"I'm not sure if I can handle any more of that twat," John said.
"Imagine being his colleague," Snape replied dryly.
"I'd be considering looking for a new job," Kara said with a shudder.
"I would if I could," Snape murmured darkly.
"And many of us wish you had," Ron said, not bothering to lower his voice.
"Alright, next chapter," Sara said. "And after the weirdness of the last chapter…well I should know we're not going to get a break."
"It's my life," Harry said. "What do you think?"
Everyone sighed. Harry had a point.
"You're right," Sara said. "Alright, Gideon, whenever you're ready."
"Chapter Eight," Gideon narrated. "The Deathday Party."
"Ugh," Lily groaned. "You let one of the ghosts talk you into going to one of those, didn't you?"
"Just wait," Harry said.
"Well, don't get me wrong, it's interesting to go to one," Peter said. "For a little bit."
"Yeah, because you convinced us to go fourth year," Remus said.
"Well, I thought it would be cool," Peter admitted.
"Would have stayed longer if Sirius wasn't complaining about missing dinner," James said.
"Hey, I was hungry," Sirius said. "And it's not like the food there is fit to be eaten."
"Tell me about it," Ron grumbled.
"I don't know how you could eat, I would have lost my appetite around the stench," Peter said.
"Well, my brother eats our aunt's cooking," Regulus said.
"What's wrong with Mother's cooking?" Bellatrix asked.
"A lot," Regulus said. "But, we're getting off the subject. So let's start the chapter."
"Let's," Astra agreed.
She had a feeling she was going to learn a lot more about Harry's ordeal with the Deathday Party and had a funny feeling something bad was going to happen.
Recap of events leading through October, with some chilling weather arriving. And the Slytherns flying on their brooms which looked spectacular.
"We were majestic in the air," Malfoy said.
"And somehow, the broom was able to make it off the ground with your swollen head," Astra said.
"His ego had to be particularly swollen," Mia said.
"More so than usual," Harry confirmed.
"Oh, I remember that terrible autumn," George said.
"I swear my nuts were going to freeze off," Fred agreed.
"Thanks for that," Ginny said with a shudder. "Really appreciate that mental image you just gave me."
"Anytime, sis," Fred said with a saucy wink.
Harry walks in on Nearly Headless Nick muttering about how he does not meet their requirements, only a half of an inch.
A few of the group snickered at the potential double meaning of Nick's words.
"Oh, that could be taken the wrong way," Lita said.
"Seems like Nick's the type of guy who is always coming up short," Zari remarked.
"And the guy has a complex about it," Sirius added. "Honestly, let it go, man! You can do better than those arrogant tossers!"
"Damn straight," Peter agreed. "Nick really should learn to have pride with how unique he is."
"He never will," Natalie answered.
"No shit, he's still obsessed about that bloody hunt in 2020 as he was in the 1990s and the 1970s, and likely before," Kate said. "Nothing changes."
"Surely, there's got to be some kind of spell which would remove his head properly?" Charlotte asked.
"Or find a ghost who died with a blade to chop it off," Sara said.
"Practical solutions," Harry agreed.
"Which is why they won't be happening in the Wizarding World," Ginny remarked.
"The more things change," Hermione grumbled.
"Yeah, still the same, isn't it?" Nora asked. "Struggling with logic."
"That's not really a magic thing, but more like a people thing," Lena said.
Everyone nodded in agreement, not being able to disagree.
Harry and Nick have a little chat. Apparently getting hit in the neck with an axe forty-five times is not enough to qualify for the Headless hunt.
"I think that at least qualifies you to be an honorary member," Junior said.
"Damn it, Nick, just let it go," Sirius said. "Those guys are a bunch of pompous pounces."
"And that must be history's most inept executioner," Lena said.
"Pretty close," Sara agreed.
Nick reads the letter sent to him. And is rather salty about it's contents.
"Sir Patrick has a point," Sara conceded.
"I'm certain he's written that later at least a a few hundred times by this point," Lily said. "Got to give Nick some points for persistence."
"How do ghosts write a letter anyway?" Ruby asked.
Everyone looked at each other. And they turned to Harry. Harry just shrugged.
"Trade secret," Harry said.
"You're the Master of Death," Zari said. "Surely you might have an idea?"
"I do have plenty of ideas, just none I'm liable to share," Harry said.
Everyone sighed and continued with the reading when Harry's lips remained seal.
Mrs. Norris turns up to see Harry dripping mud. And Nick warns Harry to get out of here because Filch is in a foul mood.
"Filch in a foul mood?" Severus asked. "Who would know the difference?"
"Guy's breathing," Regulus said. "Seems like a sign."
"Get out, now," Lily murmured.
"I would start running, yesterday," Ginny advised.
"Knowing Harry's luck, it's too late," Mia said.
"Of course it is," Bellatrix said. "When that demon cat shows up, Filch is about two steps behind. I should have kicked the damn thing harder."
"Wait, you actually kicked Mrs. Norris?" Sirius asked.
"Damn right, and I'll do it again," Bellatrix said.
"That cat must be pretty old," Mia commented. "Is she still around?"
"Filch kicked the bucket years ago," Kate said. "Don't know what happened to the cat."
"And he got a nice retirement package to leave the school once I became Headmistress," McGonagall said. "He lived out the rest of his days in solitude. I was happy to see the back of him."
"But, he did keep us on our toes," George remembered fondly.
"Sometimes, he was a worthy adversary," Sirius conceded. "Sometimes."
Harry runs into Filch who rants and raves about filth in the castle.
"And this is your fault, somehow," Astra said.
"No, Harry's just got terrible luck and is the one who was unlucky enough to get caught," Sara said.
"Bastard was looking for someone to take it out on," Mick said.
We take a trip to Filch's office in all of its glory. If Filch could get away with it, he would hang students by their ankles.
"I'm sure he would like to," Ron said.
"Such a bitter, disgusting man," Lily grumbled. "Why is he at a school full of children? Especially with how bitter he is with his lack of magic."
"Another one of Dumbledore's amazing hiring choices I'm sure," John said. "He sure knows how to pick them."
Filch prepares to write up a report on Harry, but a large crash from overhead courtesy of Peeves brings his attention elsewhere.
"Always liked that guy," Mick said.
"Like him right now, because he's distracted Filch," Lily said.
"Harry should get out of that office right now while he has the chance," Sirius said.
"That's what you would do," Peter said. "I think Harry's going to stick around."
"You've got the perfect opportunity to get out of there," Mia said. "Why aren't you moving?"
"Obviously, I have some very poor self preservation skills then," Harry said. "Plus, I knew how these things went back at the Dursleys the few times I skipped away."
"Ugh," Astra said. "So, that's why you're not doing the smart thing and getting while the getting is good?"
"I would have stuck around," Hermione said. "Because, I would have gotten in trouble."
"Would you have gotten in that position in the first place?" Kate asked her sister.
"Well, no."
"Exactly," Kate said.
"Well other than the one really big time during your first year," Nora reminded her.
Hermione shivered. And Charlotte's eyes locked onto her daughter.
"For the record, I don't think this man Filch should be allowed to be near children," Charlotte said.
"I don't think so either," Natalie said. "Should have been fired a long time ago."
"Agreed," Lily said. "Oh, Harry, even I would have gotten out of there by now?"
"Well, I didn't," Harry said. "And I regret that.."
Astra and Kara both groaned.
Like a good boy, Harry stays in Filch's office. And like a not so good boy, he goes through Filch's mail and discovers his Kwikspell course.
"Ladies and gentleman, that's the biggest con in the Wizarding World, right there," Junior said.
"A fool and his money were soon to be parted," Mick said.
"You can't just learn magic off of one of those things," Narcissa said. "And Dumbledore hired a squib to oversee the Caretaking of a Magical School."
"He did," McGonagall said.
"And boy is he ever bitter about it," Ron said.
"And that's why he shouldn't be near children," Nora said. "It's making him hate what he lost."
"There's a lot of problems with Hogwarts, I'm noticing," Lily said. "And I don't like it."
If it was at all possible for Lily to change history, she would make sure Harry nor any other children of hers would ever set foot in that deathtrap.
"I'm seeing a lot of problems too," James said. "If I ever see Dumbledore again, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
"Yeah, see this wall right here," Ron said whilst tapping on the wall. "You would have a better chane of convincing it not to be a wall."
"Too true," Snape murmured.
Filch returns and panics when he sees Harry rifling through his mail.
"You've made a big rookie mistake," Sara said. "When you go through someone's mail, make sure you put it down the same place where you left it."
"Especially a neat freak like Filch," Bellatrix said.
"I learned that lesson here," Harry said.
"At least you learned," Mia remarked. "I forgot how raw you are back then."
"We all have to start somewhere," Alex said.
Befuddled, Filch sends Harry off without a punishment. A first.
"Impossible!" Sirius bellowed out.
Fred and George got up to their feet and started to bow before Harry much to the amusement of the rest of the group.
"Okay, that's enough," Harry told them.
"Congratulations for making Hogwarts history," Junior said.
"I don't believe it," Snape said.
"If you ever had an argument for me getting away with something, then there it is," Harry said. "Although to be fair, did I really get away with it?"
"Mate, take the win," Peter said. "You've escaped office without detention."
"Of course, this is Harry, so it will come back to bite him later," Alex replied grimly.
"Mmm," Kara said.
"Just waiting for the other shoe to drop," James said. "Sorry, but you got both my hair and my luck."
"The Potter hair's not a bad thing," Kara said.
Several women in the room murmured in agreement.
Harry meets Nick in the hallway and learns he's the one who put Peeves up to crashing the cabinet.
"Good on Nick for pulling that one off," Sirius said.
"Which means he's going to want something in return," Lily said.
"Well, not necessarily," James said.
"Oh, he could suggest something," Sara agreed. "And Harry's own sense of honor will compel him to agree with it."
"That's gotten him into trouble before," Ron remarked. "His nobility."
"Oh, it's a good thing, sometimes," Hermione said.
"And other times, it's caused trouble," Ginny confirmed.
Harry asks if there's anything he could do for Nick. And Nick invites Harry along with Ron and Hermione to join a Deathday Party.
"Thanks for that, by the way," Ron said.
"You chose to go," Harry said. "I just made the suggestion."
"Well, we couldn't imagine going to the feast without you," Hermione said.
"I'm sure I would have been fine," Harry said.
Hermione and Ron gave Harry looks as if they disagreed. Especially with what happened on that night.
"Well, it might be interesting," Lena offered.
"Once and only once," Nora said.
"Trust me," Bellatrix said. "You've been to one deathday party, you've been to them all."
"And you never need to go to one again," John said. "Unless there's an exorcism that needs to be performed. Then things are more interesting."
"There's a story there," Sara said
"Isn't there always?" Natalie asked. "I think I know the party he's talking about."
Nick asks Harry to mention to Sir Patrick about how imposing he is.
Those who knew Nick chuckled.
"Well, you can try," Sara said.
"He's still going to be nearly headless,no matter how terrifying he is," Lena said.
"Still wish we could have done something for him," Natalie said.
"Sometimes I think he likes playing it up," Sirius said. "The nearly headless thing. It gets him attention."
"I've been telling you that for years," Remus said.
"What would Nick even do with himself if he joined the Headless hunt?" Zari asked.
"That's a good question," Lily said. "I guess the quest gives him an afterlife worth living."
Everyone nodded in agreement. For some, it was the journey more than the destination. Harry doubted that Nick would be pleased if he got what he wanted being in the Headless Hunt and he was not the only one.
Harry informs Ron and Hermione about the Deathday Party. Their reactions differ.
"Seems like a downer to me," Alex agreed.
"Interesting though," Lena agreed.
"Once," Bellatrix reminded them. "And only once."
"And after that never again," Sirius said.
Fred and George conduct a little experiment to see what would happen if a Salamander would be fed a Filibuster Firework.
"Are you fucking serious?" Bellatrix asked.
"Well, no we're not that into the guy," George said.
Sirius chuckled for a second before Nora turned towards the twins eyes narrowed.
"That wasn't exactly a cool thing to do," she said.
"You guys shouldn't be feeding fireworks to an innocent animal," Ginny growled. "What the hell?"
"That…we really have no logical explanation," George said.
"Charlie would have kicked your arses if he found out," Ron told them.
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Fred said. "We're stupid doing that."
"The thing survived," George said.
"You should hope so," Ginny said grimly.
"Common Room smelled of burned Salamander anus for a month," George said trying to lighten the mood.
"You two do some stupid things," Astra said.
The twins swallowed and nodded. They got the sense that Astra still only partly forgave them for the entire shunning Harry thing only because they rescued him from the Dursleys. Neither wanted to end up on her bad side.
Harry is distracted from telling Ron and Hermione about the Kwikspell letter by the aftermath of the experiment.
"Attention span could use some work," Zari said.
"Back then, it could," Harry agreed.
"Well, we found out later," Hermione said.
"I'm surprised Kwikspell didn't get shut down," Junior said. "They've been conning people for decades."
"Because, it's no one the Ministry would give a damn about that's getting robbed," Sirius said.
Harry regrets agreeing to go to the Deathday Party, but Hermione reminds him of his promise.
"I said I regretted it, I didn't say I was going to skip it," Harry said
"Sorry," Hermione said.
"Well, go this one time just to say you did," Lily offered. "If you stay for only a half of an hour, you'll have more time for the feast."
"We would think that, wouldn't we?" Ron asked.
"Feast started a bit early that year," Malfoy said. "And finished early thanks to some excitement."
"What kind of excitement?" Lena asked.
"No spoilers, Luthor," Malfoy reminded them.
"So, we'll find out a bit anyway," Kara told Lena.
Lena had a bad feeling about this and looking around the room she was not the only one.
They arrive at the Deathday Party, where they encounter a Ghost Orchestra and their questionable music.
A loud obnoxious sound filled the room and caused everyone to recoil.
"Closest approximation that I can do to replicate that sound," Gideon said.
"It's pretty on point," Harry said.
"No shit," Ron said.
"Yes, it's close enough," Hermione agreed. "My ears are ringing."
"Joy,' Lita said. "It's more terrible than I thought."
"Well, the ghosts' tastes in music haven't improved any," Peter said.
"And nor will they," Kate said.
"It's not meant for human ears," McGonagall said.
"Or any living creature for that matter," John said.
The trio walks around and takes extra care not to step through anyone.
"Please, avoid that," Sirius said.
"Hard to do at a Deathday party," Peter said. "With ghosts everywhere."
"We tried our best," Hermione said.
Hermione freaks out about not wanting to meet Moaning Myrtle.
"NO!" Natalie shouted.
"Get away from her, at all costs!" Lily shouted. "She's completely deranged."
"Oh, she's not that bad," Bellatrix said.
"Well, you're completely deranged," Regulus said. "So, obviously you two would get along."
"She's perfectly fine if you don't make fun of her," Bellatrix said. "Or throw things at her. Or flush her when she's in her toilet. Or breathe too hard around her. Or look too happy around her. Or be too sad around her. Or smile at her. Or frown at her. Or have a completely blank expression at her. Or ask if she died during that time of the month."
"She's a neurotic headcase," Nora said.
"Great," Astra said. "If the house elf wasn't bad enough, we have to deal with an unstable ghost."
"And Lockhart," Kara reminded her.
"Oh, why did you have to bring him up?" John asked.
"We were having a nice Lockhart free chapter as well," Sirius remarked.
"Sorry," Kara said apologetically.
Hermione explains to Harry and Ron that Myrtle haunts a toilet.
"I don't know why," Junior said.
"No one's ever asked her?" Mia asked.
"No one can stand her enough to ask," Lily said. "I wouldn't go in that bloody bathroom if it was the only functional one at Hogwarts."
"Is a bathroom really funcional if a ghost keeps flooding it by throwing a tantrum?" Ruby asked.
"No, it's the exact opposite of functional," Zari said.
"Dysfunctional," Kate said. "Much like our family."
Hermione pretended she did not hear her sister's jab.
"I really didn't want to have anything to do with her," Hermione said.
"I can't blame you for this," Lily said.
"Me either," Natalie said.
Harry, Ron and Hermione come across the rotten food. But, the ghosts cannot taste it, no matter how rotten it is.
"That's a waste of good food," Ruby said.
"Oooh, it's a good thing my brother's not here," Zari said. "Because, Behrad would have a good rant about how that's wasteful."
"I've never seen your brother rant about anything," Sara said.
"Well, you haven't seen someone press his buttons," Zari said. 'Food waste is one of his big buttons."
"There's no point, the stench is disgusting," Sirius said. "And it's all coming back."
"I'm losing my appetite all over again," Peter said.
Peeves arrives to greet Ron, Hermione, and Harry. And he could not help and overhear that they have been talking about Myrtle.
"I bet you couldn't," Lily said.
"Peeves just loves riling her up," Sirius said.
"Peeves loves riling everyone up," Remus reminded him.
"You especially," Peter said. "What did you do to him?"
"I'm not sure," Remus admitted.
"Looney Loopy Lupin!" Sirius sang.
"Ugh," Remus said while rolling his eyes.
Myrtle comes over and Peeves tells Myrtle that Hermione is being rude to her.
"Never thought he would be a fucking snitch," Mick said.
"I thought you liked that guy?" Lita asked.
"I do for other reasons," Mick said.
"He's not as much of a snitch as he is a troll," Zari remarked.
"But he doesn't carry a club," Regulus said.
"Not that kind of troll," Zari said. "Harry, would you care to explain to them?"
"A troll is a poster on the…is someone who lives to cause trouble and rile up others," Harry said. "And they get enjoyment out of it."
The Marauders all turned to each other and nodded.
"That fits our favorite Poltergeist like a glove," Sirius said.
The attempts of Harry, Ron, and Hermione to smooth things over do not go well. Myrtle freaks out about everyone making fun of her.
"The more you try and smooth things over, the more agitated she gets," Natalie said.
"So, shut up, Hermione, because you're not going to appease her," Kate said.
"You really should have known better," Ginny said to Hermione.
"I should have, but I didn't," Hermione said.
"To be fair, I think she did die when she was having her period," Nora said seriously.
"Would explain…things," Alex said.
"That she's a flipping nutcase like most women are at that time of the month," Peter said.
Suddenly every single woman in the room turned their eyes on Peter Pettigrew. Sirius pulled out a kazoo and started playing taps for Peter.
"I would like to remind everyone, as the senior member of the Legends who is not out for murder, that there's to be no violence," Mick said.
"Deep calming breaths," Regulus told them. "I'm sure Pettigrew didn't mean anything by it."
"But, seriously, imagining suffering through that for all eternity?" Ginny asked.
"No fucking thank you," Sara said.
Sara spoke for everyone in the room.
Peeves hurls moldy peanuts at Myrtle.
"That's not helping," Alex said.
"Of course, it's not," Ruby said.
"But, she wouldn't be hurt, would she?" Mia asked. "They'd go right through here."
Everyone who was in the know cringed.
"Never say that in front of Myrtle," Harry said sagely.
Nick is about to give a speech, which is interrupted by the arrival of Sir Patrick and the Headless Hunt.
"Quite the timing there," Zari said.
"They sure do know how to make an entrance," Kara said.
"Oh, yes, they love being the center of attention," Sirius said. "I keep telling Nick he's better off without them."
"Might as well be telling Dumbledore off about his hiring policy," Astra said. "Get about as far."
"She's not wrong," John remarked.
Some interaction between Nick and Patrick. Harry's attempts to say that Nick is frightening does not sway things.
"Well, you tried," Kara said.
"There's a lot of evidence really arguing against that," Lily said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, don't know who he thinks he's fooling," Mick said.
"Nick's a tryer," Sirius said. "Sometimes too hard."
"I know, he should just let it go," Kate said with a sigh.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exit the party, with Ron hopeful there would still be pudding.
Ginny tensed up ever so slightly, knowing what was coming next.
"Here's hoping," Ruby said.
"You shouldn't have been down there that long," Peter said. "With any luck, you go straight to the Great Hall and slide in casually."
"And if you don't, you can always sneak down to kitchens and ask the house elves for something," Junior said.
"I'd prefer not to, thanks, "Hermione grumbled.
"We didn't know where the kitchens were then," Ron said.
"Harry's got one of those well actually smiles on his face," Sara commented.
"And they'll find out with the rest," Harry said.
"Way to keep us in suspense," George said. "We found out where the kitchens were on first week there."
"First day," Sirius said.
"I think you made it your mission to know where it was," James told Sirius.
Sirius answered with a nod.
That mysterious voice whispers and catches Harry's attention.
"Harry, please don't go towards the creepy voice," James almost pleaded.
"He's going to," Lily said.
"You two are way too curious for your own good," Natalie said. "Which is where he got it."
"Harry?" Astra asked.
"Just keep going," Harry said.
Harry follows the sound of the voice, which is getting more violent. And Ron and Hermione are confused.
"You were hearing a voice no one else could hear," Hermione said.
"It's creepy," Ron said.
"Imagine hearing that voice?" Harry asked.
"No thank you," Sirius said.
Ron casually pulled Ginny in closer towards him and put an arm around her.
"Awful night," she murmured.
They see a cryptic message that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened and how the Enemies of the Heir should beware.
"Well, fuck, it goes bad to worse," Lena said.
"And there's the title of the book," Lita said.
"I don't know how this could get much worse," Mia said.
"I don't want to know," Lily said. "RUN!"
"It's already happened," Harry said.
They spot Mrs. Norris hanging stiffly underneath a torch.
Everyone looked at the images of the past. The ghastly sight of Mrs. Norris hanging like that burned in their minds.
"Okay, I hate that damn cat, but that's even a bridge too far for me," Bellatrix said.
"Run, now," John said. "Put one foot in front of the other and get the bloody hell out of there!"
"That would be the sensible thing," Sara said.
"Rao," Kara said. "That's…that's…terrible."
"Three twelve year olds coming across a dead cat," Alex said. "The trauma's off of the charts."
Astra studied Mrs. Norris's hanging body.
"Not dead," Astra murmured. "Worse."
"Still, the point stands, that's going to mess you up for life," Alex said. "And I don't think the magical world believes in therapy."
"They don't," Junior said. "You deal with it and you buck up."
"Not right," Natalie said. "I don't want them to be there."
"Me either," Charlotte agreed.
Charlotte could not change the past, but she looked at Lily and Natalie.
"You didn't tell me about any of this," Charlotte said.
"And you would have pulled me out if you did," Hermione said.
"And rightfully so," Charlotte told her daughter. "And what about the staff? They didn't think it was important enough to inform the parents about this."
McGonagall and Snape had no comeback.
"Not until their hand had been forced," Harry told them.
"Dumbledore wanted to keep the matter internal," McGonagall said.
"He refused to budge," Snape said.
"Oh, right, it was dear leader who kept this quiet," Bellatrix said.
"I can't believe I've become Dumbledore's lapdog," Severus said.
"You will make a terrible mistake which will put you in his debt for the rest of your life," Snape said.
Snape started to choke before he could give out any more details.
Ron suggests they don't want to be there.
"Listen to Ron, please, listen to Ron," Lily murmured underneath her breath.
"I think it might be too late," James said.
"Yes," Harry agreed.
"Damn it," Astra said. "They're going to think you've done this, aren't you?"
"No twelve year old is capable of this kind of magic," John said. "No matter how much they've studied."
"That won't stop the Hogwarts rumor mill from exploding with accusations," Zari said.
"She's right," Sirius agreed.
Needless to say, everyone was nervous.
"Bugger it all," Astra swore.
"My thoughts exactly," John remarked.
"Same here," Natalie said.
"Should have run," Peter said.
"I know," Harry said.
"And now everyone's going to see those three there," Junior said. "At the scene of the crime."
"And you know what Filch is going to make of this after Harry read that letter," James reminded them.
Malfoy sees the cat, looks gleeful, and tells the Mudbloods they'll be next.
Malfoy looked at his younger self with contempt. And he could see several glares thrown his way.
"I know what you're going to say Mother," Malfoy said. "And that was a completely tone deaf thing to say.."
"Given it marked you for suspicion, yes," Narcissa said. "I'm disappointed to learn that you learned that verbiage from your father."
"Don't think the House of Black is really clean of this either," Sirius said.
"We wouldn't dare speak it in a crowded room," Regulus said.
"Seems like he got that from Lucius's side of the family," Bellatrix said.
"No," Narcissa said. "Not even Lucius is that arrogant."
"He's not," Snape agreed. "And it's a good thing I didn't hear your comment then, Mr. Malfoy. Because, you would have been off the Slytherin Quidditch Team. I don't care if I had to hand deliver those brooms to Lucius personally, I was not going to put up with such nonsense."
"Somehow, I don't believe that," Ron said.
"Believe it or not Weasley, your call," Snape said. "I'm just telling you I would not have put up with Malfoy."
"Oh, if only you held yourself to the same standards," Natalie said.
Snape ignored Natalie's words. The room was still tense as things wrapped to a close.
"And there's the chapter," Alex said.
"Myrtle's still as messed up as ever," Lily said.
"And Harry should run when he has the chance," James said.
"I'll pass on the message to my past self," Harry dead panned.
"It's almost like you thought you deserved to get caught," Sirius said.
Astra gritted her teeth.
"I think he did think that," Astra said.
"How are you not more messed up?" Kate asked.
"Luck," Harry said.
"We should have run,' Ron said.
"We should have," Hermione agreed.
"Harry just can't help himself," Zari said with a small grin.
"If he could, some of these problems at Hogwarts might never get solved," Fred said.
"So, bless him for that, and everything he's done," George said.
"And now, things are picking up," Lita said.
"That's for sure," Mick said.
"Not a moment of Lockhart," John said.
"He'll make up for lost time," Junior said. "Trust me on that one."
"I'm never going to a Deathday party again," Harry said.
"Given you're Master of Death, I would take it. It would be even worse than the one you went to," Nora suggested.
"Pretty much," Harry said. "So, let's see what happens next?"
"I still want to know about the Kitchens thing," Sara said.
"We'll get to it soon," Harry said. "Trust me."
Sara stuck out her tongue and Harry kissed her before pulling back.
"Next chapter, then."
To Be Continued