January 3, 2023 Defence Against the Dark Arts Lily Potter

Topic –Who Is the Bravest Person in My Family?

On All Hallow's Eve, 1981, the evil Lord Voldemort (we never call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, mostly just Tom, ie Tom Riddle. I cannot tell you what my brother James calls him, it's too rude) came to my grandparents house in Godric's Hollow. He killed my paternal grandfather, James, as he bravely tried to give my grandmother time to escape with their fifteen month old son, Harry (ie my dad). My grandmother, the first Lily, bravely stayed, and begged the evil git (Tom) to let her and her son go free. Tom cast the Killing Spell on my grandmother then tried to kill my dad. My grandmother's sacrifice for her son gave him a strong protection, and when Tom cast the Killing Curse, it rebounded and hit him, causing him not to die (for reasons I'm still not sure about). Instead he fled to Albania.

My dad was known from then on as The Boy Who Lived, which he hated. But to this day he stands tall and brave, as brave as his parents were. He did what had to be done, he defeated Tom and set our world free.

To list his many accomplishments would likely fulfill the requirements of this essay, but instead I would simply refer you to the published work, 'Harry Potter, the Boy, the Man, the Legend'. Hermione Granger herself oversaw the writing and it is as good as autobiographical as the wizarding world will ever get.

My dad is the bravest man ever.

The End...

But not really. You see, this was supposed to be an easy essay to write. Like any good reporter (as advised by my mum who is a geat reporter) I researched my topic by asking questions and observing. My results were varied, which only made my topic harder than first expected.

I started off by interviewing the man himself, Harry Potter (okay, he was reading the paper and commenting on the bad journalism). His immediate response was to select his wife (aka Ginny Weasley Potter, aka my mum) for, and I quote, 'putting up with me' unquote. As his response was unsatisfactory, I put his selection aside for now.

My uncle was able to give me a more specific reason for selecting my mum, as were my aunts and godmother, all people I respect tremendously and would never doubt. After all, they were there, not sitting on the sidelines, they were all there, all involved in various ways in the second war.

At another interview with Harry Potter (okay, it was at the dinner table), when I told him he couldn't select mum (I don't want him accused of bias) he then selected Neville Longbottom, for standing up to both enemies and friends. I believe this won Gryffindor the house cup in 1991, with headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore adding on points at the end of the year. (Sidenote: Neville is my brother Albus' godfather, so technically he counts as family)

By now my easy essay was a nightmare. My aunt was tortured, my uncle faced his fear of spiders to go into the Forbidden forest with my dad. The three of them saved our world, over and over, with help from so many other brave people. My godmother was kidnapped off the Hogwarts Express and spent months locked in a dungeon! How could I possibly select just one when they are all worthy?

My maternal grandpa selected my grandma, and I have to agree, living through that nightmare once would have been bad enough, especially when she lost her two brothers. But to go through it again, and know that there was a chance you would lose your husband or a child? Sadly, Grandma's worst fears came true, and she lost her son, Fred. Yet she showed incredibly bravery by fighting for her daughter against one of the worst witches of our time.

My mum reminded me of another of my uncles (I have five living), who believed the Ministry was doing the right thing and that my dad was lying about Tom. It was only at the end that he returned to his family, at the battle. I think admitting you were wrong is brave, especially in front of everyone.

Now, more confused than ever, once again I asked Harry Potter (okay, he was taking a bath when I cornered him) who he would pick to be the bravest person he knew. No exclusions, no bias, nothing.

Once he realised I wouldn't leave without an answer (and the bathwater was getting cold) he simply affirmed his decision that Ginny Weasley Potter is the bravest person he knows, but...

He reminded me the question was asked of me, not him. So he asked me, who is the bravest person I know?

My dad is right. Well, half right.

Because the bravest people I know are my mum and dad, who just happen to be Harry and Ginny Potter.

My mum bravely returned to Hogwarts for her seventh year, the very place she had been abused and tortured the year previously. It was the place her brother died, and the place she thought she lost my dad (I cannot even begin to explain about that!)

Once she finished at Hogwarts, she chose to follow her heart and play Quidditch, quite successfully.

She also chose to follow her heart and marry my dad (despite what the bad reporters wrote about the two of them). They are embarassingly happy together, whatever you may read. My mum has been known to storm to the Daily Prophet's offices and quote 'rip them a new one' unquote, for writing falsehoods about my dad, and even us kids when we were little.

My mum will stand up to anyone who dares breathe a bad word against my dad and our family, no matter who. (Ask Uncle Kingsley -oops, Ex Minister for Magic Shacklebolt, and Mr Robards, ex Head Of the Auror department). She loves fiercely and proudly, and we are the luckier for it.

As for my dad, well, he's the brave one who gets to calm my mum down...or cops her full wrath. Not for long, mind you. They both have ways of getting around the other, (and that's all I am going to say about that)

My mum assures me that everyone of us has bravery inside us, for when we need it.

I hope when mine kicks in, it is just like my mums.

The End.

Lily, please see me at the end of the lesson.

" Psst, what did you get?" asked Julie, flashing her paper with a 'well done' on it.

Lily smiled weakly and showed the comment at the bottom of her essay. Julie looked surprised, then shrugged. "I'm sure it'll be all right. Want me to wait?"

The bell rang. Lily shook her head. " Nah, hopefully I won't be long. Save me a seat at the table, though?"

Julie nodded, grabbed her bag and headed out for lunch.

Amidst the last of the students leaving. Lily watched as Professor Longhorn gathered up parchments. Lily picked up her bag and slowly made her way to the front, her essay in hand. " Er, Professor, you wanted to see me?"

" Yes, Lily, thank you. Please, have a seat." With a wave of her wand, the professor conjured up a comfy chair for Lily to sit on.

"Am I in trouble?" asked Lily, "did I write the wrong thing?"

"On the contrary, there was no right or wrong thing. As mentioned, it was a chance to get to you know you better. I'm sorry that your essay became quote 'a nightmare' unquote," her teacher replied, hiding a grin.

" Actually, it was kind of nice, finding out these things about my family. Some of them I didn't know before, like about my grandma and her brothers. Even about Uncle Neville, er, I mean, Professor Longbottom," said Lily, reddening.

Professor Longhorne smiled. "Yes, I too, went and did some research, in fact, I went straight to the source. Professor Longbottom confirmed to me that he was given ten house points at the End- of- Year Feast from the then headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who commented on his bravery in standing up to his friends. That would be one Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and one Harry Potter."

"Uncle Nev stood up to them all?" asked Lily, surprised. " Even Aunt Hermione!"

"Well, yes he did, but Miss Granger, excuse me, Madam Minister, Mrs Hermione Granger-Weasley, used the Petrificas Totalis spell on him, and the trio went on their way. Your father went on to face He-Who-Must-

Lily coughed, shooting a pointed look at the professor.

"Yes, ah, Voldemort, he faced a form of Voldemort that very night, the first time since that awful All Hallow's Eve night," finished the professor.

"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," stated Lily. "My dad told me that."

"It was a very interesting essay to read. Tell me, did your parents read it?" asked the professor, curiously.

"No, you see, I only finished it the night before we came back to Hogwarts. I was up late; they went to bed early." She flushed, maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that. " Then there was the usual rush to get to King's Cross Station the next morning."

"I think they would like to read it. It was very well done, Lily, I enjoyed reading about your family. Of course, some of your cousins I know from other lessons and Houses, and of course, your brothers."

"Shall I apologise for James now?" joked Lily.

Professor Longhorne chuckled. "James is certainly a" – she hesitated, trying to decide on the correct word to use – " vocal member of his class. Whereas Albus -"

"He's in love, he spent all the holidays mooning over his boyfriend," rushed Lily, in defense.

"I'm aware," replied Professor Longhorne, nodding. " I was going to say Albus is a lot quieter."

"Yeah, well, that's Albus," shrugged Lily. " So, there's no grade on this?" She waved her essay.

"Oh, I wasn't going to grade...but if I was, you can be sure you'd get an O. Outstanding work. Now, off to lunch, you must be hungry. See you next lesson," said the professor.

"Bye." Lily hurried out; she was hungry. She hurried out of the classroom and to the Great Hall, sliding onto the seat Julie had saved.

" You didn't get a detention, did you? Because the first Quidditch practice is this week, and our first match is in three weeks. Three weeks, Lily," cried Daniel Wood, the Gryffindor captain.

"Keep your hair on, Danny, it's fine," soothed James, shooting his sister a look. " Right, Lil?"

Lily had a mouth stuffed with food, so she merely nodded. "'sallgood," she said, her voice muffled.

"Honestly, Lily," huffed Rose, sliding a glass of water over to her.

"So what did Longhorne want?" asked Julie, pouring her a cup of tea. "Was it about your essay?"

Lily nodded. " She liked it, but she's not grading, or anything." Julie sighed, disappointed.

"What was the essay about?" asked Rose, curiously.

"The bravest person in my family," said Lily, reaching for some potato chips.

"Well that's easy, I could write it in my sleep. My mum," said Rose, brightly.

James scoffed. "I'm not saying aunt Hermione isn't brave, but how can you not say it's my dad?"

"Well, what about my dad?" countered Hugo.

"Our dad," corrected Rose. Hugo rolled his eyes when his sister turned her back.

James threw a bread roll over to the Ravenclaw table. " Oy, Molly?"

"James Potter, we do not throw food in the Great Hall," reprimanded Minerva. She always made a point of watching over James Sirius in the Great Hall.

"Sorry, headmistress. Oy, Molly, who's the bravest in our family? It's my dad, isn't it?" he called loudly.

" James Potter, we do not yell across the tables in the Great Hall," reprimanded Minerva, frostily.

James saluted her. " Right, sorry." He got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw table, then backtracked and went to the Slytherin table. " Al, who's the bravest in our family? It's dad, right?"

"Actually, I would say Mum," said Albus. Scorpius nodded his agreement.

"What about my parents?" called Louis, at the Hufflepuff table.

"James Potter, please sit down, you are disrupting lunch," ordered Minerva.

"Oh boy, I'm going to the Owlery. I've already been through this discussion," sighed Lily, grabbing an apple and shoving it in her bag.

She trudged up to the owlery, glad to have a free lesson after lunch. Before she could second guess herself, she sent her essay flying home, with a simply message attached.

'Hi Mum, Dad, thought you might like to read my essay. The teacher enjoyed it. Classes are going great, Al and Scorp are still cute and James just disrupted lunch, so nothing new. Love you both, Lily xx'

Two days later she received a reply from her mum.

To my beautiful brave Lily,

Your dad and I enjoyed your essay, although your dad kind of wished you hadn't mentioned him in the bath. I told him he should be thankful you didn't mention he was taking a bubble bath! Seriously, sweetheart, your essay was brilliant and very touching. Perhaps a career as a reporter is in your future? Whatever you do, you will be amazing. We love you always, Lily-loo.

Your proud Mum. Xx

"Is that a letter from home? Because I wrote Dad about this whole brave thing," exclaimed James.

Lily rolled her eyes as he snatched it out of her hands. " Merlin James, let it go. We should be lucky and grateful our family is full of brilliant, brave witches and wizards, not like some," she said. Her gaze fell on Scorpius, and she remembered stories about his family during the war.

"You interviewed Dad in the bath...a bubble bath," cried James, chuckling as he read his mother's letter.

"Sssh," hissed Lily, nudging him.

"What are we ssshing about?" asked Freddie, leaning over to find out.

"My dad was having a bubble bath," laughed James.

"Alone?" asked Freddie suspiciously. "You sure?" he asked, when Lily nodded.

"Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, I believe you are late for Potions. Miss Weasley, aren't you heading for Herbology?" asked Minerva, her still sharp eye missing nothing.

"Yes, ma'am," they said, and went their separate ways.

It was two days later that Harry was enjoying a quiet breakfast before heading into work. Ginny had charmed the dishes to wash and was upstairs dressing while he finished his cup of tea.

An owl flew in through the window, a Daily Prophet in it's talons. "Thanks," said Harry, putting the knuts in the bag. He opened the paper, read the headline and then bellowed. " GINNY!"

Ginny Apparated downstairs, wand at the ready. " Who, what, where?" she asked, turning this way and that.

"This!" he cried, gesturing at the paper. Ginny picked it up and read aloud.

"CHOSEN ONE TAKES BUBBLE BATHS WITH WIFE."

~end~