(As always: I don't own it. Enjoy!
Great Hall, Quidditch & Patronuses
Harry POV
Alyssa had returned over the weekend not saying anything about her trip to Gringotts. Nor any information about Sirius. I wanted to ask her as soon as I saw her step through the Three Broomsticks, but Hermione told me that if Alyssa wanted to tell me, she would. This had everything to do with me as well.
The Three Broomsticks was crowded for lunch like it was every time we came here. Ron, Hermione and I were squeezed in a booth along with Ginny and Neville. Everyone around was occupied talking but I was searching for Alyssa. She had left earlier this morning to visit Gringotts and told me not to wait on her.
Of course, I didn't listen.
She also made me promise to stay out of trouble. That, I could try too. Trouble has a way of finding me. But since Sirius proved to be the good guy, I had nothing hanging over my head. Except the upcoming Quidditch match that Neville and Ron were discussing. I was halfway there making the occasional agreement or noise. Neither of them seemed to notice. Ginny was too busy eyeing me like a fangirl to notice I wasn't paying attention. Only Hermione was paying attention to me.
"You know if you keep staring around the room, she'll never show up." she hissed in my ear. I looked at her quickly. I couldn't look too long because her eyes would trap me.
"I know, but I want to know what happened today." I protested.
She rolled her eyes at me. "You know, when she gets the time, she'll tell you. She's answered all your questions so far…."
"Except the ones about her life before Hogwarts…"
"And you haven't told her about yours, have you?" she countered. I winced. That was a topic neither she nor I had yet to touched on. Both of us, it seemed, were sensitive to our former lives. "That's what I thought. So, don't badger her."
Turning back to my butterbeer and steak & kidney pie, I halfheartedly ate it. This time, I took Hermione's advice and paid attention to everyone around me. When Lavender came over to sit down, Hermione squeezed over further into me. Almost in my lap, I tried very hard to not think about the girl I secretly fancied practically sitting on me.
'Thank Merlin for you Lavender' my mind thought over and over.
With so many people crowding us and the heat from the Rosmerta's roaring fireplace, I begin to sweat. Uncomfortable as it was, I was dying to get out the pub and find the cold fresh air. Just as I was going to make my move, the door swung open letting Harry in. His eyes searched the room, for what I guess, was for Alyssa but he spotted me instead.
Coming over to us, both Lavender and Ginny nearly fainted seeing him. If it wasn't me they were crushing on it was Alyssa's boyfriend.
"Hey Prongs, you've seen Alyssa?"
"No, wasn't you supposed to go with her?" I asked curiously. My question stopped the surrounding talk.
"Err, yes, I was but we were told I wasn't allowed to go with her to see the property." He explained.
"Why not? Is she safe?" my anxiety building.
"I'm sure she is." he reassured me. "The Property Manager told us that only Potter's or spouses were allowed to travel by the special portkey that was created."
"That's strange isn't it?" I asked.
"Not really it's not mate." Neville spoke up. We all turned, including Harry, at him. Neville blushed from all the attention. "I, well, what I mean is that if it's an ancestral house, then only blood family can enter the house. This includes children and spouses."
"That's what the Property Manager said. He also informed us that it's Unplottable… Something to do with your grandfather."
"Makes sense." Hermione quipped. "During the First War, with so many families dying, the older generation had to do something to the ancestral homes. They had to be protected. I'm sure Neville's Gran did something similar?"
Neville swallowed hard and nodded. I was learning quite a bit today. "So this means, I could have went with her today?"
"Most likely, but I think she wants this to be a surprise for you. You know how she is….Or at least you're learning. She loves to surprise people, but Merlin help you if you surprise her…." he said easing my agitation. "If she shows, can you tell her to come find me?" Everyone nodded and he walked off.
The noise returned and everyone turned back to their prior conversations. Hermione leaned over and whispered, "Well that was informative. Do you feel better now?"
"Yea, I just wish I could have went with her."
"You'll find out soon enough, Harry. That I'm sure of." she assured me.
Two hours later we were getting ready to leave and head back to the castle when we spotted Alyssa with Harry sitting on a large rock as we were leaving Hogsmeade. They must have found each other after all. Curled together, you could tell they were having a deep conversation because neither of them looked up when people passed them by.
Peering at her closely, I could tell her eyes were red. She had been crying recently. If it wasn't me comforting her, I'm glad it was Harry. Hermione nudged me again and I diligently followed her back to the castle. I would wait and ask her later.
I came in the Great Hall this morning with Peeves chasing me since I stepped outside the Gryffindor Common Room. The pesky poltergeist had it in for me this year. This wasn't the first he had chased me through the castle. Tonight was the night, Alyssa and I had our private time. I could ask her about her weekend or bombard her this morning at breakfast. The game was this weekend and however stoked I was, I was more concerned about other things. So much that I almost sat down at the wrong table. The eyes of Ravenclaw students jarred some sense into me.
Mumbling an apology, I sat down at the Gryffindor table where Ron was already there with Hermione. They were surrounded by food and books. Taking my seat, I reached for scrambled eggs when Oliver Wood came by and announced we would have having practice tonight….and every night until the match against Slytherin.
Every one of us, including Fred and George, groaned but to make matters worse, Oliver had pinned our practice sessions early in the morning starting tomorrow. So I would have practice tonight and tomorrow morning. I wanted him to puke slugs. As he left us alone, I suddenly lost my appetite. I just hope Alyssa would forgive me.
"She'll forgive you, Harry. Don't worry."
"Who will forgive Prongs?" I heard Alyssa say as she sat down on the other side of me. It was a pain when she did because she was left handed. But she wouldn't dare move Hermione's book and for hell bent for sure she wouldn't sit by Ron when he was eating. Studying, yes. Eating, no.
"You will." I said.
"Oh? And what have you done this time?"
"Me? Nothing...Blame. Oliver. Wood…." I muttered. She looked at Hermione for explanation.
"Wood is making them practice every day till the match against Slytherin. In the early morning hours, starting tonight."
"Gotcha. He's a fanatic, isn't he?"
"Oi! It's his last year. He wants to win the cup. Which none of us blame him." Ron said in between mouthfuls.
"Gotcha…." Alyssa trailed off and turned to her Charms book.
"You're still going to the game, aren't you?" I asked her again.
She looked up from her book, sipped her tea and smiled at me. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I not go?"
"You're normally busy during the weekends."
"While this is true, not this weekend. Last weekend was quite fruitful." she grinned at me.
"So…." I pushed the envelope. "You found what you were looking for?"
"I did and before you badger me, no I will not give you details. Only that you're in for a surprise over Christmas break."
This information made me much more curious but satisfied me. I could live with this knowledge that I had to wait four more weeks. Turning back to my breakfast, I hoped Christmas would fly by.
Of course, my good feeling didn't last long.
It never does.
During Creatures, Hagrid brought out a bird like horse animal he called a hippogriff. Things were going well, even though the one that I was paired up with still didn't like me. Of course about half way through the lesson, the one that Malfoy was paired up with 'attacked' him. Really, the animal barely scratched him.
This sent him into histrionics. Crying and moaning that he was dying. I felt bad for Hagrid. It was his first year teaching and this had to happen. Of all people, Malfoy had to make his life a living hell. We stayed behind after class trying to reassure Hagrid to no avail.
Trudging back into the Great Hall for lunch, it was fairly uneventful. Just like the rest of the day until practice that night when Wood informed us that Flint, captain of the Slytherin team, said that Malfoy was too injured to play. This meant that we would be playing against someone else.
Up the next morning, every team member slowly walked toward the Pitch. None of us, I could tell had gotten enough sleep, but Wood was fanatic. He wanted desperately to win. While we were warming up, I saw a figure running past us. It looked like it was female and was jogging at a very steady pace.
Oliver must have spotted her as well. Calling her over, she paid no mind until he sent a small stinging hex. When she swore and looked over to us, she saw she was being flagged. Jogging over, as she came closer, I saw that it was Alyssa.
"You can't be here. We have practice." Wood said sharply.
"I gotcha Oliver. I normally jog the Pitch a few times, but I can find elsewhere." she said then spotting me. "Morning Prongs…"
"Morning to you too…." I said coming up to her. "What are you doing out here?"
"I jog every morning. During my training it was required so I kept it up after I graduated."
"What training?"
She held up her hand, smiling at me. "Different story, different day Harry."
Wood called us back for practice and I watched her jog out of the Pitch. That was the last time this week, I would see her jog. I know she told me a lot about herself, but like Hermione and I talked about; there were things she didn't mention to me. Just like I didn't tell her.
The morning of the game, it was dark out. Oliver called off a morning practice and cut last night's short ording all of us to go to bed early. It surprised Alyssa when I actually listened. Hermione would later tell me that she was incredulous how well 'trained' I was.
I could have hexed her.
Sitting down at the table, breakfast food all around me, I wasn't hungry. I was more nervous than anything else. This was the first time I would be playing for someone other than my friends. Alyssa's presence was nerve-wracking. How I managed to scarf down food was beyond me. Leaving everyone in the Great Hall, I followed the rest of the team out to change. Instead of Slytherin, we were faced off with Hufflepuff. Cedric Diggory was their seeker.
Stepping out of the locker room, dressed in my uniform, I grabbed my Nimbus 2000 and waited on everyone else. My mood turned sour as I looked outside. Dark skies with lightning, thunder and wind. It was not going to be a good game. I could tell.
I barely paid attention to Oliver's speech, just that he urged us to play our best and win this game. No pressure there…
The wind was so powerful that us players staggered sideways as we walked onto the very muddy pitch. The rain whipped around us and I had to keep my head down so I could see at least something. The rain didn't deter the cheers coming from the stands. Getting into position, The sound of the thunder drowned out the crowd's shouts. Madam Hooch's whistle to start the match coincided with the first bolt of lightning.
We took off. Everyone found their places and Madam Hooch released the Quaffle, the bludger, and finally the snitch. Even in this horrible weather, I watched as it shot up and out of the Pitch. I watched the game take off from above. My own concern is not getting hit when I begun my chase.
Back and forth the game went on with the Gryfs leading 60 to 10 when Wood called a timeout after I was nearly hit with a bludger twice. Spotting Hermione's frantic waving, I flew over to her where she placed an 'Impervious' charm on my glasses. The charmed worked well enough to keep the rain off my glasses so I could see.
At last, I saw the snitch. It was hovering over the hoops. Then I noticed that Cedric saw it as well. We were both, at least, hundred feet in the air when we rocketed toward it at the same time. Suddenly, a chill ran over my spine and as I turned around, I saw massive black shadows coming toward us. It was Dementors. Trying my best to ignore them, I was surrounded by them. I could hear a faint scream in the distance, but really it was right beside me
"HARRY!"
I blacked out and fell off my broom.
Alyssa POV
"Weather sure doesn't deter the games, does it?" I asked Hermione as we ascended the stairs to the Gryffindor section of the stands. It was horribly raining, lightning and thundering. Not the welcome I wanted for my first game. Well the first game I would see my brother play.
Casting an 'Impervious' charm on the both of us, I fixed my raincoat.
"Not really it doesn't. To tell you the truth, I'd rather be inside with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book."
"That sounds like a swell idea. Will do that when this is over. How long do the games last?"
"Until the snitch is caught. Didn't Harry tell you?" Ron asked.
"We don't discuss Quidditch during our sessions." I retort. He looked at me like I had told him his favorite puppy had died.
Taking a seat, I watched as the team came out. I instantly spotted Harry. He didn't look to happy to be playing in this weather. I didn't blame him. Soon enough, the game took off. Now, don't get me wrong, I know enough about the game to follow it. Similar to Hermione. It wasn't my cup of tea. I loved flying but not competitively. As I watched my brother fly, I realized he was pretty damn good at this.
I winced the two times he was nearly hit. Then I realized the problem. The rain was blocking his sight. Leaning over toward Hermione as Wood called a timeout, "He needs to be able to see. This rain isn't helping."
"I can use that spell you used earlier. Will it work on his glasses?" she asked.
"Should." I barely got out before she flagged him down. Snatching his glasses she cast the 'Impervious' charm on them before handing them back. Leaving us after giving us a pained smile we watched in anticipation as finally I saw the golden sparkle hover over the hoops. Both Harry and the Hufflepuff seeker chased it down.
I felt them before I saw them. The massive black cloud that blocked even the lightening was closing in on them. I didn't know what they were until someone screamed "DEMENTORS!"
Then I heard the screams in my head. ...I heard Lily, I heard Dad, I even heard the sound of Godric's Hollow scream as Voldemort came for us that night. Grasping the railing of the stadium, I fought to keep my head clear.
Snap out of it Alyssa...remember what Stephen taught you….
Then I remember from a very odd session about European creatures and how to defend yourself during my Junior Auror training. Dementors could be chased off by the Patronus charm.
Wishing I had Harry with me-even Will would be a welcomed help-I thought of my happiest memory I could conjuring with all the screaming in my head. The day I met my brother again. Pulling my wand, I turned and faced the closest group of Dementors.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I screamed. Shooting out of my wand was a large penguin. I didn't have time to think about it, I would later. It saw the Dementors and began chasing them off. I held it as long as I could. Then I heard Hermione scream. Glancing back, I saw my brother fall off his broom.
Oh Merlin…. Oh Merlin….
I begun to panic but I couldn't afford it. The Dementors were around the Gryffindors trying to attack them. I couldn't let it happen. Even if I didn't like most of them, I couldn't let anything bad happen.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I screamed again. My penguin came from my wand again and begun attacking the Dementors again. My memory, this time, was my first kiss with Harry.
While I was desperately trying to fight off the Dementors, Albus was the one that saved Harry from dying. Then the Dementors vanished. They turned from the crowd of students and as Harry was being lifted on a stretcher, the Hufflepuff Seeker caught the snitch. The game was over.
Swaying in my spot, I turned to rush down to the Pitch to my brother. I could still hear the screams of Dad and Lily in my mind. I tried to push them out and focus on rebuilding my Occlumency shields. Which, thankfully, kept me from completely passing out. I would have to sit down and work on them again. I was getting sloppy and if Stephen found out, he'd have me do something unthinkable like wall sits or something. I shuddered remembering the pain. Finding the bottom step, I never noticed I was pushing students aside. I would have some apologizing to do later.
My feet pounded against the slick grass until I made it to the courtyard. Skidding into the Entrance Hall, I raced up the stairs. Taking them as fast as I could and as safely as I could manage without slipping. I pushed the doors to the Infirmary open.
Looking around wildly, I saw that the Headmaster was talking to Madam Pomfrey. Staggering over to them, I barely had time to open my mouth when I was ushered over to a bed and chocolate shoved in my hands. I was instructed to eat it. Yum for me. Taking a bite, I begun to feel better.
Turning to the Headmaster, I looked at him. "Is he OK?"
"He will be fine Miss Potter…." he assured me. I sagged into the bed and sighed. "Now outside you did some impressive spellwork against the Dementors. Fifty points for bravery as well as another twenty for thinking on your feet."
"Th-thank you. I didn't have the option to fail. I needed to protect everyone." I said taking another bite of the chocolate.
"Might I inquire where you learned the Patronus Charm?" He looked at me curiously.
"I, well, I had a Professor that taught a section on European creatures and how to defend yourself. The memory surged as soon as I heard the screams in my head. Trust me, that was my first time casting."
"Either way, that was impressive." he said with sincerity. "Rest here with your brother. It will be nice to see you when he awakens." With that Albus left the Infirmary.
I knew I had precious little time alone with Harry before Ron, Hermione and I'm sure the rest of the team would be by. Getting up slowly, I snuck over to his bed. He was soaking wet and still in his clothes. Waving my wand, I dried him completely then removed his boots. Now, he looked a tad more comfortable. Taking a seat back onto the bed Madam Pomfrey pushed me on, I laid down and closed my eyes. The screams of my lost family still in my head, even with my shields on full blast.
I must have napped because the sounds of people woke me. Cracking an eye open, I saw an entire sea of Scarlet and Gold flashing around the Infirmary. The team must be here seeing how Harry was doing. I groaned and tried to sit up. The Patronus took a lot out of me. Everyone stopped and turned to see me. I stilled while their eyes were upon me. I didn't like it. I didn't like the emotions I was feeling.
Awe.
Fear.
Confusion.
Making sure my shields were full blast, I blocked out what I could. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I kept my eyes down and away from the stares. The only ones that weren't staring was Ron and Hermione.
She took a seat beside me and gave a small smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been stepped on by a dragon…"
"Sounds painful." she quipped.
"Why is everyone staring?" I whispered to her.
"We want to know what that spell was that used against the Dementors?" A dark skinned girl asked. I later learned her name was Katie Bell.
"It's the Patronus Charm. I'm not sure if it's taught in seventh year or not. I'm sort of sleeping through Defense right now." I confessed.
"How does it work?" Hermione asked.
"By conjuring the happiest memory you can think of and cast. It, your Patronus-which is an animal- runs off Dementors." I explained to the team.
"Have you ever conjured it before?"
"This was my first time. I didn't think I would be able too." I shrugged. "It was pure luck that I managed it."
"Can you teach us?" Another team member asked.
I sighed inwardly. My body ached as I shifted around on the bed. This was why I didn't show off my training. People would be begging to be taught to defend themselves. I couldn't, nay, didn't have the time to be a teacher. That would be left up to someone who had the time and skill. Not I. Taking a breath, I was unable to reply when I heard a voice I needed to hear.
"Alyssa...thank you…" Harry finally said. I peered past the twins to see him sitting up and awake.
"You're welcome kiddo. I did what I needed to do to protect everyone."
"And you did a great job…." Hermione reassured me while everyone nodded at me.
"I scored seventy points from Dumbledore for it." I supplied.
Before I could be asked anything else, I was saved by Madam Pomfrey shooing everyone out of the Infirmary. Everyone wished quick recovery and left. After she fretted over us Potters, she turned and left us alone.
"You heard them, didn't you?" he asked. There wasn't an ounce of accusation in his voice.
"Yea, I heard them." I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt a tear slide down my face. Rolling my head over to look at him, his emerald eyes penetrated my brown ones. Unshed tears were in his making them glisten.
Sitting up, I slowly walked over to him and sat down on the bed. "Harry…." my voice was soft. Those unshed tears begin to fall and I pulled him close to me and held him. Rocking us gently back and forth, I held him while he cried himself out.
Kissing his forehead as he pulled back from me, his face was blotchy and his glasses askew. "I want you teach me how to fight them."
"You need someone with experience. It took a lot out of me and you're going to need something that you can fight against. You can't learn it without a Dementor…."
"Then find me someone!" he demanded. "I am not going to be stuck like this again. Defenseless."
"And you're quite right... " we heard a voice behind us. Turning my head, it was Uncle Mooney. "Alyssa, what you did was extraordinary, but I agree with Harry. He needs to learn how to do this. But it's not easy. Even the most experienced wizards have trouble producing a corporeal Patronus."
"But she did." Harry protested.
"Yes, she did and I ask this: where did you learn how cast it?" Uncle Mooney's eyes bore into me. He would know if I was lying.
"Yea, how did you?"
Chewing on my lip, I begin to fidget. Sighing, I looked toward Harry then Uncle Mooney. Whipping out my wand, I cast a Privacy Charm around us. Uncle Mooney raised his eyebrow at me. "My stepdad's friend enrolled me into a Junior Auror camp the summer of my fourteenth birthday. I spent the next two summers learning how to defend myself. It was only at my insistence that he privately tutor me."
"Hmm...I have heard those exist in America. They don't in England though." Uncle Mooney mused.
"Then why don't you train me!" Harry cried from his bed. Anger seeping through him and I watched as his eyes begin to blaze. I sucked in a breath, this is how the anger started. First, our voice, then our eyes. Unlike Harry's; mine darkened.
"I can't yet." I said. He sat up and swung his legs over the bed. Standing up, he towered over me.
"Yes, you can! I know you can. Don't you want me to be able to defend myself?" he seethed. "Or do you want me to keep running to you when there's danger?"
I felt like he had slapped me. Coming to my feet, I took a slow breathe trying to control my outburst, if I didn't I could shatter the windows. "I can, starting this summer. I can't do anything during the school year. And I won't during the Christmas holiday, so don't ask me." I said slowly keeping my eyes on him. I was watching to make sure he didn't lash out.
"As you grow, your magic matures. You know this. I learned that it's harder to harness advanced spells until you get closer to fourteen. Then your magic matures rapidly." I explained to him.
"But you will teach me, won't you?" he asked again.
"Yes, I will. Don't you worry Harry…"
This seemed to appease him when he sat down a lot calmer than he was a few minutes earlier. I sighed knowing I dodged a bullet. If his anger was building then it wouldn't be too long before the rest of the abilities started to show. The next one wouldn't show face till next summer. Turning back to Uncle Mooney who was watching us with amusement in his weary eyes.
"You two act just like James when you're angry." he commented absently.
"No, they don't." I said coming back to our conversation. "They should, but you know how incompetent this Ministry is." I rolled my eyes. "If I hadn't pushed him to teach me, I would have been useless today."
"That brings me to another question, why didn't the Dementors attack you?"
"They did, sort of. But at the camp, Myles Harris taught me Occlumency. He taught the six of that didn't fail out of the camp."
"Quite a handy skill to have." Uncle Mooney said.
"Trust me I know." I said remembering how Snape and Albus tried getting into my mind. "To pass certification in Britain to be an Auror, I have a month-using a time turner-of training."
"But you said you wanted to be Healer?" Harry interjected.
I turned to my brother and smiled. "I do, but I took this Junior Auror training before I realized what I wanted to do."
He nodded, then looked at Uncle Mooney "Can you teach me how to fight one?"
"I don't have access to a Dementor but we can use the Boggart to practice on."
"Great!" he exclaimed. "When can we start?"
"Not until after the Christmas Holiday…. I need to rest." Uncle Mooney said giving me a knowing look before leaving us alone.
Watching Uncle Mooney leave us, I needed to pen my lawyer about finding someone who could find a cure for Lycanthrope or make the Wolfsbane potion better. With Sirius alive and Uncle Mooney suffering, they were they only family Harry and I had left.
I wasn't ready to tell Harry about Uncle Mooney. He wasn't ready and I knew this was a story that wasn't mine to tell. Squeezing my brother's hand, he looked at me warily. This attack knocked him down a peg, but I know him. He was a Potter, he would come back from this swinging. That thought alone made me smile.
I had no issues to teach him how to defend himself. I was planning on something this summer. Maybe include Ron, Hermione and Neville. The Longbottom boy seemed to have potential. I just didn't tell him the reason why Stephen put me into the Junior Auror camp. My stepfather was a bad man that never liked me.
From the second I walked into my mother's house, my stepfather hated having to take me in. He wanted me sent to an orphanage in England where I belonged, but the letters sent to mother stopped them from doing it.
The door of the infirmary burst open and Harry came running in and behind was Will? Blonde and Red streaks passing by an outraged Madam Pomfrey. Harry pulled me into his arms roughly, our bodies clanging and I let him hold me. We stood there for a few minutes letting my boyfriend calm down.
Pulling away from me, with trembling hands wrapped around my neck, "Are you OK?" he asked his voice full of blue of his eyes were blazing. If he needed to fight, nothing would stop him. I could tell he watching itching to draw his wand.
I nodded and he pulled me back to him again. "You scared me."
"Ho-how did you know?" I asked.
"Poe flew in with a frantic letter from Hermione.. At first I didn't understand it until I read it a few times." He looked over at my brother. "Are you alright? She explained about you falling off your broom."
"Yea, the Headmaster stopped me from falling to my death."
"Don't let him fool you." I smirked. "He only fell fifty feet."
Will let out a low whistle, "Only fifty feet?"
I chuckled looking up at William who was busy looking around the Infirmary. He looked a bit out of place. Dressed in charcoal chinos and a white button up, he was without his robes. Purely Muggle today. . "So what are you doing here?"
"I wouldn't let Harry rush over here without making sure he didn't splinch himself."
"Being his hero, huh?"
He laughed and rolled his eyes, "More like making sure we didn't end up in St. Mungo's for splinching. Granny wouldn't like it either. Imagine her walking into St. Mungo's to berate him on splinching himself."
"What did you do, run from Hogsmeade?" my brother asked watching us.
"Had too." Will shrugged. Funny, they didn't seem to be out of breath.
"But now that everything seems to be OK, I can be leaving." Will said.
"You sure?" I asked. It was a rare occasion for Will to come to Magical Britain.
"I'm sure. I need to get going anyway." He nodded to everyone and turned to leave only just bypassing Madam Pomfrey who was ready to hex both of them.
Leading me to my bed, Harry forced me sit down. "So tell me what happened." he looked at the both of us.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing here disrupting my patients?" Madam Pomfrey bustled in scolding Harry.
"I...was...worried…" Harry said slowly looking at her incredulously.
She made a tsking noise several times but cleared us to leave. Taking my hand, Harry led me and Prongs up to the Gryffindor Common Room. He looked around the castle like he was experiencing his Hogwarts days over.
Prongs led us into the Common Room and took a seat on the couch. The room was empty for the moment but soon they would come in and I didn't want to have to put up with the stares. "So, now will you tell me what happened?"
Prongs gave a quick overview of the game and what led up to the Dementors showing up. As he talked Harry's face darkened considerably. Then I took over about fighting them off myself. No one was there to help me. Not even the Professors.
"You steered them away?" Harry asked disbelieving.
"I did. It took a lot out of me."
"You managed to conjure a corporeal Patronus." he said in awe. "I can't even do that."
"You haven't been trained for it." I teased.
"I can make a mist." he countered.
"Not enough happy thoughts in your mind." I teased again. He shot me a look that had Prongs smiling at us.
"So, what to do next?" Prongs asked.
"We go on like we've always done. Just be a little more vigilant." I shrugged at him.
Great Hall, Second week of December
Harry POV
After the incident at the Hufflepuff game, I had yet to live it down. Those that knew me were sympathetic and kept clear of the conversation while others….say Malfoy and his idiot bunch kept it alive. Especially the part where I fell off my broom and began plummeting to my death.
Alyssa had gotten several offers from students begging her to teach them the Patronus Charm. She had refused several times which led to anger and several shouting matches in the halls. A few in the Common Room. Those, like the Ravenclaws, tried picking fights in the Great Hall. After three of them walked away with boils, they left her alone. She handled her own, but I stayed close to her just in case she needed me. Needed me? I scoff. My sister handled a horde of Dementors on her own before the Headmaster banished them from the grounds.
She could take care of herself very well, it seemed.
She was a hero to many, which helped me. It diminished the onlookers. The only time I recieved attention was in Divination. Professor Trelawney kept predicting my death every chance she got. It was starting to get annoying but when I complained to Alyssa, she only laughed and told me that I didn't have to take her anymore after this year.
Christmas was only a few short weeks away and things seemed to be perfect until I walked into the Great Hall that morning. Taking a seat, I chose to ignore the stares from everyone. I had grown accustom to it, but today something was nagging me.
Just as I was about to bite into my scrambled eggs, Hermione came rushing into the Great Hall. Instantly, my adrenaline kicked and I stood up to catch her. My eyes searching around the room to see what upset her.
"Oh Harry!" she cried and clung to me. I couldn't do anything but hold her. The student body grew quiet all wanting to hear this conversation. Taking her by the hand, I led her out of the Great Hall much to the disappointment of the students. Pulling her into an empty classroom, I used the Potter locking charm on it.
Turning back to Hermione, I could tell she had been crying. "What's happened Hermione? Are you OK?"
"Of course I'm not OK you dolt!" she snipped.
I waited.
She sighed and rushed back into my arms. "Buckbeak, the Hippogriff that attacked Malfoy because he's an arrogant git, is going on trial! I'm sure he's going to be sentenced to death."
I couldn't say anything. The same creature had been easy with me. But she was right, Malfoy is a git and wouldn't hesitate to kill an innocent creature.
"We have to help him! We have to help Hagrid make a good case for Buckbeak." she cried impassioned.
"OK, ok Hermione. We'll do what we can, I promise." I soothed her. Her smile lit up the room and I could feel something spark in her. I really wanted to help. This was Hagrid's first year teaching and so far he had done a swell job except of late when he turned back to the easy Creatures that were downright boring.
I was taken aback when she kissed me on the cheek. Her blush as deep as mine. "Th-thank you Harry. I really mean it."
Something in me charged when she kissed me. Sure, it was just my cheek but it was something. I know it was out of gratitude, but the feel of her lips on my skin sent shivers through my blood. In that instant, I wanted to pull her to me and kiss her properly. I refrained, but only just.
"We….really should be getting back to the Great Hall." I said my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn't stop looking at her.
"Yea...we should." she muttered really not wanting to leave as well. Before things could go any further we heard a bang and Peeves stuck his head in the room. Flashing him an annoyed look while he danced around us with songs, Hermione gestured that we should leave anyway.
Agreeing, I cancelled the spell and we ventured back to the Great Hall where everyone was there in full swing. Ron and Alyssa were sitting. She was reading and he was stuffing his face. Occasionally, she'd make a snippy comment about his eating and he would counter in some way.
"...Do that again Ronald Weasley, I'll make sure you're stepping on your tongue all day." I heard her threaten.
"Do what?" he taunted.
"Stick that Merlin awful tongue of yours out that mouth again and you'll be wearing it." She repeated herself.
They bickered like Hermione and Ron….
"Pleasant conversations?" I asked sitting down beside Ron. Hermione following me and taking a seat beside me.
"Extremely." Alyssa answered dryly. "So, found your school bag Harry."
"Yea, thanks." I said watching it float over to me. Grasping it, I set it under the bench. Reaching for the scrambled eggs again, I was determined to get a decent breakfast in this time around.
While I engaged in small talk with my friends, Alyssa turned to ignore us. When she got like this it was best to leave her alone. Of course, if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't find the small earbuds in her ears.
She carried around her magical player all the time. When I asked her how she could study with loud music blaring in her ears, she told me it helped to tune everyone else out. Including emotions. Occasionally you would see her bounce and mouth the words, but other than that you'd never know.
Hermione watched her one day walking into class wearing them. I, even, wondered if she listen to it during that time. I could bet she did during Potions where she was carrying an O in the class. Much to Snape's annoyance. I wasn't doing half bad but I couldn't compete to her. Snape had finally laid off of me after Alyssa and I were down in the Potions lab working on something.
He had a few snide comments that didn't seem to bother her like it did me. She only had one year of him while I had four more years. If I passed his OWLS for the NEWT level classes. Alyssa assured me that I would.
"Alyssa, what are we doing down here?" I asked as she dragged me to the Potions lab. My least favorite room in the entire school with the exception of the Chamber of Secrets. She ignored my protests but opened the door anyway. Looking around, she made sure no one was around.
"We're clear. Let's go." she said and pushed me into the room.
Rolling my eyes as she dumped her bookbag on a nearby table, she started to pull ingredients out of her Potions bag. She was so concentrated that she never noticed me. Sighing, I gave in and begun doing the same.
"Now, I'm gonna ask what are we doing down here?" My voice laced with exasperation.
"You said you were having troubles. So if you are, this is the best way to learn. The practical, not theory. Sorry Harry, but it's how I was taught." she said flipping open her 'Advanced Potions' book.
Taking my Potions book out, I scanned through the book where we had left off the other day. "Great...Antidotes." I muttered to myself. I turned and looked at her, but she was lost in her textbook. I was amazed how she could be down here all while knowing she could be caught.
Biting the bullet, I set out to start on one of the easier Antidotes. I was halfway through chopping mummy fingers when the door slammed opened. Turning it was Snape and he was glaring. Not just at me, but at Alyssa who was still oblivious.
"Potter! What are you doing here?" he sneered.
"Practicing." Alyssa spoke up adding a vial of bat blood in her cauldron.
Snape turned to Alyssa, his eyes full of hate. "I did not ask you Miss Potter. Please refrain yourself from speaking."
"Like she said, practicing." I said cordially but my hand gripped my knife a little tighter.
He scoffed at my answer. "And, why, Mr Potter do you need to practice?"
"So I can pass your class Professor." He sneered at me but I had three years of ignoring it.
"Professor, Harry is correct. We are here to study. I am teaching him how I was taught to learn potions. Which requires one to learn the potion and practice making it." Alyssa said taking an earbud out. "If you believe us to borrow your ingredients, then please check your cabinet. I swear on my honor we have not used any. All ingredients are our own."
"Miss Potter! I did ask you to refrain from speaking. Five points from Gryffindor. I am well are of your competence in this class, however; I want to know what possee Mr Potter from thinking he can come down here to practice."
Alyssa's eyes narrowed at him, but she refrained from speaking knowing full well I could handle myself against this greasy git.
"Like I said Professor." I put an emphasis on the word. "I am here to practice. I know my mum was excellent in Potions. I am just trying to live up to her memory."
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "As if you could."
"Professor, Harry has given you his answer. If I have too, I will take this to the Headmaster that our esteemed Potion's Master is refusing to let two student practice so they can receive a competent grade." I could feel anger rolling off her. She was toeing the line of insulting and threatening him.
We watched as Snape turned even more of his pasty white as he fought to control his temper. "Fine! Stay down here and study but if you blow yourselves up you will be expected to clean up."
I rolled my eyes when he turned my back on us and left. For the rest of the session, we were able to complete both of our potions. Looking at me later, as we were walking back to the Common room, Alyssa looked at me and smiled.
"Now, see, that wasn't so bad was it?"
I glared at her but she laughed and pushed me into the Gryffindor Common Room.
Since that afternoon, Snape had yet been barely tolerable. At least toward me. He must have took Alyssa's threat seriously because he had left her alone as well. I wondered if I would improve with my Potions but Alyssa assured me that even dad was at least partially competent. Said he had Sirius to keep him pranking around, but Lily was the one that he was eyeing. When I asked her about her mum, she said all her mom was to him was a fill-in girlfriend until he could make Lily see reason.
It made our dad sound cruel, but Alyssa even said her own mum didn't want to marry him. He was going to forgo the love of his life-which was my mum-to marry Alyssa's because of her pregnancy. The honorable and noble thing to do.
We were sitting in the Great Hall a few days later and the upcoming holiday having everyone excited when we heard a 'POP' from behind us. Turning around, we sat a house elf standing there. It had the Potter Crest on its uniform. Those closest to us stopped what they were doing and watched.
"Miztress Potter! Wes has a man trying to get to the houze. Says hes a friend of the House of Potter." the house elf said looking right at her.
"Morning Tippa. What does the man say his name is?"
"Hes says he goes Robert Husky." Tippa the house elf said.
"Oh!" Alyssa paused and looked at me before turning back to Tippa.. "Yes, I give you permission to let him in. Please have him a room ready. We'll be there in a week or so. Is everything ready?"
"Oh yes Miztress Potter everything almost ready for yous and young Master Harry Potter." I heard her snicker at my title. Even Ron and Hermione looked amused. I wasn't going to live it down.
"Excellent. We'll see you then." Alyssa said and the house elf vanished.
"Miss Potter, what was that?" the Headmaster asked coming down the pathway.
"What was what Headmaster?" Alyssa asked too innocently.
"A house elf visiting on school grounds." he said as if she were an idiot.
"Oh, that. Tippa was informing about a visitor. You know how pesky wards are on ancestral homes." she said with a touch of sarcasm.
"Indeed. Well if your house elf has any other further business, I recommend that you do it somewhere else." he warned her.
"Duly noted."
He turned and left us alone from then on. I'm sure things weren't going to go as smoothly getting me out of Hogwarts for the Christmas Hols, but I know Alyssa wasn't going to go down without a fight. He tried to keep me from going to Hogsmeade once already but she put a stop to that as well. Self-proclaiming her as my guardian it became very real when he received a letter from the Department of Child Services. Which I came to find out, he twisted to his favor.
We were sitting in Great Hall during lunch when Professor McGonagall came up to us looking for Alyssa.
"She's still in class Professor, I think she should be done here in a bit." I told her confused.
"When she arrives, tell her that the Headmaster wants to see her." McGonagall said before leaving us.
Not fifteen minutes later, Alyssa arrived free of her books. Taking a seat, she dropped her head on the table and proceeded to nap. Nudging her, she growled and promptly ignored me.
"No good there sister. Dumbledore wants you in his office."
Bloody hell, " she said using Ron's favorite expression. "What now?"
"Dunno. McGonagall didn't say. Just go before she drags you there." Grumbling, she got up and left the Great Hall. I wondered why she looked so tired when three more seventh year Gryfs explained that Prof Lupin put them through a grueling dueling lesson. And since Alyssa had the most experience, she was put to duel half the class.
We waited on her long after lunch ended, but was forced to go to class by an irate Hermione who told us that Alyssa would tell us later. She would not, and we would not, be missing class.
I found out that finding Alyssa later, was to find her in a foul mood. She was in the Common Room pacing back and forth mumbling to herself. Every now and then she would stop and become so still that everyone said she could have been a statue.
Eddie Taylor, a fifth year stopped me when I was coming in, "Harry, your sister is angry as dragon in there. Most of us are keeping our distance because of wandless magic. So be warned when you go in there."
"Thanks Eddie." I said looking almost fearfully at the tunnel leading to the Common Room. Turning back to Ron and Hermione, they nodded at me in encouragement. Gryffindor's forward, right? Heading in, I did see her pacing around the room. It was practically empty save for a few older students who were making sure the younger students weren't around her. I got two steps in when I was bowled back into my friends. I could literally taste her anger.
Seeing me instantly, the anger ebbed a little but only just. "Harry James Potter! I swear on Dad's life if your education wasn't so damned important, I'd yank you outta here right now!" I started to notice when she became angry, her Southern accent-the one she hated-was thick.
Ron and Hermione looked at me warily. Something had happened with Dumbledore. "Back up," I tried the 'placating the angry witch route', "what happened?"
"That…." she noticed people were watching her words. Flicking her wrist her wand appeared in her hand and she cast a Privacy Charm as well as Silencing Charm around her and myself. "Sodding old bastard thought he could get away with telling that I have no rights over you! In September, I contacted my lawyer and had the paperwork processed that I would become your legal guardian-albeit temporary-until the whole Sirius thing was taken care of." she raged.
"Then you know what?" I shook my head, my own anger starting to grow. "He tells that I can't be your guardian because HE is your guardian. Illegally!" she stormed around the room keeping aware of how much the charm covered.
"How is that possible?" I asked. I could feel my anger bubbling. I was betrayed by the one person I thought I could trust. I didn't realize how much more worse it was about to get until she spoke next. The bubbling surged as I realized I had been betrayed. Placed in a home where the people hated me. If anyone had been standing close to me, they would say my eyes blazed brightly.
"It isn't. It's not supposed to be. Sirius was supposed to have full custody of us in case of even where daddy and Lily died. That, obviously, didn't happen. I was sent to America you were sent to your Aunts. He circumvented the situation." she seethed. My eyes flicked toward her fingers and I could see the magic sparking.
A table cracked and some parchment exploded in flames. A random seventh year, that was standing by doused the flames quickly. I shot her a grateful look. "Alyssa you might want to calm down. Have you told Harry?"
"Yea, I have and he's about as angry as I am. I'm sure Will is having a field day keeping him from coming here." she said wincing at the table that cracked. "You know that table cracking wasn't me. I tend to blow stuff up."
"Th-that was me?" I asked disbelieving.
"Yea, you. Don't worry it's just accidental magic from you. Mine's more wandless." She explained. "Listen if I don't get out of here, I'm liable to blow up the Common Room. I'll be back when I wear myself out."
With that she left me standing there in a Common Room while Ron and Hermione were sitting on the couch waiting on me for an explanation. The charms fell as she rushed upstairs. Taking a seat on the couch, they looked at me for an explanation.
"I can't tell you everything right now." I mumbled low hanging my head. I was too angry for anything else but that I wanted to punch something. I had been left at the doorstep of those abusive Dursleys because of the Headmaster. Balling my hands in to fists, I closed my eyes and I fought to keep my calm. A small hand rubbed my back gently and Hermione's overwhelming calming presence helped.
"Thanks Hermione." I whispered.
"Hey...what about me?" Ron asked.
"You're too curious right now. It's all overwhelming." I stated.
"Is that from the trait Alyssa talked about?" Hermione asked
I nodded my head at her. "Yea, she said until I turn fifteen, emotions have to be strong and overwhelming for me to feel them."
"That's strange…" Ron commented.
"Magical puberty." I chuckled remembering Alyssa's words.
I didn't ask Alyssa how she was going to fix this but all she said with a sickening death smile was that things would be taken care of and I need to not worry right now. Albus would rue the day that he messed with a Potter.
The day before Christmas Holiday was supposed to start had everyone, including Professors, excited. The one that was ready for the fight was Alyssa. She believe that it was going to take a duel to get me to go home with her. To go to our rightful home. One, she would not deny me. I spent the night packing and counting down the minutes till I would leave.