Hello once again, welcome to the 4th chapter of 'Like a Lightning Bolt'. That's it, I said I was only going to do a few recaps, so, if you want a recap, reread the last chapter, that usually works. I will say this though, this is the chapter where the bashing REALLY begins, I was a little bit mean last chapter now it gets worse. Also, yes, this chapter also displays my OOC changes, specifically, Ron is very OOC, and Hermione has a further display of her OOC. Also, slight changes to who is taking what.
Also, I will admit, I am not happy with this chapter, I couldn't get the situation down the way I wanted it, but, it needed to happen, and I could only get it as close as I did. That's all I'm saying.
Now, comments about the reviews: 1. Ron was mad in canon that Hermione got Crookshanks, considering everything, her getting Crookshanks in this story is worse.
2. On the subject of the heirs stuff being cliché, it's cliché because it IS something that is a commonly seen problem with canon, therefore of course it gets used a lot.
3. Please people do remember that characters ARE OOC, if they aren't acting 'how they should' it's because I don't think that is how they would act in the situation they are in or how they will act with the changes I have given their personality.
4. Harry looked up Dementors enough to know that barely anyone wanted to get close enough to find out more about them, therefore, he intends on staying away, yes, he will look into them more later.
That's really, all, so, without further delay, here is the fourth chapter of Like a Lightning Bolt.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Spells"
Book Names
Disclaimer: Did the Tri-Wizard tournament have 2 tasks that just had spectators sitting there, twiddling their thumbs for ages? If so, I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 4:
Having sat with Luna and Neville for about 10 minutes now, Harry and Hermione were able to say that they quite enjoyed the company the two provided. Neville knew an amazingly large amount of information about Herbology, even admitting to having quite the large greenhouse at home, Harry made sure to file that information away for Christmas, knowing exactly what he should buy his, well, not really new, but still new, friend. Luna on the other hand, provided quite a lot of information on various magical creatures not in their books, admitting that some of them, such as Nargles, are her way of voicing interpretations she has of people, a habit she picked up from her deceased mother, whereas there really were animals such as the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, an animal that Luna and her Father has managed to see many times, but never capture for study.
It was to the laughs of Harry, Hermione and Neville, due to a story Luna was telling about one of her and her father's camping trips, to which Ron entered. Before anyone was able to say anything to him, Ron made his feelings known on one of the quartet's members.
"Loony? What are you doing here?" A scowl was present on his face as Ron muttered this out. Harry, Hermione and Neville, having been told by Luna of what she was called by bullies, didn't exactly take well to one of the people they consider a friend being one of those bullies, their own experiences with bullies in the past allowing them to know how Luna would feel being called such a name.
"What the hell Ron?" Harry began, ignoring Hermione's shouted 'Language!' as he continued, "Why would you call her that?"
"Mate, she's crazy, trust me, she was friends with Ginny growing up, she's ALWAYS been Loony." Ron was standing there, completely ignorant to the emotions running across his friend's face.
"No she isn't Ron, Luna is a perfectly normal girl, it's not right for you to call her that!" Neville's rather loud input surprised everyone, not expecting the quiet boy they knew to so loudly announce his opinion. Ron muttered something in reply, however it was missed by everyone who was looking at Neville, "What was that Ron?"
"Hmph, I said of course the Squib thinks she is nor-" Ron never got to finish as, before anyone could react, Hermione has slapped him so hard his face smacked into the door frame, dropping him to the floor.
"…. Wow" Harry was only able to sum up what he had seen with that one word.
"WHAT THE HELL HERMIONE!" Ron roared as he pulled himself up, "Why did you bloody hit me!"
"Because you," She pokes him in the chest, "Ronald. Bilius. Weasley," A poke followed every part of his name, "Are being an intolerant, obnoxious, BULLY!"
"What? I'm just telling it like it is!"
"Ron," At the near quiet fury behind Harry's voice, Hermione and Ron both turned to face him, "Apologise, to both of them, now."
"What? Why? I don't need to apologise!" Ron's face showed his confusion.
"Yes you do Ron, now, either apologise, or get out. We were having a nice, fun conversation, then you came in and began insulting Luna and Neville, who do not deserve to be insulted. So, apologise, NOW!" Harry, realized that while he was being aggressive, he was defending his friends, and therefore, Ron being a friend or not, Harry was not going to be sorry about it.
"I'm NOT apologising to THEM!" Ron shouted, pointing at Neville and Luna as he did so.
"Then if you refuse to apologise, leave. You may be my friend Ron, but I consider these two my friends as well. I will not tolerate anyone insulting my friends. Hell, unless someone else starts it, I refuse to allow anything that risks recreating Halloween First Year Ron," Hermione stiffens slightly when Harry mentions this, "Well, what are you going to do Ron?"
"Are you seriously choosing THEM over ME Harry? I'm your best mate!"
"Ron, you aren't my best friend. It may be hard for you to understand this, but while you were my first friend, Hermione is my best friend. Now, Neville and Luna are people I can consider friends now too," Harry, from where he was standing, did not see the reactions of the three behind him, Hermione blushing, not realizing that Harry considered her that great a friend, Neville smiling, realizing that he had someone he could call a friend, and Luna, her beaming smile at being considered a friend by someone put even Neville's smile to shame, "So Ron, if you want to sit in this compartment for the trip, you WILL apologise, right now, otherwise, you can go and find another compartment."
"Fine, I'll see you tonight, when YOU can apologise to ME!" Ron, ears burning red in his anger, stormed off, looking for another compartment. After Ron storms out, Harry walks out, making sure that Ron has actually gone. After seeing Ron change train cars, Harry moves back inside the compartment, seeing that everyone else has sat back down.
"I'm sorry about that guys, I mean, I really didn't expect him to react that way."
"You don't need to apologise for Ronald Harry, it's not your fault that he isn't exactly the nicest person around." Hermione placed her hand on Harry's shoulder as he sat down.
"Thank you for standing up for me guys, you didn't need to." Neville muttered out, his lack of confidence showing again.
"Neville, stop it. I consider you a friend, I really do, and therefore, when anyone, ESPECIALLY someone I consider a friend, insults you, I WILL stand up for you," Noticing Luna go to say something as well, Harry decides to add in, "And yes Luna, I consider you a friend as well, therefore, I would also defend you."
"Th-thank you Harry. I know Ronald has always thought me odd, he never really understood me and so he lashes out."
"No Luna, there is no excuse. Ron really shouldn't be acting like that. I mean, this is our third year and he still acts like he does when we were beginning first year. Not only that, but he has shown already that he can act with quite a lot of jealousy, I don't know how he is going to react further when I begin to apply myself in classes. I had to distract him to prevent an argument yesterday before it could begin."
After this rather heavy discussion, the group began to cheer up. When the trolley came by about an hour later, Harry bought everyone some of their favourites, Strawberry Bats for Luna, Chocolate Frogs for Neville, Ice Mice for Hermione, and Peppermint Grims for Harry, a treat that Harry had found quite the liking for during his time in Diagon Alley. The second time the trolley came around, Harry bought them all a box of Bertie Botts to share, playing the Beans game with them.
Right after Neville had to eat a dragon dung bean, making a joke that he doesn't get what the plants in the greenhouses see in the flavour, the train began to slow down, the group noticing it was slowing much earlier than expected.
"What's going on? We shouldn't be at Hogwarts yet? The sun has only just gone down." Hermione muttered, checking her analogue watch for the time, seeing that they were approximately 2 and a half hours outside of Hogsmeade.
"Can you guys feel that?" Neville asked, shivering as the cold set in, the window frosting over and the liquids in the room turning to ice. Just as Harry began to open his mouth, the train car began to rock and the sound of the doors onto the train car opening was heard.
"Something is boarding the train?" Hermione asked, clearly confused about how such a thing was possible. They begin to hear a rasping, near hissing sound as something comes down the corridor of the train. Harry, beginning to hear a woman screaming, looks around to make sure everyone else is okay. First, Harry notices Neville shaking, wide eyed and fearful, as if he was seeing something he really didn't want to see. Secondly, he saw Luna, tears welling in her eyes, also appearing to be looking at something that she did not want to see. Finally, Hermione appeared to be horrified and fearful, a look crossing her face that Harry remembered as a combination of the look plastered on her face as she stared down the Troll during their first year and the look that had been frozen on her face when the Basilisk had petrified her.
Just as Harry finished looking around the compartment, the door began to slowly open, a decaying, large hand pushing the door open, revealing a hooded humanoid creature gliding there. The creature turned to look at Harry, as it does so, his vision began to blur, a flash of auburn hair, the calling of his name, and a streak of green mixing into what he is seeing. Before anything gets worse, a bright white light erupts in his vision, the creature screeches and flees after he hears someone shouting just outside.
"Wha-? What's happening?" Neville got out, returning to some semblance of normality.
"I don't know, I really don't know." Harry replied, looking outside the companion, seeing a worn out and tired looking man. Dressed in some rather shabby clothes with a myriad of scars crossing his face.
"That gents," Began the man, "Was a Dementor, the guards of Azkaban. They were searching the train for Sirius Black," Only Harry noticed the slight flicker of emotion behind the man's eyes as he said the name, "However, for some reason that one decided to stop and try and have a feast on the four of you. Now, I know you are all feeling pretty bad, so here, this will help," The man offered the four chocolate, naturally, the four of them were weary of the strange man offering them chocolate, "I see you don't feel as if you can trust me. Well, I am Professor Remus Lupin, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Wait, Remus Lupin, as in Remus 'Moony' Lupin?" Harry asks, quite astounded that he met one of his father's school friends.
"Wai-wha-HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!" He bursts out, a ,myriad of emotions, primarily fear cross his eyes, as he asks. He doesn't notice when Luna grabs the block of chocolate, handing a small piece to each of the others, before gorging on the majority of the block herself. Neville gives her a strange look.
"What? Harry knows him, and he offered, so it's mine now." Luna said, sticking her tongue out at Neville as she did so.
"I have the 'Guide to Beastly Pranks', I mean, I am Prongs' son after all." Harry watched for Lupin's reaction.
"H-Harry?" Lupin stutters out, Harry finally notices the small traces of amber in his eyes.
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you Moony, or should I call you Uncle Moony?" Harry asks, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Wh-, I, I think you should call me Professor Lupin for now. We, we will need to talk later I think." Lupin appeared to be regaining his composure.
"Well, these are my friends, this is Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood." Harry introduced them, pointing at the three of them as he went.
"It's nice to meet you all. I'm sorry that the Dementor ahh, went far beyond what it was allowed to do, I'll be sure to inform the Headmaster about this." Lupin had progressed into a more, professional, tone as he continued speaking.
"I feel better, you were right, this is really helping!" Luna chirped, completely ignoring that Lupin was trying to act more professional.
"Quite, well, I need to go speak with the conductor, we will be arriving in about an hour and a half. I will see you all later." Lupin pretends to tip a hat as he walks out, heading towards the front of the train.
"Well, I guess we should try and relax, right guys?" Harry asked, trying to bring humour to the situation.
"But that doesn't sound fun at all." Luna pouted, clearly sad about the idea of being relaxed.
The four were looking out the window at the station when the train finally arrived, clearly noticing several of the Hogsmeade villagers standing there with what was clearly Madame Pomfrey giving the lot of them orders. Luna did not miss the fact that each villager had a box of Honeydukes chocolate bars, clearly showing that the school was providing for all of the students in the aftermath of the Dementors boarding the train.
"All students, remain in your compartments until the villagers of Hogsmeade have visited your compartments. Any students who were in close proximity to the Dementors report to Madame Pomfrey immediately after your compartment has been visited. Due to the larger than normal amount of people that will be present on the platform, first years are to remain in their compartments until another announcement is given." The voice over the PA gave everyone specific orders that all the students followed, the group of four themselves were waiting in order to go see Madame Pomfrey.
Shortly after the villager, who introduced herself as Madame Rosmerta, handed out their chocolate bars, much to Luna's pleasure, as well as telling them that she hoped to see them when they came to Hogsmeade, explaining that she ran the Three Broomsticks pub, came around, the group went to go and see Madame Pomfrey.
"Poppy," Harry began, walking his group over to the medi-witch, "A Dementor came into our compartment, we were told to come and see you by the PA announcement."
"Ah, yes, I will need the lot of you to come and visit me after the feast. Regardless you would have been visiting me anyway Mr Potter, a wizard your age should not have caused accidental magic, it may have been caused by the basilisk venom and phoenix tears in your system, I would like to give you another check-up after the feast." Poppy smiled at Harry when he addressed her, as well as taking a much less stern tone with the others from what they were used to hearing from the older witch.
"Uh, Poppy, how did you find out about that?" Harry voiced the question that both he and Hermione were thinking.
"Albus informed me shortly after the Minister informed him. He was worried as, like I said, someone your age should not produce accidental magic anymore, and he was worried that there may be a medical reason for it."
"Ok, I'll make sure that Harry and the others come to the Hospital Wing after the feast Madame Pomfrey." The medi-witch smiled at Hermione after she spoke.
"Thank you dear, I will see the four of you then. Run along now, you have a feast to attend first." She waved them away towards the carriages as she finished.
As the group began moving along the platform, Harry saw Hagrid waiting for the first years to be allowed off the train. Harry, seeing Hagrid standing there without anything to do other than smile at passing students, decided to go and say hello to his friend.
"Hello Hagrid." Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Luna all chorused at the same time.
"Oh, hello you four, did you have a nice train ride?" Hagrid asked, the four noticing that he was speaking slightly slower than usual, but much clearer at the same time.
"Aside from the Dementors, yes. Did something happen to your voice Hagrid?" Harry asked, curiosity and worry for his friend dictating his decision.
"Yes actually. I've been gettin' lessons from Professors McGonagall and Sprout over the holidays, meant to help me seem more professional." Hagrid had a beaming smile, trying to show that he was indeed more professional.
"I was wondering why you were in new clothes Hagrid." Came Luna's voice, causing the others to look closer at what Hagrid was wearing. The other three noticed that Hagrid was indeed wearing new clothes, his previous vest and pants appeared to have been made out of animal pelt, whereas the clothes he now wore were made out of a mixture of fabric and what appeared to be dragonhide. He now also wore a button up short underneath that was tailored and tucked into his pants, which were being held up by a long leather belt that had a buckle made to resemble a dragon egg.
"Wow Hagrid, I didn't notice, those look good on you." Hagrid smile grew even larger at Neville's praise.
"Thanks, the vest and pants were a present from Charlie Weasley and some of his friends at the Dragon Preserve. One of the dragons that had been acting like a foster parent for Norberta passed away and Charlie pointed out to his boss that I hatched Norberta and had a tendency to work with animals that require a sturdier type of clothes, so as a thank you they sent me these." Hagrid began running his hands over the dragonhide, showing that the man was still enraptured by the gift.
"Norberta? Wasn't the dragon's name Norbert? And what about the shirt, and belt?" Hagrid stopped playing with his vest at Hermione's questioning.
"Oh right, Norbert turned out to be a female dragon," Here the four could just make out that Hagrid was blushing, "The ah, the books I had been reading didn't go into detail about that, and she wasn't big enough to tell by the size of the ridges. The shirt, well, shirts, were a gift from Professors McGonagall and Sprout for getting better with my accent, I only slip up a little bit now. The belt was from Professor Kettleburn though, he thought it was quite fitting."
"Oh, that reminds me, you wouldn't happen to know where Professor Kettleburn's office is would you Hagrid?" Harry asked, much to the confusion of the others.
"Well yes I do, but why do you need to know that Harry?"
"Well, I'm not taking Care of Magical Creatures, and I was wondering, if I'm able to fit it, if I could be an assistant or something for the Care of Magical Creatures class? I mean, it's an interesting subject, and while I would love to take it I would prefer to be able to do my other electives if doing all three isn't an option. If I can be an assistant I could help out with the class whenever I have free time."
"Well, I'm sure you can arrange that, but you might want to wait till you get your schedule, or at least till after the feast before you try and organize something like that." Of the group, only Hermione noticed the mischievous glint in Hagrid's eye, but decided against bringing it up.
"Well then, see you later Hagrid, we need to catch a carriage." Harry waved to the smiling half-giant as he began walking to the carriages, the others also saying goodbye as well upon seeing the first years finally being allowed off the train.
Approaching the carriages, Harry stopped, seeing strange, skeletal horses tied to the carriages.
"What are those?" Harry muttered, expecting a reply from Hermione.
"Thestrals," Neville muttered beside him, "They are only visible to people who have seen death." Hearing this, Harry began racking his brain trying to figure out who he had seen die, only for him to realize the only people or creatures that fit this list were his parents, the Basilisk, and the diary wraith. He had momentarily though of Quirrell, but then he remembered that, according to Dumbledore, Quirrell's body had technically been dead for a while, Harry merely watching the two souls inside being forced out of it.
"Wait, so, there IS something pulling the carriages?" Hermione asked, intrigued about the animal she apparently could not see.
"They always have pulled the carriages Hermione, didn't you read that in 'Hogwarts: A History'?" Luna asked, having been told that the book was one of Hermione's favourites.
"It, it wasn't mentioned, why wouldn't they mention it?"
"Well, it ISN'T in the newer editions, but I would have thought you would have read the older editions in the library archives." Luna, after having given one of the Thestrals a quick scratch, climbed into the carriage and got comfortable, waiting for the others to get in as well.
After this, Neville climbed in, sitting beside Luna on one side of the carriage, while Harry and Hermione sat down on the other side after climbing in. The carriage began moving, heading down the path through the village and to the castle. While the four were having a conversation, Harry looked out the carriage window in time to see a group of Dementors moving into the forest in order to search it, everything they touch freezing as they moved through the area.
"They really think Sirius would come to the school? What possible reason could he have to?" Harry muttered, thinking the others wouldn't hear him. Hermione did, however, knowing how confused Harry was about the situation, she decided not to bring it up in front of Neville and Luna, while she may now consider the two friends, she wasn't going to go and bring up what can be considered Potter family business in front of them.
"So, how good a Defence teacher do you think Professor Lupin will be?" Neville's face showed that he hoped Remus would be a better teacher than the last two they had.
"Well, it's not like he can exactly be WORSE than Quirrell, and the less said about Lockhart the better." Harry tried not to smile seeing the small embarrassed blush popping up on Hermione's face as he mentioned Lockhart.
Shortly after this, the carriage pulled up at the school, and the four of them climbed out and began heading inside. After passing through the doors the group saw McGonagall approaching, wondering what reason she had for doing so, they stopped.
"Good evening Professor, is something wrong?" Hermione asked, slightly worried that McGonagall would diverge from her normal place waiting for the first years in order to speak with them.
"Good evening, I need to have a quick word with you about your elective classes Miss Granger, if you would please follow me." McGonagall spoke in her normal stern tone, however the look in her eyes showed that she was only being formal in this situation due to protocol.
Hermione walked off quickly with McGonagall, the other three remaining where they were in order to wait for her. The subject of which elective subjects Harry and Neville were taking this year, along with which ones Luna intended on taking next year came up. Harry told the two about his interest in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, Neville admitted he was taking Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes, admitting that his interest in doing so was based on his interest in Herbology, wanting the knowledge to deal with any Magical Creatures that came around as a result of the plants he keeps, as well as being able to construct his own runic arrays for managing the greenhouse. Luna was looking into taking Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy, wanting to take after both of her parents.
Shortly after this conversation finished Hermione returned, with McGonagall walking towards the doors to greet the first years, a small smile on her face as she slipped a wrapped package into her pocket.
"What problems were there with your electives Hermione?" Neville asked, wondering if there would be a potential clash with any other electives.
"Oh, Muggle Studies and Divination are on at the same time as Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, so McGonagall informed me that I would need to choose between the classes in each time slot, so I dropped Muggle Studies and Divination. I can just take the OWL for Muggle Studies anyway and there is no real point in doing Divination if you aren't a seer." Hermione said, only Harry catching the small tell telling Harry that McGonagall may not have just told Hermione to choose between the classes, but decided he would bring it up later just in case he was wrong.
"Alright, let's go sit down the first years will probably be brought in soon for the sorting." Harry commented, beginning to move into the hall after everyone agreed, Luna walking off to the Ravenclaw table while Harry, Hermione, and Neville walked towards the Gryffindor table.
"Let's hope this year is more peaceful than last year, right?" Harry smiled at the other two as he said so, already figuring that no matter how hard he wished it, it would not be so.
And that is where I am cutting this chapter, slightly shorter than I like, however, considering the feast, or at least the introductions, and the visit to the Hospital Wing will take up the majority if not all of the next chapter, I am stopping here. No real need for footnotes here, however, I will say that yes, it WAS the fight with Ron and introduction of Remus that were causing me issues with getting this chapter written, I'm still not happy with how it plays out, but unfortunately, I have tried nearly twenty different versions of each, and these are the best I could get.
Also, now Harry understands WHY people wanted to be away from Dementors, in fact, why people didn't want to stay near them long enough to even get a sketch or a photograph of, Harry intends on looking into them to ensure that doesn't happen again. Also, before anyone brings up the difference between the canon encounter and this one, wait till next chapter, I will explain it there.
Until next time,
Lucison.