Chapter 3: Holy Mother

I was going to have fun. Harry and I were standing outside the Great Hall, our reactions absolutely different about this place. I knew Harry missed the castle, he missed everything about it, and so did I. It had been home to both of us or such a long time, it held both happy and sad memories. It was our home, our sanctuary, our reunion. Everybody had been here, everything had been ordered and under control. Everything had been safe.

I started reaching for the door to bang it open and present myself in an absolutely Draco way. When everything was over, we had become friends, trustees.

My hand was on the door, about to pull it open when my free hand was grabbed in a rather tight clasp. My brother was frightened. This was the only way you could tell that he was frightened. Otherwise, he looked absolutely perfect. He was scared, afraid of what we would find behind closed doors (no pun intended) if his rigid and clammy hand had anything to say. I squeezed his larger hand to give him courage as I pushed the doors open with little problem (I did have dragon strength, you know). We stepped inside and warm sunshine hit us in a way that made the scales beneath our skin ripple and absorb it.

Aaahh… I had missed this haven, everything was the same. Nothing was different, not the walls, the ceiling, the tables, the food, the teachers. As the sun hid behind some clouds, the hall came into clear view. Everybody's eyes were on us, the students, the teachers, the Slytherins, Dumbledore.

Those eyes should not have been staring at us; they should not have been here at all. Harry had noticed it as well.

"This is not right, Hermione. He should not be here. Nobody, I can't recognize anybod…" he trailed off in a very disturbed voice. I followed his gaze towards the middle of the Gryffindor table. There, sitting right there staring at us were Sirius and Remus, just as old as us. Beside them sat a red-headed girl with Harry's eyes, a man that looked like a chewed out pickle and another. Another, who looked exactly like Harry before both of the ceremonies had taken place. James Potter.

"Tell me I've died and gone to heaven," Harry spoke again in an indifferent voice; soft Shurqnia. He was trying to hide the hurt he felt at the moment. But I could tell what he felt, and at what magnitude he felt it. We had decided we would never lie to each other so I could not tell him that he had died. And anyway, that chewed out pickle thing was definitely Pettigrew and hell if he ended up in heaven.

"Nope, we've portkeyed and gone to… 1977? Holy mother." Okay, that wasn't much better than actually telling his that yes, he was in heaven and Pettigrew was with us. That would go down well. 'Holy mother' came out of my mouth unwillingly as every member of the staff had –in unison- stood up and pointed their wands at us. I looked at Harry, he couldn't take his eyes off the five who had also stood up and pointed their wands at us in defence.

I looked back at the staff members. The line 'if looks could kill, I'd be fried chicken by now' played in my mind.

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Harry whispered, finally looking in front of him and patting my head as if I was Toto. Then, without proper warning, Harry did what I could not believe he did, he smiled. It was the sweetest smile I was ever alive to see (it could work as a patronus charm).

"Hello Headmaster Dumbledore! My beloved sister and I have had a slight portkey problem, so would you mind seeing us in private? That way, we could fill you in on the whole situation." I swear, he could charm a rock to do what he wished at that moment. But then again, it wasn't truly that hard considering our newly acquired heritage.

The hall was still for some time, just staring at Harry. But then, he performed the inevitable. He flicked his hair, Black style, in front of the Black.

I could not hold it in any longer. I laughed, I laughed so hard I fell to the floor clutching my stomach as tears of mirth swam down my face. It must have been a sight to see, Hermione Granger, the resident book worm know-it-all, throwing her dignity and honour away willingly. And it was, by the look on Harry's face. That little twit had done it on purpose.

I suddenly looked up, only to see that every staff member had a slightly shocked and confused look on their face, even ol' Dumbledore. That is until he broke out of it with a twinkle in his godforsaken eyes.

"Of course my fine friends, please follow me," I heard the old aged voice say with a bounce. By then, I had stopped laughing (hidden bouts of giggling wasn't laughing). Harry knelt beside me and slowly picked me up hiding his shining eyes underneath long lashes.

He was definitely as affected by the presence of our deceased mentor as I was. He just had the tendency to hide vivid emotion behind a thick layer of sarcasm and humour.

When I was standing on my own and fairly sober, I saw Dumbledore whisper something into young Minerva's ear. I couldn't tell what he was saying because I couldn't focus on my ears but Harry was listening. He would tell me if it was something important.

Dumbledore started walking towards us in a sweeping yet bubbly manner. Seriously, how could someone so aged have that much energy? I would think it would become nauseating after some time. But it was Dumbledore we were talking about, he was just a little looney (no offence to Luna of course, she is my second favourite character in the whole series). It wasn't classified information of anything.

"Five galleons if you can tell me how old Dumbledore is in the next 5.25 seconds."

Fourth chapter whiew! please review. Once again, I dont have an editor so please notify me if their is something amiss.