Hey everyone,
I got to admit, I am both excited for this chapter and a little hesitant. The whole thing with Harry almost in Slytherin is such a cliché topic, yet because of his actual heritage, it is also such an important factor for this story and I really want to use this chapter to, once again, prove how deeply Sirius cares for his son.
I will admit this; in this case Sirius is going to be VERY OC! The Sirius in Cannon is practically against everything Slytherin and Black related – bar of course Andromeda and her family – yet this Sirius will be the kind who, while having a troubled past regarding the two, still cares for Harry more than he does his past judgment.
Hope you enjoy,

Venquine1990


Chapter 19
Easing Concerns

28th January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Sora's POV

I feel kind of excited over the idea that we are getting closer to the point where dad and Harry can see our adventures, yet I feel even more excited over the fact that I now, finally, get to read about the place that turned Harry into the amazing little brother that he is and apparently my excitement drew out my wizarding magic.
That alone is an awesome fact and what makes it even better is Harry suggesting Keyblade lessons for Wizard lessons, something I had jumped on the minute my little brother suggested it. The boy looks as excited about teaching me as I feel about teaching him, yet right now I only want one thing and that is opening the book and starting to read.

The Sorting … to cross.

"Wait, is that the same woman as the one who was there when you were left with those blasted Muggles?" I can't help but ask and Harry worries me as he says: "Yes, and I barely ever see her as helpful as she tried to be that night." And while this seems to worry dad the most, do I decide to just continue reading.

"The firs' … within Hogwarts.

"That is definitely true in more ways than one." Harry growls and Riku asks: "Did your House really treat you the same as the Dursleys." And Harry growls furiously: "On more than one occasion. The only year they didn't – I had him to deal with." And while dad looks startled at the semi-accusation and then grins at my brother's playful grin, do I continue reading in concern.

You will … common room.

"That's not even a rule. Why is she saying that? That just gives the students the impression they can only associate with their own House. Does she not realize that?" Dad asks and Harry rolls his eyes as he says: "She sure isn't the only one to play favorites like that." And while I am starting to feel worried, do I read on.

"The four … are waiting."

"Wait, she didn't mention at least one witch or wizard from each House that either became famous or infamous? Why?" Dad asks and Harry shrugs as he says: "To be honest, the McGonagall you had as teacher is sounding more and more different from the one I know." And this seems to worry dad even more before I read on.

Her eyes … his hair.

"Harry, kiddo, there is a reason she didn't even so much as glance at you." Dad snickers, but then Harry growls and says: "The book left something out. She did look at me and her look was the reason I tried that. It was so filled with determined expectation it made me super nervous." This shocks the man and Riku asks:
"Why would she already have that high expectations out of you?" To which Harry rolls his eyes, yet while I may have an idea, does my little brother prove me wrong as he says: "Because I was the son of two people she was still grieving over and she was trying to use me to ease her pain – without telling me jack-squat about them."

This shocks me and I ask: "She expects you to help her ease the pain of having lost mum and aunt Lily – how?" And the answer makes me really angry at the woman as Harry says: "By believing she can expect me to be my mum's clone in Transfigurations – without ever telling me that it was a class that he truly excelled in."
"Why would Minerva do such a thing?" Dad asks utterly confused and Harry says: "I don't know, but I would love it if mum could find out." The man looks hesitant, but then nods and writes the bit of info down on the list he is making for mum's sake and while Riku and I share a glance of concern with each other, do I ask:
"If she never told you, then how do you know that mum excels in her class?" Harry sighs and says: "The way she often looked at me when I had trouble with a spell was my first hint and then Lupin himself told me straight out at the end of my third. And that's not the only thing he told me that she should have." Harry growls at the end and I read on, really starting to dislike this woman.

"I shall … she'd need.

"That really made a lot of the others try and move away from her, causing for all of us to get even more clustered." Harry mutters and then suddenly dad asks: "Okay, is there something I should know? You seem quite grouchy even vocally aggressive, kiddo." And only then do I notice my brother's change of character myself.
The boy himself sighs, suddenly deflating from the tense form he had, which I had believed came from all of the bad things we realized and discussed last chapter and then says: "Let's just say I almost did the Black line proud in a way you might not like." Before he imploringly looks my way, urging me to continue my reading.

Harry tried … first years.

This part I read with great shock as I have never seen ghosts anywhere other than in Halloween town, yet then I think: "Actually, it does make sense seeing as how the school is being held within a castle. I mean, anyone would be expecting a castle like that to be haunted or something." And with that do I continue reading on excited.

They seemed … first years.

"Aaah, the annual Ghost introduction to the First years; such a classic." Dad says and I ask: "You had it too?" The man nods and says: "I even spent the first day of my fourth under Jamie's cloak spying on how it happened to the first years of that year. Some of their reactions were hilarious." This confuses me and I ask:
"You were under a cloak? What does that mean? Just being under a cloak doesn't mean you can't get caught, right?" Yet this seems to cheer Harry up from his grouchy concern and he says: "Just wait a few chapters. It gets explained around Christmas." And while this seems to excite dad, do I just shrug and continue reading.

Nobody answered … to start."

"You know, there was this one time in my Third, where Professor McGonagall had caught the flue on the last day of August and so our Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn, had to take over." Dad says before he laughs and says: "He was so excited about it, he almost made the First years late for the Sorting itself."
"How did he do that?" Harry asks shocked and the man answers: "He made a way longer speech than Minerva did and then, when he went to fetch the First years, he just kept talking with the ghosts long enough Dumbledore himself went to see what was keeping him." This makes all of us snicker softly before I read on.

Professor McGonagall … A History."

"That sounds so amazing!" I can't help but exclaim and then say: "Reminds me of how I felt the first time I got to lay eyes on Christmas Town." This seems to shock Harry and I nod as I say: "Yep, it, Santa and everything else is very, very real." And while Harry and dad look flabbergasted at hearing this, do I then read on.

It was … to sing:

"Sora, sorry that I ask this, but do you have your mum's or my voice? Cause James is a lot, but he's no singing talent." Here I turn red as I kind of stopped singing after an incident when I was nine and I say: "Mum's, so don't worry, dad, I wasn't planning on singing." The man nods with a semi-relieved smile as I read on.

"Oh, you … Thinking Cap!"

"That again sounds seriously interesting, yet – well, I can't help but feel as if there should be only three Houses." Here dad and Harry roll their eyes in a knowing manner, before Riku shocks them as he says: "I mean, a House for the Courageous and a House for the Ambitious? Why? Why have two Houses represent similar things?"
And just the absolutely flabbergasted looks on my dad and brother's faces makes me say: "I'm going to guess that dad and Harry disagree with you." To which the two of them nod vigorously and then Harry says: "Gryffindor and Slytherin are practically the biggest rival Houses in all of Hogwarts. Have been for centuries."

This seems to confuse Riku and dad says: "Let me put it this way. Slytherin is the House for those who are manipulated by certain forms of magic easier, whereas Gryffindor – I guess, you can say that they have a higher chance of producing witches and wizards of extreme measures when it comes to both sides of Magic."
Now even Harry seems confused, but then dad says: "Me and Wormtail." And instantly the boy understands, yet Riku and I stay confused and dad says: "You'd never expect me to be who I am today and the same counts for Wormtail, especially if you look at our teenage years and upraising." At this I nod and Riku says:
"I'm still not entirely sure I get why there are two Houses, who's main traits are just so similar to each other." And at this dad sighs and says: "From an outsider's point of view that may be so, Riku, yet those who grew up knowing Hogwarts, also grew up knowing what aspects of courage and ambition were valued in those two Houses."
"Though even that depends on how you look at it and what year you go to school in." Harry then grumbles and when dad looks at him, does he continue and say: "What I said in regard to McGonagall's speech and the Dursley treatment." And while this is an answer that pleases none of us, do I then just continue reading.

The whole … a troll."

"I swear, I need to get the Weasleys checked for a latent Seer gift." Harry suddenly mutters and instantly my blood runs cold as even I never encountered something as crazy as a troll and dad sighs as he asks: "Somewhere in the books?" Harry nods and answers: "I hate Halloween." Making me read on with a cringe.

Harry smiled … for him.

"Now there's a classic example of stage fright. Seriously Harry, make sure you take a gander at the First years next year. You'll see that at least three quarter of them feel quite the same." Dad comforts my brother and while Harry turns red, does the man smile lovingly as he hugs the boy close before I continue reading the chapter.

Professor McGonagall … the hat.

"Wow, how does it do that?" I can't help but ask and dad wants to open his mouth when Harry interrupts him and says: "Wait for when it's my turn, dad, and if that doesn't explain it all then you can fill in the gaps." The man nods at his son, while Harry's voice had sounded a bit downtrodden and I read on feeling worried.

The table … "Bones, Susan!"

Here I see Harry turning to where the piles of contracts had been earlier and I can tell that he is genuinely curious about something as well as trying to stall out something he must feel is inevitable and then dad says: "I'm quite sure that there are at least a few Alliance contracts between House Potter and Bones, son."
To which Harry shrugs and says: "I just wonder how many of those who made contracts back then are wishing they could get out of them now. You know, due to the paper and Fudge." And while I wonder what the Minister could have to do with contracts connected to my brother, does dad grimace before he softly mutters:
"Guess I'll have to check for creation and ending dates. I'll do that first thing tonight, son." And Harry nods before sending another curious look at where the pile used to be, but then dad laughs and says: "Come on, Harry, just focus on the reading. This really isn't fair to your brother, you know." And Harry turns red as I read on.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted … unpleasant lot.

Here I notice Harry looking at dad worriedly, yet it doesn't seem like he's worried about the book stating this and when dad looks back at him, does Harry mutter: "I – I know what – what you think of the Snakes, dad, but – well, they're not all bad. Just – just don't tell Ron I said that." The man nods and then says:
"I won't, Harry, and I'm proud of you." Harry looks at him shocked and he says: "Yes, I will always instinctively distrust the House of Snakes simply because of how almost 90% of them all behaved when I was a student. Yet this is not the same time as when I went to school and if you met some decent Snakes, then only better."
This makes my brother smile at dad and suddenly I feel like I understand why Harry is so nervous as what he just confessed could very well have something to do with all this. I then quickly share a quiet but curious glance with Riku and my beloved seems to share my thoughts as his gaze is the same as mine before I read on.

He was … the train?

"That has only happened three times before, you know." Dad says and Harry's eyes widen, proving he never knew of this, but then dad hugs him close and says: "The first time, some crazy ass Dark Lord wanted to gather followers in as many students as he could and so he De-aged himself, yet his intentions got him caught."
This shocks me and makes me wonder about the sanity-levels of the nation I was supposed to be born in and dad says: "Another time, the Sorting Hat swore he wouldn't Sort the student because she didn't need tutoring, she needed safety and personal guidance as she – as crazy as it sounds – came from a home situation even worse than yours."
This makes me want to drop my mouth in shock as I just don't believe that to be possible and then dad says: "And the final time – the student just didn't accept the decision of the Sorting Hat, so the Hat decided that if he didn't accept the Sorting, then he wouldn't be Sorted at all." And while I roll my eyes at this, do I then read on.

When Neville … "Potter, Harry!"

And instantly dad responds by sitting forward, yet at the same time Harry tenses and just by looking at my little brother, do I see that he looks ready to respond to this in the same way as he did when we discovered about the cupboard and this makes me share a worried glance with Riku, who then turns to Harry and asks:
"Harry, you do know that there are two people here who know and care nothing about the Houses, right?" And this makes Harry turn a little red, yet he doesn't turn any less tense while dad also looks shocked, his eyes wide as he turns from staring at the book to staring at the son by his side, yet before he can speak, do I read on.

As Harry … Harry Potter?"

"I wonder what people will go and say when I come back to Hogwarts as the son of the soon to be released Sirius Black and the revived James Potter." Harry mumbles, but then dad laughs and says: "Good question, kiddo, but no more delays." And while my little brother turns red at getting caught, do I read on.

The last … put you?"

Here dad smiles at Harry with great pride and he asks: "So you were this worried – about me finding out that, even with your lifestyle, you still came out so versatile and brilliant in character?" Yet Harry is still tense and shakes his head, his gaze aimed at the book, yet still seeming to be unseeing, which makes me read on worried.

Harry gripped … be GRYFFINDOR!"

And while I add my own sense of pride to how I shout out the name of the House, does dad then interrupt me and say: "Harry! Calm down! I'm not mad!" And instantly I look up, my eyes wide when I see that Harry is so tense in his stance his arms are shaking while his hands are practically digging holes in the couch.
My eyes are wide as I look at how worried, fearful and self-conscious my little brother looks as he has his eyes closed with tears of self-hatred actually shining in his eyelashes and the worst of it all is that it doesn't sound as if dad's words of comfort are reaching the boy; as if he is so lost in his own feelings he is deaf to his surroundings.

And to this do I feel something coming up deep within me, something that feels like the Veela within me, yet different and before I can stop myself, do I open my mouth wide and does a loud roar – one similar to Simba's but then with a different timbre to it – come out of my throat, shocking everyone including myself.
Yet I ignore this as I am just too glad to see Harry looking at me with eyes wide with shock before I smile and say: "We don't care, Harry. None of us." And instantly Harry swivels his head to dad, finally seeing the comforting, loving smile, which seems to break the dam on all of the emotions within my little brother.

The tears that had been glistering in his eyes earlier now break loose from their prison and dad instantly takes my crying little brother into his arms as Riku and I move from our couch and go to sit at his and dad's legs, yet none of us say anything as we just sit and let Harry take this chance to let loose on how he feels.
Harry cries for some time, yet as he cries, do I notice a curious, interested look grow in Riku's eyes and as Harry hiccups, does my boyfriend whisper: "The light grows." Making me smile at my boyfriend as he means that the crying is helping lighten up my brother's heart from all that has been weighing him down.

This makes me smile at my little brother in great relief and when the boy has stopped crying, does he whisper: "I-I-I'm sorry. It's – it's just –." And then dad says: "It's just that I scarred you with how badly I responded to being back at London." And while this confuses me, does it shock Harry and he says: "No, that's not it! It's –."
Yet dad smiles at him as he says: "Harry, I hate my mother and all that she and those who think like her – which just had to be a lot of our original family members – with a passion and I doubt that will ever change. Yet, even that level of hate is not strong enough to change how much I love you – at least it is in a negative way.
You are my son, Harry, and that means that you're my future. And that is much more important to me than my past, regardless of how I may behave or what others might think." And this makes Harry hug dad with such relieved gratitude, I almost feel like tearing up myself, yet instead of that do I decide to focus back on the reading.

Harry heard … got Potter!"

And instantly Harry seems to turn depressed for a completely different reasons and dad motions me, making it so that Riku and I are actually seated on the couch next to Harry and dad waves his wand to enlarge the couch. Then, as Harry cuddles in my side and I wrap my arm around my brother's shoulder, does dad leave the room.

Sirius' POV

I am quite sure that, by now, even the Ministry has been informed of Destiny having brought Harry to someplace that is out of their reach, yet at the same time I can't help but fall back into the persona they decided to paint for me as I feel like it is the only way I can see my new goal completed, which makes me approach the Special Room.
Yet as I do, do I use the magic of the room around me as well as the emotional magic of the Veela inside me to darken my looks and cast a few spells to make my cloths look old, ragged and tattered and as I finish this, do I open the door to the Special room, instantly glaring at the redhead that is standing on the other side.

Percy Weasley looks at me as I open the door, yet his shock seems to distract him a little too much as I barely even need to wave my wand to disarm me, causing the boy to yelp before he snarls: "You'll pay for that. The minister will hear of this." Yet I only roll my eyes and hiss back: "I doubt the Minister will oppose Lady Destiny."
Shocking the boy before I decide to get down to business and say: "That's right, you little brat, Lady Destiny put me in the same room as Harry Potter, a boy constantly deviled and vilified by your precious Ministry. What does that say about your precious Minister and his knowledge on what is true and what is false?" The lad seems tongue-tied, but there is no mistaking the anger in his glare.
Yet after having lived with his mother for a few months, do I consider the glare just weak and so I snap: "Listen kid, you probably hate me – and I don't care two Knuts about you; Ministerial lackey or not. If anything your position means less to me than you do." This seems to insult the boy, yet I turn my back on him and close the door again as I say:
"However, never forget this, loyalty comes from my godson's heart. And you're breaking that." I then state, pushing all of the hate and anger I feel for the boy for betraying my son's friendship for nothing but a couple of Galleons and while the boy seems flabbergasted, do I quickly think of a follow up bit of punishment to be done by the Special Room before closing the door.

Percy's POV

"This makes no sense. Why would Lady Destiny allow for Black to take me from my job only for that short a rant? Does he really think it will affect me or does he actually have Lady Destiny under his Dark Magic control? And how dare he say that my position means nothing to him?" Goes through my head as the same feeling that brought me to the room takes me back to my office.
Yet the second I am back behind my desk, does something shocking happen as a Galleon appear on my scroll of parchment, the galleon itself becoming two, before the two of them become four and before my very eyes do the Galleons just keep multiplying, two more for each pair of galleons that appear on my desk.
The Galleon quickly becomes a pile, yet it keeps growing and to my shock do the galleons start falling off my desk. I instantly reach for my wand, which has somehow been brought back with me, yet before I can cast a good charm to keep the pile together, has the pile overrun the entire surface that was my desk.
The pile still keeps growing and as it keeps stacking up and while more and more of them also fall off, does the weight then suddenly become too much for my desk to handle and does the desk itself break. And while I look at the broken piece of furniture with my eyes wide and my mouth open, do I then realize that the pile is still stacking.

At this I wave my wand, trying every spell I know to undo the magic, yet my wand wavers at this and trembles, the power that seems to come from the pile itself apparently way stronger than any magic I can produce and to my shock does the pile not stop its growth until the coins have filled up the room all the way to my neck.
Luckily enough am I wearing a high-collared robe and this makes it so that, while I turn my head around in shock, the heavy weight of the coins don't scratch against any skin and then suddenly a letter appears before me, the way that it seems to change in color, writing style and order making me realize it's from Lady Destiny.
I look at how the note floats in front of me and then, as I do this, realize that the magic that is allowing for the letter to float is actually the same as the one that made my wand shudder and while I am shocked that this entire mess is caused by someone as strong as Lady Destiny, proving that she is strong than Black and negating my earlier thoughts, do I then feel my heart drop as I read the letter:

And even this, will not make Harry love you any less – or your family love you more.

Sora's POV

I don't know what dad decided to do, but my eyes actually widen as I see him casting spells on himself that cause for his suddenly tattered robes to fix themselves and cause for some strange form of shadows to vanish from his form before he retakes his seat besides my little brother and then instantly motions me to read.
"What did you do?" Harry asks and he goes on: "You looked just like you did the first time we met. Why? Why would you want to look like that?" And dad shrugs, obviously proud of his actions as he says: "I had to settle a score." Yet while this seems to make Harry even more worried, does dad keep quiet and do I just read on.

Harry sat … Gryffindor table.

Here Harry again turns sad and dad asks: "Another one that just doesn't want to believe you?" But Harry shakes his head and says: "Dean is awesome, but I just hate how he wants to believe me, but also feels loyal to his best friend who doesn't." The man nods while Riku and I share a worried look before I read on.

"Turpin, Lisa," … Ron's turn.

And just by hearing the name of the girl does Harry's sadness get turned into a shudder of disgust and when we look at him, does he say: "Let's just say, she could really be Rita Skeeter's daughter, yet at the same time she could just as easily be her apprentice. They sure share the same views in regard to news and rumors."
At this dad rolls his eyes and Riku asks: "Who is this Rita Skeeter?" And dad answers: "A woman that cares more for what people want to know than for what they deserve to know – namely the truth. She is the kind of journalist that cares more for sales than for respectful publishing." This shocks me and I can't help but ask:
"And this girl is like her?" To which Harry nods and says: "She was even one of the people who made certain situations this year even worse and who rallied up other students – especially the Gryffindors in Second year and Hufflepuffs last year, not to mention everyone this year – by over exaggerating already existing rumors."
He then turns back to where the piles had been lying earlier and says: "Which is exactly why I picked her Wedding Contract when you asked if I could pick one. I would sooner bond myself to Pansy Parkinson than her – and trust me, that's saying something." At this Riku and I share a shuddering nod before I read on.

He was … ages ago.

"Good to hear." Dad mutters and looking up, do I notice that Harry has really calmed down now that the whole thing with his Sorting and the thing with Turpin has been dealt with and the man smiles at his son as he says: "I sure am glad to know that, even with your upraising, you still have a normal healthy appetite."
Here Harry smiles but then turns sad and says: "I do, but I – I don't –." And while I wonder if this has to do with him probably going home for Summer, does dad then shock me as he says: "You don't have the Weasley appetite and you hate how Molly always tries to force that on you. Yeah, I noticed that when you came in for summer."

Harry nods and then dad writes it down on one of his lists, yet the man seems busier with this than he has been before and when he finishes, does he smile at our curious looks and says: "I wrote a bit of an example down about how to treat malnourishment. Molly never had to deal with that, so I wrote it down for Arthur to explain."
"How does she behave?" I can't help but ask and Harry sighs as he says: "She's loving and all, but she is just so stubborn in her belief that all kids who are friends with her kids have the same kind of likes, dislikes and – most importantly – the same appetite as her kids." And this makes me cringe before I continue reading.

Albus Dumbledore … peppermint humbugs.

And these seem to be the magic words as not only do I suddenly hear four stomachs growling – my own included – yet the table in front of us also instantly fills itself up with salads, cold pastas, sandwiches, raisin buns and bread with all kinds of spreads around them along with a whole array of jugs and cans of juice.
We all smile widely at seeing this and Riku prepares a plate of lunch for me, making me turn a little red but also thank him with a kiss while dad helps Harry set up a healthy plate himself and then I spot it. A jug that has an dark orange kind of juice that dad sets back after filling a glass for himself and Harry. I turn to Riku and the boy nods.
He fills two glasses for both of us and I eagerly take a sip, only to actually spit it back in the glass and mutter: "Yegh, I did not expect that taste. Wizards drink this?" Dad laughs and then hands me an actual jug with some kind of beverage. "Here, this will help." I take the jug from him and this time take a tentative sip.

And this time the beverage tastes brilliant and I happily chug down a nice bit, the drink making me feel warm on the inside and I ask: "This tastes great. What is it?""Butterbeer. Though don't chug it like that. Wizards are definitely less likely to get drunk, but your core hasn't fully awakened, so that might not count for you and there is a little bit of alcohol in there."
I nod, turning a little red as I remember the party that took place a month after the defeat of Master Xehanort which was the only time I ever got drunk. I then spare a quick glance at Riku and remember how glad I felt at the fact that he didn't remember that night. I then focus back on my meal and after the left-overs vanish, do I continue reading.

The Dursleys … Finnigan interrupted.

"That will never happen and he knows it." Dad mutters and Harry snickers as he says: "I am actually friends with Nick. He even invited me to his Deathday party in Second." And while dad looks impressed by this, do I wonder what a Deathday Party could be like, but then shrug as I know I won't hear more until later and just read on.

"Nearly Headless? … Slytherin ghost."

"How in Keyblade's name has one House been able to beat three others for so many years in a row?" I ask in shock and Riku seems to start to understand why there are two Houses with more or less similar personal traits as Harry says: "Just read a little further on. It'll come up soon, I believe." And I follow his advice curiously.

Harry looked … others laughed.

Yet none of us do so as we all turn to Harry with a worried look, yet Harry rolls his eyes when he sees this and says: "Stop it, they're not even my family, remember. You guys and mum and Lea are, not those Muggles." And while I wonder if that statement will have any effects at a later time, do I still smile and read on.

"What about … my toad."

Yet the more I read the more my shock grows as I can barely believe how easily the boy speaks of obvious abuse and then Harry says: "That's Neville's problem. Like me, he grew up only seeing that manner of upraising so he never saw anything wrong with it. Combine that with his natural shyness that took years to overcome –."
Here I shake my head and then I see dad leaning over the now empty table with all four of his lists spread out in front of him and when he finishes, does he see our curious glances and he says: "I wrote all four of them about this, because the only thing that can convince Augusta that she's wrong is a group action."
At this Harry nods and then Riku asks: "Don't you think the woman will find it strange that James knows about all this?" Yet dad shakes his head and says: "Alice actually wanted me to be both Neville and Harry's godfather, yet Frank and Augusta insisted on James. Once she knows of his return, she will listen." To which I read on relieved.

On Harry's … of thing –").

Here Harry turns red and when we look at him and he says: "I – I'm not saying I'm the best in the class – I doubt I will ever have mum's talent for it, but – well, I do have this special little talent that – well, I just don't want McGonagall to know, cause I just don't feel like she deserves to know." This confuses me and I ask:
"What is it?" And Harry pulls out his wand before aiming it at the table and he silently whispers a spell as he swishes his wand and to my shock does the wooden table turn into a marble one. Yet the shock doesn't come from the change of material, but more from the fact that the marble is beautifully carved into with several designs.
Dragons, beings that look like animalistic meremen and meremaids, a Cerberus, a Hippogriff and several other creatures are shown on the very edge of the table, all of them stood in line and with their legs showing a moving motion as if they are walking somewhere and each of them have incredible details in their designs.

We all look at the table in shock and Harry undoes the spell before he puts his wand away again as he says: "And that is why my scores for Transfigurations will never be as high as mum's probably were. Cause it always takes me so much effort not to add the designer ability to my spells." And while I am shocked at how gorgeous the table looks, does dad ask:
"What on earth did Minerva do to make you despise her like that?" Yet Harry lowers his head and says: "It's not that I despise her, dad. I – I do respect her, really. She – she just isn't the Head of House that Flitwick and Sprout and – heck, even Snape is – to their Houses and that just disappoints me." The man nods and asks:
"She takes more responsibility behind her Transfigurations and Deputy Headmistress title than her Head of House title, huh?" And Harry nods before dad asks: "Do you want me to let Albus know of this?" But Harry shakes his head and says: "I'd rather tell him myself – when I'm ready." Dad nods and I read on.

Harry, who … Harry's forehead.

"Oh, that better not mean what I think it means or Albus will be needing a new Potions teacher – and no, Harry, I won't forget what you told me the day we met." Dad then tells his son and then Harry hums before he says: "You know, Professor Snape has never said a single word about Aunt Lily ever since I met him."
This makes dad smile at the boy and he says: "That is because Snape and Lily were friends before Hogwarts. Hogwarts itself, combined with the war, just forced them to make decisions that pushed them apart and Snape never managed to let go of that." This shocks Harry and then he hums again and softly asks:
"So, how do you think she will respond to how Snape has been treating me all these years?" And dad's eyes widen before he shudders and says: "Just thinking about that, kiddo, makes me shudder. Seriously, I never want to see your mum angry because I love him, but turning Lily angry – that's scarier than anything I can imagine."
And as if his words are some kind of spell, does the book in my hands light up over the course of several pages, together with four of the six other books and dad's eyes widen before he huffs and says: "Well, it was nice knowing that guy." And while he leans back in his seat with his eyes wide, do I shake my head and continue reading.

"Ouch!" Harry … him again.

"Is he the reason Slytherin has been winning the House Cup for so many years in a row?" Riku asks and Harry nods as he says: "Yes, and part of me does respect him for accomplishing that – I just hate the method he uses to try and keep doing it." And just the dark tone of his voice worries me as I continue reading the chapter.

At last, … Weasley twins.

"Which is kind of unfair, cause they have never tried that, whereas older year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws make it a yearly traditional challenge to see which House can have their students go the deepest into the Forest and then come out unscathed." Harry growls at the injustice and then dad, who looks shocked, asks:
"How do you know that?" And the boy rolls his eyes as he says: "I was given a reason this same year to go in there and while there I noticed one student of each House trying to spy on us while also trying to keep out of each other's sight and mine. Needless to say, in regard to the second objective, they failed spectacularly."
Dad nods and then Harry says: "So, the day after that, I confronted them, regardless of how they thought of me and the fact that I had actually caught them early on made them just confess about it. I just felt it was stupid so I kept quiet about it and just let them be after that." Dad nods, yet still looks worried and I read on.

"I have … painful death."

Here I stop in utter shock and then Riku asks: "Did he seriously make a warning like that – in front of an entire room of hormonal teenagers? How long has this guy been Headmaster exactly?" And Harry rolls his eyes as he says: "About 30 if not 40 years now." Shocking my boyfriend and me before I read on, feeling flabbergasted.

Harry laughed, … at least."

"Because, as important as the Prefects are, they are still students and so fall under the same protection detail as the students and the same rules." Dad mutters and he then asks: "Is he really that kind of a Prefect? The kind that has a lot of bark, but no bite?" And Harry nods, yet obviously very reluctantly and I continue reading.

"And now, … you trot!"

"That guy needs to get his head checked. He sounds crazier than Jack did when he tried taking over Santa's job – for the second time." I can't help but groan and Harry asks: "He tried it a second time?" And when I look at him, does he say: "It's the theme of his movie." At which I nod and say: "Yes. Yes, he did." Before I read on.

The Gryffindor … show yourself!"

"And yet another annual event. I do believe that Peeves went after us and our year as well when we were Firsties." Dad says and Harry says: "I guess he does them each once every four years." Dad nods and while I feel more and more as if Jack is visiting Beast's Castle with me or something like that, do I continue reading.

A loud, … Bloody Baron?"

Here dad rolls his eyes and says: "Never play your trump card right off the bat. It proves nothing and only makes you sound like a weakling that ran out of options even before the fight began." To which Harry sighs and says: "Or someone who just thinks too high of himself." And while dad wraps an arm around him, do I read on.

There was … we are."

"Actually, James had had Peeves' respect since he was in Second. Percy just believes too highly of Prefects that he doesn't realize that there are other ways one can earn another's respect, it seems." Dad mutters to himself, but then he shrugs, showing that even though Harry cares for the Weasley, he doesn't really and I read on.

At the … velvet curtains.

"Wait, did the book skip over Percy's Prefect speech or did he just decide to do so the next morning? Never mind, I'll just wait till I hear about the first day of classes to hear it." Dad mumbles to himself, but then Harry still answers: "If you do that, you'll just set yourself up for disappointment." Shocking the man as I read on.

Their trunks … my sheets."

"Ugh, that was the reason my adopted mum made me release Alon." I can't help but comment and dad asks: "You had a rat too?" But I shake my head and say: "No, a cat I had found on the Play Island. Though I really should have listened to Riku and left it there, not take it home with me like I did." Here Riku snickers and Harry asks:
"What happened?" And I roll my eyes as I say: "Well, apparently the little thing had already made its nest on the Play Island, just a little away from where I had found it, and it didn't take kindly to being kept away from it. Its reaction? It scratched every surface it could get its claws in into utter shreds – including several drapes and pillows."
Here Harry cringes and I shake my own head as I say: "Mum loved the little thing when she saw it – and then took my own boat back to the Play Island with it under her arm only an hour later. And of course I was grounded for a week for getting such a house destroyer." Here Riku starts laughing, as usual, and I read on, grumbling.

Harry was … at all.

"Are you sure it's just the Weasleys that need to be checked for being Seers?" Riku asks, the paragraph having stopped him from laughing, but then dad sighs and says: "Blacks aren't Seers, they just sometimes have the ability to – in some way or another – get a warning about their potential future rivals and enemies."
And this alone is not enough to utterly depress my brother and just looking back at the book makes me cringe and think: "Wow, no wonder the book lit up so badly so close to where I was earlier." And I then try to bring some amusement back as I say: "Well lucky you, Riku. You get a whole chapter about my brother's enemy."
And Riku looks shocked, yet I glare at him, daring him to contradict me while dad rolls his eyes and Harry groans, throwing himself back in such a way his head now hangs over the top of the back rest and while Riku glares at me and says: "It's still funny, Sora." Do I roll my eyes and pout at him as he takes the book.


Wow, tough ending.
Also, Percy's little punishment? Yeah, that is going to be a lasting thing. That is to say, the coins will remain within his office – with granted access and ability to movement – until he has learned his lesson. This lesson will, naturally, take a stupid amount of time before he is willing to learn it, but that's just the way I plan to write Percy in this chapter.
Also yes, some of you may think that Sirius took a huge risk to let Percy know that he too was taken and that he is now in the same group as Harry, but I'd like to remind you all of the fact that Lady Destiny won't even let Maleficent in and she has abilities that Fudge doesn't have, so I didn't see the problem in making this a public bit of knowledge.
Anyway, I think in the upcoming chapter I am going to try and expand on the whole Campbrina side of the story a bit. It's going to be, for half of the chapter, be in Lily's POV, so I feel like I should bring her past role as a teacher out to the forefront a little more. Also, I have a little social plan for Jessica and Lea, but that won't come until chapter 49.
Excited yet,

Venquine1990