HP & CoS Part II
The Hogwarts Express was barrelling through the countryside outside of London. Animals on the surrounding fields lifted their heads to look at the old-fashioned train that was passing by. The steam from the front engine was puffing out large quantities of smoke which was reaching near enough the low clouds.
In one of the carriages in a compartment were four people. Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley. Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood.
"I got it," said Harry. "The missing word is Manticore."
Harry was doing the crossword in The Quibbler. His new friend Luna had shown him her father's magazine.
Hermione was disapproving of the magazine, but a quick look from Harry had her remain quiet. Although still a bit high-strung, she was a lot less bossy and domineering from last year. She sat there re-reading Hogwarts: A History.
Although the magazine was quite a bit out of the ordinary, the crosswords were very interesting. And besides, Harry did not have the lack of heart to tell the friendly blonde girl that the magazine seemed rather odd.
"Yes," breathed Luna. "The Manticore is known for its friendly nature and considers music to be the tongue clicking of the Blibbering Humdinger."
Harry smiled at Luna, refusing to even chuckle. Normally he couldn't be able to hold in his laughter, but there was just something calming and kind of being around the quirky and friendly girl. He just couldn't help but like her immediately.
Ginny had dragged Harry into this compartment as she wanted him to meet her oldest and closest friend. Luna lived near the Weasley home.
There was a rapid knocking on the compartment door.
"Who is there?"
Instead however a blonde boy a year younger than Harry came in.
"Hello, Harry Potter."
And with that a bright flash lit up the compartment.
"What was that?" asked Harry, as the light faded.
"Oh," said the boy. "That's the flash of my camera. I'm Colin Creevey, nice to meet you."
"Well, hello Colin," smiled Harry. He knew by Colin's inherent babbling that he was a fanboy. He wanted to nip that in the bud before it got worse.
So Colin joined them. Harry talked only to him for the next fifteen minutes. He had already destroyed the boy's view of Harry Potter and made him see him for himself when the compartment door barged open.
"Well, Potter," sneered Malfoy. "Looks like you still hang out with Mudbloods and blood traitors. I guess there's no point hoping you'd see common sense.
Harry had learnt over the summer several spells by Nicky and honestly wanted to try some of them.
"Regio Infligo," said Harry, letting his wand fall out of its new holster and cast it at Malfoy.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were immediately knocked out from the area effect.
"Harry," said Hermione, a shocked expression on her face. "What is that spell? I have not read that spell at all."
"It's a private spell that Nicky created," said Harry. "It's basically the stunning spell, but with an area effect. It requires immense concentration however so it isn't an easy one to learn."
Harry looked over his victims who were lying spread eagled outside the door.
"And I now know what I'm going to do with them," grinned Harry. "Colin, would you mind helping me and Ginny."
"Sure, Harry," said Colin. "What would you like me to do?"
"HELP ME, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME," screamed Draco. He had no idea how this had happened, but he had been stripped and tied to the front of the train, unable to move a muscle other than his mouth.
As the train went around a corner, he noticed in the distance a herd of cattle crossing the tracks. As he couldn't block his nose, the horrible smell of the cattle immediately invaded his nose, promptly making him sick. However, due to the wind coming his direction, it immediately came back.
"What have I done to deserve this?" he screamed as he saw another herd of cattle up ahead.
lIlIlIl
In the Great Hall at Hogwarts, Harry was smiling at Ginny as she nervously waited for her name to be called.
However, since her name was Weasley she would be waiting for a while. Harry turned his head to look at Colin and gave him a wink. The young lad sent him back a wry smile. He was already helping Harry with a prank.
He had a prank planned just a few hours ago on the train after tying up Draco. He had enlisted the help of another friend to help execute it.
As Colin's name was called he stepped forwards towards the hat, when a thunderous explosion sound echoed around the hall.
Harry cast his eyes on the one who had made the sound, one Severus Snape, whose normally pale face was turning a vibrant red.
"For Merlin's sake, Severus," coughed Dumbledore who was holding his nose. "Couldn't you have waited until after dinner?"
At this the hall burst into laughter as they realised that the noise was the Potions professor breaking wind.
"Sir," Colin piped up. "Take a bath with some nice smelling soaps. It will help."
That was all it took. Every single person in the hall were laughing uproariously. Even Professor McGonagall couldn't help but smile.
Furious and mortified, Snape decided to leave. Before he left however, he sent a nasty look Harry's way, who responded cheekily by giving the man a wink.
"GRYFFINDOR," shouted the hat.
Gryffindor cheered like mad for the boy who had the audacity to talk to Snape like that.
Colin made his way to Harry and sat down next to him.
"Did I do good, Harry?" he whispered.
Harry put his arm around Colin.
"You did great, Colin," he whispered back. "And especially Dobby for slipping the juice into his tea."
They had called on Dobby during the trip who had promised to slip 'fart juice' into Snape's tea. Dobby had set a timer on it so it would go off when Colin was called during the Sorting.
Dobby was also now Harry's prank partner. He was looking forwards to the types of pranks he could do with the crazy house-elf.
Up at the Teachers table Dumbledore was casting the air purify spells when a shivering shudder suddenly went through him. And he did not think the smell Severus left behind had anything to do with it.
lIlIlIl
Professor McGonagall had decided to teach the basics of Animagi their second Transfiguration class of the year as part of Harry's request from the end of First Year.
Every student in the room had brought their pets as instructed. The ones who didn't have pets were allowed to use a few school owls.
"Now, who can tell me what an Animagus is," she asked,
Only two hands went up: Harry's and Hermione's.
Professor McGonagall purposefully ignored him. "Ms Granger."
Harry guessed he should have seen this coming. She already knew he knew what Animagi are.
"An Animagus is a person who can change at will into an animal," said Hermione. "You can't pick your animal, however. Your animal is determined on your personality."
"Excellent answer," commended the Professor. "Five points to Gryffindor."
Hermione sent Harry a playful but competitive smirk.
"Now, hold on," ordered McGonagall, quickly quietening the excited chatter in the room. "I'm not going to teach you how to become Animagi. It is a very difficult branch of Magic. I'm just going to explain it so none of you would be so inclined to try it. First of all there are spells to determine if you qualify to be an Animagus. The reason why your animals are here in front of you is to teach you the Animagus Revealing Charm."
"Who will we start with first? Ah, Mr Weasley," she said, having noticed out of the corner of her eye the struggling rat in Ron Weasley's hand.
"Clearly your rat is not going to stay still for this so I'll do it myself," she pointed her wand at the now frantic rat.
"Revelio Animagi."
To everyone's surprise and shock the rat changed. It got bigger and bigger and fell on the floor, taking the form of a man.
Professor McGonagall was the most shocked though. She knew the Animagus registrar, and no rat was documented on file. She immediately stunned the man when he tried to run.
She went over to the stunned man and turned the body around to see who the man was. She sucked in a breath.
"Peter Pettigrew!"
"Do you know him Professor?" asked Harry, who was nearest the man.
"Indeed I do," she said, her nostrils flaring. "And he is supposed to be dead. Class dismissed. Every one out of this classroom now."
Every student picked up their bag and fled the room, all having noticed that their Professor looked furious.
By dinnertime every student in Hogwarts had heard about the reappearance of a man who was supposed to be dead. No one knew how and no one knew who he was. But what everyone did know was that all Weasley students had been taken to the Ministry for questioning.
It wasn't until nighttime that the Weasley's returned. Nearly everyone descended on them hungry for information.
"Fred, what's going on," shouted Lee.
"Percy," shouted Oliver. "Come over here and talk to me."
The Weasley's all looked ashen and scared, especially with everyone crowding around them. Seeing Ginny on the verge of a breakdown, Harry stepped forwards.
"Sonorus," Harry muttered on himself. "SHUT UP!"
His voice, magnified by at least a hundred, echoed dangerously around the Common Room, causing everyone to turn and face him.
"Leave them all alone," roared Harry, after dispelling the sound charm. "Stop acting like a bunch of fools. Act like a Gryffindor, have some dignity."
The only way to get to someone in Hogwarts, Harry learned, was to call out behaviour that seemed unbefitting regarding house.
And it worked. Everyone in in the room bowed their heads in shame and apologised to the Weasley's.
"That's better," commended Harry. "But is there something you can tell us."
Percy spoke first. "We're not allowed to talk until the end of the week about what's happening," he said, sending a grateful look Harry's way. "It's official Ministry business now. If we talk about it, it may put their investigation in danger."
"Thank you for clarifying that Percy," said Harry. "So now we should calmly go back to what we were all doing before the Weasley's showed up. They're not the centre of attention, despite what Fred and George think."
That brought hearty laughter from everyone, while Fred and George both glared at Harry for his remark. Even Percy couldn't help but laugh.
"We're not going to tell you what happened then," they growled at him as they passed.
"I'll just ask Ginny then," Harry said brightly.
So he went over to Ginny, who was quietly doing her homework.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Ginny put down her quill and lunged at Harry, hugging him for dear life.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry asked softly.
"It was awful, Harry," she said silently. "Scabbers was a man by the name of Peter Pettigrew. He was a follower of You-Know-Who. He killed some people back in the war and hid as our pet rat for nearly eleven years. He could have killed my family."
Ginny started crying silently. Harry pulled her in and hugged her.
"It's going to be okay, Ginny," comforted Harry. "You will be okay. I'm here for you, I'll always be here for you."
Ginny gave a watery smile as she held onto Harry. Her new brother. Someone who would do anything for her. She honestly loved Harry, but it wasn't the love she felt a few months ago. It was a love between siblings. They joked, they poked, they stood up for each other. She honestly was glad to call Harry her best friend.
"What would I do without you Harry," she smiled, pulling away from him.
"You'd be fine," joked Harry. "It's me who would be a mess without you."
Ginny laughed.
"Thank you Harry."
"We should do a prank to lift your spirits," whispered Harry. "We just need to find Sevvy."
lIlIlIl
Severus stormed into his Potions cabinet that night in his usual foul mood.
He had almost forgotten the last ingredient for the Felix Felicis. He had been brewing it for six months. The reason why he was brewing it was because of Harry Potter.
He knew damn well that all the pranks on his person the last year was done by Potter. The infernal brat always smirked at him after they happened. Unfortunately for him Potter was too smart to leave a trace. He had tried to complain about the brat to the other teachers plenty of times, but they were all enamoured by the boy. Minerva was particularly nauseating with her fondness. She loved him and his 'immense talent in the art of Transfiguration' as she so put it, and refused to hear a bad word about him. She actually thought the brat was an angel.
But he knew different. Potter was a demon sent from the very fires of Hell. He was actually worse than his father and Black combined, and that was saying something.
So he started brewing the Felix Felicis back in March. The potion took six months, and was now in its final stages. Once he took it he knew he would be able to catch the boy in his tricks, and hopefully get him expelled, maybe even Azkaban.
He looked around his storage cabinet and found what he was looking for. As he bent down to grab the Fluxweed Stem however, his wand fell out of its holster and rolled away under the door.
Severus grumbled, but he bolted upright when he heard the distinct locking of the door. He darted to the door but it was utterly sealed. He started bellowing a litany of curses. What he did not know was that no one would hear him as the door on the other side was silenced.
"Well look at this," said Harry striding over to the bubbling Potion. He knew from the aroma emanating from it what it was immediately from being in Nicky's potions lab.
"What is it Harry?" asked Ginny.
"Felix Felicis," said Harry. "A potion that increases the drinker's luck."
Harry looked over it and realised what was needed due to its clear finishing stage color.
"Dobby," he called.
At once the half-mad elf appeared.
"Can you obtain some Fluxweed Stem from somewhere that isn't in the Potions Cabinet?" asked Harry.
Dobby was back within five minutes.
"Thanks Dobby," said Harry gratefully. "You're the best."
With tears in his eyes at the kindness of Harry, Dobby gave him a hug before vanishing.
Harry put in the Fluxweed Stem and stirred the potion for three minutes. When it finished he added in a small bit of flour to stabilise the potion and added a touch of peppermint for flavour.
Five minutes later the potion was finished and perfect. However Harry did not trust Severus Snape to have a cauldron full of Felix Felicis. He knew it was likely the man concocted the brew so he could catch him. Harry knew he would not survive that. Snape would certainly get his way.
So he emptied the cauldron into several vials for himself and Ginny. They managed to fill twenty of them. Enough to last their whole way through Hogwarts.
"Do you think we should let Fred and George have one?" asked Harry, knowing what Ginny's response would be.
Ginny stiffened and whitened. "Harry, you must not," she almost cried. "Who knows what would happen if they took it?"
lIlIlIl
But Harry was utterly curious what would happen if the twins took it, so he had Dobby secretly add it to the twins pumpkins juice in the morning.
He refused to look at the twins as he knew that would get Ginny's attention, so he chatted away to her mindlessly throughout breakfast about anything, not realising he had already roused her suspicions with his chatting.
"Harry," she asked. "What did you do?"
"Nothing."
Ginny looked over at the twins and noticed them drinking their pumpkin juice. She went white.
"Harry," she growled, grabbing him by the lapels and pulling him close. "You put that stuff in their drink, didn't you?"
The fear in Harry's eyes confirmed it for her.
"If I make it through this day, I'm going to kill you."
For the next hour during Charms Harry was waiting for something to happen. He wasn't left disappointed.
Flitwick fell off his desk when a massive bang went off outside the classroom. All the students ran to the door and opened it to see what had happened.
Fireworks were going off outside the classroom, but they weren't normal fireworks. Each time one exploded it morphed into different creatures. There were dragons, salamaders, manticores, even giant snakes.
The noise continued throughout the day. Classes were cancelled as the teachers chased after the fireworks and its culprits, who Harry and Ginny had a very good idea of who.
Due to the fiery riot that had been going on at Hogwarts, the teachers didn't even notice the absence of the potions professor who was still locked in his potions cabinet and swearing to the high heavens.
Fred and George hadn't even been caught due to the Felix Felicis. When they were confronted and dragged out of the Common Room that night by Professor McGonagall to see Dumbledore the potion was still in effect. They came back with smiles and two hundred house points. They refused to divulge anything, but they sent Harry wicked smiles and only revealed to everyone that there was no proof of their involvement.
Two days later of no potions lessons due to the teacher's absence Dumbledore started searching for Snape. He went to the classroom and checked everything in the room. He eyed Snape's Potions closet and noticed liquid seeping from under the door.
He went over to it and tried to open it but it was locked. He cast the unlocking charm and opened it. Lying on the floor and weeping loudly was the missing professor Snape.
"Severus, what happened?"
"It was Potter," the man cried loudly. "Please expel him."
"Do you have any proof, Severus?" he asked. "You know I can't take action unless there is proof."
"Of course I don't have proof," screamed Severus. "That brat is too smart to leave proof."
"Severus, what is this stuff?" asked Dumbledore, putting his fingers on the ground and running it through the liquid.
"Let's see you hold it in for three days," snarled Severus, horrifying Dumbledore.
He immediately left the room in desperate search for a bath. Unfortunately while he was gone somebody (and he had a very good idea who) had flooded his bathroom. The floor had fallen from the water strain and his bathroom was now in his office.
"How do you keep getting in here Harry?" he growled, as he started the tedious task of fixing the room.
Elsewhere in Hogwarts, a house-elf appeared at Harry's side.
Dobby was having WAY too much fun.
lIlIlIl
It wasn't long before Harry was brought to the Headmaster's Office again, but this time it was for an entirely different reason.
He had entered the room to find two new people in the room. There was a sixty-something man with a lime-green bowler hat and a lady with reddish grey hair wearing official looking robes and wearing a monocle.
"Ah, Harry," said the man with the green hat, coming forward and vigorously shaking his hand. "It is an honor to meet you. I am Cornelius Fudge, the Minister For Magic."
A weight was lifted off of Harry's shoulders. The Minister For Magic being this welcoming did not mean he was in trouble.
"Hello, Mr. Potter," said the monocle-wearing lady. "My name is Amelia Bones. I am the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement here in Britain."
Despite knowing he was not in trouble, he felt a little intimidated by the lady as he shook her hand. She didn't seem like someone to mess with, or even fall for his charm.
"It is good to meet you, Madam," smiled Harry. "But I'm confused. Why have I been brought here to meet the two most powerful members of Wizarding society?"
A question and a compliment in one. The minister seemed pleased with his words, and the lady had the barest hint of a smile.
"Sit down, Mr. Potter," she asked. "You don't want to be standing for what I'm going to tell you."
So Harry did.
"We have been investigating the case of Peter Pettigrew, the man who was discovered in your Transfiguration class," she said. "Normally, you would be considered too young to hear this story, but I felt you had a right to know."
She said this as she sent a glare in Dumbledore's and Fudge's direction. And then she told him the story.
The man unveiled in the classroom was a man named Peter Pettigrew, whom was presumably killed by another man named Sirius Black, when in reality the man had been framed. After he was caught last week he revealed everything under a truth potion called Veritaserum.
Harry said nothing but listened as he was told the man was the reason his parents were dead. Peter was apparently one of his dad's closest friends and had sold his parents out to Voldemort, framing his dad's other close friend Sirius Black for murders he had committed before transforming into his Animagus form and faking his death.
But that wasn't all. The man framed was his godfather.
"I have a godfather," he breathed out.
"You do indeed," said Amelia. "And he has been asking for you. He's up for trial tomorrow but nothing will happen at the end except for a fine of being an illegal Animagus. The trial is there only because he didn't receive one in the first place."
"HE DIDN'T GET A TRIAL," roared Harry, jumping out of his seat. He turned to Dumbledore. "Aren't you the bloody Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot? Why did you perverse the course of justice? Is it because I could have gone to him instead of the family you placed me with?"
Dumbledore was terrified of Harry's accusations. The boy was bad enough with his pranks but now he began to fear for his own health.
"Harry, please listen," begged Dumbledore. "Yes, I am the Chief Warlock, but after Voldemort was defeated there was so much turmoil and confusion. After I placed you with your relatives there was so much to fix. There were problems all throughout the Ministry and the UK. Obliviators, Hit-Wizards, Aurors, delegates and politicians were pushing so hard to rein in errant Death Eaters who were still on the loose. Three families had died after yours and there was so much fury over the Longbottom atrocity that I had forgotten about Sirius."
"However, I am going to be paying for it," smiled Dumbledore sadly. "Because I hadn't commissioned a trial as I should have the trial tomorrow will be my last. I will be resigning my position at the end of it. I've been going mad this last year ever since you arrived here. I've had enough."
"Care to explain that, Albus?" asked Amelia.
Harry gave Dumbledore a quick pointed look. It was brief but Dumbledore noticed it.
"No I don't," conceded Dumbledore. "My business here is my business."
Amelia looked at Harry suspiciously but he just smiled at her. He had a feeling she admired his cockiness.
"Alright," she said. "However Mr Potter, Sirius wants to meet you but it will have to wait until next weekend or after. He will be admitted to St. Mungo's to recover from his experience. I wanted to tell you today about him as he kept asking for you. Would you like to meet him?"
"Yes," said Harry, a big smile on his face.
"Excellent," she said. "Albus here has been instructed to keep you up to date on what is happening. Isn't that right, Albus?"
"Yes," gulped Dumbledore.
Harry almost laughed at the sight of the Headmaster being talked to as if he were a child. He had the feeling the man was treading thin ice with Madam Bones.
"You can go now Mr. Potter," said Madam Bones.
"I have one more question," said Harry. He turned to the Minister. "Who was the Minister when Sirius was incarcerated? Surely they are going to pay for this too, aren't they?"
"Millicent Bagnold," spat the man. "I'm not happy with her now that I have to clean up her mess. But yes she will be questioned for her conduct."
"Well, at least you are making sure justice was done," said Harry, extending his hand and shaking the portly man's hand. "Thank you Minister Fudge and to you too Madam Bones."
And with a bow in her direction Harry had left, knowing he had just pocketed the Minister For Magic and got into the good graces of the Magical world's police Commissioner.
Back in Dumbledore's office Amelia stayed for a few minutes after a delighted Cornelius disappeared off.
"Albus, are you sure he's in Gryffindor?" she asked.
"Believe me, Amelia," groaned Albus. "He may be cunning and sneaky, but I know from experience he's the most daring person I've ever met."
lIlIlIl
Harry decided to meet his godfather on Halloween weekend.
The trial had happened six weeks ago but the reporters had been crawling all over the hospital desperate to talk to Sirius. Harry wanted to wait until they were gone, and Sirius understood that.
So he was now here in St. Mungo's. Professor McGonagall came with him to escort him as she didn't want Harry to get lost or get mobbed by any remaining reporters. There was one reporter that tried to approach him named Rita Skeeter but McGonagall shooed her off easily.
He was led to an area of the hospital that specifically dealt with trauma.
As he walked along with his Professor though he was worried and scared. What was his godfather like? Was he gentle and kind? Would he like him?
He could only hear the sound of his footsteps on the stone tiles as he walked along the corridor. He heard a few anguished screams coming from the rooms they had passed but they were brief. He couldn't understand why his godfather was in this ward. Was Azkaban really so bad?
"Are you alright, Harry?" asked McGonagall.
"I guess I'm just nervous," admitted Harry.
"Don't be," smiled his teacher. "I know very well that you and Sirius will get along great. I just hope he doesn't turn you into a prankster."
At this admission Harry smiled. That meant his godfather loved pranks just as much as he did.
"Don't worry about that, Professor," he said, smiling at her. "A prank may be good fun, but I can't say I would be much of a prankster. You'd know straight away if I was one."
"Indeed I would," she said, his lips pursed, missing the smirking smile he now had.
They arrived at the door of the room his godfather was being kept in. McGonagall knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came a raspy sing-song voice.
McGonagall turned and gave Harry a small wink before opening the door.
"That'll be detention for talking to me like that, Black," she spoke crisply. "Get out of your bed. I'm taking you to Hogwarts to polish the suits of armor."
Sirius Black lay there, a look of shock spread over his gaunt features. Then McGonagall started laughing, followed by Sirius shortly after.
"I guess I deserved that after everything me and James put you through," he laughed.
"And now that you're out of Azkaban," she said. "There'll be plenty of it. Anyway I brought someone to see you."
And with that Harry sidled into the room and faced his godfather for the first time.
"Harry," greeted the man. "Please tell me you are pranking this old lady."
"Nah," Harry waved it off. "First of all she's not old. And secondly I wouldn't dare. Professor McGonagall is not the type of woman you want to cross."
McGonagall smirked proudly at the man. "We've now got a Potter in Hogwarts who has common sense," she said. "I'm praying this will be a new tradition. Anyway Harry, I'm going to leave you here for the time being. I shall be back by half seven. Goodbye."
And with that she left.
"You are a prankster, aren't you Harry," said Sirius. "I know an act when I see one."
"I am indeed," said Harry. "But I prefer to prank Dumbledore and Professor Snape."
"What?" coughed Sirius. "Snivellous is now teaching at Hogwarts?"
Harry knew right away the man didn't like Snape any more than he did. So he told him about the pranks he had done on Snape in the last year. They both fell into comfortable conversation as Harry told his godfather about his pranks in the last year.
As they talked Harry found himself liking his godfather more and more. The man was like a big kid and was great fun to be around.
Suddenly the door opened and a new man stepped in. He was wearing shabby clothes, had light brown fading hair, and a friendly smile.
"Harry, this is another one of your dad's closest friends," he said. "Remus Lupin. You knew him as a baby."
"Really," said Harry. He went up to the man and offered his hand. "Good to meet you Remus."
"Hello Harry," said Remus. "You've certainly grown in the last eleven years."
"You honestly haven't seen me since I was a baby," said Harry flabbergasted. "How come I haven't seen you since. I would have liked to have met you."
The man bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry Harry," he said softly. "I would have loved to visit, but I had no idea where you were. Dumbledore refused to divulge any information that might lead to your whereabouts. I knew you had gone to your aunt. But I knew she was married and don't know her married name. I spent two years trying to track you when Dumbledore told me if I did find you I wouldn't get through. There are strong wards on your house that likely wouldn't let me through."
"Why would wards stop you?" asked Harry. "Surely you could get passed them."
The man looked incredibly pained as he answered. "The wards keep out dark creatures."
"Dark creatures?" asked Harry. "But you're not dark."
"My condition is." admitted Remus, purposefully facing downwards.
"Oh for God's sake, Remus," spat Sirius. "Enough of the self-pity. Harry, Remus here is a werewolf."
Harry looked at the man with admiration. "You're a werewolf?" he asked. "I take it you only transform on the full moon."
He only got a nod.
"You will be changing tonight I assume?" asked Harry. "Can I come along? I'd love to hear a werewolf howl."
Remus looked at him in shock as Sirius burst out laughing.
"Remus may not have been a big a prankster as us," he chuckled. "But he is part of the reason no one goes near the Forbidden Forest. His howls are legendary."
"No, Harry," said Remus. "You can't come with me."
"Then how come Sirius can?" asked Harry. "It sounds to me like he was right next to you when you did your howlings."
Remus was astounded. He had always feared that when he would see Harry again, he'd be turned away, just like everyone else had done. It sounded like he was being given a chance.
"Well, you see," he awkwardly said. "Werewolves are only a danger to people. Sirius, your dad, and Peter became animagi to support me. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. My friends did not turn on me, like so many of Wizarding Society has done."
"Why does Wizarding Society not like you?" asked Harry. "You seem like a friendly fellow."
"Prejudices," said Remus simply.
Harry scowled. As much as he loved the Wizarding World, he was not in the least bit fond of the backwards society that the Ministry adopted.
"Then they're idiots," said Harry. "I'd say a big reason Voldemort got support was because of disillusionment from society. It sounds like the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry. Quite a few in Gryffindor calls them dark and evil, but they're not."
He was thinking of Ron Weasley specifically. Although not a bully, Ron Weasley despised all Slytherins and openly mocked them and Hufflepuff. Sometimes he wondered if the twins dropped him on his head one two many times.
The three of them continued to talk in comfort for a few hours when Harry noticed the time.
"It's now nine," exclaimed Harry. "Professor McGonagall said she would retrieve me at half seven."
"Are you serious?" said Remus. He noticed Sirius was about to respond. "Shut up Padfoot. Why hasn't she shown up? I hope nothing has happened."
It wasn't until almost ten that McGonagall had shown up. She was pale and shaking and casting furtive glances over her shoulder.
"Minerva," queried Remus. "Are you alright?"
"Something bad has happened," she said. She was shaking and her eyes were scared. "Harry, can you go into the hallway for a few minutes."
"Hold on," said Sirius. "If it's regarding Hogwarts Harry has a right to know before he goes back. It's his school, after all."
"You're right, you're right," she mumbled. "Have you two ever heard of the legend of the Chamber Of Secrets?"
"Heard of it," snorted Sirius. "We spent a good portion of sixth year trying to find it before we deemed it a lost cause."
"It's been reopened after fifty years," she said slowly, as if she was in a trance. "Argus' cat, Mrs. Filch has been petrified. It's just lucky it wasn't a student."
Harry's heart was beating fast. He really couldn't understand what was being discussed, but he knew from his teacher's tone that it was very serious.
"Why are you so scared, Professor?" he asked. "What is it about the Chamber that seems to unnerve you?"
"The Chamber Of Secrets has been said to be the home of a monster."
Harry's heart dropped. There was an actual monster at Hogwarts.
"Oh my god," said Harry, shocked at what he was hearing.
"There's something else though," she furiously said. "After the bloodstained message 'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware,' Severus did a headcount of everyone there. He's accusing Harry, and most of them believe it."
This was said with utmost fury. The woman was enraged now and was practically spitting fire.
"I'll kill him," shouted Sirius, meaning to get out of his bed. However Harry and Remus grabbed him and forced him onto the bed.
"Let me go, let me go," roared Sirius.
"Calm down Sirius, please," growled Harry. The moment he got close to Sirius' ear he managed to whisper. "I'll get him."
Sirius calmed down immediately as he looked at him. Harry could see pride in his eyes.
lIlIlIl
The next day when Harry went to dinner a large number of people hurriedly either looked at him or looked away.
Harry tried not to lose his cool when he saw out of the corner of his eye Draco was pointing to him and mumbling to his friends. He realised straight away how to get Hogwarts to believe him he wasn't the Heir of Slytherin.
He took his wand out of its holster and started twirling it around and humming to himself. Then he walked towards Draco. He felt every eye on him and the noise in the Great Hall considerably dropped.
"Oh, Draco," Harry said in a sing-song voice as he approached his target.
Malfoy looked up, unused to being approached in such a manner.
"What is it, Potter?" he sneered.
"I just want to ask about your crush on Professor Lockhart?" said Harry. He needed Hogwarts to talk about something else other than his possible heirship. "I've seen the way you flutter your eyelashes at him and swoon over him."
Draco spat out his tea at Harry's proclamation. Harry had said it loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear it, although he didn't need to. Everyone was staying silent until this moment. Now everyone was muttering to each other and shooting Draco suspicious looks.
"But opening the Chamber to get his attention is not the way to win a man's heart," Harry gave Draco's cheek a pinch. "I'll see you later Draco. Good luck."
And with that Harry left the hall, well aware of the chaos he had just left behind.
When potions class rolled around the next morning, Snape chose to stay close to Harry and watched him like a hawk. Harry decided a repeat performance was necessary.
"Professor," he spoke up. "Can you please look away from me? Surely you don't have a crush on me? I've already had enough with Draco's unrequited love. Thank god he's moved on."
Everyone but Malfoy burst into laughter. Snape's shouting was lost on deaf ears as the laughter continued. He cancelled the rest of class as he couldn't deal with the laughter.
Harry made sure to stay behind and be the last one to leave.
"I know what you did on Halloween, Professor Snape," he said, eyeing the useless teacher with distaste. "Blaming a twelve year old for opening the chamber. Why don't you go out and buy yourself some integrity, Snivellous."
Harry ducked as a red spell came flashing at him.
"Believe me, Snivellous," sneered Harry. "This isn't the end of it."
lIlIlIl
A few days later Severus Snape woke up from his peaceful sleep. He let out a yawn as he stirred, only to be assaulted with a deadly, puking smell.
He vomited all over himself from the stench and shot up, only to hit his head.
He cursed violently from the pain and opened his eyes.
How the hell did he get here?
He was outside behind Hagrid's cabin, locked in a cage that must have housed some of Hagrid's putrid, foul smelling beasts.
He looked around him and found a red inked message in some paper in his hand.
The cage has been locked. Enemies of the heir beware.
The paper immediately burst into flames and Severus yelped as he got burned as the paper disintegrated. He knew right away it was dragon ink.
And he also knew how he got into this bloody cage.
He didn't have much time to think as one of Hagrid's foul creatures came up to the cage and did its business, leaving a putrid, gagging smell behind that made him vomit again.
"Someday, I'm going to kill you Harry Potter."
AN: Sorry about the delay. I've been so busy lately. Anyway from here things will be changed about. Ginny is obviously not under the diary's influence because I wanted to make Harry and Ginny close friends. Harry would notice something off immediately. I couldn't leave Sirius locked up in Azkaban. The man has suffered enough. I hinted his release two chapters beforehand. How many of you caught it?