Chapter 2
"Well, come on! Let's get you settled in!" Ron said while leading Harry up the stairs to his room. He usually shared his room with Harry when the latter would come over for the remainder of the holidays. They entered the simple but comfortable room where Harry began unpacking his trunk. "I will finally be able to complete my homework well in advance for the coming year!" Harry exclaimed happily. Contrary to what the teachers believed, Harry was a very intelligent and hardworking boy. However, his nasty relatives always had his trunk locked away in the cupboard under the stairs. Since he was an underage student, he could not use magick to open the lock and hence he always ended up doing all his homework on the train ride to Hogwarts. This was why he always got abysmal grades.
Just then two Ministry owls flew through the window and deposited letters to the teens. "Looks like the OWLS results are here", Ron said while eyeing the letter in his hands with apprehension. 'Oh Merlin! What results have I got? Have I passed in Potions?', Ron thought nervously as he opened the sealed envelope.
ORDINARY WIZARDRY LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeding Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)
RONALD WEASLEY HAS ACHIEVED
Astronomy: A
Care of Magickal Creatures: E
Charms: O
Defence Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: O
Herbology: E
History of Magick: E
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O
Ron could not believe his eyes! He had scored very good grades and his parents would be very proud of him! 'I hope that Severus will also be proud of me', Ron though excitedly. 'What the heck???!!!!', he thought when he realized what had just gone through his crazy brain. 'What's wrong with me?? I've never had such thoughts before?? Could it be because of the change which will happen soon?' Harry was also in a state of shock as he too obtained very good results.
ORDINARY WIZARDRY LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeding Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)
HAROLD JAMES POTTER ACHIEVED
Astronomy: O
Care of Magickal Creatures: O
Charms: O
Defence Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: O
Herbology: O
History of Magick: E
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O
'Oh how I wish mum and dad were here with me!' Harry thought with tears in eyes. "Hey mate! You won't believe it! Look at my results! And what about yours Harry, what did you score?" Ron who had been staring at his results had not noticed that Harry was crying. Just then he lifted his head and saw how upset his best friend was. "Harry…?" he asked gently. "Surely your results are not that bad." Ron said gently, thinking that Harry was crying because of poor grades. "No Ron, I got very good results. It's just… well.. my parents are not here to share this moment with me. " Harry whispered sadly. "Harry, mate, you know my parents love you like their own son and to us you are a brother. I know it's not the same as having your parents with you, but you still have a family." Ron said in a comforting manner. Harry looked Ron in the eye and saw that he meant every word. "Thanks Ron, it means a lot me."
Just then they heard a commotion downstairs. Both boys rushed to the source of the noise and what they saw made them stop dead in their tracks. Lying in a pool of blood was none other than Professor Snape who was the Potions Master at Hogwarts. "Fred, George! Get the Medi – Wizard kit from the bathroom! Ginny, you firecall Bill and Charlie and ask them to come home immediately! Severus has been severely burnt and I also suspect that some nasty curses were used on him. Ron you use the Communicating Stone to inform Professor Dumbledore of the situation!" Molly Weasley barked out instructions to everyone while trying to tend to Snape's wounds. Ron nodded numbly and went to the living room to retrieve the said stone from the mantelpiece.
While Ron went to inform Dumbledore, Molly turned to Harry and said "Harry dear, please help me patch up Severus. I won't be able to do it alone." Harry just nodded and silently worked under Mrs. Weasley's supervision, following her every instruction. Meanwhile, Ron had finished reporting the incident to Dumbledore and returned to the kitchen. "Mum, the Headmaster will be here shortly. He is gathering a few of the Order Members and they will be coming through the floo." Ron told his mum in a flat voice. "I guess he will want a full report of how this situation came about." Molly just nodded and kept on fixing up Severus' wounds.
As for Harry, he had noticed something odd with Ron but had just brushed it off thinking that it was because Ron was going to come into his inheritance soon. But when they had seen Snape injured, he had noticed that Ron had gone deathly pale and there was a strange fire burning in his eyes. 'Well, I will just have to ask Ron what's wrong.' Harry thought.
To be continued……
Author's notes:
Dear friends, I'm really sorry I haven't been able to update this story since the beginning of this year, but I hope that this will change now. I'm having my last exam at the University on the 13th June and after this I'll be free to write as much as I want. I will be uploading the next chapter next Monday, that is, on the 18th June. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please send me your reviews as they are always welcomed.