Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
The next morning at breakfast, I did not look at Fred. I could feel my face flush at the idea of him sitting only three people down from me. But before I could linger on that thought Hermione was swarmed with owls. She opened on of the letters and read it. She scoffed and threw it on the table. I snatched it up and read it. It looked as though the letter had been cut out of a magazine or something.
You are a wicked girl. Harry Potter deserves better. Go back where you came from Muggle.
I looked up at Hermione who was reading more of them. Her eyes flew so fast from one to the other that I wondered how she could read them so fast.
"Hermione…" I started.
"They're all like it!" She exclaimed shoving them at me. And they were. Each one of them saying something particularly nasty and sometimes insulting her in awful ways. I pulled a thicker envelope towards me and opened it. Before I knew what was going on, small fire works were flying straight towards my face. I yelped as they hit me. I couldn't see anything as I fell backwards hitting my head hard on the ground, blacking out.
I woke up but all I could see was black. I blinked a few times but nothing helped. I sat up but everything was still black. I could hear things around me but I didn't know what was making them.
"Madam Pomfrey!" I called out desperately. "Madam Pomfrey!" I heard a door open and footsteps across the room.
"Yes Miss. Potter?" She asked, but I couldn't tell where she was exactly.
"I…I can't see anything." I said, realization hitting me. I couldn't see anything! "Oh my God! What happened to me?" I asked.
"Well, you were hit in the face by a small firework and fell and hit your head." She said in a worried tone.
"So, am I like, blind forever?" I demanded.
"I don't know sweetheart." She replied in a tone I had never heard her use. I flopped back onto my pillows crying out of my unseeing eyes. I eventually cried myself to sleep. I woke up again and it was the same black it had been earlier. I listened hardly and heard things I hadn't before. The elimination of one of my senses seemed to have heightened the others. I could hear the crickets chirping outside and the wind in the trees. I could also hear the soft sounds from the forest that led me to believe that it was nighttime. I sighed and tried to sleep but the sounds kept me awake. I lie there for who knows how long thinking about what would happen if I was permanently blind. I would never be able to see my friend's faces again. I would never be able to duel or fight because I wouldn't know where my opponent was. I would never be able to draw. Or paint. That was hit my heart the hardest. It made me cry again. And once more I fell asleep with tears in my eyes.
I woke up the next…day and sat up, everything was still pitch black. I groaned. I was blind. I had resigned to it. I would never get anywhere like this.
"Madam Pomfrey?" I called out.
"Good morning Miss. Potter. How are your eyes today?"
"I still can't see anything. Like at all."
"Oh dear." She bustled around and I heard liquid being poured and I relaxed. Madam Pomfrey would have a solution. She'd have too. "Here drink this and I'll check back in a an hour to see how you're doing. In the mean time…oh look it's your brother. I'll leave you to them." And with that she walked away. I could hear her talking to them but I didn't know what she was saying.
"Hi Hannah." Hermione said.
"Hey. How are your hands?"
"Oh, they've been better. Umm…Hannah? Why are you staring at my shoulder?"
"Oh. Umm…cause I can't see." I replied. There was silence then they all started talking.
"WHAT!?!?" Harry cried. "How could….how could you…HERMIONE! Why did you let her open that?"
"Blind?" Ron asked.
"OH so this is my fault?" Hermione exclaimed. "Well excuse me if I was too busy worrying about my hands swelling!"
"Guys…GUYS!" They all stopped and I'm guessing, looked at me. "Listen, Madam Pomfrey gave me some kind of potion and she said that any effect will happen in an hour. So until then we just have to wait okay? No freaking out on each other and no being all weird cause I can't see. Just…just be normal." And they were. We talked for an hour and when Madam Pomfrey came to check on me something seemed different.
"How are your eyes?" she asked.
"Everything is a little lighter."
"Oh good. Now, I want you to spend one more night here then tomorrow you can go. Your vision will get lighter and lighter until it completely returns." I sighed.
"Oh good. How long do you think that'll take?"
"A few weeks." I groaned. Oh well. So I spent the night in the hospital wing again and woke to find that nothing had changed from yesterday's improvement. I ate the breakfast Madam Pomfrey gave me and left. Then realized I should wait for Hermione or one of them because I couldn't see. Genius I know. So I did. Hermione finally came down and we walked up together.
"So is it any better?"
"No. But she said it would be slow."
"Well as long as you get it back."
"Oh don't I know it." Then I fell. "Oh snap." I muttered. "What just happened?"
"The trick step." Hermione replied.
"Oh man."
"On three I'm gonna pull you out okay?"
"Okay."
"One, two, THREE!" and she pulled. I came free and stepped to the step above it. "Good thing you're so little Hannah."
"It's a blessing and a curse." We made it to the common room without any other trouble which was a miracle. This routine went on for the next week. Harry, Hermione and Ron would take turns leading me around and I felt like a dog to be perfectly honest. I was surprised I hadn't been left behind yet at the end of the first week. It was the last day of May and time for Harry to go find out what his third task was. So he left after dinner and then Hermione remembered she had left something in the library so it was just Ron and I. We were walking back to the common room when we came up to a crowded corridor. I tried to grab onto Ron but he was gone. I stood there trying to figure out how to get past this when I was pushed into the fray. I tried to make my way out of it but I didn't know which way I was going. I finally was out of the mess but had no idea where I was. I wandered around trying to see if by some mystery I could make it back to the common room.
"You lost?" a voice from behind me said. I turned and saw a vague outline but it looked just like everyone else.
"You could say that."
"One would think that after four years the disorientation would go away." The voice joked closer this time.
"Yeah well on any other day I would be fine but…"
"But…"
"Sorry but who are you?"
"Oh Potter you wound me."
"Well I can't see so…"
"That explains it. I'm Cedric."
"Oh. Hi. I thought you were at the third task unveiling. Thing. Whatever."
"Well I was but we're done now."
"Oh. Then…never mind."
"What?"
"Just…I was wondering where Harry was."
"Oh. I thought he would be here." I shook my head and sighed.
"I should probably get back to the common room." How I don't know, I thought.
"Want some help?" I smiled.
"I would love that. Thanks."
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"
"Well, umm. Did you read that article about…Hermione and Harry?"
"Oh yeah. How dumb was that?"
"Really, really dumb. But anyway, she got all this mail and I helped her open some, and well…there were some, firecrackers and…well."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Are you permanently blind?"
"No actually. Madam Pomfrey said that it would be a few weeks but already everything is…is getting lighter. I can see outlines of people now."
"So you could see like, my outline."
"Yeah. I just couldn't see you." I stopped and smiled.
"What?"
"Well, when muggles are blind, what they do is...it's weird but they see through their hands. So, they feel their friend's faces to see. I just thought of it."
"That's interesting."
"Yeah." We stood in silence before Cedric spoke again.
"Lets head to your common room."
"Okay." He took my hand and my stomach flipped. I chided myself. You like Fred remember? Plus Cedric has a girlfriend. We were walking along and I tripped, smacking my face on the floor. "Ow."
"You okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine." I rubbed my lip and felt blood. "Ouch."
"You're bleeding. Here." He wiped it off.
"Umm…Thanks."
"You're welcome. I know this is going to sound awful but, I only know you as Potters little sister."
"It's okay. At least you know me. Many don't. I'm Hannah."
"Hannah. I like that name."
"Thanks. I hate it."
"Why?"
"It's so…plain."
"But you counter balance it with your…" he trailed off.
"What?"
"With your talents and looks." He said sheepishly. I blushed even more. We walked the rest of the way in silence. "Well here we are."
"Thanks. You know…how did you know where the Gryffindor Tower was?"
"That is an excellent question." I laughed. "Last year when Sirius Black broke in we all stopped to look at it."
"Question answered. Well thank you very much Mr. Diggory."
"You are very welcome Miss. Potter." That scene was too familiar. "I'll see you later."
"Later. Oh and Cedric?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck at the next task."
"Thanks." He said with a smile in his voice. I stood and listened to him walk away.
"Oh snap out of it Hannah. He's not your type."
"Honey, he's much better than the Weasley." The Fat Lady said.
"Whatever. Baubles." I said and climbed through the portrait hole.
"Hannah! There you are! I'm so sorry! I forgot about you." Ron said.
"It's fine. I made it in one piece."
"Yeah with a swollen and bleeding lip."
"Is that anything new? I mean, I'm Hannah Potter remember?" he laughed and I maneuvered my way to a chair. "Good lord the years almost over."
"Oh I know! Exams are going to be here in a few weeks." Hermione said.
"That and summer." Ron retorted.
"Oh yeah. I mean, exams and summer the biggest thing on our plate." I replied tartly.
"Well what were you on about?" Ron demanded.
"Hello?!? The third task?!? You know, Harry facing death?"
"Oh. That."
"Yeah that." I heard someone walking towards us. "Who's coming?"
"Your obnoxious, ridiculous, hot-headed…"
"Fantastic, gorgeous and lovable brother."
"Oh give me a break Harry." I said sticking my tongue out at him. I felt arms wrap around me and I hugged him back.
"How's the vision coming?"
"Better. Everything is much lighter."
"Good. Maybe you'll be able to see in a few weeks when the third task comes. Speaking of, when I was coming back Krum wanted to talk to me about you Hermione and so I went to talk with him. We took a walk towards the forest and you'll never guess who came. Who do you think?"
"You just said we'd never guess Harry so just tell us." I snapped.
"Well Barty Crouch came. And he was babbling. Talking to Percy then he would be back to the present and he asked for Dumbledore so I went to get him. When we got down there, Krum was stunned and Crouch was gone." We sat in silence before Hermione spoke.
"Wait. He was just…gone?" she asked.
"Yeah. It was weird."
"What the HELL were you thinking taking a walk into the woods at dusk with Krum?" I snapped.
"Geez chill out! He wanted to talk and I agreed to. He wanted to clear up the whole Hermione thing okay! That's what we talked about. Well until Crouch showed up." I couldn't see his face but I could tell he was waiting for my response to that.
"Okay okay. Sorry. It's just…I sorta agree with Si…Snuffles on this. Harry, you could potentially die in that maze next month." I sighed and stood rather quickly, almost falling back into the chair. "I'm going to bed. Night."
"Night." They all replied.
"You need help up the stairs?" Hermione asked. I shook my head.
"Nah. I'll be fine. It's getting clearer all the time. Tomorrow I'll be much better." I said with confidence I only wish I had. IT was already early morning and I wondered how much sleep I would actually get. It turned out I was exhausted and fell asleep the minute I hit the pillow.
"Hannah." A voice said from over me, what seemed like only five minutes later, "We're going to the Owlery. Wanna come?" I turned over and saw Hermione. Actually SAW Hermione. Not just her figure or outline or shadow. The solid living Hermione.
"Oh. My. God!" I squealed. "I can see you! Like REALLY see you!" I jumped out of bed and ran to her. "Hermione! I missed your face!" I said hugging her.
"Oh my God!!! You can see! She whispered so we wouldn't wake Lavender or Pavarti. We giggled and I grabbed a jacket before running down the stairs to see my brother and Ron. And I did. Granted they were a little fuzzy but I could see them. I hugged Ron and then Harry grinning from ear to ear.
"Whoa. What happened to you?" Harry asked.
"I can see!"
"You can?"
"That's great!" The two boys exclaimed. I nodded and bounded to the portrait hole.
"Let's go!" I said and we did. We walked all the way to the Owlery in silence. I could tell they wanted to say something but they were letting me enjoy the scenery for the first time in weeks. When we got to the Owlery however they began talking.
"So either Crouch attacked Viktor or somebody else did when Viktor wasn't looking." Hermione said.
"I bet it was Crouch." Ron replied quickly. "And then he…
"Ron, we've been over this. You cannot disapperate on Hogwarts grounds!" Hermione snapped.
"Well maybe he stunned himself!" Ron protested.
"And evaporated?" I asked.
"Oh yeah…"
"Go through it once more Harry." Hermione asked.
"He was babbling then would talk about Voldemort getting stronger." Harry said shrugging ( I could see it!)
"Well maybe he was out of his mind!" Ron said. "You said he sounded crazy."
"Yeah but he was sanest talking about Voldemort getting stronger." Harry sighed. "He needed to see Dumbledore. If Snape hadn't held me up." He muttered bitterly.
"Maybe he didn't want you to get there!" Ron cried suddenly. "He could've gotten down there before you guys!"
"Not unless he can turn into a bat." Hermione pointed out. "Ugh!! We need Mad-Eye! He'd figure it out!"
"Well he has the Marauders Map. If it was with him it would've been really easy." Harry said.
"Unless he was out of the boundaries!" Ron said again. "Doesn't it only…"
"SHH!" Hermione hissed and we heard voices coming up the stairs.
"---that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that---"
"---we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Minister knowing what he did---"
"I'm telling you, if you put it in writing, its blackmail."
"Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff will you?" The door banged open and Fred and George walked in stopping the conversation flat.
"What are you doing here?" Ron and Fred asked at the same time.
"Sending a letter." Harry and George said.
"What, at this time?" Fred and Hermione said.
"Hark whose talking." George and I said. We all laughed.
"We won't ask you if you don't ask us." Fred said, holding a sealed envelope in his hands. I saw Harry looking but Fred moved his hand to cover the name. I met his eyes and raised an eyebrow. He just smiled and shook his head.
"Don't let us hold you up kiddies." He said with a bow.
"Who are you blackmailing?" Ron asked. Fred froze and George glanced at him before smiling.
"I was just joking."
"Didn't sound like it." Ron retorted.
"I've told you before Ron. If you like the shape your nose is now, keep it out of our business."
"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone!"
"You're sounding like our dear older brother." Fred snarled. "Keep it up and you'll be a prefect."
"Will not!" Ron cried defiantly.
"But you could get in trouble." Hermione said.
"I said I was joking!" George said.
"You will too Hermione." He replied. She stood mouth agape and shook her head.
"Then stop telling people what to do." George secured the letter to an owl and took it to the window. Then he and his twin left.
"Well that wasn't at all suspicious." I said decidedly.
"They wouldn't do something to break the law would they?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno. They don't exactly mind breaking rules do they?" Ron pointed out.
"But it's not a rule…"
"Oh my God because it's totally in our control!" I snapped. "We can't do anything can we? Best forget and not get involved."
"Geez you're concerned." Ron snarled.
"I am! But we have no control over it!!!" Ron opened his mouth then looked mollified. We stood talking about whether or not we could risk going to Moody this early. We decided to wait till lunch. And so we did. All in all we didn't get any farther than we had before we talked to him. The rest of the day was no different than normal. The next morning Sirius had written us back.
Harry---what do you think you're playing at, walking off into the forest with Viktor Krum? I want you to swear, by return owl, that you are not going to go walking with anyone else at night. There is somebody highly dangerous at Hogwarts. It is clear to me that they wanted to stop Crouch from seeing Dumbledore and you were probably feet away from them in the dark. You could have been killed.
Your name didn't get into the Goblet of Fire by accident. If someone's trying to attack you, they're on their last chance. Stay close to Ron and Hermione and of course your sister, do not leave Gryffindor Tower after hours, and arm yourself for the third take. Practice Stunning and Disarming. A few hexes wouldn't go amiss either. There's nothing you can do about Crouch. Keep your head down and look after yourself. I'm waiting for your letter giving me your word you won't stay out-of-bounds again.
Sirius
"Who's he to lecture me about being out-of-bounds?" Harry asked in mild indignation. "All the stuff he did at school!"
"He's worried about you Harry!" I said. "He doesn't want you hurt! After all you're the only thing like family he's got left."
"But no one's tried to attack me this year though!"
"But they could! Just…just get ready for the maze okay?" I said pleading. "Now we're going back to the tower and you're writing to Sirius and promising you won't sneak off alone again!"
The next month passed quickly and before long it was time for the maze. That day Mrs. Weasley and Bill showed up to watch Harry in the third task. Harry got the day off and they all walked around the grounds talking. Then it was time. My insides had been a mess all day and I couldn't eat anything at dinner. We went down to the pitch and saw the huge hedges that made up the maze. I saw some teachers talking to the champions in the middle of the field as I walked with Hermione to the stands where Mrs. Weasley and Bill were sitting. Harry looked up and saw us and I waved. He waved back and I smiled, hoping I looked more confident than I felt.
"Good luck Harry." I whispered as I sat down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" Ludo Bagman announced. "Let me announce how the points currently stand. Tied in first with eighty-five points, Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!" There was a loud cheering from me and my fellow students. "In second place with eighty points, Mr. Viktor Krum of Drumstrang Institute." More applause. "And in third, Miss Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons Academy!" the last of the applause died out and Harry turned to look at us again. We waved back at him and smiled.
"So on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" Said Bagman. "One…two…THREE!" He blew his whistle and in went my brother and Cedric.
"Good luck Harry." I sighed watching the rest of the champions head into the maze. "And all we have to do is wait." And wait we did. Red sparks were sent up twice each time making me jump with anxiety. The first time it was Fleur then Krum. Then, the maze disappeared. But no one was there. Cedric and Harry were gone. I stood up and made my way down to the field.
"Mama, you're going to have to remain in the stands." An older wizard said.
"No! My brother's gone." I said and pushed past him. I reached Hagrid on the field and I waited in silence. We both waited. Eventually there was a flash of light and Harry was lying face down, clutching Cedric's body. His DEAD body.
"Oh my god." I whispered. Before I could move to Harry's side, the Minister and Dumbledore were there.
"Diggory's dead!" I heard Fudge cry. No! Cedric couldn't be dead. I opened my mouth in a silent scream. Then I heard Harry whisper, 'He's back. Voldemort's back.' Then I screamed. My voice mingling with the rest of them. Before I knew it Hermione and the Weasley's were at my side.
"Oh my." Mrs. Weasley muttered. She pulled me into a hug but I had to see Harry. I turned from her and saw Moody taking him away. I tried to pull away but Mrs. Weasley had a firm grip on me.
"I have to go!" I cried. "I have to go!" I finally pulled free and took off after Moody's figure which was disappearing into the castle. I almost made it out of the pitch when someone grabbed me from behind.
"Hannah, you have to stay here!" the person said.
"No! I have to get to Harry!" The arms spun me around and I saw Fred. His eyes more worried than I've ever seen them.
"No. You need to stay here." I pulled away from his strong arms and took off again. "Hannah!" He called after me but I wasn't turning back. As I reached the castle I thought I saw a black dog running towards me out of the corner of my eye. But I s too worried to check. I ran to the hospital wing but he wasn't there. I ran to the Great Hall but he wasn't there either. I ran upstairs and realized he'd be in Moody's office. I had to slow down and catch my breath before they heard me. I heard mumbles and stepped closer to the door. Then what I heard next scared me.
"You didn't...it---it can't be you…" Harry whispered.
"Who put your name in the Goblet of Fire under a different school? I did." I didn't want to hear anything else. I ran down the halls and out the front doors. And right into Dumbledore.
"He's in Moody's office!" I gasped. "Moody did it! He put Harry's name in the goblet!" Dumbledore looked at me then swept up the stairs, Snape and McGonagall on his tail. I followed the three teachers my nerves jumping all the way. We reached Moody's office and Dumbledore burst in, wand raised and stunned Moody.
"Stupefy!" he yelled and Moody fell hard. I rushed in after him and came next to a shaking, pale Harry.
"You okay?" I asked kneeling next to him. He looked at me, eyes full of terror.
"The only one he ever feared." He muttered. I looked over my shoulder at Dumbledore and I understood. The wizard was standing arm outstretched and his eyes full of anger. I nodded and turned back to Harry.
"Come along Potter." McGonagall said, looking like she was going to cry. "Come along…hospital wing."
"No." Dumbledore said.
"Dumbledore…look at him!" McGonagall said.
"He needs to understand."
"Moody, how?" Harry muttered.
"This man is not Alastair Moody." Dumbledore replied. "You have never known the real Alastor Moody. The real Moody wouldn't have taken you out of my sight tonight. He also would've noticed you Miss. Potter." He said the first thing like a smile on his face. He leaned over and pulled out the imposter's hip flask and a set of keys. Then he turned to Snape and McGonagall.
"Severus, please fetch me the strongest Truth Potion you poses. And then go to the kitchens and fetch an elf called Winky. Minerva, kindly go down to Hagrids hut where you will see a black dog sitting in his pumpkin patch. Take the dog to my office and tell him I will be with him shortly. Then come back here." If either of the teachers found this strange they did nothing to hide their confusion. Dumbledore then proceeded to open the trunk in the corner with the keys he had taken. He then climbed in and called up.
"Stunned, controlled by the Imperius Curse. Very weak." It was the real Moody. Harry threw down the imposters cloak and Dumbledore climbed back out. He took the hip flask and poured it on the floor. "Polyjuice Potion. So perfect. The real Moody will only drink from his hip flask. It was flawless. See his hair?" he said gesturing to the real Moody. "His hair is uneven. The imposter's been cutting it off all year. He must have forgotten." He looked at the imposter as his face began to change.
"Who is that?" I asked Harry.
"It's Barty Crouch Jr." HE replied. My jaw dropped and he shrugged. Snape burst in with a small flask and Winky. Winky was hysterical when she saw Crouch, and began to sob as Snape poured in the potion.
"Ennervate." Dumbledore muttered and the man stirred. Dumbledore began to question him at length. In the end he told us his father smuggled him out of Azkaban after he had traded places with his mother and he was pretty much under house arrest. Then he grew stronger and took control over his father, instead of the other way around. He became the imposter Moody and eventually killed his father. Voldemort had taken him under his wing and then he put Harry's name in the Goblet of fire and we knew the rest. Then he passed out.
"Minerva, watch here while I take Harry upstairs. Severus, get Madam Pomfrey. Alastor needs help." They both nodded and Dumbledore took Harry by the shoulder. "Hannah, you should come too." I followed without question. "We're going to my office. Sirius is waiting for you."
"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Diggory?" Harry asked.
"With Professor Sprout." His voice cracking for the first time. We reached the gargoyle and went in. Sirius sprung up from his chair he had been sitting in and crossed the room swiftly.
"Harry are you alright? I knew it---knew something like this—what happened?" He asked, face pale and gaunt. Dumbledore began explaining everything that had happened.
"I need to know what happened after you touched the Portkey in the maze Harry." Harry looked up at him from his chair.
"We can leave this till morning can't we Dumbledore?" Sirius said harshly. "Let him have a sleep. Let him rest." Dumbledore disregarded his words and leaned towards Harry.
"If I thought I could help you Harry, by putting you in an enchanted sleep and postponing the moment where you have to retell this I would. But by numbing the pain, it will only make it worse." Harry took a deep breath and began to talk. He told us about arriving in a graveyard and how Wormtail killed Cedric. Then how Wormtail took blood from Harry's arm after cutting off his own hand. When he said this, Dumbledore was by his side examining his arm before I had even registered it.
"He said my blood would make him stronger. That it would...it wouldgive him the protection my mother left me. He could touch me with out it hurting him. And he was right. He touched my face."
"Very well. Voldemort's overcome that particular barrier. GO on." He told us of the Death Eater's apparating around the tombstones. Voldemort returning. Then he stopped and looked up at me.
"I know who killed your parents." He whispered.
"What?" I asked barley as sound.
"It was Lucius Malfoy. He killed them. A Jack Atencio and Annkelly Cameron. He told Voldemort how he couldn't kill you. He also said that he wished he had." I sunk to my knees in front of his chair and buried my head in my hands. The voice I heard around the Dementors was Malfoy's. I felt a hand on my shoulder and someone kneel next to me.
"Shh." Sirius whispered. "It's okay. It's okay." I grabbed his arm and clutched it tightly. He cradled me for just a moment as I regained my composure. I finally pulled it together and pulled away. He let go but it was reluctantly.
"Go on Harry." I said wiping my face. He told us of the wands connecting but couldn't go on.
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.
"Priori Incantatem."
"Isn't that the reverse spell affect?" I asked.
"Yes,. Harry and Voldemort's wands share cores. Each containing a feather of a phoenix. This phoenix actually."
"Really?" Harry asked. "Fawkes?"
"Yes. Ollivander wrote me the minute you had bought it. Four years ago." Dumbledore replied.
"What happens when brother wands meet?" Sirius asked.
"They don't work properly. IF forced to duel a rare affect will take place. One of the wands will force the other to regurgitate spells it cast. The most recent then those that precede it."
"Cedric repapered." Harry whispered.
"Diggory came back to life?" Sirius asked.
"No spell can awaken the dead Sirius." I reminded him.
"It was a reverse echo." Dumbledore explained.
"An old man, and Bertha Jorkins and…"Harry trailed off.
"Your parents?" I asked. He nodded. He went on to explain what had happened as we all listened intently.
"Sleep." Dumbledore finally said. "GO down to the hospital wing, we'll al go and Madam Pomfrey will give you a sleeping potion. Sirius, would you like to stay with him?"
"Yes, but you two head on down. Hannah, can I talk to you?" I nodded and watched my brother leave the room.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I...I just…" he sighed. "I'm sorry about your mother." He said quietly. I was shocked by the sorrow in his voice.
"Thank you. I guess."
"She was a great woman. Lily's best friend. We were friends too. Then well, life got complicated."
"Did she know you were a wizard?"
"Yes. She loved it. Thought it was fantastic." A smile flickered across his face. "Funny, you don't look like either of them." He said.
"Harry once told me that I looked a lot like you." I smiled. "But that's probably because he see's us as family to him." Sirius smiled too.
"We should go down and be with him." I nodded and he transformed into Snuffles and we went to the hospital wing together.
The rest of term went by quickly. We were all devastated by the loss of Cedric and shocked at the return of Voldemort. Harry got the Triwizard Tournament winnings but never really wanted them. Sirius had gone to Lupin's on Dumbledore's orders to 'round up the old gang.' Then it was time to go home. Harry walked on to the train with a heavy step that I knew came from the grief and guilt that hung over him. We found a compartment and we all settled in.
"We'll be okay." I muttered.
"I hope you're right Hannah." He whispered back. WE all sat quietly for a while before Hermione told us that she had caught Rita Skeeter. She was a beetle. An unregistered Animagus. Just like Sirius. That was how she had been getting her scoop. Then the door slid open.
"Clever Granger." Draco drawled and this time, a new hatred filled me. He was the son of the man who killed my parents. It brought loathing to a new level. "So, everything's back to normal now eh? Your favorite Potter and all is well. Except for the Dark Lords back!"
"Out." Harry said standing.
"Trying to forget?" Malfoy sneered. "Well it's too late! And you've picked your losing side. I warned you on the first day on the Hogwarts Express. But you picked your lot. Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well second. Diggory was f…" The lights and swiftness of our movements lit the compartment up like a sunset of rainbows. The light cleared and Fred and George were in the door way, Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy on the floor.
"Who used Furunculous Curse?" George asked.
"Me." Harry replied.
"I used Jelly-Legs. Those ought not to be mixed. He sprouted tentacles." He said pointing at Crabbe.
"Well they don't add much to the décor." Fred said. "Let's move them." After that was done we sat down for a game of Exploding snap. The twins told us they had been trying to blackmail Bagman because he cheated them on their winnings from the World Cup. The story was a sorry one and I felt bad for the twins.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"No matter. Past is the past." Fred said. Then we reached the platform. Hermione and Ron were already off and out before I had grabbed my trunk.
"Fred, George wait." Harry said. Then he thrust the bag of gold at them. "For you joke shop. I have a feeling we're going to need some laughs soon."
"Harry we can't!" Fred said.
"It's yours!" George replied.
"And I can do with it what I want."
"But…"Fred began.
"Take it Fred. HE wants you to." I said.
"Just don't tell your mom where you got it okay?" We all smiled and set off. "And just buy Ron some new dress robes. He needs them." We all laughed and went out separate ways.
"Until we meet again!" I said calling over my shoulder to them all. My friends. My family.
A/N: Sorry it's taken me forever! I feel really bad! But now I'm done! Over half way done! Exciting! Hope you like it. Let me know!