Harry Potter & The Heir of Gryffindor
Prologue
This had not exactly been the best year at Hogwarts. Harry Potter was currently in his second year of school but it been anything but peaceful. Throughout the year there had been attacks on students leaving them petrified, the first victim was Mr Filch's cat Mrs Norris, after that was Colin Creevey. Then came a double attack, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Gryffindor ghost Nearly Headless Nick. To make things worse, circumstances have left most of the school believing that Harry was responsible for it all.
Today though Harry could forget all those trouble for at least a short while, since today was the day of Griffindor's next Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.
Harry was just mounting his broom when Professor McGonagall came half-marching, half-running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
"THIS MATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED!" Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There were boos and shouts. Oliver Wood, the captain and keeper of the Gryffindor team, looked devastated, he quickly landed and ran towards Professor McGonagall without getting off his broomstick.
"But Professor!" Oliver shouted. "We've got to play… the cup… Gryffindor…"
Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout through her megaphone.
"ALL STUDENTS ARE TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE HOUSE COMMON ROOMS, WHERE THEIR HEADS OF HOUSES WILL GIVE THEM FURTHER INFORMATION. AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN PLEASE!"
Then she lowered the megaphone and beckoned Harry over to her.
"Potter, I think you'd better come with me" As she spoke Harry could tell by the look on her face and the sound of her voice that something had clearly upset her deeply.
Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the match being cancelled, others looked worried. Harry followed Professor McGonagall back into the school and up the marble staircase but he wasn't taken to anybody's office this time.
"I should warn you… this will be a bit of a shock, something terrible has happened…" said Professor McGonagall as they approached the Hospital Wing. "There has been another attack… another double attack" Professor McGonagall struggled for a moment to say what she needed to say "… but this time… a student has been killed"
Harry's insides did a horrible somersault. Professor McGonagall pushed the door to the Hospital Wing open and she and Harry entered.
Harry looked at the nearest bed and his heart stopped, Madam Pomfrey was leaning over a girl with bushy brown hair.
"Hermione!!!" Harry shouted and ran to his friend.
Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy.
"Is… is she?…" Harry struggled to get the question out as tears started to pool at his eyes.
"No, she's just petrified like the others… but…" Madam Pomfrey stuttered with a few tears in her eyes.
Harry turned back to Professor McGonagall with a confused look.
"But… Professor, you said somebody was killed!"
"Yes Potter I did… but I also said it was a double attack." Professor McGonagall explained as she looked at another bed that Harry hadn't noticed.
Harry turned and saw a bed across from Hermione, the white sheet was bulging as it covered something unmoving.
Harry slowly stepped towards the bed and placed a hand on the sheet, he slowly pulled the sheet away and stepped back in shock causing his to fall onto another bed.
"No… no no no, this can't be happening…" Harry said over and over again as tears started to fall from his eyes.
On the bed was a boy no older than 13... Red hair adorned his head and freckles covered his face. His skin was a pasty white and his eyes looked emptily at the ceiling.
Madam Pomfrey stepped forward and pulled the sheet back over the boy while Professor McGonagall walked around behind Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Potter"
That day the news spread across the school like wildfire, Ron Weasley, Harry and Hermione's best friend since first year, was dead.
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Thus ended the story of Ronald Billius Weasley, but far away, clear across the Atlantic ocean in the Untied States of America, in the city of Middleton, the story of Ronald Dean Stoppable was just beginning.
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Chapter 1 - The Late-Mage
"One more day KP, just one more day and we're free for the summer!" Ron Stoppable said with glee as he and his best friend Kim Possible walked side by side towards their school.
"I still can't believe we're not gonna be together next year… we've been together since Pre-K" Kim said sadly.
A few weeks ago Kim's parents broke the news to her, next year she had been enrolled in a private school for the gifted in New York.
"KP, going to New York is a really good opportunity, plus we'll still be able to see each other at the holidays" Ron said trying to cheer his best friend up.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Kim said as they entered the school and made their way towards their lockers.
"Well well, look who it is, the loser and the losette, enjoying your last day together?" came the familiar voice of Bonnie Rockwaller.
"You know Bonnie…" Ron spoke as he walked past the queen-bitch of the school. "… the only consolation that this is KP and my last day in the same school, is that it's our last day in the same school with you too" Ron said with a smile.
Indeed it was true, after Kim had broken the news that she was going to New York, Bonnie being Bonnie just had one up her, it turns out that Bonnie was going to a Private school for girls in France.
Ron put in the combination to his locker and opened it, as he did he let out an annoyed sigh as a familiar envelope fell out.
"Aww man not again!" Ron groaned.
"What's wrong?" Kim asked from her locker next to Ron.
"I've been getting this letter everyday for nearly a week… somebody's just messing with me" Ron said as he passed the letter is Kim.
Kim took the letter and looked at the front which had an address written in green ink.
Mr R. Stoppable
Locker 13
Middleton High School
Tri-City
Kim raised an eyebrow at the strange address and turned the letter around to see a red wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.
"Ron, this seal looks pretty authentic, are you sure it's somebody messing with you? Seems like a lot of trouble to go through just for a joke" Kim asked
Ron chuckled for a moment before speaking.
"Read the letter and then tell me that it not somebody messing with me…" Ron suggested.
Kim broke the seal and pulled the letter out, she started to read it out loud.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Stoppable,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Kim finished reading the letter, looked inside the envelope and found another piece of paper which she started reading to herself.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
Third year students will require::
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.
Set books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard book of spells (Grade 3)
The Monster Book of Monsters
Intermediate Transfiguration
Unfogging the Future
Ancient Runes for Beginners
A History of Magic
Magical Theory
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Magical Drafts and Potions
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
Kim finished reading and looked at Ron with a raised eyebrow.
"You've got to be kidding…" Kim said with a smile
"See? I told ya so… still think it's real?" Ron said with an amused smile.
Kim tossed the letter in a nearby bin and walked along with Ron.
"Who do you think would go through that much trouble?" Kim asked.
"You don't know the half of it KP, I've found that letter at home, at school, even tucked into my pillowcase…"
As Ron and Kim walked away, somebody approached the bin and took the letter out. Bonnie's locker was almost directly across from Ron, she had heard everything including Kim reading the first letter out loud. Bonnie read through the letter and checked the seal on the envelope just to make sure.
"Great, just great… the loser's a wizard and he doesn't even know about it…" Bonnie said in annoyance as she felt a headache on it's way.
Bonnie quickly pocketed the letter and broke into a sprint towards the school entrance, this was her last day at this school so there wouldn't be any repercussions for skipping school, especially regarding the circumstances.
After a few minutes of running she reached her house, she quickly made her way to the large fireplace and grabbed a handful of grey powder from a tin container on top of the fireplace. Bonnie then stepped into the fireplace and turned around.
"Hogsmeade" Bonnie said in a clear and loud voice before dropping the powder to her feet, immediately after the power hit the fireplace an eruption of green flames consumed Bonnie's body, when the fire died down a moment later, Bonnie was gone.
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"Ok, this is getting ridiculous" Ron said as he sat down next to Kim in the cafeteria with a couple of slices of pizza on his plate.
"What's wrong Ron?" Kim asked
"This!" Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled up envelope and passed it to Kim.
"On my way here I got a soda from the machine outside, that was rolled up and hidden inside" Ron said in an irritated tone.
Kim looked at the envelope, sure enough it has the same coat of arms and green ink.
Mr R. Stoppable
Can of Strawberry Soda
D-Hall Soda Machine
Middleton High School
Tri-City
Kim looked at the letter in confusion.
"… hidden in a can of Soda?… how… but…" Kim stuttered, she honestly didn't know what to say.
"I swear KP, I'm one letter away from calling Wade and asking him to find out where they're coming from." Ron said as he picked up a piece of pizza and raised it to him mouth, he took one bit and knew something was wrong, he couldn't bite through the pizza properly, he pulled the pizza away with part still in his mouth and his eyes widened, a white letter stained with grease fell from the slice, hidden between the topping and the base of the pizza.
Mr R. Stoppable
Slice of Pizza
Cafeteria
Middleton High School
Tri-City
"… OH COME ON!!!" Ron screamed in frustration. "That's it! Gimme the Kimmunicator!!!" Ron said quickly and held out his hand.
"Hey loser!" a familiar voice called from behind Ron. Ron turned around to come face to face with Bonnie again.
"Bonnie, I'm really not in the mood for…"
"You want to find out where those letters are coming from? Follow me, alone!" Bonnie said simply and to the point before turning around and walked away without waiting for Ron.
"Huh? Wait, what?" Ron stuttered as he fell out of his seat and quickly chased after Bonnie leaving Kim behind confused.
Bonnie didn't speak as she made her way through the halls for a few minutes to an empty classroom, Ron followed her and she quickly closed and locked the door behind him.
"Umm, Bonnie? What are we doing here?" Ron said as he looked around the classroom and stopped when he saw something very strange, a cat sitting stiffly on a nearby desk.
Bonne walked towards the cat and spoke.
"This is him, Ron Stoppable…" Bonnie said to the cat.
"Bonnie… are you feeling ok?" Ron asked cautiously, wondering why of earth she was talking to a cat.
Ron was answered when the cat jumped off the table and started changing, it's body grew, it's fur disappeared, it's legs became more human and clothes seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Ron fell backwards in shock at what he saw and landed on a table.
Within five seconds the cat had changed into a stern looking woman with greying black hair pulled back into a tight bun, she wore square glasses, a black pointed hat and emerald green robes.
"Mr Stoppable… I assure you that Miss Rockwaller is perfectly sane" the woman said in an English accent as she stepped forward and held out a hand to help him up. Ron took the hand cautiously and stood up.
"Ok… Bonnie's sane… am I?" Ron asked
The woman let out a short chuckle before answering.
"Yes you are, my name is Professor Minerva McGonagall… Griffindor house head, Transfiguration teacher and deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Professor McGonagall introduced herself.
"Nice to meet… wait… McGonagall? Hogwarts?… y-you mean you sent those letters? They're real!!?" Ron said in shock.
"They're very real Mr Stoppable, now you may want to take a seat, this may take a while to explain."
Over the next half hour Professor McGonagall explained many different things to Ron, the existence of Magic and the Magical world, witches and wizards, Hogwarts, the ministry of magic and several other things. After a while Ron turned to Bonnie.
"Bonnie, how do you know about all of this?" Ron asked curiously.
"I know because I'm a witch" Bonnie said as if it was obvious
"Miss Rockwaller saw your letter this morning and realised that you thought it was a hoax of some kind, it happens every now and then with Muggle born children, they get the letter and disregard them because they don't understand them…" Professor McGonagall explained. "… she was kind enough to come to Hogwarts and tell me about your situation and now here I am explaining it to you"
Ron looked at Bonnie again.
"Bonnie… you hate me… why would you help me?" Ron asked.
"Stoppable, I might hate you… but I also know what it's like to have magic… I can't imagine my life without it… and not even you deserve to not know how wonderful magic is… it's that simple" Bonnie answered
"So… you're going to Hogwarts too?" Ron asked
"Hell no, are you insane? I've been home schooled in magic for two years but this year I'm going to Madame Maxime's Beauxbatons Academy for Witches, in France" Bonnie said with a hint of pride before turning towards the door.
"Well, that's my good deed for the year, adios loser" and with that Bonnie was gone.
"Such a sweet girl…" Professor McGonagall said with a sarcastic tone "… I'm sure she'd fit right in at Hogwarts… in Slytherin of course"
"… What's a Slytherin?" Ron asked in a confused voice
Professor McGonagall let out a sigh, she knew she'd have a lot more to explain.
"I'll explain that later… right now I need to talk to you about your summer holidays… you see, you're what we call a Late-Mage, a Wizard who's powers have bloomed later than normal, due to that you'll be going from being a Muggle straight into what should have been your third year, which means you have your summer holidays to catch up on two years worth of learning or you won't be allowed into Hogwarts" Professor McGonagall explained.
Ron's mood took a sudden plummet.
"Aww man… summer school…" Ron groaned
"Indeed, if you accept then you'll be taken to England where a tutor will teach you over the holidays, if you do well enough then you will be admitted to Hogwarts"
Ron stopped and thought for a few moments, all the information he'd been given seemed to press down on his head giving him a headache. Plus he had to make the choice of whether or not he wanted to give up his life at Middleton High to go to a wizard school in England… not a choice he thought he would ever have to make.
He went over the pros and cons of each choice, if he said no then he would just come back to Middleton High School in a few months, if he said yes he would go to a school to learn magic and he would lose his summer with Kim. If he went to Hogwarts then he would learn thing he could never learn anywhere else, if he came back to Middleton High then he would lean the same old stuff and be taught by Mr Barkin…
"I'll do it!" Ron said a little too fast, the thought of getting away from Mr Barkin really pushed his choice over the edge.
Professor looked at him with a warm smile.
"That's good to hear Mr Stoppable, at this moment there is another Professor at your home explaining the situation to your parents, you have until the day after tomorrow to change your mind, after that I shall be back to collect you and escort you to England" Professor McGonagall said as she stood up. "Do you have any other questions?"
"Umm… oh, yeah… the letter said that I can bring an owl, a cat or a toad… what's the policy on Naked Mole Rats?" Ron asked with a smile as Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket and yawned before looking around wondering what he missed
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Ron arrived at home a short time later, when he entered his house he quickly found his parents looking a little shaken and very pale.
"Mom, Dad, you ok?" Ron asked cautiously.
"R-Ron… we're fine sweetie, we just had a rather interesting visit from a man today" Ron's mom said wit a small smile on her face.
"So, you know everything then? About Hogwarts?" Ron asked and was answered by a pair of nods from both his mom and dad.
"Ronald, we've been speaking and we've decided that it's time we told you something… you may want to take a seat" Ron's dad said.
Ron took a seat across from his parents wondering what was wrong.
"Ronald, the Professor who came to see us, a mister Dumbledore, told us all about the different kinds of Wizards and Witches, half-bloods, purebloods and about you being a… Muggle-born I think he called it… well, we decided that we needed to tell you that your parents might in fact be Wizards… you might not be a M-Muggle-born" Ron's dad said
"What? But you're not wizards? Are you?" Ron asked in a confused tone.
"No, no we're not… Ronald what we're trying to say is…" Ron's mom struggled to find the words.
A few moments later she realized that the only way to say what they had to say, was to just come out and say it.
"Ron…"
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Ron slowly walked towards his best friend's house. He and his parents had a long talk before coming to Kim's.
Ron walked in and spotted Mrs. Dr. P in the living room.
"Hey Dr. P, is Kim home?" Ron asked.
"Yes, she's up in her room Ronald" Anne said with a smile.
Ron rushed up the stairs two steps at a time and knocked on Kim's door
"Come in" came Kim's voice.
Ron walked in and saw Kim sat at her desk writing
"KP, can I talk to you?" Ron asked
Kim noticed a difference in his tone of voice and when she looked at him she saw that he was a little upset about something.
"Ron, what's up?" Kim asked.
Ron looked up at her and said one simple sentence.
"My parents just told me I'm adopted"
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Professor McGonagall approached a phoenix statue and spoke.
"Fizzy Earwigs" Professor McGonagall said in a clear voice, immediately the phoenix statue started turning and moving upwards revealing a spiralling staircase. McGonagall stepped onto the stairs and let them carry her up to a door.
She gave the door three quick knocks.
"Enter" came a voice from inside.
Professor McGonagall opened the door and entered the large office, she quickly spotted who she was looking for, an old man with long white hair and a long bushy beard. This man was the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore.
"Albus, I spoke to young Mr Stoppable, he's agreed to come to England and work over the summer to gain admittance into Hogwarts" Professor McGonagall reported.
"Ahh, marvellous… would you like a Twinkie?" Dumbledore offered as he held up a plate that held half a dozen small yellow cakes.
"Twinkie? What on earth is a Twinkie?" McGonagall asked.
"It's an American snack, Mrs Stoppable offered me one when I went to speak with Mr Stoppable's parents, I must admit, they are quite delicious" Albus explained as he took a bite out of one of them.
"How did the meeting go? Muggle's first contact with the magical world can sometimes be… confusing" McGonagall said as she struggled to find an appropriate word.
"It went rather well actually, after showing them a touch of magic, they simply accepted what I had to say…" Albus said with a smile.
"Just like that?" McGonagall asked in shock
"Indeed, it rather confused me for a moment, when I asked them why they were so accepting they answered, in regards to their son 'Stranger things have happened'" Albus explained.
"Albus, we still need to figure something out, we still don't know why a letter was sent to Mr Stoppable, he's an American so he should have gone to either the American of Canadian schools of spell craft, instead he received a letter from Hogwarts, why?" McGonagall asked
"Actually Minerva, I may have a possible explanation, during my talk with the Stoppables they mentioned that Ronald is in fact adopted, if at least one of his biological parents was an British witch of wizard, then his name would have been automatically added to our lists" Albus theorised.
"… but Albus, that's not possible, both of Ronald's current parents are Muggles. When a magical child is put up for adoption the Ministry of Magic makes absolutely sure that the child is placed with magical parents so that the child will be able to grow up knowing of their magical heritage" McGonagall explained.
"Indeed that is the case, however I can think of no other explanation as to why Mr Stoppable has been drafted into Hogwarts… it seems that for now, we must allow events to unfold and hope, that the answer to this mystery will reveal itself in time" Albus said as he finished off his Twinkie
"Well that remains to be seen, he still has to learn a lot and has not much time to learn it… if he fails then he won't be eligible to enter Hogwarts" McGonagall said doubtingly
"I have the utmost confidence that he will rise to the occasion, in fact considering who his tutor is, I'm certain that he will join us at the beginning of term" Dumbledore said as he picked up another Twinkie.
"You've already found him a tutor?" Professor McGonagall was stunned.
"Yes, I've contacted her and Miss Granger has expressed much interest at the thought of a Summer job tutoring Mr Stoppable" Albus said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.
"Hermione Granger? Well then, it seems Mr Stoppable's chances of gaining admittance have just increased significantly… but are you sure she's up to it? After everything she and Mr Potter have been through over the past year… with losing Mr Weasley" she said with a hint of regret.
"I believe in both Harry and Miss Granger, they will overcome this painful period in their life"
"I hope so Albus… by the way… what do you know about Naked Mole Rats?"
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Ron had explained everything to Kim, how his parents adopted him when he was less than a year old. And how he had been offered a placement at a private school in England but he also had to go to England for tutoring over the holidays. He knew he couldn't tell her the truth about Hogwarts, it was against the rules, no Muggles could know apart from his parents.
"Well Ron that's great news, like you said to me earlier today, something like this is a great opportunity" Kim said trying to cheer up her old friend.
"Yeah, but it means we'll lose our summer together KP" Ron groaned
"Ron don't worry about it, we'll still have our other holidays, I'll be able to see you at Christmas" Kim reasoned but Ron still looked gloomy "… look Ron, if you don't go, then you'll regret it for the rest of your life" Kim said as she sat down next to him and placed an arm over his shoulder.
Ron let out a little chuckle.
"That sounds a little familiar KP" Ron said
"It should. You told me the same thing two weeks ago when you found me crying in the tree house about my decision to go to New York" Kim said with a smile.
"Heh, thanks KP" Ron said with a smile
Kim leaned forward and gave Ron a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling his into a hug.
"So, when're you leaving?" Kim asked
"The day after tomorrow" Ron answered
"Well then what're we waiting around here for?" Kim said as she stood up "Let's go, we're gonna make the most out of the time we have"
That night and the following day, Kim and Ron had the time of their lives, they started out with Bueno Nacho, followed by a movie and roller-skating. They spent a few hours at the mall, hung out with their friends Felix and Monique, spent a night with popcorn and half a dozen different DVDs.
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Pretty soon it came to an end and Ron found himself standing in front of his house with his parents and Kim.
He gave his parents a hug each and said goodbye, he didn't care if he was adopted, they were still his parents. Finally he pulled Kim into a tight hug and said his goodbyes, Rufus scurried out of Ron's pocket and hugged Kim's face.
"Heh, bye Rufus…" Kim said as she hugged the naked rodent.
"Goodbye Ron, I'll see you at Christmas, don't forget to write" Kim said as she gave Ron one last squeeze.
"Bye KP, I'll bring you back something British" Ron said with a grin.
"Hem hem" a cough caught their attention.
Ron turned around and spotted Professor McGonagall standing a few meters behind him, she was wearing normal clothes, or to her, Muggle clothes.
"Mr Stoppable, it's time to go, if we don't leave now we'll miss our ride…"
"Ok, bye KP" Ron said one last time before picking up his bag and following Professor McGonagall.
Kim managed to hold back her tears until Ron was out of sight.
"Hurry Mr Stoppable, or it'll leave without us…" Professor McGonagall said as she hurried down the street with Ron trailing behind her.
"Ah, here we are, just in time" McGonagall said as she stopped and looked down.
Ron looked down to see what she was looking at and saw nothing but an old car steering wheel.
"Ok… what now?" Ron asked
"I'll explain when we arrive, for now just hold on tight" McGonagall said as she leant down and grasped the wheel. Ron followed her lead and grabbed a hold of the wheel too. After nearly a minute Ron spoke up.
"Umm, Professor, what are we…"
Ron was cut off as suddenly, he, Professor McGonagall and the steering wheel disappeared from the street.
To Be Continued…
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