Chapter 71: Lean on Me
The morning of the trip back to Hogwarts, Harry arrived in the kitchen just as an owl delivered the paper to Vinny.
"Thank you for letting owls find us," Vinny said after depositing a knut into the owl's pouch.
"You're welcome," Harry said as he started making his tea. "Anything of note?"
"A little," Vinny smoothed the paper atop the table. "My dad's been sentenced. 10 years in Azkaban."
"That seems kind of light, all things considered," Hermione said.
"Yeah well when you're a pureblood, things tend to work that way," Vinny said before holding his hands up. "and yes, before you say anything, I know it's bullshit. At least he's going away."
"Because of you," Sirius said. "After they found the stash where you said, there was no way he was getting off. You gave Amelia real evidence to nail him."
"Good," Vinny said with finality, his face hard. "Hope he gets a conjugal visit from a Dementor."
"I've never seen a Dementor try to kiss anyone anywhere other than the mouth," Sirius looked pensive. "Might be interesting to test."
While Sirius was chortling at the idea of Dementor kissing an alternate orifice, a barn owl flew through the window with a magazine in its talons with Hedwig right behind. She clicked her beak in annoyance while the brown owl gazed back evenly. When the bird tried to beg for food, Hedwig clicked her beak again.
"That is one determined bird," Sirius said. "Hedwig really doesn't like when anyone but her delivers your mail, does she?"
"Nope," Hermione said with a smile as she reached over to stroke underneath Hedwig's beak. "She's a good girl, aren't you Hedwig?"
Hedwig puffed up her chest at Hermione's cooing. Harry relieved the owl of its package and the bird bade quick retreat. Hedwig hopped to Harry and nuzzled him with her head.
"That's my girl," Harry rubbed her head and gave her the last piece of bacon from his plate. Hedwig nipped his finger affectionately and took off out the window. "See you at school, girl."
"Oh it's the article from Mrs. Brown!" Hermione unrolled the magazine. On the front was a drawing of Harry burning the Boy Who Lived books. Hermione quickly opened to the article and starting reading aloud.
Harry Potter: More than the Boy Who Lived
Almost thirteen years ago, the wizarding world was shocked when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name was defeated. Rumors spread and were quickly confirmed that the Dark Lord was defeated when he tried to kill young Harry Potter who was just a little over one year old. Since that day, we have revered the name Harry Potter and graced him with the moniker The Boy Who Lived. However, that boy would simply like to be called Harry instead.
"By calling me the Boy Who Lived," the young Potter, now 14, said. "It reminds me that my parents didn't."
I had the opportunity to sit down and interview Potter at the Quidditch World Cup where two of the companies he invested in made presentations. Full disclosure, my daughter is one of the founders of Lavender Petal, one of the two companies Harry has invested in. In just a few minutes, it was clear that young Potter is not what the legends or children's books make him out to be. In fact, he is much more than that.
"He's got the best parts of both his parents," Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Potter's Head of House, said when asked about Potter. "He's got his father's creativity and comfortability with spells and his mother's caring heart and curious mind. He has forged friendships across all four houses just the way she did. It has been a pleasure to teach a second generation of Potters."
Outside of classes, Potter is one of the founding members of the Hogwarts Potions Club and the Defense Association which has contributed to the highest turnout of Auror recruits in over 10 years.
"Over the last two years, we've had 40 new recruits which matches our total for the previous 5 years," Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, said in a statement. "We are glad to see a number of these members credit their additional Potions and Defense tutelage on their enlistment form. This comes at the perfect time where some of our active Aurors are getting closer to retirement."
But Potter is not all work and no play. Far from it, it seems. He is a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"I am part of the three-time defending Hogwarts Quidditch Cup Champions, playing as their Seeker," Potter said. What the modest Potter didn't tell me is he made the team his first year, the youngest Seeker for the school in a century.
"I saw him make a catch of another classmate's Rememberall," McGonagall said. "The catch was simply spectacular; I doubt many trained Seekers could have made it. In that moment, I knew he was a special talent who Gryffindor needed."
Again, this was not mentioned to me by Potter who simply extolled his joy for the game.
"Quidditch is really fun," he answered when asked about his flying skills. "Especially playing against Hufflepuff and their Seeker Cedric Diggory."
Diggory is a sixth year in Hufflepuff who, according to Hufflepuff Head Pomona Sprout is an easy contender for Head Boy next year. Potter and Diggory are not letting a Quidditch rivalry ruin any potential relationship, even though Diggory is the only Seeker to beat him to the Snitch.
"Oh that game," Potter said when the game in question was brought up. "I learned a lot that day about how the game is played. Cedric has become very much like an older brother to me and I am grateful for it."
Outside of Quidditch, I regret to inform all of my female readers that Harry has found love at Hogwarts in the form of Hermione Granger, a Gryffindor who is in the same year as him.
"I met her, rather she introduced herself to me, at King's Cross and we sat in the same compartment as we went up to Hogwarts first year," Harry said. "As I had been raised muggle, I was not informed of the way to access the platform. Hermione and her parents helped me board the train. Ever since, she's been my best friend and confidant. Her parents have become surrogate parents to me since then, even taking me into their home."
Miss Granger has established herself within the school as one of its brightest students.
"Miss Granger is one of my best students," Filius Flitwick, Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw House, said. "She is one of the first, if not the very first to get a spell to work and is quick to master it. She is one of my students who is working well beyond her yearmates to the point where I would wager she would pass her O.W.L.s today if given the test. Truly a once-in-a-generation witch if I've ever seen one."
Granger says she's always been studious, even from an early age, though she credits Potter for broadening her horizons.
"I love to read and learn," she said. "While others were playing with dolls, I had my books. When I met Harry, he got me to relax a little without sacrificing my studies. For the first time in my life, I have friends, in addition to becoming part of the wizarding world, which has been amazing."
But make no mistake: Hermione Granger has established herself as one of the keen minds of Hogwarts.
"She's top of the class," said Percy Weasley, former Gryffindor Head Boy and current Assistant working in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. "As a prefect and later Head Boy, I never needed to worry about Hermione Granger. She's usually the first to get a spell and is able to quickly master it. She's a bright and brilliant mind; sure to be an asset to the wizarding world once she graduates."
With Potter's accomplishments at school, in Quidditch and in love, it is easy to forget the two companies he has helped start. Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and Lavender Petal both created quite the stir at the Quidditch Cup, putting on presentations that inspired wonder and intrigue.
"For the Weasley Twins, it was their drive," Harry said when asked about his decision to invest in the Weasleys. "The common room of Gryffindor is rather raucous and the twins are usually at the center of it. They're renowned, the school over, as being pranksters. However, when it is quiet, I learned they were working and when they were working, I was listening. Their ingenuity and dedication was fascinating. They knew what their dream was and they just needed someone to believe in them and invest.
"As for Lavender Petal," Harry said about the cosmetics company. "They spent the last three years innovating and pushing themselves. My girlfriend and I got to see first-hand all the products they were doing as they liked to have us test them or to simply give them as gifts. When they had their breakthrough last year with the perfume and cologne, I knew they were for real. It's their passion that attracts me."
But Potter may not realize how much it means for these four individuals.
"We were trying to think of a way to gain enough funds to start our company," Fred- at least I'm assuming the twin I talked to was Fred as he told me- said. "Harry gave us the money to start working. From there, he checked in occasionally but let us work and experiment. When we had something to show, he set us up with a booth at the Cup. He said the Goblins took care of it but we know this was all done through him and the Potter Accounts."
"I never thought I'd find a way to live out my dream," Parvati Patil of Lavender Petal said. "I have always wanted to design my own cosmetics. Harry saw my and Lavender's passion and he supported us without asking anything of us."
As much as he's done, you'd expect Potter to be somewhat smug about the two operations but he simply is content to shift the credit elsewhere.
"The goblins run the investments," Harry shrugged when pressed about his investment choices. "I just provide the startup capital. If someone has an idea that I like, I will gladly run it by the goblins. If (the startup) takes the money and runs, so to speak, that's their loss. To do so would anger the goblins which is very bad for business. Wizards forget that in the treaty after the goblin war, we entrusted the goblins with all our financial futures as compensation for them not being allowed to carry wands."
A Gringotts representative said when reached that Potter is indeed a part owner of each company, a minor stake but an owner nonetheless. Something that was insisted upon by the company founders, not Potter.
"It wouldn't be right," George Weasley said. "Harry gave without any hope of receiving. My brother and I weren't raised to just take that charity so it was only fair that Harry would be part owner."
Potter seems to have inherited not just his mother and father's traits but also his grandfather's.
"My grandfather, Charlus was notorious for investing in businesses," Potter said when asked of his impetus to invest. "Those investments have made Diagon Alley what it is today. My mother also made some investment suggestions with the goblins that have paid off immensely and got me thinking of finding different places to invest. I've seen the work the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes have been doing since my first year and last year I noticed the products Lavender Petal developed. I just knew they both were driven and on the path of something special. Helping them to achieve their dreams felt like the right thing to do."
We have lived for 13 years with the legend of the Boy Who Lived and yet, the real Harry Potter is special beyond just simply surviving a curse. He is the catalyst to making dreams becoming reality. As for myself, I cannot wait to see what happens when Harry becomes an adult. Something tells me that the best is yet to come.
"That's an excellent article," Helen said, noticing Harry was blushing. "You really should be proud of yourself, Harry."
"Oh it's nothing," Harry shrugged.
"It's not nothing," Helen said. "Not to Fred and George, not to Lavender and Parvati and certainly not to us. You've changed our lives, Harry, to the point where Richard and I are considering selling our practice and directing that energy toward working more on investments."
"I didn't know that," Harry was awed. "I'm just grateful. I spent so many nights lying in my cupboard, dreaming of a different world. I half expect to wake up tomorrow back in that cupboard."
"You're here," Hermione grabbed his hand. "You're family."
"And you're going to be late," Sirius said, looking at his watch. "Hurry up and finish. We leave in 20 minutes.
The group finished their breakfast before apparating to a quiet part of Kings Cross. Checking their trunks were properly shrunk and stowed in their pockets, they shouldered their rucksacks and prepared to walk toward the platform. Just in case anyone was watching, they kept the Grangers out of sight. Vinny bade them goodbye and went toward the platform to find Greg.
"Have a wonderful term, Winter," Helen hugged her daughter tightly. "We'll see you at Christmas."
"Love you, mum," Hermione squeezed harder. Next to them, Richard was hugging Harry.
"You've grown so much since the first time we met," Richard cupped Harry's face. "You've done everything I asked and more. Thank you."
"Everything I've given," Harry replied. "I've received back tenfold."
"Have a good term, you two," Helen pulled Harry into a hug reminiscent of her daughter in its tightness. "It's getting close to the time."
"Have a good term, pup," Sirius said. "Keep your wits about you. Albus told me he's hired Moody to teach so he's reading the signs. If anything happens or you notice anything, go straight to Minerva or Dumbledore, okay?"
"Yessir," Harry gave Sirius a cheeky salute.
"And there's James," Sirius laughed. "I'll be in touch."
Once on the platform, Harry and Hermione claimed their usual compartment. Harry kept the door open and Hermione let Crookshanks out of his carrier. While the group was testing the limits of the compartment's ability to magically expand, two blondes were saying their goodbyes on the platform.
"Do you have everything, Draco?" Narcissa looked at her son. Though the summer had been hard, the work looked like it paid off. Draco was standing taller and his air of arrogance was greatly diminished. He still looked like an aristocrat but gone was the sniveling sneer that adorned his face.
"Yes, mother," Draco looked right back at his mum. "All my bags are aboard. I'm in the compartment with Pansy and Theo. I am ready."
"Have a good term," Narcissa brought Draco into a hug. While he fought it at first, his arms came around his mother to give her a small squeeze. "You've put in a lot of work this summer. Now go show them what it truly means to be a Slytherin."
"Cautious and ambitious," Draco nodded. "Let your enemies fall into the trap and then decide to offer them a hand or a knife. I remember your teachings."
"Exactly," Lady Malfoy smiled at her boy. "Whatever will help you the most, use it and if you're going to use the knife, don't let it be traced back to you. I know you'll do great things. Hopefully I'll see you for Christmas but with dress robes on your list, I highly doubt it. I will see you for Easter."
Narcissa held her son tighter, making the most of the last hug she'd receive from him for many months.
"I love you, Dragon," Narcissa whispered loud enough for only him to hear.
"Love you too, mum," Draco muttered before pulling back. With his back straight, he turned and walked onto the train, never looking back no matter how much he wished to.
Once into the compartment, Draco went to comfort a withdrawn Pansy.
"I'm sorry about your father," Draco said.
"I'm sure you are," Pansy spat. "Your dad is still alive so how could you know what I'm going through?"
"I didn't say I did," Draco said. "I simply wished to convey my apologies that you are."
"When I learn who the blood traitor was who deflected that spell into his face," Pansy lifted her head to glare at the other boys in the compartment. "They will experience his pain for themselves."
Further down the train, Hermione was walking back from the loo when a nearly-empty compartment caught her eye. Inside was a disheveled head of dirty blonde hair whose owner looked extraordinarily sad from just a glance. Hermione recognized it as her other dormmate, the constantly-aloof Fay Dunbar. At Hermione's knock, Fay looked up with sad eyes.
"Hey Fay," Hermione said gently.
"Hermione," Fay said in an expressionless, monotone voice. "How was your summer?"
"It was eventful," Hermione said. "I'm sorry to bother you. Are you okay? You look sad."
"Bother me?" Fay spat. "The great, intelligent, beautiful and popular Hermione Granger is worried about bothering me? Oh how nice. No you're not bothering me. Come on in, take a seat. Can I get you tea? Maybe a Pumpkin Pastie?"
"Did I do something wrong?" Hermione asked, taken aback by Fay's forceful tone.
"Wrong?" Fay started crying again. "No, you haven't done anything wrong. Just like my father didn't do anything wrong. No he just fell dick-first into his Auror partner. Apparently my mum and I were just too boring for him. Poor, aloof Fay isn't interesting enough for her dad to give her the time of day."
Fay collapsed in fresh set of sobs.
"I'm sorry," Hermione shook off her shock and found her voice. "I'm sure it sucks but it's not your fault."
"But I mean he's right, isn't he?" Fay wiped a few tears from her eyes. "I mean even at school I'm just the boring, aloof girl. I'm always on the outside looking in."
"We have tried to engage with you," Hermione cautiously sat next to her dormmate. "You always say thank you and decline unless it's in the dorm. I'm sorry you feel excluded, especially since that was my life before Hogwarts. I promise I'll do a better job of reaching out. It's not your fault, it is mine and I am sorry."
"You're fine," Fay waved the comment away. "I'm sorry for dumping all that. Things at home haven't been great for years. I guess now I know why."
"It's not your fault," Hermione said, simply. At her words, Fay looked in her eyes for the first time, almost pleading Hermione to speak again. "It's not your fault."
Fay's lip quivered and she leaned forward and let herself be enveloped in Hermione's arms as Hermione repeated the same phrase over and over again until the girl calmed down.
"Thank you," Fay whispered.
"Would you like to come back and join us in our compartment?" Hermione offered.
"I think I would like that," Fay said. "It'd be nice to spend at least part of my birthday with other people."
"Your…" Hermione spoke her thoughts aloud. "Oh Merlin, we don't know about you, do we? Today is your birthday, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Fay admitted as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Kind of a crappy day for a birthday, huh? Spend it on a train."
"At least you get a feast for your birthday dinner," Hermione said. "That has to be pretty nice, right?"
"That's fair," Fay said. "But they never have Knickerbocker Glory for dessert, which is my favorite."
"Oh really?" Hermione noticed Winky had silently popped in and was listening. At a glance, Winky nodded and popped back out. "Come on, Harry and the others are undoubtedly wondering where I've gone to."
Fay quickly wiped away the last of her tears and followed Hermione out of the compartment. As they neared their destination, Hermione found their way blocked by the one redhead they didn't want to see.
"What's the matter, Potter," Ron spat. "Did you get tired of the beaver? Are you ready to move on to someone more attractive? Looks like you've got your pick of the litter. Lavender, Parvati and even the Bones Bust are all present. Hell even Loony would be better; she looks like a fun shag. I've heard a broken household brings out the kinky in a witch."
"Not that you'll ever know," Fay announced her presence as his comment hit her especially hard. "Tell me Weasley, are you afraid of water or have you just assumed cleaning charms are good enough to cover up your loathsome odor?"
Ron spun at the new voice.
"Dunbar?" Ron sneered. "Thought you were smart enough to stay clear of this lot. Thought of even asking you out once we got back up to school."
"Darn," Fay rolled her eyes. "All those minutes I was alone in my compartment, I could have had your… company. How terrible that I've missed out. Now move along, Weasley. You're blocking the door, among other things."
Ron pushed past her and muttered something along the lines of 'bitch' while Hermione turned her head sharply away, as her eyes started to water. Fay wasn't kidding about the cleaning charms. Hermione slid into the carriage where Lavender was spraying perfume into the air.
"There you are," Parvati said. "We were beginning to think you'd fallen in."
"I met up with Fay on the way," Hermione said, simply. "She was sitting by herself so I invited her to join us."
"How was your summer," Lavender asked without looking at the other blonde.
"Fay had a kind of rough summer," Hermione said. "I won't go into it but I also discovered that today is her birthday."
"All these years sharing a dorm and we never knew?" Parvati looked aghast. "I feel terrible; we never asked."
"To be fair," Fay said with a small smile. "I don't know when either of your birthdays are. I know Hermione's thanks to Harry's flower deliveries and such but not yours. Guess we've all done a botch job."
"Well for the record," Lavender held her hand up. "February 20."
"March 24," Parvati said.
"January 7," Susan said.
"Same," Dean said, excitedly.
"November 13," Hannah offered next.
"February 13," Luna stated.
"August 11," Ginny said.
"July 30 and 31," Everyone said when Neville and Harry were about to speak. "Everyone knows by now."
This set off a chain reaction of laughter through the compartment.
"Well since it is your birthday," Lavender dug into her pack and pulled out a basket of their products. "For you."
"Thank you," Fay beamed.
"Hmm…" Susan pursed her lips. "That's good but that just won't do. Mippy!"
The Bones' elf popped in and bowed. Susan whispered in her ear. The elf disappeared and reappeared with a wrapped package. Harry did the same with Dobby and Hermione whispered to Winky as well. The others simply got her something from the trolly.
"This is wonderful," Fay looked at the wrapped gifts. "Thank you, all."
"Happy birthday," they cheered loudly as Fay unwrapped her gift from Susan, an old-looking book.
"It's one of auntie's books on Defense Against the Dark Arts," Susan said. "It's from her first year. It was the first book that got her to choose her career. You once told me at the D.A. that you wanted to explore being an Auror."
"Thank you," Fay caressed the book. "Your aunt won't miss it?"
"No," Susan smiled. "She knowns the book by heart and would love to see it inspire someone else the way she was."
After the book, the Longbottom elf popped in with a small pot of flowers.
"They're a creation of my own, after my godmother," Neville nodded toward Harry. "They are Everlasting Lilies. Put them on your bedside and they won't wither or fade the whole year."
"Thank you, Neville," Fay took the vase and inhaled the pleasant aroma.
Next, Fay opened the gift Dobby brought, a wand holster. When Fay put it aside, Winky snapped her fingers and a table appeared with a collection of sandwiches and drinks.
"To Fay," Hermione held her goblet aloft. "Happy birthday!"
"To Fay!" Everyone said.
With everyone around, celebrating her birthday, Fay couldn't stop tears of happiness from bubbling in her eyes. She pulled her wand and cast.
"Expecto Patronum," she said and a corporeal mongoose came out of her wand. "I did it! I never did it before but I did it!"
"Of course it's a mongoose," Lavender said. "Small creature, looks cute but has some nasty claws you don't want to face."
"Nice one," Cedric's voice came from the corridor. "I've seen you around but we've never been properly introduced."
"Fay Dunbar," Fay blushed while extending her hand. Cedric smiled as he kissed the top of her hand.
"Charmed," Cedric smiled at her, making her blush deeper. Cedric straightened to address everyone else. "Just doing my rounds and wanted to say hi. Can't wait for the new season, Harry. Been working all summer to devise ways to beat you. Though new I'm curious how you fit so many in here. From the corridor, it looks fine but when you open the door, it looks distorted."
"It expands to fit everyone, we have found," Harry said. "Hopefully we won't have to wait long to play; I'm looking forward to the next match."
The rest of the journey went smoothly, filled with conversation and laughter while the weather outside turned grey and dull. Rain hammered at the windows as the train came to a stop. Winky promised to deliver Fay's gifts to her dorm while everyone changed into their robes.
On the platform, Harry conjured an umbrella big enough for himself and Hermione. Luna, not a huge fan of rain- only rain-soaked lawns- squeezed in close to the duo as they walked toward the carriages.
"Oi Harry!" Neville called out. "Think you can hook a brother up?"
Neville, who still struggled with transfiguration, held up his umbrella with holes in it. Hannah was looking out at the rain with a displeased look.
"I'll help you," Luna said. She conjured a yellow umbrella with pink polka dots on it. "Better?"
"Didn't realize you can do conjuration," Hermione said.
"I've listened while you all study," Luna said in her usual airy tone. "It seems rather simple, honestly."
"So you could do this but you still squeezed under ours?"
"Well," Luna smirked. "I wasn't sure how good it would be and I figured Harry's body would be a more effective block than an umbrella."
"You're a riot," Harry rolled his eyes.
"Cheers, Luna," Neville said as he walked up toward the carriages with Hannah pressed closely into his side. Susan, Lavender and Parvati all squeezed under another umbrella that Susan conjured. Most of the students seemed to have the same idea. Cedric and the other prefects took to conjuring umbrellas for those who had yet to learn how to do it.
"May I escort you up to the castle?" Cedric said as he approached Fay.
"Thank you, sir," Fay tucked her arm into his elbow and they walked up to the castle together.
Once the carriages arrived, Harry stepped out with this umbrella and extended his hand to help Hermione and Luna down. Once they crossed the threshold in the castle, Harry vanished his umbrella and subsequently wished he hadn't. A cascade of water descended from his head, soaking his hair and the top of his robes. Harry flicked his hair back from his eyes to see Peeves floating just below the ceiling, pelting students with water balloons. Luna's hair was as soaked as his, lying flat on her shoulders. Hermione avoided any water by quickly conjuring an umbrella.
"Nu-uh," Hermione said. "I'm not letting your make my hair a worse nightmare than it already is."
Balloons bounced off her umbrella and splashed onto the floor.
"PEEVES," McGonagall's voice echoed through the entry hall. She came running up and misjudged just how wet the floor was. Instead of coming to a stop, she slipped on the water and slid across the hall, grabbing Hermione roughly around the neck to keep from falling. "Sorry Miss Granger."
"No problem," Hermione squeaked while McGonagall still slipped on the wet floor. Harry pulled his wand and dried the floor to allow her to regain her footing.
"10 points for that, Mr. Potter," McGonagall smoothed her robes and stood to her full height. "Come down here this instant, Peeves!"
"I wasn't doin' nuthin'" the poltergeist dropped all his remaining balloons. "They was wet already."
Peeve blew a raspberry and flew away. Harry flicked his wand and turned the water balloons into pillows which fell harmlessly to the floor. Except he didn't change the water so when they hit, they still leaked water onto the floor.
"Close, Harry," Hermione pulled her wand and vanished the water.
"Indeed," McGonagall said as she glared the way Peeves flew. "Now if you would please continue to the Great Hall."
The kids separated to sit at their house tables. Harry sat down and immediately started shivering.
"Honestly," Hermione cast a drying charm to dry his hair and robes as Luna did the same to herself. "Are you a wizard or aren't you?"
"Not as good as you," Harry said, cheekily. "And I wanted to be warm."
"Good answer," Hermione smiled as she kissed him. "You're lucky I love you. Otherwise I'd leave you like Ron."
Ron and Seamus sat further down the table. Ron's hair was covering his eyes and his entire body was drenched.
"Guess he's not afraid of water," Fay said as she plopped down across from them, a faint smile on her face.
"Now we just need to introduce him to soap," Harry said.
Their laughter halted when Professor McGonagall led a contingent of small students in. A few tripped over themselves and their classmates as they took in the grandeur of the hall. Harry watched a little girl with auburn hair studying the hall carefully. Her grey eyes were alight with curiosity and passion. She leaned into the boy next to her and said something. Harry strained his ears to hear.
"-To show the weather outside," the girl said. "I read it in Hogwarts: A History."
Harry smiled in remembrance. As if sensing his gaze, she looked around and saw Harry looking at her. Harry smiled and waved, making the girl blush and turn away.
"Something funny?" Hermione whispered to Harry.
"She reminds me of you," Harry gestured toward the girl. "It brought me back to our first sorting four years ago. Feels like ages and yet also like it was yesterday."
"Quite the paradox," Hermione laughed while McGonagall placed a hat on the stool and unrolled a scroll to start calling names. A few students came and were sorted. Harry lost focus until she called a specific name, causing Harry to look down the bench.
"Creevey, Dennis," McGonagall called out. A small boy with blonde hair stumbled forward. His hair was sopping wet and he was tripping on Hagrid's overly large coat. With help from McGonagall he sat on the stool and had the hat dropped over his eyes. The hat was silent for a moment and every was eye was on Dennis. Every eye except Harry who instead watched Colin. Harry was surprised Colin's eyes weren't burning a hole through the hat.
"What a unique one indeed," the hat spoke aloud. Usually, its message was internalized but this time the hat spoke aloud. "Knowledge and loyalty. Passion and drive. So many places to go but above all, I think you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"
The red table erupted in cheers, the loudest among them being Colin. Dennis removed the hat, walked up to the staff table to hand Hagrid his coat back and sprinted the table where Colin waited to greet his brother and housemate.
"I did it!" Dennis shouted. "I got into Gryffindor, just like you!"
"Congratulations!" Colin slapped him on the back as the hall calmed down for the next person. Colin pulled back his hand when Dennis' robes squished against his hand.
"I fell in the lake!" Dennis said excitedly as he sat at the table. "I felt something grab me and put me back in the boat. Hagrid told me it was the Giant Squid. Isn't that fascinating!
Colin laughed at his brother's story as Dennis looked up and down the table with a wide smile on his face. When he reached Harry, his eyes widened in recognition. Harry smiled and waved at the boy and turned his attention back to the ongoing sorting where the girl he spotted was called.
"Mulligan, Nancy," McGonagall called and the auburn-haired girl strode quickly up. Almost immediately after the hat passed over her eyes, it shouted.
"RAVENCLAW," The blue table welcomed their new housemate. Nancy sat down and the previously sorted Claws scooted away from her. On and on the sorting went but Harry kept gazing at the girl. None of her other housemates engaged with her despite her many attempts to engage with them yet, despite the failures, she was undeterred in her efforts.
After the sorting, the plates and goblets filled themselves and the Opening Feast commenced. Everything went as normal until dessert when a glass appeared in front of Fay.
"No way!" She beamed at Hermione. "How did you get them to make a Knickerbocker Glory!?"
"I put in a special request to very special elf," Hermione returned her smile. "Happy birthday and here's to new beginnings."
"Thank you," Fay's smile couldn't be peeled off her face if you took a scalpel to it. As Fay was finishing her birthday treat, Dumbledore stood.
"To all of our new students, welcome," Dumbledore smiled congenially toward the young faces staring up at him. "And to our returning students, welcome back. Before you are dismissed to your dorms. Before that happy moment, I have a few announcements to get out of the way."
Before Dumbledore could begin his announcements, lightning flashed across the ceiling and the doors burst open. The candles flickered and more bolts of lightning flashed overhead. In the doorway was a large figure with one glowing eye. The figure shrugged and stumped his way toward the staff table, his wooden leg making a loud thunk with every time its gnarled foot hit the stones lining the Great Hall.
"May I introduce Professor Moody," Dumbledore said. "Our new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"That the guy your da' talked 'bout?" Harry heard Seamus ask Ron.
"Dad said he was a legend during the war," Ron replied. "Said he's gone around the bend since he was forced to retire. Peace didn't agree with him."
Up at the teachers' table, Dumbledore greeted Moody.
"Good to see you, Moody," Dumbledore. "Such a shame we couldn't grab tea."
"Tea is for those who don't like whisky," Moody replied, smirking a little.
"And whisky is a poor substitute for the bean," Dumbledore smiled back at Moody passing the test he insisted upon. "Though I am surprised you are late. The portkey didn't work?"
"A portkey is a great way to capture and kill someone," Moody replied. "I took my broom up. Slower but safer."
"As you wish," Dumbledore gestured toward the empty chair. "Please take your seat. And have some of the beef."
"No thanks," Moody gruffed. "Bring me one of those chickens."
"Do you have money?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not a knut," Moody smirked at the headmaster for following protocol. "And I I'll take two chickens."
"As you were," Dumbledore finished the conversation and stood taller. "As I was saying. Welcome back. Everyone knows the rules of the prohibited items. For those who are not aware, they are posted in your common rooms. On to the main announcement: the Quidditch Cup will not be held this year."
For the first time in his time addressing the student body, the students shouted over the top of the headmaster, some of their shouting quite vulgar. Dumbledore held up his hands and quieted the body.
"Instead Hogwarts will be playing host to an event not held in over a hundred years. At the beginning of October, students from the schools of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will be arriving to participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament."
An excited murmur passed through the crowd. Everyone turned and engaged their neighbor in conversation, it seemed. Dumbledore cleared his throat and called attention back to himself.
"Yes and as exciting as it is, there are a few pieces of information that I must impart. One, you are expected to represent your house and your school with dignity and pride. These students are our guests; anyone caught making them feel… unwelcome… will be met with strict punishment. Treat them as you would a guest in your own home. Second, to offset the death toll-"
"Death toll?" Hermione spoke for the first time. Her head whipped around to Harry's eyes. In that moment, they both knew what this meant for them both. She grabbed Harry's hand and held it tightly she focused back in on Dumbledore.
"-that is to say students who are not of-age by October 1, when our guests arrive, will not be eligible to enter. For now, that will do it. Off to bed with you all, pip pip."
That night, after paying special attention to his Occlumency exercises, Harry laid down to sleep. Meanwhile, back in London, four figures were conversing.
"Is everything ready?" a hissing voice asked.
"Yes," the smaller of the three kneeling figures said. "I snuck in through an old secret passage and stole one of his old assignments and passed it along."
"The goblet has been on display in the Ministry for the past week," the middle figure said. "I used my invisibility cloak to drop the slip in. The goblet has been confudused to spit that one out after all the others."
"And I have contacted Nott," the tallest said. "Even with our losses, one killed and four imprisoned, we are ready to act when the time comes. He has intimated to his son what will be required of him. By June, Potter will be alone and friendless, the world convinced he's a cheat looking for more fame. First his reputation will die and then he will die like the whelp he is."
"Excellent," the hissing voice sounded pleased. "You have all done well. Now we will have to wait. All three of you have your tasks. You have done well to this point. Don't disappoint me."
The three bowed to the ground as a large snake slithered around them.
(A/N: I searched for Fay's birthday and one search came up for April but it wasn't solid enough that I felt bad changing it if that was indeed true. Just thinking of a Hogwarts student having a birthday on Sept 1 sounds rough. You get to spend your birthday on a train, heading toward school? Yay. At least you get a feast though, right?
I googled British sweets and the list I came across listed Knickerbocker Glory which I thought looked simply delectable.
Nancy Mulligan is the title of an Ed Sheeran song but I just love the way the name rolls off the tongue.
The Moody test included a Game of Thrones reference from the Hound.
Last, I love Queen Hedwig getting upset at other owls delivering something to Harry. I absolutely love when she gets territorial when it comes to Harry (and Hermione, though she tolerates Tybalt.)
Next chapter we will get to meet the team of Aurors Sirius will be training.)