TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS CHAPTER: Go back and read the last part of chapter 3 if you didn't just read it. I added on the cliffhanger I didn't want to. So if you start reading this chapter- you miss the whole stone/voldemort part. I added the cliffhanger to the last chapter because you don't need to wait to see what happens because this chapter is already up. Go back and read chapter 3 if you didn't just come from it.
Disclaimer: I own about as much as I have the chance of seeing Daniel Radcliffe in person- which is to say…. Zero. ~ FMKitsune
AN: This is the second part of chapter 3. I continued to type so much into that chapter that I made a whole new one! Hehe… sounds silly but true…
I basically had this done 2 weeks ago but I got sick (again) and couldn't finish it (That's what I get for not taking my medicine!). I feel bad that I let you guys down about the update being so soon but I always get sick at the worst times… Hopefully I'll feel better in a week or (more likely) a month but I'll still type this but at a slower pace. So expect an update every month or less. :)
Chapter Four: The Clearing In The Storm (Quidditch and the aftermath)
Someone was singing. Who was it? Harry shifted his head on something soft. A pillow?
He wasn't dead?
Who was singing? Harry blinked open his eyes then immediately closed them for the brightness of the room hurt his eyes. The singing appeared to have stopped. He heard a murmur beside him. What? Was someone talking?
"-gave me all I need-"
"-welcome-"
"If- Harry- was awake-"
"-not- don't disturb-"
"She might want- for records- Madam-"
Harry could barely make out the words. He was extremely groggy.
"-don't care- Hogwarts- you need to-" Wait- was that Professor Dumbledore talking?
"Yes, Dumbledore." Replied the voice of what Harry could tell was a large man. His voice had a deep booming quality to it that reverberated within Harry's eardrums. Footsteps clacked across the stone floor and Harry blinked again only to let out a small groan of discomfort at the incredibly bright lights. The footsteps stopped. He blinked again. Either the man or Dumbledore was approaching him for the footsteps grew louder. He blinked and squinted, his tired eyes finally adjusting to the lighting. He saw a face lean down in front of him. It was Dumbledore.
"Good morning, Harry. You surprised me and Madam Pomfrey. She did not expect you to awaken for a few days yet. You suffered from a severe case of magical exhaustion." His eyes twinkled. His smile though seemed worried. What could he be worried about?
The other man- he had heard conversing with Dumbledore- stepped forward and around Harry's bed. He now knew, without a doubt, that he was in the Hospital Wing. Harry slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. The man faced Harry and spoke,
"Mr. Potter." He nodded at Harry. Harry stared at him, wondering who he was.
Madam Pomfrey strode casually into the Hospital Wing from her office until- that is- she saw Harry sitting up in his bed.
"Mr. Potter!" She screeched as she easily plowed over the two men around his bed to get to him. "What are you doing awake? You should be resting! Albus!" She rounded on the Headmaster. "Why didn't you inform me at once when he woke?" She fussed with a few things on his bedside table and scooped up a couple bottles. "I will be back, Mr. Potter. Don't stress him out you two. He needs his rest!" She quickly scurried back into her office.
Dumbledore gave Harry a large smile and spoke in a grandfatherly tone, "Well, I didn't expect you to be awake Harry. I confess that I wanted you kept away from this. But, as I now have no choice in the matter, I will take my leave and let you get on with it." He turned away and strode into Pomfrey's office.
Harry stared at the man next to him. Get on with what? What was he going to do?
The man calmly sat down on the edge of Harry's bed and started to talk.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. I'm an Auror. Do you know what that is?" Harry shook his head. "They are the 'dark wizard catchers'. Muggles would most likely call us cops."
"So why are you here?" Harry asked as he shifted in his bed.
The man answered with a smile. "I am here about what happened with Professor Quirrell. Dumbledore can't hide the fact that he died from the ministry." Harry's eyes widened. "He called us and my boss with help to cover up what really happened."
"Umm… Who is your boss?"
The man made a booming laugh. "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. I forgot to tell you. My name is Kingsley Shaklebolt. My partner is checking on Quirrell. My job was to check on you. My boss, Madam Bones- the head of the DMLE- wanted to know what happened. If you were resting, she agreed to not interview you. However, you woke up." The man, now named Kingsley, spoke with a smile.
"So…" Harry started. "So now that I woke up your boss would like to interview me about what happened- just for information's sake?"
"Yes." Kingsley grabbed out of this robe a small pad of paper and a pen.
"You use a pen, sir?"
"Yes, and Mr. Potter don't call me sir. I'm not that old." He smiled and flipped open the pad and scribbled something on it.
"Ok." Harry blushed.
"Now Mr. Potter-"
"Call me Harry- just Harry." Harry grinned. Kingsley laughed.
"Ok, Harry. Now let's get to business. You encountered Quirrell in front if the Mirror of Erised, yes?" Harry nodded his head. "What did he want? Don't worry about anything else. I was filled in about what happened before you encountered him from Dumbledore."
Harry went over what had happened in his head before he spoke. What would or- better yet- should he say? Did Auror Shaklebolt know about Voldemort? What about that black mist? And how was Quirrell dead?
"Uh, well, Quirrell wanted the philosopher's stone and he couldn't get it." Harry heard the auror's pen scribbling. "He, uh, used me to get it."
"Yes, the stone. Pretty amazing by the way."
"Thanks" Harry mumbled into his chest. He raised his head a bit and clenched his covers with his fists. "He tried to get it from me but he couldn't touch me…" Harry's eyes squinted in disgust. "His hands burned when he did…"
The man on his bed just nodded and jotted a few more things onto the paper.
Harry gulped. "Uh, Mister Shacklebolt? Did Professor Dumbledore tell you about Voldemort?"
Kingsley apparently didn't hear anything about that particular subject for his eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped open. "No…" He answered staring straight at Harry as if to tell if he was lying.
"That's enough. Mr. Potter needs his rest."
Dumbledore's grandfatherly voice stated from right beside Harry causing him to jolt. When did he get here? How did he do that without making a noise? Harry didn't even hear him walking. Dumbledore's smiling face descended on Harry. "Lay back down Harry." Harry leaned back on his pillow. "Thank you for coming Kingsley, however you should go." Kingsley was about to protest but at the moment Madam Pomfrey came back into the room and shooed both men away. She jingled a few bottles together. He noticed they were all full. Dumbledore strode out of the hospital wing, Kingsley following with a steady glance at Harry.
"Bye." Harry waved at him. The tall man waved back as he disappeared behind the large doors.
"Mr. Potter." Harry swiveled his head towards the hospital matron. She held out a purple-ish potion that Harry found was still bubbling. "Drink this."
Harry gagged as he downed the potion. He had no clue what it was supposed to do but it sure tasted horrible. Madam Pomfrey turned towards Harry with an expression on her face that either said extreme worry or extreme confusion.
"Mr. Potter…." She sighed. "What were you doing last night that had you in that terrible condition? You came in with multiple bruises, a sprained ankle, your scar was bleeding heavily, your hands were burnt, you suffered a concussion and you were in a severe state of magical exhaustion. What in the world were you doing?" Harry gaped at what she said. He had that many problems? Were they all fixed now?
"Madam Pom-"
She sighed. "Dear, I have no need to hear what you did. I have no idea why, but everything that you had wrong with you last night is gone now. How in Merlin's name you can recover from magical exhaustion overnight is beyond me… And you just came in last night!" So this was the morning after his encounter with Quirrell? It had really been that soon? Wait- Harry looked around the hospital wing and noticed that no one else was there.
"What happened to Hermione, Ron and Neville?"
Madam Pomfrey stared at him as she answered. "All three of them were treated for minor injuries and released for breakfast this morning. It is nearly lunch time now. I will keep you here until dinnertime to observe you. Recovering that fast is…" She mumbled the last bit.
Harry groaned. He wanted to get out of here and check on his friends… Oh well…
"Sit back Mr. Potter and rest. I'll be back in a little while." With a last shuffle of potions Madam Pomfrey swept out of the room and into her office. Harry plopped down on his bed contemplating what had happened since last night.
Did Quirrell really die? The auror thought so and Dumbledore didn't say he survived. Dumbledore had really bad timing. He was just about to ask about Voldemort and if Mr. Shaklebolt knew anything about that black mist then Madam Pomfrey had to come in and shoo him away with Dumbledore. Harry turned over in his hospital bed so he could stare at the double doors to the hospital wing. He didn't know what to think about the rest of what happened. Where was Voldemort now? He knew Voldemort didn't have the stone because he had protected it and because Dumbledore hadn't said anything about him. He was getting so confused with all of this information his head started to hurt. Harry closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.
OOoo00ooOO
"Oh, come on Hermione. Do you really expect him to wake up right now?"
"No, Ron. I just came to see if he wanted to come to dinner with us."
Harry heard Ron and Hermione's voices from beside him when he woke up a few hours later. Harry blinked open his eyes and reached to the side table for his glasses.
"Oh! Here Harry!" Hermione handed him his glasses and he put them on and noticed Hermione was standing really close to his face.
"Let him breathe…" Ron mumbled from behind him. Hermione immediately jumped up and hugged him quickly and let go- stepping back.
"Harry we were so worried about you! You confronted Voldemort on your own! Why?" She asked as she wrung her hands on her shirt.
"I had to Hermione. He was going to take the stone. I couldn't wait for you…" Hermione appeared conflicted. Ron was frowning.
"But Harry. I found Neville and Ron in the chess room and we left to go find a teacher. We didn't run into anyone…" She started to tear up. "I was so worried and then we finally found Professor Dumbledore in the hallway and we came back for you." Hermione sniffled. Ron's frown was more pronounced. "He told us to wait in the third floor corridor and then a while later he came out carrying you…" She put her hands to her face. "You looked so horrible…" Hermione trailed off and plowed right into him hugging him tightly. Harry turned towards Ron.
"Yeah it was pretty bad mate… We weren't as bad off as you were but we had to stay here overnight. Hermione wanted to check on you before we went to dinner."
Harry looked down at Hermione who was still hugging him. "I'm fine Hermione. I was fine this morning when I woke up. But I fell back asleep 'til now." She released him and inspected his head and body until she realized that he was right.
"How did you…"
"I don't know. Madam Pomfrey doesn't either."
"Oh…" Harry thought she appeared disappointed from his lack of information on his injuries.
"Madam Pomfrey did say tha-"
"Mr. Potter you're awake." Pomfrey walked down the hospital wing and came to his bed. Ron scurried out of her way and Harry watched her as she waved her wand this way and that looking at some parchment and then shaking her head. She did this for a few minutes but for Harry it seemed to take forever.
"Mr. Potter, I can't seem to find anything wrong with you at the moment. It appears that I can let you leave." Hermione's face lit up and Ron let out a whoop of joy. Harry smiled. "Now change and go to dinner. I will not, Mr. Potter, expect you in here tomorrow. However, since you woke up earlier than expected you can play in the Quidditch cup tomorrow. And, please Mr. Potter, be careful." She went back into her office.
"Oh that's right Harry, its tomorrow! You'll kick their butts and Gryffindor will have the cup!" Ron had a big goofy grin on his face.
"Honestly, Ron." Hermione wiped her face and smiled a bit. She was still overwhelmed with emotion.
"Ok, guys. I need to change out of this- so move." When Harry was done changing, he followed his two friends down to the Great Hall.
Harry noticed that most of the students were staring at him as he passed them in the hallway. He found it really unnerving. Hermione tried talking to him but I didn't help much. When he went into the hall for dinner the room went silent. Hermione looked worried and rushed him to the nearest spot at the Gryffindor table.
"What's this about?" Harry whispered as he looked around out of the corner of his eye. Everyone was still staring at him.
"We didn't tell anyone about it but apparently everyone knows what you did last night- about Quirrell and everything. No one knows what happened exactly just that it did." Ron mumbled as he took bites of food. Hermione leaned over the table and whispered,
"People were coming up to us at breakfast wondering where you were. It got worse at lunch. I don't know what to do about the rumors."
"What rumors?" Harry dreaded to even ask but he had to know what people were saying.
"Um… Some people say that you and Quirrell had a duel with swords." Harry raised his eyebrow at that. "Another one is Quirrell was handing out unforgivable curses like candy and we all tag teamed him and got his wand. It's all pretty silly…" She blushed.
Neville bounded down the hall towards Harry. "Harry!" He said as he came up to the trio. "You got out of the hospital wing? That's great!" he sat next to Harry and started putting food on his plate.
"Are you ok Neville? You seem too happy." commented Ron as he gulped some pumpkin juice.
"No I'm fine!" He smiled a bit and then leaned towards Harry. "Thanks for bringing me last night."
Harry knew what he said next affected Neville more than it did him. He thought Neville just found friends to hang out with. Harry still felt bad about ignoring him the whole year though. "You're welcome Neville." Harry picked at the food at his plate as he looked around at the other tables. Less people were staring at him now- that's always good. He spotted Daphne and Tracey sitting at Slytherin he didn't notice Su Li anywhere.
"Hey there Harry!"
"How ya doing Harry?"
"Fred, George. Go away." Ron grumbled. Fred and George had popped up behind Harry while he was looking around.
"No, I don't think we will Ronniekins." Ron slumped in his seat.
"So Harry," Fred pushed Ron over and sat on the bench his back resting on the table, George was on Harry's other side. "What did you really do last night? Everyone's talking about it."
"How did you get out without anyone seeing you?" George interrupted.
Harry opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
Fred sighed at him, "Really Harry, if it was so amazing that you can't tell us…"
"No!" Harry shouted. A few people looked his way until he shrunk into the table. "No." he mumbled, "Well, I wasn't that amazing really…"
"Harry's right Fred!" Hermione scolded. "He was hurt really bad and he was unconscious!"
"Oo, battle injuries I see…" George whispered and then looked at his twin. Fred looked back and the two seemed to be communicating. They suddenly stood up and both swung their arms over Harry.
"Good chap, being healthy for quidditch and all…"
"Right Fred, Harry need tons of rest for the cup tomorrow."
"Let's hope he doesn't end up back with Madam Pomfrey."
"Yes, what a shame… Let's be positive!" With that, they casually walked back to their place at the table.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked as she stared at where the twins were a moment before.
"I don't know." Harry answered. "But I feel loads better now than I did before they came over here." He smiled faintly. Fred and George sure knew how to cheer someone up. Harry didn't care about all the staring or all the rumors anymore. He just enjoyed dinner. Hermione still looked worried though.
Ron sighed. "The twins are good for a laugh if you need one." He looked towards Hermione who still looked worried. "Hermione, he's not going to end up hurt again. I'll have my wand ready and everything. I'll protect him!" He said with conviction. Harry noticed Hermione giggled a bit at Ron's statement but seemed a lot less worried.
"I'll be there too Harry." She said.
"Me too." Neville whispered from beside him. His statement was so quiet only Harry had heard him. Harry smiled at him.
OOoo00ooOO
"Harry, can you tell us what happened?" Hermione asked as she settled into the chair by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville were the only ones in the room. They had waited until everyone else went go to bed. The twins had been messing with some of the furniture earlier and after they went up to bed, Ron had stared at the other furniture apprehensively. After Harry ignored the bewitched furniture, he turned towards Hermione.
"It was Quirrell, Hermione. You were right." He avoided saying anything about Tracey and Daphne in front of Ron.
"Really, Harry?" her face shone with curiosity.
"Yeah." Harry sighed. "Voldemort was sticking out the back of his head." Beside him, Neville squeaked.
"Blimey mate." Ron whispered, staring at Harry from a chair. "How'd you get away? Wait- you faced Voldemort? Again?"
Harry curled up on the couch- hugging his legs to his chest. "Yeah… he was there Ron. I got the stone but…"
"But what? You-Know-Who didn't do anything did he?"
"No, Ron- just that…" Harry mumbled as he stared into the smoldering fire. Harry's face turned into a anguished grimace.
"Spit it out Harry." Hermione slid closer to him on the couch. "I bet you'll feel better when you talk about it." She gave Harry what he knew was a reassuring smile.
Harry took a big breath and squeezed his legs tighter. "Quirrell… he… attacked me." Hermione gasped and out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed Ron stiffen. "He tried to touch me to get the stone but as soon as he did his- his hands got burnt…" Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly. "My scar hurt so much… when he touched me but that's all. He was burning and then tried to throw the killing curse at me." Neville's already pale face lost all color. "I couldn't really think anything just getting his wand… I did- I think." Harry moved his hands from his legs to the side of his head and rubbed his temples. "I can't really remember much after that… just- just that Quirrell was on the ground somehow…?" Harry furrowed his brows. "And… there was this-" Harry cut off and clutched his head.
"Harry! Are you ok?" Hermione grasped his arm and tried to see what was wrong with him.
Harry squinted his eyes shut and willed the pain away. "Sorry, I just got a really bad headache." He stared at Hermione's worried face. Ron was behind her staring at him too.
"Was it your scar?" Ron said, looking down at Harry.
"No, just a headache." Harry answered plainly.
"Well," Hermione gulped. "What about what you were saying before. About what was there?"
Harry stared at her blankly. "I wasn't saying anything Hermione. Just- just about Quirrell collapsing."
"But Harry, you were saying something before you had that headache. What was it?"
"I don't know, Hermione."
"But Harry-"
"Hermione, leave him alone. If he doesn't know, he doesn't know." Ron ground out. Neville was watching everything from his position on the floor.
Hermione huffed and turned away.
"Don't bother with her, mate. She's just mad you can't remember. I mean come on, who'd want to remember. If you don't want to tell, then don't." Ron shrugged.
"But Ron-"
"It's ok." Ron smiled. "Let's just get to bed. You have a Quidditch game to win tomorrow!" He trudged up the stairs. Neville flying up the stairs after him.
Harry noticed Hermione was still pouting. She turned towards him with her arms crossed. "Harry, if you didn't want to tell me you didn't have to…" She looked as if she was about to cry.
"No, Hermi-"
"You don't have to yell at me and-"
"Hermione!" Harry shouted over her voice. She shut up and glared at him. "Hermione, what Ron said wasn't right. I want to tell you, but I can't remember it! I was trying to tell Ron that but he took off!" he complained. "Just listen!" He stood up quickly and stepped towards Hermione. "I don't remember!" He shouted. "I-I was confused about it before but now I know that I can't remember what happened after Quirrell collapsed." He sighed and sat heavily on the couch she was standing in front of. "I can't Hermione. I can't remember." She seemed to accept his answer for she sat of the couch next to him and looked him in the face. Her expression full of confusion.
"Why can't you? That's not really normal…"
"No, it's not."
"Was it the pain that made you forget?"
"No, I remember plenty of that, thank you very much."
"Harry…"
"No, Hermione… I can remember something from before when I woke up in the hospital wing… but.. something's fuzzy…"
"Try to remember it." Hermione said sternly leaning closer to him as if she could pick up his memory just by staring at him.
Harry thought about it for a moment. The last part he remembered was getting Quirrell's wand away from him. Then he collapsed. Then- Harry grit his teeth together. A sharp pain pierced his head. He stopped trying to remember.
He stared into Hermione's concerned face. "The headache came back. Do you think I just fell unconscious?"
"No. I don't." She got up to go to bed. "I'll figure it out so you can tell us. Don't worry Harry." She went up the girl's staircase. Harry watched her leave and then focused all his attention to the fire which was a glowing pile of ash. How was he supposed to fall asleep? He didn't know why he couldn't remember anything. He knew something happened but just didn't know what. Should he tell Tracey? Or maybe Su? He laid on the couch turning his head to watch the glowing embers trying to forget everything that happened that day.
OOoo00ooOO
"HARRY!"
"Gah!" Harry shouted and with a yelp. He flew off the couch and landed in a heap on the common room floor. "Ugnnn…" He groaned into the carpet.
"Harry why did you sleep on the couch? Get up! Eat a good breakfast for the game today! We need to win it by more than 100 points to beat out Ravenclaw for the cup! Up! Up, Harry!" Wood shouted just before he rounded the corner and disappeared though the portrait.
"Hnnn…" Harry moaned as he sat up on the floor. He was still in his robes from yesterday and he still had his shoes on. Harry's hair was sticking up every which way and his eyes were droopy. He rubbed his face with his hands- trying to wake up.
"Oh, hello Harry. Why are you down here?"
"Ooo, Harry, nice hair you got there…"
Harry turned around lazily and came face to face with Angelina and Alicia. Alicia was snickering and staring at his hair. Harry thought it looked like it did after every time he woke up- horribly ruffled. Angelina snorted and turned around and collapsed on the couch- laughing. "His face- His face…!" she was giggling like a mad woman.
Alicia composed herself for the time being and tried to ignore Angelina's laughing. "Harry… Is your hair always like that when you wake up?" He reached up and patted his hair- it was just its usual messy self. He tried to straighten it out so it would look less messy.
"No!- No! Harry, S-stop!" Angelina said though her hysterical laughing. She got up from the couch and kneeled down in front of him and caught his hand. "It's the cutest thing I've seen this year!" Harry was puzzled. Really? Weren't they just laughing at him? And he wasn't cute. "Alicia! Alicia! Go get my camera! This made my day! Well- morning but who cares!" Alicia scrambled up the stairs and returned a second later with a camera in her hand. "I'm gonna take a picture of you…" Angelina snickered. Harry started to get up only to be pushed back to the floor where he was sitting.
"No," Alicia laughed. "Stay there!" Angelina was about to snap the picture until Alicia stopped her. "No, we should take off his shoes!"
"Yeah, and take one sock off…"
"We should pull this down more…"
"Mess up his hair the way it was before…"
"Kiss his cheek…" Harry blushed at that one.
"Fetch that blanket over there… Yeah, put it right there…"
"Take his glasses…"
"Loosen that tie…"
"Throw that pillow over there…"
Harry was watching the back and forth between the two girls for some time. He had no clue what they were doing. They were pulling at him and fixing things… he thought they just wanted to take a picture of him all horrible.
"Ok." Angelina smiled. She aimed the camera. "Harry don't smile." She clicked it and high-fived Alicia. "That was awesome."
"Why was it awesome?" he said as he tilted his head around the couch to see the girls. They started laughing again. Just then Fred and George zoomed down the stairs and froze on the scene on the common room. Fred slowly walked towards Harry and looked at him. Harry had yet to move from the position Angelina and Alicia had moved him to.
"Tsk, tsk, Harry." He grinned then laughed as George came up from behind Harry and scooped him up in his arms- probably just to mess with the girls' scene they created. Angelina snapped another picture.
"Ah! Hey! Put me down!" Harry said as he tried to struggle out of George's grip.
"Wait, George." Fred said with a serious face. Everyone looked at him. "You should put him down. The girls just snapped a picture of that…" George dropped Harry so fast he landed with a hard thump. Both twins took off out the portrait hole. Fred shouted "Good luck Harry!" as he stepped though.
Harry sat there stunned. What just happened? What was going on? What in the world…?
"Ignore them Harry." Alicia said as she crouched down in front of him. She ruffled his hair and giggled again. "That was cute." The two girls put the camera back in their dorm. They came back down and waved to Harry as he sat confused on the common room floor. With one last giggle they disappeared to the Great Hall for breakfast. A minute later Katie came down the stairs and blushed at the sight of him. She avoided him and quickly scurried out of the common room to the fat lady. What in the world? Harry didn't really know what was happening. He was about to go upstairs to get dressed for the day when the 7th year girls came down the stairs. They all paused like the twins did and then they all collapsed in laughter like Angelina. What was wrong with him that everyone was laughing at him? He heard various comments through the laughter.
"How cute!"
"I wonder who did that?"
"Who knows? I'll have to thank them."
"This is the funniest thing I've seen all year."
Harry blushed at all the comments and that caused even more laughter from the girls.
"Hey Harry, who did that to you?" one girl, who Harry couldn't remember her name asked.
"Angelina and Alicia…" He answered. The girls filed out the portrait hole still laughing and murmuring about 'cuteness' or something- Harry couldn't make out the words. He got fed up at everyone laughing at him so he ran quickly to the boy's dorm. Dean was up and sorting though some things in his trunk. He looked up when Harry came in and his jaw dropped. Harry stared at him and wondered what was so funny.
"Uhh…" Dean turned away from Harry and started trying to find he was looking for faster. Harry just ignored him and grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom. When he looked at himself in the mirror he almost freaked out. There was a pale pink lipstick mark on his cheek- the very one Angelina kissed. Harry touched it. What did they do? He had no clue and he didn't want to think about it. Harry quickly washed off the offending blemish and started to work on his sleep-tousled hair. After a few minutes of work he got it to a point where it didn't look like he slept on it. He changed quickly and went back in the dorm. Dean was gone and Seamus was gathering his things for the bathroom.
"Ron." Harry approached Ron's bed and shook him awake. Ron groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Wha?"
"Time for breakfast." Harry smiled trying to forget the weird situation that happened in the common room. "You have to support me and Gryffindor for the cup!"
"Yeah!" Ron's face lit up at the mention on food. "I have to make sure you eat something Harry! You need your energy!" While Ron gathered his things, Harry walked to Neville's bed where said boy was sleepily sitting- the ruckus woke him up.
"Hiya." Neville grinned with tired eyes.
"Come on Neville. Breakfast waits for no first year." Neville chuckled and gathered his things. Harry waited for a few minutes for them to get ready. He stared out the window by his bed and looked out over the Hogwarts grounds. It was a good day for Quidditch.
"Come on Harry!" Ron shouted as he grabbed his arm and dragged him down the stairs- Neville following.
They made it down to breakfast in little time. Hermione was already sitting there- her nose buried in a book.
"What are you reading for?" Ron complained as he sat down as the table, gathering various food items on his plate.
"I happen to be researching." Came the muffled voice of Hermione. "I already ate breakfast, so I'm reading." Ron groaned at that. Neville smiled at Ron's reaction. Harry just shook his head. He did not need any arguing to happen today. Gryffindor was going to win the quidditch cup if he had any say about it.
"Harry." Hermione said from across the table. Harry lifted his head up and caught her gaze. "I've been looking through lots of books and I can't find anything about what you were talking about- about you not remembering?"
"Yeah, just keep looking Hermione. Let me know if you find something." Harry smiled. Hermione nodded and went back to reading.
Half way through his breakfast Angelina and Alicia came up to him. "Harry, we'll give you a copy of the picture we took if you want."
He stared up at the girls who were hovering over him. "Why, would I want one?"
They both snickered.
"Well," Alicia began. "For future reference?" Harry frowned.
"What are they talking about?" Ron asked as he looked across Harry and at the two smirking girls.
"We took a picture of Harry in the common room this morning." Angelina said.
"Why were you there so early?" Ron was looking at Harry.
"I fell asleep on the couch last night. They found me when I woke up and took a picture of me."
He heard a giggle from behind the book Hermione was holding.
"Harry, you were so cute we had to take a picture of you!" whined both girls.
"So why did you kiss my cheek?" Harry asked plainly- staring at Angelina's face. Ron, who was taking a sip of pumpkin juice, promptly spat it out over the table at what Harry said. Hermione drew her book closer to her chest and peered over it. Harry could see the disgust plainly in her eyes.
"To make it look more real." She answered back.
"To make what look real?" Harry didn't understand what they were talking about.
"Never mind." Alicia waved his question away. "We'll give you a copy so you can show it to all your lady friends!" She laughed as they walked out of the hall.
"What was that about?" asked Neville who was staring at Harry's puzzled face.
"I don't know Neville. I can't understand girls."
Ron's gaze, Harry noticed, went back and forth between him and where Angelina and Alicia left.
OOoo00ooOO
"Ok team!" Oliver Wood shouted. "Let's get started. The Ravenclaw team will be-"
"Can you just say let's kick Ravenclaw arse and be done with it?" Fred groaned.
Oliver glared at him. "I have to give-"
"I agree with Fred." George mumbled.
"Well of course you do, you're twins!" Oliver explained. "Does anyone else agree with them?"
Angelina, Alicia and Katie immediately raised their hands. Harry raised his slowly.
Oliver sighed then straightened up. "Ok! Let's go Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor team took to the air and Harry saw Hermione and Ron cheering him on from the stands. Neville was next to them.
"Welcome to the last game of the season!" Lee's voice boomed throughout the pitch. Harry focused on the Ravenclaw seeker. He was particularly large. Harry's attention swung to Madam Hooch who came onto the pitch. "The quaffle is up!- and caught by Angelina! Man she looks good in her quidditch uniform." Lee mumbled.
"Mr. Jordan!" shouted McGonagall.
"Sorry professor, but it's true."
Harry swung up on his broom and flew over Fred just as he hit a bludger at a Ravenclaw chaser. He shot up and hovered for a while at the top of one of the towers. The other seeker was weaving over near the other side.
"Score! 30-20 Gryffindor!"
Harry looked over near the end of the pitch near Wood. He saw him save a goal-
"Harry!"
He swiveled on his broom and ducked down the bludger that was barreling towards him. It missed his head by inches.
"You ok?" George asked as he flew near him.
"Yeah." Harry zoomed off to the other part of the pitch where the other seeker was. Where was that snitch? He couldn't see it- wait. The other seeker was diving for something! He was about to follow until he noticed that he couldn't spot the snitch anywhere in front of him. Harry stayed where he was. Alicia zoomed by him and scored a goal.
"Score to the lovely Alicia!"
"Jordan!"
"Sorry! 50-70 Ravenclaw!"
He ducked under George who stopped to hit another bludger and to say "Wood" and zoom away.
Wood? Oliver? What was he talking about? Harry stared across the pitch and squinted his eyes at one of the goal hoops. There it was! The snitch! He noticed the other seeker didn't notice it so he casually drifted over to the Gryffindor side of the pitch. Just when he got to where it was hovering it shot backwards and up into the sky. Harry kicked his broom up and zoomed after it. The snitch took a nose dive near a part of the stands and the Ravenclaw seeker caught up with Harry. He ducked under him and dove straight down. Faster- faster- faster! He had to go faster. Harry held on to his broom tight. He didn't notice anything else- just the snitch in front of him. It continued to dive forward. It leveled off on the pitch and went straight to the Ravenclaw goal. The large Ravenclaw seeker came up behind him by just inches. He knew he had to end the game now- unless they didn't win the cup. Harry made a split second decision and scooted up all the way he could on his broom, dove off it, and flung himself at the snitch. His left hand grasped the tiny golden ball. He tucked his body into a ball and hit the ground hard. Even though he was only a couple feet off the ground, it still hurt when he landed. He rolled to a stop and splayed out his limbs a small smile on his face. He caught the snitch!
"Harry Potter has the snitch! Gryffindor wins! 220-110!"
Harry was suddenly glad he was laying on the ground for the cheers for the crowd was earth-shaking. He couldn't believe he caught the snitch. Fred and George zoomed down to where he was lying.
"Nicely done, Harry!" Fred leaned in front of him and smiled. He smiled back but couldn't help but wince as his face hurt. In fact his whole body hurt. He knew he didn't have any broken bones but his body was all really sore. "Up! We won! We won!" Fred grabbed his arm and yanked him on his feet. Harry winced at the sudden movement. By then the whole team had gathered around them.
"We beat them by 100 points! We did it! We did it!" Oliver kept shouting over and over again. Harry knew he was extremely happy.
Madam Hooch landed her broom next to him. "Mr. Potter, do you need the hospital wing?"
Harry shook his head and immediately regretted it as his neck hurt. He grabbed it with the hand that wasn't throbbing too bad. His teammates were concerned and the approached him.
"It's ok guys. I don't think I need to see Madam Pomfrey. I'm just banged up from the fall- nothing's broken." He tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace.
"Fine by me Potter. That catch you made got your team over 100 points to Ravenclaw. So, Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup by 10 points. Amazing." She beamed and walked over to Oliver who looked as if he was crying. "Pull yourself together captain. If you can stay out here a bit longer Potter, then you can receive the cup with the rest of your team."
He spotted Fred and George slapping each other's backs and grinning like cats that caught a canary. Oliver was running around and yelling. Angelina's head blocked his view.
"Thanks for catching that snitch right on time. You didn't know it but right after you caught the snitch they scored. It was extremely close."
The rest of the celebration was a haze for Harry. He didn't know what was going on half the time. All he really wanted to do was sit down and rest a bit but the cup was presented to the team and McGonagall and all Harry could hear was the enormous cheer from the crowd in the stands. His head hurt a bit from all the cheering but as everything eventually faded and people were heading back to Hogwarts, Harry finally got to sit down in the locker room. The three chasers already went up to the party in Gryffindor tower. Fred and George had disappeared somewhere. Harry knew they were getting things for the party. How?- he had no idea. Oliver was packing a few things and Harry was just sitting on a bench trying to relax his muscles. His arms and legs were still terribly sore from falling- but they were getting better. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened to Wood shuffle with a few more things. His eyes shot open when he heard someone come into the room.
"Hey, Madam Hooch." Oliver said as he hefted his quidditch gear and broom up from the floor.
Madam Hooch looked between the two boys and smiled. "Nicely done, Wood. Your first year as captain and you win the cup. Good keeping too. You had some interesting saves."
Oliver beamed and to Harry he looked as if he just flew to the moon. "Yeah, thanks. I have to go see if Fred and George brought anything dangerous to the party." He waved at Harry and Hooch and disappeared out the door.
Harry watched him leave and then turned his attention to his arm. He started to massage some of the aches away. It helped a bit.
"Here." What?- Harry's head wheeled around and saw Madam Hooch holding out what looked to be a jar of cream. "Use this, it's healing salve." She was still here? He thought she left with Wood. Was she gonna talk to him?
Madam Hooch took some of the slave and rubbed a bit where he had been massaging. The ache faded away.
"Wow." Harry whispered. "I love magic." Hooch barked out a laugh and shoved the salve into his hands. Harry took it and rubbed it on his arms- especially his shoulders. "Thanks." He handed it back to her and she shoved it in her pocket.
"I always keep it around if I get a bad fall on the pitch. You're welcome Mr. Potter." She turned and sat on the bench next to him.
"Uhhh…" Harry was wondering why she was just staring at him. She was smiling though so he wasn't in trouble.
"Potters and Weasleys." Hooch smiled at him. "The bunch of you can fly circles around anyone. Just seem to get better as the generations go on."
What was she talking about? Harry knew his dad played chaser then he was here…
"Best since Charlie Weasley I've seen." Hooch rambled. "You were great out there Potter. Your first three games in Quidditch. Youngest seeker in a century. In a year or two you could beat Weasley I'm sure of it. Must of gotten your talent from your father. He was an excellent chaser. Always doing crazy and new things. You're pretty amazing. Especially with that broom of yours- a Nimbus 2000…"
Harry's brain had to work overtime to pick up everything the Quidditch instructor was rambling.
"W-was My dad good?" He mumbled.
Hooch's answer was a loud laugh. "Of course Potter! He was so good he could have gone pro! He picked to work at the ministry instead- as an auror."
"R-really?" He never knew. His dad could have done professional quidditch? That was so amazing. And his dad was an auror? Like that guy in the hospital wing? Harry was amazed. Madam Hooch probably noticed his shocked face for she just nodded reassuringly.
"Hey, if you ever need someone to practice against, let me know."
"W-what? Is that allowed?" He asked, shocked that she even wanted to.
"Yeah sure. Hey, I get bored here without someone to win against." She smirked. "I was a pretty good seeker back in the day." She rose from the bench, stuck out her hand and ruffled his hair. "See ya kid."
"Bye." What was that? Did Madam Hooch just offer to help him practice? Harry couldn't decide how he wanted to feel right now- surprised or excited. Anyways, it didn't matter now. He had a party to join now that he was feeling better. But he couldn't help but think that next year's practices were going to be wicked.
OOoo00ooOO
Well, it turned out Fred and George brought bottles and bottles of butterbeer. How they had done it- Harry didn't want to know and Ron didn't want to either. They found out what the twins were doing to the furniture for a minute after he got to the party he saw it happen. The twins were applauding Oliver and forcing him to sit on a chair that was oddly placed and just when he sat in it- it exploded in confetti. Oliver had turned red and orange also. Apparently the twins wanted to know who won by coloring their captain Gryffindor colors.
Harry snickered at the memory. He was lazily wandering around the grounds. Ron had roped Seamus into a game of chess and Hermione was in the library. Neville was- well, he really didn't know where he was but it wasn't anything to worry about.
Harry felt extremely happy right now. Hermione was researching whatever went on with his memory and he wasn't going to worry about that until she came to him with some information. Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup. Su had invited him over to her house this summer. He still had no clue how to contact her but he wasn't going to worry about that either. He would see her on the train and talk to her.
Harry rounded a bend and came to the lake. He turned and headed to that old tree Tracy had pointed out before.
Tracy was interesting- he knew that. He couldn't wait to spend more time with her in the summer. But Daphne- he frowned. He walked closer to the tree and spotted something under it. It was curled up into a ball and had bright strawberry blond hair- Daphne!
He started to walk faster and as soon as he reached her he stopped and stared. He noticed she was shaking too. Why was she here? Was she going to avoid him again? Harry had only one way to find out.
"Are you ok?" He asked as he sat in the grass next to her. Her head popped up so fast he missed it because he blinked. She watched him from behind her hair until she sat up and wiped her face.
"Why are you here Potter?" her voice was a whisper.
"Just because…" Harry leaned closer to her. "But- but you didn't answer my question."
"So I didn't. What is the great Harry Potter going to do about it?" She sneered and turned away from him.
What was her problem? Harry gritted his teeth together. He did not want to get mad right now he had been feeling happy earlier he didn't want it to be spoiled by her jab.
"Nothing." He ground out. "I just thought you looked lonely and I came over here to talk to you. But if you want to be like that I'm gonna leave!" Despite his best tries, he was yelling by the time he said the last word. He stood up quickly and started to leave.
"N-no!" it was more of a squeak- but he heard it.
"What?" He whirled around and glared at the girl. She started shaking more and Harry knew he heard a few sobs.
"I-I'm s-s-sorr-y!" she hiccupped between her cries.
Again- What? He didn't understand what was going on in her head. He felt really awkward though. She was obviously crying and he didn't want to see her sad but how to stop her?- he didn't know. He sighed and went back to kneel in front of her.
"I asked you before- are you ok?" he firmly stated. She wasn't ok. He knew that. He just needed to see what was bugging her.
Right after he said that though Daphne spread her arms out and flung herself at him. She landed somewhere on his lap and her crying face was firmly planted into his stomach. She was crushing his legs- with the added weight of him and Daphne he knew they would be numb pretty soon. Her sobs continued until he felt the slim arms around his midsection loosen. Inside he was panicking like he had been doing for the duration of her crying spree. Now he was surprisingly calm and he had no clue why. He had no time to wonder why because Daphne pulled herself up and pushed away from him and sat quietly on the grass next to him.
"Thanks." She whispered. It was so soft Harry hardly heard it. But he smiled a bit at the thanks. He didn't think he did anything.
"Well, you're welcome I guess."
"I-I'm sorry f-for bugging you Potter. I'll leave you alone."
"Please don't." He stared at the redness around her eyes. "Do, um, do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"It'll make you feel better."
"No." was her firm reply.
"Alright, I guess. You don't have to say anything… I just thought…." Harry leaned backwards and gazed up into the sky.
"Well I s-should apologize… for how I was acting." She mumbled- still in a whisper.
Harry still looked at the clouds. "When you were avoiding me like the plague? What did I do?"
"N-nothing. It was me. What I saw in that mirror spooked me. And then Tracey started to talk to you. I-I-I…" she hesitated. Harry waited for a minute until she spoke again. "I w-was just avoiding my problem-s and… I'm sorry. It was n-nothing yo-u did. I-I just…" she couldn't continue. Harry knew that was probably the best apology she had. It was a good one. He smiled a bit and looked over at her.
"Apology accepted. Can we be friends again?"
Daphne's lips twitched. "We were never friends Potter." Harry didn't take offence to that. He noticed she was smiling as she stared at her hands.
"Oh, too bad. Being friends with me has perks." He smiled back to her even though she couldn't see him. She shook her head with a grin on her face and turned to him.
"Really like what?"
"I don't know. Can't think of any."
"Well sign me up then. Is there a waiting list to become friends with the all powerful boy-who-lived?" Harry frowned at that part. "If there is can I be first in line or do you take reservations for the obviously high class person you are."
Was she insulting him? If she was he didn't understand it. Harry decided to smirk at whatever she said and pretend he knew what she was talking about. "No, no waiting list."
"Well good. Thanks again Potter." She nudged him in the side.
"It's Harry." He protested.
"Whatever you say Potter." She rubbed at her eyes and gave him a wave. She took off to the castle. Probably to talk to Tracey?
Well Harry didn't really feel better after that conversation. He didn't get anything out of her other than an apology. She became even more confusing. Maybe he would have to ask Tracey about it sometime. Harry scooted backwards and leaned up against the old tree. He still felt happy and he was glad for that. He breathed deeply. A soft hoot was heard above him and he opened his eyes only to come face to face with Hedwig.
"Hi girl. Were you here the whole time?" She only gave him what he knew to be a reproachful look.
"I'm sorry. Of course you were." She hooted and ruffled her feathers. He scratched her and she flew up into the tree. Harry smiled again and gazed up into the deep blue sky. Merlin, how he loved the outdoors.
OOoo00ooOO
"Harry." Hermione said from beside him. Both of them were sitting on the Hogwarts Express and he had been staring out the window for a while. "Harry."
"What?" He turned her head and saw the worried look Hermione gave him.
"I did all the research I could do. I think I found something."
"Really?"
"I waited until now so I would know that we were alone…" she trailed off and bit her lip and rubbed her hands together. She was incredibly nervous. "Tell me what you can't remember again?"
"After Quirrell collapsed."
"See!" Hermione practically shouted. "That's the problem! When you were telling us the story you told us some things about what happened after that but after you had that headache… it disappeared…"
She looked at him and fidgeted with her hands. There is only one thing I found that explains that… a memory charm.
Harry started to breathe heavily. "A-are you a-absolutely sure?" A memory charm? "H-how?" he whispered.
"There are two types. One where your memories are replaced by another memory and the other one where it fully deletes the memory from your mind. Your situation sounds like the latter but you knew you couldn't remember. You're not supposed to know anything about that when someone memory charms you. I can't explain it."
"Someone messed with my memories?" Harry said in a low voice. "Are you sure?"
"I'm about 90% sure, Harry."
Harry sighed and sank into the bench he was sitting on.
"Harry." Hermione reached out to him but he turned away just as Ron opened the compartment door.
"Uhh, what's going on?" He stared confusingly between Hermione and him.
"Nothing. I just need some air." Harry stood up and stepped out of the compartment. He walked towards the front of the train. He wasn't paying all that attention to where he was going until he bumped into someone who just happened to be Su.
"Oh! Harry! Hi!" She said excitedly.
"Hi." He smiled. It was a bit forced but he knew that he shouldn't take out his frustration on her.
"I can't wait for the summer. I made so many new friends. I'll make sure to send Minzy to you in a few days with a date you and Tracey can come." She giggled and Harry found himself smiling for real. "I can't wait!"
"Me neither." He said.
"Bye Harry." She waved at him as she bounded down the corridor and darted inside a compartment.
Harry walked a few more steps until he was forcefully yanked sideways and shoved onto the ground with a thump. He heard a slam of a compartment door and a whirling sound of the curtain closing. Who attacked him? Malfoy? He opened his eyes and his jaw dropped in surprise. Tracey and Daphne were standing above him.
"What? Thought we were Malfoy?" Tracey laughed.
"No…"
"Yeah, right. And I'm the tooth fairy."
Harry sniggerd.
"Enough of this though." Tracey said. She pulled him to his feet and shoved him towards the opposite bench that her and Daphne were sitting at. "This is an interrogation."
"W-what?"
"You heard me Potter. We tell you not to go after Quirrell and what do you do… Go after him anyway!" Tracey grumbled. "Typical Gryffindor…"
"Hey! I asked Professor McGonagall about it too-"
"That isn't much better!" Daphne pouted. "You should have told Flitwick! He's smarter."
"Well, excuse me about not thinking about him when I was fearing for my life!" Harry shouted at both girls. He was mad. They had the nerve to yell at him about it? Right after he learned he could have had his memory erased?
Tracey seemed to flinch away from his anger. "Well, sorry for worrying." She sneered and glared at him.
"Sorry." He ran a hand through his hair. "That subject's a bit sensitive now. Hermione was doing some research and she thinks I had some of my memories erased of what happened after Quirrell collapsed."
"What?" Daphne exclaimed.
"Yeah…" He sighed.
"T-that's absurd P-Potter." Tracey stammered. "Why would someone do that? Who would do that?"
"I don't know…"
"Well anyway…" Daphne changed the subject. "What happened to Quirrell? Nothing was said about him."
Harry sighed and told them what happened with him and the stone and Voldemort's role.
"That's nasty." Were the comments from both girls.
"So… after Quirrell collapsed I don't remember anything. He was looking pretty weak when I was fighting him. And when I woke up, the auror-"
"An auror?"
"Yeah… well he said that Quirrell was dead."
"So he died?" Tracey asked. "How?"
"You killed him?" Daphne blurted out.
What? He killed Quirrell?
Tracey leaned across her seat and shoved Daphne hard. "Don't say that!"
"What? It sounded like he killed him. Sorry, I was just stating what I thought."
"Think!"
Harry watched them go back and forth for a few minutes. In actuality he was wondering about what Daphne said. He killed Quirrell? Really? But Quirrell only collapsed and then he didn't remem-
He didn't remember! He could have done it! He could have caused Quirrell's death. Harry thought he was going to be sick. His stomach flipped uneasily and he grabbed his head.
"Oh! She's sorry Harry! Daphne didn't mean it." Tracey said as she came over and grabbed his arms. "Look at me, you didn't kill him." Harry stared at her apprehensively. Did she really think that? Slowly- to him at least- his stomach stopped feeling like it was on a rollercoaster. "Better?" She asked.
"Yeah." He mumbled.
"Daphne's insensitive. Ignore her."
"Hey!" Daphne shouted.
Harry laid down on the bench to stretch out. This was a very stressful train ride. All he wanted to do was go to sleep and forget everything that happened. He closed his eyes and the sounds of the two Slytherin girl's bickering grew softer until he fell asleep.
OOoo00ooOO
"Harry! Are you alright?" Hermione was crowding around him when he came back into the compartment right when the train was pulling into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"I'm ok. Sorry for worrying you but I fell asleep." He quickly grabbed Hedwig and his trunk and followed Ron and Hermione onto the platform.
"It's ok Harry. Don't worry too much. Make sure you do your homework and owl me anytime you want." She smiled and he saw her disappear with a couple who were her parents. He spotted Mrs. Weasley in the crowd and headed over to her with Ron.
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley for the Christmas present."
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "It was nothing Harry dear. It was just nice to know Ron had made such a wonderful friend." Harry blushed.
"Bye Ron."
"Bye Harry. Have a good summer." He turned away from the Weasleys all the while hearing a faint 'Mom! Mom! Was that Harry Potter!'. He spotted Neville with his grandmother and waved at him. Neville turned away from his grandmother and he waved back. Harry went though the barrier and found the Dursleys waiting for him. Uncle Vernon looked a healthy (for him anyway) puce color. Dudley was hiding behind his mother and Aunt Petunia was watching his every move.
"So, boy, enjoy that freak school of yours?"
Harry knew not to say anything to that and just silently followed his family to their car. He hoped this summer would end up better then how it started.
OOoo00ooOO
9,754 Words. Published 2/24/2011, Thursday. Note- I never spell-checked this chapter.
Author's Note: So, now that all of my readers are gone… because of this horrible chapter… How'd you like it? I just couldn't wait for King to get in there. :) It always confused me about Quirrell's death. I mean, come on, he dies (sorta)! How does Dumbledore explain that away? So that was my solution to that problem. This wraps up first year and next chapter will be the summer time. And maybe meet someone new? Hmm? I took a while to type this cuz I wanted it to be just right. A few of the small things you probably didn't notice cause major changes down the plot line, so I had to really concentrate.
I just had to mess with canon. I put something in this story that is SO not canon but I love the concept too much not to include it in my story. (I don't think Worldmaker has this on his list as a 'don't do it!'… so, I ran with it! NOTE: if you have never checked out Woldmaker's profile… do it now! It's awesome. :D Love it!) If any of you can guess what the hell it is that I love so much to put it in this story (there's one tiny, tiny hint in this chapter) then I'll do anything to the story that you want me to (within limits). I'm serious… (hehe), but if tons upon tons of you guess it right then… you're all psychic or something… because it's really obscure…
About the Angelina and Alicia part. I had to do it. I just had to. If you don't know what I was talking about in that scene then… oh well, I tried.
Don't hate on the Quidditch scene. It was my first time writing one. After reading tons of other amazing authors write them, I finally gave it a shot… and definitely failed. Oh well, it was hard to write.
NOTE: some of you may find this funny…
My mom has been reading my story so far. She loves Harry Potter don't get me wrong, but… well… she can't remember much about it… She read all the books… watched all the movies with me, (she loved Deathly Hallows pt 1 even though I had already seen it 2 times by then [5 in all]). She asked me this question in chapter 2… Harry's a Half-Blood? And I'm like wtf? OF COURSE HE IS! The issue came up again last chapter and she asks me the same thing again and I reply yes he is! How she got it into her head that Lily was a muggle I never know, but I was so darn frustrated… grrr… Then she comments how McGonagall would know Harry's mum if she was a muggle. I about blew a gasket. Uggg… MOM!
Anyway… so I went into this rant on blood purity and everything but I think I confused her because I used a lot of examples. Then… oh then… then she reads this chapter and says… too canon! (I taught her that word. I kept on saying it in reference to my story and she had no clue what the word meant.) So im like… [thinking: ok, I can see that the first part is a little canon… but omg!] so I answer back, HOW? Then I point out Neville went with them this time. She says : but he didn't do anything. Hello? He knew about the devil's snare! Then there's no comment about the black mist… she apparently thinks it's canon… Then I ask a most innocent question… What about the part with Kingsley? She replies… He wasn't in the first book? AAHHGGGG!
Thank you Umbra8191, sh777,knightwolf20x, Zaralann, ILikeComps, god of all, whatweareafreaidof, and monbade.
Sweetcars12- Thanks for reviewing! And I really don't know what to do with Sirius yet. He might die, he might not. However, someone needs to die for my story to continue past that part in my plot line. Whether it will be Sirius or not… I'm not sure.
Naginator- Yes I did think of Flitwick at first, then what happens in future chapters seems weird if I didn't have McGonagall be the teacher they asked. And Daphne and Tracey reamed Harry out for going after the stone.
Teufel1987- I could (have) done it your way! Could of, could of, could of, could of, could of,… Hehehee! I actually thought about that this chapter. I caught myself writing of and changed it to have! Props to you!
Dinomus- I am a dudette and proud of that. And I had to remind myself what a foil was… Well… can you consider it canon anymore? More or less… I've been planning Su's character for awhile now. So for me it wasn't surprising! Hehehe. Hufflepuff? Hmm… You might be able to guess who he meets from there first from this chapter. :)
Ams7eL- One difference at the beginning, then it magically changes! Viola! The one change causes many more… And the 'one' in the title is referring to Daphne not how many differences there are.
cah11- Yes, sorry to disappoint you about Daphne and Tracey joining Harry on his adventure. But if you are really sad about that, they accompany him on many of the rest…
DragonWolf of Chaos- Really? (almost) 4? Hmmm… I can't remember all the strange ones I read because I didn't favorite them… (for being too weird…) How 'bout the one where Harry is a green lantern? (cool) or the one where he was… a vampire demon creature thing? Or I remember a Harry/Hedwig fanfiction I once read… I was bored… ok,… I always felt bad for Neville. Harry's going to be his friend (doesn't mean Ron or Hermione are though…) Consider this canon officially twisted! Yay! (well I love harem fics… HA! :P)
Worldmaker- Oh my gosh… You reviewed my story? (How awesome!) And I know about Ron being an idiot is bad, and stupid, but I just made him like that in the beginning to prove a point! He gets better! Lots better! I promise! I practically agree with all of the things you don't like in stories (on your profile) so I tried to make this story with as little of the things you pointed out as possible. I think idiot!Ron is the only one I found… but he gets better. This chapter especially? Right? :)
Zeromaru Chaos Mode- Oh wow! You reviewed all three chapters? Well, here goes my response! (It's gonna be long) Yes, Harry will have many obstacles to overcome before he and Daphne get together.(My time-skips are less choppy than yours? Neat!) Yes you would be correct to assume that not much changes during the time-skips. (That's why the time-skips are there.) Oh, the crayon is neat and semi-important… maybe… just thought it'd be neat… The fallout with Ron will happen, as one usually happens in Harry and Slytherin stories… About Su Li, I have read few stories about her so I portrayed her how I would have. She's a 12 year old girl… so she's more bubbly. Yes, events will make Hermione more tolerable and Ron less… Ron…
tumshie- Oh, my. I KNEW I forgot something else… I think I've changed my first chapter 4 times now… here goes a 5th…
Penseln- Yes, Daphne is a puzzle… She gives you a (very small) hint this chapter!
Halmir- Yes, I'm hesitant to make it a H/D/T. Probably because people like romancy things and I'll probably suck at writing them… I'm trying to stick to the building of the relationship.(Oh! Story with seven wives? Hmm… nice. I know who I would pick! … Ginny, Daphne, Susan, Padma, Luna, Tracey, and … Tonks!)
RamaFan- Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, I'm trying my hardest to stop dropping things like that… I've done it for so long in my writing… my 3 original stories have about as many holes as swiss cheese and I'm trying to prevent that with this story. Maybe point them out to me in a PM? It's difficult when you don't know what to do with them… And… Oh Trust Me! My story will be different at the end… It will be different… Things that happen in canon don't happen in this story in later chapters. (like really later chapters…)
JKArcanus- Yeah I guess it could come off like that. I didn't mean for it to… Those incidences you said that she could read his mind at, Harry's feelings were showing on his face and Daphne's just perceptive. Yeah I wouldn't want to get to know Daphne either but she sticks with Tracey, who is- at the moment- easier for Harry to deal with. Hermione gets less bossy… soon, I think…
MartinDeShade- It's realistic? Really? How come I didn't notice? Thanks for reviewing though. If it's realistic then I have no clue what I'm writing… that's sad…
Antonimus- First year was so boring I had to get it over fast. Hermione is annoying. I made her that way. Now, (after this chapter) she gets better. :) Hmm… Tracey, is a very complicated person. I think before I even typed a sentence of this story I wrote a paragraph of background on her. If you like her characterization, you will (most likely) enjoy where I take her character. I hope.
DarkseidAlex- Thanks! And yes, Harry will have tons of friends! Yay!
smaginn- Well, she's unapproachable in the beginning… dun dun dun! :) hehe.
Exwindz- Daphne being nicer happens soon! Yay! (she was not being cold or anything in chap 3 just avoidant and confused.) More people will like Harry. Not sayin' who right now! Hehe. This isn't a superawesomekickass!Harry story… (I love those though…) but he will have some additional things that make him extra special. One you get a hint of in this chapter… Oooh! More plugs for stories! Grrr! (snickers) They sound neat. I'll haveta check 'em out!... (Tonks!)
Black Phoenix 7777- If I make it a H/D/T then I'll probably have to get someone to write the romance for me… or else it would really, really suck… Yeah, I know there are other ways of making Harry Lord Black. Somehow I just can't see Sirius being sterile… And the minute you mentioned castrating… I burst out laughing and remembered the horribly funny scene in 'This Means War!' where Ginny pranks Sirius about being castrated… hehehehe! Thanks for the review! :D