"Oh this will be a fine trip down memory lane," Kate remarked. "Second year. That Quidditch Game."
"To be fair, we've had a few memorable games," Angelina said.
Wood grew a bit uncomfortable. The fact that the younger versions of Harry's parents, along with a few others were in the room, made relieving this a bit intimidating. And Wood had years to realize just how overzealous he had been, in his obsession to get Quidditch glory.
"I'd like to apologize in advance," Wood said.
"For what?" Astra asked.
"You'll see," Wood said.
"Well, don't leave us in suspense then," Mia said.
"I want to see what has the fearless Oliver Wood so rattled," Ruby chimed in.
"Let's get this over with," Malfoy said.
"Bit eager, aren't you?" Kara asked.
"Oh, trust me, he's not looking forward to this chapter," Ron remarked barely able to keep the smile off of his face.
"Just wait until you're embarrassing moments pop up later, Weasel King," Malfoy snapped back.
"I don't think I messed up as badly as you…."
"Ladies, please," Mick said.
"So, what's so embarrassing?" Bellatrix asked.
"Just wait and see," Harry said.
"I'm beginning to detest those words," Bellatrix said.
"Aren't we all?" Sirius asked.
"Gideon," Sara said. "If you will."
"Chapter Ten," Gideon read. "The Rogue Bludger."
The Gryffindor Quidditch Team winced at the memory of that little encounter.
"Bludgers are supposed to be tamper proof," Regulus said.
"They are," Crouch Junior said. "And the security around those things make it impossible. They are locked away in between games. No one would tamper with them."
"I should know, I've tried," Bellatrix said.
"Why am I not surprised," Natalie murmured.
James waited for the chapter to play out. It would be the first time he would see his son play Quidditch. But, given the feeling of anxiety spreading through the room, James could not help and feel a bit foreboding.
Harry is Lockhart's personal guinea pig for reaactments in Defense Against the Dark Arts class from his literature.
"Fun," Zari said dryly. "And entirely inappropriate."
"I don't like how handsy he's getting," Lily said.
"I would have blown off a limb if he tried," Bellatrix said.
"It was like that for the other years too," Angelina chimed in.
"This idiot is doing more damage by teaching," John said. "Why did Dumbledore hire the man? Self-study would have better."
"I concede you have a point," McGonagall said.
"Well, there's a pretty good chance Dumbledore might have hired him to expose his lies to the world," Nora said.
"So, Dumbledore's gambling with the education of children because he wants to expose fraud," Alex said.
"This is the same guy who used the Philosopher's Stone as bait for Voldemort," Astra reminded her.
"Point well taken," Alex said in disgust.
Lockhart mentions how he overpowered a werewolf and turned him back into a man with a Homporphus Charm.
"You are a bloody liar!" Remus snarled.
"Remus," Sirius told him warningly.
"Oh, boy here we go," Peter murmured.
"Is that actually a charm?" Kate asked trying to defuse the situation.
"Oh, it's a charm," Remus said darkly. "But, it only transforms a werewolf to look like they're human. It is still savage and still feral on the inside. At least until the next full moon. And there's no chance of returning from it. A fate worse than death. It's very tricky to pull off."
"Far beyond this dunderhead's capability," Severus said.
"My thoughts exactly," Snape said. "I can't believe I agree with the street magician. You would have been better off forming a study group."
"No one questioned any of this," Lena said. "No one at all."
"Lockhart has good PR," Harry said.
"He is the type who would put a lot of work cultivating his image," Zari said. "Although whoever suggested it was be a good idea he taught at Hogwarts should be fired."
"And anyone who called him it out on it, they would be branded as jealous of his success," Narcissa added.
"Fame blinds many," Charlotte added.
"And for some, if it's in a book, then it must true," Kate said with a side-along glare towards her sister.
"I thought…I didn't think anyone would let books be published, unless they were true," Hermione said.
"Many people wanted to believe Lockhart was genuine," Harry concluded. "Because he has a face that sells books."
"Ugh," Hermione said. "I should know better."
"I wouldn't put it past the wanker to put a glamor on himself that dulls the senses of all but the most strong-willed," John said.
"Are you saying I'm not strong-willed?" Hermione asked.
"No, but you were biased for anyone who wrote that many books," John said.
"He has a point," Katie agreed.
Lockhart assigns homework in writing a poem about the Waga-Waga Werewolf. Signed copies of Magical Me to the best one.
"Well, that would inspire anyone to do their homework," Lita said.
"How many people did the poems?" Remus asked.
"Actually, how many people did the poems, but used them to take shots at Lockhart," Sirius said.
Harry, Ginny, Malfoy, Ron, Fred, George, Katie, Alicia, Angelina, and Wood all raised their hands in response.
"Good, because we would have," Sirius said.
"I doubt he got a single word of it," Snape said. "I can't believe that dunce got sorted into Ravenclaw."
"Me either," Junior said.
Everyone grumbled in agreement.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry con Lockhart out of getting his signature to get a book out of the Restricted Section. And naturally Lockhart being the dupe he is falls for it.
"Remember how we thought the Masons would be really stupid if they fell for the Dursleys and their obvious bullshit brownosing?" Zari asked.
"I recall," Lily said. "Lockhart's about on the same level."
"Well, we got the book," Harry said.
"And Hermione inflated his ego even more," Sirius said.
"Not sure how you would capture a ghoul with a tea strainer," Kate said.
"You can't," Remus said.
"No, you can't," Snape agreed. "No one could stomach his books long enough to ferret out his lies. Well, no one with critical thinking skills could."
"I should know," Bellatrix responded
"Scary that people would believe all of these things Lockhart put in his books," Lita said.
"You would be surprised how many people buy anything," Zari said. "Especially if it confirms their biases."
"Unfortunately, it's true," Kara said. "Not everyone, but enough to be unsettling."
"Too true," Alicia added. "Once you got past Lockhart's charm, you realized just how useless he is."
"And I daresay you weren't the only people who manipulated Lockhart to get what you wanted," Katie added.
The Weasley Twins just responded with a grin.
"Ask us no questions," Fred said.
"And we tell you no lies."
"Not a surprise you two used him," Kara said in amusement.
"He's got dung for brains," Fred remarked.
Lockhart mentions he's a Quidditch Player and prepares to give Harry some advice. Because he's a less able player.
"That smells like bullshit," Astra said.
"That's because it is bullshit," Regulus said.
"Harry could fly circles around this idiot in his sleep," Ginny said.
"Agreed," Astra said. "Who does he think is fooling?"
"I just wonder how much of this he actually buys," Zari said. "I mean, when people get into the con to this level, they might start believing his own lies."
"Sounds just like Lockhart so far," Sirius said. "He's conned loads of people."
"And he would be the soft brain idiot to con himself," Junior said.
"Maybe we should call Dumbledore here," Malfoy said.
"No," Sara and Harry said in response.
"Don't you think he has to answer for this rubbish?" Malfoy asked. "Stupid decisions like this just clarifies everything we've been saying about him for years."
"Dumbledore has been foolish," Narcissa said.
"Putting it mildly," Charlotte said.
The more Charlotte learned about Hogwarts underneath Dumbledore, the more she questioned everything. McGonagall's frown deepened the more she read.
"So, I was right about Dumbledore," Malfoy said. "Just like I was right about Hagrid being a menace."
"Malfoy, you have points, occasionally," Harry said. "It's just your verbiage killed any credibility you might have had."
Narcissa nodded, as did Bellatrix and Regulus. Malfoy just scowled.
"Just remember, just because you're right, doesn't make you correct," Mia added. "And the only thing Lockhart's good for is target practice."
"Now, I would pay to see that," Sara said with a grin.
"I don't know, his teeth could be used to blind people."
Ron and Hermione have a frank discussion whether or not Lockhart is a brainless git.
"I'm on Team Brainless Git myself," Astra said.
"I don't think there's a single person in this room who isn't," Mia added.
Everyone shook their heads in response. Hermione put her head in her hands and sighed.
"You were far from the only one," Angelina said. "Who bought into Lockhart's hype."
It did not make Hermione feel any better.
Madam Pince is rightfully suspicious about the note. Hermione wonders if she can keep it.
"Of course, she's suspicious," Snape said. "You want a book that is far above your level."
'She should have just denied them the book," Charlotte said.
"Unfortunately, if a teacher signs, Pince has to honor it," George said. "She's very strict about that."
"Just like she is about many things," Katie said. "Right or wrong, she has to follow the rules."
"For once, she should have actually questioned it," Natalie protested. "I just know this damn thing is going to go wrong."
"Yes," Lily said.
"Even Granger would be lucky to pull this one off," Severus said. "And she won't get taught some of the principles which are important in making a proper Polyjuice Potion until…well it was fourth year for Slughorn."
"It is," Snape agreed with his younger self.
"You're not helping yourself by acting like Gollum with that piece of paper," Kate said.
"My precious," Kara breathed.
Everyone laughed, and even Hermione cracked a small smile.
After a forgery test, they get the book.
"I think she was really hoping she didn't have to give you that book," Alicia said.
"Well, given those potions aren't for younger years, she should," Snape said.
"Unfortunately rules are rules," Astra said although she was on edge.
"That's what we've been telling people for years," George said.
"It's very unfortunate, rules are rules," Fred said.
"So, where are you making the potion?" Junior asked.
"You're going to find out," Harry said.
Harry had a feeling the Potioneers in the room were not going to approve of where they made the Polyjuice Potion. And judging by the looks on the faces of Ron and Hermione.
"Charming," Lily said. "That potion requires a Potions lab. A controlled environment. Otherwise…"
And naturally they return to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to figure out what they had to do.
Lily face-palmed at the location.
"Here we go," Sirius murmured.
"That's the worst place you could make that potion," Severus said. "If that temperamental bint of a ghost gets offended, she could ruin weeks worth of work. And you don't have weeks for this stupid scheme."
"So, how bad of an idea was this plan?" Mia asked. "On a scale of one to ten."
"Eleven," Ron said.
"Twelve," Harry said.
"That bad?" Astra asked.
"Yes, agree," Harry said.
"They're not wrong," Hermione murmured.
"Hermione," Charlotte said. "What happened?"
"Mum, you're going to find out," Hermione said.
Malfoy had been looking strangely from the screen to the Trio and then he shook his head.
"What?" Zari asked.
"I'll let you know later," Malfoy said.
Hermione looks it over and comments about how this is the most complicated potion she's ever seen.
"For a second year, it would be," Lily added. "Which is why I recommend you don't do it."
"Which means they did do it," Natalie said.
"In Myrtle's bathroom," Lily said. "Ugh."
"I told you this was one of the dumbest things we ever did," Harry said.
"Yeah, but each moment makes it seem dumber," Sara said.
"And I'm surprised that Granger was the one who thought it was a good idea," Malfoy said. "Did you really hate me that much to lose all your common sense?"
Hermione just grumbled.
Once finding out that they have to drink a potion with a piece of the person they're changing into, Ron is vehemently opposed to drinking anything with Crabbe's toenails in it.
"Ugh," Ruby said. "That's repulsive."
"Why would your mind go straight to toenails?" Ginny asked.
"It was the most disgusting thing I could think of," Ron said.
"Oh, to be young and naive," George said.
"Hair will do," Lily said with a sigh.
"The hair on their head," Bellatrix said.
"Oh, thanks a lot, Trixie, now I'm going to not be able to sleep for a week!" Regulus snapped.
"This is going to go so wrong," Astra said.
"We already established that when Harry said it was a stupid plan," Sirius reminded them all.
"I agree," James said.
Harry points out they are going to have to steal a lot of what they need for the potion. Which means breaking into Snape's private stores.
"You could owl order it," Regulus said.
"But, that would be nowhere near as fun," George said.
"Please tell me you didn't," McGonagall said.
"They did," Snape said. "I knew they did."
Snape realized there was nothing to do but scowl at that.
"Congratulations for your mastery of the obvious," Narcissa said. "I can't believe you thought my son was capable of doing this."
"He was not doing himself any favors," Ginny said.
Tom was highly amused when the Trio zeroed in on Malfoy.
Hermione essentially puts a guilt trip on Harry and Ron, remarking how they obviously don't think it's important that Malfoy might be attacking Muggleborns.
"Oooh, straight for the guilt trip," Lita said.
"That's really low," Sirius said.
"It's about as low as you can go," Sara said. "And I'm still surprised you thought…"
"Obviously, I was fixated on Malfoy because he called me that word," Hermione said.
"I'm detecting a pattern," Astra said. "You pretty much always find a way to either guilt-trip them or browbeat them into following your lead."
"I didn't…I would have listened to them, but they wanted to do this, they wanted to prove it was Malfoy as much as I did," Hermione said.
"Well maybe not quite as much as you did," Kara said.
"You were adamant it was Malfoy this time," Harry said.
Hermione shivered. She knew what Harry meant by "this time."
Ron expresses disbelief that Hermione's the one convincing them to break school rules.
"Yeah, that's really shocking," Alex agreed.
"I wouldn't believe it if you told me," Ruby said. "Did Hermione and Ron switch personalities?"
"There's spells for that sort of thing," Bellatrix said.
"You let this idiot get under your skin," Kate said. "And you want to get him in trouble, no matter how unethical it is."
"She's right, isn't she?" Kara asked.
Hermione looked at her sister and sighed.
"He really must have gotten in your head," Nora said.
"And to think, a lot of people ship those two," Lita said.
"But, we've established that a lot of shippers are totally mental," Ron added.
"Damn straight," Mick grumbled.
Mick had his share of run-ins with fans of his books who had some interesting ideas about romance. To put it kindly.
It will take a month to make. Ron comments that it might be easier if Harry takes out Malfoy during the Quidditch game.
"Would be a lot more sensible than that plan," Lily agreed.
"I'm on board with Ron's plan," Astra said.
"Of course you are," Nora added. "Of course you are."
It had been the morning before the Quidditch Match and Harry had been too excited to sleep as always. He noticed a letter had been waiting for him delivered in the dead of the night.
Harry:
I heard about the attack on Halloween. There's something really dangerous lurking in that school.
People will think you're responsible for it. Don't let them get to you. The Hogwarts rumor mill will run away with the scandal. You're famous, like it or not. Therefore, it is much more juicy if Harry Potter did this, then if some random guy no one ever heard of was responsible for the attack.
The Chamber of Secrets is real. And dangerous. Hogwarts is full of secrets and mysteries. And not all of them are worth exploring. To do so will open Pandora's box.
Dumbledore knows more than he lets on. And only acts at the right moment for him. Be careful.
I've been in your shoes before. Hero one day, pariah the next. And others before you. Even Dumbledore has been there in the past. The Wizarding World loves watching heroes fall.
Good luck in the Quidditch game against Slytherin. Enjoy the little things in life.
CJ.
Harry eyed the letter for a second. Last year, most of the Gryffindor house turned on him over house points. And now, people thought he might be the heir of Slytherin.
Who in the hell was this CJ person? And what did they know? Were they behind Dobby? Did they know something about the attacks going to Hogwarts?
Harry tried to put it out of his mind and focus on the Quidditch game.
"Well, that was juicy," Lita said. "And not in the Rowling books."
"Yes, we know that," Nora said.
"You thought CJ was behind Dobby?" George asked in amusement.
"At the moment, it was a logical assumption," Harry said. "I didn't know what to believe."
"Dumbledore does know more than what he's letting on," Alex said. "But…how long did it take you you to get that?"
"Well, any trust I had for Dumbledore after fourth year was tenuous at best," Harry said. "Although, it was really shaky before that."
"Fourth year," Astra said.
"Fourth year," Harry agreed. "What he did the summer after my fourth year…well we'll get there eventually."
"Joy," Lily said.
Lily would like to know what Dumbledore did that destroyed her son's trust. Lily's trust in Dumbledore was gone and a quick look around the room indicated this opinion was far from exclusive.
"With everything else, you had that on your mind," Katie said.
"Quidditch helps me keep stuff off my mind," Harry said. "Flying in general too."
"It really does make you feel free," Ginny added.
Everyone who played Quidditch or loved flying concurred with this point.
Everyone gears up for the Quidditch game. Wood gives a speech and tells Harry to get the snitch or die trying.
Several groans filled the room and Wood shrunk in his seat.
"You told a Potter, what?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
"Wood told Harry to get the snitch or die trying," Kate said.
"Oh, mistake, mistake, mistake," Kara said. "To tell Harry something like that."
"It was," Wood agreed. "And I didn't think he would take it literally."
"And that was your first mistake," Astra said.
"And I didn't think he would need to take it literally," Wood said.
"And that was your second mistake," Angelina said.
"Don't you remember first year?" Katie asked.
"I did," Wood said. "But, the odds of something happening in the first Quidditch match of the year two years in a row are…."
"So long that only Harry Potter could achieve them," Mia concluded.
"The title of the chapter," Peter reminded them.
"Still want to know how it happened," Regulus said.
None of this made sense. Bludgers were very difficult to tamper with. They would just have to see.
The Quidditch game begins and one of the Bludgers focuses on Harry, with extreme prejudice.
"Okay that shouldn't be happening," James said. "At all."
"It was a targeted assault on Harry," Katie said.
"Bludgers shouldn't do that," Junior said. "How the hell did no one notice it was tampered with?"
"Hooch assumed that since they were locked in the office, they were safe," Fred suggested.
"Well, you know what they say about people who assume," Ruby added.
Astra viewed the Bludger, with Harry dodging it.
"You have way too much experience dodging big bulky things with the intelligence of a rock," Astra said.
"That's not fair," Zari said.
"The Bludger are much smarter than Dinky Duddydums," Bellatrix protested.
"Not going to argue with it," Astra agreed.
Astra clutched onto Harry and Kara viewed the screen.
"Damn, I would have lost my mind up there," Lena said.
"Why didn't the referee notice anything?" Kate asked.
"Hooch was too busy keeping her eyes on the Quidditch team for fouls," George explained.
Despite the best efforts of the Weasley twins, the Bludger keeps targeting Harry.
"We tried," George said.
"I know you did," Harry said.
"They should really stop the game," Ruby said.
"They should," Narcissa agreed. "Where were the teachers in all of this?"
"That's a good question," Charlotte added.
She turned to Snape and McGonagall.
"I wasn't about to intervene after what happened last year," Snape said.
And here he flashed Hermione a very nasty look.
"I…I had been preoccupied at the announcers box with Jordan," McGonagall said.
"With all due respect, you spread yourself too thin with too many responsibilities," Alex said. "You can't be a proper Head of the House or Deputy Headmistress, and…ugh…how could no one not notice this? This is maliciously attacking Harry."
"I don't suppose someone could blast the damn thing to pieces," Mia said.
"The Bludger has defenses against that," Regulus said. "And tampering with it is a foul."
"Yet, a bludger maliciously attacking one player is not tampering," Astra said through gritted teeth.
Was she going to get to enjoy Harry playing Quidditch without him being put in danger?
The Marauders, Lily, and Natalie all stared at the screen.
"You would have to be very powerful to tamper with that Bludger," Lily said. But…no…it can't be."
"What?" Remus asked.
"We'll find out soon," Lily said.
Of course, that raised questions. Everything she knew about them indicated they could not act without their master's permission. Maybe Lily was wrong.
The assault on Harry continues. Fred and George remark to Wood that someone has tampered with the Bludger. But they've been locked up in Madam Hooch's office.
"We all should have put our foot down and forced a stop," Alicia said.
"Hindsight's a bitch," Angelina said.
"You really think that…that it's impossible they have been tampered with?" John asked.
"I…I was grasping at straws," Wood admitted.
"Quidditch is not that important," James said.
"We better get you back to the med-bay, "Sirius said. "You must be running a fever."
"I was being serious," James said.
It was a mark of how serious James sounded, that Sirius did not go for the obvious really bad pun.
"Harry would never go for it," Sara said. "He could have all four of his limbs ripped off, and he would still find a way to fight."
"Please tell me that's just a hypothetical," Lily said.
Sara said nothing. Lily just groaned.
Harry argues he can't catch the snitch with them flying around them. And he won't lose a game because of a rogue bludger.
"Mmm, there's that typical Potter stubbornness," Peter said. "Right there."
"Harry, it wasn't worth it," Astra said.
"No," Harry said. "But, I wanted to wipe the smug look off of Malfoy's face."
"And I thought we had problems with escalation, Snape," James said.
"Given you escalated it half of the time," Snape said.
"You shouldn't have taken me so seriously," Wood said. "Because, when I told you that, I just thought it would be Malfoy on his new broom. Not some murder Bludger after you."
"I did, because I was obsessed," Harry said.
"That's for sure," Kate said.
Then again, Kate flew with a broken collarbone. So, perhaps she should not be the one to throw stones.
George bitches Wood out by telling Harry to get the snitch or die trying.
"Rightfully so," Angelina said. "Rightfully so."
"I would too if I was there," Astra said.
"Oh, I think you would have gone straight to violence," Lita said.
Astra could not dispute it.
"Never tell a Potter something like that, ever," Remus said.
"They are stubborn enough to actually take it seriously," Sirius said.
"Isn't that the truth?" Kara asked.
Kate, Ruby, James, and Harry all nodded in response. They could be stubborn in their own ways,
Stubbornly, Harry persists and they resume play, despite the Bludger intending to murder him.
Astra watched the screen. No one said anything for a long time.
"I think your son might be insane, Evans,," Bellatrix said.
Lily nodded when watching the screen. Harry was impressive when flying. Still that does not matter when a murder buldger was going after him.
Harry leads the Bludger on a wild goose chase trying to get it away from him.
"You didn't do a bad job of it," Regulus said.
"That Bludger just won't quit," Nora said.
"Someone get the snitch, I don't care who," Astra said. "Sooner this game is over…because it's obvious no one is going to do anything until it is."
"We should have," Katie said.
"We should have done a lot of things, but we didn't," Angelina said.
"Every damn year," Katie murmured underneath her breath.
Astra flinched when hearing that.
"Oh, third year," Ginny murmured so only Ron could hear her.
"Yep," Ron agreed.
Malfoy taunts Harry. And while he's too busy being a jackass, the snitch is hovering right by his ear.
"Oh, I'd really like to see you dodge that thing, Hair Gel," Mick said.
"Yeah, Princess, like you would do a lot better up there," John said.
"It was right there," Regulus said.
"Yes," Malfoy said.
"You were too busy grandstanding that you missed the snitch," Regulus said.
"YES!" Malfoy yelled.
"And we thought Harry's predecessor was bad," George said.
"Charlie was not too pleased when he found out who replaced him," Fred added.
"Serve you right if that thing takes your head off," Astra responded.
Those in the room agreed.
"If you maneuver just right, you might be able to have Malfoy get cracked in the face," Kate said. "Of course, it's got to be precise."
"Really has to be," Mia said.
The Bludger shatters Harry's arm.
Lily almost jumped up when seeing it.
"MY GOD!" Ruby yelled. "Dad?"
"It hurt, like hell," Harry said.
"I'd imagine," Angelina said. "How did you not pass out from the pain?"
"I know why," Kara said grimly.
"Adrenaline is a powerful thing," Zari said.
"Spite is even more powerful," Harry remarked. "And I didn't want Malfoy to win."
"So, we've noticed," Sara said.
James just frowned. That level of obsession over one person caused a lot of problems. Something which he had been guilty of with his fixation over one Severus Snape.
"You shouldn't have such tunnel vision over one person," James said. "It isn't healthy."
"Speaking from experience?" Harry asked.
"I am," James said. "Trust me."
Both Snapes blinked, unable to believe what James was implying. And they did not believe that arrogant bastard would ever admit any wrongdoing.
Despite the injury, Harry is determined to get the snitch. And does, right from above Malfoy.
"Ha!" Kate cheered. "That's what you get for showing off."
"You had no one to blame for that loss but yourself," Regulus told Malfoy.
Regulus knew if a player was this unobservant on his team, they would be kicked off the team before the broomstick touched the ground. Rich father or not.
"Flint told me about as much," Malfoy said.
"Draco, you could have won that game," Narcissa said. "If you had not focused on your stupid grudge against Harry."
Malfoy just scowled, he knew that.
"Never mind the game, what about Harry?" Astra asked.
"I was fine," Harry said.
"For the moment," Katie said with a scowl on her face.
"Yeah, if Harry just had a broken arm, everything would have been over the second he got to the Hospital Wing," George added.
"Oh, I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about this one," John said.
"You're not the only one," Natalie added.
Lily looked at her son. The pain on his face was obvious.
Harry's won, despite the pain racking through his body. And he blacks out.
"Well, get him to the hospital wing, stat," Peter said.
"Not going to be that simple, Pete," Sirius said.
"Ugh, I forgot, Harry's luck is the pits," Peter said.
Astra wondered what could be worse than a broken arm.
"Find out soon, Honey Badger," Harry said.
"Yeah, this is…this will piss you off," Lita said.
Here Astra's scowl deepened.
And he wakes up to the glitter of Lockhart's teeth.
"That would give me nightmares for weeks," Junior said grimly.
"And he's the last person I would want around me right now," Mia said.
"Oh, he was."
"Oh, Rao, give me strength," Kara murmured.
She really wanted to punt Lockhart into the sun on principle now. And Kara knew what was going to happen.
"The teachers should intervene any time now," Lena said.
"Lockhart is a teacher," Nora reminded them.
"Ugh, don't remind us," Remus grumbled.
"Fuck, this idiot," Alex grumbled. "I'd kill him if he did…what he's about to do."
Lockhart joyfully says he's going to fix Harry's arm.
"NOOOO!" Bellatrix screamed.
"Get him away from my son!" Lily yelled, finally finding her voice.
"No, no, I would…fuck," Astra said. "He's really going to…what is this idiot going to do?"
"Nothing good," Ron said grimly.
Hermione watched the scene play out, unable to speak a damn word.
"It's like a train wreck, isn't it?" Kara asked.
"We know what's coming and we can't look away," Alex said.
"Everyone who is easily squeamish, turn away now," Sara said. "Fair warning."
"Captain Lance giving out trigger warnings," Ruby said. "That's not good."
"It's not," Kate said.
"Astra," Harry said.
"I have to know what this addled idiot did," Astra said.
Colin tries to take a photo with Harry injured.
"Really not the time for it, kiddo," Zari said wincing.
"I would have made him eat that camera by now," Bellatrix said.
"Of course, you would," Sirius said.
"Just a kid," Lily said. "He doesn't know any better. Although he should learn boundaries."
"He needs to learn about personal boundaries eventually," Natalie agreed. "Before someone less permissive than Harry teaches him the hard way."
"Like me!" Bellatrix chimed in.
"Yes, like you," Natalie said.
"Please tell me he mellowed out," Ruby said.
"Eventually," Harry said.
Harry suggests he should go to the hospital wing. Wood agrees and says it's Harry's best catch. And Fred and George manage to wrestle the rogue Bludger back into the box. And Lockhart prepares to "help" Harry.
"No means no, you idiot!" Lena snapped.
"Lena," Kara said.
It had been a long time since Kara heard Lena raise her voice about something.
"Oh, I'm adding Lockhart to the list right beside Dumbledore and the Dursleys that I want to have a sit down with," Lily added.
"I…I can't," Sara said. "Last chance people. Look away."
No one said anything.
"Should have been more insistent that Harry went to the Hospital Wing," Wood said. "Given this is all my fault."
"No, you couldn't account for Potter stubbornness," George said.
"Or Lockhart stupidity," Angelina added.
"Those things are wildcards," Kara concluded.
"And both together are dangerous," Sirius added. "Well, let's get this over with."
Lockhart "fixes" Harry's arm. Which does not remotely feel like an arm before. Lockhart says that can happen sometimes.
"HE TOOK YOUR ARM OFF!" Lily yelled.
"Not exactly," Harry said.
"But, not good if it doesn't feel like an arm," James said.
"Oh, Morgana's tits, that idiot actually…." Bellatrix said.
"Yes?' Astra asked weakly.
"Good thing it wasn't your back that got broken," Bellatrix somberly said.
"Ravenclaw takes no responsibility for this," Junior said dryly.
"Humanity in general doesn't want to take responsibility for Lockhart," Sara added.
"Or any human looking aliens," Kara said with thinly-veiled disgust.
After Lockhart suggested that Ron and Hermione help Harry up to the hospital wing, Harry realizes that his bones have been removed.
A sound of glass shattering filled the room. Lily had been angered beyond all words and she was far from the only ones.
"Oh, bugger me sideways," John said. "He should have been sacked, Defense be damned."
"I…he wasn't," McGonagall said.
"That level of gross incompetence in a school," Alex said. "And I mean, a student tells him no, and Lockhart does it anyway. And…oh that really…oh God."
"I know," Kara said.
"What?" Astra asked.
"You'll find out later," Alex said.
"If you were any kind of Head of House and Deputy Headmistress, you would have demanded Lockhart be sacked," Sirius practically growled at McGonagall. "Or you should have resigned on principle if Dumbledore refused."
"And what could would that have done, Mr. Black?" McGonagall asked.
"You would have had some principles for one thing," Sirius said. "You're always passing the buck to Dumbledore."
"To be fair, he's a very hard man to say no to," Snape said.
"Potter, I…I should have done more," McGonagall said.
"Yes, you should," Harry replied curtly.
"That was a bit harsh," Remus told Sirius.
"Maybe," Sirius said. "But look where her inaction led to."
"You have a point," Remus agreed.
Madam Pomfrey is rightfully pissed at what happened with Harry.
"Rightfully so," Lily said in an icily calm manner.
"Shouldn't be blaming Dad for this though," Ruby said.
"I'd blame him for not calling a stop to the game," James agreed.
"Come on, James, if you were his age, you would have done the same stupid thing," Sirius said.
James sighed.
"You're right," James said. "But, it doesn't make it any smarter, just because I did it."
"Isn't that the truth," Peter murmured.
Harry will have to stay the night.
"Figured as much," Astra said with a sigh.
"At least Pomfrey won't let Lockhart in there," Katie said. "That dolt really…how could anyone have thought this was a good idea?"
"It was Dumbledore," Sara said with a restless sigh.
"It's always Dumbledore," Kara agreed.
Ron wants to know how Hermione can defend Lockhart. Hermione remarks that anyone can make a mistake.
"No, a mistake is forgetting someone's anniversary," Lita said. "This is disgusting and gross criminal negilegence."
"I don't know how I could have been…ugh," Hermione said.
"This dense?" Kate asked helpfully.
"Yes, that," Hermione said.
"He charmed you," Ron said. "Hopefully not literally."
"No…he didn't," Hermione added a second later.
"Not that you would remember it," Ginny murmured.
"What do you mean by that?" Lily asked.
"Nothing good," Nora said.
"I'm guessing we won't know for sure until later," Narcissa said.
She had a hunch. All of Lockhart's tall tales had a basis in reality. It's just he was not capable of doing any of that.
Hermione asks Harry if it hurts. But it doesn't do anything.
"This is really embarrassing," Hermione said.
"Thirteen year olds can be extremely embarrassing," Ruby said.
Hermione shook her head.
"It's almost amusing just how far you went trying to not reach the obvious conclusion," Lena said.
"It would have shattered her worldview," Malfoy said. "Books are Granger's entire life. If Lockhart lied, then what other books lied to her?"
"Blame my in-laws for that one,"Charlotte murmured.
Only Kara, Harry, Lily, and Astra heard that one. Harry looked towards Hermione who folded her arms and looked disapprovingly at her younger self.
The Skele-Gro tastes terrible and burns like hell.
"It's not a health drink," Lily said dryly. "But, it does the job."
"If I was Potter, once my bones returned, I would strangle Lockhart," Bellatrix said.
"We know you would," Regulus said.
"And no one would blame you," Astra said.
The trio talks about Malfoy and they think he rigged the Bludger. Just one more question to ask him for the Polyjuice Potion.
"Still on about this?" Junior asked.
"Normally, you're pretty observant," Sara said to Harry. "Why do you have tunnel vision on this one?"
"Malfoy painted a target on his head," Harry said.
"He does have a large tattoo which might as well say red herring," Mick said.
"I'm flattered that you three thought I was capable enough to rig a Bludger," Malfoy said. "I had no idea that you thought I was such a grand wizard.
"And now his head would have been so swollen it wouldn't have been able to fit in the Great Hall," Ginny said.
The rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team comes in for a party. Which they get shooed out by Madam Pomfrey.
"Well, we tried," George said.
"Should have known better," Angelina said. "Although, it would have done a good job of keeping Harry's mind off of the stabbing pain of his arm."
"Should have hunted down Lockhart," Wood said.
"He didn't even get reprimanded for it, did he?" Alex asked.
"No, wait, I know the answer to this one," Ron said. "McGonagall told Dumbledore. And Dumbledore said he would talk about it."
"Of course," Astra sighed.
McGonagall closed her eyes. No use in arguing because that was exactly what happened.
Harry wakes up in pain. And then Dobby is hovering over him.
"Ugh," Astra spat. "Him."
"Can't figure out if that is better or worse than waking up with Lockhart over you," Kara said.
"Creepy in different ways," Harry admitted.
"Oh, you should try and wake up with Kreacher in your face sometime," Sirius said. "The Black Family House Elf."
"Yes, you should," Regulus said. "You will always be sleeping with one eye open."
Harry realizes that Dobby is the one that caused him to miss the train.
"The penny drops at last," Kate said.
"To be fair, it should have been obvious," Harry said.
"Don't see how the beady little bastard pulled it off," Bellatrix said. "House elves aren't supposed to be this independent."
"He did, somehow," Narcissa said with a frown.
Lucius always mistreated Dobby. And while Narcissa did not claim to be an expert on house elves, she did feel that if they were mistreated by their masters, they might find loopholes that technically were not defying their master's orders. They were more clever than most wizards gave them credit for..
"Dobby was something else," Ron said.
"Never seen a house elf like this ever," Junior said. "His master's a real shithead if he's this defiant."
"Yes," Narcissa said. "Continue."
Dobby was punished for burning his master's dinner.
"I remember that," Narcissa murmured. "Lucius spent most of the day with the Minister and his temper was already short."
Hermione just tutted loudly but said nothing.
"Please don't," Kate said.
Despite Harry's threat, Dobby just brushes it off. He gets them often enough at home.
"Well, I do too," Harry admitted.
"Guess that's why you felt sorry for him," Kara said.
"A little," Harry said.
"House elves shouldn't…they shouldn't be treated badly," Junior said. "We can't free them. They couldn't take it."
"But, they can be taught," Hermione protested.
"Thanks a lot," Ginny hissed.
"I'm not sure if allowing house elves free reign is such a good idea," Sirius said. "Given what Dobby did despite being bound."
"That was an extreme situation," Hermione said.
"Maybe," Kara agreed. "However, unless you figure out why house elves are the way they are and actually understand why they came to be, how they came to serve humans, you're just bashing your head against a wall. Trying to think you know better in an entire species makes you no better than the people who mistreat them."
"They're slaves," Hermione protested.
"Twenty bloody years later," Ron said. "She's persistent."
"Everyone just won't…"
"You're not wrong, but you can't just force them to change if they don't want to," Lily said.
Harry had been trying to beat this point into Hermione's head with a blunt force of a brick for years. He wished his mother the best of luck in trying.
"I thought you'd understand," Hermione said.
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Lily said. "More than you realize."
Dobby explains about his pillowcase and how if he ever gets any clothes, he would be set free.
"So if someone tricks Dobby's master into freeing him, he might have a chance," Astra said.
"Please, you would have to be monumentally stupid to accidentally free a house elf," Bellatrix said.
Harry said nothing. Although he could see the frown deepen on Narcissa's face.
Harry finds out that Dobby set up the Bludger. To make sure he is injured enough to be sent home.
"I want to crack that little bastard's skull," Astra said.
"Astra!" Hermione yelled reproachfully.
"Get in line," Lily said.
"There's a line, a long line," Ruby said. "And as his daughter, I should be first in line."
Ruby's eyes grew red.
"But, I'm older than you," Kate said.
"Katherine!" Hermione yelled. "Mum, she's…"
"She's upset," Charlotte said. "As am I. Harry could have been killed."
"House elf did that?" Regulus asked. "A house elf tampered with the bludger."
"Yes," John said. "They can be resourceful little buggers when given the chance."
"They can't be freed," Junior said. "Ever."
Hermione scowled at response.
"Don't give me that look," Junior said. "I agree they shouldn't be mistreated. But, they might be shackled for a good reason."
"We should put a pin in this one," Natalie said.
"Save the house elf discussion for the mid-book break," Sara said.
"Chapter after the next?" Zari asked.
"I think so," Sara agreed.
Dobby explains tearfully how bad things were before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was stopped. And let's it slip that the Chamber of Secrets was opened.
"It was bad for everyone," Wood said somberly. "Dad and my older sisters told me a lot about it, how it was…how you were living in fear."
"Only if you weren't of proper wizard blood," Bellatrix said.
"My family was pureblood," Wood said.
"Voldemort killed more purebloods did he did anything else," Harry said.
"You were useful idiots to him," Ginny said. "He…once told me how purebloods easily were manipulated if you pretended to believe in their ideology. They would justify anything."
"It's not true," Regulus said. "It can't be."
"He doesn't care," Snape said dryly.
"He doesn't," Narcissa agreed.
"He doesn't," Malfoy agreed. "Never gave a damn about us unless we were loyal."
Bellatrix folded her arms. She was highly skeptical. Hell, there was a small part of her that wondered if this entire time travel/book from the future was something her mind cooked up because she was higher than a kite on Greengrass edibles.
The alternative displeased Bellatrix. And Severus and Regulus did not do.
"Stick around and find out," Zari said. "If you don't believe it."
"I knew it, I knew there was a Chamber of Secrets," Harry said. "What is going on here, Dobby?"
"Dobby…Dobby can't be saying."
"Did CJ send you?"
"Dobby doesn't understand what a CJ is," Dobby said. "But, if this CJ is telling Harry Potter that he is in mortal danger, then Harry Potter should be listening to them."
"So, CJ is not your master then," Harry said.
"Dobby is telling you that this person is not Dobby's master," Dobby said.
"It's been opened before," Harry said. "How Dobby? Who?"
"Dobby…can't say," Dobby replied.
"Well, I'm not in any danger, because I'm not Muggleborn," Harry said.
"Oh, Dobby wishes he could say more, but he can only say there is the darkest of deeds happening at Hogwarts," Dobby remarked. "Harry Potter must go home. Go home. Don't be a hero. Because, Harry Potter is going to die if he gets involved."
"One of my friends is Muggleborn," Harry hissed. "And she'll be first in line. If this person wants to get to me."
"So valiant, so brave, is Harry Potter, much like the Hero of Hogwarts who came before him," Dobby said. "And Madam Cursebreaker, she was also valiant and brave until the thirst for power corrupted her, but Dobby does not want to see Harry Potter fall like them. Even if he puts his friends first, this time, Dobby is telling Harry Potter that he must…"
Dobby froze at the sound of noise.
"Dobby must go. And so must Harry Potter."
Dobby left, leaving Harry with more questions than answers.
"Madam Cursebreaker?" Lita asked. "Harry, is she talking about…."
"Mmm hmm," Harry said.
"So, it's her?" Astra asked. "Dobby's talking about her."
"Uh huh," Harry said.
"Are you going to tell anyone who is not in the secret time travelers club what's going on here?" Malfoy asked.
"Not really," Harry said.
Fred and George had their eyes widened and they mouth mouthed "Oh". Which caused Ginny and Ron to become confused.
Lily frowned. She had an inkling. It would make perfect sense.
Oh, Patricia Rakepick, what did you do?
Peter shifted for a second. That woman's obsession might have gone too far. Hell, Peter was intrigued. To find the one secret that not even the Marauders could find in their entire time at Hogwarts. And it was not even for any lack of trying.
The Cursed Vaults. They had been Peter Pettigrew's white whale. To prove that he belonged with the Marauders. Snape, MacNair, the Lestranges, and the rest called Peter weak. But, he was not weak.
"Dobby's a little fanatic," Ruby said.
"If he wasn't going to end up getting you killed by trying to save your life, it would be almost admirable," Mia said grimly. "Would be the perfect sidekick."
"I don't want to even think of Dobby in spandex," Kara said with a shudder.
"Ah, we're not putting him in Grayson's old green shorts then," Sara said.
"No,that's unholy," Kara said.
"Tell me about it," Alex agreed.
"The two of you were birds of a feather," George said.
"You and CJ," Fred clarified.
"Cut from the same cloth," George added.
"Nothing, but trouble," Fred said.
"Not that's a bad thing," George said.
Dumbledore arrives, with Professor McGonagall. Madam Pomfrey meets them, and they heave a limp body into bed. There's another attack.
"Perfect way to end a perfect day," Sara said grimly.
"Now who?" Lena asked.
"I have a feeling," Astra said.
It's Colin Creevey, who was believed to be up there to visit Harry. Dumbledore came across him when getting some late night hot chocolate.
"Damn," Astra said. "That's not…good for Harry."
"Not good for Creevey either," Sirius said.
"And Dumbledore just happened to be walking by," Bellatrix said.
"Poor kid," Astra said. "I don't like his personality, but he doesn't deserve to be attacked. Not by that."
"And you've figured out what that is?" Natalie asked.
"I've got a hunch," Astra told her mother.
"And Dumbledore tends to be in the right place at the right time way too much to be a coincidence," Sirius added. "But, good that the kid was found quickly."
Colin's camera has been destroyed, burned from whoever the attacker was.
"Nothing could be that easy," Lily said.
"Damn," Katie murmured.
"Imagine what the poor kid was thinking before he got attacked," Angelina added.
"Not sure if he was thinking much," John said.
Harry said nothing. All Colin heard was some hissing.
"Poor Colin," Ginny said. "He was just…there."
"Okay?" Kara asked her gently.
"I'll live," Ginny said.
"You will," Harry agreed. "But, not well."
Ginny felt like she was eleven again. Colin did not blame her for it, because Harry and Hermione explained everything to the victims. Well, that did not stop Ginny from blaming herself.
"So, the Chamber of Secrets has been opened?" McGonagall asked. "But who?"
"The question is not who," Dumbledore said. "The question is how."
Harry feigned sleep, but one key quote burned into his brain.
Dumbledore knows more than he lets on.
Harry tried to shake it off as paranoia. But, he wondered.
"Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you," Sirius concluded.
"And someone's out to get Harry, if what Dobby was saying was true," Natalie said.
"Dad, how didn't you break down?" Ruby asked.
"I had to be strong," Harry said.
"But, you're only human," Astra said.
"It's only going to get worse from here," Harry commented. "Ladies, Wood, it's an honor as always."
Harry shook hands with Wood and exchanged brief kisses with the chasers.
"And it's an honor to be here," Katie said.
"I'm really sorry I pushed you to do that," Wood said. "Even after all these years."
"Well, you didn't think I would take it literally," Harry said. "See you next year."
"Right," Wood said. "That game."
"What?" Astra asked. "You mean there's something worse than a cursed broomstick and a rogue bludger. Don't you?"
"Unfortunately," Alicia sighed.
"We can't tell you until we get there," Fred said. "Rules of book club."
"Well, at least nothing bad happens in the other Quidditch matches this year," Astra said. "So, that's something."
Harry led the Quidditch Team out of the door.
"She would have been a damn good beater," George murmured.
"Given that she was about ready to crack everyone's skull on your behalf," Katie said. "Nice girl. If we don't get on her bad side."
"Of yours," Wood said. "Harry…."
"Wood, I'm over it," Harry said. "Have a nice trip. See you in a little bit."
Fred, George, and Harry returned.
"Dumbledore knows," Sirius said simply.
"In hindsight, we can figure it out, Mr. Black," McGonagall said. "So, there's one more chapter until break?"
"Yes," Sara confirmed.
"Will try and stick it out," McGonagall sighed.
"We have more guests on their way," Sara said.
"Yes, Captain Lance," Gideon said. "I know you're going to be skeptical Ms. Black…but I have a trio of Hufflepuffs to join us for the next chapter. Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, and Ernie MacMillian at your service."
Harry moved over to greet the three new arrivals. He shook hands with Ernie and Hannah and Susan smothered him in a double hug, pressing him against their curvy bodies.
"Nice to see you again, hero," Susan said while playfully tosseling his hair.
"And how are things at the Ministry?" Harry asked.
"Same old, same old," Susan said. "How Auntie Amelia dealt with all of these people without her hair falling out, I'll never know."
"Same here," Ernie said.
"Ernie, you do realize that this is…"
"I read Gary's cliffsnotes to get me up to speed," Ernie said. "But, I have to be here. Because, I was wrong. No matter how awful the taste of my own foot in my mouth is."
"Yeah," Hannah said. "Wait, is that Bellatrix…."
Harry nodded.
"Gary briefed you on that, didn't he?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Susan agreed.
"And I guess some introductions are in order then," Harry confirmed.
"It wouldn't hurt," Susan said. "Bit of a bigger room than I thought it would be."
"Don't envy you, trying to wrangle this crowd," Ernie said. "Helps that you have Supergirl and White Canary as your chief enforcers though, doesn't it?"
"Doesn't hurt," Harry agreed. "So, let's get on with it."
To Be Continued.