Remnant Legacy
A/N: I own nothing but the idea of this story; all rights belong to J.K. Rowling
A/N: Hope you all enjoy the chapter; read and review, and subscribe, if you like this story.
Chapter 5-
Lost and Found
The weeks leading up to Halloween were eye opening to Harry as he enjoyed learning about and excelling in the magical world's various subjects. Mainly the reason behind this was during his time being instructed by the goblins, he had be taught many lessons about magical Brittan, not only in what they deemed to be 'practical' (Combat magic) but, also in wizarding politics, mainly about the class system and Harry's place in it. I was as he progressed in his lessons that one of his goblin instructors, Shattermaul noticed something peculiar about the green-eyed wizard: Harry seemed to make a conscious effort to do less than his best. The two had talked and Harry had admitted that due to the fact the Durselys would mistreat him if he did better than Dudley. The aged goblin had since focused on working with his somewhat taller pupil to increase his confidence in himself and the want to actually do his best.
He also was able to make his mark with most of the teachers: McGonagall would often give him a small smile after completing a day's task. The Herbology teacher Professor Sprout took a liking to Harry and Neville due to their skills with plant life. Flitwick was staring to become one of Harry's favorites, the half-goblin had an infections enthusiasm coupled with a desire to impart his knowledge with his students lead to Harry and his friends spending time with the diminutive charms teacher as he taught about goblin history and culture; even better than Binns.
Near the end of the first week of term, Hedwig arrived with an invitation from Hagrid for tea. Harry quickly accepted, thanking his friend and sending the owl off.
That Sunday, Harry, Hermione, Jasmine and Daphne had headed to Hagrid's Hut, which sat on the border towards the Forbidden Forest. As soon as Harry knocked, a loud baying was heard along with Hagrid's voice saying "Back Fang, Back!" The sound of large boots was heard and the door opened a bit, reveling Hagrid's bearded face, "Welcome come in, didn't expect so many, migh be a bit o a squezze."
As soon as they were seated in the various furniture that was in the small hut, introductions were made, while Fang, Hagrid's large hound visited each of the visitors. Hagrid, for his part commented on each of the student's parents. He asked how their classes were going, ne nodded as they gave their impressions on each teacher, though when the subject of Snape came up and his clear dislike for Harry he (poorly) deflected the question; causing Harry to wonder why exactly Snape seemed to hate him on principle.
After a day spent with his friends and finishing the remaining homework, much to Hermione's delight, Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room to find this year mates crowded around the notice board. Harry quickly found Seamus, he tapped the Irish boy to get his attention "What's everyone going on about?" he asked.
"Flying lessons next week!" was the response.
Harry thanked Seamus before heading up to the common room to checking with his owl and send his weekly report to Shattermaul and his other teachers.
The following week passed normally, during which Harry learned something a little funny, yet disconcerting about Hermione, she liked to study; no really she sometimes got so focused that she became curt with anyone interrupting her. Harry soon found that she was aggressively trying to read any and all material one the subject of broomstick flying. To her annoyance, the advice the books gave was rudimentary, riling her up more than before. That day, Harry and the rest of the house of courage learned to fear Hermione for two reasons: 1. She got irritated if books did not satisfy her desire to learn and 2. She could rival a dragon if her study time was interrupted for something she had not interest in; as seen when Ronald Weasley made the mistake of knocking the book she had been reading from her hands, resulting in the red head being covered by a multitude of hexes.
Finally, the assigned day came, Harry and his classmates headed out to the school grounds. Once they reached the field, they saw rows of broomsticks laid out, between them a witch with grey, spiky hair and hawk-like eyes stood waiting for them. Unfortunately, Harry saw the Slytherins approaching the site, Daphne gave a friendly wave to Harry and Hermione, recently she had been more open with their friendship, this had mostly come from the fact that she had received letters from her parents, stating they approved of her friendship with Harry due to the elder Greengrasses being friends with the Potters.
Malfoy also greeted Harry with a nod. During the time he had known the young Slytherin, Harry had come to the conclusion that Draco Malfoy was a slightly smarter version of Dudley, having been spoiled to the point that he used his father's name to intimate others into getting his way. Harry would have already dropped him like a sack of rotten potatoes, except for that old additive: 'keep your friends close and your enemies even close' so he settled for being polite.
Thankfully, the flight instructor decided to start the class: "Hello all, I am Madam Hooch, you instructor for broomstick flying; well what are you waiting for? Pick a broom, hold out you hand and say 'up!'"
"Soon shouts of 'up' filled their air, Harry's instantly shot into his hand, while others didn't have such luck: either barely moving or not at all; including Neville and Hermione. Harry noticed this and leaned over to his friends "They can sense your emotions, you need to be firm with them." He whispered they nodded and soon had their brooms in hand. He looked up to meet the gaze of the teacher, who gave him a nod and a few house points for assisting his classmates.
Soon the first years were standing ready for further instruction. "On my mark, you will push off the ground, hover for a few seconds, then tough back down. Now Three, two, on-" she stopped, when Neville in a fit of nervousness had pushed off too soon and was gaining altitude. With a crack, the broom snapped, leaving Neville to fall to the ground with s sickening crunch. Madam Hooch rushed over to the prone first year, who had begun to whimper. "Broken wrist." She muttered, "Alright you all, I'll take Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing, the rest of you stay. here. The first person I see will be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch." She finished, leading the round-faced boy away.
A few seconds passed before laughter was heard, "did you see that fat lump!" Malfoy said, laughing all the while, the less cerebral, including Ronald, following suit. "Oh, what's this, a rememberall, what couldn't Longbottom remember to fall on his fat arse!"
"Shut up Malfoy." A girl of Indian decent said.
"Well, well Patil, didn't know you were into fat crybabies." Pansy Parkinson, a pug-face girl said in a nasal voice; causing the other girl to flush with embarrassment.
This had gone on long enough, "alright Malfoy, you've had your fun, not give it back." Harry said holding out his hand to Malfoy to make the smart decision.
"And why should? I think I'll leave it up in the battlements or on the Astronomy tower, maybe Longbottom will remember not to fall on his fat arse." With that Malfoy took off, demonstrating that he some skill with a broom.
Gritting his teeth, Harry stretched out a hand, calling a broom to his hand, as he mounted he heard Hermione's voice "Harry! You can't! you'll get into trouble and lose the points I got in transfiguration." She said worriedly.
"She's right, Malfoy isn't worth the trouble, we can just report to Hooch when she gets back." The Slytherin ice-queen said in a more calm tone, looking at her fellow housemate with annoyance.
Harry paused the smiled at his friends, "I know, but I hate bullies and Malfoy needs someone to show him he antics won't fly; ha get it?" With that he pushed off into the sky.
Free. He was free; the wind gently caressed his face as any doubt and anxiety slipped from him.
As he came to level with Malfoy, the blond seemed surprised with his peer's ablates with a broom, "Drop it or I'll knock you off your broom Malfoy."
Malfoy sneered "Fine, you want it so bad, the go get it!" he tossed the glass ball towards the grounds.
Time seemed to slow as the rememberall descended, everything fell into perfect clarity. Harry dived, flattening himself against the broom urging it to go faster. Then, mere seconds before he would have crashed to the ground, he pulled up, tightly grasping the object.
The class ran towards him, cheering all the while; Harry felt it was too good to be true.
"Harry Potter!" a voice shouted at them; ah there we go. Professor McGonagall strode towards him, fury outlining her features, "Mr. Potter explain yourself this instant!" the old witch hollered.
"Please professor"
"Enough Miss Granger"
"But, Malfoy…"
"I said enough Miss Patil, now Potter, follow me."
Harry handed the remembral over to Hermione before following the strict witch.
He was lead along staircases and corridors until they were outside the Charms classroom, "Wait here." McGonagall stated, before entering, "Yes, Fillius, may I borrow Wood for a moment?" Was she going to beat him; a magical school advocating corporal punishment, there was some irony there.
Seconds later, she remerged bringing a confused looking Fifth-year boy with her, "Mr. Potter I would like you to meet Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor quiddtich team; Mr. Wood I have found you a new seeker." She said smiling, like a cat who had caught a canary.
"I still can't believe Professor McGonagall blackmailed you into joining the Gryffindor team." Hermione was saying sourly. Harry had just finished telling his friends about McGonagall's decision regarding his punishment. The brunette was conflicted about their head of house's decision about his punishment, on the other hand Harry clearly didn't want the attention quidditch would garner him whether he won or not, so she decided the point was moot.
"It could have been worse thought. You were lucky it was McGonagall saw you; any other teacher would have given you detentions for the month. Also, what were you thinking?! I though we agreed that you would do something like that!" Jasmine berated the dark haired boy, she had heard about the incident from her house mates; suffice to say, she was not amused.
Before Hermione could ask what the other girl meant, the Weasley twins showed up clapping Harry on the back: "Harry, good sir!"
"We heard from Wood, about the good news."
"Were on the team too.."
"Beaters!"
"Our job is to make sure you don't get bludgeoned while attacking the other team."
"Oliver sent us to tell you.."
"You'll be meeting the team for regular practices after Ollie's taught you the basics."
"Then training for the games!"
"Already, I only started flying, besides, what if I make a fool of myself." He said nervously.
"You will make a fool of yourself, it's in your blood." Hermione said matter-of-factly. She pointed to a nearby trophy case; on a plaque was his father's name, "see?"
Breakfast was an interesting affair; the whole Gryffindor house was offering congratulations, standing in awe of him or showing some form of camaraderie. As he ate Hedwig flew in carrying a long parcel. Curious, Harry and members of the table unwrapped it to find a brand new broomstick, Harry looked over to the staff table to see Hedwig perched on his Head of House's fingers, the Transfiguration teacher giving him a bit of a smile.
"That's a Nimbus 2000!" Ron said loudly. Harry closed his eyes to stifle the headache he felt coming on; he really didn't need this now.
"What's this, I hear Potter has gotten a broom." Great another person to annoy him, and breakfast wasn't even over yet.
"Good day Malfoy." He said wearily.
"So having a last meal then." The blonde gloated; oh he gloated.
"No as of yesterday I will be acting as the seeker for my hose team." Harry answered.
Malfoy lost what little color in his face "you think you're si great Potter, how about we settle this over a wizard's duel?" the Slytherin challenged.
"You're on! I'm his second, who's yours" the head-headed fool exclaimed. Before Malfoy could retort Harry interjected.
"Hold on, he does not speak for me, besides a duel wouldn't be worth it; perhaps in a few years' time?" he said, throwing a glare at the oblivious ginger.
Malfoy took a moment before nodding. At that moment Professor Flitwick approached the group "not fighting are we boys?" the minute professor inquired.
"No sir I was just thanking Mr. Malfoy for providing me with the chance to be a seeker in my first year." Harry said brightly.
"Excellent, a Nimbus series if I recall, ah look at the time I must be getting ready, see you all in class. "With that the half-goblin gave Harry a knowing wink before heading off.
The following weeks passed with preparations for Halloween: Hagrid had brought several pumpkins that could fit three adult men inside of them for various purposes, like food or as jack-o-lanterns; live bats were seen flying about in the Great Hall; there were rumors that Dumbledore had booked a quartet of singing skeletons. Throughout all of this Harry was plagued with a feeling of dread, the Durselys had never let him celebrate any holiday, but Halloween was especially bad. During the day, he was given double chores, the same as his birthday, at night Dudley went out in various costumes to collect bags and buckets of sweet candy. When he asked why, he was smacked with a skillet and told that Halloween was when his "useless drunk parents" had died and they saddled with him. Since then, Harry never had the desire to celebrate the holiday.
Halloween day came and with it a special Charms lesson, Professor Flitwick had been teaching them wand movements and their meaning in magic, today they were to put all they had learned together to cast the Levitation Charm. as the class filed in Flitwick started by clearing his throat: "Ehem, good afternoon class, Today you will be learning the Levitation charm, or how to make objects fly" he said brightly. "now, you all remember the moment we have been practicing? The swich-and-flick, together now, that's it, now while performing this movement say: Wingardium Leviosa, again, that is now pair up and practice until the end of period, I will be by to help anyone who needs it." The students were given feathers to practice on as Filtwick began to pace to the room to various cries of "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The class was met with either causing the feather to move or not at all. Seamus, who was partnered with Harry caused a small explosion, singeing his face. However, as fate would have it Hermione was paired with Ron Weasley, polar opposites in every way; she studious, knowledgeable, and hardworking; he lazy, gluttonous and short-tempered; suffice to say they clashed more often than not with Hermione making the red head look like a fool, without fail.
The redhead was trying to cast waving his wand wildly, slurring the incantation. Hermione quickly halted him "No, stop, you're doing it all wrong its Levioosa, not Leviosaaaa." She corrected, annunciating the spell to show him the difference.
He shot her a glare, "well if you're so smart, why don't you do it."
"Gladly: Wingardium Leviosa" the feather floated right off the desk into the air.
Flitwick caught this "oh, look everyone! Miss Granger has done it, and Mr. Potter, Miss Jewelhart, well done! Take ten points each!"
Ronald Weasley was not amused.
Later after class Harry was walking with Hermione and Jasmine, looking forward to the evening feast and sharing it with his friends. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Weasley talking to Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas "-It's Levioosa, not Leviosaaa, she's a nightmare! No wonder she doesn't have any friends." The group laughed.
Harry saw Hermione tense, eyes beginning to tear before she sprinted away from her classmates before he could stop her.
He brushed past the fool, making sure to bump into him roughly.
Harry spent the better part of the day searching for the brunette to no avail and his frustration, she; he had friends, after all what was he to her.
"Harry?" he turned to find Daphne, who was carrying a book bag over her shoulder.
"Hey Daphne, have you see Hermione I-" she held up a hand to stop him.
"She's in the girls bathroom, I found her crying; what happened?" she asked concerned..
Harry explained the situation after their Charms class, the raven sighed "Unfortunately, that is what usually will happen. In our world, people coming from nonmagical families are considered unworthy by of the gift of magic, some because they try to force their beliefs on others, some believe that Muggles have found a way to steal magic from wizards/witches to create first-generation mages. Believe me, Hermione just got a taste of what's to come. In any case, she's going to need a good cry before she can move forward, I say we go down, enjoy the feast and save her a few treats when we see her." The raven said, twisting a lock of hair in thought.
"But-"
"She told me that she didn't want to see anyone for the rest of the day; leave her be for the day."
Harry sighed, but let the matter drop and when to prepare for the evening.
The fest turned out to be an enjoyable affair, the Great Hall was filled with various decorations and the food was to die for. The kitchens had turned out various dishes, from pumpkin pie to candied apples to candy confectionaries, along with coco and cider.
Suddenly, the doors burst open with Professor Quirrel running through screaming : "Troll in the dungeon, Troooollll!" he cried, then in a whimper ""thought you ought to know." He finished, collapsing in a heap.
The hall erupted into screams and other forms of panicky before the he3admaster had regained control of the situation "silence! Now, Prefects please lead you houses back to your Common rooms, the staff and myself with handle with matter." Dumbledore instructed.
The students began to file out, still whispering one to another. During this, Harry fell into step with Neville, "so how does a troll get into Hogwarts?" he asked.
Neville shrugged "maybe wondered in, there should be wards up to stop them though." Harry suddenly stopped "Harry, what?"
Harry turned, "Hermione, she doesn't know about it."
The other boy paused ,but nodded, "alright, but we grab her and go, that's it." He insisted, Harry nodded and the two quietly slipped from Percy Weasley's (admittedly weak) gaze.
As they headed out , Harry head someone following them, he looked behind to se Daphne coming up behind. He questioned her with a raised brow, "Slytherin's commonroom is in the dungeons." she said by way of explanation, "besides…" she said, then looking a bit awkward continued "I'm worried about Hermione." She finished with a bit of blush.
The boys decided to just shake their heads, seems like Daphne Greengrass had trouble freely expressing her emotions so directly.
The trio soon came towards the girl's bathroom before they were struck with a putrid stench "ugg, what is that?" Harry asked.
"Troll, guess it isn't in the dungeons after all." Neville said.
Then a scream assailed them, quickly they rushed over to see Hermione with her back to a wall in the washroom. Facing her was a ten-foot tall humanoid being with gray skin, wearing shoddy breaches and wielding a club ¾ of it's size. Also, it smelt like an outhouse left in a summer's sun.
The troll blinked stupidly before roaring at the little being before it and moving to attack.
Hermione, for her part, was paralyzed with fear, unable to move. That is until she heard a familiar voice: "Hermione, move!"
Harry, rushed in, grabbed the scared brunette's hand and moved to leave. The troll, however moved, slamming it's club in front of them, Harry reached for his wand when a piece of the tilling hit the troll on the side of its small head. It turned to find Neville holding another piece in his hand, "Oi pea brain, right here." The pump boy shouted, throwing the chuck at the large thing. The troll went to retaliate, suddenly Daphne, moved in front the creature giving a warning cry "Close your eyes!" she said before using a spell they had only heard in passing during Herbology:
"Lumos Solem!"
Light erupted for her wand in a cone , blighting the troll, causing it to roar and stagger about, swinging wildly.
"C'mon let's go!" Harry shouted, leading Hermione along with the other two bringing up the rear.
As they turned a corner they came face-to-face with the Hogwarts staff, "All of you, why aren't you in your common rooms!?" McGonagall demanded.
"Please professor, they were looking for me, you see I read about trolls and-" Hermione began before she was interrupted.
"Nonsense," Daphne cut in, "we were looking for her, true, Granger here was using the loo, we just swung by to make sure she knew about the troll." She said smoothly, making the other students nod.
"Very well, Miss Greengrass, why weren't you in your common room?" the transfiguration teacher continued.
"Well, we were told that the troll was in the dungeons, that's where Slytherin lies, the prefect told us to remain with other students," a loud crash and bellow came from the direction of the washroom, "oh, by the way, the trolls actually there." The Slytherin ice queen finished.
The teachers looked at one another before rushing towards the sound, "we will talk about this later, Miss Greengrass I will be informing professor Snape of this." McGonagall said in parting as the teachers left.
The four students were left standing somewhat awkwardly as they waited for someone to speak. Hermione decided to break the silence: "thank you" she said quietly, then proceeded to embrace the others, which were reciprocated; Harry found the feeling quite nice.
"No problem, after all we're friends, right?" Harry asked, unsure of himself.
It was at this point the Brunette first-generation witch broke down and held him tightly, nodding, sobbing and laughing the whole while.
?: Due to the fact that I really couldn't see Harry with any notable Hufflepuff girls from the cannon universe, I created one. She won't completely be an OC, rather I will be combing two characters to make this charming lass. Both characters have small roles in both Rowling's novels and in Fanfiction for the most part. What I hope to do with this character is to make a Happy-go-lucky type that tries to lift the group's spirits when everyone is down. Also, her special relationship to Harry with be a combination of her components both directly and indirectly.
