Chapter 23 – Gryffindor v. Slytherin
The days following the Death Eater attack on Hogsmeade had not been enjoyable ones for Harry. Harry, Ron and Neville felt excited after their return to Hogwarts following the fight. They had won and no one on their side was too seriously injured. Some time with Madam Pomfrey would take care of their injuries.
Their excitement lasted until they reached the entry doors to Hogwarts. Professors McGonagall and Ioshi met them and they did not have smiles on their faces. Professor McGonagall started by reprimanding Harry for leaving school grounds without permission. When Harry tried to defend himself based on his pre-school agreement on leaving school and his status as leader of the Order, Professor McGonagall put Harry in his place.
"How did your trip have anything to do with the Order or fighting the Death Eaters? You had no knowledge that there would be an attack today. You placed yourselves in potential danger for no reason."
Neville dropped his head and started studying his shoes at his Head of House's reprimand. Ron was not as smart.
"We beat the Death Eaters who were going to attack the village!" Ron protested.
"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall answered with a glare from behind her glasses, "there may have been no attack at all."
Harry shook his head. "No, that attack was not directed at us. They were Death Eaters –in training. They were as shocked to see us as we were to see them."
Professor Ioshi spoke for the first time. "How can you be so sure?"
"They had no plan to deal with us. Their spells and fighting skills were well below normal Death Eater. We did make a mistake to go to the village after our session last night with Professor Goshawk."
"Indeed, Mr. Potter."
Eventually, the professors did allow the boys to make their way to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey gave Harry and Ron a hard time since Ron had just been released that morning. She provided them with potions and sent them back to their dorms. The return to their dorms is where the trouble really started.
Standing in their common room were Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. The three ladies sat talking quietly when the boys walked in. They were sitting together on one couch facing the entryway to the common room. Together they turned to face their wayward boyfriends.
"Where have you three been?" Hermione asked.
Harry sensed danger as Ron answered, "We snuck into Hogsmeade to do some shopping."
"Really," Ginny said with a dangerous tone in her voice. "What did you buy?"
Harry was seeing the signs of a big storm brewing. He did not understand why. Could the girls have learned about the fight in Hogsmeade already? Were they upset they snuck out without telling their girlfriends?
Harry figured telling the truth up front would be best. "We wanted to buy some surprise gifts for three very deserving girlfriends for the Halloween Ball."
"Why are there three-horned Snogwapps circling your heads?" Luna asked.
Harry and Ron looked confused at Luna. Neville however looked scared.
Neville walked over to stand in front of Luna. "I wanted to get you something special." Luna nodded in her dreamy fashion.
Hermione stood up and the other girls rose with her. "We know about your fight in Hogsmeade. We understand that. It was what happened after the fight that has us upset." Then the three girls slipped out of the room.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Harry moaned as he dropped in to the seat his girlfriend had just vacated.
"What?" Ron asked.
"They know about our walk back."
"Huh?"
"When we imitated them. They know." Harry explained.
Neville looked confused, "How could they know?"
Harry leaned back into the couch with his arm across his eyes. "I noticed an owl overhead during the walk back. I didn't think anything of it."
Ron turned white. "I bet that means there was a fox lurking in the bushes also." He slumped into a chair. "We are so dead. We are lucky we did not get hit by any Bat-bogey hexes when we walked in."
Neville looked confused until Ron explained about their Animagus training. Then he went even paler. "I knew we were in trouble when Luna started talking about Snogwapps."
Harry wondered what that meant but let it go as he thought about Ginny and Hermione's likely actions in response to their boyfriends' imitations.
The three boys sat in silence as they considered the price they would soon pay at the hands of their girlfriends. This was going to be a long week.
Monday morning found the girls acting like nothing happened. This made all three boys even more nervous. This meant they now had their plans finalized. Classes and meals passed without incident. Nothing happened and the boys started to relax slightly.
After dinner, Professor Ioshi reconstructed their fight in the Room of Requirement. All of the actions taken by Harry, Neville, and Ron during the fight were critiqued by the DADA professor. The professor delivered his assessment in cold terms in an emotionless tone. After reviewing their actions, Professor Ioshi suggested alternative strategies and spells that would have reduced their risk during the fight and sped up the outcome.
Once their assessment was completed, Professor McGonagall and Remus Lupin entered the room. Professor Ioshi made the boys present the review of their fight.
Harry was surprised when Remus entered the Room of Requirement. His parents' sole remaining friend and his former DADA instructor had been meeting with various werewolf groups since the death of Greyback during the fight in Diagon Alley. It turned out the dead werewolf terrorized many of the werewolves into following him. Remus was extending an olive branch to them in an effort to pry them from Riddle's control.
After the presentation and some discussion, the professors and Neville left, leaving Harry and Ron with Remus.
"I am impressed boys. I can't believe you are the same boys I had in my Third years DADA class. I've seen Aurors perform worse in training simulations," Remus said.
Ron said, "Professor Ioshi has been working us hard since the start of the term. Harry still makes the rest of us look bad. I think only Professor Ioshi can stay with him now."
Harry stopped what he was going to say and just stared at his friend. Ron noticed. "What are you looking at me like that for? You took to fighting like you did to flying a broom. You get this excited but concentrated expression on your face. Hermione and I think it is the adrenaline rush."
Harry and Remus looked at Ron in surprise.
"Ron, I didn't think you knew what adrenalin was," Harry said.
Ron's ears turned a little red. "Hermione explained it to me."
Harry smiled and turned to Remus. "I was surprised to see you. What are you doing here? I thought you were visiting the werewolves."
Remus smiled innocently and said, "I had to check on a few things in the library. I also had to give some advice to some new pupils." Then he slipped out of the room.
Ron and Harry exchanged glances. "This doesn't look good, mate," Ron said.
The next day Harry walked into breakfast with Ron. They had run late from their morning workout. The girls told them to go ahead without them after their showers. They sat down with Neville, Semus and Dean. The conversation quickly turned to Quidditch. Saturday was the first match of the season. They would be playing against Slytherin. Semus and Dean had watched several of their practices and provided a scouting report.
About halfway through their meal, Harry found himself walking up to the Staff table with Ron and Neville. 'Why am I walking up here?' Harry wondered. Harry felt every eye in the Great Hall turn to watch the boys.
They came to a stop at the foot of the table. Professor McGonagall looked at the boys with a question on her face. Then Harry noticed that Remus and the Weasley twins were sitting at the table also. 'Oh no, something is happening.' Harry thought.
"Hey Harry" Ron called. Harry turned to face him only to get smacked in the head.
Harry heard himself yell, "Oh, a wise guy, huh?" Then he poked Ron in both eyes. Neville started laughing at this. Harry turned to Neville and said, "You think that was funny?" Then Harry hit Neville in the stomach. When Neville bent over from the blow, Harry kicked him in the arse.
Music started playing in the Great Hall while Harry, Ron and Neville started beating each other with pokes, smacks and kicks. Harry recognized the music as the students burst into laughter at their antics. The Muggle-born students laughed the hardest. Harry could see Malfoy laughing and holding his sides seeing his rival humbled.
The three boys suddenly felt themselves released from the control when a banner appeared in the air above their heads.
This morning's production of
The Three Hogwarts Stooges
Is presented to you by the Lady Marauders
The students in the Hall started clapping at the end of the show. Harry glanced at Ron and Neville. "I knew we were in trouble as soon as I saw Remus, Fred and George. "
Ron nodded. "I bet they helped out with the whole thing. They were watching Three Stooges videos in the shop over the summer."
Harry noticed then that their girlfriends had stepped into the Hall sometime during the show. Harry laughed at the huge grin on Ginny's face. It appeared that their public embarrassment paid for their mistake walking back from Hogsmeade.
Harry circled high over the pitch with one eye on the game below while looking for a sign of the Snitch. The game below was very different then the one he and Ron had expected.
The Slytherin team emerged from the loss of many of their Death Eater connected students with a better team then last year. Although the players were all younger, they worked together as a team. Usually Slytherin depended on dirty tactics and brutality to carry the game. The young Slytherins playing in this game showed a level of skill and ambitious play Harry had never seen before in his time at Hogwarts from a Slytherin team.
The Gryffindor team's experience was proving to be the deciding factor. The score was running in Gryffindor's favor. At 150-50, Gryffindor would eventually be able to win whoever caught the Snitch. Liz Esperanza, the Slytherin Seeker stalked Harry around the pitch; never flying right with Harry, but also not too far away.
Harry heard Ron calling instructions out to the Chasers for a new play. The thought occurred to Harry that having the Seeker as captain was probably not a good idea. The Seeker was too independent and not involved with the rest of the game. What strategies did a Seeker need? See Snitch. Catch Snitch.
Harry rolled back towards the Gryffindor goals and glanced at Ron. Harry's eyes widened when he noticed the Snitch hovering just over Ron's head.
Harry kicked his broom into a higher speed and shot down the pitch toward Ron. The howling wind and his concentration prevented Harry from hearing the announcers and the crowd, but Harry caught the sudden change in the crowd that his sudden movement made.
Harry felt rather then saw the presence of the Slytherin Seeker slightly behind him. The two Seekers raced towards the hovering Snitch. Ron's face dropped when he noticed the two speeding missiles seemingly homing straight onto him.
The Snitch dropped down out of sight behind the center Gryffindor goal. Harry banked hard to loop up and over the goal, turning inside his loop, looking for the Snitch below. Liz performed a similar maneuver to the other side of the goal.
Harry spotted the Snitch flash past him ten feet below. Harry pushed his Firebolt into the tightest turn possible to change his direction and stay with the Snitch. The stress and force from the turn was incredible. Liz's turn was easier as it was not so much a total change in direction like Harry's turn.
Harry and Liz raced after the Snitch. The Snitch flew directly towards on of the viewing stands then turned straight up to fly up no more then six inches from the stand. Harry turned his broom on its end and shot up, ending his forward motion almost touching the side of the stand. The Slytherin Seeker lost a little ground to Harry because of his greater handling experience with the broom. However, Liz's lower weight allowed her to accelerate slightly faster and she soon recovered her lost ground.
The Snitch shot straight up into the air over the stand and flew down the pitch in an effort to loss its pursuers. The Seekers chased after it while trying to block out the opposing Seeker. Harry's experience and confidence matched up with Liz's smaller size and determination. The two Seekers wove in and around after the Snitch in an elaborate spiral along the Snitch's course.
Harry found himself grinning like a lunatic at the challenge of the younger Seeker. Never in his time on a broom had another Seeker challenged Harry this fiercely. The sheer speed and maneuvers made this the most exciting match Harry had ever been in. Now this is what Quidditch was meant to be!
The Snitch made a slight quiver, almost a dip, when the Seekers where about five feet behind. Harry's experienced instincts screamed and Harry dropped down in a sudden dive just before the Snitch did the same.
Liz was momentarily distracted by Harry's seeming to drop out of the chase. She missed the Snitch's sudden dive for a split second due to her surprise. She quickly rolled her broom while turning into a dive after it.
Without conscious thought, Harry calculated his speed and the Snitch's speed and course. Aware of Liz's flight, Harry realized it would be a split second difference between winning and losing. Harry willed the last bit of speed out of his broom and reached for the Snitch flying just out of reach.
Harry's fingers closed on the Snitch just before Liz's hand grabbed Harry's fingers. The sudden contact of the two Seekers at high speeds and different courses caused the two Seekers to spin out of control. Harry fought the forces spinning his broom and brought it back into control in a couple of very long seconds.
Harry brought his broom into a hover and raised the Snitch above his head. Then he looked back where he expected to see the Slytherin Seeker. Harry's gaze continued down to the pitch to see Liz Esperanza sprawled out on the pitch with her broom lying beside her.
Harry dropped quickly down out of the sky to land beside her even as Madam Hooch and Malfoy flew to her.
"Liz," Harry asked, "are you okay?"
Liz groaned slightly and looked up at Harry. "I am fine," she groaned. "I didn't realize the ground was so close."
Harry grinned down at the younger Seeker. "Neither did I. I guess we were having too much fun to pay attention."
Liz smiled slightly at Harry's comment.
Madam Hooch arrived and pushed Harry back from the young girl. Harry stepped back, feeling guilty he had caused the girl to be injured. He did have to smile though when Liz's sister, Maria arrived and started yelling at her sister in Spanish. Harry didn't know what she was yelling, but she sure sounded like she was doing a good job of it!
Harry felt a small hand slip into his. He looked over to see Ginny standing next to him.
"It was not your fault, Harry. These things happen. Stop blaming yourself."
Harry shook his head. "No, I should have… Ouch! You kicked me!"
"You deserved it! You are acting like a prat! Liz knew what she was doing. Harry, the two of you were having too much fun and too determined to catch the Snitch to stop for anything," Ginny hissed at Harry.
Harry nodded and stood silently while he watched Madam Hooch and the Slytherin team standing around their Seeker. He felt immensely relieved when he watched Madam Hooch help the young girl to her feet.
"I thought you lost the Snitch that time, mate." Ron said.
Harry turned and looked at his friend. In his concern for Liz, he never heard Ron walk up to him.
"I thought she had you," Ron shrugged. "She is really good. Your strategy worked but she almost made you pay for it."
"I know," Harry said. "She is the best Seeker I have ever flown against."
"You two were incredible. Do you realize the whole game stopped when you two took off? It was like watching the two of you dance on brooms. I thought Hooch was going to cry watching you two.
Harry snorted at Ron's comment. It had been a lot of fun.
Liz walked over to Harry supported by Maria. "Hi Harry. That was a good match."
Harry had to smile at the Second year. "Flying against you was a challenge. You are very good. Are you okay?"
With a quick glance at her sister, Liz said, "I am fine."
"You said that like Harry does," Ginny chimed in. "A Harry Potter 'I am fine' simply means he is not dead!"
Maria cast a disgusted look at her twin. "Another thing she has in common with Harry then aside from flying like an idiot!" Maria then proceeded to make a series of observations on the supposed sanity of both the Slytherin and the Gryffindor Seekers. None of the terms were very glowing.
Harry felt his eyebrows rising at Maria's acerbic comments while Ron and Ginny started laughing at the normally shy and quiet Gryffindor twin.
During Maria's display, a wizard and witch holding hands wandered over to join them. They stood off to the side and listened to Maria's comments. After she came to her sarcastic conclusion related to high speeds causing brain cell death, the witch started to clap in mock appreciation. The twin girls squealed on seeing them and ran to enwrap both in hugs.
Harry and his friends watched as the two Second years greeted people who were obviously their parents. The girls seemed very excited to see their parents and invited them over to meet the Seventh year students.
Liz handled the introductions. "Mom and Dad, these are Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Ron Weasley. Guys, these are our parents, Jon and Anna Esperanza." She turned to her parents. "Harry is the Head Boy and Hermione is the Head Girl!"
Mr. Esperanza stuck his hand out and shook Harry's hand and then Ron's. "It is very nice to meet you all." Looking at the Gryffindor quidditch players, he added, "Congratulations on a well played victory." Although he looked at everyone as he spoke, Harry felt like he was being evaluated by the girls' father.
"It is nice to meet you also," Hermione said. "I have heard a lot about you both from Maria." She looked at Mrs. Esperanza and added, "My parents are also dentists, Dr. Esperanza."
The short, neat, dark haired woman smiled, "Are they Muggles? I haven't heard of any wizard dentists."
Hermione explained they were both Muggles and very surprised when they found out their daughter was a witch.
"I can understand that. I met Jon on vacation in Spain. We dated for six months before I found out he was a wizard. That really confused me for a while."
Hermione nodded, "I still think my parents are confused when I talk about the stuff I learn at school. I guess since they don't live with it, it doesn't seem real."
Liz chimed in, "We live half and half. We have a Muggle style house but with magical enhancements!"
Harry spoke to Mr. Esperanza, "Both of your daughters are excellent Quidditch players. They are better on a broom then almost anyone else at Hogwarts. I really enjoy flying with both of them.
Mr. Esperanza thanked Harry for his compliments on his daughters' flying and added, "I would like to thank you personally for taking my daughters under your wing. They had a hard time last year being in opposing houses."
Harry nodded in understanding. That explained part of the observation, but Harry's instincts told him that there was more to it then his assistance to the man's daughters.
After several minutes more of talking, the Esperanzas walked away with their daughters. Mrs. Esperanza thanked them again and then led her family off to the Great Hall to share lunch together before they left.
Harry and his friends made their way to the Gryffindor tower where the celebration party was already in full swing.
After breakfast Harry led the rest of the Gryffindor Four up to the Room of Requirement. Astus rode on Harry's shoulder. They entered the Room and sat in chairs Harry summoned around a large fireplace. The Room appeared to be a tastefully decorated and comfortable study with a number of books lining the wall.
"What is all the secrecy about Harry?" Ginny asked.
"I have to talk with you guys about some things I found out. I was told about a source of some information on advanced magic that Riddle may have accessed. I have to go check it out. I would like all of you to come with me but I am not sure you would want to."
Hermione spoke first, "Harry, of course we are going with you. Don't be silly." Ron and Ginny chimed in with their agreement.
Harry shook his head. "You three need to think about this time." He reached over and took Ginny's hand. Then he said, "It is in the Chamber of Secrets."
Ginny turned white. She started to shake her head against what Harry had just said.
Harry gripped Ginny's hand and said, "I have to go down there, but you don't have to go."
Hermione and Ron shared a glance. Hermione said, "I will still go with you. I have never been down there. I was petrified when the three of you went down there. Who told you about the information down there?"
"I am going too," Ron added before Harry answered Hermione's question.
Harry glanced briefly at Ginny, who was still sitting quietly with a very pale face, before he looked back at his two best friends. "I found out something about the Room of Requirement a couple of weeks ago. The Founders used this room to design Hogwarts. It actually controls the structure."
Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Harry, you mean this room is the control room for the entire school?"
Before Harry answered, a new voice, but familiar voice interrupted, "Indeed it is Ms. Granger. All of the magic of Hogwarts flows from this Room of Requirement."
Hermione, Ron and Ginny looked in shock as Professor Dumbledore walked into the room. He looked back at them with his eyes twinkling. "It is nice to see you all together again."
Hermione was up and out of her seat, wrapping her arms around Dumbledore. Then she stepped back and started launching questions at the professor. After the first dozen rapid-fire questions, Dumbledore raised his hand to stop the flow. "Please just sit down. I will explain."
As Dumbledore sat in a chair that appeared for him, Ron looked at Harry. "You don't seem surprised, mate."
Harry smiled, "I was just a shocked as you when he appeared to me. Trust me, the ride is just beginning."
Professor Dumbledore started explaining to the other three about the Room of Requirement and all that Harry had learned about it in his previous visit. He spoke to them for an hour. This conversation was much longer because Hermione kept asking questions about how the magic worked and the spell theory behind it.
Hermione was asking another question about the theory behind tying the virtual Hogwarts model held within the Room with the actual building outside it, when a new voice interrupted. "I do not understand how someone with her brain ended up in your House!"
Another voice jovially asked, "My love, how can you say that?"
"Don't you call me that, Godric! You started saying that as a joke and a thousand years later wizards still whisper that we had a love child together! My reputation was ruined for all time!"
Another man's voice sighed, "You would think after all this time they would either let it go or kiss." Harry smirked at both recognition of the new voice and the similarity of the thought he had often had about Ron and Hermione in the past.
"I agree, dearie. But some people are too full of brains for common sense and others are simply too full of themselves!" a fourth voice added.
Ron, Ginny and Hermione looked around the Room for the sources of the new voices. Harry grinned watching them. He had not yet met Helga Hufflepuff or Rowena Ravenclaw, but he had heard stories about each from the two male Founders.
Harry stood up and his friends looked at him. In his best showman style, Harry said, "May I present the Hogwarts Founders, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and, of course, Salazar Slytherin."
The four Founders appeared standing next to each other in front of the fireplace when Harry mentioned their name, except for Slytherin who appeared next to Harry's chair. Harry's friends were stunned at the appearance of the four legendary witches and wizards.
Slytherin leaned down and hissed to Harry, You introduced me last like that on purpose. You really should have been in my House.
Harry hissed back, Blame Malfoy.
I do, the reply hissed back.
Gryffindor stepped forward from the three by the fire place and said, "I would like to be the first to greet you all. I am very proud to have the four of you in my House." He cast a sly glance back at Ravenclaw, "Even if some of my colleagues want to try poaching."
Helga Hufflepuff said, "I think you should look more towards Salazar for poaching. He really wants to steal Harry. Even your own Hat wanted to put him in Slytherin House."
Godric and Salazar started laughing at Helga's comment. After all, Harolde Potter had been one of Salazar Slytherin's favorite pupils until Slytherin started his campaign against Muggles and Muggle-born wizards.
Ginny glanced over at Harry and asked, "Harry, how long have you known about this?"
"I found out the same day Ron found Astus in my dorm room. In fact, I was meeting them for the first time when you ran in her to get me, Gin."
The Hogswarts Founders introduced themselves to the Gryffindor Four (at least to the other three members). Ron seemed shocked to see Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin laughing together as they traded barbs back and forth. Hermione and Rowena Ravenclaw launched into an immediate discussion about some charm theories that Harry lost after ten words.
Harry and Ginny soon settled into a nice conversation with Helga Hufflepuff, whom he had not met before. Harry soon realized she was just as sharp as Rowena Ravenclaw was reported to be, but it was hidden behind a cheerful, homey personality.
Eventually Dumbledore, Godric and Salazar joined Helga sitting with Harry and Ginny. Hermione and Rowena stayed apart to continue a conversation it was obvious both were enjoying immensely.
Salazar looked at Ginny and said, "I want to apologize for what you went through in my Chamber. It was not meant to be used in that fashion. Please don't associate that place with what Tom Riddle does."
Ginny had turned pale when the founder of Slytherin House started to address her. She relaxed a little but still held Harry's hand. "I guess I am just afraid of going back there and facing what I thought I put behind me." She glanced at Godric when she admitted her fear.
Godric chimed in, "Completely understandable, everyone fears something. You have a better reason then most to fear the events that occurred in that Room. If Harry had been five minutes later there would have been nothing he could have done. Riddle would have been reborn and you would have died."
This did not help the expression on Ginny's face.
Helga smacked Godric on the leg. "Godric, you still have no tact after a thousand years!" Then she reached over a placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "You fought his control for weeks. An untrained eleven year-old girl held out against his control when most adult wizards would have given over to him after the first couple of days. You fought. Have pride in that accomplishment. You did well child, even with all that it cost you."
Slytherin added, "I do share some of the blame for what happened. The madness that ruled the end of my life encouraged the madness the ruled Tom Riddle's life from the time he arrived here. The Bloody Baron (who was a student of mine and a good friend of your ancestor, Harry) told me of my blood heir as soon as he arrived. None of the Gaunts had attended Hogwarts in over three hundred years."
Salazar looked saddened by the memory. "I had hoped that he would turn out to be my redemption but that was not to be. His madness grew each year. There was nothing I could do to stop him or change him. He discovered my Chamber in his Sixth year. I could do nothing." This last was said in barely a whisper.
Helga took Salazar's hand. Then she looked at Harry. "I know the circumstances that led to you receiving that scar. I am sorry for that. But I also know how happy Salazar was when you arrived; both as a connection to his past through Harolde, and the transfer of the gifts of the Slytherin family. Salazar sees you as the true heir of his family."
Ginny leaned back in her chair. "Why do we have to go back into the Chamber?" she asked.
Salazar sighed. "It contained my personal library, potions lab and workroom. I also had quarters down there. A lot of my personal records and discoveries should still be there. Tom could not take most of it out when he was a student. That is why he wanted to come back as a teacher."
"Ginny, you don't have to go back down there," Harry said.
Ginny shook her head. "No, I have to put this behind me. Also it sounds like there is a lot of information that will help you and us survive this war. We need to know what is down there."
Harry stepped over to Ginny's chair and gave her a warm hug and then kissed her. "You are wonderful, Gin."
Ginny gave Harry a smile and asked, "So, when are we going to do this?"
Ron shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Let's do it now. Otherwise thinking about it will drive me spare all week."
Godric turned to Salazar and said, "I guess I win. It takes a lot of courage to go back down there."
Salazar smiled, "The game goes on. The courage was driven by the ambition and drive to succeed and triumph.
Helga sighed.
A/N: Thank you to all of my reviewers. I had a lot of nice comments from chapter 22. Most seemed to be awaiting Hermione's revenge on Ron for imitating her! LOL
To keep this story fresh I will be working on another story "Altered Destinies" at the same time. Please check it out!