Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns all the characters. No copyright
infringement is intended. I'm writing this for my own amusement and I don't
make any money of it.
Harry Potter and the Order of Merlin
Chapter 1. One last Adventure
*** The fog rolled on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The normally bright green grass was obscured. From the window of the dormitory for the Seventh Year students, the tall, raven haired boy could barely make out the roof of Hagrid's house near the edge of the Dark Forest.
As Harry sat there, his mind was full of memories. The ordeal of getting his first letter...meeting Hagrid at the House on the Rock...finding out who he really was. So many memories...not all good, but he was used to that. After all, he was The-Boy-Who-Lived!
Still not wanting to wake anyone, he quietly pulled on his shoes and got his Invisibility Cloak from his trunk. As he turned toward the door leading to the Common Room, he smiled remembering the hundreds of times he had used it to get around the castle without being seen. He remembered in his first year when he, Ron and Hermione had all fit under the cloak. Now, he was lucky to fit under it.
He closed the door behind him quietly and pulled the cloak over his head. Avoiding the third step from the bottom (it creaked), he silently moved across the room and through the portrait hole. As the portrait closed, he heard a small giggle from behind him. He turned slowly to see who it was.
"One last adventure, Harry?" asked the Fat Lady.
"You know me too well, dear lady!" he whispered.
"Well, don't get into trouble! If anyone asks me, I don't know a thing!" she laughed.
Harry smiled. The Fat Lady had become a special friend to him since the year when her painting was slashed. He always took a moment to help her catch up on the latest news, because she was a nice person...for a painting.
***
At this time of morning, few students were up, especially since exams were over the day before. Harry easily made it to the front doors. Usually at this time of day they were closed; now, however, they were slightly ajar. Harry slipped through them and made his way across the grounds toward Hagrid's.
As Harry neared Hagrid's Hut, he heard Fang barking and Hagrid trying to calm him. Harry removed the cloak and draped it over his arm, smiling. He knocked on the door and heard Hagrid coming.
"Mornin', 'Arry! Been expecting you," said Hagrid, grinning. "Already put the kettle on." Hagrid moved back to let Harry in.
"Hi, Hagrid!" replied Harry. "I've become predictable, have I?"
"Not at all!" laughed Hagrid. "But I knew you wouldn't let today go by without visiting me. I am surprised that Ron and Hermione aren't with you."
"They were up late last night celebrating the end of exams. For some reason, I am not as happy about that as most of my friends, "confessed Harry, "in fact, I am sad that they are over."
"That's not as strange as you think, Harry. I know for a fact that your Dad and Mum felt the same way. Just remember...Hogwarts will always be a part of you. It's where you make lifelong friends and learn how to be a better Wizard. And it will always feel like coming home when you visit. You especially, Harry! I would think it codswallop if you were to act like you weren't going to miss it! You, who have been in more places in that castle than any other student! Your Mum and Dad would be so proud of you, Harry! I know me and Dumbledore sure are and I think every other professor will miss you...well, except one, of course!" laughed Hagrid.
"Yeah, Snape is definitely glad I am going." chuckled Harry.
"Actually Harry, I was thinking of Professor Binns. He still doesn't know your name! Snape'll miss you Harry. He won't let on, but he cares for you in his own way," Hagrid said. "Better make our tea!"
As Hagrid went to make the tea, Harry looked around the room, remembering so many visits here. He thought of Norbert, the little dragon (he must be huge by now)...Ron and the slugs... Fluffy, the three-headed dog... so many memories. He was knocked out of his reverie by a knock at the door.
"Grab that, would you Harry?" said Hagrid. "If I'm not mistaken, two more would be joining us for tea!"
Harry opened the door and saw Ron, Hermione and Ginny there. He laughed and turned to Hagrid. "Better make it three more!" he laughed as he let them in and closed the door.
Harry Potter and the Order of Merlin
Chapter 1. One last Adventure
*** The fog rolled on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The normally bright green grass was obscured. From the window of the dormitory for the Seventh Year students, the tall, raven haired boy could barely make out the roof of Hagrid's house near the edge of the Dark Forest.
As Harry sat there, his mind was full of memories. The ordeal of getting his first letter...meeting Hagrid at the House on the Rock...finding out who he really was. So many memories...not all good, but he was used to that. After all, he was The-Boy-Who-Lived!
Still not wanting to wake anyone, he quietly pulled on his shoes and got his Invisibility Cloak from his trunk. As he turned toward the door leading to the Common Room, he smiled remembering the hundreds of times he had used it to get around the castle without being seen. He remembered in his first year when he, Ron and Hermione had all fit under the cloak. Now, he was lucky to fit under it.
He closed the door behind him quietly and pulled the cloak over his head. Avoiding the third step from the bottom (it creaked), he silently moved across the room and through the portrait hole. As the portrait closed, he heard a small giggle from behind him. He turned slowly to see who it was.
"One last adventure, Harry?" asked the Fat Lady.
"You know me too well, dear lady!" he whispered.
"Well, don't get into trouble! If anyone asks me, I don't know a thing!" she laughed.
Harry smiled. The Fat Lady had become a special friend to him since the year when her painting was slashed. He always took a moment to help her catch up on the latest news, because she was a nice person...for a painting.
***
At this time of morning, few students were up, especially since exams were over the day before. Harry easily made it to the front doors. Usually at this time of day they were closed; now, however, they were slightly ajar. Harry slipped through them and made his way across the grounds toward Hagrid's.
As Harry neared Hagrid's Hut, he heard Fang barking and Hagrid trying to calm him. Harry removed the cloak and draped it over his arm, smiling. He knocked on the door and heard Hagrid coming.
"Mornin', 'Arry! Been expecting you," said Hagrid, grinning. "Already put the kettle on." Hagrid moved back to let Harry in.
"Hi, Hagrid!" replied Harry. "I've become predictable, have I?"
"Not at all!" laughed Hagrid. "But I knew you wouldn't let today go by without visiting me. I am surprised that Ron and Hermione aren't with you."
"They were up late last night celebrating the end of exams. For some reason, I am not as happy about that as most of my friends, "confessed Harry, "in fact, I am sad that they are over."
"That's not as strange as you think, Harry. I know for a fact that your Dad and Mum felt the same way. Just remember...Hogwarts will always be a part of you. It's where you make lifelong friends and learn how to be a better Wizard. And it will always feel like coming home when you visit. You especially, Harry! I would think it codswallop if you were to act like you weren't going to miss it! You, who have been in more places in that castle than any other student! Your Mum and Dad would be so proud of you, Harry! I know me and Dumbledore sure are and I think every other professor will miss you...well, except one, of course!" laughed Hagrid.
"Yeah, Snape is definitely glad I am going." chuckled Harry.
"Actually Harry, I was thinking of Professor Binns. He still doesn't know your name! Snape'll miss you Harry. He won't let on, but he cares for you in his own way," Hagrid said. "Better make our tea!"
As Hagrid went to make the tea, Harry looked around the room, remembering so many visits here. He thought of Norbert, the little dragon (he must be huge by now)...Ron and the slugs... Fluffy, the three-headed dog... so many memories. He was knocked out of his reverie by a knock at the door.
"Grab that, would you Harry?" said Hagrid. "If I'm not mistaken, two more would be joining us for tea!"
Harry opened the door and saw Ron, Hermione and Ginny there. He laughed and turned to Hagrid. "Better make it three more!" he laughed as he let them in and closed the door.