Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to have quite a bit of added text. You all know how much I hate the whole thing with Hermione, Harry and the Firebolt and I plan to make full use of that. I don't think I'm going to change the whole thing, simply because of where the chapter ends, but I am going to make this less of a problem for the trio.
Let's do this,
Venquine1990
PS. Sorry, it looks like I started numbering wrong after chapter 64. Same with Fate's Finale. I will fix this sometime soon.
Chapter 68
A Well-Meant Gift
3rd of July 1995
Ballroom, Beast's Castle
Minerva's POV
I truly feel like a right and utter fool for thinking it right to discuss this horrible tale amongst the student body when they were on their last day before the holidays and both bless and curse the fact that Dumbledore had this all planned out as it had been him who had asked me to go to Hogsmeade to pick up Fudge.
At the time I had thought it was because Dumbledore still had somewhat of a grudge against Cornelius for sending Hagrid to Azkaban, but while part of me now wonders – and even feels quite sure – that that too was just another step in the man's plans, do I feel sick at how, where and when the man is willing to manipulate others.
"It really isn't without reason that the Fates sent Grindelwald to destroy him, though I do wonder how that no-good bastard managed to change that into a scenario that made him world-famous in the first place." I think to myself, deciding to ask the Lord of the Dead next time I get a chance. For now, I focus on the task at hand.
"I believe it best if I read next." I tell young Fred and George Weasley, who look at Harry, yet the boy is only looking at his friends in concern. The two in question nod, which is picked up by the twins, who use their magic to send the book my way. And while I wonder what link I am missing here, do I start my reading.
The Firebolt … just heard and because his magic and heart still seemed to try and fight the knowledge he had just received, as if there was still a part of him that didn't believe it. Harry knew this was true, because there really was a part of him that didn't want to believe it.
This makes me sigh and I think: "That was a state that a lot of us had been in back then. Curse our stupidity that we didn't listen to it back then. Thanks to us just stubbornly accepting regardless of our desires to do otherwise Sirius spent twelve years in hell." And this makes me grimace in a renewed sense of guilt as I read on.
Why had … betrayed them? Why did they think they had the right to keep such a vital part of his own history from him? Why hadn't they trusted that he could handle it? Or want to be there for him in case he couldn't? And most importantly, why were they so adamant on keeping it from Harry, but willing to discuss it around all the other students at the same time? Where was the fairness in that?
"It really wasn't. But then again, I think it's obvious by now that Albus Dumbledore gives less than the tiles of a dungeon floor about fairness." Severus growls, his arms crossed and his whole form leaning against the wall next to the door leading outside. And while I find the comparison quite fitting for the Dungeon Bat to say, do I read on.
Ron and … by them. Harry himself had the slight desire to see if he could pull Percy apart at some point and confide in him, either him or Lee, but didn't think he was able, didn't think he was ready yet.
This shocks young Ronald and Hermione, but makes the two in question smile at Harry in honored gratitude and Lee says: "I know I only have one year left after this, but – my dorm door's always open." And Percy goes on: "And I have Hermes in case Hedwig can't fly or something." Harry smiles at them both and I read on, feeling proud.
When they … or not or for them to see that their little gift didn't have the results they obviously wanted it to have had, sneaked quietly … thought before.
Harry looks at his mother in guilt at this, but the man smiles and says: "I think, if I was younger, your age, I might have taken offence to that, but – having experienced what we have, I can only understand why your parents are that vitally important to you." Harry smiles, but then he hugs the man close and lovingly whispers:
"That they are, Sirius. All four of them." And while it's still not entirely clear why the young man suddenly stopped calling the two by the pet names of mum and dad, do these words still touch hearts all around and I leave the reading for just a moment, wanting to personally enjoy the wondrous sight the three men make before I read on.
If he … drew near…
Harry turned on his other side and then suddenly noticed something. In his need to pull the hangings closed, he had somehow pulled them so that his bedside cabinet was covered by them as well. And again that side of him that didn't want to believe everything he had just been thinking overcame him.
He again pulled out the picture book, opened it again on the same picture and looked at it once more, yet this time he didn't look at Black. Instead his eyes again focused on his father and suddenly new thoughts overcame him.
"This is the man my father wanted on his side for his wedding. Who was with him through seven years of school, eleven years of war, horror and death. The man that he, regardless of everything, even Dumbledore's doubts and beliefs that there was a spy amongst the ranks, named my godfather. Why? Why would dad do that? What did he know about Black that made him believe in him so much? And, if all that's true – then why –?" And suddenly Harry went to bed with completely new thoughts running through his mind, thoughts that didn't anger him the way the others did, but still left him with a lot more confusion and a whole slew of questions.
I turn to the boy and he says: "I discussed it with Ron and Hermione right the next morning. It almost went wrong, my anger almost overwhelmed me, but – it really was quite the repeat of what just happened there." And while I notice that Sirius is silently crying in gratitude for his son not instantly blaming him, do I read on.
"Harry, you … until daybreak, the new thoughts and his need to get an answer, if only by his own logic and knowledge, keeping him awake until they had just outright exhausted him. He had … said Harry, wondering why his friends would instantly think he'd do something stupid. So far every time they found out about something like this, they had always investigated as much about the matter as possible first, so he really didn't understand why they thought he'd do different now.
"We really should've thought of that ourselves." Ron mutters and Hermione says: "It's more that, we ourselves were so overwhelmed by what we heard, even we couldn't think straight anymore. Ron even admitted that, when he woke up, he actually wanted to leave and hunt Black down. I had to talk him out of it before Harry came down."
This makes Sirius and even some of his own family look at him shocked and Ron shrugs as he says: "No one hurts my best friend. I don't care if they try to do it emotionally, mentally or otherwise, they just don't. That was really all that was going through my mind at the time, that and the story itself." Sirius nods in pride and I read on.
"Like trying … at all. It was almost as if they were back in their last year, but had completely skipped the whole Polyjuice Potion and Accromantula part and just gone down to the Chamber because of Ginny.
"D'you know … after her –" Here Harry stopped, but not just because Hermione interrupted him, but also because the confusing thoughts of the night before came up again.
"There's nothing … at liberty and potentially the only one with the answers Harry wanted and so desperately needed, was almost … said abruptly, his mind now only focused on his need to get those blasted answers, that felt as if they were up on a cloud with him stuck on the ground, his Nimbus torn to pieces near his feet. "Remember what … want revenge.' He knows something."
"You're going … Ron furiously, who had apparently not heard Harry whisper the last three words, probably because it was Malfoy Harry mentioned. "Listen… you … Harry shortly.
"And besides, speaking of my parents, that's the one thing that I just don't get." Harry said suddenly, his voice completely changed and now filled with all of the confusion that had been building up inside him the night before. Ron and Hermione shared a look that portrayed both their concern for what could come next and their relief that Harry was the one to have changed the subject before looking back at him and he asked:
"Why make a man responsible for my future if something happened to them – the one most likely to make something happen to them? That just doesn't make sense. It – it just – it just doesn't sound like something they'd do. They were Head Boy and Girl respectively, so surely they were intelligent, intelligent enough not to make a mistake like that. So what is it? What am I missing? What is there about this story that can solve that one missing link, that one piece of the puzzle that doesn't make sense?" Harry was sounding desperate now, having racked his head over these questions all night and having coming up blank every time until he fell asleep.
There was … pocket quivered as he himself shared a look with Hermione again before turning back to Harry, both of their eyes proving they felt bad for him, but that neither had the answers he was almost crying for at this point.
"Look," said … Harry firmly. He looked at Ron and said: "I need those answers, Ron. I – I can't stand this. This confusion about – about this decision my parents so obviously wrongly made – I can't stand it anymore."
"I really wish I could've cleared it up for yeh, Harry." Hagrid says, but the boy smiles at him and says: "Don't worry about it, Hagrid. You may not have had the answers, but you sure had – in an unexpected, unpleasant way – something just as – never mind, you get my point." This mumbling makes the half giant chuckle and I read on.
So they … Harry's neck.
This shocks me and makes me turn to the man as I wonder why he never reported having seen Harry in Hogsmeade, but the large man shakes his head, his head also down, and says: "I didn't mean Hogsmeade. I thought young Malfoy had been heard gloating." And instantly I just know this won't be pleasant as I read on.
Hagrid being … the cabin while Harry swore to himself he'd stop by Madam Pomfrey on the way back to the common room. Hagrid allowed … aghast. Harry, who took to the chair with the most pillows and softest fabrics for the sake of his back, spotted an … regrettable incident.
And while this sentence alone brings up the memory of what Hagrid had been going through at the time, does the knowledge that it was Dumbledore who reassured them now make me even more annoyed at remembering all of this and part of me thinks: "Who's to say those three weren't a team in all this?" As I read on.
"Well, that's … in question.
"More like we have to find out if those two haven't killed off innocent creatures." Kingsley growls and then suddenly stands up and asks: "Would all those who do not want to see gore please turn around?" This confuses us all, but upon another inquiring look from the man do a lot of students and even a few teachers do as told.
Kingsley then actually uses his wand to cut open his own arm and chants: "Oh Lord of the Dead, please accept this sacrifice of my mortal fluids and here my request. Question your newest pupils and see if their guilt coincides with the disappearances of several majestic beasts known as Hippogriffs after September 1993."
He then heals the cut, but only so much that, even from this point of view across the room, I can see that it will surely scar and suddenly a voice comes from the floor below: "As you wish. And thanks. It's nice to see that you wizards respect the ancient ways." Making Kingsley smirk, even as a few kids shriek at hearing the voice before I read on.
We have … whip around, Harry wincing as this made his back ache with a painful crack. Buckbeak the … positively cute. And unlike beasts like Aragog and Fluffy, Hippogriffs didn't have a natural first instinct for blood or an instinctual need to hunt prey. They were tamable and, according to what Harry had actually read up on Hippogriffs after the lesson, were held in herd all over the world, some countries even using them for special events and shows.
"You'll have … said Harry.
He had absolutely no trust in the man whatsoever, but Dumbledore meant the world to Hagrid and Harry, if nothing else, wanted to believe that that mattered to the old manipulator.
"He's done … and scared. Not to mention the fact that he didn't care for the secrecy, he just wanted answers to his questions, but even that could wait.
"Listen, Hagrid … what happened."
"And I read that Hippogriffs are used all over the world in shows. If I recall correctly, some school in France opens its year with them or something. I'll have to see if Madam Pince is willing to have me rent that book again, I know I saw it in the ComC part of the library at the start of the school year."
Hagrid howled … of help and Harry remembering which book it was he had read, with a … of cards.
This obviously saddens Hagrid, but Charlie just looks at him blandly and says: "Hagrid, I care for you and you're a good friend, but never again try to raise something as dangerously rare as a Norwegian Ridgeback in your own home – if you don't have the papers proving you can." Hagrid looks at him shocked and I decide to just read on.
"Yeh can' … on revenge or the need for the answers that eluded him if he … for Buckbeak, Harry wondering why he hadn't been able to find the book he had read at the start of the year. The three … near it…"
As more and more of these books turned up empty, Harry became the person who would go back and forth between the library and the common room. Ron stayed because he was quicker looking up the right info – or at least looking up the relevant cases – and Hermione stayed, because her notes were the most readable of the three.
But Harry also had another reason for wanting to be the one to go down and one day, a few days after Hagrid, he faked to pick up one of the books he had on mind and put it on a table instead of taking it with him. He went to sit down and pretended to look through it. Yet he moved the pages wildly enough that it hid how his eyes were roaming the room – and he spotted him.
Dumbledore was standing just off of one of the bookcases that were still within Harry's viewpoint, but hidden well enough that Harry wouldn't have spotted him – if not for the few books missing that allowed for his atrocious looking robe to be visible.
Harry, of course, knew that the Headmaster had all rights to be in the Library just as much as the others, but the fact that he was hidden like that – and standing so close to the door to the Restricted Section – said a lot to Harry.
Instantly Harry just knew that he wouldn't be finding anything and the beliefs he had a few days ago, the beliefs that Hagrid's loyalty meant something to the old man, were dashed. He slammed the book closed, glad that it was a book that had nothing to do with the case as it gave him an acceptable excuse, and under the withering glare of Madam Pince stormed out of the library.
And the fact that he hid himself a few corridors away and spotted Dumbledore with a small spring in his step as he too left did nothing to help his anger, but he had a hidden card up his sleeve.
By now Hagrid is looking thoroughly depressed, yet Harry himself doesn't look much better. "It was the connection. I wanted to use the connection to Hogwarts to search out a solution to Hagrid's problem. The trouble was, somehow, Dumbledore was already weakening that connection, so I failed." Which makes me read on troubled.
Meanwhile, in … got one."
"Mr. Weasley, seeing as how she is obviously doing the color wrong on purpose, I would appreciate it if you let those sweaters of yours be checked over by our resident Aurors. It really wouldn't surprise me if she knits them the right color first and then uses magical yarn to knit over it and enchant it in who knows what ways."
Severus says, still leaning against the wall, yet also somehow able to look over all of the heads of the students seated and stare straight at No-Name, who is glaring at him as if daring him to prove it. Yet the fact that she's not even contradicting the man makes her ex-son nod in acceptance before he glares at her as I read on.
Harry had … nut brittle.
At this Severus frowns and says: "Poppy, I believe it's best if, before bed, Potter undergoes another check-up." This makes everyone turn to him and he says: "The last one was purely based on his abuse. I feel this one – should be based on potential spells, curses and potions brought upon him." Poppy nods at this and I read on, concerned.
Harry moved the gifts from the woman aside, deciding to see if he could get them checked first as he very much remembered the robe he wore on the First of September and how often it responded that day, especially around the woman.
He then turned to the rest of the pile and smiled as the wrapping alone said enough. There was a gift from Neville, one from the team put together, one from Hermione, one from Lupin and even one from Collin – which to Harry's amusement turned out to be a pretty good picture of Harry during a very wet practice before the last match.
The gift from Hermione was a notebook that, according to her added note, could help him write down small notes and things to remember for future essays. Harry rolled his eyes good-naturedly at this as he had already purchased several of these, he just used them when everyone else was asleep. Still, because Hermione didn't know this, he very much appreciated her need to help him forward in class.
Neville's gift was one he set aside as he noticed a bit of writing on the bow tied around the gift advising him to do so. He was sure it was one of those gifts that was especially meant for the special secret bond he had with the boy, who he now considered a close brother, just like he did Ron.
The gift from the team was actually really touching as it was a set of Quidditch robes that actually got hotter and more comfortable, the colder and wetter the surroundings. This wouldn't just help during the rainy part of the Quidditch Season, but also in the case that the Dementors would try another attack on the stadium next match and Harry appreciated it for this.
Lupin's gift was also one that Harry put aside. He didn't know why, but he felt this was a gift he should open when he was all by himself. He blamed it on the fact that, at this point in time, he seemed to be the only one who realized that Lupin, at one point, knew his father.
"I really hope you liked it, cub. I was doubting on whether or not to get it for you for the full three weeks after I bought it." Remus mumbles, his face proving he is anxious to hear what his son thought of the gift. And I really can't blame the man as this was the first gift he ever gave the boy since that night, at which I grimace and read on.
As he … his hand.
"Perhaps we should be safe and check the other Weasleys as well." Severus mutters and No-Name snarls: "Why would I –?" But Severus sends her an unimpressed look and deadpans: "To use them to get to Potter, naturally. You don't fool me, No-Name. You don't have what it takes for that." No-Name glowers at him and I read on.
"Dunno…" Harry … on you?"
And naturally everyone's eyes instantly turn to Sirius, who smirks at this, but shrugs and says: "Prove it." Causing for Harry to mutter: "You did so yourself a few chapters ago when Remus said he still didn't know how you managed it." This makes his mother grumbles and faux-glare at him before I read on, smirking myself.
"Well," said … like this –"
"And considering how much he wants me miserable and what he did to Hogwarts during that last match, I more than seriously doubt he'd do this." Harry thought, not really understanding why Ron still thought so high of Dumbledore, when his best friend was just as aware of Dumbledore's true nature and acts as Harry.
"And there we have our evidence." Severus growls and turns to No-Name as he says: "I would bet my entire stash of rare, hard-to-collect ingredients, ingredients that the apothecary would die to get their hands on, that she put a loyalty charm to Dumbledore in that stitching." More glowering is his only answer, at which I shrug and read on.
"That's why … new robes. Besides, I got a gift from him right here."
"Yeah, but … Ron. "And why haven't you opened it yet? Anyway, he was … at Ron, instinctively pulling the gift the man got him a little closer in concern.
"I can't … his neck.
"What'd you go and –?" The twins chorus, but Harry says: "It comes up later in the chapter. Just leave it be. Plus, he deserved it." This confuses us, just like the three have been doing often this book and Ronald makes it worse as he says: "That – and so, so, so much more." Hermione nods, but says nothing and so I groan and read on.
"Don't bring … Ron's chest.
"And I should have thrown Scabbers right at him as he did." Ron growls and Percy says: "Ron, you were so upset when Scabbers got eaten. Why are you so against all the ways you tried to defend him back then now?" At which Ron sighs and says: "It's the plot, Percy, sorry." This really makes no sense to me and so I just read on.
"GET – HIM – OUT … at it. Harry moved his hand away, but then spotted it. Crookshanks was trying to swipe the Sneakoscope – at Harry's bed. That just didn't make any sense to Harry and the noise of the Sneakoscope didn't help him think either.
"You'd better … on Ron.
Yet as the door closed, did Crookshanks change targets and the look in his eyes also changed, but while Harry noticed that he was now the center of the cat's focus, did the door close before he could truly spot the meaning behind the look.
"That clever little thing. I mean, I knew it was smart, but I never realized who it really was or its connection to you." Sirius mumbles and he turns to Hermione as he says: "You treat that cat with respect – or you give it back to Harry. Capish?" Hermione's eyes widen, but she nods solemnly in promise and I continue reading.
Harry stuffed … Scabbers died. Still, for some reason Harry didn't want to think too much on, the fact that Scabbers was four times older than he should be nagged at Harry, just like those questions about Black did from time to time.
This makes me frown as I look up at Harry, who is actually sitting up straight with his back stiff like a board, his arms crossed and his glare aimed at No-Name as he says: "And that's another case of family endangerment. You wouldn't enchant that shirt, that I was touching at that very time, like that – if you didn't know the truth already."
This shocks his two best friends and makes them both glare at No-Name as Ron growls: "Trying to entice thirteen year olds to use Love Potion is one thing, but knowingly keeping such a secret, when you know where that rat was staying, that is beyond unacceptable, beyond immoral." Yet No-Name looks ready to rant and so I just read on.
Christmas spirit … her cat.
This makes me want to reprimand the girl, but Harry glares at me, as if daring me to do so and he says: "Don't. You failed her that very year. You gave her a responsibility and then just left her to it. The state that made her become like this is entirely on you and the other staff." And I grudgingly give the boy right as he shrugs:
"Besides, I didn't realize that at the time, but I did know how to defend myself. And personally, I think the rant I gave her is better than anything that comes more than a year and a half late." Yet the look he gives me proves he doesn't entirely believe this. I give him the tiniest of nods, to prove I received his message, and read on.
After a solid two hours of this, in which Ron got so mad at Hermione he locked himself in the boys dorm himself, did Harry start to growl in annoyance and he snapped: "What? If you got something to say or ask, do so.
But don't expect an apology for the fact that you ruined the efforts Neville, Seamus, Dean and I have been putting in keeping your untrained cat out of our dormitory. Ron may have been in the wrong with how he responded, but we both know he gets physical when he reacts out of instinct, that's just how he works. And if you keep expecting him to apologize, without doing so yourself, you can wave that apology away.
And if you think I'm going to apologize for deciding to take a Christmas gift downstairs, then you really have lost yourself to your stressed nerves, so unless you have something to say, go and glower somewhere else. You're ruining Christmas for both of us, you know?"
Hermione looked a mix of annoyed and angered, but Harry just stared her down, knowing he was in the right to do so. Hermione huffed and snapped: "If you would just think straight, Harry, then you might be smart enough to realize –."
But Harry jumped up and snapped: "Forget it. If you can't explain yourself without making your friends feel like idiots, I don't want to hear it. Thanks a ton, Hermione, you really are a Christmas spirit destroyer." And he stormed up into the dorm. Luckily enough, as he entered it, he heard Ron's stomach start to growl and mutter: "Let's go. Maybe some food can get the Christmas spirit back – in all of us."
And this speech seems to have done the job. There are still a few students who are glaring at Hermione, but this is more for the fact that she was insulting her friend instead of explaining herself, yet they no longer seem angry at her for her acting so high and might as I read of her before. And while I feel concerned, do I read on.
As it was lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, only to find … the table. Harry purposely had Ron and Hermione sit next to each other as he was angrier with Hermione than Ron was and he had no interest in getting further insulted.
At this the girl sighs and mutters: "I really had no right to take offense to you doing that. I saw that action for something completely different and – well, you know what I did." This makes me frown at the girl as she really is making it painfully obvious, especially now, that she wasn't able to handle what I asked of her as I read on.
"Crackers!" said … beaming around.
Yet Harry, out of a strange sense of caution, had made sure to put the same robe on as he had worn on the first day of school and now he felt glad he had. It may be Christmas, but the fact that Dumbledore was seated so close to him really unsettled Harry.
"And he knew it too. He hardly even paid any attention to me and only kept himself to everyone else. He was really trying to make me drop my guard. Either that or he thought I was kept busy and miserable enough with Hagrid's case and the Dementors for him to want to bother." Harry growls at this and I growl myself as I read.
As Harry, who was feeling glad that his robe wasn't responding so far, was helping … oversized dragonfly.
Instantly everyone is at attention, tense and concerned and I think: "I can't believe I never took that woman and her predictions seriously." And this suddenly makes me realize something. I turn to Kingsley and whisper: "Talk. After book. Graduates. Potential case." The man nods and while I hope I'm wrong, do I read on.
"Sybill, this … Christmas Day."
This made Harry turn to stare at Ron and the lad shrugged, not knowing either, but apparently having also forgotten what they had been talking about just before Hermione had come into their dorm. And then suddenly Harry felt it. Hogwarts spiked and told him one thing: "The dark one's two halves make one whole, but the good one's gift to you is his illness tonight. He will not heal until you open it. Do not concern yourself, the illness is not physical, not at this time of the month. Remember that, –."
But then her voice died down and Harry noticed Dumbledore turning to him. He himself had been focusing on the conversation between Trelawney and McGonagall and made sure to make his face look like a mix between amusement and excitement as he turned to his Head of House.
Remus sighs and says: "I'm glad she tried to comfort you, but I really wish she hadn't tried to reveal my secret to you. Though I do have to commend her on how she tried doing so. That was sneaky enough Dumbles probably didn't think you'd notice or even understand." He pulls his son close, both in pride and concern and I read on.
PS. I checked again, the full moon of December 1993 was on the night of the 29th, so I made it sound as if Remus was ill with his concerns on whether or not Harry would like the gift and therefore hid himself away. It sounds like something he'd do, at least back then as, at the time, he wasn't used to really being there for Harry – not yet.
"But surely … less misty, yet Harry noticed that Dumbledore had looked at her very sternly, as if ordering her, before she spoke.
"If you … is short.
"If that's not a confession right there, I'll eat Tuna for breakfast." Percy shouts, confusing me and the twins chorus: "But you're allergic to Tuna.""So, the point still stands." I nod at this and Amelia says: "And I will be sure to make a note of it in Albus' record when we get back. Kingsley?" Her Auror nods, proving he's already done so, and I read on.
He positively … him again?It would seem he's in extra need of it this time around."
"Yes, Headmaster," … They're excellent."
And suddenly I notice it. Harry is looking at his father with eyes that are so filled with concern they resemble the look of concern both his parents combined sent him when we read of the events of the Chamber just last book. He then turns to Snape and asks: "Sir, no offense meant, but – did Dumbles ever visit you before you gave Remus the potion?"
And the way that Severus actually tenses and his eyes widen says it all. He turns to Lupin and growls: "You're getting a check-up too. No objections." And Sirius growls: "Don't you worry, Severus. He and Harry will be Poppy's first visitors after this chapter, I'll assure it." And he pulls his family close in his concern as I read on.
The first-year … to Hermione, hoping they could resume the talk her insulting had interrupted earlier, perhaps even resolve whatever issue she had with his gift.
"No," Hermione … Professor McGonagall."
And instantly I feel even worse than I did when Harry pointed out to me how badly I had failed the girl. "Bad enough she was so stressed she stopped trusting her friends and just went straight for her instincts, regardless of her brain probably telling her this was a bad idea." Now I really worry for the girl as I continue to read.
"Probably trying … his birthday which he hoped would remind the girl of their close bond and how well they knew each other if she spotted it, brought them … Professor McGonagall.
And even without the way that I read this, dread and self-guilt clear in my voice and my head hanging over the book, do most of the students groan and does Blaise look at his mate with a sigh of concerned defeat before he pulls her close. And remembering what happened after this, do I know she will need that as I continue to read.
Though Professor … was upside-down. Harry could feel his anger rising, but tried to keep it down lest he get himself in trouble with his Head of House. His Christmas was ruined enough by one person, he had no interest in giving another a reason to do so as well.
"And yet I did so anyway. I sincerely hope you will forgive me for that, Harry." I mutter and the boy actually smiles at me as he says: "Don't worry, Professor. Our conversation a little later down the line made things a lot better." This makes me sigh as I am both relieved by that and annoyed at my own memory of that talk before I read on.
"May I?" … Harry blankly, wondering why McGonagall was, again, behaving the way she did when she unfairly took all those points.
"I see…" … you informed."
Harry was in two-battle. As he had been sitting there, admiring the broom, he had also asked Hogwarts, what little he could sense of her presence, to check the broom in case it did come from Dumbledore and she had assured him, in the weakest voice he had ever heard, that the gift was one from the purest and most caring heart she had encountered in a long while, therefore perfectly safe. But because even Ron and Hermione didn't know about his connection – and he didn't want McGonagall knowing how weak Hogwarts really was as it would just arise her suspicion and make her more concerned than the Dementors and Black were already doing, did he keep quiet.
This last part makes me groan the hardest, but then Naminé suddenly says: "You really can't ever expect any less of them. They're entering the ages where they are either nearing or have reached the stage of adulthood themselves. And with those stages comes a similar sense of concern. It's only natural." I nod at her, grateful for her words, and read on.
Professor McGonagall … his hands, the item itself feeling like a knife that was stabbing him through his hand. Ron, however … Sirius Black!" Yet for Harry, this wasn't an excuse worthy of her betrayal, especially so soon after what they had heard. And his glare at her made sure she knew that, making her flee to her dorm in tears, tears that, for once, Harry didn't care for.
I sigh at this and lower the book, using a few of my fingers to bookmark the corner of the page before closing the book entirely. "Minerva, could you check the final page of the next chapter? To see if we can end this night on a – happier note?" Sirius asks and I nod, agreeing that, if nothing else, we need such a chance right now.
I open the book again and page through the chapter that follows mine, hoping beyond hope that the chapter title will be a proper indication to this chapter's content. But when I reach the end, do I only need to spot the letters written in caps to sigh and say: "Sorry Sirius, doesn't seem like it." And the man grimaces in disappointment.
Sorry Sirius,
Well, at least I can leave these dreadful chapters behind me for a while. Though what's going to happen next isn't going to be much happier. The teachers are going to gather their students together and Snape and Pomfrey are going to have to work a little overtime before everyone can lay their heads down for the night.
Also, I DID want to make this chapter a little easier to read when it came to the whole Hermione-Firebolt thing, but I know Hermione and when she's stressed, she is more likely to make mistakes, especially when her concerns for her friends get in the way as well. I had to keep to that character trait, so yeah, this happened.
Expect quite a few chapters on this as I want to cover multiple groups. At the very least the Weasleys, though I want to do Fred and George in the same chapter as Lee, Angelina and Alicia as they are in the same year and the same goes for the current Third years, Ginny, Collin, Luna – oh, do I have plans for Luna.
No, not royal plans,
Venquine1990
PS. Expect a bit of content about Remus' gift in the Patronus Chapter. That is about the two of them, after all, so I feel that it fits best then.
