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halothenthehorns · 3 years

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TLTNL- EDUCATIONAL DECREE NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR

Harry felt as if it had been ages that he'd taken the book so lightheartedly. His godfather still weighed heavily on his mind, he could not erase the fear that their last argument wasn't going to be the end of things and Harry still worried deeply for the end results of that, but finally something was going right in school! He couldn't wait to learn what all became of that!

Harry was happier the rest of that weekend than he had been all term. He still had some pretty late hours with all his homework, but the sunshine prevailed and they spent it out under the shade of some trees instead which made the work more bearable. Hermione, who of course was up to date on her work,

Sirius chuckled as he told Harry, "you manage to say that with such perfect exasperation."

"It never fails to boggle the mind," Harry grinned.

"Well compared to her third year, I imagine even seventh won't feel as bad as taking all the classes at once," Lily shrugged.

brought knitting needles and more wool to knit themselves while she happily edited their work.

The idea of now actively doing something to resist Umbridge and the Ministry was finally giving Harry the satisfaction he'd been needing.

"Is that all you needed?" James grinned in relief his son was finally starting to sound and clearly feel more normal again. "Didn't the Order help with that?"

"I wasn't actually doing anything of use on that front," Harry shrugged, "knowing someone's out there helping and my actually helping are two very different things for me."

No one argued that point, they all felt the same.

He kept reliving the moment where he realized all those people had been there because they believed him, respected him, their looks when Cho had praised his accomplishments about the Tournament.

"Which bit was your favorite part again?" Sirius smirked, to which Harry ignored him.

That so many people didn't find him a weirdo still left him smiling Monday morning, despite the prospect of all his least favorite classes.

"I still want to see someone hung for that, it truly sounds like yet more torture for you this year," Remus said in disgust.

He and Ron came down the stairs, but were distracted from leaving the common room by a very large sign covering up the normal flyers on the board, including the school rules Filch kept up to date, Quidditch practices, who would trade what Chocolate Cards, lost and found, dates of Hogsmeade visits, and the Weasley's advertisement.

"They're still hanging those up! I thought Hermione would have a cow on them if she saw?" Lily yelped in concern for the twins health.

"This one wasn't nearly so big or as flamboyant," Harry shrugged, "she may not have even noticed it a second time." It was truly depressing that the second Harry had locked in on this new thing, his face had gone right back to that unhappy, sour look he'd carried through most of this book.

Instead in great big unable to miss letters was the notice of Educational Decree Number twenty-four, signed by the High Inquisitor. All organizations, societies, teams, groups, or clubs were hereby banned unless approved by the High Inquisitor. This consisted of a group of more than three people. Any students found in any of the above without permission by the High Inquisitor would be expelled.

Harry looked up, surprised no one had interrupted him during that to state their disgust, and found four stunned stupid faces. James even had his mouth hanging open in shock.

"That is the most ridiculous thing, I have ever heard, in my life," Remus struggled to even get this out.

"Are you kidding me!" Lily screeched in outrage. "You must be absolutely joking. Of all the stupid, I mean she didn't really, no one could have let her-"

"But Quidditch!" James and Sirius broke in with unison disgust.

"Priorities men," Remus scowled at them, "how about, even we couldn't have hung out at school! Group's of three or more, bloody hell, just walking down the corridor is banned in that stupidity!"

"Would you lot focus," Lily snapped. "I can't imagine how this was passed, she is literally just putting up laws now that fit her own need, how on Earth is this being passed! I am absolutely disgusted anyone could be part of this."

"I think you're all missing the big picture," Harry kept scowling at nothing, "which is, how did she know?"

That did catch them off their own problem, as each ran through the list of all who were in the Hog's Head that day.

"Must have been one of the students, none of the other customers care enough to say anything about this." Remus reasoned out.

"Harry did keep noticing that one shifty person," Lily reminded.

"So there was a shifty person, they still wouldn't have a reason to go darting to Umbridge," Sirius brushed off.

"So the best idea is that arsehole Zacharia, everyone else there never showed any problem with this," James decided.

"That friend of Cho's," Lily said uneasily.

Harry's stomach twisted in pain even as his eyes lit on her for some understanding he got from that, but then Sirius dismissed at once, "loyalty to her friend would keep her mouth shut I'm sure, Zacharia didn't have that with Ernie or that other chick," and Harry was no longer sure what he'd been thinking of.

"Great, now that that's decided, I can't wait to hear what the twins do about this," Remus sneered.

"But Quidditch!" James was not going to let that point go. "That means Harry's team has to be reinstated by that toad! I can't go a whole other year without hearing about him in the Championship!"

Lily smacked him upside the head while Harry kept going with much less enthusiasm now. He'd had all of one page to enjoy himself and that had already been taken away.

Harry and Ron read the notice over the heads of a couple of second-years, who began talking to each other in concern about their Gobstones Club.

"Youthful innocence," Remus sighed.

Harry turned with forming fists to Ron as he hissed that she knew.

Ron at once said she can't have, but Harry insisted she still could have been there, or anyone who had been could have ratted to her. He'd thought they'd believed in him...

"Oh Harry they do," Lily promised at once. "I've realized time and again what a beacon of hope you are for your generation, how so many look to you-"

"Usually not in a good way," Harry interrupted with a scowl, clearly refusing any kind of comfort.

James wouldn't give in that easily as he tisked at Harry, "remember what Dumbledore said last year? If you're striving for universal popularity you're going to be waiting forever. You've hardly ever looked past the bad people are saying of you, try for some optimism a good twenty something people are on your side that you know of, not counting the ones I'm sure are still in that school."

Harry thought about this for a moment before he really did smile. Somehow, he just knew, before all this was up he'd realize his parents were right and that was enough for now even if he didn't feel it currently.

Ron at once said it could have been that Zacharias bloke, or that Michael Corner, he'd been shifty.

All of them at least got a small laugh out of Ron's one track mind, but at least he'd said the main suspect first, he wasn't entirely acting like an overprotective brother.

Harry looked around and didn't yet spot Hermione, so decided they should go up to her room to tell her about this. Ron at once took off for the stairs.

"I can't believe it took you this long to get in this one!" James snorted with glee.

"I found that out during my second year, and it was for a much better reason than visiting a friend," Sirius agreed with a wicked grin.

Harry gazed bemusedly at them, realized they weren't going to elaborate, and kept going curiously what the problem with this was.

He didn't make it past the sixth step when the stone beneath him vanished, turning into one long smooth slide, and Ron was left to tumble backwards and land at Harry's feet.

Harry offered him a hand up as he gazed at the new type of passage, mentioning he no longer thought they could go up to the girls dormitories.

"No, that mustn't be it!" Remus made his eyes go as wide as possible. "What on earth gave you that idea!"

Harry just rolled his eyes at the sarcasm while still grinning at the mental image Ron had provided.

Two fourth years came sliding down, giggling at the ride, while Ron turned an affronted look on Harry and demanded why not, Hermione had been in their room.

Hermione managed that moment to come sliding down, already explaining it was an old- fashioned kind of rule,

"That timing," Lily rolled her eyes.

"I'd have been much more impressed if she'd been coming down headfirst," Remus snickered at the thought.

that Hogwarts: A History said the founders thought boys less trustworthy.

"That is entirely insulting," James pouted.

"What about in the Slytherin common room?" Harry asked in surprise. "They don't even have stairs, how do they stop there?"

"Temporary dirt funnel over you," Sirius grinned. "Any time you try to step pass the barrier, a wall of dirt circles you, though girls around you still come and go, it leaves you pinned like that till you turn around and then it opens again for you to leave."

"Same two things happen for the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws," Remus agreed.

"Why am I the only one insulted by this?" James protested of them.

"Because it's a fairly pointless rule considering most couples don't enjoy spending time in their rooms considering all the, err, shared space, so most find other places to...interact." Remus rolled his eyes at him. "You just get mad because when you tried to fly your broom up there an intruder alert went off and McGonagall showed up and nearly cursed you before realizing what you'd done."

"She never did let that one go, gave him a month of detentions and threatened he'd be in her office for life if he ever set off another alarm like that again," Sirius chuckled.

Harry wouldn't let himself be distracted by this as he dragged Hermione over to the notice and waited impatiently for her to reach it. She'd hardly looked back at them when Ron snapped about someone blabbing, but she began protesting at once no one could have done.

Ron told her she was being naïve,

"Ron just said the same thing before Hermione showed up," Lily rolled her eyes.

"But now of course he realizes he's wrong and he's correcting her as well," Sirius shrugged.

but Hermione insisted that if anyone had done so, they'd now be jinxed because of the spell she put on the parchment everyone had signed.

Harry had hardly paused for breath upon realizing this before he startled at the burst of laughter from all sides. He looked around with his own amused smile to see that even his mum was giggling like mad that Hermione had done something so, underhanded, to ensure silence for this group.

"Hermione is a girl of many talents," James calmed down first as he fixed his glasses.

"She really is something when it comes to protecting her own," Lily agreed fondly.

Ron now looked on, impressed as he asked what this jinx was, and Hermione said it would make the person who blabbed regret it, they would have more blemishes on their face than actual face.

The boys lost it all over again, cackling like idiots, and Harry joined in this time to help relieve some of the tension living in him of how sure he was this was going to be happening at some point.

She beckoned them to head down to breakfast, wondering if this had been put up in the other houses yet.

"I can't imagine why they wouldn't be," Remus shook his head at the idea, his grin still stuck in place for Hermione's curse.

The three of them found the twins, Ginny, Dean, and Neville chatting uneasily as they approached, and they all looked to Harry asking what they were going to do about this.

Harry said do it anyways of course.

"I never thought anything otherwise," Sirius smirked.

George beamed and said he wasn't surprised, though Fred looked suspiciously at the two prefects as he asked if everyone would be in?

"They knew what they were getting into before this stupid, I don't even want to call it a law it's so sad it's a thing," Lily scowled.

Hermione said of course at once, while Ron pointed over his shoulder and said the two prefects from Hufflepuff plus some Ravenclaws were headed over here now, and he still couldn't spot anyone spotty.

Hermione turned around in surprise as she hissed that wasn't the point, they couldn't come over here now, it would be too suspicious.

"No it won't," James said in confusion. "People chat with other people from different houses all the time."

"Still not best to have it clear and obvious who's coming up to talk to me right now," Harry shrugged.

Remus was biting his tongue to hold in the sarcastic comment that even the Great Hall was technically now falling under the more than three people in one group rule.

Hermione began waving frantically at them all to go sit down, while Ginny huffed she'd tell her boyfriend while calling him a fool.

"I already sense true love," Lily giggled as she nestled in a bit to James' pleased smile, both parents missing the stricken look Harry seemed to get for no reason because of that.

She hurried off to the Ravenclaw table, while Harry watched Cho chatting uneasily with the same friend. He wondered if that notice would scare her off from future meetings.

"You could still offer her private lessons, those still even fall under-"

Remus smacked Sirius for Harry this time just so Harry could keep going.

They were leaving the Great Hall when Angelina caught up to them, and informed them this new decree also meant the Quidditch team.

"I can't believe you were more concerned over this group you just made up than your Quidditch team!" James was still stuck on that one.

Harry and Ron were just as shocked to realize this as Angelina turned pleading eyes on him not to have any more outbursts with Umbridge or she'd never let them reform their team.

"I'm getting a really bad feeling about this," Sirius said uneasily, already imagining that toad excluding the Gryffindor's from playing ever again just because Harry was on the team! Surely Dumbledore wouldn't really let that happen though!

"She can't stop Quidditch," James said flatly. He didn't look quite as dangerous as when he'd heard about that quill being used on his son, but this was a good second. "There'd be a true revolt, even the other houses would go barmy if she stopped one team because it would ruin the whole year's structure."

"Breathe you two," Remus tried for comfort even as he shifted uneasily in place at the idea of this. "Prongs said it himself, there's no way this is going to last, I'm sure."

"Least someone is," Harry sighed, he couldn't get rid of this pit of nausea telling him he should have enjoyed Quidditch while he still had it.

Harry quickly agreed to this, mostly because Angelina looked ready to burst into tears.

"Is that all it took, for her to start crying to get you to stop," Lily at least grinned for that.

They walked off then towards History of Magic, Ron saying he was positive Umbridge would be here for this lesson.

"Could she even get rid of him?" Remus asked, clearly looking to think on something else before his friends blew a gasket over their topic. "I feel like even if she did fire him he wouldn't even take notice and he'd just keep showing up."

"I actually agree," Lily nodded. "You'd have to designate a new classroom and put a teacher in there, and then Binns would just show up and keep talking to an empty room."

"The worst part is, Umbridge would probably consider him a good teacher if she doesn't fall asleep in the back like everyone else," Remus sighed.

None of the boys laughed like the two had been hoping.

She however was not, and class began as normal, Harry doodling rather than actually taking notes, and it took several hard prods from Hermione before he looked up. She however was not gesturing for him to pay attention in class, but to the window, where Hedwig was.

"What on Earth?" James began in confusion, that had finally caught everyone's attention onto one subject, and it wasn't History of Magic.

"What's Hedwig up to?" Sirius tried to lean over in concern to look at the book. "Either she could have dropped off her reply with breakfast or she should have waited till you were alone."

Harry had no answer, all he knew was the powerful burning protection rising in him as he gazed at the memory of his owl and hurried quickly on.

Harry took a quick look to the teacher, who was droning on as ever, but still kept low as he went to the window and let her in. Instead of holding out her leg as usual, she hopped inside, hooting dully. Harry quickly moved her to his shoulder and went back to his seat, placing her on his lap instead before he saw the true problem, her feathers were ruffled oddly, and a wing was bent out unnaturally.

"Someone attacked Hedwig!" Harry snarled in outrage.

"Oh the poor dear," Lily crooned in concern, "I can't even imagine what."

"I really can't either," Remus shifted uneasily, remembering clearly who that letter was from...nothing could have happened to Sirius right?!

Harry hissed in surprise she was hurt, while Ron leaned over and Hermione put down her quill to look.

"There's a miracle in itself," Sirius said as he jittered uneasily.

Hedwig was shaking slightly on Harry's knees, and when he tried to touch her wing, she puffed up and tried snapping at him for it.

"Bird bones aren't exactly easy to break, despite being hollow," Remus began prattling off as he pictured it in his mind's eye. "It must have taken some very great effort to bend it out of shape, I can imagine Hedwig fought back-"

"Remus," Harry all but begged, shutting him up instantly as Harry kept hastily going.

Harry waited no longer to take to his feet and call to the professor he was not feeling well.

"Honestly Harry, you could have just walked out and he wouldn't have noticed," Lily told him with a straight face, she knew she would have if her pet had shown up injured.

Professor Binns raised his eyes from his notes, looking amazed as always to find people present.

No one could even crack a smile for this display.

Harry was already walking towards the door, his owl stashed behind him as he declared he was going to the hospital wing.

Binns hardly acknowledged his own dismissal of Perkins as he returned to his notes.

"First time in my life someone called me wrong, and I can't even enjoy the moment," Harry muttered sourly, his eyes flickering to his father's owl and away with longing, he wanted to know right now his owl was okay, he couldn't get rid of this terrible premonition something could be very wrong with her.

When he left the room however, he dithered on where to actually go. His first thought would be Hagrid, but failing that, he decided he had no one to ask but Grubbly-Plank.

"That's so sad," Lily groaned as she twisted up some of her hair with worry, "but I'm positive Grubbly-Plank will help her, she's been nothing but decent so far."

Looking through the nearest window, he did not spot her with a class on the grounds, so decided the best place to start looking was the staff room.

That made Sirius question for the first time where the woman was even staying. It's not as if Hogwarts had an abundance of guest rooms set up, though he supposed one would obviously be provided for her, and entirely not the point right now.

When Harry bolted there, he was met with two talking stone gargoyles who tried to discourage him from knocking, though Harry ignored them as he said it was urgent. It was McGonagall who answered the door, taking one flashing look at him and demanding if he'd been given another detention.

"Must love her faith in you," James continued shifting in unease as they all watched Harry read with panic over his poor pet. They were sure she was fine, it more than likely wasn't a critical injury, but it put them all on the edge something like this had happened so randomly.

The gargoyle interrupted to remind it was urgent as snidely as it could.

"That's not helping," Sirius said through gritted teeth.

Harry quickly showed his owl and told who he was looking for, and was relieved to see the woman was in fact inside. She began inspecting Hedwig at once, talking to herself about how a Thestral was capable of doing this, but Hagrid had the ones on grounds well trained not to attack owls so this wasn't likely.

Remus nodded absently, he'd worked all that out silently himself, and had been hoping for some other answer while Harry absently noted his question of those winged horses had just been answered and he hadn't even realized it.

Harry neither knew nor cared what Thestrals were;

"Oh the irony," Sirius couldn't help but mutter.

as Grubbly-Plank asked how far she'd traveled?

Harry just said to London, and by the look on McGonagall's face, it was clear she understood who the recipient was.

"She's never been slow on the uptake," James began fidgeting all the more, now fingers crossed she'd pull Harry aside so the two could go check on Sirius. What on earth had happened here?

Grubbly-Plank noticed nothing as she asked Harry for him to leave Hedwig with her for a few days, she could take care of this.

Harry gave an uneasy thanks, but before Harry left McGonagall gave Harry the letter Hedwig had been carrying this whole time. Harry took it with one last pitiful look at his owl, who was watching reproachfully as he left as if abandoning her.

Harry shifted guiltily, wishing he could have done more for his owl or at least stayed with her. Remus and James tried to draw comfort from the fact that Harry was more worried for Hedwig than Sirius, surely if he thought something had gone wrong with his godfather he'd be even more upset.

McGonagall escorted him to the door where the bell had been rung and students were starting to swarm from both sides. McGonagall just had time to warn the message that channels of communication in and out of Hogwarts were being watched, before he was swept away.

"The worst part is we already guessed as much," Lily said with grim disgust.

Harry made his way to the courtyard to find his friends talking in low mutters. They both at once asked how Hedwig was, and Harry explained where he'd gone and what McGonagall had passed along.

Neither looked surprised, as Hermione began to say this was the first time Hedwig had ever been intercepted, or had she ever been hurt in flight before?

"Not even to wherever the bloody hell Sirius was hiding before, but now at the safest place on earth," Harry snarled in disgust, still shifting restlessly and knowing he was going to feel off until he knew his owl was back to one hundred percent.

Ron asked about the letter then, and Harry opened it to find Sirius' writing and the simple sentence; same time, same place.

Ron hissed in surprise if that meant he was planning another visit tonight?

"Can't imagine what else it would mean," James said dryly to cover up his heart thudding harder every second. If Sirius didn't make an appearance tonight, than he'd know something was wrong. Surely though it was just Hedwig's response being intercepted, and not the fact that someone had attacked her and Sirius while he'd been putting the letter on the owl. Harry would have been told if something like that had happened, right?

Hermione said that part was obvious, and she just hoped no one else had read this.

Harry said it had still been sealed when he'd got it, plus no one could even understand what this meant.

"That bit is impossible at least," Sirius said with conviction, "no one else was around for last time, I'm sure it'll be fine."

Hermione wasn't as convinced, saying it was possible to reseal things with magic, and if anyone had been watching the Floo Network recently...

They all paled as they realized that, but Lily jostled herself back into thinking right. "That falls under Dumbledore's job to keep that monitored for the school on behalf of the Ministry..." but she trailed off right there, as even before this latest stupid decree it had been made clear Dumbledore's powers were quickly being stripped away. What if someone in the Ministry had noted when this had happened? Could it be possible they'd somehow traced it back to Grimmauld place? The amount of magical protection around that house should have made this impossible...but something had happened to Hedwig, and none of them could stop their stream of worries until they got an answer.

The problem was they couldn't warn him of anything without that being intercepted too.

"There must be some other forms of communication," Harry said through gritted teeth, something even more fearful rearing up inside of him at just the hint of the idea he couldn't get into contact with Sirius because of this, and something was going to go terribly wrong because of it.

Sirius and James exchanged a significant look before James said, "well yes there is, but usually those are private and preset up things that you and Sirius just haven't established yet."

Harry looked on at him in confusion, waiting for that to be explained more, and Sirius did just that. "A few items can be enchanted so that you can have conversations one on one, but like Prongs just said, you have to individually set them up and you and I haven't yet."

Harry still felt like they weren't saying something, but pressed on anyways as he just wanted this nasty feeling to go away. He tried to even remember that happy feeling he'd felt only at the beginning of this chapter, and already that felt like a foreign concept.

They trudged off to potions in silence, which didn't last long as the moment the room was in sight they also heard Malfoy speaking clearly for all to hear.

"I was under the impression that was always how he talked," Remus sneered, more than tired of hearing of this little prat near constantly.

Boasting about how Umbridge had signed off right away for the Slytherin team to continue, of course it was all thanks to his father's influence in the Ministry.

"Nothing should ever be a question of influence inside that rat hole!" Lily snapped in disgust.

The Gryffindor's certainly had no chance this way, as the Ministry had been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years.

"I wish they would," Sirius said nastily, "then half the Ministry would quit in protest and the other half would quit because the place couldn't even run anymore, then Fudge would be forced out of office and we could put someone with a brain in place."

"That was extremely elaborate," Harry told him conversationally.

"That's Sirius," James agreed.

Potter was no use of course, it was just a matter of time before St. Mungo's caught him and put him in the ward for the ones with brain damage.

"Considering that room isn't housing the whole of your family, I don't consider them that reliable," James sneered.

Malfoy began making grotesque faces at Harry, who had no time to react as someone forced past his shoulder, Neville.

"Uh oh," Lily sat straight up in concern.

"I hadn't realized Neville was around," James winced in concern.

"This could be..." Sirius trailed off as he couldn't decide how this was going to be. Neville would get a few good licks in, more from shock on Malfoy's part than anything, but now everyone in the area would question why this had affected Neville so bad, clearly something the boy was against as he'd never brought it up himself.

Harry leapt forward to try and stop him, to the stunned faces of everyone around them.

All five of them remained grim faced, the boys for once not even cheering this fight on. Neville deserved whatever he was going to do to Malfoy for that crack, but glory the motivation for it was the most terrible thing any of them could put into words.

Ron quickly joined in restraining their dorm mate, while Neville inarticulately shouted at Malfoy about not funny, Mungo's-

Snape arrived then, at once taking ten points away from the three struggling boys.

Harry only released Neville once Malfoy was inside, apologizing by saying Crabbe and Goyle would have torn him in half.

"Not if you'd backed him up rather than stopping him," Remus said under his breath.

"As you always say Moony, time and place," Sirius gave him the absent reminder, wishing he could go start his own fight with the twisted beings passing as people walking around with the intent to do this to their friends.

Neville said nothing as he stalked inside and set well away from them as class got started.

They were all still shifting uneasily in here for that distressing moment, each wishing they could do something, say anything to make that even remotely better, but words weren't enough.

Snape began class by saying they had a guest today.

Harry looked back around in surprise and was amazed he'd missed the pink amongst the black background, Umbridge was present, clipboard in hand.

James's mouth opened with a little pop, before he exaggeratedly clutched at his throat and began pantomiming distress.

"Honestly, I'm with Prongs," Sirius nodded along while Lily watched him with mild concern for the show. "I've never been more torn who I want to see come on top on this one."

Harry exchanged a look with Ron and Hermione, all of them feeling the same. It was hard to decide who to root for in this moment.

"Why can't I have normal friends who just say something like that, instead of you two idiots?" Remus gave a small smile as Sirius had switched to raising both hands and clearly weighing both sides, and James had only slightly calmed down by now making exaggerated faces every few seconds.

"Oh hush Remus, you know full well you want to go get the camera right now," Lily said with mild indulgence at the display.

"Well I can't tell them that, then they'd think I approve or something," he smirked.

Snape gave this no more attention as the told them all to begin today's work, but Harry was so interested in watching Umbridge shadow Snape Hermione stopped him three consecutive times from adding the wrong ingredient to his potion.

"I knew that conviction of not letting Snape get the better of you wouldn't last long," Sirius sighed.

"You're going to blow that potion up in your face if you don't pay more attention," Lily couldn't help but scold him.

Harry hardly gave her notice as Umbridge began her usual line of questioning, saying that while the class was clearly well handled, perhaps today's potion was too advanced and should be taken off the syllabus.

"I'm confident they'd want everything removed from the syllabus that doesn't involve brain washing," Remus snarked.

Snape gave no response to this as she switched to asking how long he'd been here, to which he curtly replied fourteen years.

"Oh how I long for the days of Slughorn, who'd have thought," Sirius grumbled in disgust.

"I will pay that man whatever it takes to never go into retirement and keep this from happening," James vowed.

Harry was frowning lightly to himself, wondering at that time frame, though surely it couldn't be anything too significant...

Harry was watching his expression, and so looked down in surprise to find his potion had gone from the turquoise it was supposed to be, to orange.

Lily shook her head, now completely giving up on the idea Harry's potion was going anywhere this lesson.

Umbridge and Snape kept his attention though as she asked that Snape had first asked for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post? When he gave a one worded answer, she affirmed he was unsuccessful?

"You know at some point, I almost wish he would be," Sirius groaned. "Then he'd be gone after that year."

Harry gave an odd little laugh of agreement he was sure shouldn't feel as significant as it did.

Snape's lip curled as he stated obviously.

Remus snorted in surprise, and then at once was affronted he'd done any such thing, and covered his face with shame.

"There, there, Moony, we all lapse in sanity sometimes," Sirius grinned as he patted his shoulder with comfort.

"Now what was this about me being dramatic again?" James smirked. "I would never deny when anyone made a good comeback."

"Shut up Prongs," Remus huffed as he scowled at him instead.

Umbridge just made a little note before asking he regularly applied for the job?

Snape gave another yes, clearly growing angrier by the moment.

"It is actually hurting my soul to be enjoying this so much," Sirius was watching the book with an intense feeling even he couldn't quite read. It wasn't quite pleasure, but far more understanding than he'd ever given Snape in his life.

She then asked why Dumbledore denied him the job?

"He's afraid to let him into a classroom with daylight, he might melt," James smirked.

"Wrong myth dear," Lily muttered without explanation to his confused look. She was sitting far back in her seat with her arms crossed. She still couldn't quite bring herself to the level of mocking him like the boys were doing, but for once in their life, they all seemed to be of the same mind when it came to Snape right now.

When Snape did not give a satisfying answer, she decided she'd have to ask the headmaster herself then. She walked off to begin questioning the students, and Snape stalked straight over to Harry, noted the way his potion was frothing, and then vanished it again with no grade for this class while also assigning him the homework of the correct way to brew this potion.

"Merlin's pants, you congratulate the man for one second on doing something right and he turns around and does even more bull loaded nonsense!" Sirius groaned in disgust.

"Snape reached his limit of my liking for him and then shattered it all in the same stretch, I'd be impressed if I wasn't pissed," James huffed in agreement.

Harry glared hatefully at him as he walked away. Snape had already assigned one lesson today, now Harry had two. There goes another sleepless night.

"I found it cathartic to try breaking something, like his nose," Remus said so only Sirius could hear, causing him to at least giggle a bit, but the two kept that one to themselves.

Harry trudged off to lunch glumly, considering skipping Divination so he could spend the time starting that new assignment from Snape.

Hermione disagreed at once for the idea,

"I really can't see how it makes too much of a difference honestly," Lily said grudgingly. "That's a waste of a class, you're prioritizing."

"There are many reasons I fell in love with you dear," James grinned at her, "this is one of them."

Lily just grinned as she waved on her surprised son.

Ron told her she was one to talk, she'd walked out on the class.

Hermione defended she found the subject a waste, but Harry had already missed History of Magic this morning, he couldn't afford to keep skipping all his classes.

"He was doodling during that class, I hardly think he missed out on something riveting," Sirius snorted.

"Hermione is a terrible conscience if she can't even tell you how to sort your day out," Remus sighed.

Harry grudgingly agreed to this logic as he went off, but found he wasn't the only one having a bad day. Trelawney was stamping around the class placing the books down as usual, but was muttering tersely under her breath and did not stop as more students entered. She dropped the book loudly on Harry and Ron's little table, nearly took Seamus' nose off as she thrusted the book at them, and actually pushed Neville off his pouffe as she put the book in his arms.

"I know Monday's are terrible, but this is getting ridiculous for all parties," James said in confusion.

When all eyes watched her with worry, she snapped at them briskly to get a move on, or was she such a substandard teacher they didn't even know how to open a book?

"Ouch," Remus winced, all of them at once understanding what must have happened.

"Is it of some comfort she wasn't outright fired?" Lily sighed, none of them particularly liked her, but that didn't mean they wanted her under Umbridge's thumb either, which seemed to be what had happened.

"Not much," James groaned.

Harry leaned in and whispered to Ron it looked like Trelawney had gotten her inspection results back.

Parvati raised a tentative hand and asked in genuine concern if something was wrong?

Trelawney said in a throbbing voice of course there was nothing wrong! She'd been insulted, accused, but there was nothing wrong!

"As if she doesn't contradict herself enough with her predictions, now she's doing it in real time," Sirius tried for his old mocking tone, but even he didn't hate Trelawney enough to poke fun at this.

The class watched as a few tears spilled from her eyes while Lavender asked who'd insulted her?

"If she really can't piece that together logically than she could at least consult a crystal ball," Lily muttered without any real heat.

Trelawney got some of her old dramatics back as she stated the establishment! Her kind had always been persecuted.

She spent the rest of the class striding about wiping away tears, muttering threats under her breath about how dare they put her on probation and she may well quit from the indignity of it.

"Of all the teachers to go on probation, she wasn't exactly number one on my list," Remus sighed.

"Even she didn't deserve this," Harry grudgingly agreed past all his annoyance at her.

Harry arrived at his final class to find Hermione waiting for them, as Harry told her and Umbridge both had something in common, they both found Trelawney a fraud, and he explained about her probation.

"That was insulting Harry, a fact does not give two people anything in common," Lily said flatly.

Umbridge entered with the usual standard and for all wands to be put away. There was no flurry of movement this time, no one had bothered to take their wand out.

"I'd be worried for their mental health if they had by this point," Sirius snapped, then winced at the careless comment as he imagined Neville's reaction again.

She instructed them which chapter they were to be reading today and finished as always there was no need to talk, coupled with the trio under their breaths.

"No need to think, more like," Remus sneered in disgust.

Harry came back to the common room that night to find Angelina in a state, she hadn't been given her permission for their team.

Harry at once promised he hadn't done anything today-

"You already have though Harry," James sighed. "That first day you asked to go to tryouts told her all she needed to know about the best way to get to you."

Harry looked horror struck he could be the reason his team didn't get set back up, so Lily quickly soothed, "oh I'm sure you're all exaggerating this, Quidditch is a set Hogwarts tradition, even Umbridge can't be stupid enough to think she can go on without letting the team play forever, someone will step in." Even she didn't look very convinced by the end, that woman had already gotten away with far too much.

Angelina assured she knew it wasn't Harry's fault this time, the woman had said she just needed time to consider.

Ron told in a temper she hadn't had to think about anything in regards to the Slytherins, but Angelina just shook her head pitifully as she walked away.

Hermione tried to point out the bright side, at least now he had more time to do Snape's essay.

"That's not the bright side I was looking for," Lily groaned, even she wouldn't put that in the good column.

Harry demanded of her how no Quidditch but extra potions was a good thing?

Still, he had no choice but to begin on his work, proven extra difficult tonight by the amount of noise in the room. Fred and George had apparently perfected their Puking Pastel, and were demonstrating it to a cheering crowd. The twins took turns eating the orange bit, and vomiting spectacularly until they got down the purple pill. Lee was assisting by making the bucket they were vomiting into randomly disappear.

At least the Marauder's looked entertained at this display, while Lily found the whole thing rather sad this was getting such a show. Could watching someone vomit really be so entertaining?

Nothing was helped by Hermione tisking in disgust, and as Harry scratched out the wrong information for the fourth time in frustration, he demanded she go yell at them and get it over with if that's what she wanted.

Hermione was just as frustrated she technically couldn't, as none of this was against the rules.

Ron was watching the show with some surprise, asking how they hadn't got more than three OWLs each? They clearly knew their stuff.

Hermione scoffed they only knew flashy things that were of no real use.

"No real use!" Sirius looked stricken.

"This is the most valuable thing I've ever seen invented, far more useful than a dozen spells I could name that have only one purpose! This is a multipurpose gift!" James agreed.

"Would you lot calm down," Lily rolled her eyes at them. "So they make you vomit, Sirius' socks can do that."

"Not stop on command though," Remus reminded, "think about it Lily, this could even have some real world applications for spies, slipping this into someone's food and they couldn't stop unless you promised them the antidote."

Lily pursed her lips even as her mind did begin spinning past the trouble it caused. Satisfied that everyone at least appreciated these things on some level, Harry did keep going with a small smile in place now.

Ron pointed out one use the twins were already prospering in, they'd made more than twenty-six Galleons tonight alone.

"And there's that," Remus agreed absently.

Finally though the crowd stopped shouting, orders were taken, and the room began to quiet down. Harry still wasn't even halfway through his work though when Ron shouted in surprise at Sirius.

James and Remus finally felt themselves relax since the news of Hedwig's arrival. They wouldn't even admit to themselves how worried they'd been for him about the attack on Harry's owl during this delivery, but clearly he was just fine and it had been some other thing to happen to Hedwig completely unrelated to Harry's godfather.

Harry happily slid from his chair to greet him, Ron and Hermione joining him on the hearth along with Crookshanks, who tried nestling up to the fire.

Lily giggled happily at the idea, eyeing her cat whose tail was just being spotted hanging from the staircase banister.

Sirius grinned as he saw them, asking how things were?

James felt the same grin appear on his face and he wasn't even beside his mate, it was just natural even when he wasn't in on the joke, though he did wonder what Sirius knew and was eager to hear.

Harry grumbled not that good, how the Ministry was forcing them to have Quidditch teams approved-

and secret Defence groups? Sirius inserted.

Harry stared in stunned disbelief at the words before turning wide eyed to his godfather, who at once put his own baffled hands up in surrender. "Don't look at me, even I'm not that good."

"And it takes a lot for him to admit to that," Remus said off hand even as they kept watching the book for this explanation. Maybe Padfoot had showed up after all but not even been seen by Harry just to prove a point, that seemed the kind of thing their friend would likely do.

There was a pause before Harry demanded how he knew about that?

Sirius kept grinning as he said the Hog's Head was a terrible choice.

Hermione defended it was better than the Three Broomsticks, always packed with people-

which would have made them harder to overhear, Sirius pointed out.

"At least some things about you never change," Remus grinned.

Telling Hermione she had a lot to learn.

"And I'm sure he'd be happy to teach you," Lily shook her head for him.

Harry wouldn't be distracted and demanded how he knew, and Sirius explained Mundungus had told them, he'd been the witch under the veil.

Harry's mouth flopped open, outraged that he was still being followed, before he glanced up and saw all of them not trying very hard to stifle giggling at the thought of Mundungus dressing up like this. James pushed the idea further by getting out around a shaking voice, "wonder if that was Sirius' idea for the disguise, and Dung was too afraid to say anything otherwise?"

Harry did crack a grin for that at least, though it didn't at all make him feel better as he still hadn't been told about this, this time not even by Sirius.

Harry was outraged he was still being followed.

That did make the others realize as well Sirius had been fully aware of this and had not passed this information on, but James defended his mate on this one. "Firstly Harry, when exactly was he supposed to tell you this? Maybe Sirius didn't even know you still were until Mundungus showed back up to say what you'd done." His face soured for his own explanation though, as Sirius should get first say in what happened around Harry.

"Besides that, maybe Sirius just assumed you still knew. Followed outside of school, why not while in it too," Remus rolled his eyes at the absurdity of this even while he explained it.

Harry just sighed but decided against butting heads with Sirius over this when it more than likely still wasn't his decision.

Sirius just chuckled it was a good idea if the first thing he was going to do was go out and create illegal defence groups. He in no way looked angry or worried, on the contrary, Harry found pride as he kept gazing at them.

"I swear you are the worst influence on his life," Lily didn't even bother trying for a stern tone as she grinned at him. "Can't you at least pretend to scold him before congratulating this idea."

"I'm not even going to bother to apologize," Sirius kept snickering.

Ron asked why Dung had been hiding, but Sirius explained he'd been banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago.

Harry had felt some growing unease since he'd read Sirius' letter, so he tried to ignore why for a moment and asked, "what's the story there?"

"Sadly we've only ever heard some garbage from the man himself," Remus sighed.

"We tried to get him to meet us there for an Order meeting one day and he wouldn't go," James pouted, "only said he hadn't been there in ages. When we asked the barman, he told us when he'd been banned but wouldn't say more."

"Maybe he showed up without covering his face and ruined the motif," Lily rolled her eyes at all of their disappointment at not learning something.

"Considering how off that barman is, my best guess is it was something personal though," Sirius grumbled, wishing he did know what had happened.

Then he switched by turning to Ron,

"I still think this Dung in a dress thing warrants far more commentary," James chuckled.

"Keep it to your own head then," Lily rolled her eyes at him.

and said he'd promised to pass along a message.

Ron asked what that could be with clear apprehension.

"I am to," James' face at once tightened in concern of what that woman had to say about this.

Molly had said under no circumstances was he to be involved in any illegal Defence groups, she did not need to hear of him being expelled. There would be plenty of time later for him to learn to defend himself, and he was still too young to be worrying about this.

"Merlin's pants, she sounds like Umbridge!" Remus protested in disgust.

"That's a bit extreme," Lily frowned at him. "She doesn't want to hear of Ron in trouble."

"Why didn't I ask the other three Weasley's to be in attendance for them to hear about this as well?" Sirius rolled his eyes.

"How exactly would you have secretly phrased that?" Harry chuckled, "I'm sure Ron'll just pass it along to them, for all the good it'll do."

Sirius then looked at all three of them and finished he hoped Harry and Hermione followed this advice as well, but she accepted she had no control of this and just had their best interests at heart.

"Would love to have been there for that bit," James huffed, wondering what Sirius had said to remind Molly that's all she could say on the subject.

She'd have made an appearance tonight to say this herself if she hadn't been on guard duty.

Ron asked guarding what, and Sirius just said Order stuff.

That gave them all a moment of interest. This guard duty got more interesting the more they heard about it, though it was still infuriating just hints kept being dropped about it instead of actually being told what it was, especially by Sirius himself.

He then asked Ron to make sure his mother knew he'd at least gotten the message, he didn't think she trusted him to pass it along.

"Honesty I'm a bit impressed you did," Lily snorted.

Then Sirius went back to watching Harry with a grin, who asked with defeat if Sirius was going to ask him to stop?

"As if," they all scoffed at once that's the conclusion anyone could draw. Sirius saying something like that would be akin to him declaring undying love for Snape.

Sirius looked surprised this was his conclusion, he found this a great idea!

"There's my Padfoot," James chuckled.

Harry felt his heart lifting at once as Sirius said he and James would never have lain down and taken orders from Umbridge.

"Not a chance on the Map," James' grin turned wolfish, Sirius at once agreeing while Remus looked a touch offended. He could understand why Sirius wouldn't have said the whole of the Marauders, that would hurt his heart too much to possibly ever say again, but he'd have liked to at least been acknowledged as well during that. Clearly even his name being passed along by Sirius was too much to ask for anymore, and this somehow continued to get more depressing the less he was mentioned.

Harry was still surprised, as all last year Sirius had told him to do was not take risks- but Sirius brushed that off that last year they'd been concerned about Voldemort coming back. Now he was, and Harry needed to do everything in his power to keep himself up on defences, this was a great idea!

"I notice you've yet to ask us how we'll be learning?" Harry smiled at him. "I'd have liked to know what you thought of me teaching the lot of them."

"I'm sure pride, amusement, and a list of other good things," Sirius smiled fondly at Harry who couldn't help but beam.

Hermione asked and if they were expelled?

"I'd thought she'd sorted out her priorities by now?" Remus sighed.

"Then you'll have less homework and more time to practice," Sirius snorted at her oddly.

"This was her idea, why's she suddenly the one bringing this up," James rolled his eyes in agreement.

Harry protested this had been Hermione's idea, but Hermione said she still wanted to hear what Sirius had to say about that.

Sirius just said better kicked out of school knowing than inside without a clue.

"Why do you seem to be the only person thinking like that," Remus agreed with an unfocused gaze, Sirius turned to look curiously at him for the tone and not understanding the put out look still on his face.

Sirius happily switched to asking where this was going to be taking place?

Harry said he'd love some ideas, because they hadn't a clue.

Sirius at once suggested the Shrieking Shack.

"You'd think you'd realize same as Remus did, that's not big enough for almost thirty of them," Lily looked at him in confusion.

"I might not know how many of them there were," Sirius shrugged, "if it had been ten or less it may have worked better."

Hermione didn't think so, saying there was no way they could all sneak down there like they had, one Invisibility Cloak wasn't going to cover it.

"I don't see why that's her problem," James said in confusion. "Sure the cloak helps to sneak onto the grounds, but so long as they don't do it after school hours while taking turns sneaking down there, that wasn't really the issue."

Sirius didn't argue and instead offered a space behind a mirror on the fourth floor, that had always been roomy.

"That one could have been big enough," Sirius pouted, "if it hadn't caved in."

"I'm really coming up with nothing short of a classroom, which is ridiculous when you consider how big that school is but nothing outside of the classrooms hold that many people," James ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Harry said Fred and George had told him ages ago it had caved in.

Sirius strained to think of something else, but then froze, looked sideways into the brick wall, and suddenly looked alarmed.

Harry's voice spiked in concern at once, James nearly startling out of his seat at such an abrupt change, and Remus leaning in protectively close to Sirius as he watched the book dangerously for what that face could mean. Sirius was at Grimmauld, and Harry was at school, surely nothing could be happening at either end or they would have realized it before now...

Harry anxiously asked what was wrong, but Sirius had already vanished.

James couldn't help jumping out of his seat then, his face stark white with concern as he fought back the impulse to snatch the book away from Harry's stuttering, fear filled voice.

Harry turned puzzled eyes on his friends, trying to ask them what that could have been about, but then Hermione let out a horrified shriek and leapt away, followed by the boys as they spotted a hand groping through the fire, with short stubby fingers covered in ugly old rings.

Lily began swearing violently as her mind raced to realize what, how this had happened!

The three raced off for the stairs, Harry looking back one last time to see Umbridge's hand still snatching at the flames where Sirius' hair had just been, determined to snatch him.

"No, no, no!" Harry shouted in outrage. "How could she! There's no way she could have known you were there, how could she even manage to do that to you! What did she almost do?"

"Pulled him right out of his fireplace into her's," Lily answered through numb lips.

Sirius didn't realize that pressure was Remus' hand curled so tight on his arm, prepared to wrench him out of the way of something any second, until he tried to move towards Harry and reassure him everything was alright, he'd escaped. He looked back at Remus steadily, who had to concentrate to unfurl his hand, before Sirius promised Harry and everyone, "relax, I bolted, she didn't grab me or you'd have realized it. You've never done this before, but you can still sense what's going on at your end as well as the place you're visiting. You can also still feel the Floo Network working around you. I'd have sensed someone else trying to jump in and I bolted, there's no way she could tell where, everything's fine."

No one looked remotely reassured. Too much adrenaline still pumping in them, too close a shave that Sirius was once again trying to blow off. He hardly even looked ruffled, if his eyes were a little wider than usual than that was more mild surprise than anything someone had gotten so close to him.

James was still shaking and too white from fear as he kept a steady eye on his brother, that had been the most fear inducing moment yet and it had happened while he'd been chatting with Harry! What was wrong with this world Sirius couldn't have one actual conversation with his son lately without something happening to someone!?

#The Life that Never Lived #Harry Potter #HP #Fanfiction #reading the books #ootp #The Marauders #Jilly #James Potter #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #Lily Potter

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Way Down We Go

Fandom: Harry Potter Pairing: Remus Lupin & Son!Reader Summary: Oh, father, tell me, do we get what we deserve? Word Count: 2,135 Request: @apple-pie-and-ice-cream “Can I request Lupin x son Reader where the reader is also a werewolf?” A/n: Headcanon that the week of the full moon, senses are heightened because here’s some whump for yer. Remus is so easy to write for, send me more request for this dork

“Think I’m losing my mind.”

Hermione rolled her eyes as you leaned your head down on the long tables in the great hall, tired as you struggle to keep your eyes open, after a full moon in May you were getting back on your feet after being bedridden after the full moon.

“You’re being dramatic, (Y/n),” Hermione vocalised, though she paused when she hears your wince, “Are you okay?”

“Sensitive ears,” You hummed, rubbing them gently before propping up your face, leaning your elbows against the wooden tables, “I’m fine.”

Hermione narrows her eyes, opening her mouth to say something until she decides against it. You stare at her, knowing what she was thinking. She had her suspicion for a while since Snape had set the werewolf essay back in November - she’s been keeping an annoyingly close eye on you.

It happened over the summer, Dumbledore was right at the door the day after the full moon with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall. Your mother had been worried sick, considered pulling you out of Hogwarts. So, as you lay in your bed recovering from the bite, Dumbledore explains to your mother about your predicament.

Dumbledore had explained that you could continue going to Hogwarts, as Hogwarts is the safest place to be. Madam Pomfrey would tend to you and McGonagall was there just to support your new life, to mother you when you get to Hogwarts.

The two women remember a boy your age, with similar eyes like yours. If they could provide Remus Lupin one good time at Hogwarts, they sure will do the same for his son.

“You know, your father came to my office on Wednesdays for tea, you’re welcome to come visit,” Poppy says, smiling softly as she heals the wounds as best as she could, grimacing that there would be a permanent bite on your neck and scars running from your torso to your stomach.

You sat up so she could look at your back, you were much more scarred than your dad, more on the body and less on your face.

“I’m slowly turning into dad,” You hummed, “Next thing, I’ll be reading books willingly and wearing sweaters with patches on the elbows.”

McGonagall couldn’t help but smirk, “Yet, your dad was one of the greatest pranksters of his year, and your dad isn’t bad.”

“I’m a were,” You snorted at the joke as McGonagall and Pomfrey roll their eyes because that was a common joke that was thrown around, before frowning when they noticed how you stared at yourself in the mirror, “I’m hideous.”

Sure, there were no major scars on your face, just minors one. Two serrated scars cutting through your right eyebrow, small but definitely someone would mention. There is a scar on your lip too, in the same direction as the other two but this was cutting through the upper lip and space before the lip.

“I think you’re still handsome,” McGonagall says, “If I recall, many people fancied your father because of his scars, and I tell him all the time whilst he was in school that features do not define who you are, it’s what on the inside that does.”

Being at school was bearable but you had no heart to tell your dad about the condition, Snape was involuntarily making wolfsbane potion. Remus would have his monthly batch delivered by Snape whilst Snape drops yours off at McGonagall’s office where you would collect yours.

You talk a lot to your head of house, how you couldn’t bear to tell your dad about your condition because he was so happy to find out that his son did not burden with such a heinous illness. The shrieking shack is a place you were supposed to go, but you avoided that area since that’s where your dad takes place to shift.

Though you notice a cat in the forbidden forest in your first shift, it stayed with you all night and when morning came, dragged clothes by its teeth close by for you to notice but at the same time not giving you any looks before running away so when you shifted back bare you had clothes to change into.

So, over the course of a year, you got closer to McGonagall and Pomfrey, had Friday teas with your dad to catch up weekly and spend time with your beloved father, keep up with your studies, stop yourself from decking Snape in the face when he has a snark with you, and try not to die whilst being friends with Harry Potter.

Then, just a few weeks before the June full moon, you informed your conditions to your friends, they comforted you that you were no different to what you were before they had known. You explained you hadn’t told your dad and some professors were known of your situation.

“It doesn’t make you any different, you said Snape has been giving you potions?” Ron asked as you nodded, “So, you’re not a monster, you’re a brilliant person (Y/n)!”

You smiled, “Really?”

“Really, mate,” Harry nodded, grinning, “Can we make wolf jokes though?”

“Yes mate,” You laughed, nodding, “But, not too obvious.”

“I’ve always wondered where you got the scars from,” Harry says, thumbing your scars on your face, “I noticed the ones on your back.”

“Have you been watching me dress, Potter?”

“Can’t help it, Lupin,” Harry teased, grinning impishly, “You talk loudly, you draw attention to yourself.”

“Sod off, Harry.”

Which brings you to the present, hearing your dad snap at Peter as Hermione and Ron watches you gag on the potion, your back facing your dad.

“How does that taste?” Ron asked.

“Spectacular,” You responded, sarcasm evidently on your tone.

“Full moon this week,” Hermione asked, as you furrowed your eyebrows, “What is it?”

The trio was aware that you had to drink the wolfsbane potion the week leading up to the full moon and just before the full moon.

“I don’t feel so good,” You gagged again, stumbling away from your friends.

Remus turns his attention towards you, getting concern when he sees you stumbling away from the rest of them then cringing when he hears you emptying your stomach. He wants to go to your aid but then he had to keep an eye on Peter.

“Harry!” Hermione shouted, pointing into the sky and seeing the full moon.

Harry’s eyes widen, driving straight towards his friends watching his godfather beg his best friend to remember who he is. The three off them watch in horror to see their professor transform in pain, they can’t imagine what you’re going through.

“(Y/n)!” Harry exclaimed, trying to look for you in the long grasses.

“Harry, no!” Hermione bellowed, gripping Harry, “He’ll be fine, he’s taken his potion.”

Harry had turned his attention to Snape grabbing them, before getting floored as the werewolf tried to wipe them clean. Of course, a dog intercepted mid-air swing, the two were at it before the dog was once again flung into the long grass.

The werewolf slowly made it’s way closer before getting attacked by another werewolf, smaller. The trio watches with wide eyes as you protected your friends from your dad who was no state of mind of his actions.

“(Y/n)!” Ron shouted, causing you to turn to look at him before your dad had attacked you.

Whimpering as you watched the werewolf snarl at you move towards the long grass were Sirius had landed as a dog. Harry had escaped Snape’s grip to follow.

“(Y/n)?” Hermione softly says, Snape was about to snap at her but stops when he hears the werewolf whimper slightly.

Looking at them, you paw your face then neck, blood was seen before stepping away.

“He’s injured,” Ron says, his eyes softening when he sees your human eyes plead, “He’s-”

A werewolf howl was heard into the forest before they knew it, you followed your dad before anything else could happen. Your friends prayed you were okay.

Morning breaks out, the summer sun shining through the trees. You groaned as you found some clothes by the bushes, you smiled to yourself as you put them on. Feeling the comfort of the sweater, you noticed that there were extra, larger clothes for your dad. You sighed, touching your chin to feel dried blood.

You remember most of the night, you followed your dad into the forest and it was hunting. You tried to pry him away, fight him, but he was larger and stronger. You had lost him for the rest of the night.

You try to crack the discomfort in your bones, your body weighing you down as you try to search for your dad in the large forest. When you found him, he was just coming around to the land of the living.

You threw him his clothes, shielding your eyes, “Morning dad,” You mumbled.

Your eyes too sensitive to the sky and you did not want to see your dad naked. Remus opened his eyes and noticed you, shutting your eyes close.

“Go to the shade,” Remus says, groggily, “What are you doing out here?”

“Making sure you’re okay,” You say, taking a few steps back into the shade, “Are you decent?”

“Mhm,” Remus confirms as you pull your arms and hands away from your face, “(Y/n)... What happened last night?”

yes, Remus felt like utter shit, but you were bleeding and bruises were formed. You were pale, uncomfortable, you looked sick almost.

“The full moon happened,” You say as if it explains everything, but continues as you did not want to make out your dad had attacked you to become a werewolf, “I took my wolfsbane potion, you didn’t.”

Remus remembers now, he had witnessed seeing your head tilt back with a small vital in your hand, taking down its contents before you suddenly started to retch in the long grass.

“Did I-?”

“No,” You interrupted, knowing what he would ask, “Sirius and I, well, mostly I put up a good fight, Merlin, is it always this loud?”

Remus knew what you were complaining about, sensitive ears - everything was louder. You were looking down rather than looking at him, the sun was blinding you even more. Remus had gotten used to the heightened senses, but the way your body shook he could tell you were not used to it.

“Come on, it’s a long walk back to the school grounds, but if we go now, we can make it before anyone wakes up or notice us.”

You don’t wait for his response as you start to limp your way back to the school grounds. Remus groans as he stands up, popping back his joints into place as he made his way next to you.

“When?” Remus asked, his voice soft as he hears you softly wince.

“Summer,” You responded, “I hadn’t had the heart to tell you...”

Remus’ fatherly senses could tell that you were ashamed, he knows what you’re feeling - he went through it your age.

“I could have helped you,” Remus says, coming to your aid as you limp, he may be in immense pain but he was used to it - you, not so much, “You don’t have to do this alone.”

He stops you, makes you face him as he sighs, his thumb runs over a bruise under your right eye, he examines you. The scars, the scabs, the bruises. He noticed your werewolf bite in your neck, he wonders how he has never noticed it. He placed a firm hand on your shoulders.

“We have each other’s back, you said that yourself,” Remus comforted as a small smile started to form.

“I know, but-” You shake your head, “You would just, I don’t know, be afflicted with all my problems.”

“(Y/n), you are my boy, my son - as a parent, I have to guide you. I want you to be better, to know better. I can’t do that when you’re keeping secrets.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” You let out a shaky breath, offering him a smile, “You’re too good of a dad, I don’t deserve you.”

You lunged yourself on to your dad into a massive hug, you both groan at impact, but he grips your tight nevertheless, afraid you would slip out of his arms.

“You’re still my boy, werewolf or not. As you said, we have each other’s back, we do things together, all the way down we go.”

“Way down we go,” You affirmed, you shuffled before cowering, “I really need to get to the hospital wing so can we wrap his hug up for later?”

Remus simply laughs, as he lets you go, helping you onto the Hospital Wing.

“Do you think Madam Pomfrey will let us have chocolate for breakfast?”

“You wish, kid.”

#Remus Lupin #remus x reader #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin x male reader #x male reader #platonic

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eveninglottie · 5 years

Text

the spaces in between

[hp ficlet series] Ron + wanweird + “Bloodstream” by Stateless

For three months, it’s perfect.

Ron can’t quite believe how perfect it is, actually. It feels a bit too perfect, he thinks, when he’s waking up every morning with a mouthful of bushy brown hair and a small, stupidly adorable snoring in his ears. Hermione Granger is in his bed, sprawled out across him like a useless starfish with her mouth open and drooling a bit around her retainer.

This shouldn’t be perfect, he thinks, grinning as she burrows her head into his chest. He shouldn’t feel like the luckiest bloke in the whole entire world, but he does, and that’s mental, because his life up til now has been a series of disappointments and near-death experiences caged in by a chronic lack of self-confidence. The last he doesn’t blame himself for--it’s hard to be best friends with the literal savior of the world and the smartest witch of her, or any, really, age and not feel like a monumental failure. And it didn’t help coming from a family where his mother frequently called him the wrong name only to forget him when she was doling out sandwiches two hours later.

He’s fine, though. He’s older now and he’s happy, so fucking happy, because he’s alive and Hermione’s alive and Harry’s alive and if he thinks every night of Fred and how not alive he is, it’s bearable, because the rest of his family is alive and he’s not alone.

He’s dating the girl he’s loved for seven years, and he’s not alone.

So when Hermione snorts herself awake and blinks her eyes open, sticky and soft, and then smiles up at him, he thinks it’s about as perfect as he can get.

The problem with perfect, though, is that it’s not a static thing. It moves with you, so your perfect one day might be burnt sausages and licking ketchup off your girlfriend’s face while she squirms and laughs, but the fourteenth day of burnt sausages and ketchup in places it shouldn’t be isn’t perfect--it’s pretty annoying. Your girlfriend doesn’t stick around for a morning shag because she’s got things to do, things you aren’t involved with, that are very important, change-the-world kind of things.

Ron always knew Hermione came with her brilliant mind and her inability to let anything, ever, go. He loves her, and he loves this, and he knows better than to complain because there’s nothing for him to complain about. And if he realizes pretty quickly that working alongside Harry Potter, Ace Auror, Dark Wizard Hunter, isn’t the same as going to school with Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, he doesn’t mind, because he’s happy, so happy, that his best friend is doing something he loves and excelling at it.

Because Ron knows it could be much worse. They all could have come out of the war bitter and angry and broken, and their friendship which had formed the bedrock of his life for seven years could have died along with Voldemort. So he swallows his own inadequacy, stops trying to be something he’s not (even if Harry and Hermione both try to tell him he’s the only one who thinks this), and he goes to work with his brother, and he settles for being the normal, perfectly average friend and boyfriend of two extraordinarily exceptional people. He’s happy. It’s perfect. As perfect as he can get.

It takes another nine months for things to start cracking.

Hermione misses their anniversary because she’s working on a case to allow house elves the opportunity to organize in something she’s calling unions (apparently it’s a muggle thing, Ron doesn’t really ask more than that). She’s been overworked for weeks and she’s got bags under her eyes and she frequently tries to walk out of the apartment without various vital items of clothing before Ron stops her with a kiss and a coffee and a bagel because she woke up too late to grab something for herself.

So when he’s sitting at the restaurant checking his watch, and it gets to be nearly an hour and she still hasn’t shown up, he doesn’t get angry. He goes back to the apartment, works a bit on a new recipe he and George are trying to improve the taste of a new line of whiskeys that induce different emotions in the drinker. He loses himself for a while (he’s not bad at this stuff, he’s learned, even George agrees, and George is contractually bound as his older brother to humble him anytime he gets a big head) and when Hermione stumbles in at half-past two, he just greets her with a hug and bundles her off to bed without a word.

The need to save face used to drive him mad, sometimes, but he doesn’t feel that same kind of determination to prove himself any more. He knows who and what he is, and he doesn’t need to prod other people to confirm it. He’s happy. He’s in love. His perfect has become throwing Hermione’s portion of dinner into a tupperware and going to sleep alone. His perfect becomes stolen moments on the weekends when he convinces her to stop working for a few hours and he reminds her that he is still wildly attracted to her.

This is what love looks like when you’re in your twenties and holding down a job at your brother’s wildly successful shop while your girlfriend changes the world. Perfect is knowing she loves you, even when she gets mad that you’ve used the last of her toothpaste or reorganized the linen closet. Perfect is taking care of her cat who seems to feel the same kind of neglect as you, though you’ll never admit out loud that you’ve grown fond of the orange monstrosity. Perfect is working hard at your relationship even when you feel like your partner would rather negotiate cases about the rights of merpeople than go to the beach with you.

He mentions this once to his mother, when Hermione shows up half an hour late to a family dinner, apologizing profusely, only to leave soon after when she gets called back in by Harry, of all people, who stopped coming to family dinners when he split up with Ginny (which somehow becomes Ron’s fault when his mother asks him to explain what happened). She tells him she knows what it’s like to be married to someone who spends more time at his job than at home. This helps, actually, because his parents are still in love and it’s been nearly thirty years. If they can manage it, surely he and Hermione can. They fought in a war together, after all. So what if Hermione’s still finding and fighting her own small wars every day? He loves her. She loves him.

That’s perfect enough for him to last another year.

He doesn’t know when it happens, but he stops waiting for Hermione to make it home for dinner. He just puts her portion in the icebox and goes into his studio, the space he claimed for himself when it was clear that Hermione couldn’t stand his “mess,” as she called it. Never mind that that “mess” is his business, his very lucrative business, that is responsible for their new, more spacious flat in a nicer neighborhood, because it’s not like the Ministry pays anywhere near what he makes. He tries not to bring this up, but he can’t help it when Hermione implies one night that she can’t just take a break from work like he can, not when her work is so important, when she is so important.

He tries not to hear what’s unsaid. That he’s not so important he can’t take off work, because his work isn’t important. But he’s never been good at being the better person, and something inside him snaps. They fight. They fight like they used to fight in school.

It’s the first night he spends in his office above the shop.

It’s the first night he wonders if this isn’t perfect. Or worse, if it isn’t good. He loves Hermione. And he knows she loves him. He knows that. That should be enough. It was enough for his parents.

But he’s not his mother, and Hermione’s not his father. He can’t just coax her back home when she’s been spending too much time working. He used to be able to, but he doesn’t want to try now. Because he doesn’t want to fight any more than they already do. He’s not patient, and Hermione’s not gentle, and the small moments they steal together no longer feel like little gems of treasure. They feel like reminders. Painful, teasing reminders of the life they’re not living.

It’s two years, one month, and thirteen days when he finally asks Hermione if she’s happy.

She looks at him in surprise, like she didn’t realize he was there. Her chopsticks hang in the air for thirty seconds, her take-out forgotten as she stares at him over the table. She’s got a stack of papers beside her, covered in her own fevered handwriting, one knee tucked up under her chin.

She’s wearing one of his t-shirts. It’s bigger on her than it should be, because she’s thinner than she should be, because she forgets to eat so often now, and Ron loves her so, so much--it hurts how much he loves her.

It hurts when he starts crying and she sits there, shocked into silence. He asks her again through tears, and she still says nothing, because there’s a haunted, horrible look in her eyes that he’s only seen once before when he was sixteen and stupid and thought it was better to hurt her before she hurt him--when she pointed her wand at him and he saw the jagged edges of her love in the wide-eyed, angry look he found in her eyes as he drowned in yellow feathers.

She doesn’t answer that night, even though they lose themselves soon after, clothing ripped and nails digging into skin as they both seem to realize they’re running out the clock. They start speaking less even as they spend more and more time franticly clutching at each other. They have sex more in those following days than they had the last six months. They start jumping each other the moment they’re alone. Sometimes they don’t wait--and coaxing Hermione into an orgasm in the shadowed corner of a club when they’re both drunk (something his younger self would have died to do) doesn’t feel sexy and dangerous. It feels desperate.

It takes three weeks for her to answer.

The morning is bright and beautiful. Summer blows in the smell of flowers and warmth, the sound of children laughing in the park across from their flat.

Hermione’s sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a coffee, and Ron knows right away that something is different, because she doesn’t nurse coffee in the morning. She’s too busy. She’s gone usually before the sun is up. He watches her hands tremble as she turns to him.

Her brown eyes are deep, depthless even in the summer sun. They’re dark and lovely and Ron wants to jump into them and drown because he knows what’s coming.

He’s seen it coming for nine years. Almost a decade spent with this brilliant, beautiful woman, and he knows he’s finally run out of time.

He used to think she was too good for him. He still thinks she’s too good for him. He thought he would try, every day, to be worth her love, and he tried so fucking hard, but it took him two years, two months, and three days to realize that it’s not a question of worth. It’s not even a question of love.

It’s a question of fate, because he knows now that he isn’t the kind of person who would break himself to save the world. He’s spent enough time around heroes to know, without a doubt, that he wants nothing to do with it. He doesn’t want to be a hero. He doesn’t want to change the world. And he’s okay with that, because he’s okay with himself.

And that’s why when she looks at him with the beginnings of tears in her eyes, he smiles and he catches her when she stumbles into his arms and tells him she loves him over and over and over again until the words have shifted their meaning. I love you becomes I’m sorry.

He tells her he isn’t sorry. He’ll never be sorry. She holds him like she’s trying to memorize the sound of his heartbeat, the smell of his clothes.

Ron holds Hermione until she’s stopped crying. He kisses her one last time. He thinks she tastes like the first snap of autumn, the first falling leaf, the soft grey sky over London.

She moves out the next day.

He’s alone, after everything.

And it still hurts, even if he saw it coming.

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#I WROTE A SMALL FIC #look at me doing something like a prompt fill #ron weasley #romione #hermione granger #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #hp ficlet series #also before anyone accuses me of hating on ron or hermione #the prompt is sad so I wrote something sad #I still love ron and I love ron/hermione #charlie writes

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mymindsmadness · 5 years

Text

Dear Ronald Weasley,

Happy Fanfic!Friday everyone!

This Friday, we’re continuing my Dear Drarry Series (yes it’s renamed because I was sensing a common theme). You can find the others at the links below.

For those new to the series, Dear Drarry, is a bunch of oneshots I’m doing told (almost) entirely through one-sided letters. They’re never very elaborate, so don’t expect much!

In this one:

Hermione has always been the brightest witch of her age, so when Harry’s eyes linger on a certain Slytherin for too long, she gets suspicious.

Warnings: Canon divergence, Slight homophobic (more like uncomfortable) Ron. Drarry-centric (like my life).

Previously:

Dear Mrs. Malfoy || Dear Mum and Dad ||

Year One

Dear Ronald Weasley,

I know you and I aren’t particularly friends, but seeing as we share a common alley, I thought I we could set aside our differences and converse like two well-educated students.

I’m sure that you’ve noticed that Harry didn’t exactly put up a fight when he was paired with Draco Malfoy in potions yesterday. In fact, I believe that the reason their potion resulted in combustion was because Harry had been whispering with Malfoy while adding the dragon root. It should be noted that you too, added too much.

Perhaps next time you won’t be too proud to ask me, as I was at the very next table.

Back to the matter at hand. Did you know that Harry met Malfoy before school even began? Despite his confrontation with you before the sorting ceremony, I think Harry wishes to befriend Draco Malfoy. Needless to say, this would be less than desirable.

Your response is appreciated,

Hermione Granger

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Year Two

Dear Ronald,

Honestly, Ronald. When are you going to let me tutor you in proper English so that I don’t have to ‘dumb down’ my letters to you? And before you reply, I know English is your first language. Perhaps then, you can explain why you find it so difficult?

But this letter isn’t about your poor study habits. I thought you ought to know that I saw Harry and Malfoy playing a seeker’s game out at the pitch yesterday when he was supposed to be at the library. Although I agree that Malfoy has been decidedly more… bearable thus far, I hardly think he’s as innocent as he appears. I worry that Harry might be in over his head with someone like Draco Malfoy. He’s a Slytherin after all.

Perhaps Harry is trying to find out if Malfoy really is the heir of Slytherin? Which reminds me, I’ve found that book we were talking about. The one to make the you-know-what. I don’t know where we’re going to get lacewing flies, but I have an idea. You’re not going to like it.

Keep an eye on Harry,

Hermione

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Year Three

Dear Ronald,

Avoiding me doesn’t mean we’re not going to talk about it, Ronald. I came to you because I thought as Harry’s best friends, we owed it to him to be open-minded. I thought that you would be more understanding. For Merlin’s sake, Ronald! Don’t be such a cliché.

If Harry really is (as you so delicately put it) bent, don’t you think you should show him that your support? And before you go all red, that doesn’t mean that he fancies you. In fact… something tells me we already know who Harry fancies.

I know Draco Malfoy isn’t the kindest person around, but he’s decent enough with Harry. And Harry smiles more when he’s around – have you noticed? I’m sure this is going to be hard enough on Harry as it is; the muggle world is hardly forgiving of such things.

Stop being such an utter idiot and speak to me. I’ll go mad if I have to figure this out on my own.

Hermione

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Year Four

Dear Ron,

Do not take this letter to mean that I am not still cross with you.

That being said, we need to do something about Harry. Have you even noticed the way people are staring? More than usual that is. Nobody has seen Draco either. It was bad enough that Harry couldn’t even ask him to the Yule Ball, but to have Malfoy taken as Harry’s ‘something he’d miss’. Poor Harry must be mortified! You could hear a pin drop when they both broke the surface of the black lake! (a muggle term, don’t worry about trying to figure it out)

He’s gone most of the day. He’s even taken to skipping classes. SKIPPING CLASSES, RONALD! I have a theory that he and Draco are hiding out in the Room of Requirement.

Can you imagine how Draco’s parents are taking things? Poor boys…

We need to do something, Ron. We need to take Skeeter down for reporting the whole thing. For now, we should just forget our silly fight, though I have no doubt you are unaware of what you’ve even done.

Meet me in the common room after dinner. Harry’s usually there around that time.

Hermione

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Year Five

Dear Ronald,

RONALD WEASLEY! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!

Let it be known that the only reason you are not getting a howler is because Harry, the saint that he is, talked me out of it!

I cannot believe that you’re so shallow, so loathsome, that you would go days without speaking to your best friend! Last year was petty enough, but to shut Harry out over something as ridiculous as walking in on he and Draco in a compromising position!?

I cannot think of the words to express how angry I am with you. ME! I cannot think of the words! Do you understand the severity of that statement!?

You listen to me, Ronald Weasley! You need to shape up. Why Harry has put up with you for this long is beyond me. If you want to keep him (and me for that matter) as a friend, you need to start acting like one!

Hermione

P.S. Expect a howler soon anyway.

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Year Six

Dear Ronald,

I wanted to make sure you had everything. We’ll be leaving right after the wedding this summer. With everything that happened, I find myself becoming a little forgetful...

It’s all going to change now... We’re all going to change. Despite the hard time I’ve given you over the years, I especially don’t want you to change.

I wonder if after all of this is done, after Voldemort is dead and the chaos has subsided, if they’ll let me return to take my NEWTs.

Hermione

✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎

Five Years Later

Dear Ronald,

Please tell me you’ve left the Ministry already. Rose is becoming fussy for her father, and I can only produce so much milk. Don’t make that face, Ron, we’ve been married for three years, you’ve seen it all.

At this rate, we’re going to be late for the wedding, and although I have no doubt that Harry would excuse his best mates being late, I doubt Draco would.

Which reminds me, you still owe me five galleons for guessing that it would be Harry that proposed to Draco and not the other way around.

Hurry home, Rosie’s crying again.

Love you,

Hermione

#hermione granger #ron weasley #harry potter #draco malfoy #dear drarry series #drarry

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kprciffdw · 3 years

Text

Ratchet and Kim Possible Chronicles: The Solanian Revolution-Part 7

As the group made their way back the Phoenix, Wade appeared on the screen on the dashboard. Wade: "Hey, guys." Ratchet: "Hey, Wade. What's up?" Wade: "Uh…well, Kim's parents wanted to check up on you guys."

At that moment, both of Kim's parents showed up on the screen beside Wade. Dr. P.: "Hey, Ratchet!" Ratchet: "Oh! Dr. Possible!" Dr. P.: "I trust that you are keeping my daughter safe just like I believe you would." Ratchet: "Well…that's not so hard."

Kim and Ron peered out from behind the front seats and looked at the screen. Kim: "Mom? Dad?" Dr. P.: "Hey, Kimmicub! How's it going? Are you doing OK?" Kim: "Yeah, fine as always." Mrs. P.: "I hear that you have quite a terrible situation on your hands." Kim: "Yeah, there is a maniacal super villain by the name of Dr. Nefarious wrecking havoc on this entire galaxy." Ron: "He seems to be some sort of crazy robot that hates all organic life forms and thinks that all robots should be free from them." Mrs. P.: "Yes, we know. We saw that broadcast from that horrible villain. It's just awful. I really feel for the people of this galaxy." Ratchet: "And guess who these people have nominated to fend off this threat? Captain Qwark."

Dr. Possible seemed greatly surprised. Dr. P.: "What? That Qwark guy; the one who unleashed that nightmarish pet project on that other galaxy?" Ratchet: "The very same." Mrs. P.: "That's ridiculous! Why would anyone want to rely on someone so problematic and obviously dim-witted?" Clank: "Well, from what we were told, he was the only one who has faced off against Dr. Nefarious and lived." Dr. P.: "Even if that is true, they should not overlook that Drek incident and what Qwark did at that time." Mrs. P.: "Not to mention that you boys were the ones who saved this galaxy from that horrible catastrophe." Clank: "No, we have not forgotten, Mrs. Possible." Ratchet: "Heh! Apparently, none of that means anything to anyone around here. They really feel that he is our only hope." Dr. P.: "Well, I think that's all complete nonsense! If there is anyone who is capable and even competent enough of stopping that mechanical menace, it would be you, Ratchet." Ratchet: "Aw, you really believe that?" Dr. P.: "Of course, we have absolute faith in you." Mrs. P.: "We know you can do it. You really are capable of so much, perhaps even a lot more than people even realize." Ratchet: "Thanks, guys. I'm so glad to have your support." Mrs. P.: "We will always support you, Ratchet, no matter what." Kim: "Don't forget you have us to help you out." Ron: "Yeah, totally. We've got your back." Dr. P.: "If you ever need anything from us, let us know." Wade: "Right, the same goes for me. You know that I also have your back just as much as Kim and Ron." Ratchet: "Yes, of course I know that." Kim: "Mom? Dad? Wade? Thanks."

Kim's parents smiled at her as did Wade. The transmission was shut off. Clank: "Well, that was indeed reassuring to hear such encouragement from Ms. Possible's parents." Ratchet: "Yeah…they…they really trust me. It does make this annoying assignment much more bearable. I'll see to it that I live up to their highest expectations."

Kim placed her hand on Ratchet's shoulder. Kim: "You already have."

Ratchet looked back towards her and smiled as she did the same to him.

They were able to arrive back at the Phoenix. As soon as they landed inside and got out of their ship, they rushed over to their quarters. Ratchet inserted the vid-comic into the VG-9000 and switched it on. They then sat down on the sofa next to each other as Ratchet held the game controller. Ratchet: "Watch and learn, guys. This is how a real hero gets it done."

Qwark and his monkey watched from behind the bars. The vid-comic started playing, it started with a humorous narration that was hardly anything to be taken seriously, then got right on to the interactive part, which was a miniature gameplay and more humorous narration.

After the vid-comic, Qwark regained his memory. Qwark: "Huh? What happened to me? How did I get like this? And…oh, no! My outfit! It's in shambles! How did it come to this?" Clank: "It appears Qwark has regained his memory." Kim: "Yeah, that would be the case…unfortunately…" Qwark: "Huh? Hey! I remember you 2, you're that guy and that girl from that…that far off planet I never even heard of! What are you doing here?" Ratchet: "Yeah, that's him alright." Ron: "Um…is this supposed to be a good thing? I was to believe that it is, but I really don't see that." Ratchet: "To a lot of people in the galaxy, it is a good thing, but I wouldn't think so." Kim: "Me, neither." Ron: "Ditto." Sasha: "Well, he may need some time to adjust…In the meantime, I've got another mission that's perfect for you guys." Kim: "OK, Sasha, so, what's the sitch?" Ratchet: "Oh, man, I can't tell you how much I've missed hearing you say that." Sasha: "We've just learned of a prototype holographic device that can disguise the user as a Tyhrranoid even enabling their words to be translated into Tyrranese." Ron: "Heh, never thought I would see the day when we would come across an alien race that would speak another language rather than otherwise." Kim: "Yeah, I always thought aliens never spoke our language." Sasha: "Anyway, the device happens to be the grand prize on this week's Annihilation Nation." Ron: "Ah…Annihi-what?"

Sasha pulled out a remote and held it up. Sasha: "Here, check it out."

She switched on a preview of the show, on it involved what was in store for participants, which included a massive death course. Ron: "That place contains so many terrifying things and yet that guy was vaporized after taking a few steps." Ratchet: "Another day, another death course." Kim: "Heh! So not the drama."

They were walking out of their quarters and towards their ship. Kim: "Oh, by the way, that vid-comic thing was absolutely terrible." Ron: "Oh, tell me about it, KP. The story itself was so bad, even the narrator was criticizing it." Kim: "Heh, I agree with you. The only decent anything about that comic was the part mentioning the magic 8 ball."

Ratchet began to smile. Ratchet: "Have I ever mentioned how amazingly awesome you guys are?"

Kim and Ron looked at each other then back at Ratchet. Kim: "Uh…you…probably have." Ron: "About Kim more than anything." Ratchet: "Oh! Well, I would have to say the fact that you guys share the same strong resentment towards Qwark that I have makes me feel so lucky to have both of you as such great friends. I couldn't even ask for better ones." Kim: "Awww, why thank you, Ratchet. We're also glad to have you as our friend." Ron: "Oh, yeah, we've never made friends with space aliens, not to mention one that's as awesome as you. You're the man…uh…Lombax…person…" Ratchet: "Thanks, guys."

Clank giggled.

They soon got to their ship, entered it and left for the Annihilation Nation.

It was a long flight, but they were able to arrive at the Annihilation Nation. As soon as they landed and got out, Ron's trembling was noticed by the group at the time. Kim: "Uh…Ron? Are you OK?" Ron: "Th-th-th-this place…this place is…is…IT'S A DEATHTRAP BROADCASTED LIVE!!!!"

Kim and Ratchet looked at each other, they both seemed concerned, if not somewhat annoyed. Ratchet: "Perhaps we should let him sit this one out." Kim: "Agreed."

They looked back at Ron. Kim: "Hey, Ron. How about you stay here and…uh…look after the ship." Ron: "Copy that, KP. Just…don't get killed in there." Kim: "Oh, please, you should know better than to think otherwise. I mean, seriously, no big." Ratchet: "We'll see you soon, Ron."

They both walked into the games together.

Immediately after entering, they were greeted by an announcer who didn't know either of them and insulted them, much to their dismay. They were soon able to run in and start the games. They were both indeed primed.

They rushed through the death course without any problems. There were a few close calls here and there but nothing they weren't able to handle.

As soon as they reached the very end, they were thrown into a battle arena where they fought a many variety of vicious enemies, both creatures and robots alike. They both worked together as a team to fight off all of them. The battles were indeed very tough, but Kim and Ratchet both enjoyed the thrill of the challenge very much.

After all of the battles were won, Ron came rushing in. Ron: "KP! Ratchet! You guys did it!" Kim: "Heh! What did I tell you? So not the drama."

Soon enough, Ratchet was given the gadget that he and the group came for by a female bot named Courtney Gears. He put the gadget on his belt and attempted to turn it on, but nothing happened. Ratchet: "Huh?"

He pressed it repeatedly, but still, nothing was happening. Ratchet: "Hey! It's broken!"

At that moment, the Kimmunicator went off. Kim pulled it out. Wade: "Kim, I may be able to work with something on that device. I just need to have it transferred over to me."

Wade's vendor reappeared, Kim looked at Ratchet. Kim: "Ratchet?"

He pulled it off and tossed it into the vendor. Ratchet: "Here! Take it!"

The device was transported to Wade; he got to work on it immediately. Wade: "OK, now let me see…I should be able to access the motherboard, reconfigure the frequency, reconnect it from my circuit board and…"

Just then, an image of a Tyhrranoid appeared before them. Ron: "Whoa!" Wade: "There you have it; a very realistic holographic image of a Tyhrranoid. Comes complete with realistic movements and sounds to fool any Tyhrranoid." Ron: "That's looks awesome!" Kim: "You've done it again, Wade. Great work." Ratchet: "Do you ever stop rocking, Wade?" Wade: "Kim doesn't think so." Ratchet: "Neither do I."

Clank giggled once again.

Suddenly, Sasha's transmission appeared near them. She became startled as soon as she spotted the Tyhrranoid. Clank: "Do not be alarmed, Sasha. That is just a holographic replica." Kim: "Courtesy of Wade." Sasha: "Oh, I see…what happened to the device?" Ratchet: "It was broken, but Wade managed to chip in and use his tech-savvy know-how to create this image after we transferred the device over to him." Sasha: "Oh, well…thanks…again…for the help, Wade." Wade: "Glad I could do it." Sasha: "Anyway, there's something I need to let you know. Qwark has managed to be…uh…rehabilitated and, you're not going to believe this, the President has put him in charge of the fight against Nefarious." Ratchet: "You can't be serious!" Kim: "Like I said before: imbecile." Sasha: "Our new commander just called his first team meeting. You guys better get back to the Phoenix right away." Kim: "Great…looks like fun times are ahead of us now." Ron: "Well, this isn't good." Rufus: "Oh, no, not good." Wade: "Oh, boy, I wish all of you the best of luck." Ratchet: "Thanks, Wade. Something tells me we're going to need a lot of it during this fight." Kim: "Agreed." Ron: "Ditto."

They returned to the lobby. They then got back into their ship and left to return to the Phoenix.

#Kim Possible #Ratchet and Kim Possible Chronicles #Ratchet and Clank #Ratchet #Clank #Ron Stoppable #Rufus #Captain Qwark #Wade #Kimmunicator #Captain Sasha #Courtney Gears #Solana Galaxy #Up Your Arsenal #Starship Phoenix #Dr. Possible #Mrs. Possible

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inkognito97 · 7 years

Note

Can we have a werewolf Harry Potter au with Harry as a third year being really nervous around other people due to his more timid nature and remus recognizes why and decides to corner him about it and offer advice and telling him about his parents.

Harry hastily collected his books and quills from the table and threw them carelessly into his bag. He wanted to leave Charms lesson as fast as possible. It was not like Professor Flitwick’s lessons were terrible or extremely boring, quite the opposite actually, but Harry had no desire to stay with so many other students longer than absolutely necessary.

It was not like he did not like people, he was just really unsure and nervous around them. The only two friends he had, were Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The two of them were Harry’s best and if he was honest, only friends and he did not want to lose them.

It was easier said than done, especially if you considered that he had to lie to them at least ones a month, sometimes even two times, namely always then, when a so called ‘Blue Moon’ stood high on the sky, a second full moon in the same month. At first, he had simply told them that he was not feeling well. That at least had not been a lie and while Ron had joked about Harry having ‘girl problems’, Hermione had remained sceptical. Eventually, he had to change tactics. Every now and then, he used the ‘I am ill and I better go to the hospital wing’ card, but more often than not, he used other excuses for his absence. Sometimes it was, because his aunt had fallen ill, sometimes because his uncle had problems with the law and needed for Harry to appear before the court and sometimes it was even Dumbledore, who had wanted to talk with him, or even teach him a little.

He hated lying to his friends, more than anything else in the world and it was in time like these, that he cursed the werewolf who had bitten him during a camping trip with his relatives. Then again, since entering Hogwarts, he had no real reason to complain. After all, it was thanks to Professor Snape, the potions Master, that his transformation was somehow bearable. Harry himself had not the slightest idea, how to brew the Wolfsbane potion, neither had he the skill to learn it.

The first time Dumbledore had mentioned the potion, with the dark haired Professor present, Harry had feared that the man would hate him even more. His first lesson in potions had come to the forefront of his mind and he had feared that the harassment would only get worse, but to his surprise, the greasy haired man had become almost nice to him. It was not like he openly praising Harry in front of the class, but at least he did not pick on him either. It was a major improvement and one, the boy with the lightning scar was very grateful for.

Harry had finally escaped into the corridors, when one of his friends caught up to him. Ron Weasley, was certainly determined and persistent.

“Hey Harry, ready to make Hogsmeade unsafe?” he grinned foolishly.

“Ron,” Hermione had - especially in this year - the tendency to make an appearance out of nowhere, so Harry was only slightly startled that the brown haired female had suddenly appeared at his left.

“What?” the red haired boy said, he had heard her scandalized and slightly irritated tone. She glared at him and then nodded towards Harry,w ho had remained silent during the whole exchange. “Oh…” the Knut had finally dropped. “Sorry, mate.”

Harry just shrugged and absentmindedly scratched the itching scar at his collarbone. It was an old scar, actually it was from one of his earlier transformations. But Harry was lucky, his wolf part rarely scratched open parts of his face, he seemed to prefer the torso and those scars, could easily be hidden. It was already bad enough to walk around with a scar that looked like a lightning bold, he did not need claw marks on top of it.

“It’s alright,” he eventually answered.

“Have you tried to talk with Professor McGonagall?” Ron tried hopeful, but his face fell at Harry nod.

“I’m sorry, Harry,” Hermione cut it.

“Hey,” Ron friendly bumped into his shoulder, “we will bring you a lot of sweats and other stuff. More than you ever wanted.”

Despite it all, Harry grinned. “Thanks.” It was probably better that he did not go with them. He was already feeling the effect of the upcoming full moon. It was due in a few days, but he could already feel it.

“Well,” Ron was shuffling awkwardly, “we better go then…” it was clear that he was not comfortable with the situation.

“Hermione,” Harry said, before they could depart, “can I have the book you borrowed from the library, I wanted to finish my essay for Professor Lupin.”

“Sure,” she smiled brilliantly and not a moment later, she literally pushed a heavy book into the black haired boy’s awaiting hands. “Chapter four and seven are especially relevant,” she winked.

“Why are you always giving Harry tips, while you never help me?” Ron pouted and it was the most ridiculous sigh Harry had ever seen.

“Because Harry does not ask for my notes,” Hermione retorted. She turned to Harry said her goodbye and waved, before they turned into another corridor, with the red haired Weasley boy still complaining loudly about how unfair life and Hermione was.

Harry could finally take a deep breath. He truly intended to write the essay, but he was not yet sure where. The Gryffindor common room was out of questions. A lot younger students would be there and it would be loud and too full for his liking. The library was not an option either. The librarian wouldn’t like to see the book that Hermione had borrowed, in Harry’s hands.

For a moment the black haired bow with the lightning bolt scar considered wandering through the whole school to go into one of the classrooms that were always open and always empty. But then he decided that he was too lazy to do so and instead, he stopped walking at the statue of the One-Eyed-Witch and sat his back down there. At least here he would not be bothered, or so he hoped.

Harry was halfway finished with his homework, his nose burrowed deep into the book, when he heard footsteps approach his position. He was not overly bothered. Students tended to leave him along and Professors were used to finding him in strange spots, doing his homework.

To his surprise however, the person did not walk passed him, like he expected, but instead sat down next to him. He looked up.

“Not in Hogsmeade?” the friendly face of Remus Lupin was always appreciated, at least Harry thought so. It was not even due to the incident in the train, but something about the man drew Harry towards him. His friends called it hero-worshiping, he himself just liked the Professor.

If asked, Harry would call himself a pretty decent student, but there were two things that he truly excelled at, Defense against Dark Arts - at least with Professor Lupin as teacher - and Quidditch.

“No, my uncle did not sign my allowance,” he briefly explained.

A thoughtful look crossed the Professor’s features. “Well, at least you are using your time reasonable,” there was that amused smile.

“As always Professor,” the man quirked an eyebrow at the reply, but did not comment further on it.

“Do you want me to look over what you have already written?” he offered.

“Is it allowed?” Harry wanted to know, he did not want the older male to get into trouble because of him.

“I would only be helping a student of mine with his homework, so yes.”

It took some effort on Harry’s part, but eventually, he gave his essay to the patient man next to him. Lupin crossed his legs beneath him and began to read silently, leaving the teenager to fidget nervously next to him. It was one thing to give an essay to a teacher, but another altogether, to have the teacher read it next to him.

“It’s very well written so far,” Lupin praised after a while and gave Harry his scroll back. A sigh escaped the older male and a serious look appeared on his features. “Your homework, is not the only thing I wanted to talk with you about.”

“Professor?” he was avoiding the other’s gaze, not sure what to feel. He had never heard that particularly tone in Lupin’s voice and a mad feeling started to rise in his chest.

“It is hard to bring into words,” the Professor replied slowly. “Harry, be honest with me… I guess there is no nice way to ask. Harry, are you… a werewolf?”

The black haired teenager’s gaze snapped up and he looked into the older male’s scared features with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. Had he been so easy to read? If Lupin knew, who else did? And why did the older male look so miserable and sad all of a sudden?

“I take it that means yes,” another sigh escaped the Professor and his shoulders slumped. He looked nothing like the confident and amusing teacher he usually way. “I feared as much.”

Harry did not know what to say or to do. A part of him wanted to run away, but he knew that would be of no use. Then again, he did not want to know what the other man mus think of him now. Would Lupin treat him different from now on, would he seem him as a monster? He WAS the DADA teacher after all.

“I’m sorry,” he ran with his hand through his light brown hair. “I am sorry that you have to go through that as well.”

“As well?” Harry furrowed his brow.

Finally the DADA Professor turned to look at him again. There was a sad smile on his features. “You are not the only one, who has to come up with strange excuses every month,” he said.

Sudden realization hit Harry and it was like being hit full force by a bludger. “You too?” he whispered.

Lupin nodded and finally, Harry understood from where the marks on the man’s face were and why he looked so shabby and tired most of the time. And finally the boy with the lightning bolt scar realized, why he felt so drawn to the older male. Werewolf preferred to live in a pack after all.

An uncomfortable silence settled between the two males, both of them trapped in their own thoughts and neither knowing how to break through it. It was some time later, when Lupin opened his mouth to speak again.

“I think, it is about time I tell you something about your father…” and so began the tale of four friends, one of them a werewolf and the other three animagi, called ‘The Marauders’. It was the tale of a lonesome, why boy, who had found friends he didn’t want to lose. A boy, who had a dark and dangerous secret. But the friends found out about his secret and to the boy’s surprise, they stayed and did everything in their power to make the boy feel better. It was a tale full of loyalty and friendship and Harry found himself completely enthralled by it.

When Lupin had finished, he allowed the teenager with the jet-black hair to sort through it. It was a lot to take in, especially since Sirius Black had a major roll in it as well.

“Do you think,” there was a lot of hesitation in Harry’s voice, “I should tell my friends?”

It was a hard question and in truth, Lupin had no real answer to it. But he understood that Harry desperately needed one. “In my experience, true friends will stay, no matter what.”

Harry bit his lip and nodded. Lupin had not taken the burden from him, nor openly said what he should do. the decision was still with him and the teenager was actually rather grateful for it. He had no doubt that Hermione would figure his secret out sooner rather than later, but would they stay. He could not be sure, there was always a risk.

“Professor… does it ever get… better?”

The older male tilted his head. “You mean if it becomes less painful once you are grown-up… if you become used to it?” The black haired male nodded. “No, I fear not.”

Harry had suspected as much but it was still nice to know. “I see.”

It was an impulsive decision, one born out of compassion and understanding, but Remus found himself putting an arm over the boy’s shoulder and pulling him close to his side. For a moment, Harry was tense like a plank, but then he relaxed visibly, hiding his face against the Professor’s side, glad that he had finally met someone, who was like him and understood him.

“Professor, are you drinking the Wolfsbane potion as well?”

“Yes,” he was not sure, where this question was heading.

“Is it possible… I mean… wolfs live in packs, so… is it possible for us to transform in the same room.”

The brown haired man thought long about his answer. There was always a risk between werewolves. It literally depended on how good they could smell each other. Furthermore, Remus’ werewolf was used to being alone, then again, Harry would still be considered a cub. Was he willing to take that risk. The boy was the son of one of his best friends. James would have been reckless enough to say yes, Lily on the other hand. It was a risk, a big one, but it could also help Harry, a lot.

“I will talk with Dumbledore about it,” promised the Professor eventually. He felt the nod against his frame, but otherwise, nothing more was said. For now, silence and comfort was all that Harry needed and Remus was ready to provide it.

#harry potter #harry #remus lupin #werewolf #werewolves #werewolf harry #werewolf remus #talk #revelation #poor harry #ron weasley #hermione granger #friendship #third year in hogwarts #wolfpack au #prompt #anonymous

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halothenthehorns · 3 years

Text

TLTNL- THE BEGINNING

James sat there for a long time just staring at those stupid pages. He knew the sooner he got started the sooner he'd have his chapter over with, there really couldn't be that much left, it was just so hard to force anymore out. Because even with the end in sight, Harry being forced back to the Dursleys again somehow felt worse every single time!

Harry wasn't looking any more eager to hear anymore. Those feelings were still washing through him, the guilt and memories still filling his every space of mind, yet himself now trying to force an understanding this wasn't truly his fault. All he could think to do, was just keep looking for something else to think about, and cope with this in his own time slowly like he'd been doing. So it was Harry who gave his dad a gentle nudge and asked him to get on with it, least they had Sirius' crappy sense of humor to distract them.

James actually gave a genuine laugh as Sirius pouted at the pair of them for his expense in the joke while James got started.

When he looked back, even a month later, Harry only had scattered memories of the next few days.

Harry could feel himself grimacing already of thinking of his summer, but even a cursory look at what he could be in store for felt heavy hearted.

It was as though he had been through too much to take in any more.

Lily squeezed her eyes tight shut to force herself not to lean over Harry, to check for the millionth time that he was still okay right now.

The worst, was the meeting with the Diggory's.

"Oh crap," Sirius muttered to himself, knowing there wasn't anything he could say to make this more bearable before it even started. Harry was already getting that absent look back about him, his way so far of trying not to react to the worse things from his past.

They didn't blame him for what happened, the opposite, both thanked him for returning Cedric's body to them.

Lily couldn't stop herself absently brushing at his hair in thanks as well, she felt that went without saying, but Harry seemed surprised by the reaction.

Mr. Diggory sobbed through most of the interview. Mrs. Diggory's grief seemed to be beyond tears.

James hated having to read that, to even think for an instant what that pain had to feel like. Of everything Peter had done to him, and his family, and still he just kept doing it without a trace of remorse...

She was the one to point out that he suffered nothing because of the curse that was used, and he'd died just after he won, so at least he was happy.

Remus knew he couldn't begin to imagine the pain the Diggory's were in, but if that made them feel even the smallest bit better, he wasn't going to correct that.

When they made to leave, Harry tried to shove his winnings at them, but they refused.

Harry really was just trying to give that money away to anyone, James sighed in full agreement, he really hoped Harry still found some way to give it to someone who needed it, just to help ease his sons conscious a bit.

Harry went back to the rest of the school finding himself being stared at now more than ever. No one badgered him with questions upon Dumbledore's request,

While they'd all firmly believed Harry's friends wouldn't do that until he spoke about it first, they were honestly relieved Dumbledore had thought to do that. They didn't trust the student body to have the same restrain, but hopefully with Dumbledore's warning they'd hold back at least a bit.

but instead they skirted corridors and whispered as he passed.

That wasn't what they were hoping for though, as Sirius curled his lip in disdain at that place again treating Harry like some sideshow to be gawked at.

He supposed they all still had Skeeter's stories of him in the brain, and were all guessing their own ideas of what happened, but Harry didn't care. He knew the truth, and he instead spent his time with Ron and Hermione, often in silence.

Remus hummed in agreement, he'd never needed proof their guess was right, and Ron and Hermione for all of their loud mouthed opinions and arguments, truly were the type to recognize when their friend needed his silence.

They hadn't spoken about it yet either, but all seemed to be waiting for something to get started, it was useless to speculate until then.

"Wonder how long that one lasts," Sirius rolled his eyes. He knew they used to spend hours trying to guess what was going on in the war, often greatly exaggerated and glorified in their youth, but once the shock of what had happened wore off, those teenagers would surely start doing the same.

The only time they had spoken of their future was when Ron told Harry Mrs. Weasley had tried to convince Dumbledore to come straight to their house over the summer.

Before Lily could even begin to let the hope seep in, James forced himself to keep going past his own to find out the response.

He'd said no, Harry had to stay there at least at first.

James could not get that out properly, it was too frustrating this continued to happen! He despised the meager explanation Harry had used for why that place should even still be referred to as Harry's home, because the fact that he dreaded going there more than any other place really should negate that stupid technicality!

Harry had an ugly look in place as well. He'd never liked the thought of going back to the Dursleys, but for some reason he was confident this coming summer in particular was going to be an extra layer of unpleasant, and he hadn't previously thought that possible.

Harry asked why, and all Dumbledore had said was that he had his reasons and they just had to trust him.

"No, no we do not," Sirius sneered. "I can't believe I'm standing letting you go back, where the hell was I when this stupid decision was made!"

Harry chose not to respond for the simple fact that he knew he'd never told his godfather a single thing about his living with the Dursleys. Only a few vague comments here and there, so really Sirius wouldn't have had a reason to complain in his time even if he had been there to say anything.

They all knew that answer, hiding out at Remus' and still not having any say in the matter, but that was still managing to make this whole situation even worse.

The only person apart from Ron and Hermione that Harry felt able to talk to was Hagrid.

"I still want to strangle him for those bleeding skrewts of his," James shook his head affectionately.

"Hopefully he's learned his lesson," the smile Sirius used showed quite clearly how much he believed that.

There was no longer a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, they had those lessons free,

"Why is that a recurring thing?" Lily rolled her eyes.

"Because apparently even the Curse Breakers can be stumped," Remus shrugged, regretting his response at once as it only served to cause the others to give him an obvious look, they all knew he could have broken it if he wanted to.

and they used the available time to go visiting him. The first time started pleasantly enough, the weather as beautiful as ever for this time of year and Hagrid greeting them just as sunnily.

When they entered they found two cups already in waiting, and Hagrid explained he'd been having a drink with Olympe, she'd only just left.

"Did we miss something?" Sirius asked with just a bit too much gusto, but here was finally something hours later that wasn't life threatening or horrible to hear about! Just hearing any normal conversation with Hagrid was putting Sirius in the best mood he'd had since the World Cup.

They all had an idea of who it could be, but as they had no clue why Hagrid would be talking to her again, they waited for an answer.

When Ron asked who, Hagrid told that was Maxime's first name.

"Oooh, on a first name basis now are they?" James had a smile peaking on his face at once.

"Why though?" Lily felt a protective surge poses her at Hagrid having to deal with all the drama that woman had caused again. "We clearly missed a conversation where they made up, and until we hear Hermione's theory otherwise, the only way Skeeter could have known about Hagrid was if Maxime told her. Surely Hagrid knows that."

"Hopefully Ron will ask," Harry shrugged, he certainly hoped so as he was sure he found out how Skeeter knew all of this stuff before he met back up with the Dursleys, and he didn't feel Maxime was anywhere close to the answer mostly because he didn't have any bad feelings for her, and he was sure he would if she had.

Ron pointed out the two had made up then, and Hagrid ignored the comment,

"The master of subtlety as always," Sirius smirked.

and instead made them some more tea and doughy cookies.

"Doughy's better than burnt," Remus snorted, "maybe Hagrid's learning."

"So long as there isn't a talon in that to," Lily muttered.

When they'd all sat down, his kind eyes lingered on Harry and asked if he was alright?

Harry just said yeah.

"Why do you do that?" James grumped, "you can talk to Hagrid." Ignoring the painful stab still lingering that Harry was probably more likely to talk to Hagrid than him.

"Didn't really know what to say," Harry whispered, and that was still true enough. He didn't want to relive what had happened to him yet, and he certainly didn't want to accept comfort and understanding that none of it was his fault because he still hadn't agreed. That simple answer was the best way for him to get around all of that.

The four of them still gave him an obvious look, making it clear they believed that as much as Hagrid most likely did, but they weren't going to force an answer out of him either.

Hagrid stated back at once no he wasn't, but he would be.

Sirius laughed softly to himself, he could perfectly believe that. He'd get it through his pup's head, he was sure of it.

Harry could not think up an answer for that.

Hagrid said he wasn't even surprised, he'd always known he'd come back while the kids stared at him in shock.

"I'm not," Remus shrugged, "I'm sure this actually won't come as a shock to most of the people of our generation. Fudge just had his head buried to far up his arse, but surely anyone who lived through it the first time couldn't really be convinced he's gone without a body for proof."

"Apparently they're all ready to believe it," Sirius reminded with a smirk. "Remember all the way back to Harry's first year, and when the Stone was nearly stolen, everyone thought that was Voldemort trying to make a return."

Harry felt a funny bubbling in him, an echo he was sure he wasn't going to enjoy when it fully resurfaced, and it wasn't a pleasant start to how his next few years were going to go.

Hagrid insisted he'd known it for years, he was just out there biding his time. Well now he was back, and they'd just have to make due and fight.

James sighed deeply as he forced himself to read that. He didn't want to hear of another war through his son when he was already well too aware how the first one had ended, and they hadn't even gotten to that yet. He hadn't exactly had a lot of time to revel in the fact that Harry was living in a war free environment while he was at school, but now he wouldn't even get that on top of whatever other mayhem he'd be getting up to.

They were going to try and stop him getting there first, that was Dumbledore's plan.

"Here's hoping for Dumbledore's plan," Sirius mock cheered.

Dumbledore was the best man to be doing it of course, so long as they had him there was nothing to worry about.

Harry felt a frown tugging at the corner of his mouth even as he watched those around him grudgingly nod agreement. They'd all had their doubts and annoyances with Dumbledore's meddling in Harry's life, but no one would deny that one. So why was Harry getting a bad feeling about it?

Hagrid continued watching their disbelieving faces, laughing and saying there was no point in worrying about it. What would come, would come, and they'd meet it when it did.

"Hagrid gives the best advice," Remus smiled pleasantly enough, though he knew better than to even pretend to hope anymore that storm wouldn't come raging in far sooner than they'd ever hope for, like never.

Hagrid explained Dumbledore had told him everything Harry had done, and Hagrid said that's as much as James Potter would've, and that was the best praise that could be offered.

Harry blushed deeply around a pleased smile and tried to utter something, maybe a thanks, maybe a denial, but James wouldn't hear either. He caught his sons eye and gave him a wink, stating, "I can back that up."

Harry's face somehow managed to turn even more red as he returned the smile in thanks.

Harry gave his first smile in days as he asked what Dumbledore had Hagrid planning?

Hagrid simply said he had a job to do over the summer,

"Oh," they all muttered. They hadn't at all forgotten this, and it was reassuring that Hagrid had only said it was to be over the summer, but it still sounded odd to their ears. Hogwarts without Hagrid was unthinkable. If the job was anything like the Order members were thinking though, it could be infinitely useful.

but it was a secret he wasn't supposed to share, not even with them.

"And why not?" Harry grumbled. "He tells us all sorts of other things." He'd meant it more as a joke, it just hadn't come out that way. He could already feel the beginnings of true annoyance at not being told something he had every confidence was an effort to stop Voldemort at whatever he was doing.

He'd convinced Olympe to come along.

"Really wishing I could have sat in on that conversation," Sirius rolled his eyes.

They asked if it had anything to do with Voldemort?

"Most likely," Remus said with a mysterious little smile that didn't fool Harry one bit.

"Well do you know?" He demanded, still sounding pretty huffy over the matter.

Lily didn't take long to think over her answer before saying, "well yes, we've certainly got an idea, but no actual evidence."

When Harry just kept looking at her, she rolled her eyes at him and said, "come on Harry, you know the answer as well as I do. Dumbledore's following the advice he tried to give Fudge, he's sending envoys to the giants."

"Yes, I got that," Harry agreed, "I was just wondering if you guys knew anything more."

"Not really," Sirius shrugged, "if Dumbledore had tried that this time around, we don't know anything about it, he likes to keep all his eggs in separate baskets if you know what I mean. Not everyone in the Order really knows what everyone else gets up to, and Dumbledore insists we keep it that way. So if Hagrid is doing something involving them now, we're really not sure."

Harry was certainly disappointed in this, but stopped his pestering for now.

Hagrid flinched at the sound of the name,

"I guess yelling that name at him didn't get him over it," James muttered to himself.

but only gave a vague answer and switched topics to asking if they wanted to go see the last skrewt?

"Gah," James leaned back in his seat at the very thought. "Talk about a poor subject change, I'd rather discuss Voldemort!"

He quickly promised he'd only been joking at the looks on their faces.

"Please Harry, please tell me he didn't release that into the Forest too!" Sirius begged him.

Harry simply shrugged, he actually wasn't sure what Hagrid had done with it, and he hadn't asked, but he certainly wouldn't put it past him leaving no one in a good mood at the thought.

Scene flip to Harry having to pack away his trunk and head down to the Leaving Feast. So far he'd been avoiding the Great Hall altogether, only coming down at the very latest for when the last bits of food were being served.

James felt his somber mood returning at once, Hagrid's visit really had perfectly distracted them all, but now they were right back to just how hard this was to hear listening to Harry going through all of this with no bright side in sight. The last chapter was always the worst for them in realizing he'd be forced back to those useless relatives, and it somehow felt worse every time.

Normally the place was decked out for the Inter-House Championship winners,

"Did they even do that this year?" Remus asked randomly as he fidgeted with his sleeve, he wasn't looking forward to hearing the rest of this one little bit.

"They certainly took away and added points," Harry shrugged, "I'm sure normally they actually would have had a celebration just to show off to the other schools one more time, but this year it wasn't declared at all, so." He finished with an absent shrug, the weight of what he could sense was coming already pressing down on him heavier by the moment.

but tonight all the drapes were done in black. He knew at once it was a mark of respect for Cedric.

Lily felt her throat vibrate, with anger at the world for what it had done, for sympathy, for a million other things she couldn't put into words as she held her son tighter.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table now,

"And I thought I couldn't look at him the same way again before," James scowled at the idea. "Now I'll never be able to meet this guy without taking his flask away for an hour."

"I'll help," Sirius promised.

He was a new kind of twitchy, and jumped every time someone spoke to him.

"If he was paranoid before, I honestly think he shouldn't even be allowed near people now," Lily shivered. She couldn't imagine what state she'd be in after something like this.

Harry couldn't blame him, his imprisonment in his own trunk could only have increased his paranoia.

"You're not paranoid if they're really out to get you," Sirius forced a smirk he knew he'd never use with Moody actually around. This wasn't something he'd make light of in the presence of the man, but right now he'd do anything to get that look off of Harry's face.

Karkaroff's seat was empty, and as Harry took his he wondered just how far he'd run, and how long it would take Voldemort to catch up to him.

"Most likely," James rolled his eyes, "even only having been back for a few minutes, I'm sure tracking him down and exacting his revenge is up there on his to do list."

"I like that better than Harry's name being there," Lily grumbled.

Maxime was sitting next to Hagrid, they were talking quietly together.

"Well there you go, I think that at least implies they've made friends again," Remus smiled genuinely for the pair.

"Hope it lasts this time," Sirius huffed.

Snape sat in his usual spot, and Harry's eyes lingered on him curiously.

Lily really couldn't smother this time everything she felt at the mention of him. She so desperately hoped that somehow, whatever he was out there doing, was for the good side. That he really had realized the errors of his ways and at least in some small part been the man she'd once known again. Whatever that involved. Maybe then, at least he'd have something else to focus on rather than torturing her son.

What was it that Snape had done on Dumbledore's orders, the night that Voldemort returned?

"I've some ideas," Sirius muttered snidely. He was a Death Eater after all, and it would be some irony indeed if Dumbledore really was trying to use Snape's influence in those ranks for his side, but that really explained nothing important, like why Dumbledore thought he could trust one grease slicked word out of his fanged mouth.

Why did Dumbledore trust him to do anything? He concluded the job Snape must be doing was infiltrating the Death Eaters.

"Well you put all that together fast enough," Remus smiled at him.

Harry just shrugged, thinking just the same as his godfather, it didn't answer the important question, why Dumbledore trusted him to do this.

Harry's inner mind was cut off by Dumbledore taking to his feat, and the already subdued Great Hall went completely silent.

"Oh dear," Lily murmured as she watched the lines that shouldn't even be there tighten all the more around James's mouth as he realized what Dumbledore was about to make his speech about by those decorations.

He began by saying this was the end to another year, his eyes lingering on the Hufflepuffs who'd been most silent of all. Dumbledore had a few things he had to say, but first was that he would like them all to raise their glasses with him for a drink to Cedric Diggory.

Remus felt a sharp stinging in his eyes as he watched James read this with far too much familiarity. It was never so personalized, but Dumbledore had given them this speech at the end of all their years in remembrance of all the lives lost during this war. Now it was starting all over again. He hadn't even known Cedric, hadn't liked his father at all, but still to be forced to remember even a small bit of those feelings again while listening to Harry's life...he never would have imagined something like this when they'd first started.

Every bench in the Hall scraped the ground as they all made the toast. Harry spotted Cho's face through the crowd running with tears.

Lily felt herself swallow hard for that poor thing as well as Harry. His first crush was somehow going more disastrously than James's had, and she really hoped that girl had some good friends to help her through this troubling time. She felt bad she hadn't thought of Cho sooner in all this mess, even not knowing much about her, this had to be especially hard on her as well.

Only when they'd sat back down did Dumbledore continue, saying they all had a right to know what had happened, why Cedric wasn't here with them.

"He hadn't told them this already?" Sirius asked in surprise, he thought the headmaster had gone over all of this while Harry'd been in the hospital wing.

"No, Ron and Hermione just said he'd asked everyone not to ask me about it yet. I guess he was waiting for this moment to tell everyone." Harry honestly wished he could tell otherwise, that he wouldn't have to be there for this goodbye speech of Cedric's, but he also knew he'd feel all the worse if he hadn't been able to give even some small goodbye to a man he'd hardly known, but had still been his friend there at the end.

He bluntly stated Cedric had been murdered by Voldemort.

A whispered panic began sweeping the hall at once, and Dumbledore waited for them to mutter themselves into silence before continuing the Ministry did not wish this to be spoken of,

James felt himself tensing in disgust all over again at the thought of how Fudge had reacted to that news. He couldn't imagine anyone so successfully burying their head in the sand, and to be having the whole entire government acting in the exact same way was beyond shameful and just stupid. They had no idea the damage they were causing themselves all because of some arrogant, childish leader.

nor would many parents, as they did not believe in Voldemort's return or thought them too young to know these things.

While Lily could see the fairness in that, there were eleven year olds in there, she honestly couldn't bring herself to begrudge this of Dumbledore. They had as much a right to know as those of age how a fellow student had died even if they couldn't fully grasp it yet.

Dumbledore would not lie to them of this truth though, and felt it would be a insult to Cedric's memory if they weren't told this fact.

Harry rubbed furiously at his eyes behind his glasses again, trying to hide the movement by slightly adjusting them no matter how much he agreed.

Every face in the hall was wrapped with attention at Dumbledore, except Malfoy and his friends. He was having a whispered conversation with Crabbe and Goyle, his goblet untouched.

They all felt a white hot pain strike them at that moment. Of all the hateful, hurtful, disrespectful things Malfoy had done of late, this was by far the worst! No amount of cursing the kid would make the act better, so James forced himself to read past the moment, unbelievably hating him more than he had before.

Harry forced himself to look away, and not react as he continued watching Dumbledore. He was still addressing them, saying there was one more person to be thanked, Harry Potter.

As one, the students seemed to look at him and away again.

"Did he have to?" Harry muttered loud enough they all still heard.

"What you did is as worthy of mentioning as Cedric," Lily quietly reminded.

Harry did not agree, at all, but to argue would be to bring up something he really did not want to speak of at all, so he just gave a quick nod and hoped Dumbledore was brief.

Harry Potter had escaped Voldemort and taken great personal risk to ensure Cedric's body had been returned where it belonged. He had faced Voldemort, and for that he was to be honored.

Dumbledore again raised his glass, and to Harry's shock, as did everyone in the Hall once more as they murmured his name.

No matter how much Harry felt he didn't deserve it, that didn't stop him flushing at such praise any less. Never in his young cupboard living life could he even begin to imagine such a gratitude moment for himself, one that he still didn't feel he'd ever deserved.

To try and avoid a staring eye, he looked again to three particular Slytherins, who still remained unmoving.

Sirius watched his hands twisting into fists. He'd hated Malfoy a lot in this time without having met him, but to continually hear him act like this at every opportunity really had him wanting for Harry to snap already and beat this brat senseless.

Dumbledore, who after all possessed no magical eye, did not see them.

"What could he have done even if he had?" Remus scowled hatefully. "You can't force someone to be a decent person."

Once their seats had been taken again, Dumbledore began addressing why this had even happened. Stating the Triwizard Tournament had been invented to create ties between the schools which were now more important than ever. His eyes lingered over the foreign wizards, and Krum could be seen looking almost fearful in his seat.

"I can see that fear," Remus sighed, "every student there would be afraid the rest of the world would turn on them, having a Death Eater as a Headmaster. If Durmstrang had a bad reputation before, that kind of news won't be helping it."

"Least it's good to know Krum hadn't actually done anything," Sirius sighed. Still feeling bad for his part he'd unknowingly played.

Dumbledore continued somberly though, promising every person in this hall was welcome back any time with open arms. Now was the time where they must stand united, for Voldemort's gift of spreading discord would only strengthen him if they let it. They must find ways to make friendships even in the unlikeliest of places.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment to linger on the warmth he felt beating through at those words, at his dad saying them. He knew he had a long journey to go before this was over, but somehow the end results had landed with him being here, and if that meant he'd made ties with people he'd never dreamed of before, he knew he'd be valuing Dumbledore's advice all the more.

He concluded his speech by saying they would all do well to remember Cedric Diggory, the boy who strayed across Voldemort's path.

Harry's trunk was packed away, Hedwig safely in her cage,

Even realizing that the speech had ended, they all still felt something of it linger in them. They were still bound and determined to never let this happen to Harry, not again, and not to Cedric. Yet Dumbledore had never given a more profound speech, one that everyone of those students as well as them needed to hear.

The trio were waiting on the school grounds for the horseless carriages to arrive, and Harry reflected how different this beautiful lawn was to the dry flower beds he'd be expecting on Private Drive. The thought gave him no pleasure.

"I'd be more worried for your mental sanity if it did," Sirius snapped to get rid of the tightness in his throat.

Fleur found them as he spotted Hagrid helping Maxime into the carriage. She gave them a farewell, telling that she hoped to see them again as she was coming here to get a job helping her English.

"Well that could be interesting," James snorted lightly.

"I'm sure Ron's hoping to see more of her," Remus agreed, having much more fun laughingly thinking if Ron would ever realize if he had even the slightest feelings for Hermione with Fleur hanging around.

Ron quickly told her it was already so good, while Fleur smiled and Hermione scowled.

"Why do I feel like that's going to be a recurring thing?" Lily rolled her eyes, she wasn't looking forward to what that real love triangle could look like.

She gave them all a wave goodbye, and Harry felt his spirits rise as he watched Fleur walk back across the lawn.

All three boys snorted with mirth at that as they pictured much the same thing, but Harry couldn't even be bothered to blush with embarrassment this time, he knew he liked Fleur, and not in the way they were thinking.

Ron was asking how the Durmstrangs would be getting back, what with Karkaroff not being there to steer their ship.

From behind, they were told that Karkaroff hadn't done a thing, he'd stayed in his cabin the whole time.

"That timing," Lily rolled her eyes.

"Why am I not surprised though," James rolled his eyes at the exact same time as his wife.

Krum had come over to say goodbye to Hermione, who followed him slightly away.

Ron shouted after her to hurry, the carriages would be here any minute, but Ron didn't look back towards the gates once while they were gone, instead staying on his toes to see where they'd went.

"So I'm guessing he wasn't watching Fleur get in her carriage and fly away," Sirius raised a brow.

"It's really hard to put a finger on which of these girls Ron likes," Remus mock rubbed his jaw.

They returned soon enough, and Ron didn't get a chance to demand any answers from them as Krum turned to Harry and told that he'd liked Cedric, he'd always been decent to the Durmstrang.

Harry asked if they had a new headmaster yet?

Krum shrugged without care, and offered his hand to shake, then Ron as well. Ron seemed to be under some internal struggle as he shook.

"I can imagine he's fighting the impulse not to break fingers," James snickered.

Finally he burst out if he could have Krum's autograph?

Sirius let out one sharp bark of laughter while the others all dissolved into giggling at such an unexpected response. It had taken Ron a whole year to work himself up to that question after everything!

Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages that were now trundling toward them up the drive,

Harry blinked spastically at such a description, wondering why he was more sure than ever he should know something about that...*

as Krum, looking surprised but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron.

"I'm sure he's going to be lording that over whoever he can," Remus chuckled.

"Or burn it while chanting for a quick death, you never know," Sirius smirked.

The three friends got a compartment to themselves, the scene so familiar and yet the complete opposite of the way there. The weather was cloudless, Pig was still hidden under Ron's dress robes, Hedwig was dozing away, and Crookshanks was curled up in a seat like a ginger cushion.

"I'm sure Neville wouldn't recommend using him for that though," James smiled absently, the longer he kept going, the more he forced down every swear word he knew at what was waiting at the end of that train.

Now they talked, as Dumbledore's speech seemed to have caused some kind of release in them. They discussed what Dumbledore's plans could be for the future, how it was all being used to stop Voldemort.

"Called it," Sirius nodded to himself.

"Yes, yes, you're as magical as Trelawney, predicting the actions of teenagers," Lily rolled her eyes at him, "I'm sure you draw from your own current mind set."

Sirius did the mature thing and stuck his tongue out at her.

At one point while Hermione was going through her stuff, an issue of the Daily Prophet fell out. She caught Harry eying it wearily and told him it was safe to look, there wasn't anything in there.

"If there was, I'm sure they'd be very subtly trying to eat it or something," James smirked.

"I think I am going to burn something when I hear Skeeter's spin on this," Remus curled his lip in disgust.

Hermione had been keeping an eye on it, and the only mention of anything was a small piece saying Harry had won. They hadn't even mentioned Cedric.

Harry felt like his own throat was on fire hearing that. It had been rude before not to even acknowledge Cedric in the Tournament in light of Harry's stupid fame, now they didn't even have the guts to admit to what really happened! Harry had half a mind right now to march up to the person in charge of the Prophet and jam his wand in their face until they realized how wrong this was.

Fudge was most likely keeping it all quiet.

"Can he really do that?" Harry spat in disgust.

"Unfortunately," Lily scowled. "There are some ways in which the Ministry has directory over what the Prophet can post, but this is very extreme, and certainly being overused on Fudge's part."

"Wish I was more surprised," Sirius snarled, "but at this rate I'm more shocked he doesn't have them writing pieces about how he's the most brilliant person ever to help his own ego."

Harry pointed out no one could keep Skeeter quiet, and Hermione had an odd smile on her face as she said Skeeter hadn't written anything since the third task.

"Do we finally get to hear what her epiphany was about?" Remus sighed, wishing he was more interested in this than he was. At this rate he was so exhausted by hearing about all this he'd gladly sleep a week straight.

"Sounds like it was right, and she's already using it to keep Skeeter quiet if there hasn't been anything out already." James cocked his head to the side in thought, he at least was enjoying this more because it kept words about Dursleys just that little farther away.

She continued saying Skeeter wouldn't be writing anything for a while lest Hermione spill the beans on her.

The boys demanded to know what she was talking about, and Harry watched her bubble with excitement. It was clear she'd wanted to speak of this for a while, but in light of everything that had happened she'd restrained herself.

"I wish she'd told sooner," Lily sighed as she ran her hand through her hair. "It's about time we heard of some justice for the proper people."

Harry agreed, but he still thought he understood why Hermione hadn't. She'd been watching him so carefully that past week, he knew she'd thought any mention of Skeeter would only make it worse, and Hermione wasn't going to risk that.

Hermione at first explained it was Harry who'd given her the idea, bugging.**

"Well yes, that's when she ran away babbling her head off," Remus narrowed his eyes, "but I still can't imagine where in that she came up with her brilliant plan."

"She's Hermione," Sirius rolled his eyes, "I've long since stopped questioning her Moony."

Harry began to say the electrical ones didn't work, but Hermione quickly said while she dove back into her trunk that it wasn't an electronic bug. No, Skeeter could turn into a real bug, an unregistered Animagus.

"She's a what now?" Lily was absolutely convinced she'd heard that one wrong, but James had only gone slack jawed long enough for his two friends to register his words before reading at high speed.

Finally dislodging a glass jar from her trunk, she showed them a beetle.

"She can't have," Remus whispered to himself, watching James any moment like he was going to start tap dancing. "She absolutely can not have-" He just knew James was going to keep going, and somehow Hermione was wrong about this, there was no way that was the answer!

Ron couldn't believe that was really her in there.

"Oh sweet Merlin," Sirius looked like he was going to be faint any moment now, he was even swaying a bit from so much happiness slamming him at once.

"I-she-just-" Lily stuttered herself into silence, before she cracked and began laughing, hard. Shock, and finally something good happening like Skeeter getting the ultimate comeuppance of Hermione catching her at this, as well as the absolutely gobsmacked look on these boys faces had Lily in near hysterics she was laughing so hard. Harry was very quick to join in, he'd been needing an excuse to full blown let loose like this for some time now, and the raw happiness of thinking about Skeeter in a jar for the past week was a very nice beginning to all the horrid things she'd put him and his friends through.

"I think I'm insulted," James couldn't even pretend to get himself into that emotion, he was still looking down at the pages like his face was going to slip right off. "She used our shtick, and Hermione figured it out!"

"It fits though doesn't it," Remus was looking on ruefully, "a beetle! Couldn't name a more perfect thing for her to be using to get around, she could have been at every one one of those locations and no one would know. Most likely does it all the time, follows people around like that until she gets what she wants."

Sirius still wasn't convinced he was hearing this right, of all the purely ironic ways Skeeter was going around finding all of these secrets out about people and she was using something illegal to do it! He came too and tried to shush Lily and Harry for all the good it would do, and though they hadn't quite settled down when James found his tongue to move on, Sirius still caught every magnificent word.

Hermione insisted that was indeed, she'd caught her on the hospital wing windowsill.

"Bloody hell, that's what that was!" Lily yelped, she was about to run out of air she was laughing so hard. "I honestly thought she'd knocked something over or jumped, or..." she shook her head in disbelief she hadn't more fully registered Hermione's movements at that moment, but she'd been so engrossed in her feelings about Harry and Molly that had barely made a dent on her consciousness.

Harry sat there staring at it, as suddenly he recalled he'd seen a beetle on that statue the night Hagrid had been talking to Maxime.

"Ooh," Lily couldn't help but coo. She honestly felt bad for blaming all of that on Maxime now. She'd never been so happy to be wrong before.

Hermione agreed she'd been buzzing around all year for her stories like this.

James could not stop reading without numb lips from shock! Hermione had put all of this together right under their nose and they hadn't even noticed! Not to mention just what Skeeter had done...this was just a whole new level of scheming he never would have thought she was capable of, and yet the worst part was he would have been grudgingly admirable of it if she hadn't been using it on his son as well as his friends. Now he was fighting the impulse to go grab a jar himself and catch that stupid beetle while she was still practicing at it.

Ron recalled seeing Malfoy under the tree, and Hermione agreed he'd been talking to her in his hand.

"Jeez, he knew about this, for perhaps the whole time, and why am I not even surprised he didn't care," Lily wrinkled up her nose with distaste.

He hadn't cared she was illegal, so long as he got to give her all that dirt.

Hermione took the jar back and and tapped at the glass.

"What's she going to do to her?" Sirius asked slowly, and far too eagerly.

"Nothing that you would," Remus said, and would deny any regret in his voice.

Hermione said she'd let her out in London,

"That's it? Just keep her in a jar for a week? That really is tame," James huffed at Hermione.

"Well she can hardly keep her kidnapped forever," Lily rolled her eyes at these boys, "and most likely she'll keep this blackmail hung above her head for as long as it takes her to learn her lesson about the kind of stories she should and shouldn't be writing about."

"That's still tame," Sirius sighed.

"But I'll take it," Remus smirked.

"What's to stop her from just registering herself though, and continuing to do it?" Harry asked.

"It takes years to become an animagus," James reminded. "You're supposed to be doing it under heavy supervision, honestly it's a bit of a problem for us as well. We're going to have to be really careful and not make it seem like we can already do it when we show up to 'learn' to do it. I sincerely doubt Skeeter will put up with that nonsense."

she'd put an unbreakable Charm on the glass so Skeeter couldn't do anything until then,

"Well that went without saying," Sirius rolled his eyes, a bit bitterly he'd never had the chance to use this on another certain animagus.

and she'd make Skeeter swear not to write any more nasty stories until she learned not to write lies about people, or her secret would be the one to come out.

Smiling to herself, Hermione tucked the jar back away.

"Hermione scares me sometimes," Harry chuckled with the most happiness he'd felt in ages.

"Be happy she's on your side," James gave an exaggerated shiver. "Can you imagine if you'd never made friends with her."

"My school life would be far different, and more difficult," he agreed.

The compartment door opened just then, Malfoy mockingly congratulating Hermione on figuring this out.

"That timing!" This time Remus threw his hands up in exasperation at Harry's conversations always seeming to have someone listening in on them.

"Bet he's real proud of himself," Sirius' eyes gleamed nastily, "popping his head in there to gloat while there aren't any teachers around."

"I'm sure Malfoy would be remiss not to use this opportunity," James agreed wistfully, long since wishing his son was more like him in at least this regard, Malfoy deserved it, but at this rate it seemed more likely he'd be holding Ron back from whatever curses were playing in his head.

He laughed about the reporter being put out and Potter being Dumbledore's favorite again,

"Again? Was there a point where that had really changed?" Remus rolled his eyes.

everything was back to normal. His cold eyes held theirs as he really asked if they were in here thinking about it, trying to pretend none of it had happened?

"I wish you never happened," Lily whispered in a deadly soft voice. How dare this little cretin make fun of her son being in that cemetery!

Harry stood abruptly and told him to get out. He hadn't been in striking distance of Malfoy since he'd been so disrespectful at Dumbledore's speech.

James could feel a rhythmic thumping pumping through him, adrenaline trying to kick start a fight even if he wasn't there, but now he suddenly realized Harry had hit his breaking point with Malfoy, this blond ferret had finally gone one step too far in front of his son, and Harry may well be helping out Ron this time.

Malfoy snapped at him Potter had picked the losing side, Malfoy had warned him that very first train ride.

"I remember a lot about that day," Harry nodded to himself, "meeting my two best friends and finding my first real home. Malfoy acting like an arrogant prat all started blending together over the years though."

The boys laughed softly in agreement while Lily nodded and said, "good of you to keep your priorities straight then."

It was too late now, the Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers were going to be the first to go!

James still couldn't say that foul word without having the urge to bite his own tongue off for having to say it at all, especially with his wife in the room. What he wouldn't give to go back in time and curse the first blighter who dared invent it, but if it hadn't been that than it would have been something else just as derogatory. He just wished Lily wouldn't flinch every time as she was forced to remember someone else calling her that.

Well second, Diggory had been the f-

Harry saw red as he felt that surge of magic beat through him. However angry those around him sounded as they snapped in protest of that being said, it still wasn't comparable to how Harry felt, having to live that.

a box of firework seemed to have gone off in their compartment, and when the fizzle died down, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were on the ground from the assortment of hexs Harry, Ron, and Hermione had used.

"You have the best friends in the world," Sirius beamed, bouncing happily in his seat once more. He still wished more than anything he could have been there, to use his own curse on that waste of breath, but hearing that made it bearable.

They weren't the only ones to have done so.

"Eh?" Remus demanded, the smile on his face only growing wider as he hoped to hear maybe Neville had come along and helped out.

Fred popped his face around the corner, stepping onto Goyle as he entered saying how they'd spotted them walking past their compartment.

"Oh this is brilliant," James crowed, somehow these twins just kept getting better every time they heard about them!

"I hope Ron confronts them again about what they've been up to," Sirius perked up with even more excitement. "It's going to drive me crazy if we have to keep waiting to hear it all."

"They might never tell Ron," Lily reminded with a shrug, "I doubt they really think it's his business."

"Stop being a killjoy dear," James told her pleasantly as he turned back to the book with his first real smile in a long time.

His wand was held loosely at his side as well as George's, who made sure to step on Malfoy's fingers as he followed inside.

"A proper entrance then," Remus smiled.

George was inspecting all of their handiwork, and asked who'd used the Furnunculus?

Harry said that had been him, and George noted that shouldn't be mixed with Jelly-Legs, it seemed to have given Malfoy little tentacles on his face.

"I'm taking notes," Sirius beamed.

"So long as I'm not the test dummy for whatever new experiments you're thinking of," Remus chuckled.

They decided to push them out into the hallway, those three definitely didn't go with the décor.

The twins stayed inside and decided to play a game of Exploding Snap, but were only at it for a few hands before they were asked who they'd been blackmailing again.

Fred sighed it didn't matter anymore.

"Course it matters!" James yelped.

"They can't honestly think this wouldn't have some long term effects no matter what's going on," Remus agreed.

George tried to shrug it off, saying they'd given up.

"Something really bad must have happened," Sirius frowned in concern, "that doesn't sound like them at all."

Lily had to resist the impulse to remind this was a good thing, as she agreed, she really did want to hear what on earth they'd been up to.

When they kept pestering though, finally Fred admitted it had been Bagman.

James really did keep expecting the surprises to be over already. "Huh," was all he was able to mutter as they seemed to have actually guessed something right for once, and it didn't feel good.

"He what!" Sirius yelped at once. "For what?!" He hadn't wanted to be right! The twins were really squeezing Bagman for money?

"The, the only thing they've had to do with him was their bet," Remus had his eyes narrowed, "but Harry, you said you saw him pay them back, so I can't even imagine it."

Harry nodded his agreement, as dumbfounded as them, and yet there wasn't a grain of him left leaving him unsure this was true.

Harry was shocked he'd been involved in all that stuff this year.

"Well that was a jump," Sirius frowned, "I just can't figure out what he did do."

"Can you blame him?" Lily defended at once, "he's been acting shifty all year, clearly going out of his way to try and help Harry along, and now he knows the end goal was for him to win-"

"Alright woman, keep your hair on!" Sirius leaned slightly behind Remus to get those sharp eyes off of him for a moment.

George quickly said he hadn't the brains for that, no this had to do with their bet at the World Cup.

"So this is about that bet," Remus muttered, this still wasn't making much sense to him.

He'd paid them back their winnings in leprechaun gold.

"He did what!" Sirius roared in outrage at once.

"That absolute git!" James snapped. "Did he really think he could get away with that just because they were minors? How dare he pull that stunt."

"Maybe it was just an accident," Harry tried wistfully even if he could already feel it not to be true.

"Tch," Lily tisked, "a common person wouldn't just make a stupid mistake like that. What I don't understand is why they tried blackmailing him about it, or what they even had over him and why. Why not just tell their dad, he'd have found a way to sort it out."

"Let me keep going," James groused, "hopefully we get a bit more of what all's been going on."

Ron asked so?

"Oh come on Ron, you just learned your lesson about that earlier this year," James snapped, his voice coming out more testy than he'd meant to because he was still so agitated about this.

Fred impatiently reminded it had vanished hadn't it!

Hermione tried to say it must have been some sort of mistake, and at first the twins had agreed. They'd written to him to try and get it sorted out, but he began avoiding them at all costs.

George sighed that in the end he'd tried to dodge out altogether, saying they were too young to be gambling to begin with.

They hadn't been the only ones, Lee Jordan's dad had also run into some trouble about this.

"So it wasn't just them," Remus' frown deepened, had Bagman really thought he could get away with tricking so many people? Surely he couldn't be so stupid, he was a prominent member of the society being the head of department, not just a Quidditch star.

It turned out Bagman was in a huge debt to some goblins, he'd borrowed a ton of gold from them.

"What an idiot!" Lily said faintly at the very idea of someone getting themselves into that kind of corner.

"Did they ever get more details," James tried digging, "like what kind of trouble this was?"

"Can't imagine it was worth ripping so many people off," Sirius huffed.

"No," James agreed, "just curious is all."

"The poor twins though," Remus kept wincing every time he added a new layer of bad for this situation in his head. "That was all their savings, and with how many must know about this, I can't believe this hasn't been taken public already. It'll take them ages to get their proper winnings back."

"If they even can," Lily agreed pitifully, this hadn't exactly been official at the Cup after all.

They'd cornered him at the World Cup to take away what he'd earned, but that hadn't been enough.

Sirius let out a low, throaty whistle in surprise as he vaguely recalled thinking someone had mugged him back during that, and he'd been sort of right but no where near close.

So they'd started following him around Hogwarts.

Remus almost wanted to laugh as he recalled that odd moment in the Three Broomsticks, how apparently the answer had been hovering just behind him the whole time and they'd had no clue. The world sure worked in a strange way.

Bagman had tried to settle by placing a bet on Harry, that he would win the Tournament.

"That's why he was trying to help you win," James rubbed at his forehead, "though somehow I hate him more for this than our own idea."

"But Harry did win," Sirius perked up, "so at least now Bagman can at least make a start on putting this right."

Remus didn't quite agree, he felt like he could spot a loophole in that bet, but hopefully he was wrong.

Harry said that should be good then, he'd won and they could get their money back.

George shook his head hopelessly, pointing out the goblins had pulled a loophole, technically he'd tied with Cedric. Bagman's bet had been Harry would win outright.

"Ouch," they all winced in horror. This just wasn't right what had been done to the twins.

Still Harry tried, "can't they, I don't know, I hate the Ministry too much right now to want to ask them for anything, but I'm sure they can make this right somehow." He was absolutely convinced now the twins had to get their start up somehow...

"I don't see it," James groaned, "it's really not in their place to fix this, that was a private thing going on, not really their problem if all bets aren't held."

So Bagman had made a run for it, no one had seen him since the third task.

Fred sighed deeply and began dishing out the cards again.

"This is so wrong," Sirius groaned as he started fidgeting in place, his mind still racing for a way to make this better. "There's got to be another way for them to earn all that back, I'll really tear into someone if they can't start their shop because of this mess."

"They'll have to start at the bottom now," Remus tried to pacify, "it'll be harder to work their way up, but with luck they'll get in at Zonko's and go from there."

The rest of the journey felt pleasant enough to Harry, and he wished it would simply go on all summer. Sadly as he'd learned this year, time would not stop just because he was dreading something, and the train pulled in as ever.

James groaned like he'd been punched in the gut. The final blow of learning what had been done to the twins really was that extra kick he didn't need to make this situation worse! Everyone looked the same, like at any moment they were just going to snap the book closed on James's fingers so they could pretend just for one time Harry wouldn't have to deal with them.

Ron and Hermione squeezed out first, but Harry called the twins back before they could leave.

James perked up with interest just for the simple fact he got to put this off for a moment more, but one glance at Harry and he really was eager to keep going. Harry had a smile in place, that same impish look James had learned meant he was going to be proud of his son!

The twins turned. Harry pulled open his trunk and drew out his Triwizard winnings.

"Oh you aren't," Sirius began grinning so widely already his teeth were already starting to flash.

He thrust it into George's hands at once.

"But he is!" Lily squealed as she began clapping her hands with excitement.

Both James and Sirius were laughing boyishly with excitement, they couldn't have been more proud of Harry thinking up this, but Remus caught Harry's eye with pity. "What on earth makes you think they'll take that more than any other Weasley?"

Harry's face was set, he was not taking no for an answer. "Because I'll dump it down their pants if they don't. I don't want it, or need it, and they'll have some use for it that I never will. I'm sure I get them to take it, and they'll be brilliant about it."

"Of that we've no doubts," James giggled, forcing his laughter to cut off so he could see how this played out.

Fred told Harry he was being mental, and Harry insisted he knew what he was doing, he wanted them to have it to start their joke shop.

George now knew Harry was mental.

"In the best way possible!" Sirius beamed.

Harry snapped if they didn't take it, he'd toss it down the drain.

"Now that's just a waste," Lily rolled her eyes even if he didn't mean it. He could at least give it to some sort of charity, even if she did find this just as worthy a cause.

He didn't want it, or need it, but everyone needed some good laughs. Everyone would be needing that soon.

Most of their laughter was dried up as they really got a feeling for what Harry meant, but it only flamed their enthusiasm for the idea all the more. They were sure Fred and George would cave to that, they had already proven how true they felt that was with how they went about their school life.

George insisted this was a thousand Galleons!

"Wasn't this the reason they wanted to win in the first place," James sighed wistfully, "now they get the best parts all to themselves."

"This is brilliant," Sirius agreed, he couldn't have come up with a better idea!

Harry smiled as he pointed out how many Canary Creams that was.

"A lifetime's supply honestly," Remus snickered.

The twins just kept gaping at him as Harry only asked they not tell their mother where it had come from.

"Harry," Lily couldn't help but chide.

Harry gave a small shrug and a smaller smile. "After everything she'd done for me, I really didn't want to do anything to make her hate me, but they deserved it." His throat felt funny there at the end, but he still knew he was right.

Lily huffed softly as she brushed his hair down for a moment, but spoke with utter conviction, "she'd never hate you love. She may not be keen on what her boys are doing, but I can promise you she'd never hate you for it." She felt strange, defending Molly to Harry, when she'd still much rather be seeing Molly as a threat...but she just couldn't do it. Not to the woman who cared so much for her baby when she'd never had a reason to.

Harry wasn't sure he agreed, but he also smiled with pure happiness as he hoped she was right.

Though at this point she shouldn't be wanting them to join the Ministry anyways.

"Well that I'll give her," Remus laughed outright.

Fred tried one last time to protest, but Harry pulled his wand.

"Now you really mean business," Sirius outright cackled.

Telling them to take it or he'd hex them! Then he asked for one more thing, to buy Ron some new dress robes and say it was from them.

"That's even better," James's smile broadened, "giving them a stipulation. It's more like saying go do this favor for me and keep the change!"

"That's a lot of change," Remus rolled his eyes at his idiotic friends.

He left the compartment before they could say another word, leaving the Slytherin trio in the hallway still unconscious.

"Wonder what would happen if someone was left on the train like that," Harry said a little wistfully. In truth he was honestly thinking if he'd be carried back to school, but then they'd probably find some other way to force him back and he'd be in even more trouble for causing the Dursleys to make a visit needlessly. In reality he really was having some sort of memory connected to getting left on the train...

"Never tried," Sirius said with honest regret. "My friends usually got me off with a combination of threats and promises, but now I'm wishing I had stood my ground at least once and see if I couldn't just live it rough a few months."

"Sleeping on a cushioned seat and eating off the trolley for a whole summer is living it rough to you?" Remus looked at him with a smirk. "I'm terrified to see how you really do camping."

"No camping!" Harry said quickly, trying to wave his dad on before this could spiral further.

Vernon was waiting beyond the barrier.

Whatever good mood the twins and his own friends had caused him vanished the moment James was forced to read this final bit. If he couldn't change Voldemort's return, the one thing he knew he'd give his life for again was for Harry to not have to go back with those abusive people!

Mrs. Weasley was hovering right beside him, and hugged him at once at his arrival, promising in his ear he should be coming along to their place very soon.

Lily could feel copper slick on her tongue she was biting it so hard not to rage about Dumbledore making decisions like that for Harry! He should never be forced back into their company!

Ron gave him an enthusiastic goodbye, as did Hermione as she reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which was new.

Sirius was in such a nasty mood picturing that stupid walrus within arms reach of his godson again he didn't bother to make a sarcastic comment about that.

Fred and George gave one last whispered thanks to Harry as he followed his Uncle outside. He decided there was no point in worrying himself yet as he loaded his stuff up and went into the back seat. Hagrid had spoken the truth, whatever happened, would happen, and he'd just have to be ready when it did.

"This book's over." James whispered as he closed this book for the final time. He never would have believed a book could hurt him so bad, but this one had found every pain, every insecurity, every bad feeling he'd ever felt and quantified it plus adding on a few more. He really was astounded Harry had lived through it all without losing his mind.

"About bleeding time," Sirius scowled as he got to his feet at once, he was sick and tired of sitting around for so long, being so forcibly inactive with nothing to do. "I'm going into the backyard to plot murder, anyone want to come?" He didn't wait for a response, but Remus followed him out curiously enough to see what he was really going to be getting up to out there. Lily followed them to the back door with a few mutters about starting an early dinner, really she just had the need for something to do as well, leaving Harry and James in a peaceful enough silence.

Harry struggled for a moment, looking for the right words to say something to him. He tried to string together how much James had meant to him even before he'd met him, the idea of his father had gotten him through most of his childhood even when he hadn't a name and face to put together. James couldn't stop the swell of happiness it caused him to hear that, and finally the taint of bitterness had really left him as he promised, "I know Harry. I wish more than anything you hadn't had to wait so long to meet me, but I really couldn't have picked anyone better than Sirius to be there for you. He acts like an idiot, but you'll never have a better man on your side."

Harry forcefully ignored the tightness in his chest as he nodded his agreement, saying, "I'm sure I get to enjoy that to this very day. He's probably losing his mind right now when I came from."

James found a laugh somewhere in him for the odd idea alone, but then he really turned on Harry and said, "Hey, just in case Sirius didn't get this through your thick head that summer, you do know nothing that happened was your fault, right?"

Harry leaned back and away from him, trying to ignore the sudden shakes and shivers. Around a trembling jaw he managed, "I guess, in theory. It's much harder to convince myself in practice. Especially because I know no one's ever convinced me of it before now."

James felt his own mounting concern, truly wondering just how much Harry could take before he snapped. First he blamed himself for what happened to Sirius, then Peter's escape, now everything Peter had done since then. How had no one ever sat him down and really got it through to him these things were outside of his control? At least he could now, as he began promising no matter what at least Harry had them now, when he heard his infant begin crying upstairs.

James hung his head and cursed his own sons timing.

HPHPHPHP

* Don't worry, I'll have that brought up and explained in the next book of why Harry saw them at the beginning of next year and not here.

**I didn't bring this up yet because this is the best example, but it actually kind of annoys me how Hermione's used as a plot point of convenience device to get this kind of information a lot. She just so happened to have that book on Flamel, the Basilisk I slightly give Hermione was the only one who knew Harry was a Parselmouth and so put that together, but the Time-Turner she just happened to have that year, and now this? Where the ever loving did she get unregistered animagus from? Beetles are so common it really blows my mind how she put that together. I heard about how this book went through a lot of rewrites, and Skeeter was actually added much later in drafts, so this particular plot point could have been a little better handled in my opinion, I don't know, maybe Harry should have been grumbling about becoming an animagus more than that one time on top of the magical bugging, instead this feels more like it came out of nowhere because Hermione needed to figure something out this year.

#Harry Potter #fanfiction #reading the books #HP #GoF #Marauders #Jilly #James Potter #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #Lily Potter

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