Chapter 16

Wilted Flowers

"Sirius?" Ron repeated astounded that he had finally written to Harry.

Harry nodded looking at Ron, his smile growing wider by the moment.

"Well read it Harry!" Hermione said simply ecstatic. She and Ginny were jumping up and down out of anticipation.

"Okay, okay! I'll read it out loud," Harry stated and he looked down at the letter, beginning to read it.

Dear Prongs Jr.,
I have to apologize for not writing to you for so long. It is really my fault and I have really missed you while I have been gone.
The vacation is great. The view is wonderful and the people are pretty familiar to me. They say I might be able to see you in a month's time and if not then I would definitely see you when the jingle bells begin to ring or whenever you have a visit with the hogs.
Don't fear my safety for I am in the safest place in the country; as safe as those warts. I am learning a lot as well. Tell the carrot tops and the brains to keep you in line and vise versa. I miss you dearly and I'll be seeing you.
Treat that Ernst (otherwise known as professor Hund to you lot) well. Quite a man that one.

Love always,
Paddie

P.S. Tell the mini-carrot top to just plant one of you; we all know she wants to.

Harry looked up, his face red and looked at Ginny who was equally as red. Hermione and Ron were laughing to themselves at the two.

"Hey, mini-carrot top! PLANT ONE ON PRONGS JR!" Ron said as he burst out laughing. Hermione, who was still trying to contain herself, burst out laughing as well.

Ginny shot him daggers and was about to walk out of the room when Harry stopped her.

"Wait, there's one more p.s. on the bottom," Harry told her.

P.S.S. Tell brains and big carrot to stop snogging in the dark corners.

It was Ginny and Harry's turn to laugh. The look on Ron and Hermione's face was priceless. Ron was midway into falling to the floor laughing when he stopped laughing and his face fell. He then fell to the floor face first. Hermione who was also laughing stopped and turned so red, Harry and Ginny thought she was going to pop.

"How the hell did he know that?" Ron said still bewildered at Sirius' comment.

"I 'spose Professor Hund is a friend of his because he mentioned him. Remus could've easily have told him as well, he's in the order and probably has more ways of contacting with him than us," Harry said thoughtfully, still a bit put out that Sirius had mentioned how Ginny looked at him.

"Love his code with 'jingle bells' and 'hogs' and 'warts'," Ginny said laughing at his way of communicating.

"I love his code name though, Paddie. Would never have guessed," Ron said and everyone let out a loud chuckle.

"Well now that dinner is over maybe we should head down the kitchen's and get a bit of food," Harry suggested. Everyone agreed and walked happily out of the dormitory.

As the descended down the stairs, Harry realized he had forgotten to bring the parchment down. Ginny offered to get it for him and ran back to the dormitory door. She opened the door and walked in. She saw the parchment lying on the window box, ran to it, and picked it up. She gave a glance out the window and stopped.

Upon closer inspection Ginny saw that a beautiful red/orange cat was rushing around the lake. At first, Ginny thought it was Crookshanks but saw that Hermione's cat was sleeping soundly on one of her room mate's bed. She watched the cat disappear in to the darkness and pushed it out of her mind.

As Halloween approached, classes were slowly growing tougher and tougher. The day of Halloween which happened to be a Friday was not an easy day for the trio and Ginny. Every previous Halloween day and/or feast, something bad happened but this year they were expecting things from trolls to vampires.

Every Halloween Harry Potter had the worst of luck, and this year was no exception.

The morning of Halloween was as usual boring yet somewhat eventful. Charms was no exception. Professor Flitwick became frustrated with the students after Neville accidentally levitated him out the door. He came in huffing and puffing and assigned two rolls of parchment on the proper way to levitate a human being.

Transfiguration was the hardest lesson yet. McGonagall decided to let her sixth year class try and transfigure each other into an inanimate object. Harry and Hermione managed to successfully turn one another into a desk and a chair but Ron and Dean were not as lucky.

Dean was the first to try the spell on Ron. He managed to say the spell correctly but his wand movement faltered and caused Ron's right arm to turn into a book which fell off of his body and land on the floor with a thump. He was immediately sent to the hospital wing with Dean trailing behind holding his "books" behind him.

"Well, I have decided to have a bit of fun. We are going to duel," Professor Hund was smiling widely as he saw the student's reaction to his idea for the DADA lesson.

Most of their eyes widened and some went immediately to get a partner that they knew wouldn't beat them except for one person. Harry stood in the front of the class at his seat, with no partner.

"Sorry mate, I don't want to lose that badly," Ron said as he partnered with Hermione.
The former D.A. students partnered up with each other and nodded in recognition for what Ron had said. The other students merely partnered up with each other and didn't look at Harry knowing that they would lose even worse if the dueled the professor.

He chuckled and sent the desks flying to the other side of the classroom leaving plenty of room for dueling.

"Ahh, Mr. Potter. I see you are partner less. Well, that just leaves you and I, I suppose. Class you may begin!" Hund yelled and the class soon was filled with yells of hexes and various spells.

"Wand at the ready, Mr. Potter," Hund said putting his wand in front of him.

Harry nodded nervously and bowed, never letting his eyes leave the professor.

"IMPEDIMENTA!"

"STUPEFY!"

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

Spells and hexes were being thrown left and right between the professor and the Gryffindor student. All the other students had stopped what they were doing and watched the heated duel.

Harry, having a lot of experience with dueling was doing quite well against the adult wizard. Jumping and dodging spells, Hund was beginning to get tired. With one last attempt to win the duel, he used basic magic and achieved Harry's wand.

"Mr. Potter, wonderful du---, "Professor Hund began but was unable to finish.

"Accio wand," Harry said simply holding out his right hand hopefully. Amazingly enough, his wand came flying out of Hund's hand and into Harry's. He quickly called upon the professor's wand. He had won the duel.

The class was silent as the two stood in the front of the class, Harry shuffling his feet awkwardly and the professor looking at him confused. Ron and Hermione glanced at each other perplexed that Harry had used such magic. Other students had their mouths hanging open.

After a moment, the professor looked at Harry and smiled widely and began to clap. The other students caught on and clapped and whooped for Harry who was now blushing furiously.

Once the clapping ceased, the students desks were brought back to their original spots and everyone took their seats.

Harry who had dumbly chosen a seat at the front of the class, was now the center of attention, most of his fan club was watching him dreamily and the rest of the class was mesmerized that he had not only beaten a full-fledged wizard and professor but he had done wandless magic without even knowing.

"Amazing duels to all of you. Class is dismissed and I want twelve inches on the proper dueling stances and appropriate spells in which you use for them. Oh and Mr. Potter, a word," Professor Hund instructed before everyone began to file out with Harry waiting at the front at the teachers desk.

Hund watched as the class left, closed the door and took a seat at his desk.

"Look Professor, I'm really sorry. I mean… it was really an accident I even got your wand, please don't fail me or something," Harry pleaded. The professor chuckled lightly and shook his head.

"No, no. That was amazing dueling Mr. Potter. How do you react so fast?" the professor inquired his student. Harry's eyes darkened and he muttered,

"From experience."

Hund's eyes darkened as well and he nodded in understanding.

"Well, I think that if possible I would like to work on your wandless magic Mr. Potter. That is quite a talent you have there and I would like it to be more developed. It could become quite handy in the future. I will notify you if the headmaster agrees with me and I will give you extra lessons. Thank you and you are dismissed," the professor gave a dismissive hand and Harry walked out of the classroom quite surprised.

Harry saw images flying around his head of his early childhood. Dudley and his friends were teasing him for his glasses at age five. He was crying in his cupboard at age seven. He was being yelled at by his uncle for cooking his bacon incorrectly.

Suddenly the images stopped and Harry saw the eyes of Albus Dumbledore looking at him.

"Something distracting you Harry?" his headmaster asked him.

What was truthfully bothering Harry was Ginny. Ever since he had read that letter from Sirius he just couldn't stop thinking about her. Of course Harry had had feelings for the young red headed Weasley but he never felt that she felt the same way about him.

He is some ways loved her.

"I did wandless magic today. It's weird," Harry lied telling his headmaster.

"Ahh, I see. Well, Professor Hund spoke to me and explained what had happened in your Defense class today. It is a very interesting development Harry. It could come useful for you in your fight with Voldemort to be quite honest. I have given permission for him to teach you outside of class when it is convenient for you of course to learn such magic," Dumbledore explained to his young student.

Excitement shown in Harry's eyes at the prospect of learning more about wandless magic.

"How is it I can do wandless magic, professor?" Harry asked. Dumbledore's eyes grew dark for a moment then became brighter than before.

"It is to my knowledge that Voldemort has the ability of wandless magic. He passed it onto you through your connection or your scar. But something that I should not have over looked was your mother and father's ability with it," he told Harry.

"Your mother and father were both skilled with wandless magic. Your mother was a natural born wandless magic witch. Your father was taught most of his magic from your mother in their seventh year. After about a year and a half your father was almost as good as your mother was," Dumbledore continued.

Harry sat interested as Dumbledore told the story of his parent's talents.

"It was quite a feat as well. Not even Alastor can do such magic. Your parents were quite amazing in many ways Harry; know that," with that Dumbledore dismissed Harry and sent him away.

"TUCK IN!" Dumbledore bellowed to his hundreds of students. The Halloween feast had surprisingly gone quite well with no interruptions or problems.

"Well, this is going quite well Albus. Don't you agree," McGonagall asked as she sported a nice napkin in her collar.

Dumbledore smiled and agreed quickly before digging into his own food.

"Well, this is going quite well Harry. Don't you agree," Hermione asked Harry as she too sported a napkin her collar.

"Actually it is. I thought that someone would bust in screaming about someone trying to kill us or something. Guess this year is not that bad," Harry told her as he began to munch on the final piece of bread.

"I afrea wif Orry," Ron mumbled stuffing a record eight pieces of break into his large mouth.

"Ronald Weasley, chew that food with your mouth closed then speak," Hermione snapped.

Ron smiled his mouth still full with food and swallowed.

"I said I agree with Harry," Ron said simply before once again stuffing his mouth with more food.

Harry smiled as he watched his friends playfully push each other. Ron and Hermione were in love and for once they were all happy.
Before the happiness even began to wear in, the great oak doors of the Great hall swung open more and none other than Remus Lupin walked in holding a small piece of parchment.

Every student in the hall stopped and all but the Slytherin's acknowledged his presence. The other house's waved their hello but stopped as they saw his face. It was grave and concerned. He smiled a small smile before slowly descending down the hall. As he passed by Harry, he saw that his face was filled with fear.

"I'm sorry Harry," he thought.

He reached the staff table and went straight for Dumbledore.

He stood up and looked at Remus with his electric blue eyes.

"What is the matter, Remus?" he asked.

Remus did not answer. He merely stuck out the parchment and looked down at the table.

Dumbledore hesitantly opened it and read it quickly. As he looked up, he pushed his gaze passed Remus and met Harry's eyes. Harry's eyes were now more fearful than ever as he saw Dumbledore's eyes which were now filled with sadness.

"Continue everyone, please. Mr. Potter, if you may meet me in my office. Thank you," Dumbledore said before he walked out of the hall through the staff door. Harry quickly got up and ran out of the hall and to Dumbledore's office.

He was met by Remus who had obediently been standing outside the entrance waiting for Harry.

"Remus, what's the matter? What happened?" Harry asked quickly catching his breath.

Remus shook his head, said the password to Dumbledore's office (Lemon Drops), and walked up the stairs.

With a knock on the door, Harry and Remus entered to find Dumbledore sitting at his desk with a pre-made portkey in front of him and horribly angry look on his face.

He looked up and his facial expression changed quickly to a sorrowful expression.

"Harry, I just rec---," Harry cut off his elder headmaster.

"Please, just tell me what happened. I know something bad happened," Harry said desperately awaiting answers.

Dumbledore nodded and Harry and Remus sat down.

"Harry, your aunt, uncle, and cousin were attacked at their home only about twenty minutes ago. Voldemort and his death eaters managed to get into the house somehow and he killed your uncle and cousin instantly. He tortured your aunt and the order got there before she was killed. She's in St. Mungo's in bad condition. Here is a portkey. Go there now with Remus and see her," he said quickly activating the portkey. Harry and Remus were whisked off to the magic hospital and Harry immediately ran to the front desk.

"Petunia Dursley, I need her room number NOW," Harry said to the women. She looked at him for a moment before scanning the names on her list of patients.

"Petunia Dursley, room number 16, it says she has severe spell damage and is in intensive care," she said before answering a muggle telephone and began to chat with what seemed like a friend.

Harry looked at the paper and ran up the stairs to the correct floor. He ran down the hall to room 16 and was about to open the door when a doctor came out.

"Who are you?" the young doctor asked looking at Harry curiously.

"Harry Potter. My aunt is in this room and I wanted to see her," he said trying to look over his shoulder.

The man's eyes widened and his eyes flew to his infamous scar. Harry pulled his hair over his scar and looked at the man waiting for an answer.

Remus caught up and looked at the doctor to Harry.

"Well?" Remus said tapping his foot on the floor.

The man snapped out of his trance and looked Harry straight in the face.

"How is she?" Harry asked him.

"Mr. Potter. I'm sorry but your aunt just passed away ten minutes ago."