AN: I'm going to have magic allow the different students to physically mature faster than normal so in either this year or the next Harry and Susan will appear to be in their early teens. My reasoning for this is look at the actors in movies two compared to three. In that two months or so they matured a great deal physically and mentally so my reasoning is that it was a kind of 'magical puberty' where once they reach a certain age, or their magic gets to a certain level, they go through a burst of magical maturity, and then another one when they get to about Seventeen. As Harry and Susan are above average power they will enter 'magical maturity' early.
AN2: There are pictures on my profile of Amelia Bones now and how I see Susan looking after about second or third year, as well as Natalie and Anastasia.
Harry Potter and the Heart of Power
Chapter 11
-Harry-
Yawning widely he stretched as he climbed out of his four poster bed, looking around the small bedroom that he shared with Susan, his roommate snuggled up in her bed as she snored softly. Walking over he sat on the edge of her bed and gently shook her shoulder, "Come on Su," he coaxed with a grin "it's time to get up.".
"Five more minutes." She muttered as she nuzzled into her pillow with a little hum.
Hearing a pop he turned around to see one of his House Elves appear with a box as he grinned, "But I have a present for you." He said with a grin as Susan shot awake.
"A present?" she asked wide eyed as he nodded and picked her up, her face turning a brilliant red as she let out an eep from being in his arms while he carried her over to his bed.
"Well after the orientation last night," he explained as he sat down on his bed, still keeping his arms wrapped around his blushing friend who didn't show any signs of wanting to get out of her new seat "I overheard some of the older students talking. They liked the little 'slogan' I told Hannah and one of them laughed, saying that they could see all of our year mates walking around with shirts that have that slogan on them. So I had one of my elves go out and purchase a special iron that is used to put slogans and emblems on t-shirts and had another one prepare the words to put onto the shirts. They worked last night and so we have several here at the school and others can be bought by people outside Hogwarts at a later date.".
"So my gift is one of the shirts?" Susan asked in clarification but he could see the amusement in her eyes as she thought about how people would react to the new Hufflepuff motto.
"Not just that." He denied as he reached out with his arm and opened the box to get the other item in it besides the shirts. "I also got you…this!" as he spoke he pulled out a little stuffed honey badger wearing a little version of the shirts in the box.
Susan was silent for about three seconds before she squealed and clutched it to her chest "It's so cute!" she said happily as he laughed merrily.
"I'm glad you like it," he said with a grin as Canus decided he wanted attention as well and jumped up on the bed "here's your own shirt as well.".
"Thanks Harry." Susan said as she kissed his cheek happily and skipped over to their bathroom to change into it while Canus jumped into his lap.
Chuckling he slipped on a pair of black jeans along with his combat boots, throwing on one of the new t-shirts and a light jacket over the top and was just grapping his wand when Susan opened the bathroom and skipped out. Looking up he had to try hard not to blush as even though she was physically eleven her strong magic, and her good genes, had allowed her to develop early as her figure was already showing. She had put on a pair of shorts and the spaghetti-strap tank top with the new slogan as well as a pair of sandals as she linker her arm with his. "So," she asked as they walked out of the room, Canus following them happily "what do you want to do today since we're free until classes tomorrow?".
"Why don't we explore the grounds?" he asked as they walked down into the common room, their fellow housemates doing a double take at their shirts. "It would be nice to be able to find where we want to go without having to panic tomorrow.".
"Fair enough," Susan said with a nod as they walked out of the common room without a care in the world "but first, breakfast.".
"Of course." He said with a nod before hearing a mew and feeling a weight set on his shoulder where Canus had just jumped up. "And I'd say that this little guy agrees with that idea. You want to invite Neville to eat with us this morning?".
"Sure," Susan said with a grin as she scratched her kitten's ears "I feel really sorry for him though, being stuck in a house with Ron Weasley.".
"I feel sorry for the Slytherins and Ravenclaws being stuck with Malfoy and Granger," he said with a snort "but then again the house of the snakes is probably going to tear the little brat apart…that or let him think he's in charge while they manipulate him into losing everything.".
"He did seem rather…dense." Susan admitted as they began climbing up to the ground floor to get to the Great Hall.
"Understatement of the century Su." he said with a laugh as they got to the top of the staircase and walked into the Great Hall, noticing Neville sitting by himself at the end of the Gryffindor table, morosely picking at his food.
"Hey Neville," he said walking over as people began to turn at the sound of his voice "you want to eat Breakfast with Su and me?".
"Is that allowed?" Neville asked curiously but the slightly pudgy Gryffindor was already getting up off the bench.
"There's no rule against it." he said with a shrug as they walked over to the Hufflepuff table and sat down, piling their breakfast onto their plate as they did so.
"So what's with the shirts?" Neville asked them as they began eating, several of his housemates stiffening as they listened in, curious as well.
"Last night one of our Housemates, Hannah, asked what to do when people like Ron Weasley make fun of her for being in Hufflepuff." He explained as Susan intertwined her fingers with his, "So I told her that the people who make fun of her for being in the House of the Badgers are simply too unintelligent to realize that Loyalty and Hard Work are good qualities to have so their insults are born out of ignorance.".
"And that after last night a lot of them will just be jealous boy who lived fan boys or fan girls who want to 'get back' at our House for 'stealing' Harry." Susan added with a giggle, "Harry told all of them to just keep one little slogan in mind when they do.".
"I'm guessing it's the ones on your chest?" Neville asked with a chuckle as Susan nodded happily, his red haired friend cradling a purring Canus in her arm.
"May I ask why you have such a vulgar statement on your clothing?" a new, and highly disapproving, voice asked from behind them as he turned around to see a scowling Professor McGonagall.
"It is the new 'unofficial Motto' of Hufflepuff," he said cheerfully "something that we keep in mind when other students make fun of us for being the House of 'Duffers' or 'Rejects'.".
"Hear, hear!" every Badger in hearing distance called out happily as the Deputy Headmistress' scowl, somehow, grew more pronounced.
"Plus there's no rule against it so long as we don't wear such clothing during classes or during an important school event." He added with a shrug as McGonagall blinked in surprise and was clearly trying to come up with another argument against their shirts.
"They're also going to be going on sale soon for other students who want to wear them." Susan added with a grin "We're just the first to get to enjoy them.". Unable to formulate a response McGonagall let out a harrumph and stalked off back to the staff table.
"Well she's cheerful." He said with a snort "You think anyone else will react like that?".
"Granger." Susan said instantly, "And I heard about another professor from my Aunt, some guy called 'Snape'.".
"I heard of him," he said with a nod "apparently he had some sort of beef with my dad that never really went away after…after he was killed. From what I gathered Snape was in love, or lust, of my mother and so he hated my father. It usually ended up turning to curses.".
"So since he had a problem with your dad he probably has a problem with you." Neville summed up as he nodded and glanced up at the glaring hook nosed professor.
"Come on Su," he said as he finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth "you ready to go check out the grounds?".
"Right behind ya." Susan said instantly as she got to her feet, the trio having been forced to endure Snape's glares the whole time.
"So how long do you think it will take your Aunt to reply to the letter you sent last night?" he asked as he intertwined his fingers with hers, Canus jumping into a pocket of his jacket as they walked towards the lake.
"I'd say maybe by tomorrow or the next day," Susan said thoughtfully as the toured the grounds, taking in the sights and just enjoying each other's company "she'd probably want to look into things a bit before responding to it.".
"That makes sense." he agreed as they walked the edge of the lake, gazing across the misty waters and seeing the standing stones in the distance. Finally though they grew tired of walking and just lay down on the shore of the Black Lake, Susan snuggling up into his chest. Laying his head back he let out a contented sigh as he ran his fingers through Susan's hair as she all but purred against his chest. 'I won't be able to keep it a secret,' he thought to himself as Susan nuzzled into his chest 'I…I can't keep it a secret, not from her. My magic all but sings whenever she's nearby and when she's in my arms my magic reaches out for her. I know that some wizards can bond with an animal and have their magic connect but…is there any way for a wizard to bond with a witch like that? Could my magic really be trying to tie us together?'. As he mused he noticed an owl winging its way over to him as he opened the letter with his free hand, not wanting to stop running his fingers through Susan's hair, as he read out:
"Harry,
I finally managed to get a court date for your Law Suit against the Ministry. Fudge is in an uproar trying to get the law suit itself declared illegal but Amelia is blocking him so it will still go through. Your court date is set for Saturday so after classes on Friday Amelia will pick up both you and Susan, who will be there for Moral Support, and you can spend the night at your apartment above the Casino. The case should hopefully only last the one day but it may extend so be prepared to come back on another weekend if it drags too long. I'm going to do my best to see that Lord Peverell has enough time to attend the Case.
See you soon,
Anastasia".
"Well that will be interesting," Susan murmured from his chest "at least we'll have something to look forward to this week.".
Making his decision he nodded and whispered in her ear, "Susan, when your Aunt picks us up, after we leave the grounds and the two of you are alone, tell her this. 'I have been welcomed into the circle'. She'll know what it means.".
"Why?" Susan asked sleepily as he smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Just trust me," he whispered "it's a very important secret that I don't want to keep from you. I would tell you myself but I think it would be more believable coming from your Aunt…that and I don't want Dumbledore or his eavesdroppers to find out.".
"Okay Harry." Susan whispered softly as she kissed his cheek, "I'll ask her…goodnight.".
"Goodnight." He whispered softly as he held her close, relishing the feeling of his magic sing.