BETA"D BY: Tellie571 Thank you for the hard work!
AN: Poll results: yes add her = 141 No adding her = 145, Sorry my fellow Hermione fans. New Poll up.
"Hedwig, stop clicking at me," Harry moaned sleepily, covering his head with a pillow. "It's too early to get up."
"Hooo," jumping off of her perch, she glided over to Harry's bed, landing on the pillow covering his head.
"No hooting ether," he groaned trying to burrow further into his bed.
Seeing that her master was going to be difficult this morning, she decided to take a more physical approach to waking him. Hoping from the pillow on to his back, she grasped one of the few strands of his blood red hair that wasn't covered by his pillow or blanket and gave it a yank.
"Damn it," hissed Harry, jumping up trying to keep from losing his hair, making Hedwig take flight to keep from being crushed. Rubbing his head he glared at his familiar with watery eyes. "What happened to you ignoring me?" She had started being angry at him at his birthday party, or to be more specific after he had changed back from his animagus form.
When he had first seen her while in his avian form, he had been excited to get to have a conversation with her. They had always understood each other, but there was just something about getting to actually talk with her that seemed so appealing. So when she showed up he had been thrilled to see her, and had started to trill a greeting to her, but something about the way she was staring at him sent warning bells off in his head. What happened next had made Harry the butt of the jokes of not only Sirius, but most of the family.
It appeared that Hedwig had found him attractive, and had started to hit on him. She had greeted him in what Harry could only describe as a seductive hoot. From that point until the time the potion wore off, those around Harry and Hedwig were gifted with the sight of Hedwig showing off for Harry.
When the potion's effects had died off and Harry was turned back, he realized that he had lost his chance to tell her that he wasn't a real bird. He would have before he had turned, but the shock of his familiar, from not only this life, but the past one as well hitting on him had rendered him speechless. Failing to tell her had turned out to be a big mistake, when she found out she had given him a good flogging, before flying off. When she showed up the next day she had refused to even acknowledge him, going so far as to not taking bacon that he offered her.
Seeing that she wasn't going to responded to him, he rolled out of bed, and started digging in his nightstand. Finding what he was looking for, he made his way over to her, where he held out one of the owl treats that he knew that she loved. Hedwig knowing that this was his peace offering took it, making sure to lightly nip his fingers first. Happy to see her acknowledging his existence, he stroked her feathers while apologizing, "I am sorry Hedwig, and I didn't mean to trick you like that."
Finishing her treat, she gave him an affection nip, before flying back out the window. Smiling at his familiars behavior, he casted a quick tempus, only to see that it was 9:12. Meaning he only had forty-eight minutes to get ready, and down stairs for Iris's party.
Making his way to the bathroom he summoned his toiletries, catching them as he reached the threshold to his bathroom. Going inside he sat his things on the sink counter, before striping and hoping in his shower, cutting the water on he felt the last of his drowsiness being washed away by the slowly warming water.
As he started to clean himself, his thoughts turned to the past month. In the short amount of time that had passed since his birthday, Harry had become even closer to his family. Before he couldn't tell you if he spent more time with Lily or Ivy, now however it was a tossup between them and Iris.
Iris would track him down for random things such as what his thoughts were about certain potions, seeing if he would teach her new spells, even asking him to teach her how to fly. He was more than happy about getting to spend time with her, but he had to be careful when doing so. Even after all the time he had spent with her, he still saw her as more of a beautiful young girl than his sister. He wouldn't realize he was doing it, but at times he would just watch her, he didn't know why he was so fascinated by her but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. The fact that every time she would catch him staring she would blush beet red didn't help him stop watching her. He was just happy no one besides Iris herself had caught him staring, which would have brought up some awkward questions.
Ivy on the other hand didn't need to track him down; she would wake him in the morning and spend the entire day with him. The only time he was out of her sight was when she was sleeping or he was in his bathroom. She was now spending so much time with him, that he now waited until she went to bed to do his work outs and self study, not that he minded her following him around. After how he was raised by the Dusrsley's, having someone love him as much as Ivy did made him happier than anyone could guess. He loved getting to teach her how to cook, reading to her, and even sneaking her out with him to take her on flights with him, as he taught Iris how to fly.
Lily had become a mix of a loving mother who loved teaching him charms and potions, and slipping back into her unspeakable persona. Between his talent for magic, ability to speak to snakes, and his future animagus form she couldn't help but want to study him. Not that he minded he had learned a lot from her in the past month. While studying his ability to speak parseltongue, they had found that he could say a different language spells in snake tongue. Not only did it give his spells more power, but also could be used in the same way silent casting could be, by keeping others from knowing what he was casting. Though if he did cast using that ability, it would be his second year all over again. All the time he had spent with her had showed Harry, that without a doubt, his mother was as brilliant as he was always told, and so much more.
James had been slow to come around at first, but since the time that they had gone out flying together he had become what Harry had always wanted in a father. James being as important as he was in the Auror corps, was a very busy man, but no matter what he always made time for his family. When he had a great deal of time off, he had taken to teaching Harry a more aggressive style seeker play. One where he would do more than fly around looking for the snitch. He had also started teaching him transfiguration that was advanced for his age. Harry already knew all of it, but any time spent with his father was fine with him.
Sirius, as Harry thought he would, had pranked him back for getting him in trouble with Lily. Harry had woken one morning, to find himself covered in feathers. He had tried to remove them, but nothing would work. Coming down to breakfast that morning he gave his family quite the laugh, and had mad Hedwig even madder. Seeing Sirius's smug smile had insured Harry striking back. They had continued to prank each other back and forward, until Lily had been hit by one of Sirius's attempts to get Harry. Seeing the look on her face had stopped the both of them from even thinking of trying to pull a prank anytime soon.
Harry liked to think that he knew Remus pretty well from his last go at life, but this Remus was different in more ways than Harry had thought at first. Not only was he better dressed in this life, but the fact that he was a werewolf didn't seem to rule him. The only thing he let his sickness effect was his love life, and he still seemed to think that to try and be with someone would put them at a risk. Harry knew that Tonks would be coming to Iris's party, and he fully intended to play match maker. It was the least he could do for the man who had done so much for him, not only in his last life, but in this one as well.
Charlus and Dorea only came around about twice a week. Making the amount of one on one time very rare, but when they did Harry would enjoy what time he got. Dorea had even started showing him how to read people, so that he could tell when he was being lied to.
Realizing he had been in the shower for a while, he turned the water off, and got out of the shower. Forgoing his towel, he made his way to the sleeping pants he had taken off and thrown on the floor, taking his wand out the pocket, he cast a drying spell on himself. As he did so, he caught sight of his self in the mirror.
Over the past month his appearance hadn't changed all that much. He hadn't really gotten any taller. His hair that had reached to his shoulder now came down a little past them. His work outs were making him a bit thinner, but there wasn't any real muscle growth to speak of.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he made his way out of the bathroom, through his bedroom and in to his closet. All the while thinking about the abilities that Kar had given him.
He had been doing his workouts and self study for over a month now, with barley any results showing. Kar had told him that to gain his speed, apex senses, stamina, and photographic memory he would have to work for them, and that's what he had been doing. His workouts were harder than most of Oliver Woods's quidditch practices, and he had been studying like Hermione before an end of year exam. Going at this pace was what was making him so tired that he didn't get up as easy as he used to. After full days of playing and spending time with his family, and nights of workouts and study, he just didn't have the ability to get up as easy as he once had.
Putting on jeans, a pair of trainers, and a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he checked his self out in the mirror. Happy with how he was looking he headed out of his closet.
Since his dream with Kar, he had been careful to not stare at himself for too long. He agreed that it was fine to like his appearance, but to stare at his self like he had was too close to being like Malfoy.
'Lord knows that what I plan on doing tomorrow is something a Malfoy would do,' he thought disdainfully, as he entered his room, feeling like he was forgetting something.
Knowing that he needed to hurry up and get down stairs, he looked around his room trying to see what he was forgetting, not seeing anything he shrugged it off, and made his way down stairs.
His foot hadn't left the bottom step before his favorite giggling red headed missile, had launched herself at him, wrapping her tiny arms around his middle.
"Harry, look how pretty I am," Ivy yelled, as she pulled away from him, doing a little spin to show him her apple green dress.
Picking her up as she finished her spin, he hugged the little girl as he made his way to the kitchen. "Your way to pretty to be walking around, someone might try to take you away from me," his words earned him a gasp from Ivy. "I know, it's terrible, that's why I'm never going to put you down."
Lily, James and Iris were sitting at the kitchen table, talking with the Tonks family who had showed up early to help prepare for Iris's party. Having finished setting everything up they had all sat down for a cup of tea, when the sound of Ivy cheering drawled their attention to the brother and sister who had just entered the room.
"Good morning everyone," Harry called, taking the seat in between Iris and Tonks, before he turned to his sister, "and a happy birthday to you," he congratulated her, giving her a one armed hug. "I'm surprised no one woke me up. I could have helped set things up."
"Its fine honey, we took care of everything. Besides we know you haven't been sleeping much as of late," Lily told him, giving him a look that told him that she thought he needed more sleep.
"Oh... I didn't know anybody knew I was up," he said, looking put out at not being as sneaky as he thought he was.
"What have you been doing," Iris asked him, as she poured him a glass of orange juice.
"I've spent a lot of time in the library and working out," noticing all the questioning looks he continued, "I spend most of my days hanging out with everyone, but there are things I wanted to learn before going off to Hogwarts, so I study at night. That way I get some family time, and get to study as well."
"And the working out," Tonks asked, moving her eyebrows suggestively, "Trying to bulk up for the ladies at Hogwarts?"
"No," he snorted, "I'm getting ready for quidditch. I intend to join the team of which ever house I end up in." Everyone could hear from his tone that there was no doubt in his mind; he was going to make one of the teams.
"That's going to be very hard to do," Ted informed him. "I think it's been over a hundred years since a first year made a house team. What position do you play?"
"Seeker."
"You're in luck then," replied Tonks. "Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw all need new seekers this year. So you have a chance with them if you're any good. As for Slytherin this is their seekers last year."
"What house do you think you'll be in," asked Andromeda, speaking for the first time since he had entered the room.
"To be honest, I don't know which house I might end up in." He knew that since getting his new body that his personality had changed. What he had done to Mundungus and what he planned on doing the next day was proof of that.
"I think you'll be a Ravenclaw," said Iris giving her opinion on the matter. "You're really smart, like to read, and good at magic. All marks of being a Ravenclaw."
"So you've tried your hand at magic then," asked a surprised Andromeda. "Most people don't know that you can do magic outside of school if you live in a magic household."
"Yeah it took me a while but I found out that you could. I also found that muggle born's can use magic at home before they come to school without getting in trouble." This of course was a lie. Sirius had been the one to tell him, in his last life that he could use magic at Grimmauld Place and any other magic household. As for the muggle born's using magic before school started, was a fact he had learned when Hermione had told him that she had used magic at home before coming to Hogwarts.
"I wish I had known that when I first learned about magic," said a put out looking Ted. Lily nodded her agreement to his statement.
"Why don't you show us some magic then," suggested Tonks.
"Oka-" started Harry before being cut off by the fire place flaming green.
Out of the flames stepped a beautiful woman with a young girl that was the spitting image of the women. Both had blonde hair, cream colored skin, and icy blue eyes, but where the woman's looked to be filled with kindness and mirth, the young girls seemed to be cold and distant. Harry like many other boys that had gone to Hogwarts at the same time as him, had watched her from afar for most of their time there, her name was Daphne Greengrass, the ice queen of Slytherin.
"Arana, Daphne, you both made it. How are you both doing," Lily asked as she made her way to them from her spot at the table.
"Were fine, thank you for asking," replied Arana, giving her long time friend a hug in greeting. "It was so kind of you to invite us to Iris's party. Don't you agree Daphne, honey," she asked the last part as her lips started to twitch in amusement.
"Yes, I'm thrilled to be here," was Daphne's emotionless reply. Hearing her words, in the tone she had used, had caused Arana's twitch to turn into a full blown smile, for Tonks and Harry thought it had been too much and both were leaning against each other, shaking in silent laughter.
As Iris and Daphne started talking to each other, Arana turned to Lily. "I know that may have sounded like sarcasm, but she really is excited to be here."
"Its fine, I know she received your looks, but has Marcus's personality," said Lily, watching her daughter and her friend. "Speaking of Marcus, where is he and Astoria at?"
"They should be here any mo-"
Before she could even finish the sentence, the fire place flamed green again. This time out stepped a man that was easily 6'6, he had dark skin that looked as if he spent a lot of time out side, long black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, and surprisingly eyes that were the same shade of icy blue as his wife's.
The man was so intimidating that Harry didn't realize that he was holding the hand of his other daughter until Iris had thrown he arms around the girl. When Iris pulled away Harry received his first good look at Astoria in this time line. She had bronze colored skin, black hair that cascaded down to her mid back in fine curls, both of which set off her icy blue eyes that seemed to be the trademark of the Greengrass family.
"Happy birthday, Iris," Astoria half yelled, half squealed, showing everyone one that unlike her sister, her personality was nothing like her fathers.
Soon the room was a blur of greetings and introductions. Harry had stood back with Ivy still in his arms, waiting to meet the Greengrass family for the first time ever. In his past life the Greengrass family had been a dark, so it had come as a surprise to Harry to find out that his family was so close to them. Deciding it would be best to look into their past he had found that they had been neutral until they were attacked by Death Eaters for not joining Voldemort. In the attack only Marcus's brother had been unable to get away, and had been hit by a killing curse, from that point on they had supported the light side in the war.
His thoughts would have continued to stay on the past of the Greengrass's had it not been for Ivy. At the moment she was playfully scowling at someone, following her line of sight he saw Iris leading the expressionless Daphne and excitable Astoria over by their hands.
"Harry, I'd like you to meet Daphne and Astoria," as each girls name was spoken Iris, would hold up their hand.
"It's a nice to meet you both," he told them, sending each a charming smile, that caused Astoria to blush a pretty shade of red, but had no effect at all on Daphne. "I'm happy to have the chance to finally meet Iris's best friends."
"I'd like to say the same thing, but up until a month ago, Iris had only ever referred to you as the tosser." If these words had left Daphne's mouth it wouldn't have come as a shock, but hearing them come from her cheerful sister Astoria, left Harry for lack of a better word gob smacked. "Thought if I had only ever heard her talk about you like she has in the past month, I'd say you were some kind of prince charming," pausing, a thoughtful look crossed her face, "it's almost like she has a cru-"
"OKAY, that's enough of that," said a panicking Iris using her hands to keep her friend from saying anything else. "Remember, I told you that you should put a filter on your thoughts before you express them."
"Sorry about that, I tend to say things without thinking about how they will affect people," apologized Astoria, her smile never leaving her face.
"It's alright," chuckled Harry. "I think it's cute." His words had caused Astoria to blush again, but it wasn't her reaction that caught his attention, but Daphne's.
"I hope you're not trying to take advantage of my sister," Daphne said flatly, her features never changing from the emotionless mask she was wearing, but her voice had taken on a distinct edge.
"I'm... not," he replied unsurely. The girl's emotionless attitude had amused him at first, but now that she was focused on him, he would have to admit she unnerved him.
"Good," was her clipped reply?
"Wow, is it me, or is it suddenly really awkward around here," chuckled Astoria.
Sighing, Iris buried her face in her hands. She had wanted her best friends to get along with her brother, but so far things didn't seem to be going that well. She was fixing to try and run damage control when the sound of her brother's laughter caught her attention.
"I really like your friends Iris. One who speaks what's on her mind, the other," he paused here, trying to think of what to say, "well the other kind of scares me," unnoticed by Harry and the two girls, his words caused Daphne's lips to twitch. "As much as I'd like to keep you three to myself, I think it's best that you go talk to the young ladies that just showed up."
Iris, Astoria, and Daphne turned to see two of their other friends had arrived. Harry recognized the girls as well; they were Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbot. Both had been in the DA during their fifth year. Seeing them waving so energetically at his sister and the other two, he wondered if he would have known them as well in his last life, as Iris seemed to know if his parents hadn't been killed by Voldemort his first time living.
"Harry, can we go jump," asked a board looking Ivy, grabbing his attention.
He couldn't help but chuckle at her mood swings. It hadn't been that long ago that she was excited about being carried around, now she seemed to be on the verge of death from being in one spot for too long. "Yeah we can go jump."
Tapping Iris on the shoulder to get her attention, he told her where he was taking Ivy. As he stated for the trampoline, he thought he caught a look of disappointment on her face, but by the time he had looked back she was heading for Susan and Hannah, making it impossible to tell.
Figuring that he must have imagined it, he headed for the trampoline, along the way he stopped at one of the few tables that had refreshments. Grabbing a bottle of Butter Beer to share with Ivy, he continued on his way when Tonks caught up with them falling into step beside him.
"Wotcher, Harry."
Hearing her greeting brought a smile to Harry's face, after seeing her corpse in the Great Hall he had thought at the time that he wouldn't ever get chance to hear those words from her again. "Wotcher, Nym."
"Don't call me Nym, Nymph, or Nymphadora," she growled, her hair turning red.
"Oh my bad, is that right only reserved for Moony," he asked cheekily, stepping just out of her reach, in case she turned violent like Iris had a tendency to do.
"What do you mean," she said slowing to a stop while Harry continued on.
"Nothing," he said faking innocence.
"It didn't sound like nothing." He could clearly hear the nervousness in her voice.
He didn't respond to her until she had caught back up to him as he placed Ivy on the trampoline. "I've just noticed that you don't get as mad at Remus for using your name as you do at everyone else," he didn't know if this was true or not in this world. Today was his first time seeing her since coming here, so he was using examples of how she had reacted to him in the past life.
"Th-that's not true," stuttered Tonks.
"Also, is it just me or do you seem to watch him anytime he's in a room?"
Tonks by now had deicide that she wasn't going to respond to him, so instead she focused on watching Ivy bounce.
Harry could tell what she was trying to do so he changed his plan up a bit. "Of course it could be that your scared of him because of his sickness," as he said this the sadness he felt for his uncle slipped into his voice.
"Wha-what, I would never be afraid of him," gasped Tonks turning on him. "He's a good man that's been dealt a bad lot in life. And even though he's suffered a great deal because of something he has no control over once a month, he doesn't let it get to him or affect his life." Harry could see how deep her feelings went for his uncle, they showed that the hard part of his plan would be getting Remus to give in. "He see's people for who they are and not for who their family is, or some ability they were born with. I've never meet another person who's as kind, caring, strong, handsome and so many other things that would take me all day to list," having finished her rant, her shoulders slumped as if saying what she had drained her.
"I know all that, I was just trying to figure out if my hunch was right," he couldn't help the smirk that was on his face. "It was!"
"Oh, and what was this so called hunch about," asked an annoyed Tonks, him insinuating that she was scared of Remus had ticked her off.
"That you want to play little red 'ridding' hood with him," it was the first time he had seen her turn pink from head to her toe. "Oh my bad, I'm guessing Remus likes pink better than red. It's good to see that you'll do what you have to, to get your man."
The only thing that saved him from being hexed was having seen Tonks flip out on Charlie Weasley at Bill and Feur's wedding. She flicked her wrist making her holster drop her wand in to her hand. By this time Harry had crouched down, running under the trampoline hoping that he was fast enough to escape Tonks wrath.
He was only able to keep ahead of her because of his continuous training, and the fact that she couldn't stand in one spot without falling over something. Heading in the direction of the house he saw that all of the party had moved outside, and had stopped to watch the angry Metamorphmagus chase after him.
As he dodged the spells Tonks was sending after him, he drew closer to the party goers, he knew that if he stopped it would be bad for his health.
"Can someone go watch Ivy, I'm a little busy at the moment," yelled Harry, as he bound past everyone and into the house.
Harry ran through the kitchen, into the living room, jumping over the couch and stumbled to the front door. As he was opening the door, the sound of someone falling in the kitchen reached his ears, thinking fast he pulled his hood up and left the door open.
When Tonks entered the living room she saw that the door had been left open, assuming that he had left it open as he ran away, she sprinted for the open doorway, with every intention of catching and hexing the little pervert. But before she could make it around the same chair that Harry had jumped over she was hit from behind by a body bind.
Pulling his hood down, he picked Tonks up who had somehow frozen standing up, caring her to the couch he set her down. Flicking his wand the front door shut, before he turned it on her.
"Now I'm going to let you go, but you can't chase me, or hex me, or harm me in any way. Okay," he told her, he stood there waiting for her to answer him, until he realized what he had done and that she couldn't answer him. Giving her an apologetic smile he said the counter to the spell and stepped back.
Once Tonks was free, she didn't seem to agree with Harry about the not hurting him, for as soon as the bind was released she dived at him, sighing Harry simply stepped to the side, making her crash into the floor.
"Okay calm down, it was only a joke," he told her slowly, as if he was talking to a two year old. "You know acting like this just proves me right."
Realizing that he was to slippery for her to catch, Tonks started feeling in her pockets for her wand, not finding it she started looking under the furniture.
"Are you looking for this," he asked in an exasperated tone, holding up her wand between his index finger and thumb. Seeing him holding it she tensed to jump for it, but Harry pointing his wand between her eyes stopping her. "Listen I want to talk to you, so if you don't calm down I'll force you too."
"Fine, talk, but as soon as I get my wand your getting it," crossing her arms, she sank into the loveseat waiting.
"I wanted to talk to you about the only part of your speech about Remus, that you got wrong," hearing his words her posture turned from one of anger to curious. "You said he didn't let his sickness bother him, but it does."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you think it's weird that a man like Remus is still single," he asked her jumping straight to the point. "He's successful, smart, powerful, and as you say it 'handsome'," at the word handsome her eyes turned pink from being reminded of saying it out loud to someone. "So don't you think it's a bit strange for someone as put together as him to not have a family, or a significant other? Hell have you ever heard of him having a girlfriend in any of the time you've known him?"
"Well... no. I just kind of figured he was quiet about his privet life," Harry didn't say anything to this, as she seemed to be lost in thought. "Do you really think that's why he hasn't gotten married?"
"Yeah, I do. I've even heard Sirius say the same thing," what she didn't know was that it was in his past life that he had heard Sirius say this. "That's why I brought up how you act around him. You obviously like him, and we both know he won't make a move, so I thought I'd talk to you about making a move on him."
"Whoa, hold on a minute, I admit I like him... I mean I really like him, I have for a long time, but there's no way he'd ever consider me as..." she let the sentence drop. Harry could see that she really believed that he wouldn't want her.
"Why do you think that," he asked as he took a seat beside her.
"Our age difference for one," she replied.
"That's bull shit and you know it," his accusation drawing a raised eyebrow from her. "We both know that it's not uncommon for those with magic to date and marry people who have a twenty year age difference, we live for so long that it doesn't matter."
"Okay, you have a point there, but what about Remus," she asked as if Harry would understand what she meant.
"What about him," replied Harry?
"He's never found a woman that he's liked enough to date-"
"That we know of," said Harry cutting her off. It didn't go unnoticed by him the irritated look that crossed her face at the mention of him possibly dating someone else.
"Alright he's never liked a girl enough to bring her here for dinner. That would be like his version of taking a girl home to meet his parents," Harry had to nod to that, it was common knowledge to many people that Remus saw the Potter family as his own. "So if he's never been in to a girl like that, why would that change now and why for me?"
Harry couldn't help but sigh at how naive she was being. "The reason he hasn't brought a girl home before is most likely due to the fact that he hasn't let a girl get close enough to him for a relationship start," he paused to let his words sink in with her, "as for why you would be different, well I'm sure you had a ton of guy's chasing after you."
He had expected her to agree with him, but instead she seemed to almost sink into herself. He had seen that look before from one other person, at the time she hadn't known he was watching her. When he had asked around about what was bothering her, Ginny had told him about the bulling that she had suffered. As a result he had used his map to find the entrance to the Ravenclaw tower, when it finally opened he had stormed in and flipped out on the entire house. He had ended up getting a month's worth of detention with Umbridge for it, but it had sent a clear message to all to not mess with Luna Lovegood, it had also showed everyone just how scary Harry Potter could be.
"I know that look, something tells me your time at Hogwarts wasn't the best," he half told half asked her.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to say something, but just didn't know how. Harry had never been good at helping others through emotional problems, he could barely handle his own most of the time, so he didn't know what caused him to do it, but seeing her as upset as she was he reached out to hold her hand. Much to his surprise, his actions seemed to help her, she slowly returned the pressure of his grip, not letting go of his hand she started to talk again.
"It's kind of funny, but my life at Hogwarts is kind of what started me likening Remus," she had laughed as she said this, but it came out sounding hollow. "When I first showed up there it was great, I had friends, I was a good student, and everyone seemed to like me. But when it got out that my hair wasn't colored by potions, but was due to me being a Metamorphmagus, thing started to change. When people started asking me if I was one, I told them that of course I was, at the time I thought that the people around me liked it, but slowly they started to pull away from me," the longer she spoke the tighter her grip on his hand got. He couldn't help but get the feeling that she wasn't talking to him anymore that she was on auto pilot. "By Christmas, of my first year, I didn't have any friends at all, I think I would have been fine if being alone was all that I had to deal with, but then older guys started taking notice of me. Most wouldn't do anything but stare, some would say these awful things to me, but wouldn't go any farther than that."
Harry had to fight to keep from being sick, her last sentence had caused him to taste bile. He was hoping she wasn't about to tell him what he thought she was, but if she did he knew he'd be strong for her, and listen to every word she had to say. Somewhere in the back of his mind, where the darkest parts of his self, and the old Harry mixed into one, he was planning how he was going to make someone suffer before he killed them. After the Fletcher incident Harry had felt a little bad for what he had done, this time however if someone had done what he thought they had, he was sure he wouldn't feel bad, but take joy in what he would do to them.
"Then one day, I had asked Professor Sprout, if I could help in the green houses to pass the time before I had Potions, she of course had told me it was fine, but I lost track of time, and was late for class. I grabbed my stuff and took off running, hoping that it would be one of the days that Snape was late for his own class. I'm almost there, when I take a turn in the dungeons, and run straight into the 7th year Prefect for Slytherin. He starts yelling at me that I should watch where I'm going, I tell him that I'm sorry, but he doesn't listen he just tells me to come with him that he's going to take me to Snape. Not thinking anything of it I follow him," by now Tonks is shaking her head back forward, and her breathing is becoming ragged. "I thought he was going to take me to Snape, so I wasn't paying attention to where he was leading me. When I finally notice that we're heading away from the Potions classroom, it's too late. The next thing I know he whips around grabs me by the hair and throws me into an empty classroom. I ended up hitting my head when he threw me, so I was dazed, the entire world was spinning around, the only thing that was clear at that moment was his words. They were so awful, he was laughing as he was telling me what he was going to do to me. He picks me up by the front of my robes, and pulls my body close to his, his disgusting breath blowing in my face. I still get sick to this day thinking about it," she stops talking at this point, her face that had a look of fright on it only seconds ago, now shows her disgust of the memory of her attackers breath.
Harry could tell how much this was bothering her, and starts blaming his self for bringing up her school life. "Tonks... Tonks look at me," not getting a response from her, he uses his free hand to take her by the chin and steer her gaze to his. "I'm sorry I brought this up, you don't have to talk about, all right." Harry had expected a lot of different reactions to his words, but when she started laughing he thought she had snapped.
"That's sweet Harry, but do you really think I would be telling you this story if the worst had happened," not really knowing how to answer her question he just shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry if I made you think the worst did happen. When I talk about it, I tend to get a bit lost reliving the memories."
"I'm just happy that you were okay."
"Yeah, Bill Weasley, and Snape saved me that day," she said smiling fondly at their names. "Bill had seen the guy grab me by the hair, and had taken off to get Snape. I still couldn't see too well when Snape showed up, but from what I could hear he made that kid suffer."
"You were really lucky Bill saw what happened, and that Snape was close by to help," Tonks could only nod to the truth of his words. "But if you don't mind me asking, how does this lead back to your feelings for Remus?"
"You can see how much it still bothers me to this day what happened," admitted Tonks. "It's was a lot worse when I was only eleven years old. All I can really say about It is that traumatized me, I got so bad that they sent me home, my parents tried everything to get through to me, but nothing worked. Eventually they started sending in different people to get me to talk, Sirius, Dumbledore, they even sent in your mother, but nothing helped. Then one day he showed up," Harry could tell she was talking about Remus now by the smile on her face, it was the same one she wore when she told him they had gotten married in his original life. "He just walked in the room, took a seat on the bed beside me, and started talking to me as if nothing had happened. It wasn't long after I had my head buried in his shoulder, surprisingly crying for the first time since it had happened. I couldn't let him go, and if he had I don't know what I would have done to myself, but this is Remus were talking about, he of course didn't leave my side for more than a few minutes for three days. When those three days were up, he was able talk me into going back to school, to show everyone that I was stronger than the crap they were giving me. It's thanks to him I could move on."
"It's no wonder you're so in love with him," her story had increased the already high amount of respect he held for her and Remus. "After everything you've told me, it shows that you two already have a deep connection, all your going to have to do is be constant in your advances. We both know he won't budge on your first attempt, but I have a feeling that all it will take is time, and he'll be yours."
"Yeah but I have no dating experience at all," she embarrassedly admitted. "How am I supposed to know what to do?"
"The first part isn't a problem," he assured her. "Most of the time, if a man cares for a women, he's going to hate any of her ex's, or past lovers. Since you don't have any, you won't have to deal with Remus becoming jealous, thought I doubt if he'd become so anyway, he's way to mature for that kind of pettiness. As for the dating experience, why not go to Aunt Andromeda and mom for advice? I could see both of them getting excited trying to help you land a man, but to be on the safe side I'd keep who you're going after a secret."
"Why," asked a confused Tonks. "You don't think they wouldn't want me with him because of his condition do you?"
"No," blurted Harry, he hadn't realized how hard it was to talk about someone with Remus's sickness, without it sounding like you think they're a monster. "I think they would tell you that you should try going after someone closer to your own age. He is after all thirteen years older than you, and only seven years younger than your mom. But if you were to wait until you're in a relationship with him to tell them, I don't see either trying to make you break up with him. Especially if he makes you happy"
"Alright, I'll do it," she declared, the uncertainly she had early gone.
"The way I see it now's as good a time as any to start," he said, standing up to stretch after sitting for so long. "We better get back; they probably think that you've killed me by now."
Reaching her the wand he had taken from her back to her, he hadn't been expecting the hug he received. Not knowing how to react, he did all that he could do and returned the hug.
"Thanks for listening," she murmured to him.
"Hey, is everything all right in h-"
Letting go of each other, they turned to see who had come looking for them. Standing in the doorway was Remus, what Harry noticed about him right away was that his eyes were almost narrowed to slits.
"I'm sorry if I was interrupting something," neither Harry, nor Tonks had ever heard Remus use the tone he was using now before. "I'll just go back to the party," he said as he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Harry called after him; he could clearly see what he had said earlier about Remus not being the type for jealousy was way off base.
Remus looked like the last thing he wanted to do was wait, but he did so anyway.
"Tonks, stay here for a second while I talk to him," he told her, sending her one of his charming smiles. Walking into the kitchen where Remus was waiting, he could see that his smiling at Tonks hadn't served to cheer him up any, in fact the look on his face made Harry wonder for the first time how much of Remus's wolf was just beneath the surface.
"Can I ask you for a favorer," Harry asked him in a low voice. Getting a jerk of the head, Harry assumed was a nod he continued on, "I and Tonks got to talking about what she planed on doing now that she's out of Hogwarts, and she told me she was joining the auror corps. As she was telling me this she sounded a bit off," Harry could tell that Remus was buying his story, by the way his fingers were slowly unclenching at his side. "So I asked her what was wrong, she told me that she was worried about messing up. She went on to tell me that she was afraid that she'd never be worthy of your praise, I didn't know what she meant by that. I tried comforting her, but it didn't seem to work, I mean look at her she's a nervous wreck," Remus did just that and looked into the living room, standing by the love seat Tonks looked to almost be having a panic attack. He assumed it was from what Harry had told him, and that she was indeed worried about her future. Harry knew it was from a combination of finally deciding to pursue him, and the look on his face when he walked in on them hugging. "Do you think you can talk to her, I could tell by the way she said your name that she cares for you deeply. I'm sure if you were to try and give her comfort, you'd be able to help her more than I was able too."
By now Remus, had forgotten his jealousy at seeing Tonks, in someone else's arms. It had been replaced with worry for the women he had cared for ever since he had held her all those years ago. At first it had just been a deep protectiveness he held for her, but he hadn't realized it until he had been at her graduation this past spring, that slowly over the years he had come to care for her more than her should have. Seeing her standing there, ringing her hands, and biting her bottom lip, gave him a deep need to comfort her, and tell her everything would be alright.
Never taking his eyes off her, he reached out and grasped Harry by the shoulder, giving him what Remus thought was a thankful squeeze of gratitude. "Thank you for telling me Harry, I'll go talk to her, you go on back to the party." Saying his thanks, he gave Harry's shoulder one last squeeze, before letting go to make his way over to Tonks.
Harry didn't know if it was his imagination or not, but he got the feeling Remus was sending him a message through his shoulder. Remus had touched Harry a few times since he had arrived here, a shake of a hand, catching him when he tripped, propping up against each other after stupid jokes at Sirius expense, he had even given Harry a hug when he learned that the youngest male Potter wanted to learn how to make the Wolfsbane potion for him. In all the times they had come into contact Remus had shown great care as not to hurt him with his enhanced strength. So was it a lapse in self control that caused him to almost crush Harry's shoulder, or him sending a message not to mess with the women that he obviously cared for. Either way Harry knew that he wouldn't be giving or receiving any more hugs from her any time soon.
Rotating his sore shoulder, Harry made his way back outside, intent on enjoying what was left of the party. In the time of his and Tonks absents, three people besides Remus had showed up, Sirius of course had showed up at the same time as Remus. The last two arrivals Harry had not been expecting, they were Padma and Pavarti Patil, twin's sisters who despite the fact that they were identical in appearance couldn't be more different personality wise.
The twins were currently standing with the other girls who had been invited, Harry couldn't decide if he wanted to join in with them, or head over to where the adults were standing. Before he could make his decision, the sight of Daphne with Ivy on her hip caught his eye. For some reason they were standing in the middle point between both groups, as Harry is making his way over to them, he can't help but think about how Daphne had always seemed alone in his past life as well.
"Hey," he called getting the two girls attention. "If you want I'll watch her, that way you can go hang out with your friends."
If his sudden appearance surprised Daphne, she did a good job of not showing it. "No, I'm good here," was her almost lazy sounding reply.
"Why," chuckled Harry, more out of awkwardness than humor. "Aren't you friends with those girls," he said pointing over his shoulder to the group of young girls. If he had looked when he pointed at them, he would have saw that most of the group were throwing him glances.
Turning her attention back to the table, she started filling a plate up with food without answering his question. Harry thought for a second that she was going to ignore him, and was about to make a cheeky comment about it being rude to ignore people when she started talking again.
"Their all good friends of mine," she said in a soft voice. She had just finished filling her plate, picking it up she held it out for Ivy to choose what she wanted off of it. "But I just don't like being around more than a few people at once... even if they are my friends."
"That must be really hard on you," commented Harry, unconsciously his voice lowering to the same level as hers.
"It is at times," she admitted, as she silently offered him some of the food of her plate, which he gladly accepted. "But starting tomorrow, I'm going to have to suck it up. After all, Hogwarts has close to four hundred students in its halls at a time."
"You're right, there are a lot of people there, but Hogwarts is a big school. There are plenty of places to get away from everyone at." He had been hesitant about Daphne at first, but after only talking to her for a few minutes, he was already starting to feel protective of her.
"Maybe, maybe not," she sounded like she very much doubted there would be any good hiding places. "Never the less, I'll still have to be around all those people at meal times."
"I can help you with that," he said happy to have a solution to one of her problems. "When we get there I'll show you where the kitchens are. The house elves will love having the chance to give you their cooking in person."
"You know where the kitchens are," asked a cheerful voice from behind them. Turning they saw that it was Astoria, who had asked the question. Glancing over to Daphne, it didn't seem one more person joining their conversation bothered her, most likely on the account of it being her sister. "From what my mother was telling me, most of the places like that are hidden by secret entrances, even the location of the head masters office is kept hidden. How did you figure out where the kitchens at?"
"Let's put it this way," he said leaning toward the sisters, Astoria and even Daphne couldn't help but lean in as well. "It's a secret!"
His answer got him a pout and a scowl from them each respectfully, but both knew enough to let the subject drop. If he didn't want to tell them, then it wasn't any of their business.
"Do you know what house you're going to be in," he asked Daphne, trying to change the subject.
"Ravenclaw or Slytherin," she answered, not bothering to go into any details as to why she would end up in one of the two.
"She really likes to read, and if she wants something bad enough, she'll plot and scheme until she gets it," Astoria explained for her sister, as she grabbed a strand of Harry's hair, and had started to play with it.
He was staring to realize how much women liked doing this, not only did his mother and sisters do it when in arms length of him, but he had women he didn't know come up to him, and talk about how beautiful it was, while touching it. He didn't mind when he thought the women or girl was pretty, but when a person who was as he liked to call it, attractively challenged did the same thing, he had a hard time not bating their hand away. Or in the case of the time when a hag had wondered out of Knockturn Alley, for the soul purpose of stealing a lock of it, he had pulled out one the five knifes that he now always had on his person.
"In that case you should go with Ravenclaw," he informed her, his tone a relaxed one. He was really enjoying Astoria running her hands through his hair. "You said that you don't like crowds of people, so I'm guessing you don't like random people bothering you ether," getting a nod to his question he continued. "Then Ravenclaw the house of knowledge is bound to be full of people who know better than to mess with someone who's reading."
Daphne mused over his words, she had to admit that they were full of logic, it may be stereotyping, but most bookworms kept to themselves. She was a prime example of this herself. Yes, if she wanted to be left alone, then she would have to become one of the claws.
"Can I have another one of these," Ivy asked, knocking Daphne out of her reverie. She was holding up the last little bit of what had been a Licorice wand.
Giving Ivy a hand full of what Daphne thought of as the nastiest candy ever made, she turned back to her sister and Harry. Daphne wasn't one to let people know what she was feeling, so when she turned back to the other two, she had to fight very hard not to laugh at them.
Harry had his eyes closed in pleasure, with his head leaned as far back as he could, to give better access of his hair to Astoria, who looked to be having the time of her life just running her hands through it.
"This is a change from earlier," said Iris, announcing her arrival. "I'm happy to see the three of you getting along."
In response Harry made an unintelligible sound that caused Iris, Ivy, and Astoria to giggle, and Daphne to shake her had at his antics.
"So what did you do to Tonks to make her so mad at you earlier," questioned Iris. The sight of Tonks chasing him had given everyone a laugh.
"I learned that you should never use her first name, or any variant of it."
"Does she really hate her name that much," questioned Astoria.
"You saw how she was chasing him," Daphne pointed out, her voice already falling back into its flat version.
"If you want proof asks Susan to call her that," his words were meet by silence. He didn't have to open his eyes to know they were giving him looks, as if asking why he was trying to get their friend hurt. "The reason I say get her to do it, is because Tonks wants to be an auror. And it just so happens that Susan's aunt is the head of the DMLE, there's no way she would do anything to her."
The girls stared at him after his explanation, before Iris and Astoria burst out laughing. "That's so mean," Iris struggled to say through her laughter. "We should so do it."
"I think you might be a Slytherin," observed Daphne, she knew how cunning it would be to use the heiress of the Bones family to get at Tonks. Everything she had seen of Harry so far had her very intrigued, she knew that in a couple of year's time he would be the wizard to watch out for.
S2ndC
It was an hour after Harry had left the living room that Tonks and Remus showed back up to the party. Harry didn't know what they had talked about, but both their moods had taken a turn for the better. One thing was certain to Harry as he sneaked glances at the two, nether one was more than an arms length away from the other for the reminder of the party.
The party continued like this for a couple of more hours. Iris would spend a short amount of time with Harry, Daphne, Ivy, and Astoria before going and spending some time with her other guest.
Harry tried to be sociable and introduce himself to her other friends during this time, but things hadn't turned out as planned. When he had tried talking to his future year mates, they would either turn red or lose their ability to talk, or be overcome by a fits of giggles. After trying a few times to have a conversation with them, he gave up and took up a permanent post beside Daphne and Astoria for the remainder of the party.
Currently the three were standing by the trampoline talking, and making sure Ivy didn't get into any trouble. Most would think being stuck watching a four year old, who was hyped up on sugar would be a bother, but three didn't mind at all, they all thought that she was extremely cute, add in the effect of the sweets she had consumed, and you had one extremely funny and adorable child. They could have stood there all day, talking and watching the little girl had it not been for Lily calling for everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, everyone it's almost time for the party to end. So before everyone leaves were going to give Iris her presents."
As she finished making her announcement, people started making their way over to the table were everyone had laid their gifts for Iris. It was at this moment that Harry finally realized what it was that he thought he had forgotten this morning, Iris's gift.
"That's what I forgot," he exclaimed, smacking his self in the fore head.
"Please tell you didn't forget to get her something," asked Astoria, her cheerful demeanor slipping into one of dread. "It would really hurt her if you didn't get her anything."
"Oh no, it's nothing like that Tori," he said quickly, more out of fear of Daphne than her sister. "I just forgot to bring it down this morning is all. I'm going to go get I'll be back in a minute."
Just before he was out of ear shot, he caught a whisper of the conversation he wasn't supposed to hear.
"Tori, huh," Daphne asked, her tone as close to teasing as she would allow it to go. "If I called you that, you'd try to kill me. What's so special about him?"
Her comment had peaked his interest, but there was no way in hell, he was going to try and eavesdrop on anything dealing with Daphne. He hadn't been joking earlier, when he said he was scared of the girl.
'Speaking of scary,' Harry thought to his self, as he was drawing closer to the group of adults standing by the house. He had been looking for Tonks and Remus, when the mountain of a man known as Marcus Greengrass, looked him straight in the eyes. Harry was happy he hadn't had much to drink, because he was sure that the look the head of the Greengrass family was giving him would have made him piss his self if there had been any more fluids in his body.
As he came closer to him, Harry couldn't help but wonder what he had done to the man to earn a look like that. Movement at the man side pulled Harry's sight away from him to the people standing beside him. Sirius and Arana were both laughing at something that one of the two had said, as Harry took in Arana's appearance, he realized just how much she looked like her daughters. It hit him at that moment that he had spent almost all of the party talking with his daughters.
'Surely that's not why he's so ma-,' Harry's thoughts trailed off, as it hit him who Marcus and Arana were talking to. 'Sirius.'
As if he could hear Harry's thoughts, he chose that moment to look up at him. Slowly a smile spread across the man child's face.
"Payback is a bitch," Sirius mouthed the words to him, nodding his head at the father of Harry's two new friends.
For the second time in the last thirty seconds, Harry was hit with a thought. The last successful prank pulled in their prank war had been by Harry. When Sirius had tried to retaliate, it had failed to hit Harry, and instead had caught Lily. It would be the perfect prank to sick Daphne and Tori's father on him. After all, all it would take was a few choice stories about how he had a way with the opposite sex, then Sirius could just kick back and watch as Marcus worked himself up.
Harry knew that it had worked too. Thinking back over the course of the party, he had gotten Daphne to talking almost like a normal person, something he was sure wasn't common for her. Then and even worse than Daphne was Tori, she had spent most of her time laughing and playing around with Harry, not to mention she had been touching him for most of the party. While it hadn't been anything sexual, Harry was sure that to Marcus it would have been like he was trying to deflower his youngest.
By now Harry was close to running into the house for the second time today, but his mother's voice stopped him. "Harry, where are you going, we're getting ready to give Iris her gifts?"
"I forgot my present to her in my room," he told her, making sure to keep Lord Greengrass in his sight. "I'll be right back," he called over his shoulder, as he tore off in to the house.
Entering his room, he started looking for the wrapped box that contained Iris's gift. Under his bed, in his closet, the bathroom, on and in his night stand, finally getting tired of looking for it he tried summoning it, only to come up with nothing.
"Where in the hell is it at," he asked himself. He had checked everywhere, which wasn't all that hard since he had packed most of his stuff the night before.
Thinking he may have accidently packed it in one of his trunks, he made his way over to the end of his bed where he had placed it after packing. Opening his trunk he found the gift to be sitting in the first compartment of his normal trunk, or it was at least normal compared to his onyx one.
Having found what he was looking for, he closed his trunk, and headed back to the party. He couldn't wait to see her face when she opened it.
S2ndC
Rejoining the party, Harry saw that Iris had reverted to her childish mode, instead of the more mature one she usually wore. She unlike Harry, hadn't taken her time opening her gifts, all around her was what looked like a wrapping paper explosion. It appeared that everyone there knew of her love of books, as every gift she had gotten so far had been a book. Now she only had one other gift besides Harry's to open.
"Here you go honey," said Lily presenting Iris with a long thin gift. Harry knew at once what it was; he himself had received a package much like it during his first year. "Your father and I thought you might want one of these after this summer."
Ripping open her parent's gift, she was ecstatic to see that they had gotten her a Nimbus Two Thousand. "Thank you both so much," she thanked them as she got up from her spot in the middle of everyone who had showed up to her party, to give them both hugs. "Now I don't have sneak yours out, every time I get Harry to give me flying lessons," she confessed to James.
"I know that's why we got you one," Iris was shocked to find out that he knew she was sneaking his broom out. "I'm just happy to see you getting over your fear of heights."
"It's thanks to you and Harry that I became interested in flying in the first place," Iris told him. "After watching how graceful the both of you looked in the sky, I wanted to be able to do that too," looking around at the group of smiling people, she found Harry standing back from the group a ways. "Finally decided to join us," she called to him, causing everyone to look in his direction.
"What can I say," sounding cheeky, he zigzagged his way through their guest to her. "I like making an entrance. Also I thought you might want you gift now instead of waiting until later."
Taking her gift from him, she had been expecting it to be a book from the shape, but the weight and feel were all wrong to be one. "Well, since you did bring me something I guess I can forgive you," she said trying to sound bored but failing miserably.
"After you see what it is I got you, you'll be more than willing to forgive me," he said this in a way that remained all of the adults of James's cocky attitude. "I just feel sorry for everyone else, their gifts won't be able to compare to mine," his declaration eliciting chuckles from those around them.
For the first time since she started opening her gifts she took her time opening one. When the last of the paper was removed, she was holding a beautifully made, holding case that was made out of mahogany. As everyone took in his gift, the same thought ran through their minds. A thought that Iris voiced, "Not that I'm ungrateful or anything," she said uncertainly, not wanting to offend him, "but don't you think it's a little early to get me a wand cleaning kit?"
Harry had a hard time not laughing at the looks he was receiving, "Try saying that after you look inside."
Unfastening the silver clasp, she slowly lifted the lid, reviling a red silk lined interior, inside there were all the things one would need to properly take care of a wand. As nice and high quality as the kit was, everyone's eyes were drawn to the item in the place holder, used for holding your wand while using the kit. It was the training wand that Harry had taken from Mundungens.
Before Iris could say ask anything about her gift, Lily had spoken, "Harry where did you get this," her tone had caused all those who thought that it's was only a weird wand to take a second look at it. "Those are not only extremely rare, but those that can be found are worth a fortune."
"It's kind of embarrassing," he said chuckling awkwardly. "I got it from the Junk shop in Diagon Alley," seeing Lily's astonished face he continued on with the story he had planed ahead of time. "I just happen across it while in the shop. The person at the counter seemed to think it was just a strange broken wand, but I knew better."
"But how did you know about them, most people haven't even heard of them before," during his explanation she had walked over, so that she could better inspect the gift.
"I leaned about them after I received my wand," he answered; he could see that those around them were getting annoyed about being left out of the loop. Lily however had tuned everything out except for Harry's information on the object. "I started looking in to wands and wand makers, and when you're looking up wand makers you always hear about Olivander and Gregorovitch."
"Did you find any spells on it?"
"No, it was the first thing I checked. The last owner must have cleared it, before getting rid of it." This of course was a lie; he had sneaked out of the house the night he had taken it. Throwing up the same wards that had been used to hide Hermione, Ron, and his self during the Horcrux hunt, so that he wouldn't be over heard if the spells made to much noise. He had found three different spells on the wand. The first had been a spell called Lacum, it was a spell used to make pits in the ground, the more power you put in the spell the deeper and wider the pit would become. The second was called Mormore Murum, the spell would conjure up a wall of marble, which could be used to block spell fire and projectiles. The final spell was called Aqua Flagellum, when used it would create a whip of water, that would come out of the tip of the caster's wand. Harry had tried using it, at first he had done pretty well, but as he gained confidence in his ability to use it, he became carless and hit his self with it.
"That's too bad," said a put out looking Lily.
"Um guys," James called getting Lily and Harry's attention. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we would like to know what's so special about that wand?"
Before Harry could answer, Lily entered lecture mode and gave everyone a run down on the training wands history and uses. When she came to the part about how the wand could be used to teach spells, Iris's eyes almost doubled in size.
"That's amazing, I can't wait to try it out," she exclaimed, running over to him she gave him a huge hug.
"I've already added some easy spells and a couple of the first year spells to it. So that you can start learning as soon as you wrestle it away from mum," Harry informed her, as he said this most of the guest got a chuckle out of the sheepish look on Lily's face.
Marcus Greengrass, like everyone else had been impressed by the explanation of the wands uses, and had momentarily forgotten about his dislike of the boy, who he thought was getting to chummy with his daughters. But after hearing his words about adding those spells, his dislike came back full force.
"Excuse me," called Marcus drawing the attention of those around him. "But did I hear you say that you added first year spells to the wand?"
"Yes I did, why do you ask" questioned a cautious Harry, he hadn't forgotten the looks the man had sent him.
"Oh, no reason, I was just curious is all," he replied in an off hand manner. "I had heard about your gift for magic, amongst other things," Harry cringed at the man's words; he was going to make Sirius pay for his latest prank. "I was hoping you would give us a little show. I'd like to see how easy it is for you to cast spells, first hand."
"Sure," was Harry's short reply, as he took out his wand.
"Harry do the one you were showing me and Ivy yesterday," Iris excitedly yelled.
Happy that he had a way to make her smile, he loosely held his wand out, moving it in a figure eight pattern, as he softy called out "Papiliones". The result was a large group of multi colored butterflies appearing, earning gasp's of surprise from not only the young girls around him, but the adults as well.
Harry had been expecting this type of reaction from the girls, but the adults came as a surprise to him. "What?" he asked looking to all the older people around him.
It was Marcus who answered him, "The spell that you just so easily cast, isn't taught until late into your third year," had the man not been so freighting, Harry would have found amusement in the look of grudging respect he was wearing. "The fact that you can conjure a single butterfly, let alone dozens is a remarkable feat for one of your age."
"Oh... well that's cool I guess," Harry replied nonchalantly, as if he performed spells that far out of his age range every day. Which unknown to them all he did. "So is there any of that cake left?"
AN: hey everybody, here it is chapter 11, so lets begin. BTW sorry for the long AN but it's needed.
In this chapter Harry talks about his feelings for Iris, I'd like to explane them to you. By now I know most of you have probably figured out that the old Harry was a Psychopath, as some of you may know there are time's when a person with this disorder can fixate on one person, and see that person as being theirs to do with as they please. This was the case with the old Harry and how he felt for Iris. When our Harry took his place he became fixated on her to a lesser extent, but the biggest difference is that Harry isn't a Pyschopath, which is why his feeling are leaning more toward romantic, instead of hurting her.
As for Iris's budding feelings for Harry, she's never seen him as a brother, then all of a sudden he becomes a tottaly different person, making it easier for her to develop feelings for him. Now I dont want people saying she's fallen in love with him to fast, because at the moment she isn't. She only has a crush on him, at her age it's very easy to get a crush on someone.
Now I've been getting reviews and PM's about life being to easy for him. Just to let you all know yes at the moment things are goin well for him, but this will not be the case for all of the story. He will have a hard time fighting grown Death Eaters, I thought it was extremly stupid that school children could take on harden killers, and win while members of the Order of the Phoenix were killed and maimed by the same people. Yes Harry will evently be god like, but not for a long time. Right now he only has the experience of a high powerd 7th year, no where near the level of people like Malfoy sr, Bellatrix, and other Death Eaters. He will have to work hard to over come the things that stand in his way.
Now that we've coverd him vs Death eaters, let me make this clear, to his teachers and school mates Harry will appear to be a prodigy. Some people will love him for this, but others are going to be haters. I'm actually debating with myself over the idea of having Harry pull the Sword of Gryffindor out of the sorting hat during the sorting ceremony.
Lastly I wouls like to say sorry about the wait on this chapter. Between class's, work, spending time with my girlfriend and our friends, my life has been hectic. I've been having to send most answer's to reviews and pm's late at night. But considering how often I update, and the lenth of the past couple of chapters, I think you all would agree with me when I say I do right by my fans.
Like always I would like to thank those of you who care enough to review, they are very much loved. Until next time, hope to see you in your reviews.