Of course everyone knows that drinking is bad. Don't do it. The characters will be drinking alcohol in this chapter, read on your own risk.
The End Or The Beginning?
The one when they are drunk.
Some things seemed so easy. Fighting bad wizard, repelling dementors, or even stunning a giant was one of those. Harry would never thought that meeting his parents, one of the things he dreamed of, was going to turn him into nervous wrack. He learned to believe himself strong and brave enough to face everything that world would throw at him. But seeing so many people he thought dead and hearing about others, even more dear to him, alive, that was taking a toll at him.
Since Dumbledore's death Harry had never had time to just rest and relax. He was in a constant battle, no matter if with Voldemort, the Order, his friends, or himself during his rigorous training.
He could never bring himself to loosen his paranoid vigilance. There was Voldemort, always and everywhere, he was haunting him in his dreams as well as during the walking time, running around, trying to destroy everything on his path to 'greatness'. The prophecy held true, …for neither can live while the other survives…, it was true for Harry, but it was also true for Voldemort.
But what about this world?
As Harry walked into the pub, two steps behind his godfather, the loud noise of people laughing and chatting animatedly hit him. There wasn't room to swing a kneazle, as Hagrid would said.
It was his first visit to the outside world, and the magic inside was just buzzing with positive feelings. These people were carefree and …happy. He sensed some darker traits, but nothing that would rise his suspicions. Harry was astonished, he couldn't remember the last time when he was around that many happy people. He decided that he would try very hard to relax that evening.
"Oj! Black! Potter! Over here!" Someone shouted from their left.
"Ryan!" Sirius shouted back. "What was that with the United. I've heard that Wood's tactic crushed you!"
The man, Ryan, scowled. Harry vaguely remembered the face but couldn't placed the burly man anywhere.
"Shut up! They got lucky. We'll get them next time." Some of his friends yelled in agreement.
"I wont complain. I've earned fifteen gallons, thanks to you." Sirius laughed.
"You're not drinking with us again, you bloody traitor." The man shouted.
Sirius just laughed and waved to the group and leaded Harry to the box near the bar.
"Polly, honey, How are you this beautiful evening? The usual for us, plus butterbeer and a bottle of Ogden's." Sirius flashed the waitress his most suggestive smile and wink at her. Harry noticed that the young, attractive women blushed prettily.
When the drinks and food was brought, Sirius waved his wand over their box and silenced the area. Harry automatically added his own security spells as well. The silence was welcomed with some relief.
"Can you bloody believe it, mate? No one have noticed that you're not James. Oh, this is going to be so great." Sirius rubbed his hands excitedly. He securitized Harry for a moment "You're obviously younger, and the glasses. We could put James in so much trouble. I mean, he would freak out."
"Err, I don't know if it would be a good idea." Harry said hesitantly. This was Sirius alright. Harry just didn't know how the man could dismiss the fact that Harry just came from another world and act as if they were old friends.
"You've got to be kidding me!" The look of horror that he gave him made Harry chuckle. "Look," he got serious, "I know that we should get to know each other better and all that, and we'll do that" he paused, "but I've learned to trust Lily's and Rose's judgment of characters and they seemed to accept you pretty quick. Lily would never left Rose with you if she didn't believe you. Besides, your story is so far fetched that it could only be true." He finished and started digging into his food.
Sirius had always treated him like a friend, sometimes forgetting that Harry wasn't James,. Harry remembered that it had irritated him often. But maybe, after all those years, it would be better that way. Harry had found the father figure, partly in Remus and Arthur, and partly in Aberforth during their travel and his training. He wasn't a kid anymore. Having a friend, who so blindly accepted him, gave Harry some comfort. He got the feeling that sooner or later he would have to face Riddle again. There always was some evil in the world, the balance would have to be kept.
But for now, Harry would try and make a life for himself. The chance he received shouldn't be taken lightly. He had a family, his friends were alive. So what if he would have to befriend with them again. He could start all over, without the strings of the prophecy.
"Okay, I'm listening," Harry said after awhile. "What did you have in mind?" He asked rising his eyebrow.
Sirius instantly looked up from his roast chicken, huge grin on his face. "I knew you had it in you. Lets eat, then we'll think of something huge."
Harry nodded and started digging himself. He was rather hungry himself. The food he found on the plate was one of his favorite, lamb chops, and it was delicious.
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"Oh, Merlin! Please, please tell me it's true." Sirius was almost rolling on the floor.
It had been few hours later, the food was eaten, butterbeer drunk and second Firewhisky almost finished.
They had decided that they would pull a prank on James later. Because Harry really didn't know much about that and didn't feel right to make a joke on his father. He didn't have a chance to know him yet. And Sirius had to many pranks in mind, he couldn't stop for long enough to concentrate on one in particular.
They were smashed by the time, really smashed. The crowd had thinned considerably in the pub but they didn't notice.
"Well, I didn't pay attention, I was trying to stay on a broom, but his robes went on fire." Harry said or rather slurred, laughing himself.
"I would kill to see that." Sirius said in a dreamy voice. "Snivellus on fire." He shook his head again. "She had really sneaked to the Professor's booth and put one of them on fire. Amazing."
"Yeah, and it was our first year."
If one could hear them, one would understand very little from what they were saying. But being drunk as they were they understood themselves perfectly, even if sometimes speaking about totally different things.
"I mean, I know Granger…"
"We became friends when I put my wand into the Troll's nose." Harry said happily.
"…she works… huh?" Sirius paused when what Harry was saying penetrated his clouded mind.
"I said I put my wand into the Troll's nose when we became friends." Harry stopped speaking confused. Then he chuckled when he realized what he just said. Sirius laughed with him even if he was laughing about entirely different thing.
"What I meant to say is," Harry paused with his finger raised, "err?" he trailed off.
"The Troll?"
"Ah, yes! I put my wand into his nose and Ron knocked him out cold with his club. Then we became friends with Hermione." Harry smiled happily at the thoughts.
"She is under Remus at the Ministry." Sirius said in a slurred voice. He laughed when he said 'under'. Harry, on the other hand, in spite of the alcohol froze. His face suddenly white, his hands started to shake. When Sirius noticed that Harry didn't laugh with him, he asked.
"What's the matter, mate?"
"She's dead. I was on her funeral." Harry said shaking his head.
"No she's not, I know her," Sirius was saying in bewilderment, "I tried to hit on her last year, but she didn't fell for me," he shook his head, but then steadied himself because it was to much movement. "She's as strict as McGonagall, I would never believe she could do something like that. Put Snivellus on fire." He laughed again.
"But…, but I saw her dead!" Harry exclaimed angrily.
"Whoa, mate. Come down." Sirius held his hands in the air. "No need to get angry," he paused for a moment, obviously in deep thought.
Suddenly he brightened "I know! We'll go and find her, and I'll prove to you that she's alive." He smiled proudly and took another swing from the bottle. His ears smoking after the shot. He gave the bottle to Harry.
He accepted the swing. The idea of finding Hermione applied very much to his drunken mind.
"Okay, lets go." He said standing up, only to slump down instantly, the world swirling fast.
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Hermione Granger had had a very tiring week. She had been summoned to the head of Magical Law Enforcement twice this week. Her boss, Remus Lupin, usually was dealing with that department, being as he had many friends there. But he was absent few days ago when they needed someone from Magical Beings Department and she was second in line, she had to respond.
The Aurors had caught some wandering Mountain Trolls, and of course, no one knew their language, and where they came from. As it turned out, the group was from a small tribe, in the Highlands of Scotland. And the dominating male was a son of the chief of the tribe. Which meant too many paperwork, for her liking.
Not that she minded, she liked her job very much.
It always annoyed her that Wizarding World was so much behind the Muggle World, when it came to culture and beliefs. She hated that Wizards allowed slavery. Fortunately, thanks to her project and approval of the Wizengamot; once a year, every house-elf would have to be asked if he or she wished to be release from the bond. The venture was expensive to finance and not too popular in the community, but she was very proud of it. At least one step had been made.
Currently it was around two in the morning, she was still sitting by the table in her kitchen. Few documents were scattered around the table. Hermione was finishing a report about the Trolls.
She had been living in Diagon Alley, in a flat, above a small second-hand bookshop, between Olivander's and second-hand robe shop. She had been living there for two years, since she took the position in the Ministry.
It was a two bedroom flat, with a bathroom and one kitchen-living room area. She absolutely loved her place. She didn't have a TV-set, the fireplace stood in the place where a TV would if it was a muggle apartment. However, she had a fridge in the kitchen and thanks to her Head of House, Professor Flitwick, she had what looked like muggle lights in the flat.
Flitwick had helped her to create specific charms to allow the lights run on magic. Because there was one thing about Hermione, that made her quite unique among her colleagues, she loved to learn and she absolutely loved to read. And as good as reading with a candle might sound, she felt it stupid to tire ones eyes unnecessary.
When one would enter her flat, he or she would think that it was a library albeit very homey one. She had books everywhere, on the shelves, on the table, even some were laying in neatly stashed
piles on the floor. She would give Mrs. Callie, who was the owner of the flat and the shop below, a run for her money, if she decided to sell her books. Not that it would ever happened.
The reason that Hermione was still working was not that she had to turn the report due tomorrow and not that she liked to sit at night and work. No, the reason was entirely different.
She looked at her hand. Hermione was engaged. Had been for a week. And tomorrow her fiancé would be back from Monaco, where he was attending a conference about International Magical Trading Standards.
Skylar Mitchel, her fiancé, was working for Department of International Magical Cooperation. He was three years older, fellow Ravenclaw. But she didn't have much contact with him during her school times. They met during one of the official Ministry banquets. It wasn't a love from the first sight, she was, however, fascinated with him. Skylar was a very intelligent man and it was his knowledge that attracted her more than anything else. He was a handsome man, not too tall but taller then she, with light brown hair and intelligent amber eyes.
He had similar eyes to Mr. Lupin's, she sighed somewhat sadly, but without that mischievous glint that Remus' sometimes held. Remus' eyes always became incredibly alive and adventurous when his two best friends came to visit him. James Potter and Sirius Black.
She shook her head smiling, when she thought about Mr. Black. Over a year ago, he had tried to get her to agree to go on a date with him. Of course she declined. His reputation was well known around the Ministry. Except deep down, she knew that she was very close to accepting his offer. His eyes held the most amount of that happy glint, she was so attracted to. She was sure that no matter if he would be faithful to her or not, he would easily make her laugh and feel attractive.
Oh, she loved Skylar, but when she was younger, she had always imagined that when she would fall in love, she would feel something similar when she felt when she was thinking about some rare books she just bought. Her relationship lacked excitement and… passion, that some other couples seemed to share.
Even if her life wasn't exiting, her imagination had always portrayed her with someone who would always know how to keep her spirits high, make her laugh and be her knight in the shiny armor. She was always a little jealous of some other couples. She remembered Mrs. Potter, a professor of her favorite subject, back in Hogwarts. Sometimes she saw her and Mr. Potter, joking around each other.
She remembered wondering what would happened if she would end up in a different, more adventurous House, mainly Gryffindor. How would her life looked like. The Sorting Hat considered putting her there but decided against it. Hermione was almost sure that she had figured it out why. It was because of that Malfoy. He was laughing at her on the train. He was laughing that she was stupid, because she was muggleborn, well he called her differently. He made her a little afraid that every wizard was like him, and that in fact, she was far behind others in her study.
But that was her life. She didn't have too many friends, and a reasonable thing to do, was to agree to a proposal of a man, she thought, she could have endless conversations with, in every subjects.
But Hermione knew that she wanted something more. Despite that she agreed, she still wasn't sure. She felt that something was missing from her life.
And when Skylar would return she wanted to talk to him about that. Thankfully, they didn't inform her parents by then. She was truly considering asking him to wait a little longer. But what could happened that would change her life? She rarely went anywhere and met knew people. She was sure that until someone knocked on her door and turn around her life, nothing would change.
And then, just when Hermione Granger decided to go to bed and catch some sleep before work…
KNOCK
KNOCK
KNOCK.
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AN:
WOW so many Reviews for last chapter.
And Thank you all for your Reviews.
Ryan, Barry - Keeper for the Irish National Side Made a spectacular save against Poland's top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski in 1995 (JKR). Currently coach of Montrose Magpies (ME).
Okay, this chapter just came out of blue, I really had something different planned. But well, it is what it is.
I am eagerly awaiting your REVIEWS. I need to know what you think about it. I mean it – REVIEW.
It is 4:20 in the morning now and I need some sleep.
To 'The Dot' – Sorry you sometimes look so different that it is easy to think that there are more then one. Thanks for Reviewing. You can call your friends, the other 'dots' to Review as well.
hit0- - I think they will find out eventually. You just have to wait and read. Thanks for your Reviews. Really, really thanks.
CANADIAN-COOLIO – Ow…, come on, give Harry a break. He just came from totally different world, he thought he was going to die. I will let him meet some of his friends first, I think. But the action will be there, don't worry. Thanks for Reviewing. I am awaiting for your response to this chapter.
Jinxeh – I am sorry to say but Harry's Sirius is dead. Yes, he died falling through the veil. And why Harry is where he is, will be explained, you can be sure of that. I already know, but it is later in the story so you would have to wait to read it. Thanks for Reviews. I hope to see more.
Szihuoko – Welcome Singapore! Great to have you on board.
Anave Lipad – I have no idea how many, the chapters are rather short so there will be some. To answer your second question I will quote "all that magic must not go to waste". Stay and Review this chapter as well. Thanks.
danix – I'm sorry, you were saying? Thanks and remind me again.
Bluie Twilight Star – I think he doesn't want to be singled out again. He is a little afraid. He lost so many friends and he still doesn't know if this Riddle made any Hocrcux at all. And if he told about prophecy then he would have to explain about them. And this is rather obscure Dark Magic… you see where I'm heading. Great thanks for Reviewing. Keep it up.
Althea – Sure.
Chez – We'll see. I believe that eventually he will have to, or maybe…. Thanks for Review. Leave another one.
Shadylion – Thank you. I will, of course, try. Review again.
Huge Thank You to all of you. Keep Reviewing it really helps.
Chapter 9 - Boohoo; Gemini ice 39; elizabeth; Kid Death; rayvern; Maygie07; KTskywalker; Panther28; Shadylion; gaul1; Padfoot Reincarnated; haro-chan; Shadowed Rains; EmeraldEyed;
Emmelz; Dumbledore; Joanna Potter; Chez; Althea; Bluie Twilight Star; danix; Anave Lipad; Szihuoko; Annie Evans; Matroushka; sparkley-tangerine; gohan8k; CrimsonReality; .; anonomous; Jinxeh; CANADIAN-COOLIO; japanese-jew; Chris Halliwell; Inu-Angel Z; william488; hit0-;
Am I abusing the word Review? What do you think? Leave a Review and tell me.