September 1, 1994
Luna had (unfortunately, in his opinion), talked him down from preemptively stealing the Goblet of Fire. He still maintained that it was a perfectly reasonable approach to the situation, but for now, he was willing to keep it a backup plan just in case. Barty at least would most likely be amenable to helping him out if it proved necessary, so long as Harry could convince him to not ask Luna any questions or bring it up to her in the first place.
Alright so maybe the plan needed a bit of work.
But it was all in the name of prevention, right? Disaster aversion?
He ignored the niggling in the back of his mind that said a minor heist wouldn't stop Fate that easily.
Oh, look at him, going on about Fate as if the future was somehow set in stone.
It was not. He had checked. Department of Mysteries for the win.
He waved to Ivy as the train began rolling out of the station. Well, he had a few weeks to sort out the details.
Pansy had miscalculated. She had attended the World Cup final match between Bulgaria and Ireland so she wouldn't have to hear about it secondhand, but that was doing nothing for her right now as she was still having to hear all about it. Every single compartment on the train thus far had contained someone or other talking about it. Well, except for the ones with all the firsties, but they didn't really count, did they.
The worst part? She had heard it all so many times in the past three hours she actually had some idea of what they were talking about at this point. Sure, she had been there, but that didn't mean she had bothered to pay attention to the particulars of the game or the different moves players had made.
Draco and Weasley certainly had, though, and why she had thought that compartment would somehow be better than the others was beyond her at the moment. At least she could get away with teasing them about it more than some of the others who seemed intent on discussing the game the entire train ride to Hogwarts.
That was it. She was finding her own compartment. Three and a half hours of listening to quidditch talk were more than anyone needed in their life, ever, and she had put up with it with all the patience of a Hufflepuff, which she was most decidedly not.
Now to find others who could be made to talk about something other than that stupid game and Krum's stupid face and…
Ah. Perfect.
"Longbottom," she snapped out, "come on, we're finding another compartment."
The boy in question looked at her blankly for a moment before gathering his things and following her out. He hadn't gone to the game, and she was beginning to have greater respect for his decision-making.
"Was that Parkinson andLongbottom?"
"What in Merlin's name are they doing together?"
"Did you see that?"
"You saw it too then?"
"I suppose there have been stranger couples…"
"Do you really think they're in there snogging?"
"Do you really want to find out?"
"…"
"Did you hear about Pansy and Neville?"
"Wait, when did that happen?"
Most of the time sortings went fairly quickly. There were the occasional ones that took a bit longer for the hat to make its pronouncement, but in general, it was not an overly long process. So of course they were fifteen minutes into the sorting ceremony and still on the very first name.
The boy under the hat sat very still, with excellent poise and a look of absolute determination on his face. Much further down the hall, his sister sat with her face buried in her arms.
"Just tell me when it's over with," Hannah muttered.
"It's not that bad," Susan reassured her. "Michael's hardly the longest sorting to occur."
"Yeah, didn't you tell me someone was under there for almost an hour once?" Justin asked.
Hannah groaned. "You don't understand. This is never going to end."
"Well it has to end eventually," Wayne chimed in. "Right?" he continued, looking around the group.
Most everyone at that section of the Hufflepuff table nodded their heads.
"So, any idea why his sorting is taking so long?" Megan asked.
Hannah just made a frustrated groaning sound while Susan patted her back in a comforting manner.
"He has…plans," Susan explained, not that it was much of an explanation.
"Plans?" Ernie asked.
Another groan from Hannah and a wince from Susan made the entire little group look intently from one to the other.
"SLYTHERIN," the hat cried out finally, startling them all a little out of their seats.
"Well," Megan began with a cough, "it's not that bad, right?"
"Yeah, Slytherin is mostly decent now, right? He should be fine," Ernie added.
"And Ivy is there. I'm sure she'll take care of…"
"No," Hannah very nearly shouted out, cutting off whatever else Justin was about to say. "You don't understand. He hasplans."
"Like, evil plans?" Wayne asked cautiously.
"Not evil," Susan began before she too was cut off by Hannah.
"No, none of you understand. He's in Slytherin because he has this stupid ten-year plan to woo Ivy."
They all, with the exception of Susan, looked at Hannah with some level of incredulity.
"I'm sorry, he what now?" Ernie stated more than asked.
"He has a ten-year plan to woo Ivy Potter. Court her. Whatever. He plans to win her over, he has a ridiculously detailed plan for doing so, and he just spent nearly twenty minutes under the sorting hat because apparently he's stubborn enough to will himself into the same house she is in."
"Well, he's certainly ambitious then," Megan responded.
"Do you think he would explain some of the details of his plan?" Justin asked. "Just that I'm curious," he added hastily, seeing the look on Hannah's face at his question.
"It's nice to meet you, Michael," Draco said, somewhat hesitantly. He wasn't entirely sure what was up with this kid, but he was clearly in Slytherin for a reason. Why he had latched onto Draco specifically was anyone's guess, but Draco figured he could play older-student-mentor-figure as well as anyone if he decided Hannah Abbott's little brother was worth spending time with.
Putting that aside for now, however, he turned towards one of his oldest friends.
"So, Pansy…"
"Hmm?"
"Congratulations on you and Longbottom." It came out a little quickly and a little forced, but he was doing his part at being the supportive friend, and he actually liked Neville. What hedidn'tlike was hearing about this from some random third-year brat on the way into the feast instead of from one or both of them as itought to have been.
Not that he was mildly put out by that or anything.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"You and Neville? Dating?"
Pansy started choking on something or other, though Tracey helped out by delivering a few swift and forceful pats to the back.
"Who told you that?" Pansy practically hissed out once she had regained her ability to breathe normally.
"Well, I would havelikedto have heard it from you," Draco said, "but as it stands I heard it on the way in. Apparently, it's all over the school."
So maybe he was mildly irritated at the situation.
Pansy just stared blankly at him. "It's all over the school that Neville and I are…dating."
Draco just nodded. "You can tell me these things, you know."
Pansy moved from staring at him to staring rather contemplatively at some imaginary speck off in the distance. "Right. I'll do that," she replied.
"How'd you do it?"
Neville had only gotten a short way into his explanation of how he had gotten the Letchworth Greenhouses practically to himself last week when Ron interrupted him, explaining that that was not what he was asking about.
"Er, sorry?"
"Imeant, how did you get Parkinson to go out with you?"
"Yeah mate, she's a bit scary if you know what I mean," Seamus said, shoving a bit of chicken into his mouth.
Dean just nodded along in silent agreement, face too full to properly respond out loud himself.
"What do you mean?" Neville asked, hoping for some kind of explanation for what kind of answer he was supposed to be giving.
"You and Parkinson. Dating. How'd it happen?"
Neville's mind blanked out for a moment.
"Oh, real funny guys," he said after a bit, forcing a laugh out as he spoke.
"It's all over the school," Dean said, now able to contribute to the conversation.
"Yeah, no need to hide it from us, mate," Ron said. Or at least, that's what Neville thought Ron said. Ron had not waited where Dean had.
"I can't believe Neville's the first one of us to get a girlfriend," Seamus said, before sighing dramatically.
Neville's mind turned off fully at that. This was it. This was the moment his life was going to flash before his eyes because there was no way he was making it out of this alive.
Pansy was going to kill him.
Ivy had a vague sense that something was happening over by Pansy and Draco, but it was nothing more than distant noise in the periphery of her notice. No, her attention was fully fixed ahead, where a pair of twinkling eyes were meeting hers. The intrusion was soft and almost imperceptible, but she had caught it and was now pushing it out, doing her best to ease it out without too much force. Let the headmaster think what he will, but if there was a chance she could get away with him thinking it was a mere accident his Legilimens attempt failed, she would take it.
Turning her eyes away as casually as she could muster, her eyes now met the concerned eyes of Blaise sitting across and just a little way down from her. She shook her head that she was fine, and offered a small smile in his direction which seemed to placate him only a little, though he did turn away and reenter whatever conversation was taking place at his part of the table.
She turned once more towards the head table, carefully avoiding the headmaster's gaze, instead meeting first Professor Snape's stare, then the equally concerned look of the newly minted Professor Parry, who she was going to have to get out of the habit of simply calling "Barty" all the time.
She tried to be as reassuring as she could be from where she sat, but she would be having a bit of a chat with Professor Snape later this evening if the look on his face was any indication.
"Anything you would like to share?"
Ivy winced slightly at the look on Professor Snape's face. She knew he wasn't upset ather, but she was starting to see why some people were mildly terrified of the man at times.
"Well, the occlumency lessons worked?"
He did not look particularly impressed.
"I mean, I don't think anything happened, really. And I tried to get out of it without showing I was aware of the intrusion in the first place."
"Impressive, if done correctly," Professor Snape replied.
"Thanks."
The wizard snorted ever so softly before leaning forward slightly in his chair. "Now, at what point did you first notice it?" he asked.
Ivy had to think for a brief moment on that. "It was while the headmaster was talking about the tournament. I think right after he mentioned the fourteen and up age limit."
"Yes, that was a rather interesting addition that I do not believe any of the staff were made aware of beforehand."
"Dad's not going to be happy about that," she said offhandedly.
"No indeed," Professor Snape responded. She thought he looked a tad paler than he had a moment before but it could just be the light. The dungeons really didn't have thebestlighting in the castle.
"Do you think it's because Dumbledore wants me to enter?"
"I would venture to suppose that he intends to see you in that tournament one way or another. Tonight's incident may have been an attempt on his part to gauge your reaction to the announcement. It would certainly work to his benefit if you entered yourself."
"And when I don't?"
Professor Snape raised an eyebrow at that, and she was only slightly offended that he seemed to think she had any intention of playing into the scheming headmaster's plans.
"I'm afraid it is unlikely to matter in the end," he said carefully after a moment's consideration.
Ivy shrugged. "I figured as much, but I think Dad has a plan of some kind so it should be fine."
"Do you have any idea what that plan might entail?"
She shrugged again. "This morning he said something about stealing the goblet, but he also said the plan needed a bit more work."
The Professor's eye twitched ever so slightly. "I could have gone my entire life without seeing evidence of his having been a Gryffindor."
Ivy wasn't entirely sure he had meant to say that out loud.
September 2, 1994
George elbowed Fred, and, when faced with the look of it's-too-early-in-the-morning-for-this-so-explain-now-or-may-Merlin-have-mercy-on-your-soul, nodded in the direction of their head of house, who wore a look on her own face that shouldn't be present on a teacher's face ever. Especially not when directed at them.
It was a look they had perfected themselves.
It was a look that meant a wonderful, glorious prank had just been executed to perfection.
Again, not a look that should be on Professor McGonagall's face, and not a look that should be directed towards them.
There was no room for escape now, however, as she was very rapidly making her way to where they sat.
Fred muttered something under his breath that would have their mother's face as red as her hair, and George made a quick glance around, hoping that no little firsties had overheard. They had a list of acceptable reasons to get detention, but teaching eleven-year-olds curse words was not on the list.
"Good morning, boys," their professor said in a way that did not promise sunshine and biscuits.
Fred, in an apparent effort to distance himself from his previous word choice, called out in an exaggeratedly cheerful manner, "Hello, Professor McGonagall. What a lovely morning it is. Couldn't ask for a better morning to begin the year with, isn't that right, George. What can a pair of your absolute favorite students do for you?"
George could only nod along helplessly. They were neither of them in top form first thing in the morning, generally speaking, but this was such a poor performance that George was sure remedial acting practices would be necessary to ensure they never again reached this level of disaster. It was one thing to act a particular mischievous-yet-completely-innocent way on purpose, but that was an art that was being butchered this morning by his dearest brother, not that he dared attempt it himself right now since it was highly improbable he could do any better at the moment.
"Well, gentlemen," McGonagall replied, "I am here to deliver your class schedules for the year, as is generally done the first morning of the year."
Professor McGonagall was quite literally a cat, but right now George felt very much like the mouse in this situation.
He accepted the schedule with a great deal of trepidation and no small amount of wonder at how Snape ever managed to become the "scary" teacher with McGonagall capable of making a look likethatappear on her face.
Forget a mouse, he was the bloody canary.
Ivy looked at her schedule. Her very first class was with Barty. Er, Professor Parry. Still had to get used to that…
"She's been waiting two and a half years for this moment, I reckon."
"You think?" George deadpanned. "How'd we make it into those classes anyway?"
Fred shrugged. "Don't ask me. I got the same letter you did."
George frowned, and began digging through his bag.
"What is it?" Fred asked.
"I'm looking for the letter. Ah, here it is. Let's see, E, E, A, D, T, A, O, D. See? By all accounts, I should have only made it into Charms, Care, and Defense."
"Yes because you are leaving me to face the dungeon bat all by myself. I see how it is, Forge."
George rolled his eyes. "Well I'm not leaving you anywherenow, am I."
"Except for Arithmancy."
"Thank Merlin for small mercies," George mumbled under his breath.
"Hey, at least it's not as bad asRunes," Fred shot back.
"Agree to disagree, Gred.
"Do you think she actually meant it? The schedule, I mean."
"Seeing as we're both on our way to her class right now, I would say yes."
"I was completely fine with only having three classes now, you know."
"Me too, Gred, me too."
This was his first class of the day. Of the year. Ever.
Barty was excited.
"Alright everyone, move along. Find a seat, please."
The group of fourth years traipsed in, many dragging their feet as was to be expected from a bunch of teenagers first thing in the morning on the very first day of school, but quite a few of them looked rather eager. The ones who all knew Barty especially, which made him feel a little proud.
"Right then. Well, let's jump right into it, shall we? Let's talk about the Goblin Wars."
The look of absolute betrayal that crossed Ivy's face was a thing of beauty that he would cherish forever, and he couldn't help the guffaw that escaped him. This was going to be brilliant.
"Well, gentlemen, I am glad to see you have not forgotteneverythingI have taught you these past few years."
George cleared his throat. "Right, about that. I thought I, er, failed?"
"Me too," chimed in Fred.
"Oh?" McGonagall asked, though without any level of surprise. "I see. I suppose there must have been some mix-up or other with the letters. Perhaps you should ask your brother. He works at the Ministry, doesn't he?"
That blasted look was back on her face and George's brain froze for a moment as he took in what she had just said.
"Percy?" Fred squeaked out a few octaves too high.
Oh, this would not stand.
Ivy left history with her eye twitching, still not over the utter betrayal that had been Barty's first lecture. Sure, they hadn'treallytalked about the Goblin Wars, but to evensuggestthat after what they had been through already. She ignored the fact that she had only had Binns three years while Barty had endured an entire seven. The thought of Barty's having willingly subjected himself tothatN.E.W.T. class was too much to fathom, and it did not in any way make up for the fact that he had scared her like that.
September 5, 1994
Sirius was not quite sure what to make of the scene in front of him. On the one hand, Percy Weasley was calmly sipping his tea. On the other hand, there were what appeared to be several thousand pink and yellow feathers dancing on every available surface in the small office, including the young man's head.
"Twins," Percy said by way of explanation. It didn't explain much, but Sirius supposed it explained enough.
"I'm assuming this wasn't because they missed you?"
Percy's grin turned positively feral and Sirius unconsciously took a small step back. Percy looked like Remus did when he alone had concocted a prank that he alone would be able to get away with while the rest of them would end up in detention for an entire week. It had happened enough times for a look to have developed. It was a look to be feared.
"It is entirely possible they received an ever so slightly incorrect summary of their O.W.L. scores. A minor clerical error, I'm sure, but I suppose it must have caught them by surprise when they each managed to end up in six N.E.W.T. level classes. I'm sure they'll cope marvelously well, though. A little extra studying won't hurt them one bit."
"And this is their…revenge?"
"I believe they are spelled to last the entirety of the school year. I thought I'd let them enjoy their victory for a day or spent enough time in the library, so these will be gone by Wednesday at the latest."
"Right…"
Percy went back to sipping his tea.
"You know, I just forgot I have a thing… A meeting… Yes, well, have a good day, Percy."
"You too, Lord Black."
Sirius scowled. "I'mSirius, Percy. I…" He scowled again. He had walked right into that one, hadn't he.
He pointedly ignored the small little cackle coming from the closet of a room he was now leaving.
"Harry, you have to save him."
"What is it that you think he'sdone, exactly?"
"We… I…Someonerubbed off on him and now he's going to, I don't know, take over the world or something."
"Someone as in you?" Harry asked sarcastically, but before Sirius could explain that he bore absolutely no responsibility for this situation, Harry was already continuing. "Well, add him to the list. It's not like he's the only one capable of it at this point."
"Whatlist?"
"Of people most likely to initiate a world takeover."
"And just who exactly is on that list?"
"Well, apparently I'm on the list…"
"You don't count."
"And Ivy…"
"Ivy will be fine."
"And Luna…"
"Which one?"
"Both."
"That's fair. Anyone else?"
"Minerva."
Sirius thought about that one for a moment but was forced to concede that yes, she probably could.
"And now Percy. Thomas is probably on there as well, especially if those two joined forces. Blaise might possibly make it there as well at some point, if not already."
"Excuse you, Blaise is a perfect angel child who will never do anything wrong."
Harry did not seem to buy it.
"Well, he'd probably just follow Ivy anyway."
"Well don't go giving them any ideas," Harry replied with a small frown.
"I really don't think they need my help," Sirius said dryly. "I believe there are already a dozen different plans in various stages of development."
"Sirius, I love you, but ignorance is bliss, and I've been doing so well. Don't ruin this for me, alright?"
"And when Ivy inevitably takes over the world?"
"How is that in any way inevitable?"
"She's not going to keep her plans theoretical forever."
"You don'tknowthat."
"Besides, she has far too many minions for it to not work out one way or another."
"There are no minions. I expressly told herno minionsuntil after she gradua… Ah yes, I see the problem there."
"Do you now," Sirius snarked.
"Hey, wasn't there something you wanted me to do about Percy?"
"Yes. Fix it."
"Fix what, exactly?"
"HecackledHarry," Sirius whined.
"That's not exactly the standard for determining future dictatorship potential."
"Just deal with this."
"Why me? Why not you?"
"Because I'm not the one who accidentally took over the world."
Sirius quite soon found himself running out of Harry's study. Harry was technically faster than him in their animagus forms, but Sirius had enough of a head start that he might be able to get away…
"You take that back, Sirius!" Harry yelled, indicating that he hadn't changed forms yet. Perfect. That would give him a few extra minutes to widen the gap…
"And it's not even the entire world…"
Sirius didn't even hear the rest of what Harry was shouting, taking the slight time advantage Harry had granted him but shouting and apparating back to his own home.
Sabrina just snorted at his arrival to which he responded with a bark and a wag of his tail.
There. Problem solved. Harry would take care of it and he wouldn't have to deal with a cackling Weasley ever again. He chose to ignore (for now) the fact that the twins existed. It was better that way.
September 6, 1994
"Good morning, Percy."
"Lord Peverell," Percy said, dipping his head slightly in greeting.
"Harry, please." Someday he would actually get people to call him that. It was a slow process, but he would get there eventually.
"And what can I do for you today, Lord Peverell?"
Today was not going to be that day, apparently. Also, Harry was at least forty percent sure Percy was doing this just to be a little… Did Percy still count as a child? Percy was eighteen now but Harry wasn't sure at what age he as the more adult adult of the two was allowed to start cursing around the younger wizard. He was certainly not cursing around Ivy until his future grandchildren were in their forties. Well, to be on the safe side…
"Sirius mentioned yesterday that he had talked with you briefly and that he had some… concerns."
"Oh?"
"About you potentially taking over the world?"
"Oh, of course not. I wouldn't want to step on any toes, after all."
That… was not what Harry was expecting. He asked what exactly Percy meant by that. Clarification was absolutely needed here.
"Well I'm not about to get inyourway, obviously, and the best way to delay Ivy's inevitable takeover is to ensure yours goes as smoothly as possible. Get a fully functioning system in place, if you will, so that she can take up management in, oh, I don't know, five or six decades from now? Longer if you're willing to put off retirement."
"Decades… Wait, what makes you say her inevitable takeover? Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Harry did not like the look on Percy's face.
"Well, I suppose it's possible thatyoumight be able to prevent it," Percy said, as if he would need more evidence to fully commit to the idea.
"And how would you suggest I do that?" Harry said wearily.
"I'm sure I can have something worked up by the end of this week."
"Great. Thanks. I'll just… I'll just see you later then, hmm?"
Harry left, muttering to himself about "inevitability" and "fate" and a few other things that had a few people giving him strange looks as he made his way to the apparition points. Finally he had had enough and spun on the spot, not caring if someone got a little peeved with him for not apparating from the "right" place. He had too many other things to care about right now.
And he had completely forgotten to ask about the situation with the twins.