Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The 1991-1992 House Cup
The spring semester resumed without much fanfare. Though it was a bit weird that platform nine and three quarters was packed like it is on September 1st. It made it difficult to wrap our minds around the fact that we only had about two months left of the school year. In light of everything, security increased. Not to the extent of dementors patrolling the border of the school grounds like in the Prisoner of Azkaban. But our possessions and persons were searched and scanned for any banned objects or dark magic. It was sort of like muggle airport security. And because of the whole Pettigrew incident, all familiars had the reversal spell cast on them. Unsurprisingly, no hidden animagi were exposed.
The Hogwarts gossip mill was in full swing, even with the interruption from break. Everyone had some speculation about why our defense against the dark art professor was running from the ministry of magic. Any mention of You-Know-Who was in reference to how the Daily Prophet reported it; Quirrell had a psychotic break and believed himself to be You-know-Who. Those of us who knew better kept our mouths shut. From our point of view, it was much more entertaining to talk about who was covering Quirrell's classes.
"Now boys and girls", Dumbledore said as he sat behind Quirrell's desk. "I was planning on continuing our discussion on using defensive spells to help us avoid unfortunate encounters, however; as I was indulging in a few licorice wands, it occurred to me that to do so would be very boring". My brothers and I smiled at each other. No one was surprised, not even the Slytherins. After a couple of weeks of classes with Dumbledore, we were all getting used to his teaching methods. His classes kind of reminded me of the tenured, but enthusiastic professors Jessie had when she was attending university. Dumbledore cared very much about the material, but he was also headmaster and was free to do whatever the hell he wanted as he passed the material on to us. This became apparent when he sent the first and second years on a school-wide scavenger hunt during their DADA classes. "So", he said; holding his arms out to us. "What would you all like to do?" That set the class off on hurried mutterings. The freedom Dumbledore was giving us was more than many ever had in their young lives. We didn't quite know what to do with it. When no one immediately responded, Dumbledore said, "Now, now. With young inquisitive minds such as yours, there must be something you've dreamt of learning."
After a few shifty eye exchanges with George, Fred raised a hand. "Sir", he called and waited for Dumbledore to nod before continuing to speak. "Professor Snape has a free period at the moment. Perhaps we could practice our defensive stills on him."
"Without telling him", George added.
Dumbledore smiled at my brothers; blue eyes twinkling. "I confess, that does sound amusing. Unfortunately, I must advise against upsetting the delicate balance of our beloved potions master". Just about everyone on the Gryffindor side of the classroom snorted with glee at the headmaster calling Snape delicate. While Slytherin's side of the room appeared to be personally affronted. "I find myself already struggling to find a replacement for our defense professor. I don't think I would survive shopping for a new potions master as well". The class gave a polite laugh before Dumbledore moved on to the next student who raised her hand.
"Could we have class outside?"
"An excellent idea, Miss Stimpson", Dumbledore said; with his voice carefree. "But what shall we do once outside?"
When Stimpson didn't have anything else to offer, shocker, Dumbledore continued to look around the room. I was starting to get the impression that this was a test. Which was ludicrous. What knowledge could Dumbledore possibly gain from what a bunch of third-years wanted to do? It was Lee who had the winning idea. "What about capture the flag?"
Occupying the transfiguration courtyard, two student ties were commandeered; one Slytherin and one Gryffindor. Dumbledore stood in the center by the fountain. Originally, he had suggested that we have the boys go against the girls to break up the monotony. But that was quickly rejected. Gryffindor stood on the left and Slytherin on the right. Dumbledore would referee. Something that's always necessary when Gryffindors and Slytherins goes head-to-head. He made his rules and expectations clear. "You may disarm and detain each other. But no curses, jinxes, or hexes. If I tell you to stop you will cease immediately". Calmly, Dumbledore looked at both sides. Whether it was to build anticipation or to make sure he was understood remains unclear. "Begin," Dumbledore said. Instantly, a blast of red light shot from the Slytherin side. "An excellent stun Mr. Warrington", Dumbledore said. Luckily, it was skillfully dodged by one of Fred and George's no-name roommates.
Now, Gryffindors are a competitive bunch by mature. The same can be said about the Slytherins. But no one got into our unplanned game of capture the flag more than the third-year members of the Gryffindor quidditch team. "Fred, George!" Angelina called as she prepared to charge the Slytherin side with Alicia. "If you let anyone get past you, I'll tell Wood!" Fred and George had elected to be the ones to guard the Gryffindor tie that we were using as our flag. Probably because it puts them in the best position to mess with people.
"Aye, aye ma'am," Fred and George said as they gave Angelina a mock salute. They looked almost foxlike with their wide grins and mischievous eyes. Most likely we would be losing house points before this game was over.
"Ready?" Alicia asked Angelina as he poised her wand in front of her. Her eyebrows were slanted as she zeroed in on a target.
Angelina lowered herself into a sprinting stance with her wand tightly in hand. "Yeah", she agreed. "Number five from the playbook?' She asked.
Alicia smirked. "Of course,". As if they had received some sort of invisible signal, both girls took off at the same time for Slytherin's side, yelling out in a battle cry. I watched all of this from the sideline. I hadn't moved since Dumbledore gave us permission to begin. Honestly, I think I would have preferred to continue our discussion on using defensive spells rather than participating in this melee.
"I like your motivation, Miss Johnson, Miss Spinnet", Dumbledore commented.
"So do I", Lee commented from my right side with a sort of breathless quality. It had me inching away from him.
"Why aren't you playing?" I asked him.
"I will," Lee assured me. "I'm just waiting for someone to need rescuing". He didn't take his eyes off Alicia or Angelina
I pointed to the Slytherins' side of the courtyard. "Isn't that one of your roommates that needs saving over there?" On the other side was one of the no-name boys from Lee's and my brother's dorm. He was standing stone stiff. Looked like he had been hit by petrificus totalus.
Lee shrugged with a dismissive hum. "I'm only going to rescue the girls". I twitched. Of course, he would do that. Warrington made an attempt for the Gryffindor tie by dashing towards it with sparks flying out of the tip of the wand. But he proved to be more brawn than brain because Fred quickly stopped him with a leg-locking jinx. Then George levitated him over our heads and out of the game.
"Wonderfully executed teamwork Mr. Weasleys" Dumbledore complemented.
Looking away from Warrington, I end up making eye contact with Adrian from the other side of the courtyard. With a jerk of his head, Adrian gestures to the middle of the sidelines where we could meet. I shrug and start to make my way over there. Why not?
"Holly!" Alicia yelled the moment Adrian and I were standing face to face. "What are you doing? We need backup!" Alicia ducked from a jet of purple light at the last second, as Angelina stood by her side and started to throw up shield charms.
I locked eyes with Adrian before answering without any real feeling. "Oh, sorry. I'm out of the game. I've been captured". With a small snort and the shake of his head, Adrian offers me his arm. Once I take it, we move out of the line of fire.
"Traitor!" Angelina called after me. But it isn't heated. After we got back from Easter break, Adrian and I had been spending an increasing amount of time together.
"Having fun?" Adrian asked in a drawl. He leaned against the exterior stone wall of the castle once we dropped each other's arms.
I shrugged. "It's not what I expected to be doing when I woke up this morning. But Fred and George look like they are having fun". I said, nodding over to my brothers. No other Slytherins had attempted to make a run for our flag yet, so they were entertaining themselves by casting color-changing charms at the floating Warrington, who was currently yelling at them.
From beside me, Adrian shudders. "As long as they're not targeting me", he muttered. But then in a normal-toned voice, "Why aren't you interested in joining them?"
Looking away from Fred and George, I rolled my head back and tilted it to the side so I could see Adrian's face. "I don't mind playing once and a while. But sometimes I feel too self-conscious". It was a fact of reborn life. Sometimes I just felt too old to act my age. Other times, the impulse to act was too strong and I ended up joining in any way. Though it was easier to play when I was at home in the burrow than it was anywhere else. There's just a certain level of trust at home that just isn't anywhere else. "What about you?"
It was meant as a casual question to keep the conversation going, but the contemplative look that took over Adrian's expression turned it more serious. "Other than quidditch and chess, I don't participate in many games. When I was Regulus, it was not permitted and now as Adrian, it never interested me". Adrian spoke like he was merely presenting a book report. Sad, I thought. It must be the side effects of being both reborn and an only child. We turned back to the game of capture the flag. Stimpson, of all people, had managed to break Angelina's shield charm and successfully stupefied the Gryffindor chaser.
"Good wand work, Miss Stimpson", Dumbledore said as Lee made an appearance; dashing over to the Slytherin side. No doubt to come to Angelina's aid.
"I think," Adrian started to say. "That I might be able to enjoy the things I missed out on the first time around. Not this nonsense", Adrian corrected, waving a hand at our competing classmates. "But I can relax, at least for now, until You-Know-Who makes another appearance". His last comment was tinged with everything but relaxation. I couldn't blame him. If I took a guess, I'd say that the reincarnation of Regulus Black was probably third on You-Know-Who's hit lists; following Harry and Dumbledore. "My brother- Regulus' brother is safe and no longer in Azkaban. And he knows that I don't- Regulus didn't hate him. I think I can set Regulus aside for a while and just be Adrian". Adrian looked away from the game and down at me. A half-smile formed on his lips and it caused me to smile back at him.
"That's… That's great, Adrian", I said. In the back of my mind, I was torn. Adrian only knew that I was a muggle in my past life. He did not know that my muggle self knew… things about a chain of events that may or may not occur. Do I let him relax and enjoy a few years of peace (assuming Quirrell and his parasite didn't make a reappearance until The Goblet of Fire)? Do I let him know that he shouldn't let his guard down? That there is a potential chance of war?
I ran out of time to make a decision when Dumbledore announced, "We are out of time, Boys and Girls". The Gryffindors and even a few Slytherins groaned as they halted in their next plans of action. "You all did very well". Dumbledore assured them. "Please help your classmates undo whatever spell has been cast on them, and head to your next class. Mr. and Mr. Weasley let Mr. Warrington down gently please". There's time, right? I don't have to decide right away… I hope.
The first-years and Fred and George finished the detentions they earned by entering the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side the week before finals started. Granger was most distraught at the lost study time. It was just as well though. Percy had taken up a portion of the common room as he prepped for his OWLS. There were notes and books scattered all over the place that it was hard to find places to sit. If Granger had been studying too, the common room would have been transformed into a library. Everyone in Gryffindor was giving the Gryffindor seventh and fifth years as much space as possible. Every day those two years were looking more and more haggard as they dragged their feet around the castle with their noses buried in books. I was not looking forward to being in their shoes in a few years.
But just like everything in life, Percy's OWLS and our finals came and passed. Now, we sat in the great hall tucking into the end of the year feast. The house-elves had outdone themselves; pot roast with perfectly browned potatoes and cooked carrots. They even had additional sides, such as; mushroom ravioli, salad, and fresh dinner rolls. I couldn't wait for dessert. All around the table people were talking about their summer plans. Lee's family was planning a trip to tour the Americas. Alicia and Angelina had both signed up for the same quidditch summer camp, much to Wood's approval. Harry sadly reported that he had to return to his aunt and uncle for one week before he could spend the rest of the summer with Sirius. But at least it was only for a week. And what did the Weasleys have planned? Absolutely nothing and that was a beautiful thing.
Once dinner was over, but before dessert, Dumbledore stood up and called everyone to order. "Another year gone". He declared. Some looked down in defeat, while others leaned forward in anticipation. We all knew what was coming. "And now, the house cup needs awarding". Dumbledore paused and scanned the great hall at his leisure. "In fourth place", He finally said. "Gryffindor with 312 points". Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw politely clapped and Gryffindor mournfully joined in. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked down at the tabletop. Their heads were so low that their noses were almost touching it. No one commented. Between all the points we lost for being out after curfew, going to the forbidden corridor, and Fred and George's generally rule-breaking, no one was surprised. "In third place", Dumbledore continued. "Hufflepuff with 352 points". Hufflepuff let out a howl of cheer. They were all about personal bests in that house. From the teacher's table, Professor Sprout applauded them on; face rosy with pride. "In second place, Slytherin with 422 points". While Slytherin demurely accepted their second-place win, and Ravenclaw got ready to celebrate their victory, I was taken back. Ravenclaw? That wasn't how this was supposed to go. It should have been Slytherin in first place, and then Dumbledore gives Gryffindor more points for the things… Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Neville did… Except, things had happened a little differently in this order of things. "And in first, with 426 points, Ravenclaw house!" The blue and bronze house erupted in cheers as they jumped to their feet and clapped each other on the back. Hufflepuff was cheering them on as if they were a part of that house as well. I suppose it does make sense. This time around, Slytherin not only lost points because of Draco being out after curfew but Adrian as well. Permitting Ravenclaw to pull into the lead. Ah well, Ravenclaw deserves a win. It's a nice change, I guess.
Fred and George leaned over until I was smooshed between them. "I thought you said Gryffindor would win," George asked, whispering into my ear.
"We would have," I assured them. "If-"
"Now", Dumbledore said once Ravenclaw had quieted. "I think a change of decoration is in order". He clapped his hands together before he spread his arms out wide. The banners hanging from the ceiling changed from Slytherin green, last year's winner, to Ravenclaw blue. That set the Ravenclaws off again. Even Flitwick looked elated as he accepted congratulations from Sprout and Vector. I wonder when Ravenclaw last won the house cup.
"If?" Fred prompted, also in a whisper.
As soon as Dumbledore sat down, the table clear of dinner and dessert appeared. "If the whole Quirrell and stone thing had happened at the end of term and it wasn't as public as it turned out to be and if Harry had killed Quirrell". I said in a low murmur as I eyed a piece of chocolate cake. It even had a dollop of whipped cream on top. That needed to be mine. I reached across the table to grab it. My fingers just brushed it before George grabbed it from me. I turned to him and pulled out my most pitiful expression. I know he only has two sisters, but he should know that it is just cruel to deny girls chocolate cake. Unfortunately, my expression is not enough to convince him to give me the cake. He held it over my head with one hand.
"So, you're saying-" George said.
"That we lost the house cup because Harry didn't kill Quirrell?" Fred asked, glancing around the table to check that no one was listening to us.
I looked away from George and my piece of cake to look at my other brother when I answered him. "Well, when you put it like that…" I trailed off in favor of turning back to George. "Cake?" I asked hopefully.
George scoffed but obliged, lowering the plate of cake and putting it in front of me. "I guess there's always next year," He said, as I dug in.
Fred waited until I had a mouthful of cake before asking, "So Holls, what exactly will happen next year?"
With my cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, I paused and glanced at each of my brothers. Oh boy. It's too soon to think about next year.