AN: A pretty short chapter this time around, but that's because the next one's going to be packed. The poll's going to stay up for a bit longer. Right now, Neville/Ginny and Neville/Luna are neck and neck, as are Fred/Angelina and George/Angelina. I think I'll just keep the other results secret for now, to torture you all a bit. How would you feel about me posting some of the outtakes on FF? They'd be pretty short, and it wouldn't be very regular. Thanks to all my readers, to my 340 favorites and 579 follows, you guys are absolutely amazing! Super special thanks goes out to reviewers David305, , jayley, lilmisdiva, Cosmyk Angel, Herbology Apprentice, Cassandra30, Spring Raine, Beth5572, Kairan1979, serenityselena, shopaholic1369, B00kw0rm92, Makurayami Ookami, MariusDarkwolf, Wonderbee31, serialkeller, Call Me Crazy 'Cause I Am, phoebe turner, Lightningblade49, Yana5, anthony37, and red-jacobson. Your feedback really does help!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise.
"Hello boys," Professor Burbage said as she took a seat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville all sat together. For some strange reason, Hermione had told them to leave without her, because she was talking to Lavender, of all people. It didn't make much sense.
And now Professor Burbage was sitting with them at breakfast, even though all five boys were certain they'd done nothing wrong. She didn't bother skipping straight to the point, just speared a few pancakes onto her plate and covered them in syrup. What would they do?
"Er, professor?" Harry asked uncertainly. She glanced up from her breakfast. "Not to be rude or anything, but why are you sitting here?"
She paused. "I just wanted to get to know you all a bit. I've met most of the girls by now, but I don't know anything about you boys."
The boys sighed in relief upon realizing they weren't in trouble.
"So, what do you all like to do for fun?"
"Quidditch," Seamus, Harry, and Ron chorused.
"What's your favorite team?" She inquired.
"Kenmare Kestrels, for sure," Seamus declared.
"What? The Kestrels? Everyone knows that the Chudley Cannons are the best," Ron disagreed.
"And what about you, Harry?" She interrupted.
"Oh, um," He fumbled. "Don't really reckon I have one."
"Me neither," Burbage chirped. "It's just too hard to pick, I think. Neville, what about you? What do you like?"
"Plants," Neville muttered softly.
"Oh really? Would that mean you like Herbology as well?"
He nodded shyly.
"Y'know, that's a pretty important subject. If we didn't have good Herbologists, we wouldn't be able to produce proper potions."
He smiled and ducked his head.
"And Dean, how about you?"
"Er, I draw and paint a lot." He seemed reluctant to tell her this, as if expecting ridicule.
"Oooh, fun! Do you do any sculpting or photography?"
He shook his head. "Actually, Colin's really into photography."
"I don't think I've met a Colin yet. Where is he?" She turned in her seat.
"Right here!" an enthusiastic voice called. Burbage glanced around and was blinded by a camera flash. "Sorry about that," Colin apologized. "I just wanted to show my dad our new Head of House."
"No problem," She replied, still dazed. She had no idea she'd get such…zealous children in Gryffindor House. But then again, she could recall her housemates' antics all too well.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Colin."
"You too. Oh wow! Dad'll never believe this!" And with that, the small boy raced toward the end of the table where a few students were playing Gobstones.
The second year boys all carefully judged Charity's reaction. If she was angry with Colin, it spelled out trouble for the rest of the year. On the other hand, if she reverted back to being afraid again, they may as well surrender to Slytherin.
"He's so energetic!" She smiled.
Harry decided that he liked Professor Burbage. She seemed…relaxed, and he figured that with a House like Gryffindor that was a very good thing.
Oliver Wood truly hated Roger Davies. Oliver had been sitting under a tree by the Black Lake, planning out some new Quidditch maneuvers, when who should stumble upon him but the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain.
"Davies," Oliver greeted him civilly.
"Wood, what do you think you're doing?"
"What the hell d'you mean? I've been sitting here, minding my own business!"
Davies snorted. "Yeah, likely story. It's gonna take a lot better to fool me."
"Fool you?" Oliver repeated incredulously. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about whatever spell you cast on Clarence," Roger accused. "Ever since that day on the pitch he won't stop talking about you! 'Wood's just trying to help you.' 'Wood's a great guy.' 'You should apologize to Wood.' What are your motives?" He shouted.
"You're mental," Oliver retorted. "Absolutely mental! There's no reason for me to do that to Scott!"
"No reason that's obvious, maybe!" Roger yelled. "But I know you, Wood! You're just trying to win the Cup this year. You're sore we beat you-"
"What seems to be the problem here?" Burbage said, sneaking up on them.
"Wood's bewitched Clarence Scott!" Davies bellowed.
"No I haven't!" Oliver denied.
"Mr. Davies, that is a serious accusation. Do you have any proof?" She replied seriously.
"Yeah, actually. Clarence has been acting unusual lately," Roger claimed.
"I'm afraid that's not very sufficient evidence. Now, Oliver your friends are looking for you," She motioned toward Oliver. He smirked triumphantly at Davies whose mouth hung open disbelievingly.
At lunch, Professor Burbage sat with them again. Harry thought McGonagall might disapprove, but she simply smiled and nodded in their direction. Harry sat with an impossibly large group of children; all of the second years, Oliver, Percy, McLaggen, Katie, the twins, Lee, Alicia, Angelina, Ginny, Colin, and Demelza all bunched together. Nearly Headless Nick sat with them too, looking strangely happy.
"And how has your day been, Sir Nicholas?" Burbage asked cordially.
"Oh, it's wonderful! It started out rather badly, because I'd just received yet another rejection letter from the Headless Hunt-"
"The what?" Seamus mouthed silently.
"But then I had the most wonderful idea. I only need someone to help me…" He trailed off.
"What is it?" Parvati asked curiously.
"Well, you see, next Wednesday is Halloween, and it is also my 500th death day," He announced, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Congratulations?" Angelina offered hesitantly.
"Thank you very much. I'm hosting an incredibly large party, and the Headless Hunt will perform. I thought that if I could get a real, live human at my party to tell Sir Patrick how absolutely terrifying I am, then I would be sworn into the Headless Hunt for sure! The only problem is, I haven't yet found anyone willing," He stared down at his empty plate, quickly glanced up at them, then looked away.
"Sound like fun!" The twins chimed.
"I'll do it," Lee said.
"Count me in," Dean said.
Soon enough, the whole group had agreed to attend Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington's 500th Death Day celebration. The ghost beamed with joy.
"Oh, it will be so grand! I'll have half of Gryffindor attending my little get together. That you're willing to miss the Halloween feast to help an old ghost out means so much."
"Halloween feast?" Ron cried. Hermione elbowed him sharply. "I mean, yeah, sure, anything for a fellow Gryffindor."
"Great! I simply must tell the Fat Friar about this. If you'll excuse me," And he floated away.
"That's very kind of you all," Burbage praised them. "I'm sure Sir Nicholas will be very happy to have you all at his party."
"What party?" The Head Boy, Richard Jones, popped up behind them. A short, thin boy with black hair and an easy-going attitude, he had been the obvious choice for the position.
"All of these guys are going to a death day party," Burbage informed him happily.
"A death day party? For who?"
"Nick, of course," The twins chorused.
"Our Nick? I bet that'll be fun. There's probably not too many living who can say they've been to one," He said enviously.
"Hey Nick!" Oliver hollered across the Hall. "Got room for one more?"
"Of course!" The ghost replied, ecstatic. "The more the merrier."
"Wicked!" Jones breathed. "Thanks Wood!"
"Professor Burbage, do ghosts show up on camera?" Colin asked.
She thought for a moment. "I'm not actually sure. Sorry."
He shrugged. "That's okay. We'll just have to wait and see. Hey Nick!" Click.
Sir Nicholas looked momentarily startled before smiling. "This will be the greatest death day in history!"
Generally, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor didn't seem to have too many classes together, but fourth year Defence Against the Dark Arts was the exception.
"I wonder if he'll show me how…" Alicia thought aloud.
"Don't see what the big deal is. He's just a pretty boy with no brains," Lee grumbled.
"Don't talk about him like that," Angelina defended him.
"He's amazing!" Alicia responded.
"Yeah right," George muttered.
"Cedric Diggory's a bloody ponce," Fred whispered.
"And here comes the ponciest git of them all," Lee murmured as Lockhart walked in, dressed in lavish lavender robes.
"Good afternoon, class," He called as he strode to his desk. "So sorry to be late, but I assure you, it was well worth the wait," He smiled and the girls swooned.
"Now, I think today we shall be discussing werewolves. Of course, I would bring in a real one to show you exactly how I defeated the Wagga Wagga Werewolf, but Professor McGonagall informed me that this would be a bad idea," He winked at them.
All the girls giggled at him.
"Hey Professor?" Diggory asked. "Is it true that the pixies you showed to the second years ended up attacking you?" His friends laughed.
Lockhart turned an unflattering purple. "Er, well-I wouldn't believe everything you hear…"
Alicia and Angelina were torn between their fangirl love for Diggory and their fangirl love for Lockhart. Ultimately, their adoration for older men won out, and they turned their backs on the Hufflepuff.
"Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, the Wagga Wagga Werewolf. An incredibly dangerous creature. It'd been bothering the nearby village for years, you see, and I-"
Just as Lockhart began to gain steam, Lee gave a massive yawn, stretching back to put a note on the twins' desk.
Want to get out of here?
One twin pretended to drop his quill, leaned forward to pick it up, and slid a response onto Lee's desk.
Create a distraction.
"Professor?" He asked loudly. "I've just realized-the Headmistress wanted us to come see her directly after lunch. Apparently, hexing quills is against the rules. Who knew? Would it be alright-"
"Oh yes, yes, of course," Lockhart boomed jovially. "We wouldn't want to keep our esteemed headmistress waiting, would we? Although, I would advise you to lay off the pranks for a bit. Getting up to mischief every now and again can be fun, but that sort of thing really puts a damper on your career."
The three boys nodded solemnly and hurried out of the classroom.
"Lee, we're deeply disappointed in you," George tut-tutted.
"That was your chosen distraction?" Fred continued.
"I could've done better, but it's Lockhart," Lee pointed out. "He'll believe anything. What's the point in wasting a good excuse on him?"
"That's true. So boys, what shall we do today?" George asked.
"I think we should go looking for the Chamber," Fred suggested.
"And I think we shouldn't," Lee chirped.
"Aw, come on! What is it with all of you lately?" The twins moaned.
"Yes, what is going on?" A fourth voice, unfamiliar and slimy, wondered.
"Uh oh," Lee whimpered. Because standing directly behind them was caretaker Argus Filch.
Later that night, a notice was put on the Gryffindor Common Room notice board. It was a general invite to Sir Nicholas' party, put up by Richard Jones. Anyone in Gryffindor could attend, and it was a "once in a lifetime" experience. As all the others swarmed around it for information, the old group sat by the fire, discussing recent developments.
"So you actually found the Chamber?" Katie gasped in amazement.
"Right, but not the entrance," Alicia said.
"Slytherins' monster is a Basilisk?" Hermione double-checked. "It makes sense. The house emblem is a serpent and Slytherin was a parselmouth."
"What's a parselmouth?" Harry frowned.
"It's someone who can speak to snakes," Percy explained. "Slytherin's the last known parselmouth.
Harry decided to keep his own time at the zoo a secret for now. What if they hated him?
"I'm surprised you two aren't all over it by now," Ron remarked to the twins. "Seems like the kind of thing you'd want to explore."
They shook their heads in synch. "We've moved onto bigger and better things," They said airily.
"Oh really?" Percy asked, suspicious. "Things like what?"
"Things like Filch being a squib," They said casually.
"What's a squib?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"A squib is someone who is born into a magical family, but doesn't have magic themselves." Hermione seemed prepared to go on, but Oliver intervened.
"And how did you find out Filch was a squib?" Oliver arched an eyebrow.
"We were cutting class-"
"What?!" Hermione, Katie, and Percy exclaimed simultaneously.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, it was just Lockhart!"
"Anyway, Filch caught us and took us to his office."
"Can't believe we were so sloppy!"
"And on his desk, he had a Kwikspell pamphlet, just lying there."
"Dunno why, it's a total fraud."
"And then, right when he's about to assign us detention, a really loud thump comes from upstairs."
"He goes up to investigate, and we're free!"
"So we grab the pamphlet and run! He has no idea."
"Found out later it was Nick who made the thump."
"Real great chap he is, pity we never noticed him before now."
"Why would you take the pamphlet?" Alicia asked.
"To look at it, of course!"
"Are you Percy Weasley and Oliver Wood?" A girl with strawberry blonde hair and freckles asked. At Percy's cautious nod, she said "Professor McGonagall would like to see you."