FIC: Inevitable 47: It's in the Blood
Jan. 22nd, 2006 07:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mhalachaiInevitable Forty-Seven: It's in the Blood
by Mhalachai
Note: The HBP love continues... :) Much thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cissasghost for her help on the beta.
~~~~~~~
Harry opened his eyes suddenly. He sat up on the bed and looked around his dorm room. What had woken him?
The room was quiet, with the sounds of four sleeping boys breathing. Harry quickly slipped on his glasses, then slid to the floor. He'd fallen asleep wrapped up in Ginny's blanket, which he now pulled tight around his shoulders. His bare feet made no noise on the cold stone tiles as he walked to the window and looked outside.
The sky was dark, with the faintest shade of red imaginable creeping up over the hills in the east. Almost sunrise, Harry thought with a thrill. The day was about to begin, and he was here to see it.
Most of the few times Harry watched the sunrise in St. Louis, he had been up for the whole night. It was exciting and new to be seeing it from this side of sleep. Entranced, Harry leaned against the window sill as the sky bled to red, then pinks and purples as the day dawned.
Hogwarts and its ground were quiet so early in the morning. A glance at the clock revealed that there was a few hours before breakfast. Maybe I can go for a run, he thought, latching on to the ache in his limbs. But where?
Harry looked back out the window. A thin plume of smoke rose from the chimney at Hagrid's hut, and Harry could see Hagrid moving around outside. I'll go see Hagrid! I haven't seen him in ages!
As quietly as he could, Harry padded back to his bed, and dropped Ginny's blanket on top of the pillows. He hadn't bothered to move his suitcase off the bed the night before, just curling up around it when he finally stumbled onto the mattress. Soundlessly, Harry raised the suitcase lid and groped around in the dim light for his sweats and a t-shirt.
Dressing didn't take long. None of the other boys were awake when Harry crept out of the room, his trainers in one hand and his school bag in the other. He'd shoved his school robes and a change of socks into his bag, in case he didn't get a chance to run back up to Gryffindor tower before breakfast.
Lacing up his trainers only took a few seconds. The Fat Lady was surprised to see him so early, and admonished him not to get into any trouble. It was her job to keep an eye on the students, but Harry was only going for a run, and didn't need anyone spying on him.
Harry was used to the halls of Hogwarts during the day, or at night, when there was still movement and action. So early, the place felt surreal, like everything had been frozen by a spell. Colours were brighter, sharper, than normal. Harry walked the halls staring at everything, as fascinated as a first year.
The main doors to the school were unlocked. Harry suspected that Filch was up and around, but so far Harry hadn't seen a hint of the caretaker or his cat, Mrs. Norris. The day was looking up. Harry slipped through the doors and down the stone steps. The air still held the crispness of night as Harry jogged down to Hagrid's hut.
The half-giant was outside, filling a large trough with water. He looked up as Harry approached. "Morning!" Harry called with a wave.
Hagrid waved back. "What're you doin' up so early, Harry?" Hagrid asked, his face beaming with a confused smile.
"I just wanted to get outside," Harry said, dropping his bag to the stone steps of the hut. "What are you doing? Can I help?"
Hagrid chuckled. "Sure, I'm just about ter tend the pumpkin patch, then go feed Buck-- I mean, Witherwings." He looked around nervously. "You know who I mean."
Harry nodded, hiding a rueful smile. After Sirius died, Hagrid had taken in Buckbeak the hippogriff, and had taken to calling him Witherwings. So far, no one at the school seemed to know that Hagrid was keeping the hippogriff in the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Then Harry remembered what else Hagrid was hiding in the Forest.
"How's Grawp?"
Hagrid went back to sloshing great bucketfuls of water into the trough. "He's great!" Hagrid said with enthusiasm. "Learnin' new words every day. Strong, too!"
"I remember," Harry grumbled.
"Right, then." Hagrid set down his bucket. "You get that there box, and we'll head right out."
"This one?" Harry asked, pointing at a small wooden crate near the water trough. He leaned over to pick it up, and almost fell over. The box was a lot heavier than it looked. "Hagrid, what's in this?" he asked as he gritted his teeth and lifted it up.
"It's new garden meal..." Hagrid's voice trailed off. Harry glanced up, and saw Hagrid frowning at him. "I thought you was goin' to use magic."
"I got it," Harry said, blowing a wisp of hair out of his eyes. He tightened his grip around the bottom of the box. "Shall we?"
Hagrid shook himself. "Sure. Got a lot of work before breakfast!"
"How was your summer?" Harry asked as he followed Hagrid's broad back around the water trough to the pumpkin patch near the fence. The pumpkins were small, about the size of water balloons. They had a lot of growing to do before the Halloween feast.
"Summer was good," Hagrid said. He pointed at a spot near the fence. "You can put it there, that crate."
"Right." Harry staggered over to the fence and set down the box. "What kind of fertilizer is that?"
"Concentrate," Hagrid said, picking up a giant rake. "Twice as heavy."
"I'm not sure it works like that," Harry said with a frown, but Hagrid wasn't listening.
"Twice as good. Dumbledore wanted the pumpkins extra big this year, he said. Big year, he's got planned."
"What do you mean?" Harry pressed, climbing up on the fence as Hagrid began to vigorously apply the fertilizer to the garden. Harry could have sworn that the tiny pumpkins quivered as Hagrid worked.
"Can't talk about it, now can I?" Hagrid said practically. "But lots to do this year, lots to learn." He paused in his work and looked up at Harry. "You still in my class this year?"
Harry nodded. "Wouldn't miss it," he promised. Truthfully, he'd been considering dropping the Care of Magical Creatures class after the bloody disaster the previous year with the wyverns, but he couldn't drop a class without risking McGonagall's wrath. Besides, if Ron really did drop Defence Against the Dark Arts, then he couldn't drop Care of Magical Creatures, and Harry wouldn't leave Ron alone in the class, no matter how annoyed he was with his friend at the moment.
Hagrid grinned so widely that his eyes crinkled. "Knew you wouldn't leave my class. Yer the best student I have!" He went back to his gardening before Harry could think of anything to say to that. "Great things planned, this year."
That pronouncement filled Harry with great dread, and he shoved it down. He'd deal with whatever dangerous creature Hagrid had planned without losing any limbs, he hoped. He had more important things to worry about. "Anything happening with Voldemort this summer?" Harry blurted out.
Hagrid jerked back, showering dirt all over Harry. "Don't do that!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Sayin' his name!"
"Hagrid!"
"Alrigh'!" Hagrid set back to his raking, not looking at Harry. "The Dementors tried to break a bunch o' Death Eaters outta Azkaban, in July, but nothing came of it. Then everything got quiet, really quiet."
"In the first week of August?" Harry guessed.
"Yeah. How'd you know?" Hagrid asked.
Harry's head was racing. That was the time when Bellatrix Lestrange had been in North American, killing Nigel Spencer. What if she wasn't the only Death Eater wandering the globe, seeking out past revenge?
"But Dumbledore thinks things will get busy again, soon," Hagrid continued. "Better prepare now."
"Great." Harry picked at the weather-worn wood of the post with his thumbnail. "Is that why he put Snape in as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" He wasn't able to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
Hagrid stopped his work and leaned on his rake. "Professor Snape," Hagrid said, stressing the title, "Is the best choice Dumbledore had this year. You'll learn lots from him."
Like how to get hexed six ways from Sunday?
"'Sides," Hagrid continued, "Professor Slughorn is a right good teacher, too. He was my potions professor, back when I was a student here."
"So why's he back now?"
Hagrid gave the pumpkin patch one final rake. "He's a master potions brewer," he muttered. "Safer for him here, what with Voldemort out there."
Harry frowned. "Wait." Hagrid picked up the rake and the empty crate and started back towards his hut. "Hagrid, if Slughorn was your potions teacher... how long was he here?"
"Oh, lotsa years," Hagrid said. "He was here before I started me firs' year. Was here for about a decade after I was expelled."
Harry's mind was racing. That meant Slughorn had also taught potions to Tom Riddle, who later became Voldemort. And now he was hiding from Death Eaters? Why? Did Slughorn know something about Voldemort?
Harry's steps slowed as something occurred to him. What if Slughorn was like Nigel Spencer? What if a Death Eater had tried to kill Slughorn, too, like Bellatrix had killed Nigel Spencer? What if that was why he was at Hogwarts? But what on earth could make Voldemort send his Death Eaters around the globe to kill off wizards?
"Come on, Harry!" Hagrid called. "Still want to go see Witherwings?"
Harry blinked. "Uh, yeah," he said, trying to wrap his head around all of his thoughts. He'd ask Dumbledore about Slughorn that night, after dinner.
"Well, hurry up, then," Hagrid said. "Otherwise, you'll miss breakfast." Hagrid dropped the rake and the empty crate by the steps, then opened the door to his hut. Out of the door erupted a large black boarhound. "Fang!"
Fang, Hagrid's dog, paid him no mind, and raced down the path to Harry. The dog lumbered to a stop and set his paws firmly on the path, glaring up at Harry.
"Fang!" Hagrid called. "Sorry, Harry, don't know what's got into him."
"It's okay," Harry said. He put his hands out in front of him, so the glowering dog could smell him. "It's just me, Fang, just Harry." He kept eye contact with the dog. He thinks I'm a strange wolf! Harry realized with a shock. Fang was trying to assert his dominance. Well, I guess it is his house.
Harry took another step forward, stretching out his hand so it was next to Fang's mouth. The dog looked suspiciously at it, then gave him a tiny lick. The tiny lick turned into a big slobbery tongue-bath, while Fang leaned his body against Harry's legs.
"That's right," Harry said, relived. He rubbed Fang's head with his free hand, then patted him firmly on the side. "It's just me."
Soon, Fang stopped drooling on Harry and rambled back to the hut. After Harry wiped his hand on the grass, he looked up, to see Hagrid staring at him. "Ain't never seen him do that before," he muttered. "You been around other dogs all summer?"
"Something like that," Harry said, smiling weakly.
Hagrid shrugged it off, although Harry suspected with a sinking heart that he wouldn't forget. "We should get going."
Harry walked with Hagrid, who was swinging a whole line of dead ferrets, toward the Forbidden Forest. They talked about unimportant things for about ten minutes, until Hagrid stopped suddenly and smacked his forehead with his hand. "What?" Harry asked.
"I forgot his tonic!" Hagrid exclaimed. "He's a bit under the weather."
"I'll get it," Harry said. "Where is it?"
"Top shelf of the cabinet," Hagrid called, as Harry was already running up the hill.
His muscles burned at first, but as Harry got to the top of the hill, his legs got their strength back, and he just took off. The trees flashed by, as he ducked around trees and over roots and rocks. The beast in his chest rumbled with satisfaction as he jumped over a tiny stream, landing lightly on the opposite bank.
Too soon, Hagrid's hut came into view. Harry ran up the steps to the hut and opened the door before he slowed down. Hagrid's hut looked the same as always, cluttered and rustic. Fang looked up from his blanket in the corner at Harry's entrance.
Harry found the tonic, gave Fang a pat, and tore out of the hut. His run back was slower, to let him enjoy the way the forest floor felt under his feet. Before, when Harry had been in the forest, it had always seemed dark and forbidding. Now, things looked clear and crisp and right.
Hagrid was leaning up against a rock, right where Harry had left him. "That didn't take you long at all," Hagrid said when Harry ran up to him, panting.
"I've been running a lot over the summer," Harry said, handing Hagrid the tonic.
"What else did you get up to in St. Louis?" Hagrid asked, pouring a healthy potion of tonic into the mouth of one dead ferret. "Never been there."
"All kinds of things," Harry said. "It was fun." He was about to say more, to explain about Nathaniel and Jason and Anita, when he realized that they were not alone. He turned slowly, as the creature stepped out of the shadows and into a patch of sunlight.
Buckbeak, the hippogriff, stood in the sunshine, his head high. He glared haughtily down at Harry. Never breaking eye contact with the creature, Harry bowed deeply. After a nerve-wracking couple of seconds, Buckbeak blinked, and bowed his head.
"See? Of course he remembers you," Hagrid said happily. He threw the medicated ferret to the hippogriff. "He'll be back up to snuff in no time at all."
"Good," Harry said, sitting against a log. He watched as the animal tore into its bloody meal, and felt his stomach rumble. Deciding that it was not the time to wonder why raw bloody meat was sparking his hunger, he deliberately turned away and said to Hagrid, "Where are we going to be having class this year?"
"Oh, all over," Hagrid said, throwing Buckbeak another ferret. "Now, let's see. Seventh years have a class this afternoon, right?"
"Professor McGonagall will hand out the schedules at breakfast today, I don't know yet."
"I think you do." Hagrid watched Buckbeak lick a bit of blood of his front talons. "We're in Greenhouse Four. Movin' around a lot, it's all part of the plan."
"How's that?" Harry asked immediately.
Hagrid gave Harry a look. "You'll find out later, same as everybody else."
It was worth a try. "I should get going. I've got to be at breakfast," Harry said, standing up.
Hagrid lumbered to his feet. "I'll go with you," he offered, throwing the last ferret to Buckbeak. "Got lots to prepare for the third years."
"Like what?" Harry asked, unable to not look at Buckbeak one last time. After all, Hagrid's idea of a good introductory class in Harry's third year had involved the hippogriff.
"Unicorns!" Hagrid declared. "Kids love 'em. And they tend to like the younger kids, really."
Harry lopped along at Hagrid's side as they walked out of the forest. "How much of the muggle fairy tales true, about unicorns?" Harry asked.
"What do those say?"
"You know, that only a virgin can touch a unicorn," Harry said. He hoped the shade from the trees was enough to hide his sudden blush.
"Nah, that's rubbish," Hagrid said decisively. "But unicorns, see, they can feel what yer intending. The pure a' heart have a better chance at touchin' 'em."
"So, the third years might be better at it than we did in fifth?"
Hagrid snorted. "Ain't a lot of difference between thirteen and fifteen, not to a unicorn," he said. "You lot have nothing to worry about."
Maybe not to a normal person, but I wonder how a unicorn would react to me now? Harry wondered. If Hedwig and Fang reacted badly to me, then how could a unicorn be any different?
"Come on, now," Hagrid said, seemingly oblivious to Harry's inner turmoil. "You don't want to be late, do you?"
"Suppose not."
Hagrid snorted, clapping a heavy hand on Harry's shoulder and sending him staggering. "Don't sound so gloomy. What could go wrong on yer firs' day back?"
~*~
Even taking a bit of time to change his socks and perform a quick cleaning spell on himself, Harry got to the Gryffindor table before anyone else, except for a couple of extremely alert first years. The two identical girls, twins whose names escaped Harry, reminded him so much of Hermione at that age that Harry had to hide his grin with a cup of tea.
While he was waiting for the food to appear, Harry dug out of his bag one of the books that Elsa had made him buy, the day before. Without knowing his schedule yet, he couldn't start any class reading, and the knowledge that Snape was going to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor had already sucked any joy out of that subject for Harry.
Harry barely had time to get through the book's introduction, which cast vampires in such a romantic air that Harry suspected Elsa was just having him on, when Seamus and Neville dropped to the table. "Reading already?" Seamus said, shaking his head.
"Why are you down here to early?" Harry asked, stowing the book in his bag. The previous year, Seamus hadn't made it to breakfast more than handful of days, as he'd slept until the very last moment before classes.
Neville and Seamus exchanged a look. "Ron's not exactly happy," Neville said, rubbing his chin.
"Like a bear with a sore head," Seamus clarified, as the food appeared on the table. Seamus set about applying himself to the sausages, putting Ron's mood behind him.
Harry didn't find it as easy to eat. Why was Ron angry? It couldn't have had anything to do with the Quidditch captain thing from the previous night, could it? He shook his head, and helped himself to some eggs. Whatever Ron's problem was, he'd figure it out later.
Hermione arrived a few minutes after Seamus and Neville, looking flustered. "I can't believe I slept in!" she hissed as she sat down beside Harry. "I'm so far behind already!"
"Behind on what?" Harry asked, his mouth full. He swallowed with a sip of tea, then said, "You haven't had any classes yet, how can you be behind?"
Hermione shook her head so hard that her hair whipped Harry in the face. "Not classes, my duties as Head Girl!" She didn't notice as Harry slipped some eggs and fruit to her plate. "I have to meet with the prefects, and the Head Boy, and ensure that everything is ready for this year--"
"All of which requires to you to eat," Harry interrupted. He poured her a cup of tea. "Food will make you feel better."
"You can talk, you've been up for hours!" Hermione said, looking over as Ginny and Lavender Brown joined the table.
"How do you know how long I've been up?" Harry asked Hermione, as he flashed Ginny and Lavender a smile and pushed the tea in their direction.
"The Fat Lady told us," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
Harry stared down at his plate, affronted. He was seventeen! He didn't need bloody portraits watching his every move like he was a child. He had only been back at school for less than a day and already he was being watched.
"Mail's here!" Lavender said. Indeed, hundreds of post owls were swooping into the Great Hall. "Finally!"
Harry moved his plate back as Hedwig landed on the table in front of him. She didn't have a letter, but Harry broke off a piece of bacon and held it up for her to eat, as a majestic-looking tawny owl landed in front of Ginny, holding out a letter for her in its talons. "Who's that from?" Harry asked as he scratched Hedwig's head.
"This is Mum and Dad's new owl, Strix," Ginny said, removing the letter from the bird. "Fred and George bought him as a present, after what happened to Errol."
"What happened to Errol?" The Weasley family owl, Errol, was ancient and rather daft.
Ginny sighed as she fed Strix a bit of sausage. "Mum was trying to send a letter to Dad at work, but somehow Errol ended up on a coal freighter to Ireland. They decided it was time to retire him."
Strix shook himself, then soared upwards. Harry was drawn back when Hedwig jealously dug her claws into his hand. He shushed her by stroking his hand over her feathers. He didn't remember her being this possessive before, but then he'd never spent a month away from her. He had just made a mental note to ask Hagrid about it, when across the table, Ginny choked pumpkin juice all over her letter.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked immediately, as Lavender patted Ginny's back.
Ginny coughed as she wiped juice off the paper. "Mum's gone mad!" she sputtered. "She's absolutely barking!"
"Something about the wedding?" Hermione asked.
Ginny looked up, eyes snapping with annoyance. "If only!" She thrust the dripping letter toward Harry. "Read that!"
Frowning, Harry took the letter and held it gingerly by the edges.
... and Ginny, can you please let me know if Harry is all right? I had an encounter with the rather rude woman who brought him to the train station. She had one of those crosses on her neck, so like one of those fundamentalist Christian witches they have in America. I know Harry has had a rough time of it lately, but if he's been converted by one of those--
Harry slapped the letter down. "What on earth happened yesterday?" he asked, horrified. "I mean... converted? Rude?" And had Mrs. Weasley seen him kiss Anita? What a disaster that would be, having to explain...
Ginny pulled out her wand and began to clean juice off her robes. "Like I said, barking. Of all the people to be converted by one of those bloody Followers--"
"What about the Followers of the Way?" Harry interrupted, leaning forward. Hedwig hooted loudly and hopped to the side. "What's wrong with the Followers of the Way?"
Ginny appeared startled by Harry's outburst. Hermione put her hand on Harry's shoulder and made him sit back. "They don't have good press over here," she said quietly. "They tend to keep their children from magical schools, and that is very much frowned upon."
Harry shook his head. "That's rubbish! Not about the school thing, but they're not bad! I met one in America, she's one of the police detectives in St. Louis. She's really smart." He handed Ginny back the letter from Mrs. Weasley. "What could Anita have said to your mum?"
Ginny scanned the rest of the letter. "Mum doesn't say, but she keeps on being worried about you." She fiddled with her fork, thinking, then laughed. "Can you imagine what she'd have said if she knew who Anita was?"
Harry closed his eyes. "What a bloody mess!"
"You could just write to Molly," Hermione said practically, as she dug in her voluminousness bag, emerging with a piece of parchment and a quill. "Here."
"Thanks, Hermione, you're a lifesaver," Harry said with feeling. He pushed his plate to the side and started scribbling a note to Mrs. Weasley.
When he was half-finished the letter, he saw out of the corner of his eye someone with silver-blond hair approaching the table. He didn't look up, but he angled his arm a bit so he had a better reach for his wand.
"Look, it's Harry Potter," Draco Malfoy's voice sneered. The following twin grunting laughs told Harry that Malfoy's usual cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were with him. "Signing Chocolate Frog cards for your fans, Potter?"
Harry frowned, then raised his head and looked around, pretending not to see Malfoy. "Did you hear something?" he asked Seamus.
Seamus shook his head, grinning. "Nah, didn't hear a thing."
Harry shrugged and went back to his letter. He could almost feel the rage coming off Malfoy, and his beast began to react. Just try something, Harry silently taunted. Try something, anything.
"Mr. Malfoy, please continue along to the Slytherin table," Professor McGonagall said, marching down the aisle. "Miss Granger, would you and the fifth-year prefects hand out the schedules to the seventh and lower year students?"
"Of course, Professor," Hermione said, jumping up and officiously waving over the two fifth-year prefects.
Professor McGonagall dumped a pile of parchment into Hermione's arms and turned to Ginny. "Well, Miss Weasley, as you are the only sixth year up at this time of morning, why don't we start with your schedule for this year?"
Harry went back to his letter to Mrs. Weasley. He had the parchment filled with carefully reassuring words, at least to his mind, when he heard Ginny protesting about something.
"But Professor, I only got an Exceeds Expectations on my Potions OWL!" Ginny was saying. "I can't take Potions!"
"That was Professor Snape's requirement," McGonagall said. "Professor Slughorn will accept either an Outstanding or an Exceeds Expectations OWL. And you did mention that you were not enamoured with the idea of another year of Divination."
"I'm not, but I haven't any of the Potions books or ingredients!"
"There are some spare texts you can borrow, until you can arrange to buy the book," McGonagall said, taping Ginny's parchment with her wand. "There is your schedule for this year, Miss Weasley. And none too soon, your first potions class starts in less than an hour." McGonagall swept away down the table to the next unsuspecting sixth year.
Ginny stared down at her schedule. "A double block of potions first thing?" she said, incredulous. "This year is not starting well at all!"
"Could be worse," Harry said practically. "Could be double block with Snape."
Ginny made a face. "I've got that on Monday," she snapped. "When do you have Defence Against the Dark Arts?"
Harry unrolled the piece of parchment that someone had dropped at his side. "Let's see..." He frowned at his schedule. "I think this is wrong. Everything's in double blocks."
"That's what the NEWT students have!" Hermione said, dropping back to her seat. "All double blocks, once a week."
"Cool."
"Not cool!" Hermione snapped. "Do you know how much revision and work we will have in those spare blocks?"
"Lots?" Harry guessed, rolling up his letter and beckoning Hedwig over. "Come on, Hermione, lighten up!"
Hermione got to her feet in a huff. "You just don't understand!" she said and stormed away.
Harry stared at her retreating back until Hedwig nipped his fingers. "What was that all about?" he asked Ginny as he secured the letter to Hedwig's leg.
Ginny shook her head. "I knew she was worried about school this year, but..."
"Why would Hermione be worried about school?" Harry asked, lowering his voice and leaning across the table.
Ginny pushed her plate away and leaned in closer. "She's not sure what she wants to do, after her NEWTs," she said, their voices anonymously low in the loud Hall.
"I thought she knew."
"She said she's changed her mind."
"Weird." Harry frowned a little as he spotted a flash of dark blue silk around Ginny's neck, under her robes. "Is that..."
Ginny touched the scarf self-consciously. "Yes," she said a bit fiercely. "I thought it looked pretty."
"It is." Harry looked at Ginny for a moment. Her long red hair was down today, framing her face and spilling over her shoulders. "It's really pretty."
Ginny smiled a tiny smile, and slowly got to her feet. "I need to go send Mum a letter about potions," she said reluctantly. "See you at lunch, Harry."
Harry watched as Ginny walked away, toward the doors of the Great Hall. He had wanted to ask her about the previous night, and the things she told him about not being able to sleep, but it had been a private confession, one that wasn't up to being bandied about the Great Hall like the latest Quidditch scores. Maybe he could ask her later than night, after dinner.
More like after Dumbledore's meeting, Harry remembered with a thud. He checked his schedule again. He only had the one class that day, Hagrid's class, in the afternoon. He didn't know what he was going to do in the meantime. Maybe get more into Elsa's book. Although if it keeps talking about vampire superiority, I might have to burn it.
"Here comes Ron," Lavender said, her voice a bit wistful. Harry looked up to see Ron approaching the table, very carefully not looking at Harry. He didn't have time to wonder what was wrong with Ron, however, as something over at the Ravenclaw table caught his eye.
Luna was arguing with Michael Corner, a seventh-year boy who had dated Ginny briefly two years before. Harry couldn't hear the argument, but it looked as if Michael was pressing something, and Luna kept shaking her head.
Finally, Luna jumped up and gathered her books up, then walked quickly out of the Hall. After a moment, Michael Corner stormed after her.
Not liking the look of that at all, Harry was on his feet in an instant, bag in his hand, to follow. He didn't run, not exactly, but he hurried. He wasn't even sure why he was so worried. There was something about the expression on Michael's face that made Harry uneasy.
The noise from the Great Hall spilled out into the stone corridor. Students passed back and forth, but Harry could immediately spot who he was looking for. As Harry watched, Michael caught up with Luna and took hold her arm, to swing her around.
"Luna!" Harry called, just as Luna jerked back from Michael, eyes blazing. They both turned to look at Harry. "Hey, Luna," Harry said again, making his voice light, even though it didn't match the anger he was feeling. "I was going to ask you about that Quibbler subscription we were talking about on the train, but if you're busy..."
"No, I'm not busy," Luna snapped, glaring at Michael.
"Lovegood--" Michael began.
"I'm in a bit of a hurry, Harry, I'm almost late for potions," Luna said, talking over Michael. "But if you're going toward the dungeons..."
"Right on my way," Harry said, giving Michael a smile that bared his teeth.
Michael turned on his heel and stomped off. When he vanished from sight, Luna let out a short breath.
"You okay?" Harry asked.
Luna glared in the direction where Michael had gone. "He's always--" She stopped herself, pressing her lips together. "Why did you come out here?"
Harry shrugged, following Luna as she turned toward the dungeons. "He didn't seem happy at all," Harry said, feeling a bit uncomfortable now. "For all that he's in Ravenclaw, he's a bit of an ape."
"That's one way of putting it." Luna adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder as they started down the stone steps. "I thought he'd gotten over this last year!"
"Gotten over what?" Harry asked. He wanted to know exactly what was going on, but letting Luna vent right now seemed to be the safer course of action.
Luna stopped and leaned against a wall, suddenly looking tired. "Nothing."
It didn't seem like nothing. Harry's mind raced with inappropriate things Michael might have tried to do to Luna. He remembered what she had said to him, after Sirius died, that people used to take her things and make fun of her. He also remembered how fast she was to volunteer to go with him to the Ministry. She was worth more than ten Michael Corners. "Next time he does something, you know what you can do?"
Luna fixed him with a very un-Luna-like stare. "What, come get you?" she said snappishly.
Stung, Harry tried to force an easy grin onto his face. "No. Hex him."
Luna pushed her hair back from her face, large eyes watching him. "I couldn't do that," she said after a minute.
"Yes, you can. Ask Ginny to show you her Bat-Bogey hex, she's brilliant at it."
Luna kept staring at him. Students walked past them on the steps, but it wasn't until they were alone again that Luna asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Being my friend?"
"Being your-- What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?" Harry demanded. "You're a great friend! You're smart and you're quick and you believed me from the start, about Voldemort! How could I not be your friend?"
Luna lowered her hands. Harry waited for her to say something about what he'd just said, but she just shook her head. "I have to get to class," she murmured. "I don't want to be late on my first day."
"Luna..."
"I'll see you later, Harry," Luna said in a rush, then clattered away down the steps.
Harry stared after her. Had he done the wrong thing, in going after Luna like that? He still didn't know what Michael Corner had wanted. He knew Ginny had dated him for a bit... but Luna and Ginny were different. Ginny was more quick to defend herself. She'd never have stood for anyone nicking her things. Luna had a very different approach to life.
I'll ask Ginny, Harry decided, turning back up the steps. She's Luna's friend, she'll know what to do about Michael.
~*~
In the end, Harry didn't go back to the Great Hall. It was such a nice day that he went out of the castle and found a bench along the wall, to sit and read. He didn't want to deal with Ron at that moment, not really. He needed some time to be alone.
The vampire book, much to Harry's relief, quickly turned away from the romanticism and into a serious history of the European vampire lines. He had made it through several chapters, and had just reached the section on the Church's influence on European vampires, when a familiar name caught his eye.
Asher? What's he doing in here? Harry looked closer. There was a whole section in the book on Asher, an anecdote on what happened to him and his human servant, Julianna.
Harry felt his stomach twist as he read the pages. The Church had tortured Asher with Holy Water, giving him those scars, and they'd also burned Julianna at the stake as a witch.
When Harry was in third year, he'd written an essay about how the practice of burning witches never really got any real witches, as they could just escape with their magic. He hadn't really thought about what had happened to all the innocent people caught up in the witch-burning fever, the ones who couldn't get away.
Like Asher's Julianna, Harry thought miserably. He imagined it being Anita, being caught by witch-hunters and tied to a stake. She didn't have the kind of magic to stop them, she only had her guns. Would she die the same way?
Harry closed the book and leaned back, resting his head on the cool stones of the wall. Why didn't the ministry stop those witch burnings? Harry wondered. They had to have known that they were just muggles. They could have stopped it, saved those people's lives. For the first time in his life, Harry wished that he'd paid more attention in History of Magic class. Maybe he could ask Hermione, she'd know where to look.
A group of students burst out of the greenhouses at the bottom of the lawn, heading for the castle. With a start, Harry realized that he'd been outside reading all morning. His legs were stiff when he stood up. I've been reading for hours, Harry thought, amusement warring with the horror he was feeling about Asher and Julianna. Anyone would think Hermione was rubbing off on me.
When he got to the Great Hall for lunch, the tables were half-full. Harry sat down, and was immediately surrounded by Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke, the two Beaters from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, demanding information about the year's Quidditch practices. Harry had a hard time getting rid of them, and by the time he had promised to get a practice schedule arranged by the weekend and they were off, Ron had seated himself at the other end of the table.
What the hell is wrong with him? Harry wondered, starting to fume. This couldn't be about their argument last night. Ron wasn't able to hold a grudge like that, and it was such a stupid thing, anyway.
As soon as he finished lunch, Ron got up from the table and left without speaking to anyone. Harry hastily swallowed his last mouthful and hurried after Ron.
Ron had much longer legs that Harry, and he was already outside and on his way to the greenhouses when Harry caught up with him. "Hey!" Harry called, "Wait up!"
Ron came to a sudden halt, turning around slowly. "What?" he snapped.
"What do you mean, what?" Harry snapped back. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" Ron repeated, taking a step closer. He'd gotten even taller over the summer, and now he loomed over Harry. "There's nothing wrong with me, it's what's wrong with you!"
"There is nothing wrong with me!" Harry exclaimed, frustrated beyond belief. "You've been avoiding me all day!"
"I'm surprised you noticed." Sarcasm didn't suit Ron's voice at all. "Had your eyes on other things, haven't you?"
Harry threw up his hands. "All right, I give up. What are you talking about?"
Other seventh-year students walked around them on their way to the greenhouse, but neither Harry or Ron paid them any attention. "I'm talking about Ginny's blanket!" Ron hissed through clenched teeth.
"What about it?" Harry asked, completely puzzled.
Ron roughly shoved his book bag around his back. "It was lying right on your bed this morning! You couldn't even wait one day after kissing that woman, to have a go at my sister?"
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "Where do you get off, saying things like that?"
"You've been gone all summer, haven't you?" Ron shouted back. "Consorting with necromancers and vampires and lamias and those bloody vampire-sired... abominations!"
Ron's words hit Harry like a blow to the stomach. He didn't know where to start. He couldn't' even begin to think about what he'd say about Anita and the vampires back in St. Louis, so... "Hermione said the Wizarding world considered anyone with a vampire father to be an outcast, but--"
"Oh, what does Hermione know?" Ron demanded. "That's what Mum told her, but they're not normal people, Harry, they're damaged! Not a one's ever done anything good! They go crazy and do bad things! And you made friends with one!"
Harry felt the beast in his chest stir, a slow anger rising. His own mother was one of these freaks Ron was talking about. She hadn't been damaged, or crazy.
"Who knows what other lies they fed you over the summer!" Ron's voice was beginning to sound a little desperate, but Harry no longer cared.
"Get out of my way," Harry said quietly, his voice as tight as he could make it, like he was trying to keep everything else in him bottled up tight. His mum wasn't evil, just like Anita and Damian and Jason and everyone back in St. Louis weren't bad people.
"Harry--"
"Move!" Harry said, letting a bit of a growl out of his mouth.
Ron stood his ground. "Stay away from my sister."
Harry stalked around Ron, giving him a wide berth, and headed angrily toward Greenhouse Four. He had never been so angry at his best friend. Stupid prejudices! he fumed. He doesn't know anything! And I will not stay away from Ginny! I'm allowed to talk to her! He has no right to think that I'd ever do anything to her!
Hagrid was already talking when Harry strode in the greenhouse door. "Oh, there you two are," Hagrid said. He shuffled his feet and said gruffly, "Two points from Gryffindor for the each of you, for bein' tardy."
Harry bit down the urge to scream, and went to stand over beside Seamus and Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff. He didn't look to see where Ron went.
"Now, as I was sayin'," Hagrid continued. "Today, we're goin' to meet a Fwooper. Anyone know why Fwoopers are tricky pets?"
~*~
After the class, Harry was the first one out the door, heading like a shot back to the castle. He didn't want to risk talking to Ron. Even three hours of hard work in class hasn't lessened Harry's anger. His day was turning out to the one of the worst ever. So far, he had Mrs. Weasley worried about him, Ron thinking he'd somehow molested Ginny in the night, Hermione snappish, Luna annoyed, and it wasn't even dinner yet.
The only consolation Harry had was that Hermione wasn't in Care for Magical Creatures, having been convinced by McGonagall the previous year that Arithmancy was a much more useful elective. She'd have been badgering Harry at that very moment, pestering him to explain what was wrong, and Harry knew he didn't want to explain, to anyone.
He took the stairs two at a time to Gryffindor tower. Dean Thomas was in their dorm, getting ready for dinner when Harry stormed through the door. Wisely, Dean didn't say anything to Harry, and quickly left him alone.
Harry dropped his book bag to his bed, as the anger left him, leaving only bitterness in its place. My mum wasn't a bad person! he thought, almost desperately. Pushing aside the book bag, Harry leaned over his suitcase and dug around for his photo album. He opened it to the first page, to see his mum and dad holding him as a tiny baby, waving happily at the camera.
His mother looked so happy, so full of life, and so much like Damian that Harry's breath caught in his throat. She was holding baby-Harry so carefully, so tenderly. She would never have hurt him, ever.
Harry turned the pages until he got to a photo of Lily by herself, taken when she was in seventh year. There was a piece of folded paper on that page that Harry didn't recall being there before. As the teenage Lily smiled up out of the page, Harry laid the book in his lap and unfolded the piece of paper.
The note was written in a painfully careful script. Harry's fingers trembled as he read.
Harry,
Learning that you are my grandson, and of Lily's life, was a boon that I never expected in my life. She was an honourable warrior, and you carry her tradition with you. I do not know if we will ever meet again, but I know you will live honourably and bravely.
May the gods walk at your side.
Damian.
Harry lowered the note to the book, beside Lily's picture. His unhappiness towards Ron faded slightly. Damian was right. Lily was honourable and brave and smart. Nothing Ron could say, no stupid Wizarding prejudice, would change that.
He refolded the note and placed it back in the album, then hopped up off his bed to put the album in his trunk. One thing led to another, and Harry soon had his whole suitcase unpacked. He was just shrinking it down, to place it in the trunk, when the dorm door opened and Neville poked his head in the room. "Are you coming down to dinner?" he asked.
"Yeah, in a minute," Harry said, rubbing his hand through his hair.
"Good. Ginny wanted to know."
Harry's insides seized up. "Did she say why?" he managed to ask.
Neville shrugged. "She seemed a bit upset."
As Neville headed back out of the room, Harry wondered fleetingly if he could spend the next year avoiding everyone named Weasley. But hiding up in his room wasn't a workable option, and so he made sure that his robes and his glasses were straight, then headed for the common room.
The place was hectic, as everyone talked about their first day in classes. Luckily, neither Ron or Hermione was in sight.
Ginny was leaning against the windowsill, staring out at the grounds. The setting sun cast a strange shadow on her face, and for a moment, Harry thought he saw an echo of someone long-forgotten on her face. Then she moved, and it was gone.
He squared his shoulders as he walked up to her. "Um, Ginny? You okay?" he asked quietly.
She blinked around at him. "Yes," she said in a distant voice. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," Harry said. "What's wrong?"
Ginny tucked a strand of hair up behind her ear, and Harry saw that her other hand was cradling a ratty book against her chest. "Not here, okay?"
"Okay." Harry glanced around. The room was still full, and most people probably wouldn't head down to dinner for a few more minutes. "Want to leave?"
Ginny nodded, and let Harry guide her across the common room and out the portrait hole. Once out of the common room, her silence was even more noticeable. Harry grew worried. He didn't think her mood had to do with anything Ron might have said to her. Ron had spent his whole life ragging her, and she'd always shouted him down.
"In here," Ginny said after a few minutes, ducking them into a deserted classroom. Harry closed the door behind them as Ginny walked up to the front desk and carefully laid her book upon the wooden surface
"What's wrong?" Harry asked quietly. He walked up to the front of the room, keeping a wary eye on Ginny. She couldn't seem to look up at him. "Did anything happen in potions class this morning? Is Slughorn an okay teacher?"
Ginny nodded. "He didn't mind that I didn't have a book or anything. He gave me--" Ginny's voice broke off, and she caressed the cover of the ratty little book on the desk. "He gave me this."
Harry waited.
"And then he showed us a bunch of potions, and said we should be able to make most of them by the end of the year."
"Like what?"
"Veritaserum. Polyjuice. Amortentia."
"What's that last one?" Harry asked, curious. He'd never heard of it before.
Ginny's fingers stilled on the book. "It's a love potion," she said blankly. "It smells like different things to different people." She took a deep breath. "But today, we made Draught of the Living Death. Whoever made the best potion was going to get a vial of luck potion as a prize."
"So who won?"
In response, Ginny reached into the pocket of her robes and drew out a tiny glass vial of gold liquid. She held it suspended in the air between them.
"Congratulations," Harry said, not really sure what was wrong.
Ginny leapt away from the desk, suddenly furious. "It wasn't me, I didn't earn it!" she shouted. "I listened to that book, I did what it told me to do and this is what happened!"
"Ginny--"
"I can't do this again, Harry, I can't!" Ginny shoved the luck potion back into her pocket and stalked across the room, hugging her arms around herself. "I can't let this happen again!"
Harry walked up to the desk and flipped open the book. It was a potions text, but whoever had used it before had scribbled all over the inside pages, crossing out some ingredients and instructions and putting others in. "It's just an old textbook," he said, looking up.
Ginny whirled on him with lightning speed. "Just a textbook?" she echoed, voice edged with something too brittle. "Like it was just an old diary? No harm in writing in a diary, is there?"
"Ginny, this isn't Voldemort's diary!"
Ginny strode back over to the desk and flipped the book open to the back cover. She pointed at a tiny line of text. "It's not? Then who is the Half-Blood Prince?"
Harry bent over the tiny writing, squinting to have to read the line.
"You and I both know exactly what Tom was!" Ginny continued. "Muggle father, witch mother, that makes him a half-blood."
"Ginny," Harry said, prying the book out of her hands and setting it down, "Voldemort never told anyone his dad was a muggle, he hated being a half-blood."
Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the book. "So you think I'm crazy," she said.
"No, I don't." Harry sighed and held out a hand to her, but she backed up. "I just think that you need to think this through."
"What do you think I've been doing all afternoon?" Ginny demanded. "I just--" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she blinked them angrily away. "Do you know it took me a solid year, after that, to start sleeping right? Mum had to sit up with me for a month, 'cause I'd have nightmares that didn't stop when I woke up."
"Ginny..." Harry was horrified. He hadn't know. She'd never made any indication that she'd been having troubles, but what had he expected, after she'd been enchanted for a whole year?
She walked across the room, into the deepening shadows. "Maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't..." She let out a ragged sigh. "I don't know what to do."
Harry looked at her, half in shadows, for a long moment. Then he picked up the book in one hand. "What are you doing after dinner?"
She turned to him. "Why?"
Harry held up the book. "I'm going to go see Dumbledore. You can come with me, and we can ask him about this."
"I don't know," Ginny said. "I mean, bother him?"
Harry raised his eyebrows at her. "Of all the people in this school wanting to take up his time, Ginny, you've got more right than I do right now."
Ginny walked back into the light. "What if he thinks I'm overreacting?"
Harry gave her a look, happy in a why he couldn't explain that she was acting like herself again. She'd been scaring him. "We can tell him it was all my doing. He knows how goofy I am."
The corner of Ginny's mouth twitched. "He doesn't think you're goofy."
"How about silly? Fluffy?" Harry snapped his fingers. "Horkrump-like."
"Stop it!" Ginny said, trying not to smile.
"So you'll come with me?" Harry asked.
Ginny stared at him for a long moment, then nodded firmly. "You're right, the Headmaster will probably know what do to."
"He'd better," Harry said. "If not, then we're in trouble."
"Agreed," Ginny said vehemently.
Harry handed her back the book, which she slipped into her bag. "We should get some dinner. Are you hungry?"
"I didn't have lunch," Ginny confessed, her voice tight as if she had said too much.
"Well, I'm starving," Harry said in an exaggerated tone as they walked out of the classroom. "I could eat an entire--"
He stopped dead. Ron and Hermione were walking down the corridor toward him and Ginny. Ron's face grew dark when he saw Harry and Ginny together, but he just stormed off, leaving Hermione behind.
"Ron!" Hermione shouted after him. When he didn't stop, she threw her hands up in the air. "What is wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Harry lied. "Going to dinner?"
Hermione fell into step beside Ginny. "It's been such a busy day," she said. "I never realized that the Head Girl has so much to do!"
"Are you going to be okay, with all your classes?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded firmly. "I'll make it work," she declared. "But I won fifty points in Arithmancy for being the first to work out the translation, so something good has happened today."
"Good," Harry said. "Because I got two points taken off for being late to class this afternoon."
"Harry!"
~*~
"Are you ready?" Harry asked Ginny. She faced the closed door of Dumbledore's office resolutely, and nodded. Harry reached up and banged on the door with the big brass knocker.
"Come in," came Dumbledore's voice. Harry opened the door and let Ginny go first into the room. "Ah, Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said with a smile. "What can I do for you, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny strode forward purposefully, pulling the book out of her bag. "It's my potions book, sir." Her voice never wavered as she explained all that had happened in class that day.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, gazing at Ginny through his half-moon glasses, intent on every word. When she was finished her story, Dumbledore looked to Harry, who was standing by Ginny's side, then down at the book in her hands. "May I see that?" Dumbledore asked.
Ginny handed it over quickly. Dumbledore opened the book and leafed through the pages. The office was quiet as he did so, the only sounds coming from the portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters as they craned to get a good look at the book.
"You were wise to bring this to my attention, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said after a few minutes. "If this had been a book similar to Tom Riddle's diary, then it would have been an extremely dangerous object."
"If?" Ginny repeated.
Dumbledore laid the book on the desk. "Yes, Miss Weasley. This is merely a textbook, although it belonged to one of the most gifted potions students that Hogwarts has seen in the last century."
Ginny swayed for a second, then steadied herself. "So it's just a book? It's not-- But the directions, for the potion..."
"Are quite an improvement," Dumbledore said. He handed the book back to Ginny. "You are free to keep it, if you would like, on two conditions."
"Which are?" Ginny asked, putting the book hastily back into her bag.
"First, if you are to use any of the modifications to the potions in that book, I only ask that you research why they were added." Dumbledore stood up and walked around his desk. "Second, I must ask that you do not use any of the curses you may discover."
"I hadn't seen any curses," Ginny said with a frown.
"They are there," Dumbledore said. "If you have any questions at all, you are free to ask me." He held out his hand toward the door. "Unless there is anything else?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, sir. Thank you, sir." She gave Harry a thankful smile, then let Dumbledore usher her out of the office.
Dumbledore closed the door behind her, and stood there, with his hand on the doorknob. Harry waited until the Headmaster turned around. The words on his lips fell away when he saw the tired expression on Dumbledore's face.
Dumbledore saw Harry's reaction, and smiled faintly. "Please, Mr. Potter, have a seat," Dumbledore said, going back to his chair. He settled in as Harry dropped to the edge of the visitor's chair, impatient. "Yes, indeed." Dumblesore opened a tiny box on the desk and pulled out an old gold ring, set a cracked black stone. He laid this on the desk and looked up at Harry, all humour gone from his face. "Forgive me, Mr. Potter, but I have a great deal to tell you."
"About what?" Harry demanded, staring at the ring.
"About Voldemort." Dumbledore folded his hands on the desk. "About you. And about what needs to be done to stop Voldemort, once and for all."
... to be continued
by Mhalachai
Note: The HBP love continues... :) Much thanks to
cissasghost for her help on the beta.Harry opened his eyes suddenly. He sat up on the bed and looked around his dorm room. What had woken him?
The room was quiet, with the sounds of four sleeping boys breathing. Harry quickly slipped on his glasses, then slid to the floor. He'd fallen asleep wrapped up in Ginny's blanket, which he now pulled tight around his shoulders. His bare feet made no noise on the cold stone tiles as he walked to the window and looked outside.
The sky was dark, with the faintest shade of red imaginable creeping up over the hills in the east. Almost sunrise, Harry thought with a thrill. The day was about to begin, and he was here to see it.
Most of the few times Harry watched the sunrise in St. Louis, he had been up for the whole night. It was exciting and new to be seeing it from this side of sleep. Entranced, Harry leaned against the window sill as the sky bled to red, then pinks and purples as the day dawned.
Hogwarts and its ground were quiet so early in the morning. A glance at the clock revealed that there was a few hours before breakfast. Maybe I can go for a run, he thought, latching on to the ache in his limbs. But where?
Harry looked back out the window. A thin plume of smoke rose from the chimney at Hagrid's hut, and Harry could see Hagrid moving around outside. I'll go see Hagrid! I haven't seen him in ages!
As quietly as he could, Harry padded back to his bed, and dropped Ginny's blanket on top of the pillows. He hadn't bothered to move his suitcase off the bed the night before, just curling up around it when he finally stumbled onto the mattress. Soundlessly, Harry raised the suitcase lid and groped around in the dim light for his sweats and a t-shirt.
Dressing didn't take long. None of the other boys were awake when Harry crept out of the room, his trainers in one hand and his school bag in the other. He'd shoved his school robes and a change of socks into his bag, in case he didn't get a chance to run back up to Gryffindor tower before breakfast.
Lacing up his trainers only took a few seconds. The Fat Lady was surprised to see him so early, and admonished him not to get into any trouble. It was her job to keep an eye on the students, but Harry was only going for a run, and didn't need anyone spying on him.
Harry was used to the halls of Hogwarts during the day, or at night, when there was still movement and action. So early, the place felt surreal, like everything had been frozen by a spell. Colours were brighter, sharper, than normal. Harry walked the halls staring at everything, as fascinated as a first year.
The main doors to the school were unlocked. Harry suspected that Filch was up and around, but so far Harry hadn't seen a hint of the caretaker or his cat, Mrs. Norris. The day was looking up. Harry slipped through the doors and down the stone steps. The air still held the crispness of night as Harry jogged down to Hagrid's hut.
The half-giant was outside, filling a large trough with water. He looked up as Harry approached. "Morning!" Harry called with a wave.
Hagrid waved back. "What're you doin' up so early, Harry?" Hagrid asked, his face beaming with a confused smile.
"I just wanted to get outside," Harry said, dropping his bag to the stone steps of the hut. "What are you doing? Can I help?"
Hagrid chuckled. "Sure, I'm just about ter tend the pumpkin patch, then go feed Buck-- I mean, Witherwings." He looked around nervously. "You know who I mean."
Harry nodded, hiding a rueful smile. After Sirius died, Hagrid had taken in Buckbeak the hippogriff, and had taken to calling him Witherwings. So far, no one at the school seemed to know that Hagrid was keeping the hippogriff in the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Then Harry remembered what else Hagrid was hiding in the Forest.
"How's Grawp?"
Hagrid went back to sloshing great bucketfuls of water into the trough. "He's great!" Hagrid said with enthusiasm. "Learnin' new words every day. Strong, too!"
"I remember," Harry grumbled.
"Right, then." Hagrid set down his bucket. "You get that there box, and we'll head right out."
"This one?" Harry asked, pointing at a small wooden crate near the water trough. He leaned over to pick it up, and almost fell over. The box was a lot heavier than it looked. "Hagrid, what's in this?" he asked as he gritted his teeth and lifted it up.
"It's new garden meal..." Hagrid's voice trailed off. Harry glanced up, and saw Hagrid frowning at him. "I thought you was goin' to use magic."
"I got it," Harry said, blowing a wisp of hair out of his eyes. He tightened his grip around the bottom of the box. "Shall we?"
Hagrid shook himself. "Sure. Got a lot of work before breakfast!"
"How was your summer?" Harry asked as he followed Hagrid's broad back around the water trough to the pumpkin patch near the fence. The pumpkins were small, about the size of water balloons. They had a lot of growing to do before the Halloween feast.
"Summer was good," Hagrid said. He pointed at a spot near the fence. "You can put it there, that crate."
"Right." Harry staggered over to the fence and set down the box. "What kind of fertilizer is that?"
"Concentrate," Hagrid said, picking up a giant rake. "Twice as heavy."
"I'm not sure it works like that," Harry said with a frown, but Hagrid wasn't listening.
"Twice as good. Dumbledore wanted the pumpkins extra big this year, he said. Big year, he's got planned."
"What do you mean?" Harry pressed, climbing up on the fence as Hagrid began to vigorously apply the fertilizer to the garden. Harry could have sworn that the tiny pumpkins quivered as Hagrid worked.
"Can't talk about it, now can I?" Hagrid said practically. "But lots to do this year, lots to learn." He paused in his work and looked up at Harry. "You still in my class this year?"
Harry nodded. "Wouldn't miss it," he promised. Truthfully, he'd been considering dropping the Care of Magical Creatures class after the bloody disaster the previous year with the wyverns, but he couldn't drop a class without risking McGonagall's wrath. Besides, if Ron really did drop Defence Against the Dark Arts, then he couldn't drop Care of Magical Creatures, and Harry wouldn't leave Ron alone in the class, no matter how annoyed he was with his friend at the moment.
Hagrid grinned so widely that his eyes crinkled. "Knew you wouldn't leave my class. Yer the best student I have!" He went back to his gardening before Harry could think of anything to say to that. "Great things planned, this year."
That pronouncement filled Harry with great dread, and he shoved it down. He'd deal with whatever dangerous creature Hagrid had planned without losing any limbs, he hoped. He had more important things to worry about. "Anything happening with Voldemort this summer?" Harry blurted out.
Hagrid jerked back, showering dirt all over Harry. "Don't do that!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Sayin' his name!"
"Hagrid!"
"Alrigh'!" Hagrid set back to his raking, not looking at Harry. "The Dementors tried to break a bunch o' Death Eaters outta Azkaban, in July, but nothing came of it. Then everything got quiet, really quiet."
"In the first week of August?" Harry guessed.
"Yeah. How'd you know?" Hagrid asked.
Harry's head was racing. That was the time when Bellatrix Lestrange had been in North American, killing Nigel Spencer. What if she wasn't the only Death Eater wandering the globe, seeking out past revenge?
"But Dumbledore thinks things will get busy again, soon," Hagrid continued. "Better prepare now."
"Great." Harry picked at the weather-worn wood of the post with his thumbnail. "Is that why he put Snape in as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" He wasn't able to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
Hagrid stopped his work and leaned on his rake. "Professor Snape," Hagrid said, stressing the title, "Is the best choice Dumbledore had this year. You'll learn lots from him."
Like how to get hexed six ways from Sunday?
"'Sides," Hagrid continued, "Professor Slughorn is a right good teacher, too. He was my potions professor, back when I was a student here."
"So why's he back now?"
Hagrid gave the pumpkin patch one final rake. "He's a master potions brewer," he muttered. "Safer for him here, what with Voldemort out there."
Harry frowned. "Wait." Hagrid picked up the rake and the empty crate and started back towards his hut. "Hagrid, if Slughorn was your potions teacher... how long was he here?"
"Oh, lotsa years," Hagrid said. "He was here before I started me firs' year. Was here for about a decade after I was expelled."
Harry's mind was racing. That meant Slughorn had also taught potions to Tom Riddle, who later became Voldemort. And now he was hiding from Death Eaters? Why? Did Slughorn know something about Voldemort?
Harry's steps slowed as something occurred to him. What if Slughorn was like Nigel Spencer? What if a Death Eater had tried to kill Slughorn, too, like Bellatrix had killed Nigel Spencer? What if that was why he was at Hogwarts? But what on earth could make Voldemort send his Death Eaters around the globe to kill off wizards?
"Come on, Harry!" Hagrid called. "Still want to go see Witherwings?"
Harry blinked. "Uh, yeah," he said, trying to wrap his head around all of his thoughts. He'd ask Dumbledore about Slughorn that night, after dinner.
"Well, hurry up, then," Hagrid said. "Otherwise, you'll miss breakfast." Hagrid dropped the rake and the empty crate by the steps, then opened the door to his hut. Out of the door erupted a large black boarhound. "Fang!"
Fang, Hagrid's dog, paid him no mind, and raced down the path to Harry. The dog lumbered to a stop and set his paws firmly on the path, glaring up at Harry.
"Fang!" Hagrid called. "Sorry, Harry, don't know what's got into him."
"It's okay," Harry said. He put his hands out in front of him, so the glowering dog could smell him. "It's just me, Fang, just Harry." He kept eye contact with the dog. He thinks I'm a strange wolf! Harry realized with a shock. Fang was trying to assert his dominance. Well, I guess it is his house.
Harry took another step forward, stretching out his hand so it was next to Fang's mouth. The dog looked suspiciously at it, then gave him a tiny lick. The tiny lick turned into a big slobbery tongue-bath, while Fang leaned his body against Harry's legs.
"That's right," Harry said, relived. He rubbed Fang's head with his free hand, then patted him firmly on the side. "It's just me."
Soon, Fang stopped drooling on Harry and rambled back to the hut. After Harry wiped his hand on the grass, he looked up, to see Hagrid staring at him. "Ain't never seen him do that before," he muttered. "You been around other dogs all summer?"
"Something like that," Harry said, smiling weakly.
Hagrid shrugged it off, although Harry suspected with a sinking heart that he wouldn't forget. "We should get going."
Harry walked with Hagrid, who was swinging a whole line of dead ferrets, toward the Forbidden Forest. They talked about unimportant things for about ten minutes, until Hagrid stopped suddenly and smacked his forehead with his hand. "What?" Harry asked.
"I forgot his tonic!" Hagrid exclaimed. "He's a bit under the weather."
"I'll get it," Harry said. "Where is it?"
"Top shelf of the cabinet," Hagrid called, as Harry was already running up the hill.
His muscles burned at first, but as Harry got to the top of the hill, his legs got their strength back, and he just took off. The trees flashed by, as he ducked around trees and over roots and rocks. The beast in his chest rumbled with satisfaction as he jumped over a tiny stream, landing lightly on the opposite bank.
Too soon, Hagrid's hut came into view. Harry ran up the steps to the hut and opened the door before he slowed down. Hagrid's hut looked the same as always, cluttered and rustic. Fang looked up from his blanket in the corner at Harry's entrance.
Harry found the tonic, gave Fang a pat, and tore out of the hut. His run back was slower, to let him enjoy the way the forest floor felt under his feet. Before, when Harry had been in the forest, it had always seemed dark and forbidding. Now, things looked clear and crisp and right.
Hagrid was leaning up against a rock, right where Harry had left him. "That didn't take you long at all," Hagrid said when Harry ran up to him, panting.
"I've been running a lot over the summer," Harry said, handing Hagrid the tonic.
"What else did you get up to in St. Louis?" Hagrid asked, pouring a healthy potion of tonic into the mouth of one dead ferret. "Never been there."
"All kinds of things," Harry said. "It was fun." He was about to say more, to explain about Nathaniel and Jason and Anita, when he realized that they were not alone. He turned slowly, as the creature stepped out of the shadows and into a patch of sunlight.
Buckbeak, the hippogriff, stood in the sunshine, his head high. He glared haughtily down at Harry. Never breaking eye contact with the creature, Harry bowed deeply. After a nerve-wracking couple of seconds, Buckbeak blinked, and bowed his head.
"See? Of course he remembers you," Hagrid said happily. He threw the medicated ferret to the hippogriff. "He'll be back up to snuff in no time at all."
"Good," Harry said, sitting against a log. He watched as the animal tore into its bloody meal, and felt his stomach rumble. Deciding that it was not the time to wonder why raw bloody meat was sparking his hunger, he deliberately turned away and said to Hagrid, "Where are we going to be having class this year?"
"Oh, all over," Hagrid said, throwing Buckbeak another ferret. "Now, let's see. Seventh years have a class this afternoon, right?"
"Professor McGonagall will hand out the schedules at breakfast today, I don't know yet."
"I think you do." Hagrid watched Buckbeak lick a bit of blood of his front talons. "We're in Greenhouse Four. Movin' around a lot, it's all part of the plan."
"How's that?" Harry asked immediately.
Hagrid gave Harry a look. "You'll find out later, same as everybody else."
It was worth a try. "I should get going. I've got to be at breakfast," Harry said, standing up.
Hagrid lumbered to his feet. "I'll go with you," he offered, throwing the last ferret to Buckbeak. "Got lots to prepare for the third years."
"Like what?" Harry asked, unable to not look at Buckbeak one last time. After all, Hagrid's idea of a good introductory class in Harry's third year had involved the hippogriff.
"Unicorns!" Hagrid declared. "Kids love 'em. And they tend to like the younger kids, really."
Harry lopped along at Hagrid's side as they walked out of the forest. "How much of the muggle fairy tales true, about unicorns?" Harry asked.
"What do those say?"
"You know, that only a virgin can touch a unicorn," Harry said. He hoped the shade from the trees was enough to hide his sudden blush.
"Nah, that's rubbish," Hagrid said decisively. "But unicorns, see, they can feel what yer intending. The pure a' heart have a better chance at touchin' 'em."
"So, the third years might be better at it than we did in fifth?"
Hagrid snorted. "Ain't a lot of difference between thirteen and fifteen, not to a unicorn," he said. "You lot have nothing to worry about."
Maybe not to a normal person, but I wonder how a unicorn would react to me now? Harry wondered. If Hedwig and Fang reacted badly to me, then how could a unicorn be any different?
"Come on, now," Hagrid said, seemingly oblivious to Harry's inner turmoil. "You don't want to be late, do you?"
"Suppose not."
Hagrid snorted, clapping a heavy hand on Harry's shoulder and sending him staggering. "Don't sound so gloomy. What could go wrong on yer firs' day back?"
Even taking a bit of time to change his socks and perform a quick cleaning spell on himself, Harry got to the Gryffindor table before anyone else, except for a couple of extremely alert first years. The two identical girls, twins whose names escaped Harry, reminded him so much of Hermione at that age that Harry had to hide his grin with a cup of tea.
While he was waiting for the food to appear, Harry dug out of his bag one of the books that Elsa had made him buy, the day before. Without knowing his schedule yet, he couldn't start any class reading, and the knowledge that Snape was going to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor had already sucked any joy out of that subject for Harry.
Harry barely had time to get through the book's introduction, which cast vampires in such a romantic air that Harry suspected Elsa was just having him on, when Seamus and Neville dropped to the table. "Reading already?" Seamus said, shaking his head.
"Why are you down here to early?" Harry asked, stowing the book in his bag. The previous year, Seamus hadn't made it to breakfast more than handful of days, as he'd slept until the very last moment before classes.
Neville and Seamus exchanged a look. "Ron's not exactly happy," Neville said, rubbing his chin.
"Like a bear with a sore head," Seamus clarified, as the food appeared on the table. Seamus set about applying himself to the sausages, putting Ron's mood behind him.
Harry didn't find it as easy to eat. Why was Ron angry? It couldn't have had anything to do with the Quidditch captain thing from the previous night, could it? He shook his head, and helped himself to some eggs. Whatever Ron's problem was, he'd figure it out later.
Hermione arrived a few minutes after Seamus and Neville, looking flustered. "I can't believe I slept in!" she hissed as she sat down beside Harry. "I'm so far behind already!"
"Behind on what?" Harry asked, his mouth full. He swallowed with a sip of tea, then said, "You haven't had any classes yet, how can you be behind?"
Hermione shook her head so hard that her hair whipped Harry in the face. "Not classes, my duties as Head Girl!" She didn't notice as Harry slipped some eggs and fruit to her plate. "I have to meet with the prefects, and the Head Boy, and ensure that everything is ready for this year--"
"All of which requires to you to eat," Harry interrupted. He poured her a cup of tea. "Food will make you feel better."
"You can talk, you've been up for hours!" Hermione said, looking over as Ginny and Lavender Brown joined the table.
"How do you know how long I've been up?" Harry asked Hermione, as he flashed Ginny and Lavender a smile and pushed the tea in their direction.
"The Fat Lady told us," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
Harry stared down at his plate, affronted. He was seventeen! He didn't need bloody portraits watching his every move like he was a child. He had only been back at school for less than a day and already he was being watched.
"Mail's here!" Lavender said. Indeed, hundreds of post owls were swooping into the Great Hall. "Finally!"
Harry moved his plate back as Hedwig landed on the table in front of him. She didn't have a letter, but Harry broke off a piece of bacon and held it up for her to eat, as a majestic-looking tawny owl landed in front of Ginny, holding out a letter for her in its talons. "Who's that from?" Harry asked as he scratched Hedwig's head.
"This is Mum and Dad's new owl, Strix," Ginny said, removing the letter from the bird. "Fred and George bought him as a present, after what happened to Errol."
"What happened to Errol?" The Weasley family owl, Errol, was ancient and rather daft.
Ginny sighed as she fed Strix a bit of sausage. "Mum was trying to send a letter to Dad at work, but somehow Errol ended up on a coal freighter to Ireland. They decided it was time to retire him."
Strix shook himself, then soared upwards. Harry was drawn back when Hedwig jealously dug her claws into his hand. He shushed her by stroking his hand over her feathers. He didn't remember her being this possessive before, but then he'd never spent a month away from her. He had just made a mental note to ask Hagrid about it, when across the table, Ginny choked pumpkin juice all over her letter.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked immediately, as Lavender patted Ginny's back.
Ginny coughed as she wiped juice off the paper. "Mum's gone mad!" she sputtered. "She's absolutely barking!"
"Something about the wedding?" Hermione asked.
Ginny looked up, eyes snapping with annoyance. "If only!" She thrust the dripping letter toward Harry. "Read that!"
Frowning, Harry took the letter and held it gingerly by the edges.
... and Ginny, can you please let me know if Harry is all right? I had an encounter with the rather rude woman who brought him to the train station. She had one of those crosses on her neck, so like one of those fundamentalist Christian witches they have in America. I know Harry has had a rough time of it lately, but if he's been converted by one of those--
Harry slapped the letter down. "What on earth happened yesterday?" he asked, horrified. "I mean... converted? Rude?" And had Mrs. Weasley seen him kiss Anita? What a disaster that would be, having to explain...
Ginny pulled out her wand and began to clean juice off her robes. "Like I said, barking. Of all the people to be converted by one of those bloody Followers--"
"What about the Followers of the Way?" Harry interrupted, leaning forward. Hedwig hooted loudly and hopped to the side. "What's wrong with the Followers of the Way?"
Ginny appeared startled by Harry's outburst. Hermione put her hand on Harry's shoulder and made him sit back. "They don't have good press over here," she said quietly. "They tend to keep their children from magical schools, and that is very much frowned upon."
Harry shook his head. "That's rubbish! Not about the school thing, but they're not bad! I met one in America, she's one of the police detectives in St. Louis. She's really smart." He handed Ginny back the letter from Mrs. Weasley. "What could Anita have said to your mum?"
Ginny scanned the rest of the letter. "Mum doesn't say, but she keeps on being worried about you." She fiddled with her fork, thinking, then laughed. "Can you imagine what she'd have said if she knew who Anita was?"
Harry closed his eyes. "What a bloody mess!"
"You could just write to Molly," Hermione said practically, as she dug in her voluminousness bag, emerging with a piece of parchment and a quill. "Here."
"Thanks, Hermione, you're a lifesaver," Harry said with feeling. He pushed his plate to the side and started scribbling a note to Mrs. Weasley.
When he was half-finished the letter, he saw out of the corner of his eye someone with silver-blond hair approaching the table. He didn't look up, but he angled his arm a bit so he had a better reach for his wand.
"Look, it's Harry Potter," Draco Malfoy's voice sneered. The following twin grunting laughs told Harry that Malfoy's usual cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were with him. "Signing Chocolate Frog cards for your fans, Potter?"
Harry frowned, then raised his head and looked around, pretending not to see Malfoy. "Did you hear something?" he asked Seamus.
Seamus shook his head, grinning. "Nah, didn't hear a thing."
Harry shrugged and went back to his letter. He could almost feel the rage coming off Malfoy, and his beast began to react. Just try something, Harry silently taunted. Try something, anything.
"Mr. Malfoy, please continue along to the Slytherin table," Professor McGonagall said, marching down the aisle. "Miss Granger, would you and the fifth-year prefects hand out the schedules to the seventh and lower year students?"
"Of course, Professor," Hermione said, jumping up and officiously waving over the two fifth-year prefects.
Professor McGonagall dumped a pile of parchment into Hermione's arms and turned to Ginny. "Well, Miss Weasley, as you are the only sixth year up at this time of morning, why don't we start with your schedule for this year?"
Harry went back to his letter to Mrs. Weasley. He had the parchment filled with carefully reassuring words, at least to his mind, when he heard Ginny protesting about something.
"But Professor, I only got an Exceeds Expectations on my Potions OWL!" Ginny was saying. "I can't take Potions!"
"That was Professor Snape's requirement," McGonagall said. "Professor Slughorn will accept either an Outstanding or an Exceeds Expectations OWL. And you did mention that you were not enamoured with the idea of another year of Divination."
"I'm not, but I haven't any of the Potions books or ingredients!"
"There are some spare texts you can borrow, until you can arrange to buy the book," McGonagall said, taping Ginny's parchment with her wand. "There is your schedule for this year, Miss Weasley. And none too soon, your first potions class starts in less than an hour." McGonagall swept away down the table to the next unsuspecting sixth year.
Ginny stared down at her schedule. "A double block of potions first thing?" she said, incredulous. "This year is not starting well at all!"
"Could be worse," Harry said practically. "Could be double block with Snape."
Ginny made a face. "I've got that on Monday," she snapped. "When do you have Defence Against the Dark Arts?"
Harry unrolled the piece of parchment that someone had dropped at his side. "Let's see..." He frowned at his schedule. "I think this is wrong. Everything's in double blocks."
"That's what the NEWT students have!" Hermione said, dropping back to her seat. "All double blocks, once a week."
"Cool."
"Not cool!" Hermione snapped. "Do you know how much revision and work we will have in those spare blocks?"
"Lots?" Harry guessed, rolling up his letter and beckoning Hedwig over. "Come on, Hermione, lighten up!"
Hermione got to her feet in a huff. "You just don't understand!" she said and stormed away.
Harry stared at her retreating back until Hedwig nipped his fingers. "What was that all about?" he asked Ginny as he secured the letter to Hedwig's leg.
Ginny shook her head. "I knew she was worried about school this year, but..."
"Why would Hermione be worried about school?" Harry asked, lowering his voice and leaning across the table.
Ginny pushed her plate away and leaned in closer. "She's not sure what she wants to do, after her NEWTs," she said, their voices anonymously low in the loud Hall.
"I thought she knew."
"She said she's changed her mind."
"Weird." Harry frowned a little as he spotted a flash of dark blue silk around Ginny's neck, under her robes. "Is that..."
Ginny touched the scarf self-consciously. "Yes," she said a bit fiercely. "I thought it looked pretty."
"It is." Harry looked at Ginny for a moment. Her long red hair was down today, framing her face and spilling over her shoulders. "It's really pretty."
Ginny smiled a tiny smile, and slowly got to her feet. "I need to go send Mum a letter about potions," she said reluctantly. "See you at lunch, Harry."
Harry watched as Ginny walked away, toward the doors of the Great Hall. He had wanted to ask her about the previous night, and the things she told him about not being able to sleep, but it had been a private confession, one that wasn't up to being bandied about the Great Hall like the latest Quidditch scores. Maybe he could ask her later than night, after dinner.
More like after Dumbledore's meeting, Harry remembered with a thud. He checked his schedule again. He only had the one class that day, Hagrid's class, in the afternoon. He didn't know what he was going to do in the meantime. Maybe get more into Elsa's book. Although if it keeps talking about vampire superiority, I might have to burn it.
"Here comes Ron," Lavender said, her voice a bit wistful. Harry looked up to see Ron approaching the table, very carefully not looking at Harry. He didn't have time to wonder what was wrong with Ron, however, as something over at the Ravenclaw table caught his eye.
Luna was arguing with Michael Corner, a seventh-year boy who had dated Ginny briefly two years before. Harry couldn't hear the argument, but it looked as if Michael was pressing something, and Luna kept shaking her head.
Finally, Luna jumped up and gathered her books up, then walked quickly out of the Hall. After a moment, Michael Corner stormed after her.
Not liking the look of that at all, Harry was on his feet in an instant, bag in his hand, to follow. He didn't run, not exactly, but he hurried. He wasn't even sure why he was so worried. There was something about the expression on Michael's face that made Harry uneasy.
The noise from the Great Hall spilled out into the stone corridor. Students passed back and forth, but Harry could immediately spot who he was looking for. As Harry watched, Michael caught up with Luna and took hold her arm, to swing her around.
"Luna!" Harry called, just as Luna jerked back from Michael, eyes blazing. They both turned to look at Harry. "Hey, Luna," Harry said again, making his voice light, even though it didn't match the anger he was feeling. "I was going to ask you about that Quibbler subscription we were talking about on the train, but if you're busy..."
"No, I'm not busy," Luna snapped, glaring at Michael.
"Lovegood--" Michael began.
"I'm in a bit of a hurry, Harry, I'm almost late for potions," Luna said, talking over Michael. "But if you're going toward the dungeons..."
"Right on my way," Harry said, giving Michael a smile that bared his teeth.
Michael turned on his heel and stomped off. When he vanished from sight, Luna let out a short breath.
"You okay?" Harry asked.
Luna glared in the direction where Michael had gone. "He's always--" She stopped herself, pressing her lips together. "Why did you come out here?"
Harry shrugged, following Luna as she turned toward the dungeons. "He didn't seem happy at all," Harry said, feeling a bit uncomfortable now. "For all that he's in Ravenclaw, he's a bit of an ape."
"That's one way of putting it." Luna adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder as they started down the stone steps. "I thought he'd gotten over this last year!"
"Gotten over what?" Harry asked. He wanted to know exactly what was going on, but letting Luna vent right now seemed to be the safer course of action.
Luna stopped and leaned against a wall, suddenly looking tired. "Nothing."
It didn't seem like nothing. Harry's mind raced with inappropriate things Michael might have tried to do to Luna. He remembered what she had said to him, after Sirius died, that people used to take her things and make fun of her. He also remembered how fast she was to volunteer to go with him to the Ministry. She was worth more than ten Michael Corners. "Next time he does something, you know what you can do?"
Luna fixed him with a very un-Luna-like stare. "What, come get you?" she said snappishly.
Stung, Harry tried to force an easy grin onto his face. "No. Hex him."
Luna pushed her hair back from her face, large eyes watching him. "I couldn't do that," she said after a minute.
"Yes, you can. Ask Ginny to show you her Bat-Bogey hex, she's brilliant at it."
Luna kept staring at him. Students walked past them on the steps, but it wasn't until they were alone again that Luna asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Being my friend?"
"Being your-- What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?" Harry demanded. "You're a great friend! You're smart and you're quick and you believed me from the start, about Voldemort! How could I not be your friend?"
Luna lowered her hands. Harry waited for her to say something about what he'd just said, but she just shook her head. "I have to get to class," she murmured. "I don't want to be late on my first day."
"Luna..."
"I'll see you later, Harry," Luna said in a rush, then clattered away down the steps.
Harry stared after her. Had he done the wrong thing, in going after Luna like that? He still didn't know what Michael Corner had wanted. He knew Ginny had dated him for a bit... but Luna and Ginny were different. Ginny was more quick to defend herself. She'd never have stood for anyone nicking her things. Luna had a very different approach to life.
I'll ask Ginny, Harry decided, turning back up the steps. She's Luna's friend, she'll know what to do about Michael.
In the end, Harry didn't go back to the Great Hall. It was such a nice day that he went out of the castle and found a bench along the wall, to sit and read. He didn't want to deal with Ron at that moment, not really. He needed some time to be alone.
The vampire book, much to Harry's relief, quickly turned away from the romanticism and into a serious history of the European vampire lines. He had made it through several chapters, and had just reached the section on the Church's influence on European vampires, when a familiar name caught his eye.
Asher? What's he doing in here? Harry looked closer. There was a whole section in the book on Asher, an anecdote on what happened to him and his human servant, Julianna.
Harry felt his stomach twist as he read the pages. The Church had tortured Asher with Holy Water, giving him those scars, and they'd also burned Julianna at the stake as a witch.
When Harry was in third year, he'd written an essay about how the practice of burning witches never really got any real witches, as they could just escape with their magic. He hadn't really thought about what had happened to all the innocent people caught up in the witch-burning fever, the ones who couldn't get away.
Like Asher's Julianna, Harry thought miserably. He imagined it being Anita, being caught by witch-hunters and tied to a stake. She didn't have the kind of magic to stop them, she only had her guns. Would she die the same way?
Harry closed the book and leaned back, resting his head on the cool stones of the wall. Why didn't the ministry stop those witch burnings? Harry wondered. They had to have known that they were just muggles. They could have stopped it, saved those people's lives. For the first time in his life, Harry wished that he'd paid more attention in History of Magic class. Maybe he could ask Hermione, she'd know where to look.
A group of students burst out of the greenhouses at the bottom of the lawn, heading for the castle. With a start, Harry realized that he'd been outside reading all morning. His legs were stiff when he stood up. I've been reading for hours, Harry thought, amusement warring with the horror he was feeling about Asher and Julianna. Anyone would think Hermione was rubbing off on me.
When he got to the Great Hall for lunch, the tables were half-full. Harry sat down, and was immediately surrounded by Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke, the two Beaters from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, demanding information about the year's Quidditch practices. Harry had a hard time getting rid of them, and by the time he had promised to get a practice schedule arranged by the weekend and they were off, Ron had seated himself at the other end of the table.
What the hell is wrong with him? Harry wondered, starting to fume. This couldn't be about their argument last night. Ron wasn't able to hold a grudge like that, and it was such a stupid thing, anyway.
As soon as he finished lunch, Ron got up from the table and left without speaking to anyone. Harry hastily swallowed his last mouthful and hurried after Ron.
Ron had much longer legs that Harry, and he was already outside and on his way to the greenhouses when Harry caught up with him. "Hey!" Harry called, "Wait up!"
Ron came to a sudden halt, turning around slowly. "What?" he snapped.
"What do you mean, what?" Harry snapped back. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" Ron repeated, taking a step closer. He'd gotten even taller over the summer, and now he loomed over Harry. "There's nothing wrong with me, it's what's wrong with you!"
"There is nothing wrong with me!" Harry exclaimed, frustrated beyond belief. "You've been avoiding me all day!"
"I'm surprised you noticed." Sarcasm didn't suit Ron's voice at all. "Had your eyes on other things, haven't you?"
Harry threw up his hands. "All right, I give up. What are you talking about?"
Other seventh-year students walked around them on their way to the greenhouse, but neither Harry or Ron paid them any attention. "I'm talking about Ginny's blanket!" Ron hissed through clenched teeth.
"What about it?" Harry asked, completely puzzled.
Ron roughly shoved his book bag around his back. "It was lying right on your bed this morning! You couldn't even wait one day after kissing that woman, to have a go at my sister?"
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "Where do you get off, saying things like that?"
"You've been gone all summer, haven't you?" Ron shouted back. "Consorting with necromancers and vampires and lamias and those bloody vampire-sired... abominations!"
Ron's words hit Harry like a blow to the stomach. He didn't know where to start. He couldn't' even begin to think about what he'd say about Anita and the vampires back in St. Louis, so... "Hermione said the Wizarding world considered anyone with a vampire father to be an outcast, but--"
"Oh, what does Hermione know?" Ron demanded. "That's what Mum told her, but they're not normal people, Harry, they're damaged! Not a one's ever done anything good! They go crazy and do bad things! And you made friends with one!"
Harry felt the beast in his chest stir, a slow anger rising. His own mother was one of these freaks Ron was talking about. She hadn't been damaged, or crazy.
"Who knows what other lies they fed you over the summer!" Ron's voice was beginning to sound a little desperate, but Harry no longer cared.
"Get out of my way," Harry said quietly, his voice as tight as he could make it, like he was trying to keep everything else in him bottled up tight. His mum wasn't evil, just like Anita and Damian and Jason and everyone back in St. Louis weren't bad people.
"Harry--"
"Move!" Harry said, letting a bit of a growl out of his mouth.
Ron stood his ground. "Stay away from my sister."
Harry stalked around Ron, giving him a wide berth, and headed angrily toward Greenhouse Four. He had never been so angry at his best friend. Stupid prejudices! he fumed. He doesn't know anything! And I will not stay away from Ginny! I'm allowed to talk to her! He has no right to think that I'd ever do anything to her!
Hagrid was already talking when Harry strode in the greenhouse door. "Oh, there you two are," Hagrid said. He shuffled his feet and said gruffly, "Two points from Gryffindor for the each of you, for bein' tardy."
Harry bit down the urge to scream, and went to stand over beside Seamus and Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff. He didn't look to see where Ron went.
"Now, as I was sayin'," Hagrid continued. "Today, we're goin' to meet a Fwooper. Anyone know why Fwoopers are tricky pets?"
After the class, Harry was the first one out the door, heading like a shot back to the castle. He didn't want to risk talking to Ron. Even three hours of hard work in class hasn't lessened Harry's anger. His day was turning out to the one of the worst ever. So far, he had Mrs. Weasley worried about him, Ron thinking he'd somehow molested Ginny in the night, Hermione snappish, Luna annoyed, and it wasn't even dinner yet.
The only consolation Harry had was that Hermione wasn't in Care for Magical Creatures, having been convinced by McGonagall the previous year that Arithmancy was a much more useful elective. She'd have been badgering Harry at that very moment, pestering him to explain what was wrong, and Harry knew he didn't want to explain, to anyone.
He took the stairs two at a time to Gryffindor tower. Dean Thomas was in their dorm, getting ready for dinner when Harry stormed through the door. Wisely, Dean didn't say anything to Harry, and quickly left him alone.
Harry dropped his book bag to his bed, as the anger left him, leaving only bitterness in its place. My mum wasn't a bad person! he thought, almost desperately. Pushing aside the book bag, Harry leaned over his suitcase and dug around for his photo album. He opened it to the first page, to see his mum and dad holding him as a tiny baby, waving happily at the camera.
His mother looked so happy, so full of life, and so much like Damian that Harry's breath caught in his throat. She was holding baby-Harry so carefully, so tenderly. She would never have hurt him, ever.
Harry turned the pages until he got to a photo of Lily by herself, taken when she was in seventh year. There was a piece of folded paper on that page that Harry didn't recall being there before. As the teenage Lily smiled up out of the page, Harry laid the book in his lap and unfolded the piece of paper.
The note was written in a painfully careful script. Harry's fingers trembled as he read.
Harry,
Learning that you are my grandson, and of Lily's life, was a boon that I never expected in my life. She was an honourable warrior, and you carry her tradition with you. I do not know if we will ever meet again, but I know you will live honourably and bravely.
May the gods walk at your side.
Damian.
Harry lowered the note to the book, beside Lily's picture. His unhappiness towards Ron faded slightly. Damian was right. Lily was honourable and brave and smart. Nothing Ron could say, no stupid Wizarding prejudice, would change that.
He refolded the note and placed it back in the album, then hopped up off his bed to put the album in his trunk. One thing led to another, and Harry soon had his whole suitcase unpacked. He was just shrinking it down, to place it in the trunk, when the dorm door opened and Neville poked his head in the room. "Are you coming down to dinner?" he asked.
"Yeah, in a minute," Harry said, rubbing his hand through his hair.
"Good. Ginny wanted to know."
Harry's insides seized up. "Did she say why?" he managed to ask.
Neville shrugged. "She seemed a bit upset."
As Neville headed back out of the room, Harry wondered fleetingly if he could spend the next year avoiding everyone named Weasley. But hiding up in his room wasn't a workable option, and so he made sure that his robes and his glasses were straight, then headed for the common room.
The place was hectic, as everyone talked about their first day in classes. Luckily, neither Ron or Hermione was in sight.
Ginny was leaning against the windowsill, staring out at the grounds. The setting sun cast a strange shadow on her face, and for a moment, Harry thought he saw an echo of someone long-forgotten on her face. Then she moved, and it was gone.
He squared his shoulders as he walked up to her. "Um, Ginny? You okay?" he asked quietly.
She blinked around at him. "Yes," she said in a distant voice. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," Harry said. "What's wrong?"
Ginny tucked a strand of hair up behind her ear, and Harry saw that her other hand was cradling a ratty book against her chest. "Not here, okay?"
"Okay." Harry glanced around. The room was still full, and most people probably wouldn't head down to dinner for a few more minutes. "Want to leave?"
Ginny nodded, and let Harry guide her across the common room and out the portrait hole. Once out of the common room, her silence was even more noticeable. Harry grew worried. He didn't think her mood had to do with anything Ron might have said to her. Ron had spent his whole life ragging her, and she'd always shouted him down.
"In here," Ginny said after a few minutes, ducking them into a deserted classroom. Harry closed the door behind them as Ginny walked up to the front desk and carefully laid her book upon the wooden surface
"What's wrong?" Harry asked quietly. He walked up to the front of the room, keeping a wary eye on Ginny. She couldn't seem to look up at him. "Did anything happen in potions class this morning? Is Slughorn an okay teacher?"
Ginny nodded. "He didn't mind that I didn't have a book or anything. He gave me--" Ginny's voice broke off, and she caressed the cover of the ratty little book on the desk. "He gave me this."
Harry waited.
"And then he showed us a bunch of potions, and said we should be able to make most of them by the end of the year."
"Like what?"
"Veritaserum. Polyjuice. Amortentia."
"What's that last one?" Harry asked, curious. He'd never heard of it before.
Ginny's fingers stilled on the book. "It's a love potion," she said blankly. "It smells like different things to different people." She took a deep breath. "But today, we made Draught of the Living Death. Whoever made the best potion was going to get a vial of luck potion as a prize."
"So who won?"
In response, Ginny reached into the pocket of her robes and drew out a tiny glass vial of gold liquid. She held it suspended in the air between them.
"Congratulations," Harry said, not really sure what was wrong.
Ginny leapt away from the desk, suddenly furious. "It wasn't me, I didn't earn it!" she shouted. "I listened to that book, I did what it told me to do and this is what happened!"
"Ginny--"
"I can't do this again, Harry, I can't!" Ginny shoved the luck potion back into her pocket and stalked across the room, hugging her arms around herself. "I can't let this happen again!"
Harry walked up to the desk and flipped open the book. It was a potions text, but whoever had used it before had scribbled all over the inside pages, crossing out some ingredients and instructions and putting others in. "It's just an old textbook," he said, looking up.
Ginny whirled on him with lightning speed. "Just a textbook?" she echoed, voice edged with something too brittle. "Like it was just an old diary? No harm in writing in a diary, is there?"
"Ginny, this isn't Voldemort's diary!"
Ginny strode back over to the desk and flipped the book open to the back cover. She pointed at a tiny line of text. "It's not? Then who is the Half-Blood Prince?"
Harry bent over the tiny writing, squinting to have to read the line.
"You and I both know exactly what Tom was!" Ginny continued. "Muggle father, witch mother, that makes him a half-blood."
"Ginny," Harry said, prying the book out of her hands and setting it down, "Voldemort never told anyone his dad was a muggle, he hated being a half-blood."
Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the book. "So you think I'm crazy," she said.
"No, I don't." Harry sighed and held out a hand to her, but she backed up. "I just think that you need to think this through."
"What do you think I've been doing all afternoon?" Ginny demanded. "I just--" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she blinked them angrily away. "Do you know it took me a solid year, after that, to start sleeping right? Mum had to sit up with me for a month, 'cause I'd have nightmares that didn't stop when I woke up."
"Ginny..." Harry was horrified. He hadn't know. She'd never made any indication that she'd been having troubles, but what had he expected, after she'd been enchanted for a whole year?
She walked across the room, into the deepening shadows. "Maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't..." She let out a ragged sigh. "I don't know what to do."
Harry looked at her, half in shadows, for a long moment. Then he picked up the book in one hand. "What are you doing after dinner?"
She turned to him. "Why?"
Harry held up the book. "I'm going to go see Dumbledore. You can come with me, and we can ask him about this."
"I don't know," Ginny said. "I mean, bother him?"
Harry raised his eyebrows at her. "Of all the people in this school wanting to take up his time, Ginny, you've got more right than I do right now."
Ginny walked back into the light. "What if he thinks I'm overreacting?"
Harry gave her a look, happy in a why he couldn't explain that she was acting like herself again. She'd been scaring him. "We can tell him it was all my doing. He knows how goofy I am."
The corner of Ginny's mouth twitched. "He doesn't think you're goofy."
"How about silly? Fluffy?" Harry snapped his fingers. "Horkrump-like."
"Stop it!" Ginny said, trying not to smile.
"So you'll come with me?" Harry asked.
Ginny stared at him for a long moment, then nodded firmly. "You're right, the Headmaster will probably know what do to."
"He'd better," Harry said. "If not, then we're in trouble."
"Agreed," Ginny said vehemently.
Harry handed her back the book, which she slipped into her bag. "We should get some dinner. Are you hungry?"
"I didn't have lunch," Ginny confessed, her voice tight as if she had said too much.
"Well, I'm starving," Harry said in an exaggerated tone as they walked out of the classroom. "I could eat an entire--"
He stopped dead. Ron and Hermione were walking down the corridor toward him and Ginny. Ron's face grew dark when he saw Harry and Ginny together, but he just stormed off, leaving Hermione behind.
"Ron!" Hermione shouted after him. When he didn't stop, she threw her hands up in the air. "What is wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Harry lied. "Going to dinner?"
Hermione fell into step beside Ginny. "It's been such a busy day," she said. "I never realized that the Head Girl has so much to do!"
"Are you going to be okay, with all your classes?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded firmly. "I'll make it work," she declared. "But I won fifty points in Arithmancy for being the first to work out the translation, so something good has happened today."
"Good," Harry said. "Because I got two points taken off for being late to class this afternoon."
"Harry!"
"Are you ready?" Harry asked Ginny. She faced the closed door of Dumbledore's office resolutely, and nodded. Harry reached up and banged on the door with the big brass knocker.
"Come in," came Dumbledore's voice. Harry opened the door and let Ginny go first into the room. "Ah, Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said with a smile. "What can I do for you, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny strode forward purposefully, pulling the book out of her bag. "It's my potions book, sir." Her voice never wavered as she explained all that had happened in class that day.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, gazing at Ginny through his half-moon glasses, intent on every word. When she was finished her story, Dumbledore looked to Harry, who was standing by Ginny's side, then down at the book in her hands. "May I see that?" Dumbledore asked.
Ginny handed it over quickly. Dumbledore opened the book and leafed through the pages. The office was quiet as he did so, the only sounds coming from the portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters as they craned to get a good look at the book.
"You were wise to bring this to my attention, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said after a few minutes. "If this had been a book similar to Tom Riddle's diary, then it would have been an extremely dangerous object."
"If?" Ginny repeated.
Dumbledore laid the book on the desk. "Yes, Miss Weasley. This is merely a textbook, although it belonged to one of the most gifted potions students that Hogwarts has seen in the last century."
Ginny swayed for a second, then steadied herself. "So it's just a book? It's not-- But the directions, for the potion..."
"Are quite an improvement," Dumbledore said. He handed the book back to Ginny. "You are free to keep it, if you would like, on two conditions."
"Which are?" Ginny asked, putting the book hastily back into her bag.
"First, if you are to use any of the modifications to the potions in that book, I only ask that you research why they were added." Dumbledore stood up and walked around his desk. "Second, I must ask that you do not use any of the curses you may discover."
"I hadn't seen any curses," Ginny said with a frown.
"They are there," Dumbledore said. "If you have any questions at all, you are free to ask me." He held out his hand toward the door. "Unless there is anything else?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, sir. Thank you, sir." She gave Harry a thankful smile, then let Dumbledore usher her out of the office.
Dumbledore closed the door behind her, and stood there, with his hand on the doorknob. Harry waited until the Headmaster turned around. The words on his lips fell away when he saw the tired expression on Dumbledore's face.
Dumbledore saw Harry's reaction, and smiled faintly. "Please, Mr. Potter, have a seat," Dumbledore said, going back to his chair. He settled in as Harry dropped to the edge of the visitor's chair, impatient. "Yes, indeed." Dumblesore opened a tiny box on the desk and pulled out an old gold ring, set a cracked black stone. He laid this on the desk and looked up at Harry, all humour gone from his face. "Forgive me, Mr. Potter, but I have a great deal to tell you."
"About what?" Harry demanded, staring at the ring.
"About Voldemort." Dumbledore folded his hands on the desk. "About you. And about what needs to be done to stop Voldemort, once and for all."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:24 am (UTC)I like how the story is going so far. I just wish we could knock Ron over the head a few times. I wonder how Harry will reveal everything to his friends. It shall be interesting.
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Date: 2006-01-23 05:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
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From:yayayayay!
Date: 2006-01-23 03:24 am (UTC)Hee hee. Awesome. Great job working in the HBP things. Two things
Harry lopped along at Hagrid's side as they walked out of the forest. "How much of the muggle fairy tales true, about unicorns?" Harry asked
Should be
Harry loped along at Hagrid's side as they walked out of the forest. "How much of the muggle fairy tales true, about unicorns?" Harry asked
Lopped is cut, loped is ran. lol.
and
Harry gave her a look, happy in a why he couldn't explain that she was acting like herself again. She'd been scaring him. "We can tell him it was all my doing. He knows how goofy I am."
Should be
Harry gave her a look, happy in a way he couldn't explain that she was acting like herself again. She'd been scaring him. "We can tell him it was all my doing. He knows how goofy I am."
So yeah, love it, keep writing.
As much as I'm not a fan of the whole horcrux theory, it looks like it will be good. And I'm interested in seeing how the potions book works out.
-Owen
Re: yayayayay!
Date: 2006-01-23 05:07 am (UTC)Thanks for the mis-types. After staring at the text so long, I can't read anymore. Oh well :)
Meow
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From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 03:27 am (UTC)I love how Ginny ends up being the one to recieve Snape's potions text book, and that Harry's still taking Care of Magical Creatures. Ron's being a right git, he really does have the emotional range of a teaspoon, doesn't he? Interesting Luna-ness in this chapter, what could Micheal want with her? (no doubt Harry will find out and try to 'fix' the situation.)
And ohhhh the ending! It's so ominous. I can't wait for the next chapter, to find out what Dumbledore will say (though I'm thinking it's going to involve Horcruxes? Maybe?).
Man, I love when you update =) <3 Lurve!!
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Date: 2006-01-23 05:18 am (UTC)I think Ron's always had the emotional range of... um, at least a measuring cup, but he's at that state in his life where he cannot, for the life of him, express himself. That's why he managed to muck things up with Hermione so much.
We'll soon find out what Dumby has to say. I can only hope that the secret to saving the world isn't bunnies.
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From:Ron ... and bigotry in the wizarding world
From:Re: Ron ... and bigotry in the wizarding world
From:enjoyable
Date: 2006-01-23 03:28 am (UTC)Re: enjoyable
Date: 2006-01-23 05:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 03:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:26 am (UTC)I must admit, HBP is not my favourite book. There are some things that Dumbledore did that, while great for the story, sucked rocks in terms of strategy. And, being the kind of author that I am, I plan on fixing that :)
I miss Anita et al as well. I may have to start writing little missing scenes with them, to bide over until we see them again.
Hope your California trip works out well!
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:31 am (UTC)I have wondered if Harry would have acted differently, if he had family out there that gave a damn. Yes, he would have been raised differently, but I mean at school, in the dangerous things he was doing. Anyway, this is the best way to solve that conundrom.
Glad you're enjoying the chapters!
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:47 am (UTC)And Ron is furious once again at Harry...amazing how well you gather and write all those little details that make your story simply Mhalachai.
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:00 am (UTC)Ron's a source of irritation - granted, it does look bad, the little he knows....but leave it to him to jump to ALL the wrong conclusions. I'm also curious about the Luna scene, I don't see where that's going yet and will be interested in finding out.
The way you're working the 6th book into this even though it's the 7th year is going rather well. I liked the spin of Ginny's concern over the book - it's a good parallel. I see Dumbledore's about to have "the talk" with Harry too...I wonder how you'll handle it - you've do a good job of not rehashing information everyone knows without making it interesting, so I have faith.
Glad to see the note from Damian - a little warm fuzzy surrournded by a fair amount of cold-pricklies here and there.
All in all a good chapter. I like how this is going - it doesn't seem like you're having any trouble switching from the AB verse to the HP world (so if you really are, it's well-hidden).
And for all those paranoid about this being a Harry/Ginny ship - just threaten them with a Harry/Snape switch if they don't back off ..... of course, that may open the doors to a whole other group of HP shippers.....best just to go on as you have and let the complainers just stew themselves in their own worry. Leaves more fic for the rest of us.
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:31 pm (UTC)I will have to rehash a bit, but I'll get to do it the way I want, as opposed to what happened in HBP. It'll be fun :)
I won't threaten with Harry/Snape, as some will tell me to go for it. And considering the h8 between Harry and Snape in this story... bad idea. Very bad idea :)
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 04:26 am (UTC)it's interesting to see the ways that you're incorporating hbp, and the ways that things turn out differently - the book is a good example.
ron is really pissing me off at the moment, but he does that a lot, really. it'd all be better if harry just *told* them about his summer, but that would cut the story short, ans we don't want that.
i wonder what dumbledore is going to say - it always annoyed me that he knew so much more than he was ever going to tell anyone.
anyway, great chapter! i like the little hints of h/g that you are sliding in, withought really beating up on the head with them. it's strange to see harry acting differently after the summer, and everyone's reactions to that. what's up with luna, anyway?
ok. definitely time to go to bed, i'm rambling. cheers!
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:34 pm (UTC)Luna -- all in good time!
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:30 am (UTC)The shift from Harry to Ginny as the inheritor of the book is fantastic! I really like how you incorporated the effects of her first-year possession to the current events. I'm a little worried about the prejudices of Ron though----it'll be too easy for the Wizarding World to try and destroy Harry once he destroys Voldemort because he is a vampire-sired. Then again, the Wizarding World doesn't seem to need much more reasons other than paranoia...
I'm very much looking forward to the next chapters.
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:36 pm (UTC)The WW has always found a reason to be against Harry -- he's a Parselmouth, he's crazy, he's a fame-seeker, etc. They will always latch onto another.
Thanks :)
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Date: 2006-01-23 05:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:37 am (UTC)Besides, it's always nice to get notes from home :)
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Date: 2006-01-23 06:00 am (UTC)I realize you are dealing with seventh year, and as a result, most of the characters are more mature (except Ron, who couldn't mature if he needed to to survive) and you have done some interesting things with both Luna and Ginny this chapter. As for Ron, I am really hoping that he and Molly lose their link with Harry as they are the two most prejudiced people in the series, and they have both hurt Harry a great deal before. Ron in fourth year, and Molly in fifth year. I look forward to more of Luna as I'm quite interested in what is going on there. The only problem is, Michael Corner was in Cho's year, and thus, has graduated.. No-one has ever repeated a year, so I'm curious as to why he's still there. Was that just an error using his character on your part???
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Date: 2006-01-23 09:01 am (UTC)Apparently, Cho likes guys who aren't the same age as her.
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Date: 2006-01-23 08:07 am (UTC)I'm just wondering how much further Ron is going to enjoy tasting the soles of his own shoes there, until you gets to his knees on his pants?
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:26 pm (UTC)Mmm, tasty feet.
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Date: 2006-01-23 08:59 am (UTC)At least your reasoning for it is a lot better than JKR's...
*is still rooting for Harry/Ginny/Luna*
I like the whole Ginny and the Potions book thing, and the theme of witch burning - with Elsa, and Julianna, and Harry's essays.
Oh, and...
"Oh, lotsa years," Hagrid said. "He was here before I started me firs' year. Was here for about a decade after I was expelled."
Er, if you're going with canon, Slughorn taught at the absolute least through the school year 1972-3, which is approximately 30 years after Hagrid was expelled. My reasoning? He had Regulus Black in his house, and Regulus is younger than Sirius...and going by the commonly accepted dates, Sirius started Hogwarts in 1971-2. I always think of Slughorn as having taught until about 1980, when Snape took over, when the war was getting really bad and Slughorn decided hiding was more important.
Of course, if you're not going with canon, that entire paragraph is completely irrelevant.
And the bit about Errol was quite amusing.
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:26 pm (UTC)Bunny
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Date: 2006-01-23 01:42 pm (UTC)What's up with Ron and Luna. I can understand that Ron is a little ticked of, but doesn't he know Harry good enough to know that Harry would never deliberately hurt Ginny? This was an evil cliff hanger. I can't wait for more:)
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:37 pm (UTC)Evil cliff hangers are my speciality :)
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Date: 2006-01-23 03:27 pm (UTC)The problem with Ron at this stage is that I don't think Harry doing a tell-all about his summer will make things better. In fact, they'd probably make things a lot worse. Right now, Ron just thinks Harry is perving on his sister and has been lied to/misled. If he suddenly found out about wolf!Harry and Damian being his grandfather, he'd utterly freak.
I liked the Luna interaction, and I suspect her confusion is in large part due to the mixed messages Harry is sending - she's not quite sure what to make of him. (Which, being Luna, really says something.)
It'll be interesting to see how Dumbledore's conversation goes. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:45 pm (UTC)You're totally right. Well, if Harry told Ron all, then Ron would think Harry was perving on Ginny AND had been brainwashed by the baddies in St. Louis. They both need a kick in the head, however. Hopefully Hermione's ready for that. (Or else she gets so fed up that she flips on them both, which might happen too)
Luna's used to last year's Harry... and frankly, he's done a good deal of growing up over the summer. She'll get used to him soon, though.
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Date: 2006-01-23 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2006-01-23 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 05:33 pm (UTC)Brilliant chapter
Date: 2006-01-23 05:57 pm (UTC)Vampiress
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Date: 2006-01-23 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 06:57 pm (UTC)I can see where Ron would get all the wrong ideas from Harry's behavior. I mean, he wasn't exactly subtle when he was checking out Ginny. But God forbid they actually *talk* about it instead of glowering at each other. Boys.
I love the little changes that you incorporated, molding HBP into something new that fits in so well with your story. Lavender being all wistful towards Ron and Ginny getting the book. Fantastic.
I'm really interested with what's going with Luna. You rarely take the expected road, so I really wonder why Corners is bothering her. I also wonder what direction your going to take Draco. So far he's been kept in the shadows, Harry really hasn't been thinking about him much (unlike HPB where it was pretty much obsession). Of course that doesn't mean he isn't planning something. *shifty eyes*
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Date: 2006-01-23 07:38 pm (UTC)There is also a very real difference, too, between a muggleborn and someone with Vlad's Syndrome. It's also possible that in my little world, really bad wizards of old lied and said they were sired by vampires, which would perpetuate a bad cycle. As more and more time goes by, the myth sort of grows, just like how Parselmouths are seen as bad.
Boys.
Yah.
Luna and Draco
We'll see how it goes :) I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
*Sniff*
Date: 2006-01-23 07:00 pm (UTC)But I'm supposed to be commenting on this chapter. And boy is there stuff to talk about. Ron's got flying off the handle down to a fine art, doesn't he? I know he's being protective of his sister, but I think it's been established that Ginny's a big enough girl that she won't appreciate the way he's treating Harry. It should be pretty funny if/when she finds out about it.
Great work with Ginny being the one to find the Potions book. Very nice parallel and certainly a more telling use of a plot device than the original. Not to mention the opportunity for Ginny to turn to Harry for advice/comfort. What me ship Orange Crush? Hehehehe.
I'm guessing that Dumbledore is going to tell Harry about Horcruxes and what-not...Can't wait to see how you develop it. Cuz you know, I wasn't refreshing the f-list all weekend checking for a new part. No pressure or anything.
:D
Re: *Sniff*
Date: 2006-01-23 07:50 pm (UTC)I'm... sorry?
I think it's been established that Ginny's a big enough girl that she won't appreciate the way he's treating Harry. It should be pretty funny if/when she finds out about it.
Hee hee... there will be surrounding issues, so it will be a huge blow-up for a bunch of reasons.
I'm guessing that Dumbledore is going to tell Harry about Horcruxes and what-not...Can't wait to see how you develop it. Cuz you know, I wasn't refreshing the f-list all weekend checking for a new part. No pressure or anything.
Actually, writing is on hold for two weeks while I have two contracts to do. But then soon after, I promise.
Re: *Sniff*
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2006-01-23 08:14 pm (UTC) - ExpandRe: *Sniff*
From:no subject
Date: 2006-01-23 11:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-24 05:10 am (UTC)Harry noticing girls.... well, I figure he's a bit of a late bloomer, but while in St. Louis he had a bit of a revelation.... all the hawt vamps and lamia and weres, plus Anita, plus being around such sexual beings, he started thinking "oh, yeah. sex." Then he gets back to England and his new Sex-o-matic vision is still working, then hey it's Luna! and Ginny! and Hermione's pretty hot too, but she's like a sister.... and more girls!
Basically, he's being a teenager, thinking teh sexy thoughts every 10 seconds.
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