DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: Once again, any deviations from Quidditch Through the Ages are due to not having the book and are also intentional to an extent… Things will pick up in pace starting next chapter…maybe.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: LEARNING TO FLY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
Harry thought about the day before as he showered. The Potions lesson had been a bit of a surprise as he expected Snape to be on the offensive. Snape, apparently, had different plans and had ignored Harry the whole lesson, if you could call it a lesson. Snape had them make two potions, directions were on the board and that was it. There was no lecture, no explanation and no assistance whatsoever. The only time Snape left his desk was when time expired and that was to check on the potions. The Club members' potions (not surprisingly) passed, although it was clear Snape was hoping for failures. Sally-Anne and Blaise Zabini also passed. Then again, they partnered with Club members even if Zabini still did not know just what that meant.
The remaining Slytherins did not do as well as a group. Parkinson passed both her potions, but she apparently had bothered to read the assignment before class. Malfoy and his goons seemed to be of the opinion that reading was for lesser morals and paid the price with failing marks. There were no points deducted or detentions awarded, but it was clear who the new "victims" of Snape's wrath were and it was not Harry. He could not help but smile as Snape "suggested" that Malfoy might not be related to his parents by blood. Malfoy, in turn, blamed his partner which earned a further rebuke from Snape that was a snide insult to others as Snape suggested that if a Muggle Born could make a passable potion, a Pureblood such as Malfoy had no excuse.
Having heard "horror" stories about Snape for years, Harry had to admit it was a "nice" lesson. He was not holding his breath however. He knew sooner or later the real Snape would return and Harry would be the target. Still it was a "relaxing" day. Ron Weasley was in heaven. It was obvious by now he hated Malfoy with a passion and anytime Malfoy went down, Ron was happy. Harry wondered why and had asked later that day. It seems that aside from being an arrogant idiot whose scariest threat was telling his father, Malfoy had said some mean things to and about Millie Bulstrode.
With thoughts of Malfoy becoming a social pariah dancing in his head, Harry walked down to the Common Room to meet the others for breakfast and arrived just in time for a scene.
"What the blue blazes is this Wood?" a high pitched voice bellowed. Harry saw a young boy glaring at Oliver Wood next to the notice board. Harry did not know the boy's name. He was still learning the names of his fellow House members, at least those who had not been in the Club. The boy had to be a Second Year, or a pint sized Third Year. Aside from that, Harry had no idea who he was or why he was yelling at Wood, although the later was about to be revealed.
"You lost a Chaser and Seeker from last year's team and you're only holding tryouts for Chaser?"
Wood nodded and said something.
"Who'd you move to Seeker? Why aren't there two positions open?" There was another pause as it seemed Wood was saying something. "What a load of rubbish! How could you have seen anyone else play? You haven't seen me! I demand you let me try for Seeker!" The answer clearly did not satisfy the boy and he stormed out of the Common Room.
Harry walked up to Oliver. "What was that all about?" he asked the Fifth Year Quidditch Captain / Club Member.
"Cormac McLaggen," Wood said. "Second Year little snot. Thinks 'cause he can sit a broom he deserves to be on the team."
"That kid thinks the world was created for him," another voice said. Harry turned and saw it was one of the Twins. "Was a berk even as a First Year."
"Which is rather impressive," the first replied.
"But not in a good way."
"Not Club material."
"Not that anyone would have him."
"Even the Second Years don't like him much."
"Please don't tell us you're letting him try out Wood," the second Twin said.
"No choice," Wood shrugged. "He's not banned and can stay on a broom. However, if that little snot thinks he has any hope of making the team … I wouldn't care if he's the next Misha Prokolov, he won't play while I'm Captain." Wood smiled and then left for Breakfast.
"Misha Prokolov?" Harry asked.
"Played for Kiev a while back," Ron Weasley said, apparently having joined the group. "Came up as a Chaser, but played every position on the team at one point in his career. And he was world class at every position. Said to be the best all around player ever."
"Is there anything about Quidditch you don't know little bro?" one of the twins asked.
"I'm sure there is," Ron shrugged. "But it probably isn't that important."
"Little brat's memorized Quidditch Through The Ages," the other twin said to Harry.
"How do you think I finally learned to read?" Ron said with a smile.
"So who has Wood pinned for Seeker?" one of the Twins asked.
"Who do you think?" Ron replied looking at Harry. "Best seeker in Juniors two years running."
"He mentioned something like that," Harry admitted. "Still, there's the little fact about First Years not playing for their House Teams."
"After the pasting we took last year against Slytherin," one of the twins said, "McGonagall would do anything. It's up to her, really."
"There's something else," Harry said softly.
All three Weasley's raised their eyebrows.
"There's a chance W.I.S.E. League Seniors are going public."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"I mean Seniors will play on the school pitches, not at Camp."
"Wicked!" the Twins said in unison.
"So you're trying for that if it happens?" Ron asked.
"Trying regardless," Harry said. "Seniors need a decent Seeker, no offense to Tamara. But if we play publically, I'd probably pass on House Quidditch, assuming I made the school team of course."
"Like that's not going to happen oh Commissioner," one of the twins said.
"I'm not using that to…" Harry began to protest.
"Relax, Harry," the other said. "We all know you're the best we got. But you'd really pass on the House team then?"
"Wouldn't you?" Ron said. "I mean assuming you had to choose one? W.I.S.E League plays against the best in the country! I'd play third reserve for them in a heartbeat even if it meant no House play."
"Why would you have to choose?" the other twin asked.
"If it happens," Harry said, "McGonagall will set the try-out rules. True, W.I.S.E. League will be restricted to the Club, but over half of the House players are already in it. She would probably say that you have to choose. Makes sense. Given how many play on W.I.S.E. League teams, more people would be playing and it would allow non-Club members some opportunity. Otherwise, we'd probably take over."
"And if she doesn't make you choose between one or the other?" the first twin asked.
Harry shrugged. "Might do both. I mean, it's not as if any of us need to study." He also knew it was at an intra-house match where Quirrell made the attempt in the other timeline. "It's up to McGonagall, really."
"Or she might leave it up to the Heads of House," the other twin noted. "Let's hope Gryffindors can do both. Otherwise that annoying pompous git McLaggen would probably get to play."
"Too true, George."
"But it would mean more Quidditch," Ron said with excitement.
"Nothing more important than Quidditch, is there?" Fred asked.
"Sure there is," Ron said. "And food tops the list! See you guys!" Ron replied before practically running from the Common Room.
"We'd better get down to Breakfast quick," George began.
"Lest our little bro eat everything in sight," Fred finished.
"One of these days I'll be able to tell you two apart without name tags," Harry chuckled.
"When that day happens," Fred said.
"You'll join Ginny as the only one," George added.
"Even our parents have trouble."
"Although it should be easy enough," George said with a grin at Fred.
"Everyone knows I'm the good looking one," the two brothers said in unison.
The afternoon following Charms found Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors heading out to the Quidditch Pitch. This was to be their first scheduled "flying lesson," although they all knew it was more an evaluation as to who needed basic lessons and who did not. Harry, Ron and Clarice knew they probably did not. After all, they both had played in Juniors. Hermione and Neville were also fair flyers, although neither of them had any real interest in Quidditch, at least as players. Lavender, Seamus and Luna had also flown before but at least the two girls admitted they could probably use the practice. Dean had as well at the Club, but knew he needed work. Sally-Anne and Parvati had never flown before. Sally-Anne, of course, had never even known that she could and Parvati never had any interest in flying. Brooms were not a part of the mandatory Watanabe School's course offerings, although one could take lessons at the expense of something else.
Harry had hoped it would just be Gryffindors in the class but knew the schedules for the First Years precluded each House having lessons on their own. He was somewhat disappointed to see they were with the Slytherins. He had no problems with Slytherins in general, something his Godfather and Remus would probably be shocked to learn. Then again, he had a fair few friends in that House from the Club. It was the non-Club Slytherins who fit the mold his parents' generation would remember and who made class with that House less pleasant than it should have been.
As they reached the pitch, they saw the Slytherins were already there and Malfoy was apparently regaling them with fanciful stories about his prowess on the broom. Harry gathered that from the looks Daphne Greengrass and Theo Nott were giving the prat, Malfoy's flying skills were more a matter of creative story telling. Daphne was a fair flyer herself and Theo had alternated at Keeper with Ron in Juniors last season.
There was an older witch who walked onto the pitch carrying a broom. Several other brooms were laid out upon the grass in two rows and the witch stood between the rows.
"I'm Madam Hooch," she announced to the whole group once she had most of their attention. "Welcome to your first flying lesson. Right! Line up with the broom to your right. Gryffindors to my right and Slytherins to my left. Hurry up then!"
"Why?" a voice asked.
"Excuse me?" Madam Hooch looked and saw Tracy Davis had asked the question.
"Why do we have to line up by Houses?" she asked.
"That's just the way it's done," Madam Hooch replied seemingly stunned by the question. "Besides, it is well known Slytherins and Gryffindors don't get along."
"Big surprise," Malfoy said. "Slytherins would never sully themselves with such filth."
"Don't you include us," Millie growled.
"The lot of you are an embarrassment," Malfoy said. "In my father's day, no Slytherin would sink to being friends with a Gryffindor! It's unnatural!"
"Speak for yourself," Millie said. "You don't speak for us!"
"And I wouldn't speak for you Half Breed!"
"That's ten points, Mr. Malfoy," Madam Hooch said. "I will not tolerate such aspersions in my class! And that is why Slytherins and Gryffindors can't get along," she added as if it was a natural law.
"Rubbish," Ron Weasley said. "I have good friends in Slytherin!"
"Who Weasel?" Malfoy said. "They should know better than to be friends with you, useless Blood Traitor…"
"Ten points, Mr. Malfoy," Madam Hooch began.
"Stuff it Blondie," Tracy said, "or do Daphne and I need to teach you another lesson?"
"Daphne?" a few Gryffindors asked.
"Well, letting Theo have a go at pretty boy would be no contest and Millie would be too cruel," Tracy said.
"Squealed like a little girl he did," Daphne said quietly, "for lack of a better expression." The few who heard her giggled.
"It's not Slytherins," Ron said. "I do have a problem with useless gits, though."
"Watch who you're calling a useless git," Malfoy started.
"I didn't mean you, Blondie," Ron sneered. "Calling you a useless git would be insulting to useless gits!"
"The name's Malfoy!"
Madam Hooch stood there in shock as her class seemed to spiral out of control.
"Malfunction more like," Ron said.
"Which was how his Mum explained how he came to be," Daphne said in a low voice. It earned a laugh from those who heard.
"What's so funny?" Malfoy asked.
"I don't know, Malfunction," Daphne said. "Could it be hearing tough guy talk from the boy who spends more time primping himself in the mirror than all the girls in Hogwarts combined?"
Madam Hooch watched the whole thing in stunned silence. She had never seen Gryffindors stick up for any Slytherin; much less the Snakes and Lions gang up on another Snake. She was, quite frankly, dumbfounded and still was in shock when Crabbe ran at Daphne. Whatever he intended, he did not get the desired result. He was met with a stunning flurry of fists and feet and was on the ground in a heap before Madam Hooch could even think of regaining control.
Madam Hooch walked over and quickly examined the boy.
"Did you have to break his nose?" she asked Daphne.
"It seems that lesser force hasn't taught him his lesson," Daphne said with a shrug.
"I'm afraid to ask," Hooch said softly. "Still, we cannot have fighting. Ten points from Slytherin from Mr. Malfoy for starting this mess."
"Me?" Malfoy protested. "It was the Weasel!"
"Another ten for contradicting a teacher and ten from Crabbe for physical aggression!"
She helped Crabbe to his feet. "I am taking Mr. Crabbe to the Hospital Wing. You are to remain here with your feet on the ground or so help me you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say Quidditch." She turned and walked off the pitch with Crabbe in tow.
Malfoy turned on Goyle. "Why'd you just stand there?"
Goyle shrugged. "Don't fight girls an' don't like hospitals."
"You're pathetic!"
Goyle shrugged again and then did his best to ignore Malfoy altogether.
Malfoy looked at the others in shock, and then seemed to regain control of himself if only for a moment. "Well," he said smugly, "you losers can stay here on the ground, but I need some practice so I can flatten Gryffindors at Quidditch." He picked up his broom and then seemed to spy something. Before anyone could stop him, he walked over to Sally-Anne and ripped her necklace from her neck, causing her to fall to the ground as he mounted his broom and took off before anyone could stop him. Parvati knelt beside Sally-Anne who was crying.
"Give that back, Malfoy," Harry said with anger in his voice.
"Let the little Mudblood come and get it. I'll make it easy for the bint and leave it in a tree somewhere," Malfoy said with a smile.
Harry was on his broom in a moment flying at Malfoy who was too surprised to do anything. At first Harry did not realize he was not alone. He saw Malfoy's expression and turned to see that Ron, Neville, Seamus, Hermione Clarice and Luna were with him. "Give it back!" Harry growled realizing Malfoy was in no position to fly off. To his surprise, the git smiled.
"Glad so see where your loyalties lie," Malfoy said with a triumphant sneer.
Harry turned and saw his band of Gryffindors were not the only ones who mounted up and few into the air. There were five other Slytherins with them: the four Club Members and Blaise Zabini.
"Don't fool yourself, Malfunction," Zabini said. "Now be a nice boy and give back whatever it was you took from Perks."
"Or else what?"
"If the Gryffs don't knock you off that broom, we will," Nott said.
"Like to see you try. Think I'll dump the Mudblood's precious chain in the lake. Not that you worthless lot can do anything! Back in the day, people like you lot were killed for kicks! It's a pity we can't put you out of your misery anymore. Not that it matters! You'll never catch me. I've been flying since before…" Malfoy never finished the sentence. He had let go of his broom handle and his eyes flew open wide as the broom began to roll over. He made a grab for the handle and missed with a high pitched scream as he fell thirty feet to the ground below.
"Told you he squeals like a girl," Daphne said with no remorse in her voice. "Damn!"
"What?" a few voices asked.
"He's still moving. I guess dying was too much to hope for."
"Remind me not to piss you off," Seamus said as the group slowly landed.
The group was on the ground and Sally-Anne had her necklace back before any adults arrived. Malfoy was still crumpled in a head on the ground once Clarice had determined his injuries were not life threatening.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked looking at the students milling about and Malfoy writhing on the ground some distance away. "What happened to him? Where's Madam Hooch?"
"Madam Hooch had to take Crabbe to the hospital wing, Professor," Hermione said.
"And what happened to Mr. Crabbe?"
"He walked into Daphne's hands and feet," Theo said. "It didn't go well for him."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow, but decided she would ask the instructor about that. "And Mr. Malfoy?"
"Wonder Boy decided to show us all he knew about flying," Daphne said. "It seems all he knew was how to fall off a broom."
"Fall off?" McGonagall asked. First Years did seem to suffer a fair few falls during flying lessons, especially the children who did not listen.
"He let go of the broom," Tracy said. "Showing off, I suppose."
McGonagall nodded. "Had he bothered to wait for Madam Hooch, he might have known better," McGonagall said. "Some of the school brooms have … quirks. They are flaws that show themselves when you let go which is why they are no longer used for Quidditch."
"You teach on defective brooms?" Hermione asked.
"They are fine if the student does not let go," McGonagall said. "Unless you are playing Quidditch, you really have no reason not to have one hand on the broom at all times. And where was Madam Hooch?"
"Hospital Wing," Parvati said. "After Crabbe's close encounter, she told us to stay on the ground and wait for her. Malfoy had other plans, apparently."
McGonagall looked at the non Club Slytherins suspecting there was more going on than met the eye. They simply nodded in agreement.
"Professor McGonagall?" a voice asked. Madam Hooch had returned.
"I hear there was an incident," Minerva said.
"Named Malfoy," Hooch nodded. "He was being insulting and disruptive and most of the other students were not standing for it. After one verbal exchange, Crabbe said Malfoy told him to attack Miss Greengrass for being disrespectful to him. The girl broke his nose."
"And you made it clear that these children were to remain on the ground?"
"I did indeed. Where is Mr. Malfoy?"
McGonagall pointed. "It would seem he decided he did not need supervised instruction. It would also seem he was mistaken in that assumption. I'll take him to Poppy. You may continue."
"Yes Headmistress," Madam Hooch said.
The rest of the lesson passed without incident.
Unfortunately, when the lesson finally let out, the entire group was met by both Professors McGonagall and Snape. They seemed very interested in what had transpired and it was clear Snape was in a particularly foul mood. Snape's mood did not improve when the students were questioned. The students were all in agreement that Malfoy had begun the class by insulting Gryffindors. When some of his Housemates stood against him and tried to tell him off, he apparently set Crabbe on Daphne, to Crabbe's unfortunate injury. After Hooch left for the Hospital Wing, Malfoy had disobeyed Hooch and the result was his falling from his broom. No one disagreed with the story, although there were three Slytherins who said little about what happened after Hooch left. The children were dismissed without further action.
"Well?" McGonagall asked.
"Well what?" Snape growled.
"Severus, much as I disapprove of it, I do know you are a legilimens and quite capable of passive legilimency. I also understand that with time one probably cannot help but use that – er – talent. Were they lying?"
"It's not that exact an art," Snape said, "not without actually invading their thoughts which cannot be done passively. I can sense deception, evasion as well as occlumency or memory blocks, but cannot say with absolute certainty that any particular statement is a lie. If you, for example, were asked a direct question and answered it truthfully but had something unrelated that you were hoping to keep secret, I might detect deception. Likewise, were you to tell a half truth, one which answered the question truthfully but which did not volunteer additional information – the full story as it were – that can come across as not deceptive depending upon the individual. I find the skill of marginal use in this environment as almost every student has something to hide, even if they are not asked about it, particularly if I am not afforded the opportunity to interrogate the … witness … in private."
"Your impressions anyway?"
"In regards to what happened to Mr. Crabbe, it did not take legilimency to know that Malfoy and Crabbe were lying. The story the rest told was too consistent to be a lie, unless the lot of them were under some sort of memory charm, and I detected nothing of the sort. I sensed no abnormal degree of deception from the others. The other two? Let's just say they need to work on occlumency.
"As for Mr. Malfoy's injury, it was also clear he was lying. The story we heard from the others was most likely incomplete, but at least partially true. I sensed deception from some, but not from most despite the consistency of the stories. That could be put down to nerves, for the other option, undetectable occlumency, while theoretical, is both rare and well beyond the ability of any so young. I do note Mr. Goyle, Miss Parkinson and Miss Runcorn were silent during that questioning suggesting there was more that had happened."
"Sounds like guesswork," McGonagall noted.
"Passive legilimency can near that," Snape nodded. "A clear lie can be detected. But the truth spoken by one without a clear conscience for whatever reason will register as deceptive.
"Let's say for the sake of argument that the objective truth was that Mr. Malfoy was not the only student who left the ground and the presence of other students contributed in some way to the fall. Under such circumstances, the story the others gave me was true, but incomplete. I would sense deception. But, as I said, let's say that the story the students gave was the objective truth but the students were hiding other facts, such as missed homework assignments, feelings or other things. I would sense deception even though they were telling the truth about what happened here.
"But, one need not be skilled at legilimency to see that Malfoy lied. He told me that after Madam Hooch left the rest of the class, or at least most of them, beat him up for no reason. Now, Mr. Malfoy was found some thirty yards away from the other students. His broom was found near him, as if it had settled following the fall of the rider and Madam Pomfrey said his injuries were similar to what she deals with every year following Quidditch matches and not the results of a physical altercation. What the rest of the class told us might not be the truth, but it is far closer to the truth than the complaints of Mr. Malfoy."
"I sense there's more," McGonagall said.
"Things have changed," Snape said.
"Oh?"
"A few years ago, Mr. Malfoy's behavior, while extreme for a First Year less than two weeks into his Hogwarts career, would not have been beyond the pale for some Slytherins. There are, in fact, students here who can remember such times here. What has changed is that the other houses, particularly the younger students, seem far less tolerant – for lack of a better word – than they were before. Moreover, such attitudes have certainly created a rift within my House. Before, Mr. Malfoy's … attitude … was the vocal attitude attributed to Slytherins and the rest of the House either supported it or said nothing.
"Now, such an attitude is likely to provoke … a response … not just from other Houses but from within the House itself. Whereas not five years ago, pride in the old, traditional, Pureblood ways was a part of Slytherin, with the younger students it seems to have become at best an embarrassment and at worst a "kick me" sign pinned to the student who voices such opinions. Moreover, while once we stood alone, my younger charges are unabashedly integrated within the school at large.
"Moreover, in the last few years, the attitude of the rest of the school towards my House has been changing. Before, Gryffindors hated Slytherins on principal and the other Houses chose to ignore Slytherins or backed Gryffindor. Now, the younger students do not see Houses as lines which are not to be crossed. Gryffindors might be more … vocal … in their opposition to the old attitude typified by some in my House, but that is not held against the others. Quite the opposite as today's events seem to suggest. It would seem that the First Year Gryffindors and many of my First Year Slytherins stood as one against Malfoy and those who seemed to be in league with him."
Minerva could not help but smile. "To what do you attribute this change, Severus?"
"There has been but one change in the last few years," he replied. "I would note that the lines that appear to have been drawn today reflect that. This was not a Slytherin – Gryffindor confrontation of years past. It was your Club against those who likely would oppose your Club. You did say when you chose to sponsor this organization that it was dedicated to a greater sense of community through interaction between the schools in areas such as athletics, academics, and other positive social interactions?"
Minerva nodded.
"And that it was not open to all per se, but to all who could accept others without regard to their school, family, wealth or station?"
She nodded again.
"Do those things they wear on their collars have more significance than just their membership?"
Minerva nodded. "In a manner of speaking, they denote longevity and recognized accomplishments within the Club."
"And I can assume that Mr. Potter is rather accomplished by Club standards?"
"He's not the only one, but yes. He is one of our longest tenured members from Hogwarts."
"Despite being a mere First Year?"
"The Club accepts magical children as young as age six, Severus. Mr. Potter … joined … at age eight, not long after that tragic incident…"
"He too, is not what I expected."
"And what did you expect?"
"His … unusual … abilities at potions aside, I expected the son of James Potter. The only thing I see of the father in the boy is the uncanny, and for me somewhat unnerving, outward appearance. The boy, however, is not his father's son. I have seen none of his father's arrogance, vindictiveness, pettiness, cruelty or vanity. There are many at this school who would crave the fame Mr. Potter enjoys, and yet were you not aware that he is perhaps one of the most famous persons in our world today, you would not know it. It is as if he either does not know of his stature, or cares not a whit for it. Unusual. Even given his alleged history at the hands of those … Muggles … I would have expected something different."
"Indeed," McGonagall nodded. "I find him a bright, engaging and generous young man. Do I sense you may be developing a modicum of respect for the young man?"
Snape shook his head. "All other factors aside, he was still a pawn, wittingly or no, in one of Black's schemes. I loathe and detest Black and harbor little respect for his minions. That being said, I see no reason to single Potter out at this time."
"I am pleased to hear that."
"That is not to say I do not reserve the right to change my … attitude … in the future."
"I am sorry to hear that."
Snape nodded. "I had entered this year in the hopes that Mr. Malfoy would be my House answer to your Potter. A foil, if you will. Alas, he has caused more trouble these first two weeks than the rest of my House combined. One would have thought he would have some sense. Whatever you might think about his father, you would have to admit the man knows how to keep a low profile and accomplish what he seeks to accomplish when he chose to."
"Lucius is slippery and cunning," McGonagall nodded. "Dangerous as a result."
Snape nodded. "Unfortunately, his son inherited none of his skills and seemingly all of his vices. I would recommend his transfer, although I do not think the lad would survive in any other school. He needs to learn when to open his mouth and when to keep silent. He also needs to learn how to observe the situation around him. Waiving a red flag when surrounded by bulls is not the path to a long life."
"And I was certain you would stand up for him like you always stand up for your charges," McGonagall said with some surprise.
"I stand up for Slytherins," Snape snorted. "Slytherins are cunning, ambitious, and not the types to stick their necks out without first checking for a sword. Malfoy is a fool and would lose his head. I don't suffer fools, Minerva, regardless of their House. In two weeks, the little brat has managed to alienate every Slytherin in his year to one degree or another including Miss Parkinson. Those Slytherins in that Club of yours were first, followed by Mr. Zabini and Miss Parkinson. Today he lost the rest of them. Despite his own views on his abilities, Mr. Malfoy is neither good enough nor smart enough to make it through this school on his own. I dare say there are very few who ever have been."
"You singled out Miss Parkinson. Was there a reason?"
"There is a betrothal contract between her family and the Malfoys," Severus said, "one which might be reconsidered in light of recent events. Should that happen, and unless he changes, I would seriously doubt there will be any subsequent offers; at least not from a family that has anything to truly offer the Malfoys or Lucius."
"I see. Your recommendation Severus?"
"For now, I will deal with Mr. Malfoy."
"I leave it in your capable hands."
Draco lay in a bed in the hospital wing. He had suffered a broken arm, twisted knee and ankle, a dislocated shoulder and a concussion. As bad as he felt, he was lucky although he would never admit that. Had he landed head first, he might very well be in a box and not on a bed. Yet in his mind this was going to be a good day as Gryffindor was sure to be purged and Slytherin as well. Slytherins not supporting a Malfoy? It was unheard of and the traitors deserved the worst. He smirked when he saw Snape enter.
"They're going home, aren't they," he sneered as Snape stood looking down at him.
"Professor," Snape said.
"Excuse me?"
"Ten points, Mr. Malfoy. I am to be addressed as Professor. Are we clear?"
Malfoy looked shocked. Here he was lying in hospital and his head of house was docking points? "Yes … Professor."
"And who would be going home?" Snape asked.
"Weasley and his lot, Greengrass, Bulstrode, Zabini, Nott, Davis … Professor."
"It's Friday night," Snape said.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Draco shot back. "Professor."
"They are all members of a school sponsored Club that promotes athletics, academic excellence, social interaction and acceptance, or so I am told. They are effectively in some kind of class seven days a week most of the year as a result. As their Club apparently includes members from other schools, they meet off of school grounds somewhere. Provided it does not interfere with their studies, they are not in detention or otherwise have duties to perform or Hogwarts functions to attend, they have the privilege of being allowed to leave the school on weekends to attend to their other activities. As I understand, this can include 'going home' on Friday and Saturday evenings if their home has Floo access."
"They get to go home on weekends? How do I join this club?" Malfoy asked rhetorically.
"You don't. Right now they won't take you. Even if they would, I would not let you."
Malfoy's mouth flapped for a moment before he regained his composure. "But surely someone is going to be expelled for what happened to me … Professor."
"Mr. Crabbe cannot corroborate your version of events, Mr. Malfoy. The other nineteen who might have witnessed what happened say you fell off your broom after disobeying a teacher or at the very least do not refute that version of events. No one says they or anyone else attacked you."
"They're lying!"
"Perhaps," Snape drawled. "Then again, nineteen to one? It suggests someone else was lying to me," he finished with a growl.
"Someone should be expelled!" Malfoy omitted saying "Professor."
"The Headmistress and I discussed such a possibility, but I felt expelling you would not serve."
"ME?" Malfoy shrieked. "Well of course she would think that…"
"It was I who raised the possibility," Snape snarled. "You have become an increasing embarrassment to Slytherin and were that grounds to see you off, I would give it serious consideration. Fortunately for you, being an idiot is not grounds for your immediate expulsion. But you should consider yourself on notice. Even if you do not break a rule that in and of itself is grounds for your expulsion, you are well on the way to going home as a chronic troublemaker. At your current rate of racking up points and detentions, you will not be back after Christmas!"
Malfoy's jaw flapped helplessly.
"Now," Snape snarled, "unless it is your intention to live life as a wandless Squib for all intents and purposes, and if it is your desire to ever sit for your O.W.L.s, much less N.E.W.T.s, you will do exactly as I tell you without question. And do not think your father will help you! I have already apprised him of the situation. I am sure he is pleased to learn that his only son cannot survive Hogwarts…"
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
"So," Harry said looking around the Club Corridor Conference Room, "Dumbledore was here for three hours and what happened on Friday never came up?" It was the weekly meeting of the Club leadership. The four faculty reps were present as were the Club Prefects and Harry and his closest friends.
"Mr. Malfoy's injuries, while serious, were not life threatening," McGonagall said. "Flying accidents in First Year are not unheard of. As his injuries and the events such as we knew them would not have justified the Chief Warlock's postponement of the debate and a hiatus in the sequestration, Professor Snape and I felt it was not worth bringing to his attention. However, a slightly different fall from that height and we might well be talking about a much different outcome, Harry."
Harry nodded. He knew she was right and had spoken with Millie afterwards. Apparently Malfoy and his lot had been harassing her since the start of the school year because she was a Half Blood, including several "pranks" that were deliberately cruel. Their treatment of Millie opened the rift in the First Year Slytherins and his actions on the Pitch ... Millie and the others had enough of "Malfunction." Malfoy or one of his lot had lost a fight just about every day since school began, but seemed undeterred. Friday was the first day that any of that lot had been injured enough to need medical attention.
"What really happened?" McGonagall asked.
"It goes not farther than this room?" Harry replied.
She nodded. Harry told her exactly what happened, including what he had learned from Millie and the others about what Malfoy and his "followers" were up to behind the closed doors of the Slytherin Common Room. McGonagall and the other staff members paled when they were told about Malfoy's final rant where he practically worshiped the dark times of the last War. She looked over at Hermione and the others and they nodded in agreement.
"I do not condone what happened," McGonagall said. "On the other hand, that attitude Mr. Malfoy displayed is disgraceful and has been grounds for suspension since the War. If there are other like minded Slytherins, they have kept that attitude to themselves. I do hope you spoke to the others. As unacceptable as Mr. Malfoy's conduct as been, we cannot have further incidents of such nature."
Harry nodded. "I suggested that of there is a next time, we should consider a more 'Slytherin' response. I will not have one of my friends expelled because Malfoy is a loud mouthed bigot."
"Malfoy is to be shunned," Olivia Adair said.
"Shunned?" McGonagall asked.
"No one is allowed to talk to him or recognize his presence," Olivia said. "It's an age old Slytherin punishment reserved for those deemed unworthy of our House. Has not been used in decades, or so I'm told."
"You're idea?"
"The matter was put to a vote on motion of the Seventh Years," Olivia replied shaking her head. "Per tradition, his classmates were not allowed to vote, although I doubt it would have changed anything. By tradition, if all Slytherins deem you unworthy, you are shunned. If even one disagrees, you are not. The vote was unanimous."
"And how long does he remain ostracized?" McGonagall asked.
"His status will be put to a vote at the beginning of each term until it changes," Olivia replied.
"Does Professor Snape know this?"
"I can't say for certain," Olivia replied. "Our Seventh Year Prefects are tasked with informing our Head of House as well as the shunned student."
"Seems rather harsh," Professor Sprout said.
"If you had seen him in our Common Room, you might not think so," Olivia replied. "He all but demanded he be treated like some sort of prince and threw a fit when he was not. When I was a First Year, he might have gotten away with it. But the one thing the Club has done is curb the more overt Death Eater supporters. They have been fairly quiet of late and do not appreciate the unwanted attention Malfoy seems to attract. Add to it he has directly or indirectly cost us more House Points since the beginning of term than the rest of the House has earned … we will be lucky if we end the year in distant third place for the House Cup. Professor Snape docked him another hundred points following the incident and then spoke with the whole House saying he was not going to make any effort to help us recover. We do have some right nasty bigots not named Malfoy, but they know better than to advertise that outside of the Common Room and they do not appreciate the hole Malfoy has dug for us whether they agree with him or not."
McGonagall sighed. "Were I Albus Dumbledore, and I am not, I would probably launch into a lengthy discourse on the need to forgive and forget. While I agree with that philosophy in principal, I also recognize that as honorable as that concept is, it can also be taken to extremes. At some point, a person must realize they are accountable for what they do and say."
"Malfoy assumed that his name or his father made him above accountability," Olivia said. "That much was obvious from the start."
"And hopefully he has learned that there comes a point when there is no one that can save you from yourself," McGonagall nodded. "On the other hand, we should refrain from excessive retaliation such as happened in this case. If similar situations arise in the future, I would prefer they were brought to my attention before the matter reaches such a level of hostility."
The students all nodded in agreement.
"Now, with that unpleasant matter discussed," McGonagall said, "I had a lengthy meeting with the other faculty reps from the other schools Friday night. First of all, we are not the only school that is anticipating a significant increase in membership this year. Specific numbers will be forwarded via the Communications Parchments within the next couple of weeks, but we can expect between forty and fifty percent of all students in Britain could well be with us when the Club expands at the end of the month."
"Approximate numbers?" Hermione asked.
"Thirteen hundred to seventeen hundred all told," McGonagall replied.
"That's not including Juniors?"
"That's correct. Based upon what is known about the families of the students interested, we can guess that the Juniors may rise to as many as four to six hundred."
"Office W know?" Harry asked.
"Sirius was present. Why?"
"That could easily be double the number we sent to Japan last year," Harry said. "And that's assuming we don't send the Juniors who have not gone yet. The dorm we built was designed to house fifteen hundred assuming an average of slightly over two per flat. There is more than twice space per person there than in the dorms here, assuming Gryffindor is typical, so we could pack them in if need be. But Watanabe needs to know about such an increase to hire additional faculty. We need to be sure that we can pay for the increase…"
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
The meeting the night before covered other topics as well. But when morning broke, Harry and the others returned to what they now thought of as stealth student mode. Like anything of remote interest, the news about Malfoy had spread to the whole school by breakfast Monday morning, although it probably had spread by the time the school went to bed Friday night. Harry and his fellow Club members were long gone by then, either at home for that evening or at Camp W. In the case of Harry and several others, they had spent Friday and Saturday night at Potter House. Harry and Neville kept out of the way for the most part as it seemed Hermione and Clarice had invited most of the First Year girls who were in the Club for a sleep over. Okay, so maybe it was only slightly more than half, but much as Harry liked Hermione and his sister, that was just way too many girls to deal with at one time on his own.
Monday morning and it was back to the Hogwarts routine, if there was such a thing. Malfoy was still in the Hospital Wing and probably would be all week, thus if there were any Howlers from home, no one knew about them. What happened was well known in the Club, and the Club was doing their best to ignore it and keep things relatively quiet. Classes were classes and after Charms, Harry and the others retreated to the Club Corridor. Hermione worked on her spell while Harry and the others began to pour over the materials McGonagall had begun collecting on the Founders and hopefully the Founders' Tower.
Eventually the entire school (less Malfoy) was in the Great Hall for dinner. This was the only "formal" meal of the day where one could expect to see most every student present. Breakfast was open ended and students came and went as the meal time progressed. Lunch depended upon class schedules. There were two different lunch periods. While First and Second Years all ate between noon and one o'clock, the upper years ate when they could during the Uppers Period which began at eleven-thirty and continued through one-thirty. (Lucky upper years had the Long Lunch and ate at their leisure. Most only had an hour to enjoy the food.) Dinner was the one meal where all students (and most staff) were present so it was the time when any announcements were made.
"Your attention please?" McGonagall began.
Most all of the students stopped talking; many wondering if this was about Malfoy.
"As most of you are aware, this past Friday the announcements were posted in your Common Rooms concerning Quidditch try-outs for your House Teams this year which will begin next week."
She had to wait for the cheering to continue before continuing.
"The first match will be Slytherin…" a cheer arose from their table "... versus Gryffindor…" and the Gryffindors echoed the cheer "…which will take place Saturday, November Ninth. The remaining dates and matches will be posted in your Common Rooms tomorrow.
"For all Third Years and above, the first Hogsmeade Weekend is scheduled for Saturday, October twenty-sixth." After another cheer erupted from the Hall and died down, she continued. "Third Years please make sure your permission forms are turned into your Heads of House well in advance.
"Now, as most of you are aware, for the last two years there has been a rather large Club active here at Hogwarts. What many of you may not know – but might well suspect – this Club is but a part of a larger Club of young people like yourselves from all over Britain. For the last two years, the Club has had its own Quidditch League with two teams from each of the six magical schools participating. One of the Teams, known as the Senior Team, has players attending school. The other or Junior Team has players too young to be in school. These matches occurred at the Club's property and were not open to non-Club attendance.
"In consultation with the other School Heads, this policy has changed. The W.I.S.E. Senior League matches will be played at the schools." There was cheering again, mostly from the Club members.
"Participation in W.I.S.E. League is currently limited to Club members," McGonagall said. It was clear at least some students were disappointed. "This is because the League is not financed by any school. Tryouts therefore are so limited. It should be noted that First Years may try out, but only if they have prior experience in the Junior Leagues. This is for your safety. Furthermore, it should be noted that personal brooms are not allowed unless your broom meets the standard for that position in the League. No team is allowed an advantage in the quality of their equipment. So don't run out and buy a broom unless it is the specific make and model specified for your position.
"Many of you may wonder whether participation in the League precludes you from playing on your House Teams as well. This has not been the policy the last two seasons, however I shall allow each Head of House make their own rules in that regard. Such rules shall be posted on your Common Room Notice Boards by this time tomorrow.
"I shall now let our senior League member explain in more detail. Mr. Wood?"
Oliver walked up and began to explain the differences between W.I.S.E. League rules and normal Quidditch rules. The biggest was that normal Quidditch only ended when a Seeker caught the Snitch. While this held true for W.I.S.E. League as well, the game had time limits. The game was divided into two now ninety minute periods with a break in between. If the Snitch was not caught within that time, the score at the end of "Regulation" controlled. In the event of a tie, teams would exchange penalty shots until one team outscored the other.
Most teams in normal Quidditch started seven players and no substitutions were allowed except on direction of the referee should the game run too long. W.I.S.E. League allowed for liberal substitutions. Chasers and Beaters could be changed out at any time during the match. Keepers now could be changed as well at any time, unless the team was defending against a penalty shot. Seekers could only be replaced upon injury to the starter or upon start of the Second Period.
As a result, W.I.S.E. League allowed each team to rotate up to nine Chasers, six Beaters and three Keepers now. The teams were only allowed two Seekers. Wood explained that experience had shown that having a strong starting "Line" was not as important as having a "deep reserve" as the more players one played, the less tired they were.
There had been a revision to the penalty rules. The prior season "minor" penalties resulted in a penalty shot and "major" penalties resulted in both the shot and the expulsion of the offending player from the match with the offending team having to play one man down at that position for the remainder of the game. There was this year a new "intermediate" class of penalties. Again, these resulted in a penalty shot for the other team. The offending player would be benched for three minutes of play, during which his team would play a man down at that position. Upon expiration of the penalty period, the player (or a replacement) could return to the game and the team could play at full strength. The penalties were categorized to promote sportsmanlike conduct and ensure relatively safe play.
Wood then talked about tryouts. Twenty players would be designated as the Game Team which would play the matches. There was also space for an additional fourteen reserves, two at each payer position, which would practice with the team but would not play in games. These were the "future" players (probably First and Second Years) and from their ranks replacements could be drawn should a member of the Game Team be ineligible for the next match due to academics, detentions, illness or other incapacity.
"Right then," Wood said, "the games! Hogwarts will play six games during the regular season, three here and three at the opposing school. For our home games, arrangements will be made to allow any interested family members to attend and we will be hosting not just the opposing team, but students and family from that school as well. Our first home game is here against St. George's London on Sunday, November 16th. Our other home games are against St. Alban's (the Welsh) on Sunday, February 16th, coincidently right after our first Hogsmeade Weekend of next year and our last home game is against St. Patrick's (the Irish) on April 19th.
"As I said, our other games are at the other schools. In addition to the team, all faculty may attend and any students who are either in the Club or have Hogsmeade privileges and upon approval of their Head of House. Our first away game is at St. Andrew's (Scotland) on December 15th; next we're at Preston Academy (England) on the Ides of March; finally we play in London against St. George's on May 17th.
"If we do as well as last season, we will play in the League Finals at a location to be determined on June 7th. If we do as well as our Junior team did last Season, we will actually win it!"
Wood then said the goal was roughly an equal number of players from each House and as coach; he would not be one of the players so there were five Keeper slots open (three on the Game Team and two additional Reserves). Ideally, there would be five Game Team players from each house and between three and four from each house on the reserve squad. The school team would thus consist of a total of twenty Game Team players and fourteen reserves which meant there were more regular players for the school than on the House Teams. Tryouts would begin on Wednesday and run through Friday so that the team might be set or near set by the time the House Teams began tryouts next week, and yes Wood would be playing for Gryffindor.
Once Wood stepped down and the meal began, and much to Hermione's chagrin, the only topic of conversation seemed to be Quidditch. While she enjoyed watching games and cheering for her friends, she was not a big fan of that subject for dinner conversation. She was in a very small minority, most of whom were First Year Muggle Borns who still had no idea what the game was about. The Quidditch purists (and there were always a few) grumbled about the strange rules and the fact that the W.I.S.E. League seemed to marginalize the importance of Seekers while the Club members argued that the new rules made the other positions more than just window dressing to entertain fans while the Seekers looked for the Snitch. But the discussions clearly showed that the school as a whole was enthusiastic about this new concept.
THUS ENDS THE CHAPTER. STORY CONTINUES WITH CHAPTER 12. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A TIME THEORY BIT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE. It is a humorous (I hope) juxtaposition.
(For those who have read a previous theory of time I have written, and there are very few who have: No, this one has nothing to do with Wal-Mart causing the end of the Universe.)
Time travel stories have to eventually deal with the problem of how can you change time and what will happen if you do. One idea is that time is truly linear so if you go back and change anything, it might be a problem because maybe that change was one that made it so one day you'd have no reason to go back and change it and if you had not reason to you wouldn't so how could you have changed it in the first place… (writer passes out from mental overstimulation.) This is known as the Time Paradox.
Another theory is time is not truly linear such that if you go back, you merely create an alternate timeline that coexists with the first. But if you went back to change the first, yet you wind up in a totally different and unrelated one, then why'd you even bother in the first place because you really didn't change anything? It would be like not liking the carpets in your living room and instead of changing them, you move to another living room and act like you changed them, which is both incredibly expensive (assuming you paid for it) and very silly and in reality changed nothing because the ugly carpet is still there, it's just you that is not. (writer bangs head on table and passes out.)
Then there is my plot device/theory because reality sucks. In this time is kind of linear in a strange way. We begin with Timeline A.
Timeline A begins billions and billions of years ago … which really does not look all that impressive in print. Now, when Carl Sagan said that, it sounded really, really impressive. But he kept saying that and it got kind of creepy, especially as while billions got him excited, trillions and quadrillions made him absolutely giddy. But he died, so this is all as academic as he was…
Anyway, Timeline A begins a long, long time ago … which is not as impressive, nor as creepy … with something someone a long, long time later would call the Big Bang because it sounded cool and people seemed to remember it. Before the Big Bang, there was no Timeline A. Wasn't anything else either. After the Big Bang, there was everything. Or at least there was everything from which everything would become everything someday. But at first, everything was energy and little bits of really small stuff called mater (not right after the Big Bang, cause things were really weird then, so this is sometime after right after but still a long, long time ago – and if you don't think I have any idea, just ask the people who thought this stuff up and then you're brain will melt.)
Anyway, the little bits of small stuff thought the other bits were pretty attractive through a strange lust potion called gravity and started gathering into bigger and bigger groups until they got so big they became great big balls of fire that one day someone would call stars for no known reason other than the word sounded cool. The stars produced light, heat and such until they blew up like huge fireworks as the first object lesson in the risks of playing with fire. All that was left were the little bits, but now there was also bigger little bits that one day would be rocks and stuff.
Skip forward a long time and there is a star that is otherwise forgettable in a forgettable corner of a forgettable galaxy. (When there are Billions and Billions of these things, they are easy to forget.) Circling around this star was a big, rocky glump of those little bits. It circled because it really had no better place to be at the time and never bothered to find one later. Now compared to a lot of things out there, this ambitionless rock was actually tiny. But compared to you or me, it was really, really big and we can't get away from it. If you want proof, just try jumping away. You always come back down to what someone else would one day call Earth. Gravity can be such a drag.
For reasons of fortune, destiny or blind luck, depending upon one's philosophical stance on such things, (and this is Timeline A, so whether you believe this … this is a work of fiction in the end [author blows raspberry]), anyway, this rock was located in a zone near its star someone would one day call the Goldilocks Zone. Maybe this someone thought it was cool. But why anyone would name anything after a fictitious girl who plays with ravenous bears – which is scary on several levels – is beyond me. But why this zone might matter is that it was not too hot or too cold (getting back to crazy bear girl and something about porridge) so water could exist on the surface of the rock.
Now, this wasn't water you would want anyone to drink (except maybe your worst enemy) because it was polluted with all kinds of nasty stuff because almost everything dissolves in water. Included was a nasty goo someone would one day call amino acids so he could sound smart and win a sounding smart prize. These would eventually be stewed and stirred by wind and waves and such and become another thing someone would call protein to get his name published in a book most people don't read. Eventually, it would get a lot more complicated, generating more sound smart prizes and books few people read and these protein based things that were now so complex that only the most twisted mind (aside from aforesaid sound smart types) would try to pronounce and they (the unpronounceable things) would begin eating stuff and one day would begin copying themselves like a Xerox machine, but that has another word that author does not feel like looking up, much less spelling. Once this happened, it became what someone would later call "life" (but I don't think that person got any prizes or obscure book deals).
Over the next billion years or so (finally away from the multi-billions!) life did what life does. It's also kind of funny, this life thing, because over time it likes to change into something completely different than it was before. But this takes a long, long time and you'd have more fun watching grass (another one of those life thingies) grow. One day, there was a strange life form that came into being had had two legs fur on its head and nowhere else. This made it unique. Everything else that had only two legs at the time (assuming something hadn't eaten the other two, which happened) had feathers all over and many of them could fly. But the furless two legged thing could not fly and someone would also fail to get any prizes or book deals for calling it "man."
Now being furless was great when you lived in a hot place. But man liked to travel … many still do … billions and billions are spent on it every year … and if you travel far enough you come to places that are not so hot and not having fur is no fun at all. But man was both smart and cunning and saw loads of other animals that had fur. And man had pointed sticks the animals did not have… hmmm. Problem with taking fur from an animal is unless you take the skin too, it tends to get all over the place and blows away when the winds come. So man adds some sharp rocks and takes skin and fur so he now has fur, if not truly of his own. Animal, of course, does not tend to survive a skin and fur ectomy (a word I just made up, but probably won't get any prize or book deal for). But, now skinless animal is good eating, if somewhat raw.
One day a man whose name is lost to history was rubbing to sticks together because it was a way to pass the time in the days before television, books, toys, or anything really, and to his surprise he had FIRE. (Another word without prize or book deal). Fire was warm! Fire was good! And throwing skinless dead animal bits on a fire for just long enough gave you bar-be-que! Yum! Yum!
(Getting Back to story Timeline A). One day another man (or woman, for no one really knows) saw fire and agreed it was cool (as in likeable), but thought the whole stick rubbing thing was a bit much. He or she snapped her fingers and … FIRE! In time, the stick rubbers would be called Muggles and the finger snappers Witches and Wizards, again words with no prizes or book deals at that time (but years later someone would make billions and billions with those words, thus out earning the word makers for Star, Earth, Life, Man, Fire and so on and people actually read those books).
For a long while the stick rubbers and finger snappers got along until some stick rubber invented things called emperors, taxes, armies, and other not so pleasant things. I mean, well maybe they were fine if you were that emperor thing. Anyone else, and life pretty much was no fun at all and the finger snappers wanted nothing to do with any of that which, in time, found the stick rubbers piling sticks up, rubbing sticks together to get the stick to catch fire so they could throw finger snappers on the fire and have a picnic – another stick rubber idea the finger snappers did not find all that amusing. But I digress.
Now man, whether a stick rubber or finger snapper, measures time because once he had pointed sticks and even fancier stuff, he soon had too much of it on his hands. One unit of time is a year. This was once the time from when it was really, really cold, through went it might actually be warm enough to shed the stolen animal fur, until it was really, really cold again and all people had these big feasts because they were afraid it would never get warm again, but it always did. And then it got cold again. Guess those people were the glass-is-half-empty type. Anyway, it is also the about of time for that rock in the place named after mauling bear girl take to go around the star called the Sun. The year has twelve months. Why twelve? Because there's this other rock that goes around the bigger rock about twelve times a year called the Moon. (Do I need to say no prize or book for that word?) Now in this language (which no one got a prize for making up, but many get one for using – go figure) these months have names. These names are for gods no one worships anymore and for emperors few remember and who ruled people who never even spoke this language. They spoke Latin, but since Latin means you're smart … Latin it is. These months have days. This is the period it takes for that star we circle to rise and set in the sky and come back again. Some months have 30 days, some 31 and one lunatic month has 28 days most of the time (then again, it is perhaps the most depressing time of the year, so why not a short month?) except when it has 29 (done to torture kids born on that day because they can only have a real birthday once every four years while the rest get them every year. There have been a lot of cruel people.).
Anyway, one day another person who got no prizes decided each year should have its own number. Now this made sense! Before then, a year was something like the 3rd Year of the XXIV Olympiad or the 6th Year of the Reign of Emperor Tiberius, which were about as useful as XXIV was as a number (24). (Why people think the Greeks and Romans were smart is beyond me. They had impossible numbers and confusing years. It's no wonder the barbarians were at the gates!)
Skip forward and we get to the relevant parts of Timeline A. The year was 1979. The stick rubbers had some powerful rulers (or so some thought). In one country, it was a former farmer who farmed stuff he was allergic to. In another it was a woman whose voice reminded people in the first country of another woman who had a famous cooking show. In a third was a man the other two feared named Leonid Breznev, who looked like he was dead. Given that the finger snappers could animate the dead, maybe he was. He did look like bits were dropping off of him at the time. Now these stick rubbers are not important, just setting the scene, sort of:
Timeline A: the relevant bits:
September 1979: Hermione Granger is born, and books cower in fear.
1980: Prophecy is made about evil wizard dude and a baby – not to be confused with a movie called Three Men and a Baby which was not at all related and came out some years later.
In July: Neville Longbottom is born. Harry Potter is born.
In September: Luna Lovegood is born.
1981: In July Clarice Potter is born.
October 31: The Potters' parents are murdered by aforesaid evil wizard who then blows up or something and Dumbledore (purported good wizard, with friends like him you really don't need enemies) decides to ruin a few lives.
November 1: Clarice is left with Child Welfare for adoption. McGonagall cases a house in Surry and Harry is left there.
November 2: The evil Dursleys open the gates of hell to little Harry. Sirius Black chucked in prison to show the people the government is doing something…
Later in November, minions of evil wizard ruin Neville and his parents life 'cause they hated Mondays. In unrelated news, Clarice is adopted by the Jamesons.
SKIP
June 1987. Clarice's adoptive father dies of cancer.
May 5 1988 (write this one down as the day after it comes back later). Dursleys beat Harry half to death to begin their holiday.
May 1988. Clarice and Mum in auto accident. Mum dies. Clarice is sent to foster care.
June 1988: Nothing happened. Not a thing. Said to have been the most boring month in this chapter supplement.
July 31 1991. Harry learns he is a wizard.
September 1 1991. Harry goes to Hogwarts, meets Neville, Hermione and Ron Weasley and begins having all kinds of adventures that made for thrilling books.
August 1992: Clarice learns she's a witch and starts St. George's magic school in London.
September 1992: Luna Lovegood starts Hogwarts, but does not meet Harry for another few years.
July 1993: Sirius Black escapes Azkaban in his own magic fur.
June 1995. Voldemort (aforesaid evil wizard and over all party pooping guy) returns.
June 1996: Sirius Black is killed and Harry has a breakdown.
June 1997: Dumbledore is killed. The fashion police celebrate.
August 1997: The Muggle Born registration begins.
September 1997: Clarice is arrested as a Muggle Born and deported to the camps (Timeline A people, stay with me!)
February 1998: Clarice dies in the camps.
May 1998: Harry "kills" Voldemort and there was much rejoicing. Here endeth aforesaid books. Happily ever after, right?
September 1, 2017: Epilogue in those books that made billions and billions. Harry has married Ginny and has three kids. Ron has married Hermione (goodness knows what she was taking at the time) and has two kids.
2027: Voldemort returns again. Some people should stay dead.
2029 – 2042: Third Voldemort war. Ron disappears. Hermione's kids, Ginny and Harry's kids, Neville and Luna all die. Okay, that's a bit depressing...
2042: War ends when Voldie is killed once and for all but war provokes stick rubber intervention. Magical laws are passed and the finger snappers, while not burnt, lose freedom. Harry and Hermione have already begun time work in the Redoubt in the remote pacific.
2048 – 2050: dates approximate. "Luna" and "Neville" are born into slavery. They are not siblings.
2055: Global Nuclear War destroys London and kills Hermione. Harry finds "Luna" and "Neville" and takes them to his Redoubt.
Around 2070: Automated defense systems wipe out rest of the world. Only Redoubt remains.
June 2077: "Neville" sent back to change the past. Nothing seems to happen.
December 2077: "Luna" sent back to change the past. Nothing seems to happen. Harry pushes forward on Avatar Project.
2148: Harry activates his Avatar and sends it back in time to change the past. TIMELINE A ENDS.
May 6, 1988 TIMELINE B. Avatar arrives at #4 Privet Drive and Changes Everything.
Okay, maybe that makes a little more sense or none at all. But thinking about the detailed implications of time travel is a known cause of spontaneous human combustion, so please keep your hands and feet inside the cars at all times and enjoy the ride.