Chapter 34
It was the first match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Ewan was standing with Hagrid and Hermione with the rest of the Gryffindor's.
"Go Ron!" yelled Ewan. It was amazing. Ron was usually rubbish at saving any quaffle's but today he was great. Better than anyone, Ewan as ever seen.
"How did he get so good!?" Ewan asked.
"Harry pretended to add some Felix Felius to Ron's cup of pumpkin juice this morning."
"You guys learned how to make Felix?"
"Not yet. Harry won it from Professor Slughorn." explained Hermione.
"Oh, so Ron THINKS he is doing well because he drank Felix. Wow, that genius."
Gryffindor won the match, hammering Slytherin. It was definitely one of the best matches Ewan had ever seen.
* * *
Dear Mr. Potter,
I am pleased to inform you that I will be holding a Christmas party with the Slug Club. Former club members and various other associates will be there as well. See you there.
Professor Slughorn
Ewan,
You have to come to the Christmas party. I need someone there to distract me.
Harry
So eight o'clock on the 20th of December, Ewan made his way to Slughorn's Christmas party. When he entered he first noticed the decorations. The ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson, and gold hangings, so that it looked as though they were all inside a vast tent. The room was crowded and stuffy and bathed in the red light cast by an ornate golden lamp dangling from the centre of the ceiling in which real fairies were fluttering, each a brilliant speck of light. Loud singing accompanied by what sounded like mandolins issued from a distant corner; a haze of pipe smoke hung over several elderly warlocks deep in conversation, and a number of house-elves were negotiating their way squeakily through the forest of knees, obscured by the heavy silver platters of food they were bearing, so that they looked like little roving tables.
Ewan saw Harry talking to a man with a vampire next to him. Ewan waved and Harry just got away.
"Thanks, that's Eldred Worple, he wants to write a biography on you and I. I said no."
"Good."
"AH! Mr. Potter!" said Slughorn coming right at Ewan. "I was wondering when you would show up. Severus, I know you know, Mr. Ewan Potter. I met him over the summer, very exceptional boy he is." Ewan blushed.
"Yes, Mr. Tyler is somewhat intelligent." agreed Snape.
"Just like your mother, yes? How was that cold you had, not to bad I hope?" asked Slughorn
"Oh- er- no sir."
Twenty minutes into the party, is when the real action started. First, Cormac McLaggen, a Gryffindor seventh-year ate a Dragon Tarter, making him throw up on Professor Snape's shoes, earning him a month's worth of detentions, then Slytherin, sixth year, Draco Malfoy crashed the party. Snape dragged the boy out. Ewan stayed laughing about it with some others students. Ewan looked around for Harry, but he couldn't find him.
'He's the one who wanted me here and he's gone! If I ever get my hand so on him again, I'll kill him.' He thought.
* * *
"How was the party?" asked Sirius.
"How do you think?" said Ewan, pulling off his dress robes.
"That bad?"
"Yeah! So what did you do all night?"
"Me? Oh-n-nothing! Want something to eat?"
"Liar!" said Ewan. "What did you do?"
"I-I went to a friend's… okay?" said Sirius.
"What friends?"
"Girl… friends….."
"You have a girlfriend?"
"NO! It was a girl who is a friend…. Okay! Alright! I have a girlfriend!"
"Really!? Little Sniffles has a girlfriend." exclaimed Ewan. "Who is it? Is it someone I know?"
"Maybe."
"WHO!?"
"Have you ever heard of Dervish & Banges?" asked Sirius.
"The shop in Hogsmeade? Yeah."
"Well, there this lovely little shop assist, she was rather pretty, just a little younger than me too. She said I had nice hair." Said Sirius
"What's her name?"
"Maria. And guess what? Mother would be proud of me for once, she is pure-blood. Not that I care, but we talked about it once…"
"So… how often have you two been going out?"
"A few times, we have another date tonight, which I have to get ready for, bye."
As Sirius left, an idea popped into Ewan's head. An evil smirk made a way on to Ewan's face as he went to his room to get ready for the date.
* * *
It was nearly eight in the afternoon, people were busy making their way homes on the Main street of Hogsmeade, a lone wolf sat behind a tree watching a dark haired man and blonde young lady snogging in an alley way.
Slowing walking towards the oblivious couple, Ewan had to stifle a wolf laugh. Before he reached them though, a hand grabbed at his neck. Turning his head he saw Professor Snape. Ewan ran from the professor all the way back the end of the street, quickly changing back to a human and hiding in Three Broomsticks.
"Ah- Ewan Potter!" said Madam Rosemerta. "It's been awhile, how are you doing, hon?"
"Hiding, actually. From Professor Snape, actually... Madam, are you alright?" Ewan asked Rosemerta, she had this blank look on her face; however she spoke with the same enthusiasm she had every time she saw him.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" her face still blank. The look was familiar one he had seen before. Madam Rosemerta was under the Imperious Curse.
"Finite." Ewan cast on Rosemerta, non-verbally.
Rosemerta looked dazed for a minute then her face became normal. "Ewan, what-what happened?"
"Someone cast the Imperius on you, what was the last thing you remember?"
"A boy, I don't remember much, he had blonde hair..." said Rosemerta.
"You should contact the Headmaster, he can help you." said Ewan.
"You're right. I'll get my coat..." She said.
Ewan escorted Madam Rosemerta to the castle, and then went down to the village again to apparate home.
* * *
Christmas was taking place at the Burrow this year. The day was the 21st of December, Ewan's nineteenth birthday.
"Do you want your gifts now or on Christmas?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"You didn't have to get me anything, Mrs. Weasley." said Ewan.
"You always say that, and I still get you something, don't you think you should know by now, dear?" said Mrs. Weasley.
Ewan grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
A few hours later, Harry was telling Ewan about his year alone at Hogwarts.
"During the Slugclub party, when Snape took Malfoy out, Snape was offering to help Malfoy with some mission. Snape made an Unbreakable oath or something, with Malfoy's mother."
"Unbreakable Vow?" asked Ron.
"What's an Unbreakable Vow?" asked Harry.
"It's a promise to do something." said Ewan.
"You can't break an Unbreakable Vow." said Ron.
"What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?" asked Harry.
"You die." answered Ron and Ewan.
"Fred and George almost made me make one with Fred, we were holding hands and everything, but Dad found us, he went mental." added Ron.
Suddenly Fred and George came to the three.
"What's this we hear about some girl named Lavender Brown and you?" asked Fred.
"None of your business." said Ron, his ears blazing red.
"Did she have an accident?" asked George.
"Is she mentally disabled?" asked Fred.
"You have a girlfriend?" asked Ewan in disbelief.
"Boys," said Mrs. Weasley, "You'll all going to have to squeeze in one room with Bill, Remus is coming over tonight."
"What about Percy? Is he definitely not coming over?" asked George.
"No, I expect he is busy at the ministry..." said Mrs. Weasley, looking very sad.
"Or he's the world's biggest prat." said Fred. "Well, we should go George."
* * *
It was later in the evening when Remus and Tonk's were over.
"... of the three arrests we made, none of them are really genuine." said Mr. Weasley to Harry.
"Are they still holding Stan Shunpike?" asked Ewan
"I'm afraid so... the top levels want to look like their getting somewhere. Three arrests are better than three mistaken arrests and releases. Of course, this is all top secret."
Harry continued to talk to Mr. Weasley. Then Remus joined the conversion.
"Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us."
"But what if he's wrong?"
"You are determined to hate, Snape. With James as your father and Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice." said Lupin
Harry sighed. "I trust Professor Snape." said Ewan. "I always have."
"So, Remus, what have you been up to lately?" asked Harry.
"I've been underground, almost literally. That's why I haven't been able to write." answered Lupin.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I've been living among the werewolves. Nearly, all of them are supporting Voldemort. Dumbledore needed a spy, and here I was readymade." said Lupin.
"Why do they like Voldemort?" Harry asked
"They think that under his rule, they will have a better life." answered Lupin. "And it's hard to argue with Greyback out there."
"Who's Greyback?" asked Ewan
"Fenrir Greyback is perhaps the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it has his life's mission to bite and contaminate as many people as possible. He wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards. Voldemort promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback specializes in children; it was he who bit me. My father, had offended him, at the full moon he positions himself near his victims so their easier to get to." explained Lupin.
"Have you ever heard of someone called the Half-Blood Prince?" asked Harry.
"There are no princes in the wizardry world." said Ewan.
"He went to Hogwarts, I have his potions book. He wrote spells all over it, spells he invented! One was Levicorpus." said Harry.
"Levicorpus was very popular in my time." said Lupin. "How old is this book?"
"I don't know, I never checked."
"Well perhaps it will give you an idea on when the Prince was at Hogwarts." said Lupin
* * *
Christmas day dinner was great, gifts were exchanged, songs were sung, and eggnog was all about.
It was during dinner, that The Minister of Magic and Percy came over.
"Oh Percy!" said Mrs. Weasley giving Percy a big hug.
"Hello, mother." said Percy.
"I hope you don't mind this intrusion." said the Minister. "Percy and I were in the vicinity, working you know. He couldn't resist, dropping in and seeing you all."
"Please come in, come in!" said Mrs. Weasley.
"Well, we only have a few minutes. Oh Harry and Ewan Potter, may I have a word, outside?" asked the Minister.
Ewan and Harry looked at each other before getting out of their seats.
"I wanted to meet you boys, for a long time. I was hoping to speak with the two of you since I took office. Of course, Dumbledore prevented this."
Ewan rolled his eyes.
The minister continued. "You have heard the stories of the prophecy, and Harry being the Chosen One." said the Minister.
"I don't know what you mean." said Harry.
"People belief you are the Chosen One, they think you're a hero, of course you are, chosen or not. How many times have you both faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Well, anyway the point is the idea that there is someone out there that might be able, might be destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not–Be-Named, well it gives people a lift. And I can't help but feel once you realize this, you might think it your duty to stand alongside the ministry and give everyone a boost."
"I don't know what you want. Stand alongside the ministry, what does that mean?"
"Well, if you were to popping in and out the ministry, from time to time, that would give the right impression."
"No, I don't think so. I don't like some of the things the ministry is doing, locking up Stan Shunpike for instance." said Harry.
"I agree." said Ewan
"I see, you both prefer like Dumbledore, to disassociate yourself from the ministry."
"We don't want to be used." said Ewan.
"Yeah, we don't like being used." agreed Harry.
"Some would say it's your duty to be used by the Ministry!"
"Yeah, and others might say it's your duty to check people really are Death Eaters before you chuck them in prison. You're doing what Barty Crouch did. You never get it right, you people, do you? Either we've got Fudge, pretending everything's lovely while people get murdered right under his nose, or we've got you, chucking the wrong people into jail and trying to pretend you've got the Chosen One working for you!"yelled Harry.
The Minister was mad.
"What is Dumbledore up to!? Where does he go when he is absent from Hogwarts?"
Ewan shrugged his shoulders. "No idea." said Harry.
"You boys wouldn't tell me if you knew, would you? I see Dumbledore's done a job on you. Dumbledore's men through and through, aren't you?"
"Yeah. We are." said Harry.
"Glad we straightened that out." said Ewan. Both Ewan and Harry went back to the house.
