A/N: Thank you for the response, I'm still not to sure about this fic because I don't like how I set it up, but I'll keep it going for now! I think it might end up going for adoption... I only have one more chapter planned after this!
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K
Chapter Three;
Harry didn't awake until long past midday, he even slept through apperating home, the marauders put him to bed and let him sleep, after yesterday he needed it. It was around 2pm when he stumbled down the stairs and fell on to the sofa, his hair was everywhere and he was barely awake.
"Since when did the tent have stairs?" He slurred making Sirius chuckle.
"We're home now pup." The teen blinked and looked around.
"Huh, so we are, when did we get home?"
"Around 7 this morning, we decided to apperate because you were asleep." Remus explained walking in with a book in his hand.
"I slept though apperation!" Harry exclaimed and they nodded.
"Wow, what's the time?"
"Just gone 2." Sirius cast a tempus charm, Harry's eyebrows shot up.
"Bloody hell!"
"Language," Remus chided.
"I am starved," Harry groaned and Milly popped in with a tray of steaming food.
"Milly you are a godsend, I love you so much right now." The little elf beamed with tears in her eyes and popped away, Harry devoured the food in minutes and sat back happily.
"You feeling better now cub?" Remus questioned with a laugh.
"So much,"
"Do you want to see the paper, we feature in it just like Amelia said." Harry sat up again.
"I had forgotten about that, how bad is it?"
"It's not that bad actually, they kept the whole Crouch situation out of it."
"What d'you mean?"
"Oh yeah, you had passed out by this point." Sirius remembered and explained what had happened with Ron and Hermione, Harry was in shock after.
"I bet Crouch wasn't happy." Remus blinked.
"Sirius said the exact same thing last night." Harry grinned and was passed the Daily Profit, he began to read.
SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
Was the glaring headline screaming out from the moving paper,
Last night there was chaos and catastrophe and the Quidditch world cup, the appearance of several cloaked figures who had 4 muggles suspended in the air and the dark mark thrown in to the sky shocked ministry officials. The camp site was thrown in to disarray as dark wizards ran unchecked toying with defenceless muggles and blasting everything to smithereens, the aurors were severely outnumbered and they were falling to the terrorists wands when three, at the time, unknown wizards came from nowhere and brought the fight back in to control. It was later discovered that many of us owe our lives and safety to Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, who is head of the ancient and noble house of Black and the only person to ever escape Azkaban, and none other than The-Boy-Who-lived himself; Harry Potter. That's right ladies and gentlemen, our very own saviour came to help fight the unknown dark wizards, Mr Potter, who is 14 years old and heir to the ancient and noble houses of Potter and Black, performed an amazing feat by subduing 9 of the masked wizards alone saving many from injury. The masked wizard's disaperated when the terrifying Dark Mark appeared glaring in the sky, 'If the terrified wizards and witches, who waited breathlessly for news at the edge of the wood, expected reassurance from the Ministry of Magic, they were sadly disappointed. A Ministry official emerged sometime after the appearance of the Dark Mark alleging that nobody had been hurt, but refusing to give any more information. A huge Ministry blunder this is a national disgrace, we had the honour to host an amazing event and there is a massive lax of security, I can only hope that the Ministry clears up this mess.
Rita Skeeter.
There was a picture of the Dark Mark shining vividly in the sky and somehow they had managed to photograph Harry just after he saw Sirius take a hit, the picture showed him slashing down his wand and throwing the one responsible through the air.
"She's made me out to be a national treasure." Harry groaned and Sirius tried to muffle his snickers.
"Um cub," Remus began, Harry looked at him.
"You've already started receiving fan mail." Harry's eyes widened.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Sirius shook his head laughing, he called Sharpie who popped in with multiple letters and packages.
"They've been screened for curses, portkey's, hexes, jinxes and all the other things that could possibly be placed on or in a letter or parcel." Remus told the shocked teen.
"I know I've got used to my fame, but this is ridiculous." Harry shook his head, he motioned for the others to start opening everything. Harry was alarmed when he received multiple marriage proposals and someone sent him a lock of their hair which Sirius found hilarious by the roaring laughter, he received some really nice gifts and a girl called Penny Harrison sent him a beautiful silver charm bracelet which had a golden lion head, a broomstick, a wand and an owl attached.
"Wow," He breathed as he held it up.
"That's stunning cub."
"Yeah I know." He immediately clipped it to his left wrist where it sat nicely. He had been sent a lovely quill set which included quills from an eagle, a snowy owl and a raven plus black, blue and green inks. A little girl had written an adorable letter which Harry was determined to write back to it said,
To Harry Potter, in childish scroll.
My name is Karson Ainsbrough and I am 5 years old, thank you very much for helping at the Quidditch cup my daddy was safe because of you. I wrote this all by myself as my mummy is teaching me how to write like a big girl, you are my hero.
Love From,
Karson.
"Awh, that has to be the cutest thing ever?" Harry cooed giving the letter Remus who read it with a soft smile.
"Little kids are the real heart breakers." Sirius agreed after reading the letter. They finished opening everything and Harry didn't know what to do, he was alarmed and horrified about some of the stuff he was sent but some of it like little Karson's letter was really sweet.
"You know it's not going to stop for a while." Sirius pointed out and Harry nodded in a resigned sort of way.
"I'm going to write thank you's to the unfreakish gifts and write a proper letter to Karson." Harry told them, he asked Milly to take his stuff to his room while he called for some owls. Harry attached the thank you notes to the owls and sent them off, then he began Karson's
Dear Karson,
I was very happy to ready your letter it was very special, I hope your daddy was ok and I'm glad I could help. Your writing is great your mummy is doing a wonderful job and to say thank you for you writing to me and to help with your writing, here is a quill from my very own owl Hedwig, she's the owl bringing the letter.
Love From,
Harry Potter.
Harry signed it in a swirl, he pulled out one of the tail feathers Hedwig had given him which was charmed with everlasting ink, and Harry set the ink to pink as she was a little girl. He attached the letter to Hedwig and stoked his owl gently.
"Take this to a little girl called Karson Ainsbrough, she wrote me a really sweet letter and it's important she gets this ok." Hedwig hooted in affirmative and took flight through the window, Harry trekked back down stairs and chilled for the rest of the day. Neither Sirius, Remus nor Harry could be bothered to move and they sat in front of the TV. They were so lazy that the elves brought their dinner to the lounge on trays much to their delight, Tonks fell in to the room and was immediately served food when she collapsed on to the sofa with a happy groan.
"The ministry is in chaos, everything is up in the air." She told them exasperatedly.
"I'm not surprised, the sight of the Dark Mark is terrible, you wouldn't remember but seeing the Dark Mark caused the utmost fear." Remus said putting his book down, Harry suddenly remembered it.
"But the death eaters were scared when they saw it too."
"What do you mean pup?"
"When the mark went up I looked to the remaining death eaters wondering what they would do seeing their masters mark, they were spitting fear. One of them had pure terror in his eyes, I've never seen anything like it." Harry explained to them.
"That makes sense actually," Sirius began and Remus looked at him as if he was insane so he continued. "No if you think about it, all the death eaters out there last night were all of the ones who sprouted all sorts of crap about how Voldemort forced them to kill rape and torture to get out of Azkaban and go back to their daily lives, if I was a death eater who had done that and then my masters mark shot in to the air signalling he was still out there I would want to find the furthest rock from here and kill myself under it."
"Siri's right, Voldemort was powerful; beyond that. He could only be matched by Dumbledore straight up which is why he gained so many followers because it was unlikely he would fail, then when he did they bought their ways out and now someone with all that power has come back and I've heard he doesn't take betrayal well." Harry pointed out and the others nodded.
"With your dreams as well, it seems as if Voldemort will be making a stunning reappearance." Sirius said sarcastically, all three of them looked at Harry who groaned.
"More training?"
"Correct, starting tomorrow. I won't have you under prepared because we know if he comes back you have a big number one target stamped on your head."
"Gee thanks Siri, makes me feel real good." Harry muttered but agreed, Tonks said she would begin teaching him the first year auror training while the marauders took everything else, Harry went to bed early that night still tired from the night before and he had a feeling he would be doing that a lot in the last few weeks of the holidays.
"Diffindo, Reducto, Incarcerous, Bombarda Maxima." These spells were fired of in rapid succession and each hit their mark, Harry sighed in relief sweating profusely.
"Again," Sirius barked. Harry pulled himself together and fell in to his duelling stance and the dummy struck. He dodged, ducked, dived and rolled from the spells but didn't raise a shield until he was forced too.
"Stupefy, Expelliarmus, Duro," Harry shielded from the oncoming stunner and rolled over.
"Expulso, Confringo, Impedimenta, Incendio." The dummy erupted in flames and Harry nearly collapsed panting.
"Spell link set one," Sirius ordered and Harry groaned.
"Expelliarmus, Petrificus Totalus, Stupefy, Stupefy, Impedimenta, Expelliarmus, Stupefy." Harry linked the spells immediately one after another and he was beginning to feel light headed.
"Again silently." He repeated the link silently and he fell to his knees when he was done.
"Brilliant Harry, that's 4 hours straight." Sirius helped Harry up and half carried him to the dinner table, Harry downed the ice cold pumpkin juice and ate blindly.
"Sirius what have you done!" Remus yelled when he took in the sight of Harry.
"He lasted 4 hours today Moony."
"You kept him going for four hours, are you insane? He's only been doing this for a week!" the werewolf shouted and rushed over to his cub, Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Remus you know it's the best way to train, endurance stretches the core and he has a huge one, doing this now plus the physical training he's been doing will give him the best chance of survival."
"I know but he looks exhausted." Remus muttered gently smoothing down the sweaty hair.
"He is but I'd rather him exhausted now and alive later, you know he's only this tired because we also done dark arts this morning too." Remus nodded but he still wasn't happy.
"Go shower cub," Harry nodded mutely and slowly climbed the stairs.
"He's doing so well, even with the dark arts." Sirius told his friend.
"I know but it's so much on him." Remus sighed running his hands through his hair.
"Yes I know it is but if he masters all this now it will help him in the future, I will not have him dead because I didn't prepare him the best I could." Remus just nodded knowing his friend was right, Harry fell back in to the room and began wolfing down more food at an alarming rate.
"Feeling better cub?"
"Yeah much." Harry said swallowing some chicken.
"You did brilliantly today pup."
"Thanks Siri." Harry was given the rest of the day off, he spent the afternoon flying in practice for when he would play Krum and when Tonk's came home from work they planned a going away prank that they would unleash when Harry left for school. Harry went to bed early that night because he was absolutely shattered, he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK, I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!" Harry's voice echoed all the way to the dining room and Sirius looked alarmed.
"What have you done now?" Remus sighed and Sirius looked wide eyed,
"I swear I haven't done anything!" He said just as Harry came storming in. The teen had glowing green hair and yellow eyes.
"Get rid of this you crazy man." Harry growled as Sirius howled with laughter.
"It wasn't me Pronglet I swear." He gasped out, so Harry turned to the other marauder who shook his head.
"Well who the bloody hell is responsible." He demanded just as Tonks came in.
"Whoa, nice look Harry, I like it." She switched hers to look the same and Sirius gasped.
"Harry, think of having your hair back to normal, really concentrate on it." Harry looked confused but complied, he gasped when he felt a weird tingling feeling in his hair and Tonks whooped.
"Yes, I have another morpher." She cried happily.
"What?"
"You're a metamorph." Remus told him and Harry grinned.
"Are you for real?" He had stopped saying 'are you serious' because his godfather couldn't help but make a joke out of it.
"I'm pretty sure, try changing your hair." Harry narrowed his eyes in thought and suddenly his hair was luminous pink, Sirius cheered.
"This is brilliant Pronglet, Tonks can help you and then you'll be a proper little morpher." Harry grinned at Tonks who grinned back.
"Perfect," They said together and suddenly the marauders didn't think it was such a good idea. Tonks told Harry she finished at lunch and he was to practice changing his hair colour until she came back, Sirius reminded her that the teen had training as well and she nodded and floo'd to the ministry. Sirius put Harry through his paces again, but the teen didn't collapse at the end of it, the endurance was already paying off. At lunch he sat and practiced switching his hair much to Sirius' amusement and Remus' exasperation, Tonks came bounding in and dragged Harry of to one of the drawing rooms where she sat him front of the mirror.
"Right the first thing you need to do is practice is changing individual features, now you seemed to have mastered your hair so now try your eyes." She instructed and Harry nodded, he concentrated on his eyes and grinned when they turned a crystal blue.
"Brilliant Harry, you seemed to have this coming naturally, it took me ages to learn how to switch like that."
"Yeah but you had to do it on your own, I have you." Harry pointed out and Tonks thought for a second.
"I didn't think about that, the next thing is to change other parts of your body until you can do it instantly. Once you have that down, we'll work on other things." Harry and Tonks spent the afternoon morphing, she would change something and he would copy. At dinner they both came in with pink eyes and blue hair, Remus blinked before rubbing his temples.
"Oh Merlin, this is going to be a nightmare." He sighed and the pair grinned.
Harry and Tonks had loads of fun in Harry's final week, which was a relief for the teen. Harry had loads of letter from fans and Sirius took pleasure in ridiculing him for the strange things people sent him, the minister had arrived to personally thank them for their efforts at the world cup as well as Amelia Bones who said she wouldn't mind having Remus and Sirius on the auror force to which the politely declined as they would be focussing on Harry. The teen in question was thankful as he didn't want his family in constant danger like that especially if Voldemort was on the up, his magical ability had grown to alarming rates for his age and he enjoyed relaxing and having fun with Tonks. T
he twins had also put in an appearance and the marauders were seriously impressed with they're brains, Sirius had said he would help out as much as he could and they had left happy. As soon as Harry managed to change his entire body they used it to their full advantage. They often morphed in to each of the marauders and on the final night it turned in to a full out prank war in which the pro pranksters were out matched because they didn't know if they were pranking each other or Harry and Tonks, it went on to gone 12 until they called a stalemate because Harry had to go to school in the morning. Harry shared a look with Tonks and she nodded they would put their plan in to action in the morning. As they were apperating to the station Harry didn't need to be up until 9 which he was thankful for. He was up and dressed on time and Sharpie packed his trunk for him, he ate breakfast with the two marauders and Nym and for the first time Harry didn't want to go back to school, sure he was excited to go but every year previously he had been counted down the days.
"Hey pup, we have something for you." Sirius told him, Harry looked up.
"What is it?" He was handed a wrapped package and a black book.
"This is an enchanted mirror that me and your dad used to use in detention, just call my name and you can speak to me and Moony." Tonks whacked him, "And Tonks, ouch woman. The book is the marauder pad, it's a layout of all of our greatest pranks, use them on Snivelly." Harry looked at the book in wonder.
"Brilliant, I am so roping the twins in." Harry said excitedly, Sirius grinned and ruffled his hair.
"Hey Nym, I have one last thing I want to check with my morphing, come with?" Harry asked and she grinned and got up.
"Course, come one squirt." She laughed at his affronted face.
"Watch it, Nymphadora!" He yelled following her out, they met in the sun room and both their grins were evil.
"Is everything set?" Harry asked after he had put up a silencer.
"Yes, as soon as we leave it will activate, what's going to happen I don't know, I forgot everything we set up." Harry laughed.
"I know we jinxed every doorway, the furniture, the fireplaces, hell I think we even jinxed the walls."
"We also got their clothes, shoes, beds, showers and cloaks." Tonks told them.
"I even got outside." Harry remembered suddenly.
"What did you do?"
"Just wait and see, lets just say that magic will not get rid of it for a while." Tonks grinned. They went to the living room where they two men were talking animatedly about something, when the 'children' came in they looked around with grins.
"Ready to go Pronglet."
"Yeah, let me get my trunk."
"Don't worry, Milly insisted she take it and save you a compartment." Harry smiled, his elf was the best.
"Alright, lets go." Sirius held out his arm for Harry to grab tightly, he squeezed his eyes shut and they apperated out, Tonks and Remus appeared seconds later on the busy platform. Cameras immediately began flashing and Harry withheld a groan, he was used to his fame and expected the attention, but it didn't mean he had to like it. He gave Sirius, Remus and Tonks a hug and murmured his good byes and out of nowhere he had a face full of bushy brown hair.
"Hey Hermione," Harry coughed.
"Harry, its so good to see you." She was beaming and Ron looked unsure whether to come over with the cameras, Harry threw him a pointed look and Ron grinned and came over.
"Hey mate," the flashes were going wild.
"Mr Potter, can you tell us about the world cup?" Someone shouted.
"Mr Potter, are you excited about returning to school?" Another called.
"Mr Potter who are the two people with you?" Harry finally held up his hand to silence the crowd as Sirius signalled it was impossible to get around.
"I cannot say anything about the world cup, Madam Bones released the official statement but you are welcome to speak with my Godfather about it." More flashed and yells.
"Who are your friends?" Harry grinned and looked towards the two.
"These are my best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley." The cameras were blinding and his friends blushed scarlet as questions and cameras turned towards them.
"Mr Weasley, what's it like being friends with Harry Potter?"
"Miss Granger, do you want to be the future Mrs Harry Potter?" Hermione went an impossible shade of red and Ron's ears were glowing.
"That's all ladies and gentlemen, Harry and his friend's needs to get on the train." Sirius interrupted parting the crowed with the help of Moony and Tonks, Harry all but ran to the train pulling the other two with him, a door opened and they hopped in and Harry could have kissed Milly who was stood there with a smile. They slammed to door and pulled the blinds down, Harry sighed in relief.
"Milly you're a life saver." Harry told his elf who beamed.
"Milly knows master Harry is wanting to be away so she saves him a seat, Milly has also brought master some cookies." She handed him a big box of cookies.
"Thank you so much Milly." She gave him a blinding smile and popped away.
"Don't you think it's wrong to have house elfs?" Hermione asked him frowning, Harry blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"Its wrong, its slavery, they are bound to serve wizards every whim and its not fair." She exclaimed.
"They love working Hermione." Harry told her.
"That's because their all brainwashed in to believing it."
"No they're not, house elves need wizards to survive, if they don't have a master they magic grows weak and they can end up dying, and before you say it Dobby is a one off." She huffed.
"I still think its wrong." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Milly, Cork, Sharpy." He called and they all popped in.
"Yes Master Harry?" They answered.
"My friend thinks its wrong to have house elves because its slavery, do any of you want to be free?" It was instantaneous, each elf looked positively horrified and began crying.
"Is we not good elves?"
"Does Master Harry not want us?"
"Did we do something wrong?" Harry looked pointedly at Hermione who seemed to be shocked.
"No of course you didn't you are all perfect elves." Harry reassured them hurriedly.
"Really?"
"Definitely, the best elves in the world." Harry told them, they beamed and popped away.
"See Hermione,"
"I guess, I didn't think they were that committed." The train gave its warning sound, Harry took the opportunity to raise the blind so he could wave goodbye to Sirius, as the train pulled away the three of them waved to their families ignoring the rabid reporters.
"The cameras were mad." Ron exclaimed sitting down, Harry groaned.
"You're telling me, we forgot that I haven't been out since the world cup. It's the most annoying thing in the world."
"I didn't think it would be that bad." Ron shook his head, Harry suddenly smirked.
"Well get used to it, your name and face will be in tomorrow's paper." They both looked marginally alarmed and Harry laughed, he felt a buzzing in his pocket and pulled out the mirror to reveal a haggard, multicoloured Sirius Black.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER-BLACK, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THE HOUSE?" He yelled and Harry looked at him innocently, wide eyed.
"What do you mean Siri?"
"Don't give me that, I know it was you, you sighed your name as a good bye!" He shouted. Harry burst out laughing, he showed Sirius' face to his friends who joined him.
"It was my goodbye prank." He gasped out just as Remus appeared, this renewed their giggling as the werewolf was now sporting a look close to a boggart after Neville had dealt with it.
"I don't know how, I don't know when, but this is cruel." Remus told him, Harry could see Tonks gripping the table to keep herself up.
"How did you paint the house Har?" She asked between laughed, Sirius looked horrified and ran outside, the trio fell about when they saw the castle was entirely luminous pink with luminous green stripes and over the top in glowing yellow letters it said 'See you at Christmas'.
"So yeah, have fun Siri, it seems you have your hands full." Before he could retort Harry cut the mirror and collapsed laughing.
"That was brilliant." Ron said once they had calmed down, Harry grinned.
"It lasts a week." He told them.
"But that's really advanced." Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah, your gunna have to fight for that top spot this year Mione."
"You're on Potter." Harry let Hedwig out so she could fly to the school and Ron pulled out the dress robes his mother had gotten him.
"What in Merlin's name are those?" Hermione gasped and Ron grimaced.
"Dress robes mum got me."
"But we already have dress robes."
"I know but she wouldn't let up, I told her that I had some but," He motioned to the robes, he tossed them over Pig's caged to stop the racket. They were joined by Neville, Seamus and Dean and they spoke animatedly about the world cup, Neville told them that his gran didn't let him go so they gave him a blow by blow account. Seamus and Dean left and they spoke of the upcoming year, unfortunately they had their excepted visit from Malfoy who was, as usual, surrounded by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well look what we have here." He drawled and Harry rolled his eyes.
"We've been getting on the train for 4 years now, I would have hoped you would have realised by now." Harry said with a shake of his head, Malfoy's eyes narrowed.
"Just because I don't swarm you like your avid fans Potter." Harry merely raised a shoulder, the blonde suddenly caught sight of Ron's robes, the red head went to move them but Malfoy was quicker.
"Don't tell me your thinking about entering Weasley?" He sneered, "You think you can raise your family's pathetic status by winning a couple of galleons?"
"What are you talking about Malfoy?" Ron demanded and Malfoy's face lit up.
"Don't tell me you don't know, but then again your father is a waste if ministry expenses, he probably wasn't worthy enough to find out such information."
"No, I think you will find Malfoy that we have no intentions of entering so we have no idea what you're talking about, you should know there is an age line so anyone who isn't of age can enter, but then again maybe your father isn't privy to such information." Harry drawled in a perfect imitation of the blond, Malfoy flushed and the trio smirked.
"Now the door is there, we don't wish for your company." Neville kicked the door shut in the blonde's face.
"What was he talking about?" They all demanded.
"I can't tell you, I promised Sirius I wouldn't and you'll find out at the feast." Harry explained and they nodded, they didn't look too pleased. Harry got up to go to the bathroom, he made his way down the corridor waving to people he knew when he spotted a fey like girl on the floor with no shoes on.
"Hey, what are you doing down there?" He asked softly, she looked up startled and Harry blinked; she was really pretty. The girl had long blond hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes which seemed to be sparkling with unshed tears.
"I was thrown out of my compartment, so you can laugh at me and go." Harry frowned and sat down next to her.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I'm Loony Lovegood," She told him bitterly.
"Well I don't know all that much about you but I'm pretty sure that your parents didn't name you Loony." Harry said seriously before gaining a thoughtful look, "Although my godfather did tell me my father wanted to call me Coen until my mum told him he was stupid and said I was being called Harry." This made her laugh a little and her laugh was beautiful, it was like bells.
"My names Luna," Harry kissed her hand lightly.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl, I'm Harry Potter-Black." She blushed pink and smiled.
"Nice to meet you Harry,"
"Now, where are your things?" Luna frowned and pointed to the compartment in front of her, Harry pulled himself up and held out a hand for Luna who looked unsure before taking the hand and allowing herself to be pulled up. Harry knocked sharply on the compartment door and threw it open leaning against the frame in an arrogant fashion, as he suspected the carriage was full of girls who blushed and started to giggle when they saw who was at the door.
"Ladies," He flashed a grin which Sirius had said could charm Narcissa, they blushed deepened.
"What are you doing here Harry?" Harry turned to recognise Cho Chang, a pretty Ravenclaw who was a year older and on the Quidditch team.
"Hey Cho, I've just come to get Luna's things she's coming with me." He flicked his wand to levitate and shrink Luna's trunk down in to his hand, he placed it in his pocket and went to leave.
"But Harry, she's Loony Lovegood, you don't have to go with her, come sit with us." They all knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say to the dark haired wizard.
"I would think you would be above bullying, but apparently I was wrong, if I found out that you've been giving Luna a hard time you will find yourselves in for an unpleasant experience." Harry told them with narrowed eyes, he span on his heal and slammed the door, he took a deep breath before smiling at Luna.
"You can sit with me in my compartment,"
"You didn't have to do that, there's only an hour or so left." She said looking down, and Harry frowned.
"Well I wanted to. Come on, I insist. Besides, the trolley has either passed or coming up to my compartment and I could do with some chocolate." Harry didn't give her chance to argue as he pulled her gently back towards his compartment when he walked in with Luna they turned to look at him.
"Harry, you leave and come back with a pretty girl, Sirius would be proud." Hermione said with a laugh, Harry grinned and invited Luna to a seat.
"Guys this is Luna, I ran in to her in the hallway and she looked a little lost so I thought she could sit with us." He shrugged throwing himself in to his own seat, the occupants shrugged and went back to what they were doing, Harry pulled out Luna's things and resized them for her so she could pull out a book and begin reading.
"So what year are you in Luna?" Harry asked her, he didn't remember seeing her in any of his classes.
"3rd this year," He nodded with a small smile, the lady with the trolley came around and Harry jumped up.
"You lot want feeding?" He questioned them with a grin, he bought a mini feast for them all to share and Luna looked at the small mound of sweets in alarm.
"Help yourself, the twins will poke their heads in soon too." Just as he finished his sentence the door was thrown open and the twins waltzed on in and grabbed a chocolate frog each.
"Do I detect a slight burn of the ears there Gred?"
"I believe you do Forge, I believe you do."
"Speaking about us behind our backs-,"
"You should be ashamed-,"
"Terrible." They shook their heads and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Idiots," Hermione sighed with a smile, they mock bowed.
"We do try." They said together, Fred looked around and did an exaggerated leap of shock when his eyes landed on Luna.
"Look Forge," He stage whispered pointing at Luna, George's eyes widened comically.
"It's a new person,"
"Who is she?" Luna laughed at their antics.
"Guys, this is Luna Lovegood, Luna meet the-,"
"Handsome-,"
"Genius-,"
"One of a kind-,"
"Well two-,"
"Pranksters-,"
"Gred-,"
"And Forge-,"
"Weasley." She blinked a few times at their double speech before shaking their outstretched hands. The rest of the journey was brilliant and Luna relaxed a little around them, she often came out with strange creatures that she believed were real, but Harry shrugged; each to their own. When it started to get dark the boys left to change giving the girls the compartment and they pulled on their black school robes, when they returned Hermione and Luna were speaking about ancient Runes, an elective Luna was taking this year. Harry looked at Ron and Neville, as the twins had vanished to get changed, with raised eyebrows they both shrugged, Harry mimicked the notion and sat back down. It didn't talk long for the train to pull in to the station and Harry led the way to the nearest carriage at a run as it was pelting with rain, they all jumped in and as soon as the door was shut it started to move.
"They're beautiful," Luna muttered softly gazing out of the window.
"What's beautiful?"
"The creatures pulling the carriages," Ron, Hermione and Neville looked alarmed.
"Um there's nothing there, Luna," Hermione told her slowly as if worried for her sanity.
"Yes there is," Harry said, "Can you see the thestrals?" He asked her curiously.
"Yes, it was my mother, she was a rather experimental witch, I was 9."
"That's terrible,"
"It was rather sad,"
"Sirius thinks I was too young so I can't see them." Harry shrugged and Luna nodded.
"What are you guys talking about?" Ron demanded looking between the pair of them.
"Thestrals, they pulled the carriages from the station but they can only be seen by those who have witnessed death." Harry explained.
"I've read about those but I didn't know Hogwarts had any."
"Yeah they have the largest heard in Britain." They jumped out of the carriage and bolted in to the warm of the castle, Hogwarts looked as warm and welcoming as ever and Harry smiled in spite of himself; he loved the castle. Harry said goodbye to Luna who walked off to the Ravenclaw table and they went to the lions, he realised with a start that this was his first sorting minus his own and it would be a good experience. McGonagall came in leading the first years and placed the three legged stool with the hat on top, the rip at the brim opened and it burst in to song. (See Goblet of Fire) Harry burst in to applause with the rest of the hall and McGonagall began to read off the names of the first years, Harry tuned most of it out only clapping when they had a new student in Gryffindor, once everyone was sorted the Headmaster rose to his feet and silence reigned over the hall.
"Welcome to another year of Hogwarts, dig in." the tables filled with glorious food and the chatter began, the general talk on the Gryffindor table was the world cup and Harry got roped in to conversation with Angelina and Katie about the view from the top box.
"It was so high up it was nearly inline with the game itself." Harry told them and grinned at the longing looks.
"That must have been amazing, I was only half way up, my father couldn't get tickets."
"There were no empty seats, me, Ron and Hermione grabbed front row."
"So lucky," Katie sighed.
"I cannot wait to get back to Quidditch, I am so trying the Wronski Feint." Harry said with a grin, Katie and Angelina's eyes lit up.
"That would be amazing, that would stir up the competition."
"I've been practicing this summer, I've got some new moves that I want to try out,"
"You don't plan on catching the snitch in your mouth again do you?" Katie asked with a grin, Harry laughed and shrugged.
"It worked the first time." The puddings appeared and Harry spotted some familiar looking brownies, he bit in to one and groaned in approval.
"Ron, Hermione, Milly sent brownies." He pointed them out and they pounced on them like animals, he received some strange looks.
"My elf makes the best brownies and cookies in the entire world and she knows I love them so she sent them." He shrugged and a few people picked one up to try, they all made noises of approval.
"Merlin these are so good."
"I know," Dumbledore stood up as the last remnants disappeared and the hall fell quiet.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it." Dumbledore looked as if he wanted to smile. He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year." Hear the headmaster looked towards Harry, Ron and Hermione who grinned.
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will
not take place this year."
"What?" Harry yelled along with the rest of his Quidditch team. They were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore apparently too appalled to speak, Dumbledore went on, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts -,"
Out of nowhere the thunder gave a particularly loud rumble just as the great hall doors slammed open, Harry's wand dropped in to his hand as on instinct as he turned. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black travelling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swivelled toward the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore.
Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling and gasps rang out across the hall, the lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any Harry had ever seen, but one he would recognise anywhere. Mad eye Moody, an ex-auror who Sirius had told him about, he was the best of the best and half the cells in Azkaban were full because of him but he was the most paranoid individual Sirius had ever met according to the animagus. The face was dickered in scars, there didn't seem to be an unblemished scrap of skin, there was a chunk of flesh missing from his nose but it was the eyes that caught everyone's attention. One of them was small, dark, and beady, it was an eye that would spot anything within seconds. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue, it was flickering everywhere moving non-stop and watching it was making Harry feel slightly queasy. Moody finally got to Dumbledore and stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering words Harry couldn't hear.
Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side which Moody took quickly shaking his hair out of his face, he pulled some food towards him and sniffed it. He then took a small knife out of his pocket, speared a sausage on the end of it, and began to eat. His normal eye was concentrating on the food he was eating, but the blue eye was still darting restlessly around in its socket, taking in the Hall and the students.
"May I introduce our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."
No one clapped apart from Dumbledore and Hagrid as everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him, he didn't seem to care and Harry was excited, if he was being taught by Moody then they were bound to learn loads.
"My dad knows him," Ron muttered.
"What happened to his face?" Hermione asked shocked, Ron shrugged but Harry answered.
"He's an ex-auror, one of the best. Sirius said he's taken on Voldemort single handedly, most of Azkaban is full because of him, he a legend according to Siri." Harry told them quietly and he noticed that others seemed to be listening to his explanation.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "We are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
"YOU'RE JOKING," Fred shouted in amazement, Ron and Hermione turned an accusing eye to Harry who held up his hands in defence.
"Hey I promised." He defended.
"No, I am not joking Mr Weasley." Dumbledore replied cheerfully making Fred blush.
"The Triwizard Tournament, well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities - until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued." There was a massive outbreak of whispers as everyone grew excited about the tournament, and Harry grinned equally excited, it would be amazing to watch. Dumbledore explained when the other schools were arriving and how the champions would be selected, the whispers only grew when the headmaster mentioned the 1000 galleon prize money, that was change for Harry.
"I'm going for it." Fred confirmed eyes alight and he wasn't the only one, people on all the house tables could be seen avidly talking about the prospect of winning the tournament, Harry grinned to himself, they would be disappointed.
"Excited as you all are, the ministry has agreed that because of the danger involved in the tournament only those of age-," furious yells of injustice and unfairness erupted like an angry volcano throughout the hall cutting Dumbledore off.
"I will be personally making sure no one under the age of 17 enters the competition so I ask you not to waist your time." The twins were looking mutinous up at the head table and Harry knew they would try anyway.
"Now I think I have taken enough of your time, of to bed." Harry rose with the rest of the Gryffindor table.
"This is so unfair." George burst out furiously appearing on Harry's left.
"I'm still going to enter, we turn 17 in April, we should be allowed to enter." Fred stated firmly coming up on the right.
"Come on guys lets go." Hermione said leading them out, the twins were discussing ways to enter.
"What about you two, Harry, Ron, would you enter if you we could do it?"
"What do you think?" Ron asked looking at Harry.
"Not a single chance in hell, I wouldn't do it if you paid me my inheritance twice." Harry said with a shake of his head, "Besides, have you met my guardians? Whilst Sirius would probably be impressed I got in, he would ground me for a century and I don't know if either have you have ever met an over protective werewolf, but Remus would literally follow me around the school or kidnap me and run."
"Yeah so it's a no for Harry." Ron said seriously and the twins agreed, they reached the portrait hall where George muttered the password and they entered the warm homely circular common room of the Gryffindor house. Harry and Ron said goodnight to the others and trooped up to their dormitory where the other boys were getting changed, Harry noted Milly had been in to unpack his stuff for him and he rolled his eyes, his elf spoiled him, he disappeared in the bathroom to change and came out to fall on his bed.
"I am not looking forward to potions tomorrow." Harry groaned.
"How do you know we will have potions tomorrow?" Neville demanded alarmed, Snape was nearly as cruel to Neville as he was to Harry although this year he was not taking any of Snape's crap especially as he knew why the man hated him now, it wasn't his fault his dad and godfather had made the man look like a complete idiot; not that he blamed them, Snape was foul.
"Come on Nev, we always have potions on a Monday, it's like McGonagall hates us." Harry pointed out and Neville sighed.
"Thanks Harry, you have successfully made us all depressed." Seamus told Harry with a shake of his head and Harry grinned.
"Think of it as a preparation." He dodged the pillow aimed at his head with a laugh.
"Shut up Harry," Ron shoved him before falling in to his own bed next to Harry, Harry led back pulling his curtains as the others settled down for the night, he placed a silencer around the hangings and called Sirius' name in to the mirror. The man appeared and Harry stifled his laugh, the prank he and Tonks had created was still active.
"Hi Siri," Sirius gave him the evil eye.
"You are an evil, evil child." Harry beamed.
"Thank you," Sirius rolled his eyes and grinned.
"I have to hand it to you pup, this is impressive."
"It took a week to prepare, I should hope it is. Anyway, guess who our new defence teacher is?"
"Who?"
"Moody,"
"What! Mad eye is teaching?"
"Apparently, he entered and scared the crap in to majority of the students." Harry said with a shrug and Sirius grinned.
"Sounds like Mad eye, he will be a great teacher, brutal but great. He was Tonks' mentor."
"I hope so, the only good teacher we've had was Moony and because of Professor Grease he had to leave." Sirius burst out laughing at Harry's title of Snape.
"I want to know if he gives you any crap this year Harry." Sirius said seriously and Harry nodded.
"I will tell you but don't complain if I suddenly get an increase of detentions because I'm not lying down to Snape's tyranny." Harry replied.
"Like I would be anything but proud because of detention. I think your best one was for smuggling a dragon out of the castle and England."
"Norbert went to a lovely home I'm sure."
"Do you know what you want to with the Basilisk remains now you can get to them?"
"Duelling robes for all of us including Ron and Mione, save some of the venom and fangs for 'just in case' and sell the rest of it, it will bring in a beautiful profit and if you commission it with the goblins I'm sure we can get an even better deal."
"I have taught you well." Sirius sighed dramatically and Harry rolled his eyes.
"We have to sneak you in so you can come down and see." Harry pointed out and Sirius nodded eagerly.
"Clearly, I want to see how big it was."
"Ron reckons 20ft but I don't think it was that big." He mentally added it was probably twice the size but he wanted to see the man's reaction.
"I'll talk to Moony about it and I'm sure Tonks will want to come too."
"Ok, I'll speak to you tomorrow." Harry said with a yawn.
"Night pronglet,"
"Night Siri," Harry shut the mirror and led down, he was asleep in seconds.
So yeah, next chapter, but like I said, I'm not that fond of this fic currently!