Thank you so much to everyone who submitted last chapter, especially guest reviewers! I personally always send PM's to those I can, so I just want those without an account to know how much I love you all as well. I realize in reading your reviews I may have been underestimating the power of Padfoot the Marauder, no matter how pissed he was he wouldn't go galavanting through the corridors, he still would have been smart about sneaking back out, so thank you all!
Harry came down the stairs the next day, and realized he and his parents were the only ones up. Remus still had his face burrowed into the couch cushions and looked unlikely to move for days he was snoring so loudly, and Sirius was nowhere in sight probably meaning he was still in his own room. Harry easily spotted his parents talking quietly in the kitchen, with the baby in the highchair at the table.
When Harry walked in though, he found they weren't just whispering in light of the guest on their couch, but found Lily looking rather strained and throwing protective looks at her son while James was fidgeting with unease, but both stopped when they saw Harry and tried for a smile.
"What's up?" He tried for a casual tone of voice, sitting down and watching them, beginning to worry at once what new terrible thing could have happened during the night.
Lily walked over at once and began buttering him some toast that was already sitting in waiting, while beginning in the same hushed tones, "you've ah, you're still adamant dear about us not leaving here, yes?"
Harry found this an odd way to start, but nodded in absolute agreement. He couldn't explain the feeling, not even to himself, or how he could even know such a thing, but every time one of them had made to leave he'd gotten a tingling up his spine, an absolute certainty something would happen to them if they left.
James, while unsurprised at the answer, continued while throwing worried looks back into the other room, "right, didn't really think that had changed, it just brings up a problem tonight is all."
It took Harry a moment for it all to click together, then he gave his own startled look to the huddled figure on the couch. "He, he's going to-" he tried to say, not really even sure how to say it, and the idea still a little so foreign he wasn't even sure if he could have even if he'd found the words.
"Change into a werewolf, yes," James agreed as if this were as normal as walking the dog. His face made it clear though this was not to be taken lightly as he continued, "problem is son, he's never done it here, for ah, obvious reasons." He inclined his head to the toddler in the highchair who was currently playing with mashed cereal, though he was getting more in his flyaway hair then actually in his mouth. An empty bottle on the counter showed that he'd already had his proper breakfast, so the parents seemed content to leave him be for now while they talked.
Lily was quick to jump in at the wide eyed look Harry was starting to get, "don't get us wrong dear, we know how to take the proper precautions, it's just, werewolves aren't to be reasoned with. They're purely violent during that state, so it would be best if he weren't here, but if you're sure he can't leave-"
"I'm positive," he insisted back, for the first time starting to feel guilty for his presence here, which was clearly putting a hardship on his family. He wished he could understand why they couldn't leave, or at least give them a reason, but nothing was coming to him.
The parents exchanged one more look before nodding, and James said, "alright, just have to make do then." He gave Harry a genuine smile, clearly thinking the opposite of his son in that moment, as he excused himself and went up the stairs.
He came back down a while later, Sirius wide alert which meant they must have continued a private conversation upstairs, and while Harry was curious enough he may have asked for details, the two were now gently trying to wake up Remus and Harry staved off his inquires, feeling it improper since he wasn't sure just how much of that conversation without Remus was rude. He'd wait until later, maybe the next meal, when he had no doubts it would be brought up again with Remus himself.
It took a long time for Remus to fully be roused, and he was clearly not happy about it, but a little food in all of them and then they were all lounged about in the living room again, Remus' eyes were still partially closed but since he had the baby in his lap it was clear he was awake enough as Sirius started. Remus was also keeping a firm lid on those lingering feelings from the night before. Like with everything else that had happened to Harry so far, he was going to wait it out, and just keep praying that Harry would come across whatever was causing him to act like a stranger in his time with Harry, and refuse to act any differently until then.
Despite the new day, they all vividly remembered the last thing they'd heard, that the innocent hippogriff was being sentenced to death, and it did not start them in a good mood, still hoping somehow an appeal could take place, or something to stop those Malfoys from winning this petty argument over the animal's life.
The fact that Hermione had received the news via a letter, instead of from Hagrid himself, wasn't boding well.
"Considering Hagrid's usual bad penmanship, it's a wonder I could make it out at all," Harry sighed, looking for all the world like his own pet was caught up in this mess he felt so sorry for his friend.
That only made Harry feel ten times worse. He'd let Hagrid down! Now it really was his fault what was happening to Buckbeak! Maybe if he'd done more, "oh, Harry," Lily cut off his train of thought, brushing his hair back from his forehead for a moment, and smiling when it fell right back into place and catching her son's attention. "You can't blame yourself dear. Unless you pulled a stunt like Malfoy and paid someone off, which is bound to be what happened since the case against Buckbeak should have been solid, there's nothing you could have done love."
Harry sighed, not at all agreeing, but for some odd reason when he thought about the hippogriff in terms of actually being dead, something didn't feel right. It wasn't concrete, like he was missing something about this. He couldn't put that into words any better than his guilt though so he kept silent and this time really hoped his instincts were right.
Lily sighed in relief, happy the system hadn't completely failed in that they were following procedure, then began gritting her teeth in frustration as it did occur to her that it probably wouldn't be any more helpful than the trial.
"That was the best thing he could have said right then," Sirius beamed, happy those two had finally begun trying to make up.
"Gah," Sirius blanched, feeling extremely sorry for Ron in that moment, no boy wanted to deal with a weepy girl.
"The poor dear," Lily cooed, "she's been stressed out of her mind all year, I'm betting she's just finally reached her breaking point with all of this."
"Completely understandable," James nodded, making Lily roll her eyes again.
"Well, she's a tough one," Remus grinned, opening up one eye and smiling lightly at how quickly she got control of herself. Not that he hadn't already been aware Hermione wasn't one to mess with, but the idea of a crying girl scared him as much as any male.
"Hope that finally sooths Ron," Sirius smiled all the more.
All three boys snickered a little at that, even with Buckbeak's horrid fate being the one to make this happen, it was still good to see these two finally work this out.
"There's the bright side," James smirked.
Sirius winced and Harry hardly looked pleased at the reminder, knowing the only reason he hadn't ignored that rule and used his cloak would be Hagrid's reaction. He couldn't help but feel guilty that clearly his latest stunt must have even caused Harry to be restricted from even crossing the grounds like a normal student.
"That's not true," Lily snapped at once, not believing that one little bit. "Hagrid could have set up the best case in the world and just didn't pay them a dime." She detested that the longer this carried on, the more it ashamed her to work for the Ministry at all if this was how they were handling themselves. What they did last year, now this, it was a wonder Hagrid didn't lose his temper for being trampled on so much by the lot of them.
Sirius was twisted with absolute hatred, his pity for that hippogriff possibly mirrored as he couldn't help but wonder for the first time how his own trial would have gone. Had a Death Eater done the same thing then, and he'd probably been so wrecked he'd had no way to defend himself, and... he said a few foul things aloud which the others all took as his defense for that cruel situation before he kept reading loudly so as not to be questioned.
"I swear I'll take every detention in that school if someone would just curse this kid already," James snarled.
"I'll bet Hagrid would even look the other way at this point," Remus nodded in agreement.
"Oh, bloody hell this is getting as depressing as talking about me," Sirius groaned, truly feeling for Hagrid and what he was going through. It just wasn't right all this happening to him, while Malfoy got away with anything he wanted!
"How can he laugh about this!" Lily spluttered with shock and disdain. "I just do not understand how a child could laugh about someone truly being in pain!"
"The same way Dudley can watch Harry grow up the way he did and think it's okay," James looked purely murderous at the reminder he gave himself, but it was as good a comparison as he could give.
It made sense this didn't make Lily feel better, but she stopped questioning it and just felt pity for all of those boys, wondering what had happened to good parenting.
"Finally," Remus nodded, now completely awake and looking on eagerly as Harry clearly wasn't holding his friend back this time.
Sirius looked like he'd just found the Holy Grail.
His stunned reaction was kind though, compared to Lily who broke out laughing. She really couldn't help herself. Between the boys shocked expressions and that awful child finally realizing that his words could hurt other people, she was left a giggling mess, which the others were very quick to jump in on.
Harry came out of it first, looking very dearly like he wanted to go and hug his friend for her actions. The others were only just coming out of it, still hoping more than anything it didn't end there. Malfoy had been a pain to them for so long now, that he deserved whatever retribution the trio saw fit to give.
"Can't even rightly blame them," Remus agreed, happily tweaking the baby's fingers and toes to the kid's amusement as he clutched at the poking digits.
"Are you kidding me," James cackled, still looking giddy as he continued, "Ron's trying to stop her! Why!?"
"Delayed reaction of shock," Harry offered, he'd been the same way, never having seen that friend be so violent before.
"Oh now he's in for it," Sirius said eagerly, now convinced that this had to be the best chapter in the book if she used even a portion of the spells he deserved.
"Really?" James demanded, still sounding more amused than anything. "Are they so dull they don't realize, hey, my friend was just attacked, I should help."
"Kind of makes you wonder just how much friends they really are," Remus agreed with a raised brow at quite the calm reactions.
"Bollocks," Lily grumbled, having wanted to offer her own suggestion of a curse for that twisted little brats comments for this.
"As he should be," Sirius nodded in complete agreement.
"Bet that would have doubled if he hadn't intervened," Remus added on with a laugh.
"You and me both sister," James nodded.
"Does Hermione not count," Lily asked lightly, her attention still more fondly placed on the girl then normal as she noticed the gender specific reprimand.
"Oh that always turns fun," Sirius snickered, acting like one had been placed on him.
"Sucks when that happens, means someone's going to have to be a third," Remus said randomly, figuring these three friends wouldn't care, but also remembering if this had only happened days ago Hermione would be in an embarrassing spot.
"What?" They all muttered in confusion, surely she'd been just behind them?
"Weird," James unnecessarily pointed out, drawing the word our extensively. The first time that had happened he'd put it down to the boys not paying attention to her backtracking, but twice?
"Someone please tell me they've figured out how she pulled that off this time," Lily huffed, growing exasperated this third year had her stumped.
"Time!" Sirius grumbled, scowling at the ceiling as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Curse my drinking when she told me about this, but I know it's something to do with time!"
"At least say what you do remember," Remus sighed, knowing even that was a miracle depending on how much he'd consumed and how long ago this was.
"Met a girl at the Three Broomsticks once who's an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. I bought her a drink, and ah indulged on my own, and we got to talking about some experiment she was working on. It had something to do with traveling back in time for short periods, but bloody hell if they actually got it to work. That girl kept going on about someone named Eloise Mintumble,* and the only reason I remember that name is because she kept saying it as el'mumble, which made me laugh and fall off the stool. I don't even remember the girl I'd been speaking to anymore, just that something happened to that Eloise, something to do with time."
He finished with an annoyed huff, clearly not going to remember any other specifics but it just felt like the only explanation for how Hermione was pulling all of this off. Between her being able to pull off multiple classes and her disappearances that shouldn't be possible, time magic really was the only way she could be pulling that off, but she was a third year! Even Hermione couldn't possibly be that advanced!
While the others recognized it wasn't much to go on, it was still slightly better than before where they had no idea whatsoever.
While this seemed like a reasonable enough explanation, they all knew Hermione was the type of kid who would most certainly have gone to class and asked permission to leave for the restroom again.
Even if that had been true, the idea was dashed by that.
"She didn't like, go to a bathroom to cry again or something," James offered, trying to think up some normal explanation for perhaps their over exaggeration.
"As pissed as she was at Malfoy," Sirius' tone showed his disagreement. "I'd like to think she skived class and went to hunt Malfoy down without interference."
Remus couldn't help snickering away at the thought, knowing Hermione was the last kid who'd do something like that, but also knew Sirius was speaking more from experience at his own doing of that so didn't say anything.
"Saw that coming," Lily muttered without the usual amount of humour it would have had if not for the missing girl.
"Least Ron hasn't made a joke about another troll getting in yet," James muttered.
"I insist it would still go the other way first," Sirius disagreed with a small grin, picturing that girl taking on all three of those Slytherins at once would be mayhem, for the boys.
"Well, found her," Remus said in surprise, any number of reasons crossing through his mind why she'd be up there.
"Err," Lily began, unsure where to go with that, this hadn't at all been what she was expecting.
"I'd have let her keep sleeping," James grimaced.
"How on earth did she forget?" Sirius wanted to laugh, but it was just too weird for her. "She was literally on her way there before she disappeared."
When no one answered, Sirius turned back to the book and hoped Hermione might actually answer.
He was so confused he didn't even pause to laugh that he'd just mimicked Harry, it was a valid question.
"Actually he didn't question it at all," Harry said with a frown, which lead him to believe all the more the teachers were in on whatever was going on with his friend.
"Oh I bet she loved that one," Lily muttered, kind of thinking Ron might be onto something with that one.
"Why would she know that if she missed the class!" Remus asked in exasperation, thinking their teacher wasn't likely to scold Hermione for this and then rub that kind of thing in.
"I'm impressed he's paid attention to know that," James rolled his eyes.
"A very real threat," Sirius nodded, thinking back to her first lesson and appearing out of nowhere, and how she wasn't likely to change that game with time.
"Could have had some fun with that though," Remus said tragically, clearly thinking Harry had wasted a golden opportunity.
"Called it!" Sirius cried with glee.
"She set's the exam," Lily rolled her eyes, finding this teacher just as annoying as ever.
Lily actually laughed hardest of all, pleased Hermione was still keeping this class in check, and ignoring Sirius' smug look that she'd mimicked someone again.
"Can't imagine she didn't," James snickered.
"Considering she basically just told them to nod off, yeah," Remus nodded while trying, and failing, to cover his own mirth.
"Wonder if you get extra credit for claiming to see Neville break something," Lily snarked, "that seems to be her preference."
"I am positive you are not the only one," James nodded.
"Can't imagine why that would be distracting," Remus smirked.
"Least that's got to be one of the easiest classes in the world," Sirius chuckled, "even if she comes over, you can fake it you've seen anything."
"That's exactly the kind of observation she was looking for," Lily giggled.
All five of them cracked up laughing at Ron's prediction.
"Glad to see Hermione's getting her kicks in as well," Sirius nodded with glee.
"Feel almost sorry for those girls," Lily rolled her eyes.
"I don't even need to ask," James rolled his eyes, "but let me guess, the Grim's coming for Harry again?"
"You could be a psychic yourself," Remus nodded seriously before they all cracked up laughing again.
"Looks like we're not the only ones getting sick of this," Lily quipped, between the laughter still escaping.
"Kind of half curious what they said," Sirius wondered.
"Probably something along the lines of, how dare she talk back to the all-knowing Trelawney," Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well it's not as if Trelawney didn't deserve it," Remus scoffed. "You can only use the same thing so many times before it gets old."
"You'd know all about that," James nodded with a smirk still in place.
"Ouch," Sirius winced, fairly sure that this was probably an insult on the Seer level.
Harry puffed up with indignation as he snapped, "Hermione's the least mundane person I know. I'd like to see how Trelawney handles a Polyjuice Potion! Let alone-"
Lily leaned over and gave her son a comforting pat on the shoulder as she said, "we know dear, that was extremely wrong of a teacher to say. Best not rile yourself up over it though, after the day she's been having I'd like to see what she says."
Harry nodded and backed down, still looking indigent over it.
"Err," James began in shock, having expected maybe a snappy retort, not, was she packing up?
"Sh-she's quitting!" Remus spluttered in shock.
"Of all the reactions, that was the last one I'd seen coming," Lily agreed, eyes nearly falling out of her head in shock.
"I don't think it's quitting, so much as she's finally had enough," James disagreed with a curious look in place. "I'm honestly quite sure that Harry and Ron are going to get up and join her. There is a difference between giving up and walking away."
"Your moments of maturity still take me back," Lily told him fondly, giving her wedding ring a twist.
James tried to look offended but was too busy winking at his wife at the crack.
"You two didn't go with her!" Remus yelped in shock.
"By the time the shock wore off, we knew if we'd tried to go Trelawney may well have told us to sit back down," Harry grimaced, for some odd reason getting the feeling he may be lucky for his stay, though not for long.
Sirius blinked once, twice, then released a bark like laughter that his friends had missed hearing so much they couldn't help sharing a smile even as he taunted in their faces, "I told you, didn't I! This woman's personality aside, she's absolutely a real Seer!"
That brought the three nonbelievers up short, pondering this. The first they would have argued the point, circumstances and a lucky break, but three? Claiming the Grim, Sirius' animagus form, to be dogging Harry, then Lavender's little rabbit on that exact date, now this?
They couldn't help it, whereas before they had all scoffed at the idea of a Seer, now they really did believe that Dumbledore had found one. It was a moot point in all, they still didn't like her, so they just let it go for now.
"Now that's just rubbing it in," Lily sniffed.
"Besides, I highly doubt it works exactly like that," Remus rolled his eyes. "She may have gotten a feeling a student would leave, not these exact circumstances."
"Don't know," Harry shrugged, "I've no idea how it all really works. Don't rightly think I care either," he added with a grin.
"Oh yes and the poor dear's just bearing that like a champ," Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Oh Harry," Lily sighed. This was the exact reason she detested this teacher, her son didn't need any more worry, especially not from something like a spectral dog haunting him.
"She may well be seeing me wandering around the grounds though," Sirius couldn't help but point out with a bad attempt at sounding casual.
"I'd rather you just never have another near fatal accident again," James grumbled.
"And it only gets worse," Remus sighed.
"You said that last year," Harry grumbled at the remembered headaches all that studying had caused.
"And he's going to say that every year, because it's going to be true every year," James agreed.
"That's a kind outburst to some I've heard," Lily nodded in agreement.
"How has she not collapsed from stress yet," Remus yelped in shock, knowing the comparison to him was never a good sign. Harry was rather disturbed to see that it was now more real than ever, because even now that he understood it, Remus had continued to grow paler and despite the night's clear rest, looked like he'd been sleep deprived for a week. He seemed used to it though, going back and beginning to bounce his leg to baby Harry's amusement.
"Let's hope this one goes mildly better," Sirius sighed without any real hope.
"Aww," Lily couldn't help but coo sadly, admiring this boy beyond belief at his continued fighting for his friends pet.
"Now that's a real testament to the situation," James said in appreciation.
Sirius' eyes alighted with a whole new excitement. There was no way something could happen to cut this chapter off in less than a week! Could he have possibly gotten his wish, and gotten his Quidditch due? The best one of all!?
Lily couldn't help but sigh with distaste, remembering the last game where all that pressure had been placed on her son. The look of determination on her son's face was not boding well for this one.
"Can't blame you," Remus laughed. "I was about to yell at Sirius to shut it as well."
"Something that deeply haunted me during the night," Sirius said tragically, ignoring the fact that he hardly looked like he'd gotten any sleep either.
"Somehow I find that hard to believe," Lily muttered.
"I get the feeling it's only going to get worse," Remus chuckled.
"Nope, he deserved every second of that," James said with glee.
"As should be," Sirius nodded.
Lily couldn't help but think for the millionth time this is one of the many reasons she didn't think much of this sport. Wouldn't it be better if they simply had four teams, made up of different house members on each? That way they could still have the competition, but it wouldn't put so much pressure on the house as a whole. The teams didn't really need to win points for their house, that was to be taken care of in the classrooms. She didn't really think she could convince anyone else of these facts though.
"Now how did that work out?" Lily asked in amazement. "Did the spell backfire and hit both of them?"
"I heard about it from the twins," Harry said with a light laugh, "and apparently a second Gryffindor had jumped in and accidentally hit both, but she was never caught."
"Could they get any more childish," Remus scoffed.
"Better than leeks coming out of his ear," Sirius sniggered.
"Were they really going to jump him?" James asked in disgust, finding it fortunate his son had such loyal friends that they wouldn't let this happen.
"Sounds like it was sound advice," Lily grumbled, temper and worry beginning to war against each other at her son being such a target.
"A valid fear," Sirius nodded seriously. "Can't risk someone getting the chance to tamper with that."
Sirius read that with such conviction that Lily almost wanted to laugh again, but couldn't bring herself to do it at the determined look on her sons face.
Remus pretended to faint in shock, causing the child in his lap to start giggling all the more.
"Nice to see she really does care," Harry grinned.
"Wasn't actually aware that was possible," James began with a smirk.
"But I can see where they're coming from," Sirius finished as that had been his and James go to for stress relief as well.
"That boy really worries me sometimes," Lily muttered, thinking he was going to stress himself right into the game and that couldn't be a good thing. He clearly needed an outlet. Which she found ironic as sports usually were supposed to be the outlet.
"I think for once I'd recommend against eating if you're already close to that," Remus said with mild concern, like Lily starting to fear about stress bombarding Harry.
"Well gee thanks," Sirius huffed, unable to really show his joking annoyance because he was practically bouncing in place from finally getting his own Quidditch chapter! James understood that, and would have been annoyed any other day except it was just too good to see him in such bright spirits, and fearing it wouldn't last long kept his complaints to himself.
"Because that'll fix everything," James laughed, sounding like he truly meant it.
"An early turn in really was best," Harry nodded, getting the feeling he wasn't going to have a pleasant night's sleep.
Lily couldn't help but sigh, but didn't say anything as she knew that despite his previous ill givings with the game, she still wouldn't have won the fight that her son didn't need this game in his life.
"Now that's a nightmare," Remus nodded, trying to muffle some more laughter at the thought.
"No," Sirius shivered in disgust, "that is."
"Your dreams just get more and more vivid," James couldn't help but grin some more at the shocked look on his son's face.
"Least you remembered that," Remus laughed outright this time.
"Might have been more interesting if they had though," James muttered for his own amusement, knowing Sirius would never agree and not wanting to break his happy stride.
At this point they didn't think it was possible for Sirius to sound more excited. This had been all he'd wanted out of these whole books, hearing about Harry's fantastic Quidditch games and making friends and just being a normal kid. If he only got one good chapter of this whole book, he couldn't have put into words his gratefulness that it had been this one!
This didn't really surprise anyone, it wasn't uncommon for an abundance of things to be lurking around after dark. It actually managed to infect Sirius' tone with a nostalgic light now, as it brought back memories of doing this himself.
Sirius couldn't help but give a hard flinch, but it didn't stem him one little bit. Harry's shock at seeing him around would be all the better, as it could only mean that whatever was keeping him around school hadn't changed and it meant he'd get a more proper opportunity to see Harry's game in person then!
Well that was, actually kind of odd. Wouldn't Hermione lock up her pet, at least when she went to bed? If not, then they found that vaguely irresponsible of her, as anything in that forest could eat her cat, and that wouldn't be pleasant.
"Is it mating season?" Sirius couldn't help but ask with all the sarcasm he could, refusing to let his mood go anywhere but up no matter what Harry's feelings of either of his personas at the time were.
The others couldn't have looked more surprised with this then if Sirius had claimed he was a cat lover now. Sure he didn't mind the animals, but this was just plain weird as he'd never gone out of his way to interact with them before.
Then Remus winced as he wondered if his friend wasn't just lonely. If this was a regular thing and Hermione always let Crookshanks out at nights, maybe Sirius had befriended the animal out of boredom. That black feeling was rising back up in him, making him question all over again that he'd never once been caught being around the dog, and he refused to linger on this anymore then Sirius, just begging for one hour of peace so he made the crack, "naw, Padfoot, are you making sure Hermione's cat gets home safe?"
Sirius scoffed and smiled weakly, letting his own confusion at this random thing slide away.
"Well we already knew it wasn't that," Lily said lightly, causing at least Harry to laugh at his old self.
"Kind of the opposite if you really think about it," James nodded fervently, still not having a shadow of a doubt Sirius could only be a good thing in Harry's life, the protector he so sorely needed.
While it was still an odd thing all in all, the three boys dearly hoped this wouldn't detract Harry from his Quidditch thoughts. So Sirius was hanging around with a cat, it wasn't the strangest thing they'd heard this year.
Well except Lily, who would honestly rather hear Harry had gone down and finally confronted that dog then hear another Quidditch game.
Sirius couldn't help but release a surprised snort, effectively erasing the little tension that had built up in the room.
"School unity," James said smugly, trying to catch Lily's attention as well, which worked too well when she glared at him instead of the book.
"Hope he's sweating his arse off," Remus nodded.
"Ooh, my little Prongslet's first crush," James cooed fondly, making Harry repeat that blush now.
"Actually the twins may have just done that for some last minute attention," Remus offered, clearly without meaning it as they wouldn't jeopardize anyone in the team anymore then Harry or Wood.
"I kind of wanted to hear if he'd made a better speech than last time," James said without any real disappointment, bouncing so hard he was shaking the whole couch in anticipation for this! It had taken over two books to finally get to a Quidditch final!
"I would honestly be insulted by that if two of his friends weren't on the team," Sirius said with a false tragic face.
"I'll let it slide this once," James nodded in agreement, with his son being on the team and all.
Lily still couldn't help the eye roll she gave for that, thinking that the commentator shouldn't be allowed to be from their own house on biased opinions.
James hardly looked like he wanted to defend Harry's opposition, but the need to defend his sport won out and he said, "only the Seeker's actually expected to be small, and even then it's not a requirement. Like that last game with Diggory," he only briefly ignored the wince the memory of that game caused, "his size over you came in handy."
"Maybe now wasn't the best time to bring up Harry's first loss Prongs," Sirius quietly reprimanded while giving him a light tap with the book, and James realized Harry had turned a little green himself and quickly apologized, considering putting a muting jinx on himself to shut himself up and hear Harry's win!
"Honestly would not be surprised," Remus nodded solemnly.
Sirius had hardly ever sounded happier in his life right then, he'd take the whole punishment of yesterday just to have this one beautiful moment of this perfect game.
"Anyone else get the feeling he just guesses which twin that is," James muttered to himself, his ears starting to ring he was listening so hard, and clearly not noticing by the smile frozen on his face.
Despite her own love loss at the game, even Lily couldn't deny her want to see her house team getting a win with Harry being it's victor, but she asked for the sake of keeping these rowdy boys in check, "who fetches the Quaffle from the ground after the score? Plus, how does Madam Hooch reinsert it into the game."
Harry was bouncing around with a stupid smile on his face as he answered, "it's got a charm on it, so it sinks really slowly to the ground, like falling through water. The Keeper who just got scored on puts it back in by throwing it to the closest Chaser, and the game resumes."**
Sirius couldn't have looked prouder if he tried, remembering back to Harry's first year and how he'd never even heard of the sport, and now he was taking up the proper knowledge and passing it along to his own mother.
"Foul!" All four boys snapped at once, the baby in Remus' lap making an odd screeching noise like he was trying to mimic that, causing the lot of them to laugh all over again.
"Yeouch," Sirius winced, remembering earlier how he had randomly thought one of the Weasley twins had a crush on this Chaser, and that would explain quite the retaliation.
"Foul," Lily said pointedly, grinning at the boys when they just gave her amused looks for her added comment.
"Even pissed he's got his manners," Remus couldn't help but laugh.
"Why wouldn't Angelina have been the one to do it?" Lily asked in mild concern, wondering how hard the girl had been hit.
"Wood picks who takes the shot, so in that instance he probably thought Alicia was better," Harry explained eagerly, "plus, not as emotional as she wasn't the one to get hit."
Lily dearly wanted to interrupt again to ask why hasn't someone called time out so that could be fixed, but then she reminded herself that was the Captain's job, and holding such title Flint must have decided he didn't need it. It was his own fault then what came of this.
That gave them all a whoop of joy, putting all of the boys in such a good mood they couldn't find it in themselves to pick on Lily who had joined in.
No one even had to hear the description of Lee's cut off commentary, the word foul already tracing their tongues.
James made an odd noise between a hiss of disgust and trying to said the word, leaving him red in the face and unable to say it as Sirius read on loudly anyways so Gryffindor could get another due penalty shot.
"Yes!" Was hollard loudly in the room, the euphoric mood coursing through such an opposite to that of yesterday it hardly felt like the same living room.
"Personally I don't see how she could get to much heat into her words," Remus cackled, "since she probably agreed with him."
"Bloody hell you get better with every game," James praised. "That had to be less than fifteen minutes in."
"Considering he could never spot it on his own," Sirius nodded eagerly, adoring his godson for this little fake out.
Lily couldn't help a wince at each one, remembering that horrid game last year with the mad bludger out to kill her son, but he hadn't even flinched at remembered pain this time, so she didn't say anything and the boy's didn't look the least bit concerned since Harry clearly had the speed to avoid this.
Harry may not have reacted in pain at the reminder now because it had hardly hurt, and knew adrenaline had stopped him from even feeling that then.
The five of them each said something very foul indeed, but Sirius wouldn't linger on verbal abuse a second longer then he had to as he blasted on, his hands nearly shaking with excitement for the rush of the sport.
Sirius couldn't help but release a mad cackle as he lovingly replayed that image over and over in his mind's eye.
"If that doesn't have one, then you should have the right to name that maneuver," Remus told Harry fondly a crazy grin plastered across his own face.
"Least she didn't listen," James nodded seriously, thinking that would only earn Slytherin another foul shot.
This room didn't sound much better, though the hilarious mental image of McGonagall and Lee fighting over the megaphone didn't really cause any amounts of anger.
"The final's always are the worst," Remus nodded in agreement.
"And I hope they pay dearly for every bit of it," Lily hissed, not even bothering to look embarrassed for her outburst anymore.
"Could he be anymore idiotic," James howled in frustration at this low move.
"He deserved that cobbing," Sirius nodded with a quick nash of teeth before he continued in still hysterically happy tones.
For the first time it seemed Lily appreciated her son's position as staying out of the mayhem she was hearing about, at least he was only in danger when he put himself into the furrows of the game.
"Foul!" All five of them cried in an outrage at that blatant move, dearly hoping the Keeper had good enough reflexes to duck.
Lily couldn't help but wiggle in her seat with worry, while the boys looked ready to jump on their own brooms and retaliate for that nonsense!
"Yes, yes, yes," Remus was doing a little chant under his breath, giving the baby a light bounce with every one as he realized Harry could now end this game with their win!
James was rubbing his own throat and not looking the least bit like he regretted it, he was enjoying himself too much.
Now everyone who wasn't reading had joined in on Remus' chant.
The slightest of growls began forming in Sirius' throat, hating that his first thought was to flash back to Harry's first game and his tampered broom, but refusing to linger on it in the high of his own enjoyment and just hoping it was his pup's adrenaline rush making the world come to a crawl.
"That's Blagging!" James howled in outrage, looking like he was going to raise a whistle and scream that foul to the heavens if Sirius didn't do it in the seconds coming.
"A pity that, he deserves it all over again," Remus snarled.
"Can't catch it himself so he's got to make the game drag on forever," Sirius said solemnly, before blasting on with ever growing eagerness to see that slimy little snake lose.
Lily wasn't bothering to repress her laughter one bit, knowing full well she'd just been thinking the same things in her own mind when she heard of that bit.
None of them had believed it possible, but the laughter in the room actually grew tenfold with the mention of their normally stoic head of house so blatantly getting into the game herself! It was by far the best visual images Harry had yet to capture.
"No, no, no," James ground out, about ready to jump to his feet and start running around the room he was getting so emotional over this, slightly ruining the effect of his words "they're getting emotional, they'll start losing traction."
"That was not what was intended!" Lily spluttered, curling some lose hair around her fingers and pulling in agitation at her own built up response to all this.
Sirius couldn't help throwing in what he felt about that in between his own commentary, but clearly no one was going to stop him anytime soon, so he kept reading.
"NOT going to happen," Remus was wriggling around so much that the baby hadn't stopped laughing for several minutes now.
"I've never even seen that," James yelped in outrage. "How could they all be so dense as to think that tactic would have any use!" The old Quidditch Captain was so tossed that a team could think this useful he nearly missed Sirius reading,
but he laughed loudly along with everyone else as he pictured them all flying away from Harry like startled bugs.
"Oh bloody hell!" Lily moaned, coming to the same realization as everyone else, that may well have been planned to distract Harry while Malfoy took the lead he would need to catch the Snitch.
"Come on, come on," was the insane chant being pelted around, all with twisted fingers and high hopes that Harry's broom would surely outstrip anything given the space needed!
The echo of the cry of triumph actually managed to shake the windows with their excitement! Harry had done it, he'd finally won his house the Quidditch Cup! None of them could have been any prouder in that moment each giving him a huge hug and making Harry laugh so hard he couldn't have protested if he'd wanted to. This time Lily couldn't begrudge them one tiny bit as they all laughingly demanded a recount of the game with all the insane amount of details Harry could offer, they clearly just didn't want this moment to end.
They possibly could have gotten through a whole other chapter by the time they all settled back down and even then Sirius didn't look like he wanted to keep going. He wanted to linger on this feeling for the next four books, but he also knew better and was forced to finally admit that they had to get to the bottom of Sirius' behaviour before this day ended as well or he may well go mad now from not knowing, so unbelievably to anyone else it was him who finally managed to convince them all to get back to it and finish what little was left of this perfect chapter!
"Pretty sure you just made the whole of his years at school in that one moment," James nodded.
"Wish he'd show that a little more often," Lily beamed, hoping in this moment he'd finally make a real connection with his brothers he was so clearly missing.
Remus couldn't help making an odd spluttering noise, half shocked and half trying to laugh at this mental image of his old head of house.
That one lone little comment was enough to make all of them swivel back to one person in particular who hadn't been mentioned in all of that, but perhaps Remus had just been lost in the crowd? Considering he'd attended the last game, that must be true...right?
Sirius still refused to linger on it, laughing away like a loon at the happy bubble he refused to be allowed to pop while making a crack that Remus had no choice but to laugh at, making Harry's smile as wide as theirs as he took the book.
This is the last nice chapter in the book, so I hope you guys enjoyed it.
*If you want to look up the full story that Sirius' drunk mind won't ever actually remember just google that name.
**I think that's how it works in basketball, and despite having my own copy of Quidditch Through the Ages all I could find on this was the mention of the ball sinking slowly to the ground, not who puts it back in the game, so please correct me if anyone knows better.