Hey everyone,
I just want you all to know one thing. To Read And To View has been edited, I am currently working on To Read Into The Universe and will also work on various others, mostly my other CR stories. However, while I do this to make sure that the brilliant storyline of Kingdom Hearts III is implemented into the HP-KH crossovers and to fix mistakes in the others, will I not do so for this one, simply because I already did it once before.
Because of that do I feel I have to warn you all ahead of time. Once the group reaches either Twilight Town or Radiant Garden, am I going to introduce Isa, Lea and Xion. I am going to keep Axel and Roxas' return the way it is in this story as I feel that Roxas' return in this story is, slightly, on par with his return in KH III and Axel's return is just one I'm really proud of. However, I will make sure to introduce them with a nice bit of backstory before they actually appear in the story, which will be sometime soon.
Also, I am aware that Article 13 has been accepted by the European Parliament - or whatever - but I do not care, at least not yet. This whole act is not going to count for us for another two years, so until then I am going to continue posting updates every month. At least until as many of these stories are completed. Though I am hesitant to start new stories because of this as well, sorry.
Hope you guys agree,

Venquine1990
Shout-Outs To:
BellaK26
V.L. Crawford
Wishfull-Star


Chapter 75
One Last Stretch

4th of July 1995
Courtyard, Beast's Castle
Snape's POV

"STOP!" I snarl, feeling really annoyed – and only slightly proud – of the way this training has been going this past hour or so and my two prized pupils, who I have always thought had more in them than they are currently showing off, stop, looking at me uneasy. "Enough of this already. You two are still training as if this is just a friendly duel. This obviously isn't working.
I am going to remind you of this one last time. Your success can help me get my long lost friend back, it can bring back two people Potter would commit murder for to get back. I am well aware that the Dark Lord offered this to Potter and that he refused, but that is because he was smart enough to know that the Dark Lord was tricking and deceiving him. And that is exactly what those two will do when your duel starts; they will deceive you and make you think you can win.
And if you fight them the way you two just dueled each other, you might as well just give throw your wands and give them the victory right at the start." At this the two grimace and share a guilty look as I pull out my wand and say: "Time to up the stakes. Beat me." And before the two can recover from their shock, do I start to state my curses, forcing them onto the defensive.

And while I hold back on most of my talent at first and do not like the fact that it takes the two several minutes before they can catch themselves and set up a good teamwork play where one defends the other while the other casts spells back at me, do I still try not to smirk as they do work well enough that I can, slowly but surely, up the ante and use more of my power and more of my knowledge when it comes to painful and dangerous spells.
Draco does seem startled that I am suddenly casting these kinds of spells at him, but luckily enough does Daphne snap: "Get over it, Malfoy. This is what those two will start with. Now help me out here already." And instantly the male blonde reacts, casting very potent defensive spells to keep the girl safe as I try to target her while she talks. And as the training commences, do I both feel a little more sure that we can win and wonder how much more time we might have.

At the same time
In the Ballroom
Sirius' POV

"Harry, I've been sharing a dorm with the Marauders for years. I was there when the Map was created. Do you have it on you? I might be able to figure out why it no longer behaves like that towards you." I gently tell my son, even if part of me wonders if I really can. My memories of creating the Map are very vivid and I really don't remember ever adding any magic that could have caused this. But the desolate tone in my son's voice makes me determined to learn, to fix this.
Harry nods and pulls the Map out of the pocket of the vest he is wearing. I gently take it from him, remembering that he's only had it back for a short while as it was in Junior's possession until recently and then suddenly I instantly realize my own thoughts. "Harry, when did it stop?" I gently ask my son and the boy looks confused before he answers: "After – after I – I got it back from –." And his own eyes widening prove that he gets my train of thought.

"After you got it back from Junior, who must have taken it to Pettigrew sometime after getting it from you. That's why the Map has stopped working the way you love it so much, pup. Because someone who was once just as close to the Marauders as I enchanted it." And while part of me wonders why I am keeping up this charade, do I ignore this and just focus on what I need to do. I pull my wand out and notice Remus moving in closer to me.
I nod at him and then notice the look in his eyes. "Just forget it, love. It was fun while it lasted. We can't do this and keep the secret." He mutters and I nod at him before we both put our wands to the document, Remus whispering: "Just follow my lead." And even before he utters a single word, do I already know what he has planned and I proudly chorus alongside him:

"Messers Moony and Padfoot beseech Messer Prongs. Reveal yourself, Messer Prongs, your comrades in arms and son of blood desire your return. So we have stated, so shall it be done."

And while Fred and George gawk at us, do I not care for this or find any humor in it. I just focus on the magic coursing through the parchment. And to my sheer horror, do I actually sense it. Pettigrew has used the bit of magic he once placed in this Map to help create it to suppress the bit James used, slowly draining his part of the magic from it and strengthening the traitor's.
This infuriates me and I hiss: "Fight it, Prongs. Your friends are here. Your son is here. He has no power over you. Don't let him win." And I quickly start to pour my own magic into the parchment, feeding the weakened magic and determined to see it grow strong again. Yet suddenly another wand joins with mine and I notice Harry sitting with us, the boy actually joined by Minerva, Filius, the Weasley kids, Hermione, Viktor, the Chasers and others.

All of them put their wands to the parchment too and Harry whispers: "Marauders together, Marauders forever." Which brings tears to my eyes as that was a saying that was so often left unspoken between the four of us, something we would all think when sharing looks of friendship, trust, enjoyment, fun and true care with each other. And the fact that this statement is chorused by the rest fills my heart and makes me put even more magic into the parchment.
I can sense the others mixing their magic with my own, all of them feeding the weakened bit of magic, while Ron, Bill, Charlie, Arthur and Viktor also seem to be trying to fight Pettigrew's bit, pushing him away from where he was keeping James' bit pushed into the bottom left corner, surrounding his bit of magic and striking it from each side once over and over, weakening it the same way it weakened James'. Yet I focus mostly on James' magic.
I feel it slowly growing stronger and then suddenly it bursts out, its magic reaching all over the parchment and somehow sinking even deeper into the magic that still holds the parchment together to this day. This makes me sigh in relief and I hand the Map back, sending everyone a grateful smile and nod as Harry whispers: "I solemnly – dad?"

He falters and to my shock, do I spot words written on the Map. I'm here, son. Thank you, everyone. Harry, could you give me to the owner of this castle? And while I wonder how the Map could know, does Harry tentatively adhere to the request, the Beast apparently reading a bit of text before returning the Map back to Harry. And when Harry takes it back and opens it, do his and my eyes widen. The Map isn't showing Hogwarts, it's showing the Beast's Castle, the ballroom being on the front display with everyone's dot clear in sight.
"Well." One of the twins says and the other goes on: "That happened." Yet as they say this, do I notice something else; something that makes tears spring to my eyes. Four dots in the right center of the room, between two pillars, that have both their own names and a bit of a nickname or title added to them. Harry – my Prongslet, Sirius – my brother, Remus, my kin, Viktor, my son-to-be. "Harry, look." I whisper, pointing my son to the four dots.
Harry gasps and tears spring to his eyes as well. Instantly everyone else crowds around him, but my finger is still aiming for the four dots and they too gasp, reeling back to give Harry some space as they realize what they just saw. Harry pulls the Map close against his form and whispers the same statement: "Marauders together, Marauders forever." And somehow I just know that he got the Map to cleanse itself again, turning it blank once more.

Minerva's POV

I really don't understand why it never occurred to my fellow staff members and I to check whatever was left by Crouch Junior for potential spellwork, but in this case I find I don't care much either. The fact that I got to help Mr. Potter get yet another closer connection to his long-lost father is something that fills me on the inside and makes me feel I made another step towards redemption.
Redemption for how I abandoned the child on a doorstep as an infant, believed a monster of a man to be infallible and know everything and to do my duty, both as godmother and guardian, for me. And also redemption for how I did nothing to help the boy as he became my pupil and a member of my House or to help him grow out of the beliefs that were forced upon him through his upraising.
And while I have no doubt that it will still take years before I can fully consider myself redeemed and while I very much doubt I can expect Lily and James to welcome me with open arms once Severus wins the deal with Hades, do I feel something that I recently realized has been missing from within me; a drive to do right. When I realized this, I went not just to see Poppy, but also asked her to bring in an independent Healer.

The woman herself felt insulted, but I told her: "It's to see if your skills have been affected by Albus' magic. You've been working here almost as long as I, Poppy. I don't want to take a risk on this." And the woman had reluctantly, but also with an obvious sense of fear, agreed to this before giving me a shock of my own. "My family has always been Healers, I'll call mum, she's my mentor."
The knowledge of the woman coming from a line of Healers really hadn't shocked me, but the fact that her mother was still alive had as the woman had always told us that Voldemort struck at her family home early on in the war, only months before she herself joined the staff. The woman had noticed this and smirked: "I said he struck my home, not my family." And instantly I had realized the genius way the woman had misled us all.
I had asked her why she had done this and she told me: "Because of Albus. He wouldn't trial the ones who had helped Voldemort strike, because they had pleaded for a Second Chance, even though I had clear memories of how they had behaved during the attack. I didn't think I could trust anyone, not if even the Strongest Light Wizard of all was willing to benefit attackers over victims." And yet again I feel horrible as this small gesture was just another missed sign of the man's actual evilness.

The woman's mother had shown up, been told the situation and guided her daughter in checking me over as to why my drive had suddenly returned. And her news, which was shared with me by her and her daughter, proving that Albus had never dared to touch Poppy's talent as a Healer, had come as a horrible shock to my system and given me even more reason to hate the monster.
"A talent siphon. Your drive to do what's right – or better said, what you consider right, no I don't disagree with your sense of right, just hear me out. Your drive to do so is a talent that is definitely unique to your character, just like being strict with her patients is my Poppy's character talent. And Dumbledore siphoned that off to strengthen his own drive and character. He siphoned off of the talents of those that are respected, just to make sure he would be the most respected."
I had been horrified to hear this, but the woman had also given me good news. "The siphon only works as long as the man is in your constant presence. Now that he has been away from you for so long, for so many days on end, your drive is slowly returning. The drive that you used to teach your former students, that you used in battle and even when you lost those you loved; you can expect that to return to your character slowly but surely."

And the woman is right as I have definitely been sensing this within me for the past couple of days. Poppy asked if we should report this, but I had shaken my head at her and said: "It is being undone as we speak. I will report it with either Kingsley or Amelia, but let's just leave it for what it is for now. It is no longer important, other than that we keep an eye on the others to see what part of their character seems to be slowly growing back."
The Healer had nodded and we had kept a close eye on our colleagues for some days. And I had definitely seen a few changes in some of them. Hagrid seemed to slowly but surely grow more understanding on how others, who also loved magical creatures, saw the more dangerous ones, Filius became more willing to use magic to punish those that broke the rules, Poppy herself was actually becoming a little more willing to give her patients something to keep their minds off their pain.
There were also other signs and I made sure to write them all down, determined to send the whole report to Amelia once I was sure I had every character talent written down as well as discuss potential future lesson plans with the ones affected once they had recovered. And now that Lily and James might soon be returned to our circles, do I really hope that this will, if nothing else, make them slightly more willing to give us another chance.
And as I take the book from Mss. Chang as the book had been throw in her direction by Mr. Potter at the end of the last chapter, do I feel my stomach clenching in excited concern at just the title of the chapter. I take a deep breath and think: "Severus, please be ready soon." And while wondering how my younger colleague is doing, do I start to read.

The Quidditch Final

Instantly young Harry tenses up as do his parents and friends, all of their eyes flickering between the large doors and myself. I notice this happening with several other groups as well, including the friends of young Mr. Malfoy and Mss. Greengrass and while another prayer for the man to train his pupils to the best of their ability goes through my mind, do I start to read, my throat feeling slightly tight.

"He sent …it, but also sent Ron a quick look that told him silently to watch himself. Just because his best friend had helped him with Snape was he not going to put up with this whole problem between them and their pets for one more day. The parchment … have changed."
Harry wondered if this should be the one time where he would actually, for the first time since coming back to the Magical World, use his title, but also wondered if it would work against so much political power as it almost sounded, to him at least, as if there would be more than just a committee involved next time. He then started to silently curse himself as he thought, "If I had acted on my fame earlier, I could have created a reputation out of that, one that could have helped. Damn my stupidity."

But at this Hagrid, who is again sniffling just like every other time this topic comes up, shakes his head and then Lucius says: "Mr. Potter, that would not have worked. Whether you did have that reputation or not, you'd have to have used money as well as that is something, I am now willing to admit, I used myself. And considering how easily I won, it wouldn't surprise me if I had been helped by other accounts as well."
"But why wouldn't that have worked? My account isn't exactly small. I even learned a bit more about it thanks to your wife. Surely –." Mr. Potter tries, but then Mrs. Malfoy says: "Remember your lessons, dear." And the boy seems to think back on his lessons before he sighs and says: "Only my Regent – THAT NO-GOOD SON OF A –!" He suddenly yells, shocking us all.
We all look at the boy and he turns a furious glare on the blonde man as he says: "You said it yourself, Lord Malfoy. You were not the only one using money in that battle. And if you recall, at the time of all this, Sirius was still considered a criminal, unable to be my regent. So, at the point of this happening, who had taken over that role?" And Hagrid whitens before he starts to bawl, Madame Maxime instantly coming over to comfort him.
"I may not agree with Hagrid on a lot, but I will nevermore turn on him like this again, not if it means helping a monster like that to hurt him." I hear Lucius mutter to his wife under the loud crying of the poor half-giant and the blonde Lady of House Malfoy nods at her Lord and Husband in pride as I read on, silently thinking: "Lily was right; enemy of my enemy is my friend, indeed."

"Yeah, it … owl now."
Harry himself thought this absolutely ridiculous, but vowed to himself he would have it all talked out once everything was resolved. He could easily see that Hermione had only apologized because she had reached her limit by finding out how badly her needs to help her friend had failed and Ron had only accepted it out of feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Harry, who knew both of his friends, knew that even the slightest change in all this could make the whole thing start back up between the two and felt twice as determined to stay out of things if that happened. But for now, Hagrid was his main priority.
The safety … told 'em…"

"To be honest, at the time that had surprised even me. Don't get me wrong, I was already suspecting Dumbledore of doing exactly as Potter just told us, but I thought he had done it in Hagrid's favor. And I had actually dealt with them once before and then – well, I needed a lot more money than I offered this time to convince them – and I was even in the right that other time."
"And had the other side used money in that other case?" Ronald Weasley asks and Lucius shakes his head as he says: "No, the reason I needed so much money that time – well, it's a little disgusting and I don't think I should share it. It happened during the war. It didn't really have anything to do with – him – but it – it wasn't exactly age-appropriate either." And because his words spark my own memory, do I agree with the man, which I prove by reading.

"There's still … him that…"

At this Hagrid turns to Lucius, but the man shakes his head and says: "I do not deserve an apology, Hagrid. Even if we do not agree on a lot, did I not have any right to take you a pet, especially in a way like this. I fed a side of my son that no parent should want to foster and behaved atrociously. You and I are rivals, Hagrid. It is only natural that we think bad of each other." I read on at this, feeling my respect for the man grow just a tad.

Hagrid turned … you evil –"

"I should have done that with those other two bastards." Mss. Granger mutters darkly, while I try to regain my breath as I had been shocked quite badly as I read this, but then Mr. Potter shakes his head and says: "You wouldn't have stood a chance. And I don't say that because of Hades." And the tone of his voice proves this as it sounds filled with pained experience, making me cringe as I read on.

"Hermione!" said … thoroughly bewildered. Harry used this opportunity to put his hand on one of the monoliths set in the circle they were standing in and silently asking Lady Hogwarts, "Make them late for every other class they will have this week, please."
And while it both pained and pleased him, did he feel a small spark of heat coming from the monolith, proving that Lady Hogwarts, even while fighting the ever enduring pressure of Dumbledore, was happy to abide by his request.
"C'mon." Malfoy … Flitwick's classroom, Harry working hard to fight back on a smirk as he actually heard Malfoy curse in the distance – Harry himself sure in the belief that it wasn't just because Hermione's punch probably left a mark on Malfoy's face.

"You were right, Potter, though I have to say, that was actually a pretty tame bit of payback – especially seeing as how you got me back for that comment back in Professor Snape's class in the year before." Mr. Malfoy says curiously and Mr. Potter answers: "I didn't want to strain Lady Hogwarts more than Dumbledore already was." The blonde nods in understanding and I read on.

"You're late, … all lesson and Harry feared that Dumbledore had, somehow, sensed what Harry had done and tried to diverge the whole thing onto him and his friends instead, making Hermione the unfortunate victim instead of Malfoy.

"Did he?" Mss. Brown asks, proving that she is still as worried about her dorm mate as she must have been the day this all happened, but Mss. Granger shakes her head and Mr. Malfoy says: "Trust me, he didn't. Every door I had to open to get to another floor or room had clogged up and several staircases either moved before I could get on or moved in the wrong direction." The girl cringes at this and turns back to her friend just as I read on.

"She could've … slightly worried, Harry moreso than Ron as he could not get in contact with Hogwarts at all, not even if he tried to slide his hand towards his glass to keep Dumbledore from noticing it was him.
"You don't … her. Harry
, who was both glad to see that she was resting and concerned as to why she would be resting right now, prodded her … in Divination!"
Harry watched his best friend rushing out of the room and shared a look with Ron before he muttered, "Am I the only one who feels as if our friendship just keeps being tested this year?" But Ron answered this with the question, "Depends. Am I the only one who feels as if we are losing Hermione as a friend?"
And while Harry shook his head, did he also wonder what it would be that he would lose one of them to; Ron to his lack of controlling his temper or Hermione to her need to be the best friend and student for everyone present – or perhaps even his own fear of losing them or annoyance and inability to address his annoyances until the very last minute.

This makes me hiccup softly as the words sound incredible and brilliantly caring, proving that the young man really is a better version of his mother, who was just as caring and who had an amazing ability to voice her care for others, whether this was in care or annoyance usually depending on the situation itself. I then pull out my wand and silently copy the text, determined to share this with Lily once she comes back and then read on.

Hermione joined … they might!"
Harry looked at her and thought, "I am not going to let any of this break us up, not Scabbers and Crookshanks, Hagrid and Malfoy or Hermione and McGonagall having pushed her all year to do better than she can physically handle. I will support her until our exams and then make sure she sees what this has been doing her, to our friendship. And next year, I'll make sure I have my friend back." He turned to Ron and saw in his eyes that the redhead was thinking the exact same thoughts, making him smile at the lad.

And this part I make sure to copy as well, knowing that James will want to read it once he gets back as the man was known to be the most loyal and caring of the four friends. And while this both reminds me of how long the Marauders kept their identity a secret from the Weasley twins and amuses me as Sirius is actually a Dog Animagus, do I just make sure to put the copied text away and read on.

Together they … crystal ball.

The girls themselves look down, looks of guilt and shame on their faces and I really want to console and reassure them, but then notice the contemplative and mistrusting look on Mr. Potter's face. "Professor, please read this part in one go. I – I don't know for sure, but – there might be some importance behind his lesson." This seems to pull the girls out of their discomfort and I nod at the boy, proud of how he talked them out of their misplaced emotions and comply.

"I have … the class."

This bit of text makes it really hard for me to continue reading as the woman hyping up her subject like this is exactly why I never put much importance behind it myself. Yet I also notice that Mr. Potter is almost studying the book in my hands, as if he is trying to read the text through the thick cover. And while I wonder what could be going through that young, but talented mind of his, do I read on.

And so … fog tonight."

This does make some of the other students, from all three schools, try to hold back snorts, obviously not wanting to go against Mr. Potter's request. The boy himself looks tense, his face a mask of concentration and yet I can't help but ask him: "Were you the first she came to ask this?" The lad nods, his face proving he didn't really hear me, and I read on, starting to feel suspicious myself.

Both Harry … the Gr —"

"I knew it." Mr. Potter growls just as I halt in this bit of reading, my eyes already catching up on the fact that Mss. Granger, in the book, interrupts the woman. The boy then turns to his two friends, who are both looking curious and confused and he asks Mr. Weasley: "Tell me, Ron. In what way was Trelawney looking at me. How was her face positioned?" By now I feel almost sure that I am onto what the boy is saying, but I decide to wait and see.
Ronald seems to have some trouble thinking back and Mss. Granger asks: "Why does it matter?" And the boy answers: "Because she wasn't looking straight at me." And this seems to trigger Ronald's memory as he says: "You – you're right. Her – her head; it was – it was tilted. I guess it was supposed to make her look even more dreamy or something, but instead –." And while I think it, does Potter say: "Instead she was looking over my shoulder, at someone else.

Someone who had such as much to gain with this knowledge – because it concerned someone who could make him lose everything he had worked so hard on for over a decade." And as he says this, does the boy turn from his best friends to his mother who's eyes are wide as he must be realizing the same thing and then Potter delivers the finishing blow as he says:
"After all, he admitted it himself. He doesn't need a cloak to be invisible – and he is in cahoots with that blasted Goddess." And utter silence reigns through the Ballroom, even while I share looks of discontent and discomfort with Filius and Alastor. "It was all one big trick. Trelawney never saw a Grim, she was using that to give Dumbledore a way to spy on Sirius; to predict when he would reach Hogwarts." I think to myself, only to suddenly realize something.
"Mr. Potter, wait. Your mother had already entered Hogwarts twice at this point, so that theory has a serious case of loopholes." But Mr. Potter shakes his head and says: "It wasn't Sirius that Dumbledore used Trelawney for; it was his goal. After all, this is the Goddess of revenge that we're talking about here." And that fact actually makes an incredible amount of sense to me, at which I read on.

"Oh, for … table instead.
Harry, however, couldn't help but wonder why the woman would only do this now and why, for some reason, he felt as if more than one presence had left alongside Hermione.

"It did – or better said, he did. He used Trelawney once again, this time to have an easy way of leaving the classroom, probably so he could plan for the fact that such a bump in the road of his plans was growing ever bigger. That entire class was nothing more than another pawn on his chessboard." Mr. Potter grumbles, holding the Map close against his chest as a sign of how much this annoys – and probably slightly frightens – him and while I feel for him, do I read on.

"Some day Hermione's … Grim again?

The boy himself shudders at this, which seems to confuse some of those around him and Sirius gently calls out to him. "I just – Dumbledore. He – he knew for – for months that – that you were coming. I – I just – I can't help but i-imagine how – what he did all those months; what he might have planned." At this the man quickly pulls his son close to comfort and reassure him and I grimace myself as I continue to read the chapter.

Would he? … to tears. Harry worried for his friend almost endlessly and often sent pleading looks at his teachers, especially Lupin and McGonagall, silently asking them to give the girl either help or a break. Lupin, however, seemed to be the only one to pick up on this as he made things easier in an amazing and very interesting way.
"Hermione tell me, what is your opinion on this?" The man would sometimes ask in the middle of a class and while this would first startle the girl, would sharing her opinion and knowledge obviously give the girl a sense of relief and accomplishment that she, very clearly, relished in and she would exit the class looking a lot better, Harry and Lupin sharing a proud smile before Harry left off for his next class and Ron giving him a thump on the back as they walked.

And while I myself feel stupid as I had thought that the boy was begging me to give him a break instead and had missed him looking at Mss. Granger after this every time, therefore ignoring the look as I had absolutely no interest in giving him any special treatment, do I also feel very proud of both him and Remus as I read about this. I, too, smile at the two in pride, just like others, and then read on.

Ron had … Harry yelled.
Wood reeled back, but then tried again the next time Harry left for his following class. Only Harry turned on him before he could and snarled, "Try that one more time and I'll give Malfoy your broom. Now leave me be, Wood. I'll see you tonight when we practice." And the silent promise in Harry's eyes made Wood quickly reel back, turn around and dash away, Harry still groaning as he shouted, "Remember the score, Harry!"
And even Ron, who often agreed with Wood, slapped himself on the head at hearing this, yet Harry let it be as Hermione actually giggled softly, while she had been near tears only earlier as she was trying to intently listen to Professor Flitwick's lecture.
The whole … chattering crowd, though at the same time it also gave him the chance to get to know some of his year mates and even hang with his secret best friend, Neville, without anyone asking any unwanted questions. And Neville was definitely one of the people who took getting Harry from class to class safely very seriously, but even moreso he took the need to help Harry feel safe and strong very seriously.
And so, whenever the others in the group would have animated conversations amongst themselves, Neville would whisper instructions and tips on spells, charms, enchantments and even curses that, he told Harry, had been invented by either Potters of Longbottoms over the many centuries that had been.
Harry had silently asked Neville why he was sharing stuff that sounded like family secrets, though how Harry knew this he didn't understand, and Neville whispered back, "It's just how things go between our lines, trust me."
And because Neville had been nothing but helpful since Harry had that one horrible episode in his first, did he know that, yes, he could trust Neville. The two also met a few times at night, when Harry wasn't exhausted from his training on the pitch, and trained the spells that Neville told him about between classes. "You know I can't use these in the game, right?" Harry had asked and Neville had answered, "I do. But you and I both know – as do some Snakes – that Malfoy is no match for you. I just want to see you reach that match in one piece – and be able to fight back if those Snakes decide to react badly to you beating them." And this prospect warmed Harry's heart and made him work even harder.
Though at the same time, Neville proved himself more and more the older brother Harry never had as he constantly helped Harry, but also kept a better eye on Harry's health than he himself did. "Enough, Harry, get some sleep. We'll train more later." He would say the minute he noticed Harry growing tired or even fatigued and Harry complied, silently sneaking back to his own bed.

This bit makes everyone smile widely, the lions in the room congratulating and complimenting Mr. Longbottom for his excellent help, but the boy just shrugs it all off and says: "It's my duty." Which seems to confuse a lot of students, yet I know exactly what he means as I remember Alice and Lily talking about this while they were pregnant.
Whether the Longbottom or Potter is the older one, the eldest is expected to watch over the younger Heir. So it has been since Marcellus Longbottom took care of Pedro Potter in 1782, even though the two were actually two years apart and in Ravenclaw, Marcellus, and Hufflepuff, Pedro. And as I remember hearing the gentle Longbottom lady saying this, do I read on.

Harry, especially because of all this help, was more … still there, the team, Hermione, Ron and Neville dashing up after him each time. And while Ron was the first to notice that Neville often came with, did he just shrug and accept it when Neville said, "We're dorm mates." Even if Harry himself knew that there was much more going on and he appreciated the clever way his pseudo brother was able to keep their friendship the secret that it was. At the same time he cursed both the public, who he was sure would just laugh, and Dumbledore, who he feared would disapprove and try to stop the friendship.

"No doubt about that." Mr. Longbottom says angrily, only for me to notice that Mr. Potter is looking down saddened and pained again. "Neville, I – I don't remember that. I – I remember you being part of the group more often than not, but – but I don't remember you whispering me these tips or – or our night-time sessions. Dumbledore knew. He knew and he took the knowledge from me." The boy whimpers, tears of heartfelt pain in his eyes.
Instantly his pseudo brother is upon him, wrapping Mr. Potter in an embrace that makes it so that every bit of Mr. Longbottom's body is comfortingly wrapped around that of the young Potter. "It's okay, Harry. That's what these books are for. And now that everyone knows, I can reteach you, out in the open and with much more space for you to practice. This is a good thing, Harry, so don't worry about it." Mr. Longbottom reassures his friend and I nod at this before reading on.

All usual … instead!" Then, while he wondered why he would doubt his pseudo brother to fly badly in his stead and decided it must be because of the front Neville was putting up for the sake of their friendship, he fell back asleep, only this time he dreamed that … asleep again.

"That lowlife bastard." Sirius suddenly growls and we all turn to him as Remus asks: "That – that wasn't you?" Sirius shakes his head and says: "No. I knew how important that match was and that my Animagus form was my only way in. I was not going to risk being spotted as I felt it would upset the crowd or even Harry. I refused to let that happen."
"Then, this was Dumbledore's work, right?" Mss. Granger asks shocked and Sirius nods, before Neville growls: "Yeah, though I sure wonder how he managed it this time." And the dark tone of his voice proves that there is even more to this story than we know. I look back and say: "The text is in bold, Mr. Longbottom." Yet while the boy nods, does this seem to change nothing.

"Neville?" Potter asks and the boy, who is still holding Potter like an older brother would hold his younger sibling after the latter woke up from a nightmare, softly shushes Potter in an attempt to comfort him and then says: "I was awake that night, Harry, to watch over you. I saw you twist and turn and wake up not once, but twice, and fall back asleep both times.
You dreamed this, Harry. Dumbledore used some kind of crazy ass magic to put you back to sleep after that dragon nightmare and made you think you had gone to get something to drink and seen the grim. You hadn't, Harry. I know you didn't. I watched over you all night and took a Pepper-Up potion, provided by the Longbottom House-Elves, the next morning. I just – I don't know how he'd have been able to do this."
And just the tone of the boy's voice proves how annoyed he is with all this, with the fact that Dumbledore was able to do something to his pseudo little brother, without him having any knowledge on how to counter it. And while I have no doubt that another reason he feels like this is because of the mental state of his parents, can I not help myself from glancing at the doors leading out before I resume my reading.

Harry and … than usual.

"Am I right to assume that Mr. Malfoy also suffered from nightmares the night just mentioned?" I ask Mr. Zabini, who nods and says: "He woke up several times even and every time it was because at least one member of the Gryffindor team – or in the case of the twins, them both – would attack him during the dreamed version of the match and he would be the one falling to his death." This makes both me and my team cringe in concern and I read on.

Wood spent … Wood tersely.

"I do believe that we should apply the same rules for this as we did for the last part of the previous chapter. Cheering will, of course, be allowed, but please keep from anything else." Filius tells the room at large and while both teams now look just as tense as I remember them looking on that day, does everyone nod and I nod to thank them all silently before I continue.

None of … other's fingers. Harry also thought he spotted some strange kind of look that was shared between the two, which resulted in Wood smirking in a grim way as he returned to his broom and position on the Gryffindor side of the field.

This very much entices me and makes me want to go back on Filius' words, but Mr. Wood says: "I'll explain after the match. Just know, it wasn't pretty." And the fact that he too glances furtively at the doors leading out of the ballroom and into the entrance hall has me greatly concerned – and reminds me that this is the final chapter before the big fight. This makes me feel even more tense with anticipation and I read on, my throat dry.

"Mount your … the Snitch. Yet as he shot off, he also suddenly sensed something spectacular; Hogwarts was, somehow, back to full power, and had sent a burst of her incredible magic across the field. And Harry was sure that it was for one purpose; to make sure that this match would go as brilliant and painless as possible; to make sure that no matter how dirty either team would treat the other, none of the players would end up in Madam Pomfrey's care.
This surge of power made tears glister in Harry's eyes and he felt even more determined to win, if only to thank Lady Hogwarts for her incredible gift and congratulate the fact that she was back to her old glory and power – even if he also fearfully wondered how long it might last, how long Dumbledore would let it be this way.

I too smile at this and notice Mr. Potter, who is now seated between Mr. Longbottom and his mother, Sirius, is also smiling. Yet I also notice that the smile is not reaching his eyes and instantly realize why. This is yet another part of the story that Mr. Potter does not remember. And while I wonder how much more of this will happen as the story progresses, do I read on.

"And it's … his fingers.

And while I had expected the need to stop several times now during each time there was a goal scored, had neither side nor any of the other students uttered even a single cheer. There had also not been any jeers or insults thrown around when the dirty tactics were described and while this made me feel slightly disconcerted, does this tense silence finally break.
And it breaks with a tremendous amount of sound as the entire ballroom breaks out in humongous cheering, the students actually acting as if this match just took place instead of more than a year ago now. And while some Puffs and even all of the Durmstrang students congratulate the Snakes for a game well-played – commenting only slightly on the tactics – does the rest of the room turn to do the same, much more enthusiastically, for the Lions.

Filius and Pomona do the same with me, making me smirk and shake my head at them as they are actually quoting the exact same things they said when this all happened and then suddenly a cloud of dark smoke appears in the center of the room. "I take it the match is over?" Lord Hades asks as he appears from it and I nod as I say: "Yes, though the chapter still has a bit of text left and Severus is still training his team."
The God shrugs carelessly and just summons himself another terrifyingly looking chair before going to lounge in it. Yet then he suddenly turns to the doors leading to the balcony on the other side and suddenly I remember that No-Name is over there. Feeling horrified that I forgot about her, do I hear the God hum and say: "Well, now that's a pathetic way to go." And we all turn to stare in horror and shock as we notice that the woman's body is lying there; dead.
"What? How? When?" Arthur asks, his voice and face proving that there is still a small level of care left in his heart for the woman and the God of Dead mutters: "Just minutes ago, really. Looks like she got so shocked of all of you waking the dead that she died of it herself. Like I said, quite pathetic, really." And he snaps his fingers as he says this.

A lot of students gasp and scream as a pool of dark energy suddenly replaces the carpet that the woman's body is lying on and her body sinks into this before it shrinks down to where she was lying and vanishes as quickly as it came, leaving nothing but an empty blanket behind. And while I have no doubt as to where the body was taken to, do I hear Amelia ask:
"Arthur?" But the man shakes his head and says: "It'd be an insult. An insult to what Harry has risked for us and what we are all trying here if I asked – if I asked if I could bury her. Let him – let him have her. I – I'm done with her presence making me fear for my family, for their and our future." And his new Bonded smiles at him as he says this, Lord Hades rolling his eyes as I read the last bit.

Then Wood … on him as he also felt Hogwarts' exuberance over his excellent flying and victory. Then he, … best Patronus. He hardly even sensed how, as he was dropped back onto the ground, another wave of Hogwarts' magic waved over him and made it feel as if something new snapped inside him.

And while this dampens the mood of many, do I feel glad for it as it makes it so that they don't get too excited and that they are easier able to focus on what is about to happen next. And with that do I place a bookmark on the page, close the book and turn to Lord Hades, who stands up and says: "Ready when you are." To which I, yet again, turn back to the doors.


Let's do this.
And I know what you're thinking. WHY would I turn that scene with Harry waking up in the middle of the night and the Grim into something that should have been written in just italics. My answer; The DoM in OotP. That's right, I am planning ahead. I even already have a whole scene that is meant to play out between the final chapter and the epilogue thought out and will probably have it on paper sometime soon.
Next chapter: THE BATTLE! The Duel between Crabbe, Goyle, Draco and Daphne. And trust me when I say this; I plan to make this battle INCREDIBLY EPIC! However, please note one VITAL thing: I plan to simply describe spells, not actually use their incantations. Because of this there might be a few OC spells that will fly back and forth, but I consider that my right as a writer – plus it will make the battle more exciting and varied.
Also I have a few surprises and a few twists and turns planned for this battle. If you want to guess, be my guest, because I absolutely love to interact with my readers. Heck sometimes your guesses actually inspire me to make my plans even better than they already are. Also, please remember to vote on the poll. I currently have three groups that are guaranteed, but Mickey and his friends are tied with Terra and his companions.
Who will win,

Venquine1990