Guess who's back? Back again, Lord Cartwright's back, tell a friend. Haha, couldn't resist. But yes I'm back, after a looong time away, I've been dealing with some personal issues and demons but after reading some stories this popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone, no idea how long this is going to be, but here is chapter one of a brand new story.
Chapter one: Astoria Greengrass
On the Saturday morning of the Hogsmeade trip, Harry bid goodbye to Ron and Hermione, who were wrapped in cloaks and scarves, then turned up the marble staircase alone, and headed back towards Gryffindor Tower. Snow had started to fall outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet.
"Psst – Harry!"
He turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked curiously. "How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?"
"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go." said Fred, with a mysterious wink.
"Come in here."
He nodded towards an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred And George inside.
George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at Harry.
"Early Christmas present for you, Harry." he said.
Fred pulled something from inside his cloak with a flourish and laid it on one of the desks. It was a large, square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it. Harry, suspecting one of Fred and George's jokes, stared at it.
"What's that supposed to be?"
"This, Harry, is the secret of our success." said George, patting the parchment fondly.
"It's a wrench, giving it to you." said Fred, "but we decided last night, your need's greater than ours."
"Anyway, we know it off by heart." said George. "We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it any more."
"And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?" Harry asked them with a confused look.
"A bit of old parchment!" Fred exclaimed, closing his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. "Explain, George."
'Well … when we were in our first year, Harry – young, carefree and innocent –'
Harry snorted a laugh. He doubted whether Fred and George had ever been innocent.
"– well, more innocent than we are now – we got into a spot of bother with Filch."
"We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason –"
"So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual –"
"– detention –"
"– disembowelment –"
"– and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."
"Don't tell me ."said Harry, starting to grin.
"Well, what would you've done?" said Fred. "George caused a diversion by dropping another dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open and grabbed – this."
"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know." said George. 'We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."
"And you know how to work it?"
"Oh yes." Replied a smirking Fred. "This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school."
"You're winding me up." said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment.
"Oh, are we?" Asked George with an air of smugness.
He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly and said. " I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that George's wand had touched. They joined each other, they criss-crossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; Then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing was the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labelled with a name in minuscule writing.
Astounded, Harry bent over it, a labelled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study; the caretaker's cat, Mrs Norris, was prowling the second floor, and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room. And as Harry's eyes travelled up and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else.
This map showed a set of passages he had never entered. And many of them seemed to lead –
"Right into Hogsmeade." said Fred, tracing one of them with his finger. "There are seven in all. Now, Filch knows about these four." he pointed them out. "But we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in – completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right Into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crone's hump."
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs." sighed George, patting the heading of the map. "We owe them so much."
'Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers." said Fred solemnly.
"Right." said George briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it-"
"-or anyone can read it." Fred said warningly.
"Just tap it again and say, Mischief managed And it'll go blank."
"So, young Harry." said Fred, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy. "Mind you behave yourself."
"See you in Honeydukes." said George winking.
They left the room, both smirking in a satisfied sort of way.
Harry stood there, gazing at the miraculous map, he watched the tiny ink dots of Fred and George approach the statue of the one-eyed witch just outside the classroom door and he saw a tiny speech bubble appear above Fred with the word ' Dissendium.' Inside.
"The password to open the tunnel." Whispered Harry even more awed at the ingenuity of the map and the kindness of the twins to pass it onto him.
" Mischief managed." Pocketing the now blank map, he glanced out of the classroom window at the still falling snow, he knew he had to make a quick trip to his dorm to get a jumper and coat, he didn't fancy going to the village in just a t-shirt and jeans.
Exiting the classroom, Harry raced up the stairs to the 7th floor and the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, after giving the password to the fat-lady ( Fortuna Major) he entered the portrait covered entrance and walked briskly across the room so as not to draw attention to himself if he'd run across the room.
After reaching the 3rd year boys dorm, he opened his trunk at the end of his bed and quickly donned a dark grey jumper and his new black dragon-hide jacket that he had purchased when he was staying in Diagon Alley after blowing up his uncle's sister Marge, like a hot air balloon.
He grinned as he thought about large-Marge floating away, now that he had gotten away with the accidental magic, he could laugh about the incident, even the massive weight of his whale of an uncle had been unable to keep large-Marge on the ground and he had actually been lifted a clear foot off the ground trying to hold onto his sister, with Marge's bulldog dangling from his pant leg.
Shaking his head to rid the image of his uncle landing face first on the freshly mown lawn after letting go off his sister, Harry exited the dorm and made his way back down to the common room, waving to Ginny and Colin who were sat in front of the fireplace playing chess, he made his way back out the portrait hole and down the moving stairs to the third floor and the statue of the one-eyed witch.
"Oomph." As he had rounded the corner, Harry had literally bumped right into someone sending then both tumbling to the ground.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." A soft feminine voice said.
"Entirely my fault, I was rushing round the corner." Harry replied as he picked himself off of the floor. "Here, let me help you up." He said as he held out his hand to the girl.
"Thank you." The girl said as she took his hand and allowed Harry to help her to her feet.
"Wow." Exclaimed Harry as he took in the girl before him, she was a head shorter than him with wavy midnight black hair, bright sapphire blue eyes, a cute nose and plump red lips. "I-I, I mean, are you ok?"
"I'm fine thanks." The girl smiled softly, choosing to ignore his exclamation and rising blush. Then her eyes widened ever so slightly as she recognised just who she had crashed into.
" Oh my God, it's Harry Potter and his first impression of me was 'wow, hehe." She thought trying not blush herself as she took him in, he was taller than her but that was to be expected as he was in the year above her. His hair was jet black and his eyes were a bright emerald green, the brightest green eyes she had ever seen, not that she had met many people with green eyes, but Harry's looked like a roaring inferno was burning behind his eyes, she could get lost in those eyes.
"I'm Harry." He held out his hand to the girl who's eyes he would be happy to get lost in.
"Astoria Greengrass." She replied as she grasped his hand but instead of shaking her hand, he bent over and brushed his lips to her knuckles.
"Charmed, milady." Harry said with his lopsided grin causing Astoria to giggle at him. "Fancy accompanying me to Hogsmeade, allow me to buy you a butterbeer to make up for knocking you to the ground." He didn't know what made him offer the girl that as he wasn't exactly going to the village the conventional way, oh well.
"I would love to, Mr Potter, but as I'm a second year, I'm not allowed to visit the village." Astoria replied a little sadly that she had been asked out by Harry Potter but had to turn him down.
"Well, I'm not allowed to go either, even though I got my permission slip signed, but I'm going anyway, the professors will never know." Harry grinned at Astoria, now that he'd asked her to accompany him, he really hoped that she would agree.
"Why aren't you allowed to go if you got your slip signed." Astoria asked in confusion, she was sure that she would have heard if Harry had done something so bad as to be banned from going to Hogsmeade.
"Because everyone seems to think that Sirius Black is after me." Harry said with a slight scowl at the unfairness. "Mcgonagall thinks it wouldn't be safe for me to go."
"But that makes no sense." Exclaimed Astoria. "At least half of the teachers will be there, all the people who live and work in the village and almost all of the students from 3rd year and up, Black would be spotted long before he managed to get anywhere near you."
"Yeah, don't try and apply logic to the thought process of most magical folks, you will end up with a headache." He smirked at her causing Astoria to giggle again, he was starting enjoy that sound.
"Very true, so how do you plan to get past Filch to get to the village." Astoria asked him with a grin of her own.
"Does that mean you agree to come with me?" Harry asked as eyes lit up with excitement at the thought of having a very pretty girl to go the village with.
"Are you asking me on a date Mr Potter?" Astoria asked with a smile and a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I am." Harry smiled after screwing up his Gryffindor courage, not that he needed that much courage, he felt very comfortable talking with Astoria.
"Then impress me, Mr Potter, how do we get to the village without been seen." Astoria replied with a grin. She would give him a few minutes, to see how much of a gentleman he was, would he notice that she was only wearing a t-shirt and jeans?
"Follow me." Harry replied as he went to lead Astoria down the corridor but he stopped and turned to look at her thinking.
"Something wrong Harry." Astoria asked him softly as she watched him think as he looked at her.
"I will be wanting this back." Harry said with a grin as he removed his jacket and held it out for her.
"Such a gentleman." Astoria said with a beaming smile as she took the jacket and put it on, it was a little big on her but as she zipped it up she noticed how warm it was. "Its lovely and warm."
"Hebridean Black, dragon hide." Harry replied as he made his way to the one-eyed statue with Astoria falling into step next to him. "Charmed to resize as I grow, cost a pretty Galleon too."
"I bet it did." Astoria said with a laugh as she and Harry stopped in front of the statue, she was about to ask him what he was doing until he took out his wand and tapped the statue.
" Dissendium." Harry said tapping the witch. At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person, ever the gentlemen Harry held out his hand to help a wide-eyed Astoria into the opening.
"Where does it lead." Astoria asked as she placed her hand into Harry's and allowed him to help her into the opening.
"Honeydukes." Harry replied as he followed after Astoria who had just slid down what seemed to be a stone slide.
It was pitch black in the tunnel but the two of them quickly lit up their wands and began making their way along the passageway, getting to know each other better as they did.
"So you really don't care that I'm in Slytherin?" Astoria asked as they continued on.
"Nah, I was almost a Slytherin myself." Harry replied with a grin.
"Really." Exclaimed Astoria with shock, she like most of the school had thought that Harry Potter was a Gryffindor to the core.
"Yeah, but I had met Malfoy twice before the sorting and I really didn't want to share a dorm and common room with the blonde ponce for seven years." Harry explained with a laugh.
"I can't blame you there." Astoria laughed with him. "Did you know that my sister head-butted him last week?"
"She did, wow, what happened?" Harry asked with wide eyed awe.
"Malfoy kept asking her to go to Hogsmeade with him but she was having none of it." Astoria began with a shake of her head. "Anyways, after the 5th time of asking, Daphne just head-butted him in answer, broke his nose too."
"I think I have a new hero." Harry laughed causing Astoria to laugh along with him. Harry remembered seeing Daphne in some of his classes, she was usually sat with her brunette friend Tracey Davies, they both kept to themselves doing their work and hanging out together and they didn't get involved with the Gryffindor/Slytherin rivalry.
"I will be sure to tell her that she is the Boy-Who-Lived's new hero." Astoria grinned causing Harry to snort with laughter.
"I'm sure that will make her entire week." Harry laughed as they came to a set of worn stone steps leading up to a trapdoor.
"Don't be modest Harry, knowing that she is your hero will make her entire life." She replied in a deadpan voice, causing Harry roar with laughter.
"Shush, not so loud, we don't know if anyone is on the other side of that door." Astoria grinned as she put her hand over Harry's mouth to quieten his laughter. She honestly didn't think that what she had said about her sister was that funny but it seemed to have tickled Harry something fierce as his shoulders kept jumping up and down in his now silent laughter.
"I'm sorry." Harry said with a huge grin after he had got his laughter under control and Astoria had removed her hand.
"Never mind, lets go." Astoria smiled and without thinking, she grabbed his hand and began leading him up the stairs to the trapdoor.
" Her hand is so warm and soft." Harry thought as he allowed Astoria to lead him up the stairs. " And it fits perfectly in my hand."
Astoria reached the trapdoor and opened it a ever so slowly and carefully just in-case anyone was on the other side. Other than boxes and boxes of what she guessed to be chocolates and sweets, the room was empty, so she opened the door fully and still holding Harry's hand led the way into what they realised was the cellar of the shop.
"I'm guessing the shop is really busy." Astoria said as watched Harry close the trapdoor with his foot, they could hear lots of muffled voices and shuffling feet above them.
"Good, less likely to be spotted." Harry smiled as he led her up the stairs at the back of the cellar and to the door at the top, never letting go of her hand. They slowly opened the door and not seeing anyone near it they slipped out and into the shop after closing the door.
Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that nobody paid any attention as Harry and Astoria pushed through the crowd and out the front door.
"I figured that we could come back for sweets and chocolates later when its a bit less crowded." Harry said in way of an explanation for why he had led her straight out of the shop without stopping to browse or purchase anything.
"That's fine with me." Astoria smiled at him, she had had to look at the floor as she had passed by her sister and Tracey on the way out of the shop, luckily they were both looking at displays of sweets and hadn't noticed her.
For the next couple of hours Harry and Astoria, explored the shops in Hogsmeade. Harry insisted that he was paying for everything as he had asked Astoria on the date, so it was only right that he paid.
"You're very sweet." Astoria said as she kissed him on the cheek in Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop where she had picked out a new quill made from the feather of a Golden Eagle, Harry on the other hand bought a quill made from the feather of a Wandering Albatross.
In Zonkos joke shop they both bought a large selection of joke items, dung bombs, Hiccough sweets, itching power.
"Why do you want frogs spawn soap." Harry asked as Astoria placed the bar in the basket he was carrying.
"I'm going to replace Malfoy's soap obviously." Astoria smirked as she picked up a jar of hairgel that would dye a persons hair neon gold for 12 hours.
"Are you trying to take Daphne's title of my hero?" Harry asked with a grin causing Astoria to snort in amusement.
In Gladrags wizardwear, Harry bought Astoria a black Slytherin t-shirt with the house logo on the front and the words ambition, cunning, pride and beauty listed in silver on the back.
"That's cheesy, yet nice at the same time." Astoria said with a smile before spotting a t-shirt for Harry to buy.
"Harry Potter's number one fan." He said with a snort as he looked at the Gryffindor red t-shirt.
"Snape will love it for Christmas." Astoria snorted causing Harry to guffaw as he placed it in the basket, he knew that Snape would most likely burn it but he was still going to send it to him for Christmas.
"I think Snape will get married and have a child before he ever wears this." Harry laughed. "Still sending him it for Christmas." Astoria giggled knowing that they would both love to see the sour mans face when he opened the t-shirt.
"Merlin, can you imagine Snape having a baby." Astoria asked with an exaggerated shudder.
"Yes, I can see it now, it would pop out of the poor mother with long greasy hair, a hooked nose and a scowl on its ugly face and the first words out of its mouth would be."
"Potter, how dare you breathe, a million points from Gryffindor and a thousand years detention with Filch." Harry replied with a scowl and in his best imitation of the potions masters voice.
Astoria began roaring in laughter at Harry's words and impersonation of Snape's voice.
"Laughing like a hyena Ms. Greengrass, I expected better of you." Harry said in his best Snape drawl as he drew himself up and glared at Astoria who just continued laughing and was soon joined by Harry, Astoria actually had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, that was brilliant." Astoria said after she calmed down from laughing and had wiped the tears from her eyes. Soon after, Harry paid for the t-shirts, including a navy blue t-shirt for himself that said Star-Seeker on the front that he figured he could wear for Quidditch practice.
"Shall we go to the Broomsticks for lunch." Harry asked after they had left Gladrags.
"Sure." Astoria said with a smile but her eyes widened as she spotted Daphne and Tracey heading their way. Thinking fast she spun around and cuddled Harry, hiding her face from view.
"What's up." Harry asked before he too spotted Daphne and Tracey. "Ah." He then put his arms around Astoria and cuddled her back.
"Potter." Daphne Greengrass said with a nod as she led Tracey towards the clothes store.
"Greengrass, Davies." Harry replied politely as he nodded back. He was immensely enjoying having Astoria in his arms.
"That was exciting." Astoria grinned as she looked up at Harry after hearing the door close behind her sister and friend.
Astoria the took Harry's hand and began leading him towards the Three Broomsticks.
Entering the pub, they found it to be very crowded with students, but it was pleasantly warm and after a little navigating the tables they managed to find an empty table near the back of the pub.
"Thank you, kind sir." Astoria smiled as Harry held out the chair for her before taking his own seat opposite.
"What can I get you both?" asked a buxom blonde, middle aged witch with a pretty face and a kind smile.
"Fish and Chips, with a warm butterbeer please." Astoria replied with a smile of her own.
"The same for me please." Harry said as the woman turned to him.
"No problem, that will be two Galleons and 10 sickles please."
Harry put his hand in his money pouch and pulled out five Galleons handing the money over. "That's to pay for another round of drinks after we have finished our food." He explained getting a nod from the woman and a grin from Astoria.
"Of course sir, I shall bring you're change with your drinks." Smiled the blonde.
"Oh keep the change, it's coming up to the Christmas season." Harry grinned at the woman.
"Thank you very much." The woman replied before leaving to give the food order to the house-elves in the kitchen and prepare the drinks order.
Minutes later, Harry and Astoria were enjoying their tasty fish and chips and their warm butterbeers. They talked about their favourite subjects, Charms and Transfiguration for Astoria and Defence against the Dark Arts and Charms for Harry.
"Shall we call into the bookshop then Honeydukes before heading back to school." Asked Harry after their food and they were sipping on their second butterbeers.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Astoria replied with a smile. Just then a cold wind hit them as the door to the pub opened and in walked Professors Mcgonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid and the Minister for Magic himself Cornelius Oswald Fudge.
Harry and Astoria turned away from the door and luckily neither were spotted as the Minister and teachers took a booth right behind their table.
"We need to leave, now." Astoria whispered in a slightly panicky voice, she was almost sure that they wouldn't be expelled if they were caught but they would defiantly lose points and be given at least a months worth of detentions.
"No." Harry whispered back with a shake of his head. "If we leave now we will be spotted, they will most likely be looking for the barmaid to place their orders.
Sure enough after a couple of seconds the barmaid walked over to the booth with the Professors and Minister and took their orders.
After the barmaid had returned and give them their drinks, Harry and Astoria heard the conversation drift over to their table.
"So what brings you here Minister?" asked the barmaid who had joined the Professors and Minister in the booth.
"What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school on Halloween?"
Harry and Astoria looked at each other with wide eyes.
"I did hear a rumour."
"Did you tell the entire pub Hagrid." Came McGonagall's exasperated voice.
"Do you think Black is still in the area then?"
"I'm almost sure of it." Fudge replied shorty.
"That's why Albus didn't want Potter to be allowed to visit the village, even though he has a signed permission slip." McGonagall said.
Astoria took Harry's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze as she saw him glaring at the table after hearing that.
"But surely with all the teachers, villagers and the hundreds of students in the village it would be difficult for Black to get anywhere near Potter." Flitwick replied speaking up in Harry's defence making Harry smile slightly and Astoria to give Harry an " I told you so" look.
"yeh, hardly fair to Arry." Hagrid agreed.
"No it's not fair but at least Potter is safe." McGonagall replied.
"Yes, except the bloody castle is almost empty and Black has broken in once already." Astoria whispered to Harry who nodded his agreement.
"I told you not to try applying logic to most magical folks thinking." Harry whispered back.
"Do you know, I still have trouble believing it,' said the barmaid thoughtfully. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought … I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."
"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta,' said Fudge gruffly. 'The worst he did isn't widely known."
"The worst?" said the now identified barmaid Rosmerta, her voice alive with curiosity. "Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?"
"I certainly do." said Fudge.
"I can't believe that. What could possibly be worse?"
"You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta," murmured Professor McGonagall. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"
"Naturally,' said Madam Rosmerta, with a small laugh. "Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here – ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!"
Harry nearly fell off his chair hearing that Black and his dad were best friends in school, Astoria squeezed his hand tightly in support.
"Precisely." said Professor McGonagall. "Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course – exceptionally bright, in fact – but I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers."
"I dunno." chuckled Hagrid. "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fer their money"
"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!" chimed in Professor Flitwick. "Inseparable!"
"Of course they were,' said Fudge. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him Godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him."
"And Black betrayed them when he joined You-Know-Who?"
"Exactly." Replied Fudge.
Harry was now trembling in rage, his Godfather, his dads best friend had betrayed them. Astoria was now cuddling into his side, rubbing circles on his back hoping to offer him some comfort and calm his rage, not that she could blame him.
"I'll kill the traitorous bastard." Harry growled in a low harsh voice, not even hearing the rest of the adults talking.
"As is your right." Astoria said in agreement, still rubbing circles on his back. "But right now you need to calm down so we can leave unseen and we can plan what to do next."
Harry nodded his head as he began to take deep breathes in and releasing them slowly to calm his trembling rage.
"Lets go." Harry whispered a couple of minutes later.
Astoria nodded her agreement and been careful not to be seen they slipped out of their seats and managed to leave the pub seconds later.
"Come on, I think now is a good time to visit the bookstore." Astoria said as she led Harry by the hand towards said shop.
"Why." Asked a much calmer Harry, something about the girl holding his hand helped him calm down much quicker than he perhaps would have done if she wasn't with him.
"Because if you are going to rip Black limb from limb, then you will need to learn more advanced magic than the subpar Defence lessons we have had so far, excluding Lupin, he actually knows how to hold his wand unlike Flophart last year." Astoria explained as they made their way across the village into the bookstore that was virtually empty of other customers.
"Flophart." Snorted Harry as he picked up a basket before following Astoria around the shop.
Astoria picked out a wide selection of books once Harry told her that money was no object as he had his vault key if needs be.
In the basket she placed the following books. The Standard Book of Spells grades 5, 6 and 7, Chadwick's Charms 1-7, Advanced Charm Casting, Abracadabra: An A-Z of Spooky Spells, Charms of Defence and Deterrence, Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners, The Dark Arts Outsmarted, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts, Jinxes for the Jinxed, Practical Defence Against the Dark Arts, Self-Defensive Spellwork, Updated Counter-Curse Handbook (Second Revised Edition) Protection Charm Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Counter Legilimensy, A Guide to Advanced Occlumency, Intermediate Transfiguration, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration.
"These two as well and I think that will be more than enough to be getting on with." Harry said as he picked out two books from the second hand basket of books. He was internally grateful that the basket of books in his hand was charmed to be feather light.
"Are you a hundred percent sure about those two." Astoria questioned looking at the titles of the two worn books in question in surprise of even finding those two books in here, never mind Harry picking them out.
Looking down at the two worn books he had just placed in the basket he was carrying. Magick Moste Evile and Secrets of the Darkest Art Harry nodded his head in determination.
"Yes, I need to learn how to fight fire with fire and not just for Black." Harry explained as he looked Astoria in the eyes.
"What do you mean?" Astoria asked in a whisper as she stepped closer to him.
"Voldemort is not as dead as people like to believe." Harry whispered back, very impressed when Astoria had no reaction to the Dark Lord's name.
"Well that's enough reason for us to practise magic and duelling then." Astoria said with determination.
"Us?" asked Harry who had half expected Astoria to want to get as far away from him as possible.
"Yes Harry, us, I don't know if you have noticed or not but I like you, a lot. Astoria replied as she stepped closer to him. "And I'm not going to let some jumped up little Dark Lord get between us."
"I like you as well Astoria." Harry said as he looked into her bright blue eyes. "Will you be my girlfriend?" He'd once again screwed up his Gryffindor courage and asked her the one question he had wanted to ask her since they had been eating their lunch.
"I would love to be yours." Astoria smiled at him. "But there is something you should know first." Her smile fell from her face.
"Let me guess, your dad is a Death Eater." Harry replied shocking Astoria to her core.
"How did you know?" Astoria asked fearful that he was going to storm away from her and never speak to her again.
"Pretty simple really, we were talking about Voldemort then I asked you to be my girlfriend and you said there is something I should know." Harry explained with a soft smile. "Doesn't take Hermione to work that one out."
"I can explain." Astoria said quickly.
"No need, you are not your father and you have been nothing but nice to me." Harry replied. "Unless you support Voldemort and are trying to get close to me to hurt me."
"I would never support that bastard or hurt you." Astoria replied vehemently as she stared into Harry's eyes willing him to see the truth in her own.
"I believe you." Harry replied to a visibly relieved Astoria as he dipped his head and gave her a brief, yet tender kiss on the lips.
"Then yes, I will be yours." Astoria beamed at him after the kiss ended.
"That's great." Harry said smiling brightly. "But it might be best to keep this secret for now."
"Yes I agree, it could cause us both trouble with our housemates." Astoria smiled at him as she bumped her shoulder against his.
"Shall we pay for these books before we head to Honeydukes then back to school." Harry asked nodding towards the counter.
"Good idea." Astoria agreed as she turned to lead the way towards the counter.
"Just one last thing." Harry called causing Astoria to look back at him. "Jumped up little Dark Lord?" He grinned at her causing her snort before she continued towards the counter.
Either the shopkeeper didn't care or they bought so many books that he didn't even notice the two Dark Arts books, either way he did not comment on them or show any visible reaction to them and soon the bag of books were shrunken and in Harry's pocket.
"I would keep those books well hidden if I were you." Astoria said as they began walking back towards Honeydukes.
"I plan to don't worry." Harry replied. He knew Ron would throw a fit over the Dark Arts books at least, and Hermione would want to read every other book he had bought and not give him a chance to read and learn them himself.
As they entered the sweetshop they realised that it wasn't nearly as busy as when they first snuck in but still busy enough that they were pretty much ignored, though Neville Longbottom nodded at Harry as they passed each other.
"I didn't see a thing." Neville muttered to him as he was passing on his way to the exit.
"Cheers mate." Harry replied back.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Astoria had purchased the sweets and chocolates that they wanted and had managed to sneak back down into the tunnel leading to Hogwarts.
"I had a really great time today Harry, thank you." Astoria said with a smile and holding his hand as they made their way through the tunnel.
"Me too, I'm really glad that you came and also agreed to be mine." Harry replied with a beaming smile. Astoria smiled back.
All too soon they had exited the one-eyed witch statue and were back in the 3rd floor corridor, where they sorted out the purchases so that they could take their things back to their dorms.
After giving Harry a quick kiss and agreeing to meet up with him in the same place tomorrow after breakfast so that they could find somewhere to begin practising their magic and duelling, Astoria made her way back down to the Slytherin common room.
After giving the password ' Pureblood' Astoria entered the Slytherin common room, only to come face to face with Daphne and Tracey who had apparently been waiting for her.
"You, come with us now." Daphne said after taking a moment to look at her younger sister.
Astoria followed behind her sister and Tracey up to the 2nd year girls dorm room, wondering how much Daphne was going to shout at her, she obviously knew that she had been to the village, the bag in her hand was a dead giveaway.
Daphne scanned the room to make sure that it was empty before closing the door behind Astoria and turning to glare at her.
"Answer my questions honestly and I won't tell Snape." Daphne said to her after a moments silence. "Agreed?"
"Agreed." Astoria replied instantly, she knew that she could trust Daphne and Tracey to keep her secrets.
"How did you manage to get into Hogsmeade when you are a second year?" Daphne asked softly so as not to be overhead by anyone outside the door.
"There is a secret passage on the 3rd floor behind the one-eyed witch that leads into Honeydukes cellar." Astoria replied honestly.
"Really." Exclaimed a surprised Tracey who looked at an equally surprised Daphne, Astoria nodded.
"And how did you find out about the passage?" Daphne asked after getting over her surprise.
"A friend showed me after we bumped into each other on the 3rd floor and invited me to join hi-them." Astoria explained though she was sure they would pick up on her slip.
"You were about to say him, who is him?" Daphne questioned quickly proving Astoria right.
"Ooh did little Tori have a date?" Tracey teased with a grin.
"Actually yes I did and it was wonderful." Astoria replied, shocking both girls into silence. " Score one for me." She thought to herself amusedly.
"Who was it?" Daphne asked after getting over her surprise that her sister had a date and had actually admitted it.
"Erm." Astoria suddenly remembered that she and Harry had agreed to keep quiet about been together for now to stave of any trouble for them both with their respective housemates.
"And whose is that jacket your wearing." Tracey asked noticing the Jacket that the younger girl was wearing and knowing that it was neither hers or hers sisters.
"Whoops, I forgot to give this back to him." Astoria said looking down at Harry's jacket that he had given her to wear in the cold air.
"Who is he?" Daphne questioned again.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Astoria said with a small sigh, she knew that Daphne wouldn't let this drop.
"Let me guess, you went on a hot date with Harry Potter himself." Tracey laughed causing Daphne to snort in amusement, until they realised that Astoria wasn't laughing or denying it.
"Wait a minute, you went on a date with Potter." Daphne stated accusingly.
"Yes." Astoria replied, no point denying it now.
"Hold on, we saw Potter outside Gladrags, cuddling a girl, that was you." Tracey exclaimed with a smirk at how close they had been to bumping in Astoria.
"Yes, I had spotted you both coming and shot into his arms to hide my face." Astoria explained causing Tracey's smirk to widen.
"Perfect excuse to cuddle the cute Boy-Who-Lived." Tracey smirked at Astoria hoping to embarrass her a little.
"Yes well, now I don't need an excuse, I just need to be discrete." Astoria replied as she began to put away her purchases.
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked sharply as she watched her sister.
"Harry asked me to be his girl and I said yes." Astoria replied as she put away her new t-shirt.
"And does he know about father?" Daphne spat the last word almost like it was a curse, and to her and Astoria it was.
"I explained that he is a Death Eater before I agreed to be his." Astoria replied as she put away her sweets and chocolates.
"And Potter is ok with that?" Tracey asked beating Daphne to the question by seconds.
"Harry said that I am not my father." Astoria said with a smile. "Though we have agreed to keep it quiet for now to stop any trouble from either of our housemates."
"Yes I'm sure the blonde ponce would be ecstatic that you are dating Potter." Daphne snorted a laugh though internally she was impressed that Potter wasn't holding their father against Tori.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me Daph, your Harry's new hero." Astoria said with a laugh causing Tracey to snort in amusement.
"Come again?" Daphne said in mild amusement, she was pretty sure she knew why.
"I told him about you head-butting Malfoy." Astoria laughed. "Harry practically had stars in his eyes." All three girls broke down laughing.
After they had calmed down, Daphne and Tracey agreed to keep Astoria's and Harry's new found relationship between themselves for the sake of Astoria and their own peace and quiet in the house. All three girls exited the dorm to go down to dinner after Astoria had removed Harry's jacket and hid it under her duvet, she didn't think it would be a good idea to wear it in the castle just incase any of Harry's friend recognised it and either asked her why she had it or accused her of stealing it. She would get it back to him tomorrow.
AN: I know its been awhile since I wrote anything but what did you all think to this opening chapter? Please fav, follow and review, until next time.