points."
"Hermione," Charlotte murmured.
"Granger, I really commend you for actually stomaching his books enough to get full marks on that quiz," Malfoy said. "You really are a special sort."
Hermione was not taking that as a complement.
Lockhart talks about the terrors they will fight. And he unleashes freshly caught Cornish pixies.
"Well, they can be vicious," Junior said. "Especially when they've been caged."
"I don't think Lockhart could adequately defend against a Flobberworm," Sirius said.
"At this point, I don't think any of us do," Mia said.
Lockhart releases the pixies. Chaos ensues.
"Hey, teacher, you could instruct the students on how to fight these things, before unleashing them into the wild," Lita said.
"It seems like he's teaching from the Severus Snape playbook," John said.
"I'm nothing like Lockhart," Snape said.
"Oh, yes, of course, my apologies," John said. "You actually write instructions on the blackboard at times."
"This entire class sounds like a fiasco," Natalie said. "You could have done a better job teaching this class, Johnny"
"Yes, but I was indisposed," John said.
"Doing what?" Natalie asked.
"Dealing with my past demons," John said.
True from an angle. Although John did not particularly want to go into it.
Lockhart encourages them to round up the pixies.
"Don't suppose you could give them a head's up on how to do this, maybe?" Kate asked. "After all, he's the brilliant genius who wrote so many books full of stuff he so totally did."
"We both know the answer to that," Ruby said.
"Maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt," Kate said.
"There's no benefit to it," Kara said.
Lockhart's absurd spell does not work. And thus he bolts.
"That spell sounds like something that a child would make up," Sirius said.
"The spell Fred and George gave me to turn Scabbers yellow was more convincing," Ron said.
"Scabbers?" Peter asked.
"He was my pet rat when I was younger," Ron said.
"Mmm, not the name I would have given for a rat, but okay," Peter said. "What happened to him?"
"Dead," Ron said curtly.
"Let's get back to Lockhart," Sara said. "Honestly, this should have been the red flag he was not fit to teach this class."
"In a sane world, yes," Nora said. "But we're dealing with Hogwarts. Where it's perfectly acceptable to send four children into the Forbidden Forest at midnight."
"Honestly, I'm surprised that more students did not disappear under mysterious circumstances," Lena said.
"Like Sally-Anne Perks?" Harry asked.
"Sally-Anne moved away, though," Hermione said.
"Yes, so we were told," Harry murmured.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione are tasked with releasing the pixies. Ron says that Lockhart doesn't know what he's doing. Hermione says he wrote about all of the stuff he's done in books. Which Ron gets one more cutting remark about how he says he done it.
"Damn right," Junior said. "Doesn't know what he's doing. Real big ego for his abilities. A complete and utter fraud."
"Oooh, I've taken leave of my senses," Hermione said.
"No, you're a teenage girl with a crush," Zari said.
"Lockhart dazzled a lot of people," John said. "Guess that was his real power."
Hermione groaned at remembering how stupid she had been.
"Never thought about Lockhart for years, did you?" Kate asked her.
"Not any more than I had to," Hermione agreed. "I really was blind."
"You were," Sara agreed.
"It happens to the best of us," Zari said.
"As much as I can't stand Lockhart, we all did stupid things when we were younger," Ginny said. "So, for this thing, Hermione should get a pass on it."
"And people who were far older and really should know better fell for Lockhart's bullshit charms."
Fred, George, and Ginny all coughed "Mum" at once.
Harry waited in the formerly forbidden third floor corridor. It looked so vacant without Fluffy and the Philosopher's Stone being hidden. The door opened and two blonde Slytherin witches, one a head shorter than the other slipped in.
"Astoria, this is Harry Potter," Daphne said. "Harry, this is my younger sister, Astoria."
"Oooh, Daphne really does know you," Astoria said. "Nice to meet you Harry…you don't mind if I call you Harry?"
"Sure," Harry said. "I mean, I don't mind. It's nice to meet you. And I'm sorry to hear about your father."
"Don't be," Astoria said. "It's the people who killed him who should be sorry."
"Astoria, Father died because he contracted an illness, likely through his work," Daphne said. "Sorry, about my sister."
"They'll be sorry, Daphne," Astoria said. "But, we'll not worry about that. I can't believe you arrived at school in a flying car. Everyone is going to talk about that one for years."
"Especially after Mrs. Weasley's vocal reminder," Daphne remarked dryly.
Harry grimaced.
"Why did you fly the car?" Astoria asked.
"The barrier sealed," Harry said. "We couldn't get through."
"Oh, someone must have wanted to prevent you from coming to Hogwarts," Astoria said. "Good thing you didn't send an owl. They might not have made it."
"Oh, that poor owl of yours looked upset when I saw her," Daphne said.
"Ron and I flew into the Whomping Willow," Harry said.
"Ouch," Astoria said. "But, you two were lucky to walk away with it."
"I was," Harry said.
"Do you have any idea who wanted to stop you?" Daphne asked.
Harry remembered Dobby the house elf over the summer. But surely a house elf could not seal that barrier?
"A few," Harry said.
"Not going to share it?" Astoria asked.
"Not really," Harry said.
"Fair enough," Astoria said. "You just met me. And you've talked to Daphne a few times, but she's hard to get to open up. She doesn't want to admit how badly Father's death affected her. And she doesn't want to admit that someone really dangerous got to him."
"Astoria, drop it," Daphne hissed.
"Fine," Astoria said. "So, what was the deal with the Hoovering Charm?"
"It wasn't me," Harry said. "It was a house elf."
"A house elf?" Daphne asked. "In a Muggle home?"
"That's not even allowed," Astoria said. "Is it?"
"His name was Dobby," Harry said.
"Common house elf name," Astoria said. "Unfortunately."
"Wish we could tell you more about him," Daphne said. "So, ice cream?"
"I knew it," Astoria said.
"Don't admit you don't like it either," Daphne told her. "And Harry can tell us more about his adventures at Hogwarts while we enjoy a nice frozen treat."
Daphne took out a magically expanded container, charmed to keep cool.
"So, Quirrell wasn't down there alone, was he?" Daphne asked.
"Was it You-Know-Who?" Astoria asked. "Did you fight him again?"
"Well, I met him down there," Harry admitted. "I had a lot of help with Ron and Hermione to save the Stone."
"Although, you were the only one who ended up in the Hospital Wing," Daphne said. "But, maybe we should talk about something else."
"You're the one who brought up the subject," Harry said.
"And now I realize it's not a good subject," Daphne said. "So you had Lockhart this afternoon? What is he like?"
"Completely hopeless," Harry said. "I've never seen someone I can stand less than Lockhart. At least at Hogwarts. There's just something about him that annoys me."
"Even more so than Malfoy?" Daphne asked.
"Boy, he will be upset that he's been replaced," Astoria said. "But, tell us more about him."
The two Slytherins and one Gryffindor sat around and trashed Lockhart and how he was a substandard teacher.
"So, Harry's gotten quite friendly with the Greengrasses," Nora said.
"My fictional wife and her sister," Malfoy said. "Or was that a spoiler? Here's another one, I was never married. To anyone. Man, woman, non-binary, whatever."
"You never were married?" Lita asked.
"No, Rory," Malfoy said. "Astoria wasn't my type. She's like the Slytherin answer to Lovegood. I realized a long time ago that I'm not cut out for relationships. In fact, I've felt no sexual spark to anyone, man, woman, or otherwise."
"So, you're asexual?" Zari asked.
"I don't like labels," Malfoy said. "It gets too political."
"Fair enough," Zari said.
"This didn't happen in the actual books," Alex said. "Did you two know about this?"
Alex turned to Ron and Hermione.
"I figured that Harry and Daphne were kind of friendly, third year," Ron said. "But, I figured that if Harry wanted to tell me, he would. And he did later on."
"I figured out something was going on third year," Hermione said. "I should have seen all of the signs."
"I found out before Ron did," Ginny said. "Astoria was friends with me."
"You were friends with a Slytherin?" George asked.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that," Fred said.
"Sometimes cross-house friendships work," Lily said.
"And sometimes, they don't," Severus said.
Neither really looked at each other. Older Snape had long gotten over the mistakes made. And there were many. But, the wounds of disappointment will still fresh with his younger self.
"I was jealous of her," Hermione said.
"Daphne had a lot to live up to," Harry said. "Much like you did."
"And yet, you never have to prove yourself to true friends," Kate said.
"It wasn't my friends who I was proving myself to," Hermione murmured.
"Piss on them," Kate hissed in her sister's ear. "They were toxic."
Harry knew not to pry, and Charlotte looked a bit uncomfortable.
Everyone deserved their secrets.
"Too bad Dobby was such a common name," Astra said.
"Might have given you a bit of insight sooner," Nora agreed.
"The entire house system is really bullshit," Junior said. "We're in these houses for seven years. Yet, some people define themselves by them for their entire life."
"Some people grow up," Harry said. "And others just get older."
Harry's eyes raked on Snape for a second. This did not go unnoticed by Lily, Natalie, and the Marauders.
"And some are lucky to grow older," Sirius added.
"If you call that luck," John said.
"What's the deal with Greengrass sisters?" Sara asked Harry. "Astoria seems to think her father was murdered and Daphne seemed to think it is an accident.
"The official report was that Mr. Greengrass died of a mysterious blood disease," Hermione said.
"Oh, just like Astoria did in the Thing-That-Must-Not-Be-Named," Lita said.
"Do you believe the official report?" Astra asked.
"I'm not sure what to believe," Harry admitted.
"Astoria never did, well up until our fourth year," Ginny said. "And I guess she just came to terms."
Sara just hummed. That was convenient, wasn't it?
After Harry left the Greengrass sisters, he noticed an owl eying him in the hallway. It swooped down and extended a talon towards Harry.
"Not the normal owl post, are you?" Harry asked.
Curiosity got the better of Harry. He took the letter and opened it.
Harry:
Well, I'll give you credit. The flying car is something new.
Stay sharp. Keep your eyes and ears open.
They will keep telling you Hogwarts is safe. Don't believe it.
You're the latest in a long line of heroes who will rise. But, heroes fall as well.
Dumbledore knows more than he lets on. Always.
CJ.
There was a whistling sound, although Hermione just tutted.
"Well, that's juicy," Lita said. "Really juicy."
"And from the Hero of Hogwarts as well," George said.
"You've been holding out on us Harry?" Fred asked.
"I had my secrets, just like you two had yours," Harry reminded them.
"I like how things pop up that weren't in the books," Alex said.
"Joanne was at the mercy of an editor for the first few books," Harry said. "We worked hard trying to par the story down to the essentials. And after a while, we agreed this was a loose adaption of my life."
"She really did take some creative liberties in the last couple of books," Ginny said. "Especially that Epilogue."
"Mmm, yes," Nora said.
"Hollywood changed Joanne and not for the better," Harry said. "She decided to do her own thing and I really had to put my foot down on a couple of things she wanted in. Other things, it was not worth the fight."
"What did you veto?" Sara asked curiously.
"Yeah, given some of the stuff that got in during those last few books that don't make any sense, I would only imagine," Nora said.
"Tell you later," Harry said. "When we get there."
Everyone waited in anticipation for what Harry had to share later on.
"Well, that's the chapter," Sara said.
"Not too bad this time around," Astra said. "Lockhart aside."
"He got way too much screen time," Sirius said. "I can't believe Dumbledore sometimes."
"Oh, you can't?" Bellatrix asked.
"Well, I'm not defending Lockhart," McGonagall said. "But, we weren't overburdened with good help."
"Could have had a curse breaker take a crack at the jinx on the job," Lily said. "And I know just the person for the job."
"She tried," McGonagall said. "And, it was a tragic ending for her."
That was the most simplified way McGonagall could explain this without spoiling the timeline,
"Like many others," Natalie said somberly.
"Damn I didn't think she would be taken out," Sirius said. "Always seemed as tough as nails."
"And scary," Peter said. "And kind of hot."
"If you like the type of women who would stand on you," Sirius said.
Astra, Harry, Mick, John, Zari, and Sara all shared looks of significance. They all knew that Minerva and Lily were talking about Patricia Rakepick. And they knew her true fate.
But, that was another story. For another time. They gave the Marauders, Lily, and Natalie to mourn for a fallen friend, before they moved on.
To Be Continued.