Harry Potter and the Founders Vault

Disclaimer: The same as ever.

Note: I think I should make something clear. Back when I started this I explained I was inspired by Harry Crow, which I was, but because of that some people seem to believe Dumbledore is evil here like he was in that story. He's not. He's just a man who has made some bad choices but overall not evil.

Year 2: The Closed Barrier

Harry was dreaming, training with Godric Gryffindor, but he wasn't feeling it as Godric paused, frowning at Harry.

"Young heir, you are distracted tonight," Godric stated, dropping his own sword to the side. "You are making mistakes you stopped making weeks ago. What is on your mind?"

"That House Elf," Harry admitted, and as he said it, Dobby seemed to appear before them. This was a dream state, after all, and anything could happen in it.

"There is a plot, Harry Potter," Dobby said, his voice somehow distant and far off, "a plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…" Harry shook his head, causing the memory of Dobby to fade away.

"Yes, there is something coming," Godric spoke slowly now, looking at the spot the image of Dobby had appeared.

"What?" Harry asked, taken aback at this reveal.

"I was not a seer in life, nor am I in death, young heir," Godric continued. "I cannot tell you what is coming, but I know something is. I also know the task, the challenge that is about to come, is not your challenge." Godric stated, confusing Harry. "I am serious Harry. When the time comes, you must support the one who has to step up this year. And you must be ready. She'll need your support."

"She?" Harry asked, but Godric shook his head.

"She is for you to discover, her trials this year must have your support," Godric repeated.

"Who?" Harry asked, wanting to know more. But Godric shook his head. It seemed that this was the most information Godric had ever given him but in the whole, it was still very cryptic. Harry gave a nod. They had to continue training.

-Harry Potter-

Harper and Harry couldn't believe how late they were. They had woken up late at home and there had been a backup of travelers coming in from the States to the Embassy at London. The siblings were now running through Kings Cross with their trunks, Daisy giving a continuous hiss in her carrier at the bumps. Hedwig wasn't with them, having been sent to Hermione a few days before.

They were almost relieved to see they weren't the only ones running late. As they got to the barrier between platforms nine and ten, they saw that the entire Weasley clan were also late, most of the family already running through the barrier. Ron was the last one left as Harry and Harper got there.

"We're all running late," Harper said. "Shall we just go together?"

The two boys gave a nod as Harper moved behind them, Ron and Harry running at the barrier. But instead of slipping through the brickwork, their trolleys crashed into the wall instead, sending luggage flying with a loud bang. Harper only just managed to stop before she collided with the stunned boys as a security guard came running toward them.

"Sorry, lost control of the cart – I mean, trolley," Harry said, remembering this British-ism as he shook himself off and shared a look with Harper, while Ron went to collect their luggage. The security guard shook his head in annoyance, muttering to himself as he moved away.

"What's going on?" Harper asked; Harry and Harper had put both their trunks on one trolley. Hers looked so small compared to Harry's new multiple-compartment trunk.

"I don't know," Ron said, pushing his hands at the barrier too, trying to get through. He could not get in. "I don't understand why the platform sealed itself."

"It's not supposed to," Harry said, knowing that much. The group looking up at the clock on the wall.

"11am. It's gone. The train has left. What if mum and dad can't get back through?" Ron asked. "Do you two have any muggle money?"

"Not British," Harper replied, not really thinking this was a big deal.

"We need to go. We need to get to Hogwarts," Ron implored, and Harper thought this must be the longest conversation they had with him that stayed somewhat-pleasant. Harry thoughts were with his sister. "The car!"

"Car?" Harry asked.

"It's a muggle device…" Ron said.

"We know what a car is. What about it?" Harper asked.

"My dad enchanted one to fly. It's out in the carpark. We can fly to Hogwarts!" Ron said.

"Am I severely jetlagged or did he just suggest flying a car to Hogwarts?" Harper asked.

"He did," Harry said with a nod. "Yeah that's not happening. I wouldn't even get in a flying car with someone who knows what they are doing, let alone with someone who probably hadn't a clue how to work it." Harry stated, realizing he had ended the pleasant conversation this had been.

"Besides do you…?" Harper paused as she realized Ron was already running off with his trolley. "Oh, he's gone. Should we stop him?"

"I'm not his keeper," Harry defended. He had opened his trunk to one of the compartments and was looking into it in a way that made Harper curious, obviously hiding its content from his own sister. Harper, however, moved over and was surprised to see a familiar crup looking up at her from inside the large, almost living room-area of the trunk.

"Lucy?" Harper stated, and the crup barked. Harper slammed the trunk closed before a muggle could question it – enough were still looking at them from running into the wall and hanging around after. "Harry, do mom and dad know you're sneaking Lucy into Hogwarts?"

"Of course not," Harry said quickly.

"The people who are meant to be caring for her…" Harper mused. "I'm going to give you a second here."

Harry thought for a moment and then realized what Harper meant. Tim and Cassidy would think Lucy got out and go nuts looking for her. "Oh man, too bad Hedwig isn't here," Harry said. "We can't send a letter to anyone for help, either. What exactly are we going to do?"

"Couldn't the Knight Bus take us to Hogwarts?" Harper pointed out. "We used it enough to get to and from the embassy and Diagon Alley, after all."

"You raise a good point," Harry mused, turning to look at where Ron had left. "And you'd have thought Ron would have known about the Knight Bus."

"He probably doesn't have any money on him anyway," Harper reasoned.

"Come on, let's get back outside, we can summon the Knight Bus out there," Harry stated, but paused when he saw Harper hadn't moved, as she had a hand in her pocket and was taking something out.

"Oh, look at that. I do have British muggle money. Mom gave it to me in case of emergencies," Harper stated.

"Oh yeah I got some too," Harry said with a nod. "I forgot about that."

"I'm starved," Harper pointed out. "I doubt the Knight Bus serves anything filling and the Welcoming Feast at school isn't until this evening."

"There was a nice little café not far from here," Harry smirked, knowing what Harper was thinking. "Let's go and get some breakfast and then we can get the bus after."

"I like the way you think," Harper chuckled, Harry taking the trolley and the two heading back to the café.

-Harry Potter-

Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and aunt to Susan Bones arrived at Kings Cross at the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. She put her hand on the brickwork, to see if the barrier had reopened; she also had a group of aurors with her and had sent more to the platforms to make sure everyone was okay and had managed to leave via other means. She also had to investigate the reports of a flying car and obliviate the memories of any muggles who had seen it.

"Find anyone who saw the car," Amelia instructed. "Also look around and see if there are any stranded students."

"Madam Bones?" A young woman with pink hair, and a distinctly northern accent, spoke up.

"Yes, Junior Auror Tonks," Amelia asked.

"I think I found two students," Tonks stated, looking in the direction of a café.

"And you can be sure they are not muggles, how?" Amelia asked.

"Their shirts say Gryffindor and Slytherin on them," Tonks pointed out, and Amelia frowned at that.

"And what are they doing?" Amelia asked.

"Looks like they are eating breakfast. It looks good too," Tonks mused.

"Take me to them," Amelia said, telling a tall black man called Kingsley near her to continue the search for more and to clean up the memories of the flying car.

…

Harry and Harper were digging into their breakfast; Harper having gotten French Toast and Harry got pancakes. Both had fruit over the breakfast, and large glasses of orange juice.

"What exactly are you two doing?" A voice spoke, and they looked up to see the older woman and a girl with pink hair standing over them.

"Eating," Harper said. "We paid for it."

"Harp, I think they are witches," Harry stated.

"Well, that's obvious, but it was a stupid question," Harper shrugged, and Tonks laughed but stopped when her boss turned to look at her.

"I'm Madam Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This is Junior Auror Nymphadora Tonks," Amelia Bones introduced.

"Nymphadora? Did your parents hate you?" Harper asked and Tonks laughed again at that. "I'm Harper Evans. This is my brother, Harry..."

"Potter," Madam Bones and Tonks concluded together.

"Hi," Harry said with a wave as he continued to eat.

"Could you two explain what happened here?" Amelia asked.

"The platform closed," Harper said with a shrug. "That's all we know."

"What about the flying car?" Amelia asked; Harry and Harper looked at each other. "I understand you might want to protect your friends, but they could have exposed magic. You two remained here, so you're not in trouble, but we need names."

"Only one name: Ron Weasley," Harry said.

"And he is not our friend," Harper added.

"Anyone else get locked out of the Express?" Madam Bones asked.

"Not that we know of," Harry said.

"And what about these shirts?" Madam Bones asked, eyeing the shirts that said Slytherin and Gryffindor on them. "What if a muggle asked you about them?"

"We'd tell them it has to do with our school," Harper said.

"But you seem to think muggles are more curious than they are," Harry added to what his sister said.

"We've been wearing these all summer at home, and no one has asked," Harper continued.

"Besides, we're in London, not some backwater town – no-one bats an eyelid to what people wear here. Add in our American accent and no questions will be asked," Harry finished, and Madam Bones had to admit it was a good point.

"One final question, if we had not shown up what would you have done after breakfast?" Madam Bones asked.

"Gone outside and called for the Knight Bus," Harper stated truthfully.

"Well, it's good we showed up then, no point wasting money now we're here – and it's nice to meet both of you. Susan says good things about you," Madam Bones said with a small smile, and the two nodded, figuring this was Susan's aunt. "Junior Auror Tonks here will escort you to Hogwarts."

"Can't we finish our breakfast first?" Harry asked. The two had not finished eating since they had talked, and Daisy gave a meow.

"The Sorting Ceremony's not for hours," Tonks added in. "I'll sit with them and take them once they are done."

"Very well," Madam Bones said, giving her Junior Auror a nod and walking away.

Tonks moved into the café, returning with a doughnut before pulling a chair from another table and sat on the side of Harry and Harper's table. "Wotcher, Harry, Harper," Tonks said.

"Wotcher?" Harry asked.

"It's a British greeting. Well, it is where I'm from," Tonks said, not knowing what else to say to that. No one had asked before. The two shrugged as they started to eat. "So, did you enjoy your first year of Hogwarts?"

"It was interesting," Harper said.

"How did you know last year was our first year?" Harry asked as he continued eating his breakfast.

"Everyone knew when Harry Potter was starting. The school year after I graduated," Tonks added to that.

"Seriously?" Harper asked, quickly doing the math. "Hey, do you know Barnaby Lee?"

"Yes," Tonks said, raising an eyebrow. "How do you know Barnaby?"

"Like I have told many people, he works for our mother," Harper said.

"Kind of starting to become the big brother we never wanted," Harry added in with a laugh. They saw a lot of Barnaby as he came over for dinner a lot and Cassidy had started treating him like a son. His parents were in Azkaban and his grandmother was horrible to him, so Cassidy had taken sympathy on the poor boy.

"What does your mother do?" Tonks asked, curious.

"Runs a Magical Creatures Reserve," Harper pointed out.

"Nice," Tonks said with a smile. "He always had a thing for Magical Creatures," Tonks mused, picking at her doughnut, keeping it going for as long as possible.

"Are we still taking the Knight Bus?" Harry had to ask now, curious.

"No, I'll apparate you to the school," Tonks smirked as both Harry and Harper shared a look with each other – they'd done side-along apparition with their parents before, but not with a stranger. This would be interesting.

Once done with their food, Harper took Daisy's carrier and they both dragged their trunks. Tonks leading them out of the station, to a place where she could apparate them without muggles seeing. She took out her wand though, pointed it at their luggage, which vanished with a small pop.

"What…?" Harry asked.

"I sent them ahead," Tonks stated simply. "Don't want too much dragging us during our apparition."

"You could have done that before we left the café!" Harper complained, but Tonks ignored her as she made sure both had physical contact with her before turning on the spot.

For a moment, both Harper and Harry felt like they were being squeezed through a tube, the air forced out of their lungs as blackness took over, then, the three were standing in Hogsmead Village in the cool September air.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Tonk mused as both Harry and Harper felt the familiar pull at their magic. The feeling of welcoming coming all the way from Hogwarts, visible through the buildings on the nearby mountain.

"At least we have a few years before we need to take that test," Harper stated. "Even in America, you have to be of age to apparate."

"Well, be sure you don't splinch when you do, I left all my hair back at the start the first time," Tonk mused as Harry and Harper chuckled. "You know, it's been a while since I have done this walk," Tonks continued as they walked through the little village. The siblings had never been to Hogsmead, beside the station, and it was fascinating seeing the quintessentially British village with cottage-like shops all kept to one main road.

"There's Zonko's Joke Shop, I spent a lot of time in there," Tonks pointed out to Harry and Harper as they passed the shop. "Oh, avoid the Hogs Head Inn. It's creepy in there. Smells of goats… Oh, there's Madam Paddifoot's Tea Shop. Great for a first date. In a few years that is," she winked at the two for this remark. "I once helped a friend ask her crush out there, but then I ended up knocking over a pyramid of teacups."

"Who puts teacups in a pyramid? Isn't that asking for them to fall and break?" Harper asked.

"Yes. Thank you!" Tonks laughed as she then continued to tell the two about things around the town and some of the pranks she and her friends had pulled – including a time when an Imp had caused her to be temporarily banned from Zonkos.

Soon though they were on the familiar path up to Hogwarts, much different in the light of the morning. Tonks' stories didn't stop as she pointed out other places and things that happened in her school days – that was until they were directly in the Entrance Hall to the school.

"Hello, anyone here?" Tonks called out.

"Ms. Tonks?" Professor Dumbledore came down the grand staircase. "Or should I say Auror Tonks, now?" His eyes sparkled, a smile crossing his face. He was proud of a former student's accomplishments. "And Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, I think you're very early."

"These two got locked out of the barrier at Kings Cross," Tonks explained. "Found them at Kings Cross eating breakfast. Brought them over here myself."

"That is unusual, the barrier has never closed before," Dumbledore frowned. "But thank you for bringing our wayward students' home," Dumbledore smiled.

"Unfortunately, two out of three," Tonks added. "Ronald Weasley flew away in a flying car before we got there. Madam Bones wanted me to let you know he's probably on his way here. We'd track him down and stop him, but we have our hands full working out how the barrier closed and wiping memories from muggles who saw the car."

"Ah, Mr. Weasley. He's the boy who has to learn to think before he acts. We'll keep on alert," Professor Dumbledore said with a nod.

"Thanks, Headmaster. See you, Harry, Harper," Tonks said with a smile before turning and leaving – although taking a moment to take in the familiar castle one more time.

"Well, it seems you two have the run of the castle. I would find your Heads of Houses to ask for the password then go to your common rooms," Professor Dumbledore said. "Your luggage appears to also be here," he added, noting the trunks stacked neatly beside the staircase.

"Those house elves work quickly," Harper mused, knowing Tonks' magic couldn't have brought the trunks directly into the school, so a house elf must have found them to be brought here.

"Headmaster," Harry said quickly, remembering something. "Could I borrow Fawkes? I need to send my parents a letter that's kind of urgent."

"What is so urgent you need a phoenix's speed?" Dumbledore asked. "Where's your owl?"

"I sent Hedwig to Hermione Granger a few days ago, so she's with Mione," Harper stated as the headmaster raised an eyebrow at this.

"And the need for the phoenix…?" The headmaster persisted; Harry faltered at this.

"Har, you know the first thing mom and dad will do is tell them," Harper pointed out, and Harry sighed, knowing Harper was right as he moved over to his trunk. He opened up one of the compartments and whistled. Lucy jumped out of the trunk and gave a bark. "She was in my trunk when we left…"

"She was just in there?" Professor Dumbledore asked, seeming to know better but he had a smile and gave Lucy a pet. "I will send a letter to your parents with Fawkes letting them know where…?"

"Lucy," Harry said, knowing that was why Dumbledore paused.

"Lucy is. And will let them know I am giving special permission for Lucy to remain in the school," Professor Dumbledore continued.

"Really?" Harry asked.

"As long as you take good care of her," Dumbledore said. "The imposition of very few pets was placed upon students only last year due to the influx of pets kept by some students before then – it's why Ronald was allowed to keep his brother's rat, despite rats not being on the list of agreed pets. If she's not well taken care of or there is any incident, however, Lucy will have to be returned home."

"Don't worry," Harry said with a smile. "She's well trained. Lucy?" Lucy ears picked up and ran next to Harry.

Professor Dumbledore gave a small smile and then called for a house elf to take their trunks to their dorms, leaving the two students alone.

"What do we do now…?" Harper asked; Harry was just as unsure.

-Harry Potter-

It was hours later, and Harry and Harper were in the Slytherin Common Room. Both had decided to hang out and play some board games they had taken with them this year.

"You know this common room is nicer than I thought it would be," Harry finally mused. "Nice fireplace, comfy sofa – even windows out to the lake, which is cool."

"Well, don't tell anyone that. You're really not supposed to be in here," Harper mused, and Harry laughed. It was true. As a Gryffindor, he wasn't meant to be in another House's Common Room, but with no one else in Hogwarts the two hadn't cared about that rule and nothing had happened when Harry had entered the room earlier, anyway. "And oh man a six!"

"Boardwalk with a hotel," Harry laughed, as she landed on his property. They were playing Monopoly together and Harry had the Boardwalk and Park Place monopoly. Harry was petting Lucy as Daisy slept not far away. "Do you even have the money?"

"Um… well…" Harper mused, starting to count out the money she had.

"Come on, admit I won," Harry said. She was stubborn sometimes and wouldn't admit defeat until she had no other option.

"That might be so," a voice surprised them, and they were shocked by the Bloody Baron; Daisy giving a hiss at the ghost, "but you two are late for the Sorting."

"What?" Harry asked. "What time is it?"

"The Sorting Hat is in the middle of his song," the Bloody Baron informed them.

The two wondered for a moment why the Bloody Baron was telling them this, but they also didn't take too long to wonder either. They quickly threw the monopoly game into the box and Harper ran it to her room while Harry had the wall open by the time she got out.

"Lucy!" Harper called at the sleeping crup, who jumped up and ran out, leaving Daisy alone with the Bloody Baron.

"And those are the two Hogwarts herself likes? I wonder why," the Bloody Baron said to himself, shaking his head. Daisy gave an agreeing meow at that.

….

Harry and Harper ran through the castle and through the doors of the Great Hall, interrupting Professor McGonagall as she was telling the first year they would come up to try the hat when she called their names. All eyes of the Great Hall fell on them.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, how nice of you two to join us," Professor McGonagall spoke. "The pair of you have been here for hours. I would have expected you in the Hall first."

"We lost track of time ma'am," Harry said, taking a deep breath as Lucy barked. Some students gave an audible laugh at this while the Deputy Headmistress eyed the crup.

"Very well. Five points from Slytherin and Gryffindor for your tardiness," Professor McGonagall said. "Now get to your tables."

Harry and Harper high fived as they separated. Lucy looked uncertain which way to go until Harry muttered "come on girl," and she went to follow Harry. Harper took a seat with Daphne and Tracey, giving them a smile and a nod. Harry sat with the Weasley twins, with Lucy by his feet.

Professor McGonagall started the Sorting, beginning with a boy named Colin Creevey, who was sorted into Gryffindor. Harper and Harry clapped when appropriate, such as when a 'Harper, Charles' was sorted into Slytherin, 'Smith, Zacharias' was welcomed into Hufflepuff, and a 'Lovegood, Luna' ended up in Ravenclaw, it concluded with Ginny Weasley, who like her brothers, was eventually sorted into Gryffindor – it took a while before the Hat shouted the house for the youngest Weasley, however.

"So, why weren't you on the train?" Daphne asked, the moment the Sorting Hat was put away and Dumbledore gave his short welcoming speech.

"We looked for you," Tracey added.

"That's a good question," another voice spoke before Harper could answer. She turned to see Hermione behind her and grinned at her friend. "Come on!"

"Sorry, it seems I'm being dragged away," Harper joked as Hermione took her arm. "Talk in the dorm later!" With that, Hermione took her over to the Gryffindor table where Neville had already switched seats to sit near Harry.

"I thought we had to stay at our tables during the feast?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow at his sister and friends. Harper gave a shrug as Harry took a piece of Shepherd's Pie and gave it to Lucy.

"Technically we have to stay at our own tables during the Sorting, not during the Feast," Hermione explained, and Harper turned to look at her. "You're not the only one who can find loopholes in the rules."

"Go Mione," Harper grinned.

"Very clever," the Gryffindor ghost, Nearly Headless Nick chimed in, having stuck his head through the table to surprise the first years.

"Hi Nick," Harry smiled at the ghost.

"And why, pray tell, was Gryffindor's best student and his sister not on the Hogwarts Express?" Nick continued.

"How did you know that?" Neville asked, surprised the ghost knew Harry and Harper hadn't been on the train.

"We ghost know a lot," Nick explained. "Such as young Ron Weasley being absent."

"Urgh," Harper rolled her eyes at mention to Ron.

"Well, we were late, the barrier didn't let us through," Harry explained.

"We were stuck with Ron who seemed to have a flying car…" Harper turned her attention to the twins, who had been talking to Lee Jordan but that caught their attention.

"Ron really flew our dad's car here?" Fred and George asked.

"Well, he took off in it. If he has arrived yet is another story," Harper said.

"Awesome," George said.

"Typical Weasley," Nick sighed coyly.

"Hey!" Fred complained, throwing a chicken drumstick at Nick, which went straight through him and happened to hit his brother Percy down the table. Nick moved off to speak with the confused and angered prefect.

"Yeah well, we were going to take the Knight Bus here until we stopped for breakfast when Susan Bones' aunt and some Aurors found us," Harper continued.

"A nice young girl called Tonks apparated us here, and then we just lost track of time," Harry added, deciding to leave out the fact he'd been in the Slytherin Common Room since.

"Nymphadora Tonks?" Fred asked.

"Yeah. Do you know her?" Harry continued.

"She was in her sixth year when we were in our First. She loved pranks," George explained.

"Taught us some of her own," Fred added in.

"What did she think of Ron using dad's car?" George continued.

"You so should have gone with him," Fred added, not even allowing Harry or Harper to answer his brother's question.

"Wish we had taken the car," George said.

"Fred, George… Harry and Harper did the right thing," Hermione was able to say, giving the twins disapproving looks. "They could have got into a lot of trouble if they had taken the car."

"I technically could have gotten deported," Harper added in. "Harry has dual citizenship, but I don't. Besides I like my life too much to let Ron risk it in a flying car."

"Me too," Harry said with a laugh. "And if Britain tried to kick you out I would leave too." Harry gave his sister a wink as Lucy went under the table and pawed at Harper, clearly realizing Harry had given her all the food he was going to and wanting more from Harper.

"Fine, Lucy," Harper sighed, tossing a piece of meat under the table for her.

"What's with the crup?" Neville asked but had to smile.

"She's mine," Harry said. "Dumbledore let her stay. Lucy, meet Hermione, Neville, Fred, and George." Harry grabbed the crup from under the table to introduce to his friends. Plenty of nearby Gryffindors gave audible 'awws' as the crup was shown, but Lucy ignored them, giving a bark as each friend gave the crup a pet. Lucy wagged both tails at all the attention.

-Harry Potter-

Once in her dorm room after the Feast, Harper had to tell Daphne and Tracey why she wasn't on the Express, the closed barrier and Ron running off to take the Weasley flying car.

"That is weird," Tracey said with a frown.

"The barrier shouldn't just close like that," Daphne agreed.

"Probably why Madam Bones and some aurors turned up," Harper shrugged.

"Is that Monopoly?" Harper had opened the Monopoly game as they were getting ready for bed, and started fixing up the pieces and money, making sure she and Harry hadn't forgotten anything when they shoved it away earlier.

"Yeah," Harper said.

"I used to play Monopoly all the time with my little brother," Tracey said, going to look at the board. "Oh, American. Of course. That looks weird," she mused, looking at some of the places that showed Atlantic City locations instead of London.

"I didn't know you had a little brother. When does he start Hogwarts?" Harper asked, ignoring the comment on the board.

"He doesn't," Tracey said with a sigh now. "He's a squib, or just a muggle... No magic, you see. Dad got him signed up to go to his old muggle school," Tracey was a half-blood with magical mother and a muggle father. "When he realized he couldn't learn any magic and I could… well things have been weird between us. He's a bit resentful."

"I get it," Harper said. "Well, it's different but my younger brother Boyd doesn't start magic school until me and Harry are in 5th year. He's so jealous we're already learning spells and offering to show him doesn't help. He barely speaks to us unless we're playing some non-magical game. I guess it doesn't help we spend most of the summer taking summer classes at a local school."

"Well, me and my little sister get along amazingly. She starts next year," Daphne added in. "Although she doesn't want to be a Slytherin."

"Well, she only has a 25% chance of being a Slytherin," Harper pointed out. "What's her name?"

"Astoria," Daphne said.

"Wow, you got the nicer name," Harper chuckled, but noticed Tracey looking at the game. "Want to play a game?"

"Yes," Tracey said and sat on the floor.

Harper sat on the floor and started setting the game up. "Daphne, you in?" Harper asked.

"I don't know how to play," Daphne admitted, coming from a pure blood family she had never seen the muggle game before.

"It's easy. We'll teach you," Tracey said, and Daphne smiled, sitting on the floor as Harper and Tracey started explaining the rules of monopoly.

"Is there other version of this, based on other cities in the States?" Tracey added.

"We have Disney Monopoly at home," Harper countered, with a smile.

"Okay, you've got to bring the Disney version here now," Tracey grinned.

"What's Disney?" Daphne asked. Both Harper and Tracey gave her a look and then laughed as they started the game.

…

Harry had gone straight up to his room and was joined by Seamus and Dean. It looked like most of the House had found Ron's flying here in a car amazing and were cheering him on downstairs, but Harry, Seamus and Dean weren't too impressed – the latter two were still sore from Ron's failed attempt to get the Stone last term.

"Hey Harry, catch," Dean called, and tossed a ball at Harry who caught it.

"Baseball?" Harry said, seeing the familiar ball in his hand.

"Bought some equipment. I know it's your favorite sport. Figured we could play some," Dean said.

"You're on," Harry said, tossing the ball back. "I've got some magical sports books with me. Spells for different games. In fact, hold on a second." Harry opened his trunk and jumped into it, surprising the other two boys. He came out a moment later with a small book. "Soccer version. Thought you might like some of the spells you can do to practice or enhance soccer," handed the book to Dean.

"Thanks," Dean said, looking at the small book, going to sit on his bed to read through it right away. He didn't bother to correct Harry on the British term for soccer.

Seamus was setting up his bed, having remained quiet, and Harry was petting Lucy when Ron finally came up.

"Did you see that?" Ron said, seeming proud of himself – probably because of all the cheering the twins were giving him. "I mean all I got was a detention. Wasn't so bad, Potter."

"I heard you crashed into the Whomping Willow," Harry muttered, and noticed Ron frowned. He also looked down at his wand which Harry noticed it was broken, only being held together by a few strands of splintered wood.

"Seamus, Dean?" Ron tried, turning to the two.

"No," Dean said. "It was almost as stupid as going after the Stone last year. You sacrificed me in that chess game. I'm not spending this year following you around again."

Ron seemed hurt by that and turned to Seamus. "You realize how I didn't send you a single owl this summer?" Seamus said. "I never should have gone along with your 'we're Gryffindors, it's our mission to stop Snape' speech. It wasn't even Snape and I nearly died."

Ron didn't know what else to say so went over to his bed, a little dejected.

"Harry," Seamus now spoke. "I know I didn't acknowledge the life debt I owe you last year but…"

"It's fine Seamus. I know you were recovering," Harry dismissed.

"And I know I owe you and especially your sister – give her my thanks. Hermione too," Seamus said, and Harry gave a nod.

"Will do right now," Harry smiled, taking out his communication notebook and telling both Harper and Hermione that Seamus said thanks for saving them both a few months ago.

Harper wrote back: Playing monopoly with Tracey and Daphne. Tell Seamus no problem.

Harry smiled. Try not to lose this time, Harry wrote to his sister and Harper just sent back a drawing of a face sticking out a tongue at him. That made Harry laugh as he closed the book.

Harry looked up, seeing Ron looking at his wand now and felt a sense of pity for the idiot. The rest of his family were nice, so far as Harry knew, Ron had the potential to be.

"Ron, here…" Harry sighed, reaching into his trunk, and grabbing a roll of spell-o-tape, tossing it to Ron. "I doubt it'll help, but it'll keep that wand together," he stated as Ron gave him a small smile and he started to tape his wand back together. With that, Harry laid down on the bed with Lucy, wondering what this school year would bring.

Post Chapter Note: Well, I hope you liked this chapter. And don't worry, Ron's flying the car and both Seamus/Dean turning against him is his first step on the road to redemption.

Please REVIEW.

Karry Master OUT!