Things largely stayed the same during Flying class except for the fact that not only did Parvati defended Neville but also Daphne and Tracey. The both of them together with the first-year Gryffindors also defended Harry from Professor McGonagall's "wrath".
Just like last time, Professor McGonagall led Harry to the Charms classroom where she borrowed his Quidditch captain from Professor Flitwick for a moment; after this talk, Harry would become the youngest seeker in a century. This was how he met Oliver Wood, his Quidditch captain, the second time around.
"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood — I've found you a Seeker."
Just as Harry again expected, Draco had challenged him to a duel at midnight. Bluffing, Harry agreed and volunteered Ron as his second.
"I know it's a trick, Hermione. You don't have to remind me, I have no plans going to the Trophy Room," said Harry, already expecting Hermione's ire. She looked taken quite aback that Harry had already expected her response even though not a word had slipped from her mouth.
"Oh, so you were bluffing?" said Ron, deflating.
"Ron, it's Draco Malfoy. He'd rat us out immediately rather than attending the duel. Do you want detentions with Filch?" asked Harry.
Ron looked positively terrified at the thought and conceded that Harry was right.
Hermione crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised and her lips pursed as she caught Harry trying to snuck out of the Tower alone. Before he can get a word out, he heard a noise behind him generated by Ron who looked sour and betrayed.
"Okay, I am not going out to go to the trophy room – promise! I was just going out because I know Neville's forgotten the password. It's already past curfew and he isn't here yet, I don't want him sleeping cold on a floor or a cramped cupboard!"
Hermione accepted this reason and Harry sighed in relief only to freeze when Hermione and Ron moved past him towards the portrait.
"Wait, where are you two going?"
Hermione looked at him as if he were an idiot before Ron replied, "We're coming with."
"No! You shouldn't – that would be foolish," said Harry quickly.
Hermione crossed her arms once more, "You know Harry, for someone who won't go to a midnight duel, you're acting awfully suspicious."
Ron scoffed at Hermione. "Come off it Hermione, he won't go to the duel, he hasn't got a sec—"
Ron's eyes widened, coming to a wrong realization, and glared just as quickly at Harry. "So! You've replaced me and chose Neville as your second, that's why you're sneaking out alone!"
"No, really! I'm not lying, when have I ever lied to you two?" pleaded Harry, which wasn't true – he'd lied to Ron and Hermione plenty of times last timeline but this got the two thinking.
Ron stood his ground. "Well, if you're saying the truth, let us come then. There's no reason not to."
Oh, there's a lot of reasons not to, thought Harry.
"Besides Harry, Neville's not only your friend, he's also our friend. We want to help and make sure he's okay," Hermione added.
Looking at the both of them, back and forth. Knowing they won't budge, Harry sighed, "I can't convince you otherwise, can I?"
Harry snuck out of Gryffindor Tower with Hermione and Ron in tow, earlier than he did last time. The only problem was that Neville wasn't on the floor where Harry found him last time. Damn. Did Neville elect to stay in the hospital wing? That seemed feasible but Harry knew that there really weren't changes when Harry was not affecting variables in any way, so Neville would have to be here.
Harry realized that Neville wasn't here, not yet, because they snuck out earlier than Harry did last time. Attempting to rush back to the dormitory, he signaled for Hermione and Ron to follow only to freeze when Harry came face to face with Peeves.
"Ooooh, ickle firsties out of bed," Peeves all but squealed, his eyes glittering with wickedly.
Harry felt his breath caught as he realized they were fucked.
In a shuddering voice, Harry whispered, "Peeves… we're going back to our dormitory… It would be great if you could keep quiet… please."
Peeves looked at Harry in the eye, appearing to consider the request even just for a moment. He felt Ron and Hermione stiffen and sweat was starting to build up in Harry's forehead. The poltergeist leaned closer and whispered –
"No. I don't think so."
Peeves cackled loudly before his spectral form disappeared. Blood pounded in Harry's ears as the quiet of the evening was disturbed, Peeves' laughter echoing and bouncing to the walls. A suit of armor suddenly barreled behind them and Harry had barely begun saying "RUN!" before his feet moved.
The noisy clang of the animated and possessed suit of armor might not have woken the entire castle, but it surely would get the attention of Filch and Mrs. Norris, in that case, there would be three entities chasing after them this evening. The three of them descended the stairs and there was Neville, climbing up.
As their eyes met, Harry exclaimed, "Neville, no time to explain. Just run!"
With that, the boy sprinted with them as the four of them still got chased by the suit of armor, Peeves relentless in his pursuit of mischief. Harry didn't know what corridor they were passing through or what floor they were in, the important thing was they need to lose Peeves or hide from its sight.
They heard a cat hissing – Mrs. Norris! If Mrs. Norris was around then Filch was also nearby. The cat was also now in pursuit. Harry had begun wishing the stars that they don't run by Filch because he was now starting to run out of breath… They took a turn and – it's a dead end! The only thing that could hide them was behind that oak door!
The four of them sprinted faster. They heard the suit of armor clang before – CRASH! – and then a loud thud. They couldn't hear someone in pursuit anymore but Harry dare not look back lest he discover that someone was, in fact, still following them. They arrived at the door but he could hear Ron curse, "Rotten luck! It's locked."
"Peeves! You bloody idiot, what were you doing?" Harry heard Filch shout at the poltergeist. It would appear the poltergeist had a run-in with the caretaker.
Hermione snarled, "Move over! Alohomora!"
The door unlocked and swung open – the four of them made quick work as they entered the room and slammed the door shut. They were catching their breaths, panting, but still tried to keep quiet and listened to the noise outside.
"Not telling!" squealed Peeves in a shrill voice before blowing a raspberry, cackling madly. They heard Filch let out an annoyed noise before he chased after Peeves, shouting along the way.
As Harry's mind registered that it was safe, only then did he realize and make things of his surroundings. Harry froze. He remembered the corridor they were running in, this door they unlocked, and this room – he'd know it by heart.
Harry cursed his luck as his companions had found out the three-headed dog that lives in here. Thinking quickly, Harry casted a silent Muffliato and then—Harry sang, desperately wishing it would affect the Cerberus. Harry would never claim he's a good singer but he can carry a tune and it was to his elation that the dog immediately became drowsy. Harry continued singing while leading the other three to move and get out of the room – Harry followed hastily and slammed the door shut.
It was just their luck that they didn't get caught on the way back to their dormitory – Filch too busy chasing Peeves in who knows where – but it's also this rotten luck that got them in this situation in the first place. As soon as they entered the Common Room, the four of them slumped on whatever surface and Harry was the first one to find his voice:
"Neville, do try to remember the password next time."
"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" said Ron finally. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."
Unlike last time, Neville found his voice to reply, "G-Guess Dumbledore wasn't j-joking about the third-floor corridor bringing painful d-death…"
"That dog was standing guard, though," said Hermione after getting her breath back again.
"Standing guard?" asked Ron. Neville also sent a questioning look.
"Were you all blind? It was standing on a trapdoor," she pointed out rather impatiently.
Ron and Neville flushed, the former managing to blurt out, "Well, in case you missed it, we were bloody terrified! Lucky Harry knows how to deal with that one!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes as she stared at Harry, "Yes… It was rather… lucky."
Harry immediately halted Hermione's train of thought. It would do no good to get discovered he was a time traveler – well, sort of – and Hermione has always been perceptive. It would not surprise Harry if she already suspects him of something.
"Well, I'm tired," said Harry loudly, "That had been quite the adventure and excitement for one night."
The rest of them didn't object and stood up to make their way to their respective dorms. Before Harry could completely enter the dorm, he saw Hermione throwing him a furtive and thoughtful glance as she closed the girl's dormitories.
When Harry received his first broomstick, he belatedly realized that he didn't even send thanks to Professor McGonagall. Letting Ron gawk at it, Harry wrote –
Dear Professor McGonagall,
Thank you very much for the broom and for believing that I can balance my studies along with being Gryffindor's Quidditch Team Seeker. I do not know how I could ever repay you – first for the photographs of my parents and now, this. I will forever treasure this. Thank you.
Harry
Harry –
I am delighted to hear from you. Professor McGonagall was quite correct, your father and I were close friends. In fact, the last time I saw you, you were still a babe being carried around by James. Time passed by quickly since then, now that you're in Hogwarts.
It would be my pleasure to tell you stories and all about James and Lily. They were both stellar students and grew up to be magnificent wizard and witch. If I remember correctly, your father's best subject was Transfiguration and your mother was adept in Charms and Potions. She could give Severus Snape a run for his money.
In addition to being good at academics, they were also principled individuals and very, very selfless to boot. They both had helped me during terrible times and it was as if the world had gone bleak when I heard they both had died. That's not to say that I resent that you are the one who survived that night, in fact, it was with great relief to find out you had survived.
They both loved you, truly, and I know in my heart of hearts, they would have been devastated if they discovered you were with them in afterlife. Knowing James and Lily, they would both do it all over again in a heartbeat. Remember that you are loved, Harry.
But enough of that depressing stuff. How are you? How's school? How is it going? Do you find Hogwarts well? I want to hear all about it. And please, do not call me Mr. Lupin – it makes me older than I truly am. You can call me Remus… or Moony. The latter was what your father used to call me.
I'm sorry I couldn't write more, the parchment's about to run out but I hope we meet each other in person so that I could relay more stories.
Remus
Dear Harry,
I am so sorry to hear about your and Neville's parents. I'm afraid I didn't know what had happened to them. It was quite a shock to find a snowy white owl outside of my house. The picture Professor McGonagall had given you was the last time I saw the Lily, Alice, Dorcas, and Marlene. When I read your letter, it took some time before I could write this response; I had hoped they survived the war.
After graduating from Hogwarts, I was adamant to leave the country and tried to them to join me – but they all were far braver than I am. I do wonder sometimes if the Sorting Hat sort too early. They convinced me to stay until at least Christmas... and they threw me the most wonderful of parties. I moved far away, to the other side of the world, and the girls promised to send me an owl once the war's done.
No owl had reached for me but yours. I am sorry if this letter is not one you expected to receive, I know you and Neville would have like a reply letter that details your mothers' adventures and naughtiness while in Hogwarts but I need the both of you to hear my side of the story, of why I wasn't with your parents and why I wasn't able to visit the both of you while you were growing up.
Don't worry, I will reach out both to you and Neville – meet you personally even! But I shall settle the matters I have at hand. For now, I shall grieve the loss of my dearest friends. 'Til then, stay safe… and do your best in school.
Mary
Before Harry realized it, it had been two months since he came back in Hogwarts. Two months of studies – Snape still showed him contempt but not so much – then there's matter of Quidditch practice, and avoiding Hermione Granger. No, it's not that Harry didn't want to spend time with Hermione but Hermione was determined to catch Harry alone.
Unfortunately for Harry, his luck had run out and Hermione's patience had run thin. She decided to blurt out her suspicions on Harry's unusual knowledge and shrewdness while they were out in the entrance courtyard with Ron, Neville, and Victor.
"So, Harry – seeing as how you've been maneuvering to avoid me ever since I said I wanted to talk to you alone, why don't you come clean?" said Hermione expectantly, her eyebrow raised as her hand lingered on the book she was currently reading – or pretend to be reading.
"What do you mean?" said Harry, bluffing.
The other three were watching them with alert eyes. Hermione snapped her book shut, turning to face Harry completely.
"What Ron said the night we got lost in the corridor –" said Hermione, keeping it vague because of Victor's presence "– it got me thinking. You did, in fact, know how to respond to the situation rather quickly –"
"Can't I just be quick thinking on my feet?"
"– for an eleven-year-old who supposedly lived with Muggles and didn't know magic his entire life."
"I told you, I just knew because I read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!" groaned Harry.
"That dog wasn't in Fantastic Beasts! I checked!" shot Hermione back, disregarding the pretense of being vague for Victor's sake. Harry opened his mouth to protest and defend his case but a glare from the clever witch cowed him to silence.
"Then I looked back on your actions, and everything just fell into place. You knew the directions to the classrooms, considering it's supposedly your first time in Hogwarts –"
"Can't I just be good at directions? Even in Muggles, that could happen, you know," said Harry, defending himself.
"I would have believed that excuse if not for you literally plowing your way during the first day – the first day! In a huge castle where you supposedly haven't set a single foot. As a first-year, you awfully memorize the floor plan of Hogwarts," retorted Hermione, although Harry knew the last statement would have to be an exaggeration.
"I asked Percy for directions," argued Harry weakly.
"I asked Percy for directions, and I still get lost," said Hermione coolly, her lips pursing. "Not to mention, you know just what to say at the right time."
Harry noticed Victor was making sense of what Hermione had been saying, his mind becoming clear as moments passed. Annoyed, Harry coldly said, "And that's a bad thing?"
"No, not necessarily – of course not! But I really want to make sense of this, I don't know what to do until I get answers!" said Hermione, frustration bubbling in her voice. Harry didn't notice Victor stiffening, his eyes blown wide.
"What do you want me to say, Hermione? That you're bloody right? The –"
"The truth, Harry! Or any sort of logical explanation –"
"Really? Because to me it looks like you're insecure that someone knows better than you do."
The moment those words left Harry's lips, he instantly regretted it. Hermione's face contorted into pure shock at Harry's harsh remark before it crumpled – her eyes instantly producing tears. Even Ron was shocked as Neville and Victor tried to call out for Hermione who had immediately bolted – not bothering to stay.
Harry mentally chided himself as he realized that Hermione was naturally curious, she doesn't rest until she figured out what's bothering her. Harry's case had presented Hermione an enticing puzzle to be solved or a mystery to be uncovered – Hermione disliked not knowing, or rather, not having an answer. Of something not making any sense. This was how she reacted about the Hallows and she was very adamant on knowing which led them to the Lovegood house.
"Mate, I think you just messed up big time."
Pteaset, thank you for your review!
LordZarcon, thanks for your kind reviews! As for exposing Peter, we'll get there.