Hey everyone,
So there will be a brief mention of the Stone Arc in this chapter, but it won't be the main topic. Also, this will probably be the second to last time that I will even mention the Stone Arc.
Any guesses on what the last time will be?
Let me know,
Venquine1990
PS. No, I am not going to mention the Stone Arc in any epilogue that I might write for this story, which will probably be out in December.
Chapter 50
A Wonderful Date
19th of May 1996
The Shack, England
Harry's POV
For the last few weeks, dad visits me at the Shack over the weekend every other weekend. Yet while he came by last weekend and knows what I had planned the other day, the man still seems to have a reason to visit me again.
I really don't mind, yet the fact that the man slumps down on the couch worries me. Because of my visit to the Burrow and the emotional weight of the meeting, I hadn't been able to do any homework.
So while the man slumps down and lets out a sigh of exhaustion, I look up from the revision homework that I set myself earlier.
Professor Babbling had continued to be impressed with how much I had been able to study her subject while I was in hiding.
Yet we had also agreed that I wouldn't be ready for OWLs in time, so after a few weeks of me getting back into the flow we made an agreement.
I promised to spend as much of my available time studying the subject, she promised that she would arrange for me to do my Ancient Runes OWL at her home, under one of the OWL examiners, over summer.
Yet just the sight of my godfather looking physically and emotionally exhausted makes me put the texts away and move my chair over to be closer to the man.
"Well, it took me the better part of the last month, but we got it done. The new laws to protect Minors from libel and slander are being written by Lord Patil, will be proof read by Augusta and Amelia and will probably go into effect in the next month or so.
Bloody hell, why did I think this would be easy?"
I'm really shocked to hear this as dad hardly ever talks about what he does as Lord Black on the Wizengamot.
Mostly because he believes that I should get back to a regular life before he can start teaching me. "You've got the chance to take life one step at a time. I want to help you with that." The man had told me when he explained his reasons behind this.
Then Remus, who usually hangs out with dad over the weekends that he's not with me, walks in as well and answers the man:
"Because while this almost-war certainly helped people become more morally correct, they still have the last 14 years of that going the other way to move past from.
They've had the last decade to let the relief of victory – or in the case of the DE's the satisfaction of wealth – go to their heads and they became – more selfish and callous, I guess.
I mean, my behavior when I first became famous is a pretty prime example, if not how long it took Albus to realize that going behind people's backs is a bad idea."
"Which is probably why I had to use bloody Lord MacMillan's kid as an example to make him realize how easily those four months of Harry being slandered could've happened to Ernie.
Though you'd think these people and their love-hate relationship with Skeeter and the Prophet would make them already, at least subconsciously, know that."
To this I grimace and mutter: "Not everyone likes listening to their consciences."
Dad still has his eyes closed and is still lying limp on the chair. Yet he raises his arm, points a finger at me and mutters: "Touché. I'd rather you be wrong, but – yeah."
I shrug at Remus, who seems to notice something about my dad. And when I look back, I spot it myself.
Dad really did mentally and physically exhaust himself in the last Wizengamot session. The vocal battles between him and the more morally corrupt members of the court must have taken him hours and a lot of his energy.
The man looks as if he can fall asleep any minute now. And because I know just why the man worked so hard to get these laws passed, I move over and kiss the man on his brow with a whispered thank you.
The man smiles and falls asleep.
25th of May 1996
Gryffindor CR
At breakfast on Monday the twins told me that they had something special planned for our big date this weekend.
I don't really understand why this one is called our big date as we already went out a few times. Yet their excitement over this one has me feeling equally excited as well as intrigued.
And it's been quite obvious over the rest of the week that the twins really have something big planned as they either constantly whisper between themselves when walking to classes, share significant looks over meals or are MIA during their free-periods, according to Lee.
This last bit has me somewhat worried, yet their presence at the Gryffindor Table over every meal and the fact that they don't reappear looking hurt or bruised – or even annoyed – relieves me.
And in any other situation I would have asked them what they were planning. Yet when I suggested this to dad the man asked me a vital question:
"Is this thing the twins keep secret meant for your safety or your enjoyment?" And I realized that, because it's the latter, I might as well let the twins surprise me.
I can't let what happened at the start of the year make me suspicious every time someone keeps something secret or a surprise.
And I won't.
Yet I really couldn't help myself the other night.
The twins had asked Dumbledore, the House Elves, Kreacher and me to make sure I would spend the night in the dorm instead of going back.
They said it would make sure they could show me their surprise at earliest convenience and Dumbledore, in front of me as this conversation had taken place in front of the Great Hall, had consented to this with a twinkle in his eyes.
I had felt my curiosity grow with every passing minute over dinner and after we all went up, I decided to try and get a feel on whether or not my dorm mates know anything.
They do, yet the twins had been their usual selves as Dean had warned the others and said: "Sorry, but I don't feel like being one of the last guinea pigs for their upcoming joke-shop products."
I had shrugged, accepted the inevitable and gone to bed.
Sleep had been a bit hard to attain as my curiosity kept my mind buzzing with potential ideas for a while, but thankfully not for too long.
Yet when I wake up, two things feel off.
After a moment I realize that the first thing is the fact that there really is a significant difference between my dorm bed and my bed in the Shack.
Yet I already knew this and only notice it enough for my mind to reach the beginning stage of awareness and waking up.
Yet when I realize that there is no sound – specifically no snoring – coming from either of the other beds, my mind is immediately on full alert.
My robe is still hanging from one of the poles holding up the curtains of my four-story bed and I pull my wand from the inner pocket as I get out of bed.
What surprises me, and somewhat throws me off guard from my concerns, is the fact that I somehow slip my feet into incredibly warm and comfortable slippers – that I hadn't even known where there.
I look down and my eyes widen.
The slippers are incredible, are a nice warm brown color and seem to be enchanted as fur and fabric grow from the front to wrap around my entire foot.
Yet the fabric isn't tight enough to make me worry that they might cut off the blood flow or anything. Instead, I'd almost say that they were enchanted with the size and shape of my feet in mind.
Instantly it hits me.
All my nerves calm down.
Yet my concerns for the others remain.
I lower my arm to hang by my side and pull the robe. Only as I pull it on, I notice two things.
The fabric seems to have been magically improved and adjusted to give me better comfort.
And there is a new emblem stitched into the red fabric of the robe's trim.
An M with a P and an F behind it, the F sown in such a way the length of the P is also the length of the F and the shorter bits are aimed to the left instead of the right.
The M is in the same coloring as the Marauder's Map, the P is dark black and, while it's red, the red of the F is still visible and stands out from the red color of the trim.
And while I admire the incredible stitching – which I suspect must be Mrs. Weasley's work – I head out of the room.
Yet I also wonder why only the first letter of Fred's name was used. Until it hits me yet again. M, if turned upside down, becomes W.
Yet while I keep some curiosity, it's lessened by my assurance that my betrotheds thoughts of something incredible.
"There he is!"
"Admiring mum's work, I see."
"Not surprising, it's pretty special."
"We're thinking of making a badge for all three of us."
I smile as I look up at the two and yet I can't help myself. "Where are the others? The dorm was empty and I know Ron as well as you do. Even now he's not one to skip out on sleeping in during the weekends."
The two share a look and I grimace as they seem to have expected my question. Yet I don't regret the concerns that are coursing through my heart and mind.
"Your caring heart is lovely as always, cuddle bug."
"But it's also blinding you from seeing the bigger picture."
My gaze flits between them as I am both confused and don't really feel like playing detective or 20 questions or something of the sort.
"It's not just Ron and your other dorm mates who are enjoying a day away from the Scottish mountains.
Everyone is."
My eyes widen and my heart misses a beat in shock as I realize the implications behind their statement. The twins nod and perform an act that makes me wonder why they didn't do this when they first showed me the map.
"Everyone."
"The teachers."
"The Students."
"The other staff."
"Just not the House Elves."
"Or the ghosts."
"But that just makes sense."
My gaze flies from one spot in the common room to another as I can barely believe what these two amazing redheads are telling me.
"How did you manage this?"
The twins seem not even insulted at the fact that I am asking all these questions instead of just enjoying this incredible chance.
Yet my mind can't stop thinking, examining the situation, the implications and what the rest of Magical England might think of this.
"We know that, the other week, you were worried how the students would react to you working outside your usual schedule and staying somewhere other than Hogwarts or your home."
"But unfortunately, your dad told us that there were a few business partners of his, whose help he still needs to achieve his own life goals, that are starting to question our devotion to you."
"Plus, Remus started hearing that some of the students were growing curious over what happened on the night Voldemort was ended."
"So, with the help of Sirius, Dumbledore, the Board of Governors and, amazingly enough, Percy and the Minster, we were able to hit multiple Pixies with one stunner."
"The students get a day away from their exam stress, the teachers get an extra free day, so to say, those curious get a reenactment and we get the castle for our date to ourselves."
"Win."
"Win."
"Win for everyone."
I still can't believe any of this.
Fred moves over and wraps his arm around me as he says: "That was why we were so adamant to keep all secret from you.
Now, because everyone at Hogwarts knows that you were in the dark about this, no one can claim that this was something you would've wanted.
Your dad will even further confirm this later. This does mean that, unfortunately, he'll be here to take a statement from you for those business peeps we mentioned, but – still."
And while I can only imagine what we might be able to do now that we have the entire castle to ourselves, I also feel bloody grateful for all of this.
For what my betrotheds are willing to do for me, for how much these others are willing to help them and for dad coming by and temporarily putting all this on hold.
"So what were you guys planning now that this place is ours, more or less?"
The twins grin at each other and chorus: "We thought you'd never ask."
And then Fred proves that he had a secret motive for coming over and reassuring me as he takes my glasses and covers my eyes.
George grabs both my hands in his and tells me to just trust them and follow him. I trust these two with my life, so that's no issue.
The two lead me down the staircase, past the Fat Lady and her portrait and down a few staircases. They lead me through various hallways, even a few secret ones.
They stay put at a secluded room that I don't remember ever having visited.
Hey everyone,
Sorry, my Friday became a little busier than I had expected and I didn't really get a chance to implement everything I had into this chapter.
More will come in the days to come. And if that doesn't happen, you can expect it to be part of the final chapters that will be posted at the end of the month.
Preferably around Christmas,
Venquine1990