The Thrid Year_Part 1
On the morning of the 1st of September, Harry went to King's Cross Station with Sirius and Remus like the previous year. Thankfully, when they entered Platform Nine and Three Quarters, there was no accident this time. Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Dobby. Unfortunately, he heard from Kreacher that Dobby still served the Malfoys. He saw Dobby when he spied Malfoy Manor to check Crouch Jr.'s whereabouts.
The young and old Marauders reserved a compartment at the end of the train and then waited for their friends on the platform. Neville and Mrs. Longbottom arrived first, followed by the families of Hermione and Ellie. Ron's family was the last once again. All the families were busy bidding goodbyes, sharing kisses and hugs, and giving last-minute advice when the Hogwarts Express whistled.
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After the train left King's Cross Station, Harry cast a locking charm and a privacy charm on the compartment door. He then shared his plan to search for Voldemort's item, Ravenclaw's lost diadem, in Hogwarts. The raven-haired boy emphasised that the diadem was really dangerous as it could curse or possess those who want to be clever. Ron fumed that there was another dark item as bad as Riddle's diary. He still remembered how Ginny might have been entangled in Lucius Malfoy's plot of reopening the Chamber of Secrets last year. Hermione also felt outrageous as the Hogwarts Founder's priceless item was cursed by Riddle. Neville promised Harry to search for the dangerous item together, and so did the others.
The five teens also talked about Crouch Jr. Ron said that his father had heard the Minister's opinion about dispatching Dementors, Azkaban guards, to Hogwarts. Neville told his friends that his grandmother was negative about Minister's idea, as were many governors. Ellie informed her friends that the ICW had discussed Crouch Jr.'s escape and agreed to warn both Magical and Mundane societies in Europe. Hermione agreed that the escapee might want to search for Voldemort rather than seek revenge on Harry.
The journey to Hogsmeade station was interrupted by the sudden stop of the Hogwarts Express and the spread of a cold atmosphere. All the kids in the compartment felt cold, particularly Harry, who felt his chest was frozen. Fortunately, it disappeared soon and the train moved again. They had no idea why the express train had suddenly stopped and why they felt cold. But they got the answer when they entered the Hogwarts gate by carriage. They saw two hooded Dementors standing guard on either side, and the coldness returned to them as they passed the gate. All of them expressed their dissatisfaction with the Dementors.
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When they entered the Great Hall, McGonagall called Hermione and both of them left the Hall for a discussion. Harry, Ron, Neville, and Ellie looked at each other, but nobody had any idea. They sat at the Gryffindor table and waited for her. Dean also sat near Harry and thanked him for the scholarship from his mother's fund. The raven-haired boy's eyes widened in surprise because he had no idea. The tall black boy noticed it and explained brightly, "I won the scholarship for third-year Gryffindor. Actually, I didn't expect it since Hermione is the top student, you know."
All the third-years nodded in agreement and congratulated Dean. The other scholarship winners from the second year and from the fourth to seventh year also thanked Harry. All students at Gryffindor's table cheered for all the winners.
At that time, Flitwick brought the first years into the hall and conducted the Sorting. McGonagall and Hermione returned to the Hall when the Charm teacher carried out the Sorting Hat and a three-legged stool. The busy-haired girl looked very happy. Ron asked why she had a conversation before the Feast, and Hermione answered that they sorted out her timetable. Ellie opened her mouth, however, Dumbledore stood up and started the speech.
The old headmaster announced that Dementors would temporarily guard Hogwarts and warned students not to try to leave school without permission. The response from the students was negative, as they had already experienced the adverse effects of Dementors on the Hogwarts Express.
Dumbledore then introduced the new teachers. The first one was Professor Emmeline Vance for the Defense Against the Dark Arts. Percy excitedly said, "That's her! She made a Dementor go away from the Hogwarts Express!" The Gryffindor students near Percy, including Harry, turned to him and bombarded him with questions. The new Head Boy explained how Prof. Vance appeared in the corridor, ordered a Dementor to leave the train since Crouch Jr. was not hidden there, and then performed the Patronus Charm. He added that she must be an expert in DADA since the Patronus is the only way to defeat Dementor, although it's really hard to conjure. Vance was a dignified middle-aged witch. Harry thought the new DADA teacher seemed familiar.
The second new teacher was none other than Hagrid. The kind gamekeeper had become the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher as Prof. Kettleburn retired. Most students, particularly Gryffindors, applauded. Ron shouted, "We should've known it! Who else would set us to use the biting book!" Many Gryffindors laughed and agreed.
The feast started, and everyone enjoyed the delicious food. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ellie ate food as quickly as possible to congratulate Hagrid. They knew how he had been framed and expelled from Hogwarts because of Tom Riddle. As they had revealed the truth about the Chamber of Secrets and Slytherin's Monster last year, Hagrid had finally cleared his name over the summer. They knew the significance of him becoming a Hogwarts teacher.
As Dumbledore instructed the students to go to their dormitories, the five Gryffindors dashed to the Head Table and chorused, "Congratulations!" Hagrid beamed at them and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, all of you. I can't believe I became a teacher... Great man, Dumbledore. He visited my cabin and asked me to succeed Professor Kettleburn... It was my dream..." The new CoMC teacher wiped away tears of happiness. The five teens celebrated their big friend again and joined the other Gryffindor students.
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Harry closed the curtains of the four-poster bed in the third-year dormitory and cast a privacy charm. Then he used a two-way mirror to call his two guardians. When Sirius and Remus appeared in the mirror, Harry recounted his experience with the Dementors on the train and at the entrance. Both adults were shocked at the Dementor's investigation of the Hogwarts Express without permission. Sirius promised his godson that he would persuade Furge to minimize the number of Dementors at Hogwarts. The raven-haired boy also confessed how severely he felt the cold near the Dementors, unlike his friends. He worried about whether he was particularly weak against the guards of Azkaban. Remus soothed him that he was not weak, but his experiences were much worse than his friends'. They advised the boy to ask Vance to teach the Patronus Charm, as she had fought against Voldemort with his parents. They anticipated that she would gladly teach him. Harry's heart felt lighter. He checked the Marauder's Map to search for Crouch Jr. and then went to sleep.
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The next morning was busier than usual as they confirmed the new timetable for the year. Harry confirmed that Arithmancy was his first class, followed by Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures after lunch today. Ron's first class was Muggle Studies and Neville's was Divination. However, Hermione's timetable was very strange. Ron asked how she could attend Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, and Divination at the same time after looking over her shoulder. Hermione simply said that she sorted out it after a discussion with McGonagall. Ellie glared at the bushy-haired girl knowingly but didn't mention anything.
After finishing breakfast, Harry, Hermione, and Ellie went to the Arithmancy classroom. There were over 10 students from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Thankfully, Malfoy and his friends didn't attend this class. They were familiar with each other since they had attended the Duelling Club together last year and had dueled with each other at least once. Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Flechley, and Terry Boot waved at them with big smiles. Harry sat with Ellie in the middle, while Hermione sat at the front. Prof. Vector entered the classroom, and the lesson began. The three Gryffindors were satisfied with the first lesson. Arithmancy was similar to Math, which they had learned in primary school. After the class was dismissed, Harry and Ellie left the classroom together as Hermione wanted to ask a question to the teacher.
The next class was Transfiguration. Harry and Ellie were surprised to see Hermione already in the classroom with Ron. Neville arrived later, as the Divination classroom was in the North Tower. He didn't look good and seemed a bit depressed. The reason was later revealed when Hermione reported to McGonagall that Trelawney had predicted Neville's death in the Divination lesson. The stern Transfiguration teacher criticised the imprecision of Divination and mentioned Trelawney's habit of predicting the death of a student every year. The atmosphere in the classroom became lighter, and Neville seemed relieved.
At lunchtime, the five teens shared their experiences from the new lessons. Harry, Hermione, and Ellie expressed their satisfaction with Arithmancy. Ron also found Muggle Studies interesting. However, Neville didn't enjoy his Divination class, as Trelawney had mentioned that he had seen a Grim, the death omen. Hermione criticised the vagueness of the Divination teacher's words, comparing it to fortune-telling. Ellie agreed and said, "I think the Grim is Padfoot, the animal form of Sirius. You know, a big black dog." Neville's face lit up with hope, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded enthusiastically. "That's it!" "Can't agree more!" They finished their meal in a lighthearted mood.
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Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville went to Hagrid's hut. Ellie mentioned that she would go to the library as she didn't choose COMC. They discussed what creatures Hagrid would teach first. During breakfast, he mentioned that he had prepared something wonderful. Unfortunately, they saw Slytherin students in front of Hagrid's hut. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were laughing about something. Harry could guess what they were planning.
Hagrid led Gryffindor and Slytherin students to the entrance of the Forbidden Forest to introduce a Magical Creature. He was very embarrassed to find out that none of the students could open the biting textbook. Malfoy and his friends sneered, and Hagrid looked awkward. Harry warned Malfoy to help his big friend, but Malfoy didn't seem to listen to Hagrid's words. Then Hagrid mustered up his nerve and brought Hippogriffs, which were half-horses, and half-birds, in front of students. He warned the students not to insult them as Hippogriffs were proud creatures.
Harry volunteered to approach a Hippogriff named Buckbeak and make a bow while the others stepped backward. Surprisingly, he succeeded in greeting and riding Buckbeak. Although the ride was uncomfortable compared to his Nimbus, he was happy to have made a good start. Hagrid beamed at Harry's success, and the other students felt encouraged to approach Hippogriffs and bow as well.
However, Malfoy arrogantly moved towards Buckbeak, called him an ugly beast without bowing, and provoked him. In a swift motion, Buckbeak's sharp talon punished the reckless blond, leaving him curled up in the grass and crying, "I'm dying! It's killing me!" Hagrid managed to secure the irritated Hippogriff in the paddock while the students panicked. Hagrid lifted Malfoy, whose arm was coved in blood, and went to the hospital wing, exclaiming, "The class is dismissed!"
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When Ellie joined her friends in the Great Hall at dinner time, she was surprised by the news about Malfoy and the Hippogriff. She agreed that Malfoy was to blame but also criticised Hagrid's choice of Hippogriff. Ron and Neville were annoyed by Ellie's harsh words, but Hermione seemed to side with her half-American friend. Harry worried when he noticed that neither Hagrid nor Malfoy appeared in Great Hall for supper.
After dinner, they went up to Gryffindor's common room and started working on the homework set by McGonagall. When Harry absentmindedly stared out the window, he noticed a light in Hagrid's hut. They decided to go down as they had enough time before curfew.
Hagrid was sitting at his table, drinking, with Fang resting his head in Hagrid's lap. He looked miserable. When the enormous man saw the five Gryffindor students, he lamented how he had ruined his very first class and might become the only teacher to last only one day. When the teens asked for the reason, Hagrid explained that Malfoy didn't stop complaining and had a bandage from Madam Pomfrey's treatment. The students argued that Malfoy was only pretending to be sick to hide his fault, as he hadn't listened to Hagrid's warning and had insulted Buckbeak first. However, their words couldn't alleviate the new COMC teacher's worry.
"Hagrid, don't worry. I'll share my memory of today's class with Sirius and inform the governors of Malfoy's actions. They won't dismiss you," Harry promised to support his big friend.
"Oh, that's a good idea. I can extract your memory right now," Ellie said brightly and asked Hagrid, "Do you have a vial to contain the memory?"
Hagrid stared at the Gryffindor who hadn't attended his class with a bewildered look. Instead of him, Hermione searched the cupboard and brought a small vial to the half-American girl. Using her wand, Ellie withdrew a silver strand from Harry's temple and placed it into the vial. Neville's jaw dropped, as did Hagrid's, unlike Ron and Hermione.
"I'll send it to my mom and give it to Sirius tonight. Hagrid, you won't be in trouble because of stupid Malfoy," the wild girl smiled broadly.
"She's right. I'll send a letter to my Gran to inform her how Malfoy ruined your class today, Hagrid," Neville promised.
Hagrid was at a loss for words but just repeatedly said, "Thank you, all of you." Ron and Hermione also reassured him, saying, "Don't worry, everything will be alright." Suddenly, he realised how late it was and hurriedly ushered the five teens away.
They said their goodbyes and returned to Gryffindor's common room. Ellie went to the dormitory, and Harry did the same. The raven-haired boy used a two-way mirror to call Sirius and Remus and informed them about what happened with Buckbeak and Malfoy. Both ex-Gryffindors promised to support and protect Hagrid at the next Governors' meeting. Harry let out a sigh of relief.
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The next morning, Malfoy appeared with a bandaged arm, arguing how he had nearly lost his arm and still suffered pain. Pansy Parkinson continued consoling him, and Goyle and Crabbe agreed with her. Ron gritted his teeth, and Neville grumbled, "He's pretending now." Harry, Hermione, and Ellie agreed with the round-face boy.
In Potion class, Malfoy asked Ron for help in preparing ingredients due to his bandaged arm. However, Ellie volunteered to assist instead, as her Potion grade was much better than his. So Snape allowed it. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville wondered what Ellie and Malfoy talked about during the preparation because their voices were too low to hear. Malfoy initially seemed in high spirits, but he became serious after listening to the half-American girl's words.
After the class ended, Ellie filled her friends in on the conversation with Malfoy. She inquired about the blond boy's intention behind acting like a patient and wearing a bandage on his arm. He slyly answered that he would love to see Hagrid get sacked. So the cunning girl kindly informed him that Sirius, Madame Longbottom, and Madam Bones had already witnessed how the arrogant and foolish boy had ruined Hagrid's class from Harry's memory.
"Do you think Malfoy will continue his act?" Ron asked with concern.
"Maybe, or maybe not," Hermione replied, unable to ascertain Malfoy's next plan.
"Actually, I reckon Malfoy won't stop pretending now," Harry said irritably.
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If he continues pretending, I will use the same tactic as Malfoy." Ellie smiled like a predator.
"Ellie, your smile is as dark as hell." Neville's face was filled with anxiety and fear.
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Unfortunately, Malfoy didn't cease his act as a patient. Contrary to the annoyance of Gryffindors, Ellie seemed unconcerned and preoccupied with making some plans.
Meanwhile, Harry attended another class of new elective, Ancient Rune. It was challenging but quite interesting. His mum's notebooks and the books recommended by Sirius helped him greatly. Hermione, Neville, and Ellie were also satisfied with Ancient Rune.
The first DADA class was also excellent. Vance knew what she needed to teach like Jenkinson from the previous year. In the first class, the third-year Gryffindors dealt with a Boggart. Vance instructed the students to ridicule the Boggart one by one after a brief lecture. Many succeeded in mocking it.
When Ron took his turn and made an Acromantura lose its legs, the legless giant spider rolled and stopped in front of Harry. Before the raven-haired boy could decide what to do, the Boggart transformed into a Demanter. Harry felt a chilling coldness and started to drown immediately. Suddenly, he felt warmth again and saw Vance in front of him. The Boggart then turned into a coffin. When Vance said "Riddikulus", funny-looking ducklings popped out of the coffin.
Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ellie surrounded Harry and asked about his condition. They informed him of how he had turned pale and stood unsteadily in front of the Dementor. Neville gave Harry a small chocolate bar, which the raven-haired boy gladly ate. The five of them remained behind while the others dealing with the Boggart. About 10 minutes later, the class concluded.
Harry remained in the classroom while the other students left. He asked Vance to teach the Patronus Charm to protect himself from Dementors. The teacher and old colleague of his parents accepted the request. They arranged to meet every Friday evening in the DADA classroom. The black-haired boy returned to Gryffindor's common room with lightened heart.
However, his good mood was ruined in the evening when he encountered Malfoy and his gang in front of the Great Hall. The bandaged blond boy loudly asked, "Potter, is it true that you almost passed out in front of a Dementor?" Goyle and Crabbe smirked beside Malfoy.
Ron hissed, "Get off, you malingerer!" Before the Slytherin student could snap back, Neville pushed him away while entering the Hall with Hermione and Ellie. Harry and Ron followed them. Five teens burst into laughter as they moved to the Gryffindor's table. On the other hand, three Slytherins looked at the round-faced boy in bewilderment.
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Ellie's plot turned out to be a plan to humiliate Malfoy as a coward. The daughter of a journalist had a lot of know-how to create opinions in school. In the unused classroom near Gryffindor's common room, Ellie explained her plan. She offered Ron and Neville to talk about how 'Malfoy might be keeping a bandage on his arm to avoid the Quidditch match because he doesn't want to be defeated by Harry again,' near Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, the rumor mills of Hogwarts, and Nearly Headless Nick in the corridor. Harry tracked the movements of the two girls and Nick with the Marauder's Map for three days. So the two boys loudly voiced their suspicions about Malfoy in the corridor, actually near Nick and the two gossip lovers, as planned.
One day later, they witnessed the ghost of Gryffindor and Slytherin arguing about Malfoy in the corridor. The cunning girl intervened between the two ghosts and said sarcastically, "That's why the Grey Lady hates Slytherins, as they tend to act cowardly under the name of cunning and sly." The Bloody Baron became rigid, lost his words, and then flew away.
That evening, the Bloody Baron appeared in the Great Hall and scolded the blond Slytherin boy with the bandaged arm.
"Malfoy, is it true that you continue to bandage your arm to avoid a Quidditch match against Gryffindor? What a shame!"
Not only students but also teachers at the High Table, were surprised by the accusation from Slytherin's ghost. They looked at the Bloody Baron and Malfoy, who seemed completely shocked. The prince of Slytherin's jaw dropped and he didn't say anything for a few seconds. After hearing another scolding from the scary-looking ghost, he tried to deny the accusation. However, the ghost didn't stop criticising the arrogant blond boy.
"Don't lie to me! For a thousand years, I've never seen a patient who suffered after the treatment of a Hippogriff talon scratch. If you still feel pain now, then you're the worst weakling in a thousand years! In that case, leave the Slytherin's Quidditch team immediately!"
A thunderous laugh with applause burst out from the Gryffindor's table. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws also gloated over Slytherin's poor actor. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville looked at Ellie simultaneously. The schemer just shrugged her shoulders with a look of "I told you so."
At the High Table, Hagrid clapped his hands with a broad smile. McGonagall's lips also curled up, and she patted her enormous colleague to stop his cheering. Vance smirked at Slytherin's table for a while. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled harder than usual. Only Snape glared at his favorite student and the abnormally acting ghost of his house gloomily.
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A week later, the final straw came in the COMC class. Malfoy sat on a rock near Goyle and Crabbe, under the tree. Harry, Ron, and Neville played a prank on the still-bandaged boy, causing the tree to pour bugs onto the three Slytherin boys. Malfoy shrieked with terror and tried to cover his head with his arms, as did Goyle and Crabbe.
Hagrid rushed to help the boys, but Hermione quickly cried, "Finite Incantatem!" and made the shower of bugs vanish. The three boys remained frozen in place for a while.
While many students laughed at the three frightened students, Hagrid yelled with a roar, "Merlin's beard! How on earth could you put your arms up, Malfoy?"
Malfoy simply opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. It was obvious that he couldn't comprehend the terrible mistake he had made. Hagrid's face turned as red as a tomato as he glared dangerously at the boy who had caused him so much despair on his first lesson. It was Hermione who suggested what to do next.
"Hagrid, you should take him to Prof. McGonagall and have her confirm the memory and punish him as the Deputy Headmistress."
The COMC teacher seemed to regain some sense and ordered Malfoy to accompany him to McGonagall's office. Hagrid shouted, "Class dismissed!" and dragged the pretentious patient back to the castle. All Gryffindors chuckled at the end of Malfoy's act. Ron laughed so hard that he had to sit back on the grass.
Malfoy did not have supper in the Great Hall that evening. The Slytherin hourglass showed that they had lost 50 points. The next morning, everyone could see Malfoy removing his bandage and eating breakfast in silence. Nobody, except Goyle and Crabbe, welcomed Malfoy into the Hall.
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Students adjusted to the new school year as two weeks passed. By the third year, Defense Against the Dark Arts had become the most popular class. For studious students, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy were satisfying lessons. Divination, however, remained controversial. Some students, like Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, worshipped Trelawney and spent long hours in the tower. On the other hand, Hermione criticized both the subject and the teacher. Care of Magical Creatures was not popular, mainly because Hagrid had lost confidence and had the students look after Flobberworms, the most boring creature.
In the third week of September, Hogwarts started club activities.
Ron spent a long time in the Wizard Chess Club Room, preparing for the Junior UK tournament in December. As a result, he had to finish his homework with the help of his friends, mostly Hermione, before the deadline.
Harry became busy as Quidditch practice began. Gryffindor's Captain, Oliver Wood, wanted to train five days a week because it was his final year at Hogwarts. However, McGonagall did not accept Wood's excessive idea. Moreover, Angelina, Alicia, Fred, and George were fifth-year, and they needed to study for the O.W.L. test. Katie and Harry also warned Wood that they would leave the team if he dared to increase practice time by more than two days a week. The Quidditch fanatic was deeply disappointed by his teammates' refusal of his plan. So whenever possible, he caught his teammates in the corridor to discuss strategy.
Hermione, Neville, and Ellie joined the Duelling Club again, along with the other two boys. The number of members had decreased by half since Vance taught Defence Against the Dark Arts well. This allowed the remaining students to practice intensively and develop friendlier interactions.
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After the second meeting of the Duelling Club, Hermione asked Harry why she didn't receive the scholarship from Lily Potter's Fund. The raven-haired boy honestly admitted that he had no idea. Neville suggested that the astonished girl should ask Flitwick, the advisor of the Fund. She agreed to it, but she still seemed dissatisfied.
After the next Charms class finished, Hermione remained in the classroom to inquire about the scholarship requirements. Since it was the last class of the day, the four Gryffindors went to the common room and waited for the most studious girl.
While they shared their opinions, Hermione entered the common room with a dejected look on her face. After Ellie cautiously asked, she told her friends what Flitwick had explained. The Scholarship Fund aimed to help returning students integrate well into the magical world. However, it didn't mean that their grades had to be better than those of magical-born students to receive the scholarship. The advisor's opinion was that Hermione was overly obsessed with academic interest and achievement. He cited her decision to take all electives, including Muggle Studies, as a waste of time and effort.
Harry and Ellie refrained from saying, "We already told you that you didn't need Muggle Studies," upon seeing the bushy-haired girl's watery eyes. Ron and Neville tried to comfort the dejected girl, but they couldn't find the right words. After wiping her eyes, Hermione said she would go to the library. The others didn't accompany her, leaving her alone as they worried about the toll it might take on her mental well-being.
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On the evening of the last Saturday of September, Harry gathered his friends in the unused classroom near Gryffindor's common room. He asked them if they could help search for the lost diadem of Ravenclaw. All of them answered "Yes." To search efficiently, they divided the sections according to their assigned patterns. Harry showed them Marauder's Map and shared the secret passages in the castle.
Ron murmured, "So that's how Fred and George have been moving undetected." Harry and Ellie nodded in agreement.
Neville was also delighted to learn about the hidden shortcuts that could save him time. Sometimes, he worked late in the greenhouses to help Professor Sprout.
Hermione's eyes twinkled, and she whispered, "It's really useful to know where the secret passages are."
All the kids also noticed that most secret passages connected to Hogsmeade were located in secluded places, far from the teaching areas. They moved to the nearest secret passage. Harry and Ellie demonstrated the detecting charms that revealed hidden paths, and Ron, Hermione, and Neville quickly learned the required charms. Each of the teenagers obtained their own maps to mark their findings and decided to share updates every Saturday night. They anticipated that their research would take a considerable amount of time since Hogwarts was an enormous castle.
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Harry began checking the deserted corridors on the way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Emmeline Vance always vouched for him whenever Filch encountered and accused Harry near her classroom or office.
Moreover, the Patronus lesson proved to be quite fruitful. Vance used a Boggart, which transformed into a Dementor when Harry practiced. Initially, Harry could only conjure a silver shield that blocked the Boggart-Dementor. Vance encouraged the disappointed boy, stating that it was a great achievement for a thirteen-year-old student. She also shared many stories about Lily Potter to comfort him.
The breakthrough came from Sirius and Remus. When Vance shared the progress of Harry's Patronus lesson, they boasted about Prongslet's ability to become an Animagus at the age of twelve. This prompted Vance to suggest that Harry should remember his Animagus training.
The top Defence Against the Dark Arts student of his age understood what the teacher meant. He recalled how he cleared his mind and vividly pictured a falcon, focusing on the details. Harry remembered his first full moon adventure with Padfoot and Moony, feeling the delight in his heart. As a result, his Patronus became more corporeal.
Finally, in late October, Harry succeeded in producing a Patronus in the shape of a stag. Vance took photos of Harry and his Patronus to commemorate the achievement. She kindly sent the photos to Sirius and Remus, who were delighted and satisfied. They praised their cub's success, and Prongslet was happy too.
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The first Hogsmeade visit day came, and it was Halloween this year. In the morning, students and teachers received surprise news. The front page of The Daily Prophet featured news about Crouch Jr. He was reportedly spotted in North Italy, as a muggle shop owner in the Alps recognized him from the wanted poster and alerted the authorities. However, by the time Italian Aurors arrived, Crouch Jr. had already left the shop and disappeared. The Italian legal authorities discovered traces of Crouch Jr. at a nearby cabin that was not typically used in spring and autumn, leading them to believe that the British escapee had been hiding there.
"Yes! Crouch Jr. is on the Continent. He must be on his way to find Voldemort!" Harry exclaimed triumphantly. Many students winced upon hearing the name of the notorious criminal. Ellie tsked at their reaction and added to Harry, "The Ministry must remove Dementors from Hogwarts immediately! They are useless here."
Ron, Hermione, and Neville also agreed with the half-American witch. Most students seemed to want to get rid of the Dementors as well.
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Hogsmeade looked like a picturesque, middle-aged village, with numerous small shops and thatched cottages. Harry felt like he had stepped into a postcard, and Hermione and Ellie were equally fascinated by the magical village. Ron and Neville led their friends to various shops.
The five friends enjoyed their time at Honeydukes and Zonko's and had a pleasant lunch with Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Unfortunately, they ran into Malfoy and his gang.
"Potter, how did you manage to pass the Dementors at the gate?" the blond Slytherin boy said, regaining his arrogant attitude. Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him.
Harry smirked, and Ron sarcastically retorted, "Oh, it's a miracle that the cowardly faker didn't faint in front of the Dementors."
Hermione, Neville, and Ellie laughed at the redhead's wit. On the other hand, Malfoy's face immediately contorted with anger.
"Watch your mouth, Weasley!" the blond attempted to approach their table but stumbled and fell to the ground due to his shoelaces being tangled. Unbeknownst to anyone, Harry had secretly cast a jinx under the table. Many students, including Harry, burst into laughter as Crabbe and Goyle helped Malfoy up.
"He seems to lose his balance too easily. Perhaps it's the aftereffect of exposure to the Dementors," Ellie's voice rang out, clear for everyone around their table to hear. Malfoy turned his head toward Harry's table and glared at them venomously but didn't say anything before disappearing into the crowd.
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On the day of the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, the weather couldn't have been worse. The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the wind was incredibly strong. Heavy rain poured down on the Quidditch stadium. Harry felt relieved that the special goggles Sirius had given him for Basilisk hunting were waterproof. He thanked Hermione for casting the waterproof charm on them after a practice session on a rainy night.
It was widely known that Slytherin had tried to avoid this match due to the terrible weather. They might have succeeded if Malfoy's fake illness hadn't been exposed so early. Additionally, Slytherin's team couldn't rely on their strategy based on broom speed since the rain and strong winds made it difficult.
On the stands, Ellie voiced her complaints, "Why on earth doesn't Hogwarts think about having a covered stadium in this weather? Not just the players, but the spectators are drenched too! We can't even see clearly what's happening in the sky!" Of course, she herself and her friends had cast a waterproof charm beforehand and were not affected by the rain.
Many Purebloods like Ron and Neville, as well as Hagrid, asked what a covered stadium could be. The disgruntled girl appeared shocked at the question. Instead, Dean Thomas, who grew up in a Muggle family and was a football fan, explained to the other Gryffindors and Hagrid what a covered stadium was and how it was designed to protect against bad weather. Ron, Seamus, and Hagrid didn't like the idea of restricting the playing area, but Dean, Neville, Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender agreed with the concept of a covered stadium since they didn't enjoy getting soaked.
In the stormy sky, Harry felt freezing cold and struggled to see and hear clearly. He didn't know if Gryffindor was leading or not. Desperately, he wanted to catch the Snitch before succumbing to the cold. However, Malfoy tenaciously followed his every move, unlike the previous year. It was an infuriating situation for Gryffindor's seeker.
Finally, he caught a glimpse of gold above him and flew upward. Slytherin's seeker also noticed it a few seconds later and rose up as well. Both seekers raced neck and neck. Harry forcefully knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and caught the Snitch first. He then flew over to Madame Hooch to signal the end of the game. After the referee blew the whistle loudly, Wood and the other Gryffindor players gathered around Harry, embracing each other in celebration. Three-quarters of the stands erupted in applause.
That night, Harry sent a memory of the match to Sirius and Remus through Ellie. Both guardians hadn't attended the match as Harry objected due to the dreadful weather. An hour later, the young and old Marauders happily discussed the match using two-way mirrors from their beds. They were all satisfied with Gryffindor's victory over Slytherin and Malfoy once again. Sirius also informed his godson that the Dementors around Hogwarts had returned to Azkaban since it was proven that Crouch Jr. was searching for Voldemort rather than attempting to infiltrate Hogwarts. Harry was glad that the monsters had left Hogwarts for good, even though he had become proficient in casting the Patronus Charm.
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At the beginning of December, Neville led Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ellie to the corridor on the seventh floor. They came to a stop in front of a blank wall across from an enormous tapestry that depicted Barnabas the Barmy's futile attempt to train trolls for ballet. The round-faced boy explained what he had witnessed earlier. After finishing work in the greenhouse, he made his way back to the common room. By chance, he had spotted the Divination teacher stumbling around in this corridor. Concerned, a kind Gryffindor had followed her. Trelawney had turned right and passed through the wall after going back and forth three times. Approximately 5 minutes later, she had emerged from the wall holding a wine bottle and left.
"How was she able to enter the wall? I checked this place three weeks ago, but I couldn't find anything," Hermione expressed her confusion.
"Remember the sink in Myrtle's bathroom? It didn't respond to any of the detection charms we used," Harry replied, examining the wall closely.
"I recall my dad telling us that certain places only allow entry to those who know the process," Ron murmured.
Ellie turned her gaze toward the blond boy, her eyes twinkling. "The process... That's it! Neville, did you say Trelawney passed this wall three times before entering?"
Neville nodded, still bewildered. Harry and Hermione also grasped what the half-American girl was suggesting. They looked at Ron and Ellie.
"Ellie, do you think we need to pass by this wall three times as part of the process to enter?" Hermione asked, taking the lead.
"Yes, perhaps with determination or a strong need," Ellie added her opinion.
First, Hermione walked in front of the wall three times, but nothing happened. Then Harry tried and failed. Ron went next, and a large door appeared on the wall. Everyone, except Ron, exclaimed with amazement.
"You did it, Ron! What were you thinking while walking?" Harry asked, his eyes sparkling.
"Well, I just thought... I need a place to hide something..." Ron couldn't hide his astonishment.
"So this room only reveals a door to those who wish to hide something..." Hermione nodded in understanding.
The five teenagers entered the hidden room. It turned out to be an enormous warehouse filled with piles of items. It seemed like a collection of students' belongings accumulated over thousands of years. For a while, the kids were speechless, overwhelmed by the incredible amount of items. After a few seconds, Harry attempted to summon the Horcrux but failed.
"It's going to take a long time to find..." Harry whispered in despair.
"But you have the locket. How far can it detect dark magic?" Ron reminded them of the item that had saved Ginny from Malfoy's scheme.
"Yes, you can walk through and see if it reacts," Hermione said enthusiastically.
"Or you can fly over the piles," Neville smiled and pointed to two broomsticks a few feet away.
Everyone's faces lit up with hope. Gryffindor's seeker dashed off and hopped on an old broomstick. He flew around the piles of items for quite some time before returning to his friends. He led them to a specific mountain of items. Harry pulled out the locket from under his jumper, and all the teens could see it vibrating.
"We can search this area. The locket can detect dark magic within a ten-foot radius," he declared triumphantly.
"Of course!" "Absolutely!" The four friends enthusiastically agreed.
With only fifteen minutes until curfew, the group returned to the common room.
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Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ellie continued searching through the piles in the hidden area on the seventh floor every night. Ellie made a copy of a drawing of Rowena Ravenclaw with the diadem.
Even though the search area was limited, there was an overwhelming amount of stuff to sort through immediately. There were thousands of books, broken furniture, various bottles, hats, clothes, jewels, and old weapons like rusted swords.
"I still can't believe that You-Know-Who thought only he knew about this area," Ron grumbled.
"Or maybe he believed that only he could find the diadem among all this junk. It seems like a mission impossible," Ellie shook her head.
"Without Harry's locket, it would take an incredibly long time. Maybe over a year," Neville sighed in relief.
Two weeks later, they meticulously examined old cupboards. Hermione discovered a tarnished tiara in one of them.
"Ellie! Come here now! Look at this!" the bushy-haired girl called her friend excitedly, holding up a picture. The other kids gathered around Hermione.
Ellie carefully compared the tiara with an eagle ornament and blue jewels in the cupboard to the picture. Then she embraced her sharp-eyed friend and exclaimed, "Yes, that's it! That's Ravenclaw's lost diadem!"
The three boys cheered and joined in embracing Hermione. "You found it!" The five teens celebrated their success for a while.
As their enthusiasm waned, Harry put on a dragon-hide glove on his right hand and carefully placed the diadem into an iron box. He cast a locking charm, shrunk the box, and put it in his pocket. They left the hidden room feeling elated.
Harry went straight to his four-poster bed and used a two-way mirror to call both guardians. He reported how he and his friends had found the Horcrux in the hidden place that was not marked on the Marauder's Map. As expected, Sirius and Remus praised the kids' achievements. Prongslet offered to send the diadem to Black Manor by asking Ellie's mum, as the next day was Saturday. However, Padfoot and Moony asked their cub to wait until the following morning.
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The next morning, after breakfast, Harry received a mirror call from Sirius. Following his godfather's instructions, he went to the headmaster's office with the Horcrux. (Fortunately, Quidditch training that week had been canceled due to snowstorms.)
In Dumbledore's office, Sirius and Remus were already present, and they greeted their cub. Prongslet handed the shrunken box to Padfoot, who promptly stowed it in his robe pocket. The old headmaster observed the scene with twinkling eyes.
"So you found Ravenclaw's long-lost diadem. Alas, I never imagined that Tom had hidden his Horcrux here," Dumbledore sighed. Then he asked, "Do you think this is the last one?"
Remus pulled a parchment from his robe pocket and unfolded it to reveal a map of Britain with two marked spots. One was in London, and the other was in Scotland. Both Harry and Remus understood the significance of the spots.
"Remus, do these two spots indicate Horcruxes?" Harry's eyes widened.
"Yes, thanks to the collaboration of the Department of Mysteries and Gringotts curse breakers, we can now say that there are no more traces of Voldemort's soul in Britain," Moony smiled and affectionately patted his cub's head. Sirius nodded in agreement. However, Dumbledore appeared uneasy.
Both guardians wiped the smiles off their faces and turned their attention to the former leader. It was Sirius who spoke with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"What important news do you have to share? Did you find something about Crouch Jr.?"
"Yes, my sources reported that he was spotted in Kosovo this week," the old wizard replied with dignity.
The atmosphere in the office suddenly shifted. The old and young Marauders checked the map and became tense. The Death Eater was drawing closer to his master.
"It won't be long before young Crouch reunites with Voldemort," Sirius murmured.
"Same here. Fortunately, we will know as soon as they set foot on British soil," Remus tried to lighten the mood.
"Yes, there are only three of them, well, maybe two if Voldemort possesses Crouch Jr. as he did with Quirrell," Harry agreed.
Both adults nodded in agreement. Dumbledore began to worry about what Sirius and his colleagues were planning. He knew they would not take his advice seriously. Remus noticed the old wizard's anxiety, so he turned to the table.
"Don't worry. We will make Crouch Jr. and Riddle pay for what they've done," the calm Marauder said firmly.
"I'm glad to hear that, my boy," replied the wizard who tended to believe in second chances for everyone.
Padfoot and Moony hugged their cub, said their goodbyes, and disappeared through the fireplace, while Prongslet left the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore sank into deep thought. His original plan to train Harry to fulfill his destiny had long been abandoned. Sirius and Remus had taken care of the Boy Who Lived, destroyed Horcruxes, and prepared to defeat Voldemort without his guidance. He couldn't help but feel that he was too old to adapt to the winds of change.
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The second Hogsmeade visit day arrived. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville enjoyed shopping for Christmas presents at various shops in Hogsmeade. Ellie didn't join them but stayed in the castle for non-magical subject lessons. Unfortunately, most students were expected to return home the following day.
After a pleasant lunch at the Three Broomsticks, the four teens split up. Harry and Neville went to a herbology shop, while Ron and Hermione headed to a quill shop. They agreed to meet later in front of the Shrieking Shack.
It was Ron and Hermione who arrived first in front of the infamous building. The bushy-haired girl expressed her curiosity about the shack, and the red-headed boy wondered if the dreadful-looking structure held any secrets. As the boy and girl discussed the most terrifying building in Britain, some unwelcome individuals approached them. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sneered with malice.
"Look, a blood traitor and a Mudblood! Where are the Half-bloods and the Squib?" the arrogant blond boy spoke like a predator who had found his prey, and the two larger boys sniggered.
"Oh, so you think we forgot that you also have plenty of Muggle ancestors? Mudblood runs in your veins too," the hot-tempered boy wanted to curse the git, but the clever girl snapped back quicker.
Malfoy's face seemed as if it had been slapped, and the same went for Crabbe and Goyle. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione chuckled at the spoiled boy and began singing Peeves' song, highlighting the irony of him claiming to be a Pure-blood when he had numerous Muggle ancestors.
The blond boy's face turned purple with rage and humiliation. He ordered his two cronies to teach the two Gryffindors a lesson. However, they soon found themselves facing four wands pointed right back at them. Not only Ron and Hermione but Harry and Neville also drew their wands and aimed at the three Slytherins. Malfoy and his gang had to flee in a hurry as soon as Harry said, "Piss off." The Gryffindors burst into loud laughter.
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A/N: Harry's patronus is a stag as he has missed and wanted to be like his father, James.
And I wanted to punish Malfoy who pretended like a patient to harm Hagrid. Hermione is a smart student and Harry, Ron, and Neville are good boys. However, they are not sly and cunning to make Malfoy's scheme backfire. So I made Ellie give a lesson to Malfoy, without hesitation.
