Disclaimer: The World of Harry Potter and it's characters are property of J.K. Rowling.
Summary: We have an introduction to well not OC but one that rarely gets any love in HP Fanfiction.
Rated: M due to potential graphic depictions in later chapters
- Happy Birthday -
The activity inside St. Mungos has been frantic since the end of the school term the past year. Due to the limited abilities of the facilities in the outskirts of London and others in England, they have been receiving a high number of patients than they normally would. Some healers and mediwitches are beginning to hit the point of exhaustion. The Director has even contemplated the idea of officially no longer accepting in any more individuals.
"We have another incoming." A ministry auror barked out loud.
A stern looking woman looked his way and walked over to him as he lowered the two bodies that were once floating behind him. She quickly noticed he was from another Death Eater raid from the dirt and grime covering his cloak. She was only grateful the Death Eaters would raid at a particular time. She feared when it will eventually become non-stop.
She knelt down next to the two bodies and began to quickly diagnose them.
"You did a good job Auror, a couple of things here and there but they will be making it and be in no need to stay the night." She said smiling up at him as he sighed in relief.
"Carter that you?" Robards said walking up from the other side of the room.
"Yeah, just came here with the rook dealing with a Death Eater attack in Manchester." Carter said.
"It is madness… I don't know if we can keep up with all this." He continued.
"Whether the Minister cares to admit it himself or not. We are officially at war Carter. You are doing a wonderful job out there. These two would have met an unsavory fate if it weren't for you." Robards responded.
"What happened to your partner?" He asked as he quickly took note Carter was the only one who entered with the two injured individuals.
"Spinnet is getting the report ready back in HQ." He responded as the two began to walk as to not cover the entrance to the room.
"If it wasn't for him, I would have only brought one body here today."
Robards smirked at that responding, "I sure hope so… I trained that boy personally myself."
"What do you think about this whole thing about a mysterious group?" Carter asked quizzically changing the subject.
"You should know we are not to discuss about that particular subject out in the open. Even when we are in private… the walls have ears Carter it is best to always keep that in mind." Robards said before waving his wand and casting Muffliato
"But if you are to ask me… despite how that group has been helpful with dealing with these Death Eaters. I simply do not trust anyone who hide behind the shadows."
"What was that spell you just cast?" Carter asked as he registered everything Robards said.
"It is a charm Shacklebolt taught a few of us a few years back. Quite useful to use in public spaces." Robards said with a smirk. "I must be heading back to HQ, you plan to stay here a little longer?"
"No, I'll tag along. Partner is already there after all." Carter responded as Robards cancelled the charm around them.
"Merriweather!" Robards called out to the mediwitch looking over those standing by in the waiting area.
"Unless there is any reason for us to stay any further we shall take our leave." Robards said in a professional manner.
"Thank you for your assistance Robards" She said with a smile before turning to Carter. "Auror…"
"Carter… Peter Carter" Carter stuttered out.
"Have a good day you two and I hope this is the end for now."
"We hope so as well… alright kid you ready?" Robards asked as he turned to Carter who nodded his head.
- Happy Birthday -
"Neville! Are you ready?" Neville jumped as he heard his Gran's voice reverberate throughout the halls of the manor. Taking another look at the mirror and the battle robe that is propped up next to it. He was a bit disappointed he was not able to join the others to help stop another Death Eater raid.
Sirius and most importantly Susan and Daphne told him not to come. He had fought that his parents would understand why it would be different this time but the three thoroughly denied him. He just hope they all come back unscathed.
"Yes, Gran!" Neville answered as he opened the door and walked out of his room.
Augusta Longbottom watched as he appeared from the stairs. It has been a little over a year since Sirius came knocking on their door to discuss the secret organization her son was a part of. If she had it her way Neville would not be the individual he is today; brave, courageous and confident.
He was his own person she thought. It was exactly why she surprised him with an early birthday present a couple of days ago; a new wand made specifically for him by Garrick Ollivander.
"I know you feel you should be with them right now but this is important as well, you know that don't you?" Augusta asked as she noticed the demeanor of her grandson who looked detached from his surroundings.
"I know…" Neville said softly as he brought her hat with a stuffed vulture on it along with her red bag that she is commonly seen walking around with in public.
Putting on a light coat Augusta and Neville walked over towards the fireplace and picked up a pinch of powder that lay nearby. Augusta stepped in first before saying out loud "ST. MUNGO'S" before dropping the powder. Neville watched her be engulfed with a green flame disappearing as it dispersed.
Drawing a deep breath Neville thoughts drifted towards the others hoping they all were going to be okay. He quickly stepped in the fireplace before he said out loud "ST. MUNGO'S" before he too disappeared from sight.
- Happy Birthday -
Neville stumbled on the way out of the floo. As he steadied himself he began to notice the activity around him. He has yet to visit here since the 'official' start of the war but he noticed there was a whole lot more activity than there usually were. Throughout all the visits he never remembered the place being this loud.
"There you are Neville." Augusta said, "let us not keep them waiting."
Nodding his head he followed Augusta out of the waiting room and walk toward the lifts. As they stepped in, Neville once again noticed the mass of people inside the building. Usually it would just be him and his grandmother occupying a lift. Now the lift itself was full to the point he barely had any space to move freely.
It was a quick yet forgettable ride as Neville and Augusta Longbottom stepped off the lift and into the fourth floor. They made a few turns before reaching the concierge desk leading to the Janus Thickey Ward also known as the permanent residence due to spells.
"Morning, Mrs. Longbottom and Happy Birthday to you Mr. Longbottom." The healer said with a smile as she greeted the two.
"Thank you Abby." Neville softly replied with a slight blush as he averted eye contact while Augusta smiled at the healer.
As they walked in Neville noticed his ex defense professor Gilderoy Lockhart. His hair was tussled, having appeared to not shave in months. His looks were far from what had once earned him five consecutive years of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. He waved as they walked passed him.
"Hello there, would you like to have an autograph from me? Gilderoy Lockhart…"
Neville continued on his way to a specific spot in the room barely acknowledging him as another one of the healers came over to tend to him as he began to walk around aimlessly. He never did truly find out what happened with the one time Defense professor. At the end of the day he truly did not care.
Augusta and Abby stopped as Neville continued walking up to someone who was sitting still on a chair while staring outside the window. She had a very far away look in her eyes with a very pale complexion and thinning hair.
"Hello mum." Neville said softly as smiled at the woman sitting in front of him. "Its your son Neville, I turned sixteen today. A lot has changed since I saw you and dad last Christmas."
"You-know-who finally showed himself to the public and that vile woman is running free with her husband. I promise I will be careful with them but I swear to you and dad. I will make sure they see justice before the end of all this."
He felt a tight squeeze on his shoulder. As he turned he saw Augusta give him a reassuring smile thinking the same thing. After a brief moment Neville continued.
"Speaking of gran, she took me to see Mr. Ollivander the other day." He said as he took out the wand. It was 13" long made of a cherry tree with a unicorn hair for the core. "Fathers' now lay next to yours where it truly belongs. I just hope at the end of the day the both of you are proud of what I've become and what I'm doing to help make the world a safer place. Just like the both of you did."
Neville then turned around from where he sat looking over to where Augusta was talking to his dad. He was sitting up from the bed he usually lay on. His eyes not having a lot of life as he stared over at the wall. For the rest of the time they were there, Neville and Augusta Longbottom sat with them in silence. Usually they were only allowed to stick around for a mere thirty minutes. A policy Augusta disliked very much. As a way of offering him present on his birthday Abby allowed them to stick an extra thirty making their stay a full hour. It went by quickly as once the hour was up…
"Mr., Mrs. Longbottom?" Abby spoke up as she walked over to the two. "I'm afraid the time is up."
Neville shook his head as Augusta got up brushing up her appearance. Neville walked over to his mother first squeezing her hand before letting go. "I will see you both in Christmas…" He said as he looked over at his father before walking out of the room.
"Thank you, Abby for allowing us to stay longer than the usual." Augusta told her as Neville appeared.
"Think of it as a birthday gift for Neville." Abby responded as she smiled at him.
"Thank you." Neville said softly.
"Never give up hope… the both of you." She said as Augusta and Neville began walking towards the lifts.
- Happy Birthday -
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Neville quickly whipped out his wand as he followed Augusta back in the house. The individuals that were inside all had their hands raised high in the air. No sound coming out of any one of them.
"Blimey, you guys." Neville said in relief as he lowered his wand. "You should all know that now is not the greatest time to perform surprises."
"Sorry, Neville what was I thinking?" Sirius spoke up as he walked up to him. He took out a small wrapped package from his trousers and presented it. "However, it was not my idea alone." As Sirius said this Neville looked over to his gran.
"Do not gawk at me like that young man." Augusta said, "Every year after we return from visiting your parents on your birthday you just walk straight up to your room and be by yourself. Today you will be spending time with your friends."
Neville looked at his grandmother then to those occupying the room. There was Sirius, Xenophilius, Isaac, Daphne, Susan and Luna. He noticed Rolf wasn't around. When he gave an inquisitive look Isaac stepped over.
"Rolf was not sure if he would be welcomed here." Isaac said, "The girls especially Daphne told him he was daft for thinking such thoughts. In the end he went back to our place. He did wanted us to express he wishes you a happy birthday." He then gave Neville a wrapped box. "It is something I once similarly gave to your father."
"Thank you" Neville said softly as he accepted the gift.
"Give it here Neville," Augusta said as she extended her hand at him "We shall place your gifts aside. I'm sure you are more up to talking with your friends rather than opening presents now."
Handing it over, Neville and the people gathered over to the main hall of the house as Augusta called over their house elf to fix up a meal for all of them.
"Drarry" Daphne called out. As soon as the elf appeared she quickly commanded him to assist Hinney with the meal preparations.
"What are you smiling at, Sirius?" Susan asked noticing he had a smirk on his face.
"Seeing Daphne order that elf of hers reminded me of someone I once knew…" he replied as the other two adults gave each other a glance.
"Oh" Daphne asked "Who?"
"Uh-" Sirius was cut off by the appearance of two owls flying through the large window overlooking the front of the house. They swooped in before landing in front of Neville as everyone watched on wondering whom it could be from.
"It's from them." Luna simply said as the other two girls quickly glanced over at her before looking back at the owls.
As soon as Neville untied the packages off both owls they quickly lifted off startling him for a moment before leaving the room. Regaining his senses he inspected both packages both similar in size. It was while he turned the box on its side did he took note of the senders.
"Well, Luna I think you just supplanted Professor Trelawney in Divinations." Neville said as Susan and Daphne walked over to him to see for themselves. "They are from Hermione and Ginny."
"It is nice of them to remember today is your birthday." Daphne said as she held the box that came from Hermione. "I have to admit it will be a bit different not having 'the brightest witch of our age' amongst us or any Weasley sibling," she stated as Neville nodded his head while Susan continued to look at the box on her hand.
"Wait, what is this?" Susan said as she closely looked at Ginny's gift. "Seems to be some kind of note."
She took it out and passed it on to Neville who unfolded it and began to read it out loud to the others.
"Hey Neville,
It's Fred and George, pranksters extraordinaire and proud owners of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Don't forget to tell your friends about us. Anyways, we wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday.
The lovely lass over the pond sent her gift for you to Ginny who then sent it to our lovely veela sister-in-law. By the way if you haven't open it already, spoilers… Harry's gift is also packaged in them. Have you heard from him? We haven't so we doubt if we had sent it, the packages will somehow find him. Best be safe with you lot until he returns, if he hasn't already.
Make sure to stop by when you come get your school supplies.
Fred and George"
As Neville finished reading the letter he noticed Daphne and Susan looking over at Sirius.
"It's Harry's birthday tomorrow." Susan said, "You still haven't heard anything from him?"
Sirius could tell the kids were getting overly worried. It's been over a month since Harry had left. He had tried to avoid them aside from calling on them to respond the Death Eater raids. He looked over at Daphne who seemed to be in her own world having the package still on her hands.
"I do not want to lie to you… any of you." Sirius started "It worries me that I have yet to hear anything from Harry. When his father went through the same thing back when he was the same age. I did not hear from him until the middle of August."
"Will whatever it is he is going through help him defeat Voldemort?" Susan asked.
"I don't know. I never knew whatever it is James was able to learn. At that point we had decided to join Dumbledore's order. And in that time he and Lily were engaged to marry. I rarely got to pair up with him at that time. When we did it was a simple mission nothing to overexert ourselves with."
"What made you guys decide to join him?" Neville asked looking over at the other two adults who looked as if they did not want to answer the question.
"Your mother." Sirius said, "As you know your father was a part of the Order of Merlin as well as an Auror. That was where he met your mother. Dumbledore recruited her alongside Moody. Your dad tried to stall in joining until Lily Potter ended up convincing James just after their marriage to join. The rest is history."
"What about the two of you?" Susan asked looking over at Isaac and Xenophilius.
"To cut a long story short. As you know we are a secret organization. We, Xeno and I didn't openly show our friendship alongside the others. So during that time we truly were in the background not to be seen or heard. The rest as they say was history." Isaac said as the kids listened on.
"How about we actually celebrate this boys birthday shall we?" Sirius said cutting the silence. "Look, the elves are finished with preparing our meal."
As the group began to move over Susan looked over at Daphne who seemed to stay in that one spot ever since the conversation started concerning Harry. Walking over she lay a hand on her shoulder that startled her for a bit before she smiled at her. Daphne offered her a smile, a smile Susan noticed that failed to reach her eyes.
"Hey, are you okay?" Susan asked.
"Yes… no… I don't know." Daphne answered as she slumped to the nearby sofa. "Throughout the year last year I have been slowly fancying Harry."
"Oh that's a surprise." Susan said sarcastically as she placed both packages on the table. "I think the only ones who had no clue was you and the well the guys."
Daphne threw Susan a look that caused her to smile.
"I noticed how the two of you would glance at one another when it is just the four of us. Even during the times when we were in the Alliance. He would occasionally check on you the most." Susan said with a smile on her face.
"It's because there were only a few Slytherins compared to the other houses." Daphne said dismissively.
"If that is what you want to believe. Tell me was anyone truly bothering you lot during the whole time?" Susan asked as Daphne began to think things over "I don't think so. But I believe that is not what is going on with you is it?"
Daphne at first didn't seem to want to answer the question. As it turned out she couldn't stand Susan glaring at her so she sighed before opening her mouth once again. "I'm scared at the idea that I may actually be falling for him." Daphne said finally.
"Whoa, that is pretty big." Susan said before shaking her head "But I don't see the fault in that. There is nothing wrong in falling in love especially to a guy like Harry."
"I don't know if he feels the same way." Daphne said softly that caused Susan to move closer for her to hear. As she repeated the phrase once again for Susan to hear clearly she looked at Daphne incredulously for a brief moment before shaking her head.
"Why do you think that? Did you not remember the times we all spent together how he was always near you the week before he left? I'm sure… Merlin I know if there was one person who could have positively convinced him to stay and not go to wherever forsaken place he was taken to that none of us could get to him. It would have been you." Susan said very quickly as Daphne looked on amazed at how emotional she got.
"You remind me of your mother."
The girls turned to see Sirius standing along the entrance to the other room with a full plate on his hand.
"You two better grab a plate. You expended a lot of energy fighting those Death Eaters earlier. And I'm sure if he were here right now… he would be telling the both of you the same thing." He said as the girls got up. As Susan walked by Sirius stood in Daphne's path.
"Harry will return and I'm positive he can't wait to see you." He said causing her to smile.
As she walked by Sirius looked up "Harry, wherever you are come back soon…" as he turned around to look over at Daphne and Susan "and for Merlins sake without a scratch on you."
- Happy Birthday -
The cool breeze from the sea caused the nights at Cornwall to be a rather cold one. The sun not yet disappearing over the horizon and nearly all the people made their way back home or to the nearby hotel.
"I must say it was a beautiful day today papa." A small girl in her early teens said as she walked into one of the rooms.
"Yes, it sure was an adventure… one that I would rather not replay tomorrow." Her father replied as he sat on the bed trying to recall the events that occurred earlier in the day.
His one and only daughter Sharon and himself had gone to visit the fabled Camelot grounds. They were a part of a tour the hotel gave as a way to earn extra business aside from just a place to stay and eat.
Earlier that day…
"Come on papa we'll be late…" Sharon stood by the doorway glaring at her father who just finished putting on his shoes. "The tour will be leaving without us."
"Be patient Sharon, we can see the front of the hotel quite clearly from our window," he said as he opens the curtains overlooking the front of the hotel. Outside parked was a tour bus and several automobiles. "You see they have yet to have the tourists board."
"But I would prefer if we have good seats." She said as she walked over the window.
"Does it really matter?" He said as he went to the closet to retrieve his jacket.
"Yes, I brought my camera after all. The right side allows for me to take a good photograph as we are about to arrive." She said as she pulled out her camera, taking a few snapshots of the landscape from their window. "It truly is beautiful out here."
"Well, I'm ready… now you are the one holding us up." Her dad said as he emerged out of the walk-in closet with a smile. Sharon simply stuck out her tongue as they walked out of the hotel room and headed to the lobby.
Sometime Later…
"I wonder what this place would definitely look like back then." Her father mused as they walked what would be the entrance to the castle of Camelot itself. "The view in itself it simply breathtaking."
Off to the side Sharon could be heard snapping photos. "I just can't believe the Arthurian legend is real…"
"A lot of it is romanticized my dear to make captivating stories." The tour guide interjected. "While the names of the individual were indeed real. Some of the tales were rather over-exaggerated."
"What about Merlin?" Sharon asked as she took another snapshot.
"He was a priest or a monk of his time. Wizards, Sorcerers… Magic simply does not exist." The tour guide said "He simply served the court and offered his consul whenever the King ever was in the need of it."
"How do you know for sure?" Sharon asked now looking over at the tour guide who tilted his head at her. "I mean, they would have been persecuted right? After all there were books about witch hunts and other stuff."
"You are young so I can understand your impressionable mind. But, if that truly did exist there would have been some record of it somehow. This site has been researched end to end and nothing that remotely suggest Magic was ever real popped up." He said as everyone began to listen in on them. "As it turns out however, there was some that did end up becoming true to the legend."
"As some may have surmised the British Isles was gripped in a never ending war. It wasn't until the king that would eventually be now known as King Arthur did peace claimed these lands. It lasted for a little over a decade but back then. That would be considered a lifetime."
As the tour guide continued on Sharon wandered off from the group. Looking over the path that leads towards the bottom near the lake. It was then she stopped as she noticed there at the base on a perch over the lake there was something that caught her eye.
A white snow colored owl.
"That's odd… A snowy owl all the way over here?" Sharon muttered.
Sharon had studied birds. It was what got her into photography initially before she focused on landscapes and ancient ruins. If she remembered one thing from her time studying owls, it is that the beautifully majestic snowy owl doesn't migrate near the British Isles.
As she moved closer she lost her footing and immediately screamed as she began stumbling down the path. It was a scream that could be heard all the way where the Tour Group was that her father immediately took off towards the source of the voice.
She felt her camera smashing to the ground. Her first thought that it was definitely broken beyond repair. That was such a great camera she thought. She felt very dizzy and began to lose consciousness as she tried to get up. Just as she was about to close her eyes and have the darkness consume her she saw a figure approaching her.
Reparo
Now…
Sharon walked into her bed and lay on her back as she tried to remember everything that happened. She felt a few aches and pains but nothing major. It was just another vacation souvenir. What shocked her the most was the state her camera was in. She had definitely heard it break as she stumbled down. But here it was, good as new.
"A snowy white owl…" she whispered "and a boy."
- Happy Birthday -
An individual with long black hair and green eyes looked on the seaside shore as the waves crashed as they slammed by the cliffside. He stood on the balcony of a castle that is not seen by the eyes of muggles. He looked up at the sky as a snowy white owl circled the skies as if looking for something or someone.
He sighed heavily as he turned to look at a portrait that shared his exact looks minus the eye color smirking at him.
"I must say son you have filled up rather well this past month." The man on the portrait said as the boy walked up now clearly in view as the light shined upon his face.
"It was rather hard when considering what I had to deal with until last summer." Harry said as he sat down in front of the portrait of his father James.
Harry no longer had some of the physical traits that most have accustomed to see him by. While he isn't buff and covered in muscles he no longer looks like he didn't have a healthy diet as well as looking very frail. While he himself have yet to truly notice it he also hit an inch and a half growth spurt due to the seclusion he find himself over the past month. Another was his complexion, it was clear and smooth something his father states makes him a true lady-killer.
"I'm sure Petunia and especially Vernon will get what is coming to them. You shouldn't hold grudges against them son or you'll…"
"Turn just like Snape… yeah, I know." Harry said before smirking.
"What's with that look?" His father asked curiously.
"Just remembering the stories. About you and mum." Harry said as he smiled at a photo of James and Lily. Not in their early twenties when they married but when they were at Hogwarts.
"The one thing I never understood was how mum ever had a relationship with Snape in the first place." Harry said as he took his wand and looked it over.
"Your mother was a remarkable young woman. She could befriend just about anyone. Something from what you had told me with your stories, you yourself inherited. Snape was the individual who was your mothers' first contact in the magical world. He is a lone child who had an abusive home, if it weren't for the influences of the Death Eaters in Slytherin during our time in Hogwarts. I could see him being similar to how you are turning out." James said causing Harry to put the wand back on the table and stare at his fathers' portrait.
"Are you saying we are similar?" Harry asked with a worried look crossing his face.
"Not entirely. But when one comes from a lonely childhood such as yourself and him. The influences of the individuals you end up surrounding yourself with will mold you. Some things you will get from your mother and I but majority will be all you at the end of the day." James said as he looked at the concerned look of his son.
"I guess it's a good thing I didn't end up in Slytherin, despite what the sorting hat had insisted upon..." Harry said before trailing off as if he didn't want to continue.
"What's wrong?" James asked as he noticed his son notice something.
"It's nothing." Harry said shaking his head as if to clear his mind with whatever thoughts crossed his mind.
"You have a friend in Slytherin." James said more in a statement rather than a question.
"It's Daphne." Harry said. "And I guess her friends Tracey Davis and Mafalda Prewett."
"Ah, Greengrass… well this is a first. All members of the current Order of Merlin occupy each of the houses of Hogwarts." James said with a smile.
"What about Ravenclaw…" Harry said before an idea hit him. "Sirius said there were others. The other individual is in Ravenclaw. You know who it is don't you?"
"I'm sure if you sit back and think for a bit you will automatically recognize just who that individual would be." James said.
"It's Luna… it has got to be her. She is a year below us now that I think over what Sirius stated about how the other is a bit young to join just yet. Then there is the whole her standing out during all the time I helped instruct the Alliance in Defensive spells and techniques." Harry said happily as he saw the confirmation from the eyes of James.
"Yes, the Order is nearly complete. That is if Sirius was able to round up the last and remaining member." James said chuckling at his son excited as if he discovered a new spell.
"And who would that be?" Harry said stopping his mini celebration and looking over at his father.
"The grandson of Newt Scamander." James said.
"Wait, you mean Professor Scamander has a son?" Harry asked as he sat back down.
"Professor… wait Isaac is a professor?" James said before he belt out a laugh. "I – I could see Remus becoming one but Isaac… the man hated the idea of school. But, if he made himself known to you then I'm guessing Sirius did in fact succeed in that endeavor."
"Yeah he came in after that Umbridge woman fired Hagrid. He is now the Care of Magical Creatures professor." Once Harry mentioned the curriculum Isaac taught the James in the Portrait fell off the chair he was sitting on.
"Y-you s-serious?" James asked. As Harry simply nodded his head James let out another burst of laughter that could be heard outside the halls where Harry slept in. The laughter caused the other ancestors in the Potter line to come over the room to inspect what was so funny. After having Harry repeat the tale most simply muttered obscenities at James while one stayed behind.
"Get off your butt James the second…" The one individual said.
Harry remembered him to be the one who uttered the first words upon his entrance to the castle. His name was William Potter, one of his oldest descendants and the individual who married a descendant of a Peverell. He was of the time of Merlin when the Order was conceived.
"Okay grandfather Bill." James said as he got off the floor. "Just a simple father son bonding is all. You forget unlike all of you I didn't get to see my son grow up to take the mantle of leader of the Order of Merlin."
"Hmm" William grunted "No excuses. Harry it is time for your lesson go get ready and your trainer shall await you in the main hall."
"Yes, grandfather…" Harry said before smiling at his own father then leaving the room. As the door closed behind him William sat where James was sitting and he looked over to the picture of Harry and his friends.
"Our legacy is ready to hear it." William said solemnly causing James to look over at him with concern.
"Now… you sure?" James asked him before he went over to the picture of Lily, and infant Harry and himself smiling and waving. The same picture that resides inside Harry's family album he received as a present from Hagrid after his first year. "Which one?"
"Both." William replied as he closed his eyes.
There you have it folks Harry is back in the story after only getting brief mentions in the first two chapters. Regarding the OC introduced in this chapter. Nothing will come out of it. It was simply there to show Harry doing something than just well whatever it is his ancestors have him do throughout this whole time.
Now regarding the delay of this chapter... if you had read the note I left in my profile I just want to reiterate the month of May was particularly more busy than I thought it would be. That plus there was some stuff I changed a number of times. Particularly Neville's trip to St. Mungo's and the ensuing impromptu Surprise Party. Everything else practically stayed the same for the most part.
Next Up: I know I mentioned the O.W.L.s results would appear in this chapter but actually it will be in the next one. Harry will also be given a very important decision to make.