Author's Note:
Heya all! Welcome to the next chapter of my tale!
Special Thank You to BettinaW: I can't believe I missed that when checking over my draft with Draco in Ollivander's. Thank you! We'll chalk that one up to bits of Draco's avatar powers hitting him early, scrambling his mind a bit. The MC's will all be pretty over-powered, but… the villain(s) will be too (because why should the heroes be the only ones who get all the cool toys!), the way I have it planned and storyboarded out, it should be a fun story or, to paraphrase the words of Chief Zed from Men in Black: "Give it a few months, you'll get used to it, or have a psychotic episode."
Special Thanks also to TLD110166: I will admit that during my early drafts, 'Grainger' was an initial misspelling on my part, however, as I wrote ahead, I chose to keep it to further emphasize that this is a different universe. I will add this to the flashbacks though to kind of set up that change a bit.
Here's the actors/actresses I'm picturing in my mind for these characters (picture them age appropriate):
- Hermione: Looks like Lucy Lawless
- Daphne: Looks like Grace Park
- Draco: Looks like Tom Felton.
- Harry: Looks like Daniel Radcliffe
As always, please feel free to post questions/comments/reviews. I love feedback… Please help me do better! :)
The little omega symbol (Ω) implies Dementor speech. And, in case it was not clear earlier, the section symbol (§) implies parseltongue.
I'd like to note that this chapter is chock full of flashbacks, showing some of the snippets of history that I've changed. This chapter also uses lines from "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" …I am stating emphatically I am not writing this tale for any expectation of monetary gain, only to practice my writing. Long-term, some of these flashbacks are little plot-bunnies I have floating around in my head. Some may even get their own one-offs or short stories much later.
"Now we return you to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress…"
v/r,
Dimicron
CHAPTER 4
"Shift Colors"
Arriving first in the Azkaban Courtyard, Director Croaker was shocked at the speed and overall smoothness of that apparition method. He wasn't disoriented. He wasn't nauseous. He was just here, in Azkaban. Quickly. Too damn close to the Dementors though.
Harry Potter appeared next to him. As he did so, a caterwauling charm went off.
"Right, sorry." Holding up his wand, Croaker said, "DoM Override Zero Zero Zero One Delta. Time code Uniform. Reason code Victor. Silentium."
As he finished the alarm stopped.
"Don't get any ideas Potter, the Time Code changes, the Reason Codes are known only to the DoM and the DMLE, and the last word is a onetime password."
"No worries, Sir, why would I want to come here? Hardly a proper vacation spot."
With a snort, Croaker led Harry to what was jokingly referred to as the Dementor Barracks. There was only ever one solitary Dementor within. With no true identifying marks, no one could ever tell even if it was the same Dementor.
Upon seeing Harry, the Dementor assumed a reasonable facsimile of a military attention stance. Croaker was shocked, having never before seen any kind of subservience from a Dementor. "Bloody Peverell thing."
With a smirk back to Croaker as he then faced the Dementor, "ΩDementor, report: Where is the wizard known as Sirius Black?"
"ΩMissing as of 2 weeks ago. We know the what, however we do not know the where of it. He transfigured his dish into a dog, then dangerously transfigured himself into the food dish. Being a wizard, it would have taken a significant amount of time for the transfiguration to wear off. We did not know until it was reported by the Aurors that they were a dish short in their inventory."
"ΩWhere is the witch known as Bellatrix Lestrange or Bellatrix Black?"
"ΩUnknown, she has never been here. She polyjuiced one of the Lestrange brothers into herself. They were originally brought here. They died quickly, being ripe for a feast and no Master to prohibit it from us. However, as they died polyjuiced, they remained polyjuiced. As we have no way to communicate with ordinary wizards, it has remained secret with us."
"ΩVery well. Sirius Black and Bellatrix Black are to be considered innocent until I speak with him, they are officially on the prohibited from feasting list. You will find some way to quietly notify me if you happen to find either one, but do not make nuisances of yourselves. I don't need any of you hurt or otherwise banished because you were in a muggle area. All Dementors will comply. Do you understand?"
It nodded. The Dementor nodded to Harry. Croaker couldn't understand the words, but he could see the Dementor was taking orders from the young man. What had he gotten himself into?
Turning back to Croaker, Harry said, "Sir, you are not going to believe this… Bellatrix Lestrange or Black has never been here. She polyjuiced one of the Lestrange boys into herself. The polyjuiced brother was brought here and was destroyed by the Dementors because, it turns out that the Lestrange's were really bad people, which is just the kind of meal that the Dementors enjoy."
"On the bright side, if she hasn't caused any trouble by now, then she's probably untouchable for the time being."
"Also, Sirius Black. He escaped. He escaped as a food dish."
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to transfigure yourself into something inanimate with no wand?"
"I mean, be trapped in Azkaban, or potentially escape or die trying that way. Even a couple percent chance of success had to seem pretty sane relatively speaking."
"Fair point."
"The Dementors will scout around for either Sirius or Bellatrix. As weird as this is for me to say… I suspect Sirius may be innocent. But I do need to see the court records if you are able to provide them. If you need anything else from the Dementors, please find a way to discreetly let me know. I don't need anyone else knowing some of my abilities until I can investigate and determine who my enemies truly are."
"Sensible. Per our House Alliance I will, discreetly of course, do what I can to assist. If I am unable to contact you, do you have an alternate you could suggest?"
"Daphne Greengrass, she is in my year at Hogwarts. Contacting her may draw slightly less attention than contacting me directly."
"Very well. I'll get those records for you. Anything else? If not, you'd better get gone before someone else sees you and blows your cover… you can get back, right?"
"Should be just as easy as taking a step-" As Harry vanishes.
"That has got to be nice." Croaker says to himself.
Back at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement, Daphne, Draco, and Hermione was starting to get worried. It'd been almost an hour, and Harry had not yet returned.
Hermione said, "I know he can apparently ignore the no aparation or portkey rule from 'Hogwarts – A History' but, what if he can't pop back into this specific room? We did lock it so no one else could enter, right?"
"That's a fair point Hermione. I don't think we have any way of knowing though. The last Peverell was before Hogwarts was founded… they were very secretive, but were always known to be closely affiliated with change, which often in historical times meant Death. And they always seemed to appear wherever they were least expected." Draco answered.
"Draco, you almost sounded like you know what you're talking about." Daphne interjected, continuing on, "I can tell you're not the Draco I was expecting. Thank you for that."
"Maybe I needed to raise the quality of my friends and associates." Draco said with a sad smile.
Hermione just looked on with a very serious, yet somehow also sad look on her face.
"-through!" Harry appeared, finishing his sentence to Croaker as he reappeared in the Room of Requirement. "Hey guys! You'll never believe where I've been… and what I had to do."
With a gleam in her eye and a smirk on her face, Hermione said, "I might."
Draco said, "You spoke to Croaker, right?" Preempting Harry's question, "Fate, remember? You wouldn't have the Peverell Ring on your hand if you had not spoken to him. And… If you mention nargles or whatever, I swear, brother or not, I will smack you."
"Help! Help! I'm being repressed! Now do you see the violence inherent in the system!" Harry says, barely getting it out before both Harry and Hermione started laughing, while Draco and Daphne looked on slightly confused.
"It's a Muggle Movie, sorry." "When this is over, we'll introduce it to you." Hermione and Harry say at the same time.
"For now, it's getting a bit close to curfew and we need to get back to the common room quickly." Daphne said.
Harry asked, "Let's try this, Draco, any bad feelings?"
Draco shrugs.
"Then let's try this, Hermione, hold my left hand, Daphne hold my right, Draco, hold Daphne's right hand. Do not under any circumstances let go, because I have no idea what'll happen if you do. Step when I step… Three, Two, One, Step-"
As the four step from the Veil. The notice the doors barred and sealed, with a notice in red posted "Infrared access only. So Ordered. Director, DoM."
"That's convenient, he moved fast." Harry said to himself. Touching the veil with his Peverell ring, he willed a gateway to a dead-end hallway near the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. Seeing no one there, Harry said, "Ok Guys, just step through."
"Potter, are you sure? Last time we fell through, we ended up here from far in the future." Daphne said.
"Yes, I took Director Croaker to Azkaban, and used this to get back to the Room. It was convenient that it let me appear in Hogwarts. I was able to go right from Azkaban to the Room, but I'm a bit hesitant to try that with all of us still."
As they settled in to their respective dorms…
Somewhere… Tom Riddle was not happy. Surrounded by blackness. Total silence. No visual or auditory input at all. It was like he was trapped in his mind. He could remember everything. But he could not move. Could not see. Could not hear. Trapped wherever he was, with nothing but his thoughts. Remembering back to the last things he could see, he was about to create his first Horcrux, after nearly succeeding and enslaving all, during his climactic Battle of Godric's Hollow. He'd had a secret ritual space prepped within thanks to the Potter's Betrayer, and with the life force there, if his Arithmantic calculations were correct, he should have been able to absorb and focus far more than would have been required for him to make his first Horcrux ever. As he was casting the final ritual spell, linking it to his next successful Avada Kadavra, someone burst into his ritual room.
He was left, in the dark, to ponder two questions: Who or what caused this? Where Am I?
1891
Hogwarts
"Dimi Chronus, after an overly eventful year, where you caused completely too much trouble, we are still gracious enough to tell you that you are promoted to your Sixth-Year. Congratulations!" Headmaster Phineas Black shook hands with Dimi. "Now go sit down, next up…"
"Wait a moment, Headmaster…" Matilda Weasley interrupted, "Dimi, the teachers of Hogwarts would like to thank you as well as our late, and loved, Professor Fig. Hogwarts would likely not have survived had it not been for your efforts, indeed, had Ranrok succeeded, all of Britain, Wizarding and Muggle, would look far different. We have voted to proudly provide you with this commendation for Special Services to the School."
With a shy smile, Dimi said, "Thank you Professor! Professor Fig will be deeply missed, and I won't forget what he taught me. And… I'll do what I can to protect what I've learned." …as his eyes sparkled with bright blue flame.
As he went to sit down at the Ravenclaw table, he walked by where Poppy Sweeting sat at the Hufflepuff table, and after giving her a quick hug, he then went to sit as the Graduation and Promotion Ceremony continued.
1893
Scotland
Ominis Gaunt and Anne Sallow also marry. They will later have a daughter, Noctua Anne Gaunt. In a double-wedding, Dimi Chronus and Poppy Sweeting marry.
1904
Britain
Having recently completed his Seventh-Year at Durmstrang, Grindelwald was exploring Britain for long lost magics as he decided what he wanted to do with his life. While exploring the area, heading in the general direction of Hogsmeade, he was set upon by a gaggle of Forest Trolls in the forest.
Fortunately, Deputy Headmaster Dimi Chronus was nearby.
In a bit of a panic at seeing a student aged person being attached by five trolls, Dimi's combat instincts from the attempted Goblin Rebellion kicked in. He used his Ancient Magic, quickly pacifying the trolls.
Grindelwald was powerful, but this… this was… Grindelwald had no words to describe this. He resolved to befriend this man and to learn what he could.
It would come to be that though Grindelwald could not and could never use Ancient Magic, he did come close by being able to conjure what would become his signature Blue Flame Shield.
1910
Hogwarts
Being promoted to Headmaster after Matilda Weasley retires in the summer of 1910, Dimi Chronus is elevated to the nobility creating the Noble House of Chronus, due to his research with the Department of Mysteries involving Ancient Magic. His son, Decius, proud Gryffindor, is named Heir, his other son, Garrus, committed Ravenclaw, prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
One of Headmaster Chronus' first acts is to raise the age of Hogwarts to 13, hoping that will both cut down on the number of injuries caused by spellcasting fatigue as well as allowing the students perks, such as visits to Hogsmeade, much sooner. He also coordinates with the Ministry to provide extra training and post-secondary schooling opportunities for the parents, helping to raise the overall education level of Wizarding Britain. Sadly, not having much experience with them, he neglects the Muggle Studies programs, driving the wedge between the Wizarding and Muggle worlds farther apart.
1925
Department of Mysteries
Lord Dimi Chronus along with 4 other Unspeakables are all lost during an experiment involving testing Ancient Magic on the Veil. The Ancient Magic triggering a backlash. All five vanish, the only trace being Lord Chronus' spectacles… curiously, the spectacles seem to have aged approximately 150 years, and have strange energy patterns burned into one of the lenses. The cause is never identified, though all who touch the spectacles feel a sense of dread. They eventually are locked into a room in the Department of Mysteries for study and, eventually, are all but forgotten.
Armando Dippet becomes Headmaster of Hogwarts.
1927
Paris
"…You have all come because of a craving and knowledge that the old ways serve us no longer. You came because you crave something new. Something different. Now, it is said that I hate those that know no magic. The No-Maj, the can'tspell, the muggle. I do not hate them; I do not fight out of hatred. I say the muggles are not lesser, they are other. Not lesser, but of other value. Not disposable but of other disposition. Magic blooms only in rare souls, it is granted to those destined for higher things. Oh, and what a world we would make for all of humanity, we who live for freedom, for truth, and for love."
Continuing, Grindelwald says, "The moment has come to share my vision of the future. Little waits for us if we do not rise up and take our rightful place in the world."
Casting a spell, showing a vision to all in attendance of Japanese Zeros trying to defend their homeland against the dropping of the first nuclear weapon. As the blast ignites, the crowd is stunned into silence. Noone is stunned. No arguments or fights break out.
However, seeing Newt Scamander's Niffler (though not knowing it was Newt's), out of the corner of his eye, he wandlessly stuns and banishes it, before Grindelwald then casts his blue flames. Seeing no one objecting and no one fighting, he chooses the more proactive speech he's prepared.
"You all freely have the choice, here. Join me, walk through my fire and you will be judged worthy to stand with me as we make this world what it should be, not us scurrying from crack to crevice. Not us cowering in fear from the muggles. Us taking this chance to take back this world from the clearly lacking oversight of the no-maj. If you do not wish to, you may also leave in peace, for it is not hatred, no, it is not violence I seek. Know that you will be offered another chance in the future. I encourage you all to think, deeply, upon this. Choose the kind of world you wish for you and your future descendants."
Several witches and wizards, including a tearful Queenie (after Jacob rejected her proposal), walk through the flames and join Grindelwald, while many more disapparate, troubled by what they saw.
Finally, to Newt Scamander's shock, Dumbledore, secretly in attendance walks up, through the flames, to Grindelwald. Noone overhears what is said, but all remaining people there see them embrace and disapparate.
1927
Germany
Later that year, at a Pro-Grindelwald rally in Germany, Jacob impersonates a magical to try to speak with Queenie. Queenie still being desperately in love with Jacob apologizes and goes with him. Losing a trusted follower, Grindelwald casts his blue flames, allowing himself, Dumbledore, and Creedence to escape. The Immortal Alchemist, Nicolas Flamel, gives his life fighting the flames and saving both Queenie's and Leta Lestrange's lives.
Queenie and Jacob move somewhere tropical, with Queenie meeting Phineus Black when they unexpectedly met months before Lord Black would pass due to told age. Phineus Black's perception of Muggles would drastically change thanks to the earnest and hardworking nature of Jacob.
Leta Lestrange eventually marries Theseus Scamander.
Newt Scamander still eventually marries Tina Goldstein.
1943
Hogwarts
Tom Riddle, feeling weak as he starts to feel attracted to Myrtle Warren, has her killed. Hagrid, having properly registered Aragog as a familiar, is never suspected. Instead, finding a Ashwinder nest in one of Hogwarts' fireplaces, he uses his parseltongue to arrange an accident.
Future generations will not know the wrath of "Moaning" Myrtle, the defender of the 2nd floor girls' bathroom.
Myrtle makes the choice to simply pass on after believing it to have been an accident.
1945
Berlin
The Muggle warmachines raged as Germany tried in vain to hold the line. The Germans feverishly working on creating their first atomic bomb, while Grindelwald's Death Legion worked their, literal, magic foolishly attempting to defend Germany.
The Allies and the Russians were steadily chewing into Germany, moving methodically closer, day by grueling day, to Berlin where the few surviving top scientists worked.
Near the end of April, One USAAF bomber managed to drop its payload of bombs near what they believed to be a heavily defended fuel dump in Berlin. They were surprised when their bombs seemed to only destroy water filled tanks… then all within an approximately 20-mile radius knew no more as one of the bombs, through sheer chance, impacted into a bunker where a majority of the uranium was stored. Within the bunker, the force of the blast combined with the layout of the room and shelves, created a one-in-a-trillion shockwave, causing the uranium stored there to reach criticality and detonate as though it was a makeshift "Fat Man" class nuclear bomb.
Berlin's being partially wiped off of the map, literally hoisted by their own atomic petard… the surviving German combatants had no choice but to surrender as all of their leaders were suddenly wiped out in the blink of an eye.
Wizarding-kind learned that magic can cure many things, but injuries caused by massive doses of radiation are not one of the things that can be cured. A large percentage of Grindelwald's Legions were forced to yield.
Nurmengard would have far more residents in the near future.
Japan, seeing the results, and assuming that this was an intentional blast caused by the Allied forces, unconditionally surrenders within a week after V-E Day, after the US bluffs them. Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be nuked in this timeline.
Heading up the Wizarding Occupational Delegation to Japan is Raja Prashant Patil.
Early 1946
Dumbledore, with the Elder Wand in his hand, holds a silent vigil in the viewing room over Grindelwald's cell. Grindelwald sleeps in his bed, now his prison cell in Nurmengard, there is nothing for him to do but sleep. He is allowed no contact with others. Later, Dumbledore leaves Nurmengard, tears flowing down his face. Grindelwald does not wake ever again.
Elsewhere, "LCDR Grainger, you are hereby ordered to report to Allied NAVSTA Sydney, Australia, to take command of our regional Military Hospitals in the area. Your new posting will grant you a bump in grade to full Commander. And, return you to your home of record as we continue standing our armed forces down to peacetime conditions. Do you accept your new command, Sir?"
"I do."
"Very well, your transport leaves in two weeks. Head to the SCIF first, however, you'll need to be read into something that you will need to treat as Eyes Only. Good luck, Commander!"
Elsewhere, "Healer Granger, St. Mungo's has been requested to provide support to the growing number of citizens in Wizarding Australia. Would you be willing to travel there to support the new wizarding settlement there? It will be difficult, but you have a gift with healing… I think you could do a lot of good there. Plus… you're still unmarried, and the last of your line, well… we don't want you to end up a spinster, do we?" The St. Mungo's Head Healer gently asked Corrine Granger.
"That sounds exciting, when is the next portkey?"
"Next week."
"Brilliant!"
1980
Godric's Hollow
"Lady Potter, are you certain? I don't know precisely how much, but Severus Snape heard at least half of the prophecy. He delivered what he heard to You-Know-Who. Connecting the dots, You-Know-Who is" Lucius Malfoy said.
"The Arithmancy checks out, and, though I can't find it, he has some kind of room or tunnel or something prepared very near to us somewhere in Godric's Hollow. He's doing something very big, very powerful, though I know not what. We have him in a safe location and the ritual I performed will keep my son safe should the worst come to pass." Lady Lily Potter said with conviction. "The goal is to keep all of us safe and end that fool. You should return soon. I hope to see you under better circumstances, give your wife my best."
Nodding, Lucius says, "I shall. I will do my best to raise my son to follow your example. And that of my Brother-In-Laws example… though I could due without so many of his pranks."
"James… he… he was…" as her eyes tear up a bit. "And Sirius too, he's… they were… they are… the best." Her eyes becoming watery as she thinks about her now fatherless son but grateful that Sirius, and Remus for that matter, will still be around. "Now go, before you get yourself caught."
Nodding, Lucius disapparates.
Later, over the course of this day, Halloween to the Muggles, the combined armies of the Order of Phoenix, Aurors and Hit-Wizards from the British Ministry, and volunteers from other countries began to arrive at a retired Muggle RAAF Airbase that the combined combatants were using as a staging area nearby.
Quietly, however, the Dark Lords forces also gathered. The werewolves, during the day, yet clearly unaffected, moving with stealth, from tree to tree, mostly clad in Army Green. The giants, moving quickly yet nearly silently despite their size. As the sun began to set, Vampires and their Thralls began to show up, ready to hunt. Lastly, chilling the night, the Dementors began to arrive, causing the town of Godric's Hollow to become unseasonably cold.
Voldemort knew he would only have one shot at this. He had been unable to see the exact spot of the Potter's small house, but his magic had narrowed it down to Godric's Hollow. If his magic and arithmancy was correct, then the Potter's house would be just above the room he had slowly tunneled out and prepared.
After years of careful research and double-checking his arithmancy, tonight would be the night he would create his first horcrux.
He began unpacking and preparing the three sizable, heavy, and oddly shaped, rune-covered crystals by hand, they would help capture and focus the magic into a crystal that would then have enough power to do the final purification of Helga Hufflepuff's Cup. Then it would be ready for him to tear his soul and the Cup would be ready to accept a piece of it. Marveling at his work, and at capturing and imprisoning James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape, each within a crystal, he knew he was ready.
Snape, however, had a plan. The crystal he was trapped in had a flaw very close to the bottom. As it was worked and polished, it cracked. As part of the polishing method, ground crystal was packed into it. Then the muggle methods used, coated it in a thin layer of a polymer… however the flaw was still there though now invisible. Snape, conscious, but unable to move or communicate at all with the outside world, knew he would have one chance to try to escape, he would have to wait for when his crystal started to glow.
Shortly after sunset, the combined forces and allies of the Order of the Phoenix met. Lucius Malfoy arrives as the last minute. "They are starting their attack. You-Know-Who has a tunnel leading to a prepared room right under your house."
Sirius, quickly turning away from the others, spoke softly to Lily, "Do I need to bring Her here? You know she's a tough duelist."
Whispering a reply, "No Sirius. Keep her where she is and safe."
Nodding, Sirius turned away.
"Lucius…" Lily softly says, switching to a whisper, "You aren't usually here, does this mean…"
"Yes, I'm… My father forced me into this mess. He sacrificed himself for nothing. I will not allow his mistakes to continue." Speaking for all to hear, he continued, "As the, now Lord, of the Noble House of Malfoy, my family deserves better than this from me and from our House. I offer my sincere hope to defect, my unconditional surrender, and ask that you show mercy on my family."
The room seemed as though it exploded, everyone in the room started talking at once.
Lily replied loudly and firmly, "Lucius. I offer my hand, and the hope that our Houses will remain friends in these dark times and beyond." Pulling out an otherwise blank map of the area, she continued, "With what you can remember while it's still fresh, please show us as much as you can about their deployment plans."
Pointing to a specific spot on the map, "Here is where you need to get to. You-Know-Who has it trapped, but you must stop the ritual he has planned. It'll be powered by all the magic and death going on nearby. It must be stopped before he can complete it."
"Do you know what it'll do?"
"No, he's been extremely secretive about it. He's the only one that ever even goes in to that tunnel. I've only picked up things he muttered to himself when summoning me as I entered his throne room."
"Hmm… the entrance is on his side of town. Due to the town's layout and where we are approaching from, we'd either have to chance surrendering the town to bypass it to get to the entrance, knowing he'd be able to fortify which will draw muggle attention, or risk fighting too close to his ritual room to sneak a few in back."
With a chuckle, Sirius says, "I'll be your backdoor man." And whistles a few bars to 'AC/DC – Dirty Deeds' causing Remus Lupin to also chuckle.
A few hours after sunset, the Allies were fully ready to roll. They marched over the small hill, and saw Godric's Hollow mostly abandoned. Most non-combatants had evacuated, knowing what was coming. Unfortunately, the delay gave Voldemort's minions time to assemble and fortify as well.
This would be the biggest battle of the war against Voldemort. This night would be a disaster for the pureblood philosophy, with numerous houses, noble and non-noble, ancient or modern, ending… and too many ending from Voldemort's shock troops.
This is the night that will be known as "The Battle of Godric's Hollow" and this is the battle that spawns the series of books, and even legends, of "The Lady of Pain." Voldemort massively underestimated what a mother will do for her child… or her family. Of course, to one who underestimates what love can do, this is perhaps no surprise.
James and Lily Potter and both killed. Peter Pettigrew was also killed.
Severus Snape was injured, however he survived, becoming the first wizard in history to cast a wandless patronus, using it as a messenger to guide Sirius and Remus to him.
Sirius survived nearly unscathed, as none of the traps in the corridor could harm him, however, he was accused of creating the ritual room that Voldemort used as it was a Black family wand that was proved to have been used.
James Potter's wand was never found, and, notably, Ollivander himself was never asked or otherwise commissioned to every craft a wand for him.
1993
3rd Day of Classes
Hogwarts
Harry, still amazed at the novelty of being at Hogwarts with his own room, and finding himself both missing and, yet, very much not missing, Ron's snoring, woke up the next morning. After going through his morning routine, with more than a little excitement in his heart, he meets up with his new and old friends, and they begin their third day of their second times around through their first year of Hogwarts.
Harry felt he had just somehow jinxed himself.