Chapter 10: End of the school year

Easter break came. Sirius decided to host an Easter Party in order to sway more people in the ministry, almost the same amount of people arrived as the last time and the party was about the same, no new guests appeared. The only difference was that Harry and friends had an easter egg hunt.

After the break an important discussion came with the second year students, which electives they would take during the rest of their school careers. Harry and Ron were discussing which electives they would take.

"Harry, we should take Divination and Care of Magical Creatures, they are the easiest ones," said an excited Ron.

"I'll take Care of Magical Creatures, but not Divination, I had a bad experience there the last time around and you did too," replied Harry.

"But, with your future knowledge, we'll ace the class," Ron shoot back.

"I don't want to listen to a teacher telling me I'll die."

Ron conceded, acknowledging the validity of Harry's point. Curious about Ginny's choices in the alternate timeline, Ron added, "By the way, do you remember which electives Ginny took in the other timeline?"

Harry answered, "Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies."

"You know what? We should ask Gemma about her opinion, she thinks somewhat like us."

Harry nodded in agreement, he took his coin and sent a message to Gemma asking her to go to renegade tower. Half an hour later Ron, Harry and Gemma were sitting in the couches of the renegade common room.

"So, you want to know my opinion of the electives?" Gemma asked, both Ron and Harry nodded, "Ok, I don't know that much about muggle studies, no Slytherin I know has been taking that class," Gemma said.

"Don't worry about that, Ginny told me that is just things like 'muggles don't use owls' and such," Harry replied.

Gemma smirked, "Good. Divination could be useful but is taught by a fraud that only teaches useless divination methods instead of more effective tracking and predicting magics that could be used by people that weren't seers. Care of Magical Creatures is interesting, Kettleburn is a great teacher even if a bit reckless. Runes is boring. Arithmancy is difficult but interesting, but I think you'll both do well in that without problem."

Ron interjected, "Arithmancy it is, then."

In the library a similar discussion was happening, with Percy and Penny explaining their opinions about the electives to Granger and Longbottom.

"I want to take all electives!" said an enthusiastic Granger.

"Hermione, you can't do that. You are limited to only three," said Penny.

"I'm sure that professor McGonagall will allow that. She probably allowed that before, didn't your boyfriend get twelve O. ?" Hermione argued

"Hey! I'm right here," Percy interjected, slightly offended. He then clarified, "Yes, I achieved twelve O. , but I only took three electives: Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. I learned what was necessary for the Muggle Studies O.W.L from my father, who works with many Muggle related things. I self-studied Divination, just like my oldest brother Bill did."

Hermione pouted, "I want to know the wizard's perspective on muggles, that's why I want to take muggle studies. Learning to see the future sounds interesting as well."

Penny asked, "Why? Why do you want to know the wizard's perspective on muggles? Is not valuable at all! Look at Percy's father, he is considered one of the muggle-friendly wizards and thinks about the muggles as if they were zoo animals."

Percy yelled, "Hey!"

Penelope responded, "Sorry Percy, but that's the truth. Hermione, look. I've been called a mudblood many times during my time at this school, so the wizarding perspective on muggles isn't valuable at all. You are a mudblood as well, as the years pass, you'll see the wizarding perspective on muggles first hand. And about divination, the teacher is a fraud, there are rumours that the only reason Dumbledore has her there is because of a favour he owes to her. There were rumours that the class was going to be abolished. The useful divination magic is all in books and is not taught here."

Hermione complained, "I want to know everything! No matter how useful or useless it is! I want to be someone very knowledgeable like Professor Dumbledore!"

Percy this time replied, "Professor Dumbledore is one of the greatest wizards, but that doesn't mean that he knows everything. He has areas he specializes like every other wizard, in his case those areas are Transfiguration and Alchemy."

Hermione sighed, "Okay." But in her mind, she was still stubborn about her idea to take all electives.

Neville after watching that entire discussion, he took his parchment and signed up to Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes.

There was a big event brewing in the duelling arena in Puddlemere. The qualifiers for the national duelling tournament were taking place. Ted and Caoimhe were kicked out of the competition, but their performance improved into being ranked top half. Sirius and Remus were first and second respectively in the Puddlemere circuit ranking and both qualified for the nationals. Now they were having a symbolic match to determine who was the one that would be the main representative of Puddlemere in the national tournament opening ceremony.

The announcer's voice was heard, "Now for the right to be our main representative, Sirius Black vs Remus Lupin!"

The crowd cheered while Remus and Sirius both walked to the middle of the arena and bowed.

Swiftly, Sirius cast a disillusionment charm and unleashed a series of blasting curses, aiming to create an opening in the arena. In response, utilizing his heightened sense of smell, Remus unleashed a barrage of stunning spells towards Sirius. Transforming into his animagus form as Padfoot, Sirius utilized his enhanced speed to swiftly reach the edge of the arena. He shifted back into his human form and transfigured numerous rocks into black dogs, sending them charging towards Remus. However, Remus, unaffected by Sirius' distractions due to his acute senses, countered with a relentless assault of spells, some of which were intercepted by the transfigured dogs. The remaining transfigured dogs solidified into rocks, effectively restricting Remus' movements. Capitalizing on this advantage, Sirius unleashed everything he had, relentlessly attacking until Remus was eventually hit.

"The winner of this match, the champion of the Puddlemere arena, and the new representative of Puddlemere in the nationals... Sirius Black!"

Returning to the lobby accompanied by their friends, Ted was the first to congratulate them, expressing his admiration for Sirius' remarkable performance. Caoimhe, on the other hand, sought to uplift Remus, assuring him that he would triumph in the national tournament.

As the friend group engaged in conversation, Andrew Greengrass and Ludo Bagman entered the building, capturing everyone's attention. Bagman unrolled a scroll of parchment and began to read aloud, revealing the shocking news, "By order of the senior undersecretary of the Minister of Magic, Dolores Umbridge, werewolves are now prohibited from entering sports premises and participating in sporting events. Additionally, it has been reported that Remus Lupin, the second-place participant, is a werewolf. Therefore, this savage beast has been disqualified from the national tournament. Andrew Greengrass will be taking his place."

Greengrass arrogantly strutted over to Sirius' group, relishing in his newfound advantage. Mockingly, he taunted, "Ha! How was that, Blacky? Your filthy half-breed friend can't compete now. The ministry is changing, Blacky. Your mudblood friends are next, Blacky. I'm making sure that I win the national tournament, and you won't be able to stop me, Blacky. But I won't attack you directly. Your dear godson, is the one that is going to suffer, and Malfoy is going to make sure of that. Both of you need a lesson of humility! And you know how I knew about your friend's condition? Your archnemesis, Snape, told me. He was angry that Potter got a better home life after you took custody of him. And now Potter doesn't fall to his taunts" Greengrass then left laughing.

Sirius snarled, "Snivellus. Of course!"

Ted asked, "What are you going to do?"

Sirius replied, "I'll have to bide my time on that. I'll use the money of the Puddlemere championship to finance our muggle business. I'll talk with Andy and Aoife about opening a brewery, and maybe use that brewery for the entrance for a new magical district. I'll also wait if Harry has more interesting information about what has been happening at Hogwarts.

Life at Hogwarts has been continuing as normal, with the final quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, which Gryffindor won 480-60. Harry did his classic victory lap where he then gave the snitch to Ginny. Harry was then taken by the rest of the team to celebrate. Ginny went to celebrate herself with her friends Demelza and Natalie to the Gryffindor common room. After half an hour of drinking and dancing, she received a message in her coin:

Ginny, I need to talk with you, outside our secret room. P.C

Ginny went to the seventh floor to outside the entrance to the room of requirement where she met Penny.

"Ginny, you should tell your secret to Percy. I think it would be beneficial. First, I think that tip-toeing around him with your secret is going to do any good. I think that would make him warm up to you and Harry, and if it doesn't. I know what to do."

Ginny nodded, "Okay, but you are going to help me."

Penny nodded, and departed to look for Percy. Ten minutes later she reappeared with him.

Percy snarled, "Ginevra. I hope this is important."

Ginny replied, "It is."

Percy asked, "Are you sure?"

Ginny replied assertively, "Yes."

Percy asked annoyed, "Okay, what is it?"

Ginny explained, "I have two secrets to tell to you, they may seem unbelievable, but trust me. I already told Penny about them," the redhaired witch then took two pieces of parchment and gave them to Percy, "Please read them in order, the first secret will help understand the other one".

Percy was scowling, but he opened his parchment, he read it and yelled in anger, "Are you mocking me? This is the most absurd lie I've ever heard. I know that Potter is a bad influence. You are going to break up with him right now. Do you understand? I'll tell Professor McGonagall about this!" He huffed and left.

A shaken Penny said, "This wasn't what I expected to happen. It looks like he is going to leave your family, again."

Ginny smiled and assured, "Don't worry, this isn't going to blow the secret, he tossed the parchment there. Percy has always been the most fragile part of our plans after we came back in time because he thinks in a way many people don't think. The possibility of him leaving the family for any reason was always there. I think I'm going to call Gemma and Oliver right now," Ginny took her coin and sent her messages to Oliver and Gemma.

Twenty minutes later when Percy returned to the spot Penny and Ginny were, he also found Oliver Wood and Gemma Farley there.

Percy yelled, "I tried to talk to Professor McGonagall but I couldn't tell anything. What did you do to me?"

Before anybody said something, Gemma cast a body-bind to Percy, "We should take him to the secret room."

Ginny requested a room with a passage to renegade tower, Oliver carried Percy to the common room of renegade tower, where they found Harry, Ron, Fred and George already there.

"So, Percy became a git before schedule?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he probably needs some assurance. Maybe we should hit him with the unadulterated truth." Ginny replied while Oliver was tying Percy to a chair.

"Look, what Ginny told you was true. The secrets were hidden using the fidelius charm, that was why you couldn't talk to McGonagall about the secret." Harry explained.

Ginny then continued, "This is why we had another plan to make you believe us. We brought veritaserum."

Percy's eyes widened, "Where did you get veritaserum from?"

Fred was the one that answered, "We stole it from Snape."

Percy then replied, "That's impossible, brewing veritaserum without ministry authorization is illegal!"

Ginny said, "Snape doesn't care about that," then she smirked mischievously, "What about testing the veritaserum?"

George took a glass of pumpkin juice and spiked it with veritaserum, then he force fed it to Percy.

Ginny then started the interrogation, "What's your name?"

"Percy Ignatius Weasley."

"Where do you live?"

"In a house known as The Burrow, in the outskirts of the town of Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon."

"Do you like the ministry of magic?"

"I used to, but now not that much."

"Why?"

"The arrest of Bartemius Crouch."

"When did you start dating Penny?"

"We started talking during the revision to the O. , then we started exchanging letters during summer and after that, I asked her out."

"We don't have antidote, so we should wait until dissipates." Ginny said.

"Was that necessary?" Asked an annoyed Percy.

"If we want you to believe us, yes it was necessary." Harry said.

"So, you are really time travellers?"

"Yes."

Harry and Ginny then drank juice with veritaserum.

"Now you are free to ask us questions about the future," Harry said.

Percy then bombarded the young couple with questions about what happened in the following years. He was disappointed at himself because of what he did in the other timeline. Then he started to cry when he found out that his love for the ministry in the other timeline had destroyed the family.

"This is why we struggled so much if we should or shouldn't tell you our secret, we didn't know how you were going to react. We didn't want to lose you for a second time." Said Ginny.

"Sorry for reacting harshly to your first revelation, but there was something that is making noise in my head. What about he-who-must-not-be-named?" Percy asked.

"Call him Voldemort, or Tom. We have already dealt with the soul jars, and he doesn't have free loyal servants. He isn't our main worry. Our main worry is Malfoy." Harry replied.

"Oh right, I remember when the minister and his undersecretary went to threaten the headmaster." Percy commented.

Harry then took a coin from his pocket and offered it to Percy, "Percy, we extend you an invitation to the Hogwarts renegades, a group made to fight the Malfoy influence in this school."

Percy received it, "I accept your invitation. I think this group will do better with another name, but that is going to be a discussion for another time."

After Percy joined the renegades. The weeks passed without major events, until the exams results were made public, Harry and Ron looked at the final class rankings for the year. Ron ended eight and Harry ninth. They checked that Tracey was tenth, Hermione was first, and Malfoy was twenty-fifth.

"Harry, why aren't you using the future knowledge to leap to higher places?" Ron asked.

"Even if the fidelius is protecting my secret, I don't want to raise suspicion," Harry replied.

"Good point, and I think this way we are proving Hermione wrong, using our own skills. I'm concerned about her if he tries to take all the electives in this timeline too. Percy said that he talked her out of it, but she is stubborn. We should support her," Ron said.

"Agree. I have had my differences with her in the last timeline, but this is supposed to be a different Hermione," Harry expressed.

"What are you doing this summer?" Ron asked curiously.

"I'm going to that quidditch camp. After that, I don't know, but the invitation for you and your siblings to visit The Kiln is open."

"I don't know if we are going to be able to convince our parents to go that quidditch camp," Ron said sadly.

"Tell them that the ministry is paying everything, and they are going to provide the brooms."

"I think even Percy would participate on this, just because he wouldn't like to be the only one in the house. He is a good flyer, even if it isn't his main interest," Ron commented laughing.

"Well, there is also the option of the junior duelling tournament. Gemma is going to participate in that tournament, maybe Percy would be interested," Harry informed.

"Percy is knowledgeable, but he isn't powerful. He wouldn't last that long. I think he will go to a vacation with his girlfriend," Ron said.

"I think Ginny's friend Demelza will also go to the quidditch camp. At least I hope so. She was in the quidditch team by the time I became captain. Is a shame that Ritchie and Jimmy haven't started Hogwarts yet, or I'd try to invite them as well."

They kept talking about their summer plans until they became sleepy. The next day they took the Hogwarts express back home, Ron and Harry were in a compartment with Tracey and Gemma. Ginny with her friend group took the compartment that was adjacent to theirs, with Ginny spending time in both compartments. Back at the platform their families were waiting for them. A sporty summer was coming.