Chapter 9: Purple Hair! and Big Frankie Of Hogwarts
∞Parseltongue∞
The Potions Class were waiting for the new teacher to make his entrance. Professor McGonagall had informed the Great Hall that morning that they had a new Potions instructor.
They didn't know his name, but what they did know that it was going to be a male instructor.
The door to the classroom opened and a tall man walked in. He was about six foot tall with an expertly slicked back brown mane and a manicured beard. Dean's eyes widened as he recognised the resemblance.
"Hans Gruber," he whispered to Harry. Harry noticed it too. He had seen parts of Die Hard when he was forced to carry food in to Vernon and Dudley when they watched it.
"A galleon he sounds like him," Harry whispered back.
"You're on."
"I'm going to count to three," the man spoke in a slow and deep voice. "There will not be a fourth. Give me some silence."
Dean grumbled at having already lost the bet.
"My name is Professor Allen Wrickman and I am your new Potions instructor," he spoke. The man had the ability to silence the entire room by speaking one word. Everyone in the room who had seen Die Hard were listening intently to the man. The ones who hadn't -namely Pure-bloods- found the man's tone of voice and his voice utterly listenable.
Soon enough Professor Wrickman had become the most popular teacher in the school. All students who were familiar with Die Hard loved hearing him speak and given that he provided an actual teaching of the Potions subject made him very popular indeed.
IlIlIlI
"Fascinating, absolutely fascinating," Arthur Weasley murmured as he looked at the engine of his new car, the Ford Escort.
Arthur had finally figured out what the engine of a car does and how it works and it had impressed him. For years he had tried to figure out how his Ford Anglia had worked and was just about to make the breakthrough when Ron had stolen it to go to Hogwarts. He had tried to retrieve it at Hogwarts during the previous Summer but it was impossible. Even Dumbledore couldn't catch it and nearly got run over. He would have liked to have tried to retrieve it during the Summer nearly two years ago but he stayed at home in his spare time to look after Ginny with Molly. The diary fiasco had taken so much out of his little girl and she was crying for most of the Summer.
Then he won seven hundred galleons in the Daily Prophet Grand PrizeGalleon Draw. Molly had wanted to go visit Charlie in Romania but Ginny was hoping to go visit Bill as she hadn't seen him for a long while. Eager to cheer up his daughter he bowed down to her demands and took his entire family to Egypt. The twins made sure to keep Ginny entertained and laughing and Percy had abandoned his formal attitude and spent a lot of time with Ginny, often carrying her on his back and pranking Ron along with the twins. Ron was in a foul attitude over the whole trip, complaining that they should have used the money to donate to the Chudley Cannons. Arthur had not been impressed with his son's attitude and his ignorance of Ginny's plight at the time. Molly had expressed her anger with Ron quite loudly that would have indeed woken the skeletons in the tombs.
Once they got back to The Burrow he lost his temper for the third time in his life. He had yelled at Ron for his behaviour on the holiday and for reducing Ginny to tears by commenting that she ruined the trip. He had also yelled at him for his dumbass decision to steal his car and fly to Hogwarts.
Ron had been terrified of his father's anger and had stayed in his room for three days, not even coming down to eat. Once the third day passed Arthur did something he still didn't know what had happened. He had asked Fred and George if they could get Ron out of his bedroom. He still remembered the smiles the twins had when he asked them that. But within ten minutes Ron was in the kitchen and was throwing out the cheese and butter, screaming that it would attract spiders and that he would never eat again.
Less than three hours after saying that Ron had eaten the entire chicken Molly had made for dinner along with the treacle tart she had also made. Despite being angry with Ron's disgusting appetite, Arthur had said nothing while wondering what the hell did his devil twins do to their brother. He hoped he'd never find out.
BOOM!
The explosions felt like that Fred and George had returned from Hogwarts, but it was really only Narcissa Malfoy learning to cook.
Narcissa was living with them at the moment as her new home was currently being built. She had come out to The Burrow back in November to apologise for what her husband had done to their daughter and not reigning him in with her Frying Pan.
At hearing the story that Narcissa had hated Lucius her entire life had cheered him up immensely. Accidentally overhearing Narcissa telling Molly that she had threatened castrating her own husband when he wanted a second child made him smile even wider. Lucius hadn't even had sex in fifteen years and yet he was still having it with his own wife. Luckily they remembered to use the Contraceptive Charm much more in the past thirteen years. The only time they had forgotten it was the night he believed Ron was conceived.
"Pogliere," he cast at the fuel tank of the car. Sounds of splashing was heard from somewhere inside the car before the fuel steadied itself to last forever. While not knowing everything about Muggles, Arthur knew from the prices of petrol that Muggles would love to do THAT spell.
Ding. Ding.
That was the dinner bell so Arthur made his way inside. The kitchen was in shambles from the explosion but that was to be expected. Molly wasn't even angry. She was laughing away with Narcissa on the current attempt to boil peas. There was a large pile of a brown food gloop on the floor that apparently looked like it had a foot.
"Don't worry Arthur, this isn't your dinner," Narcissa laughed.
"Here's your dinner dear," Molly said.
They all sat down at the table eating away at the chicken that was successfully cooked.
"I see your house is almost finished Cissy," Arthur said.
"Yeah, it's looking great," Narcissa smiled. "I'm glad I'm having it built next to here. I can come see my best friend everyday and steal her cooking."
"Oh, you prat," Molly giggled.
" I just hope Ron behaves with Draco being so close by," Arthur commented.
"I don't understand why my son is so fixated on yours," Narcissa said.
Molly leant into Narcissa and whispered something in her ear as a joke.
Both women had wide eyes from the joke.
"Is it possible?" Molly asked.
"Now I understand why Draco always spoke about him," Narcissa said, looking thoughtful.
"Maybe we should put them out of their misery," both women said at the same time.
Arthur had no idea of the fate that was soon going to befall his youngest son.
IlIlIlI
Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan were initiating a plotted plan in their Dorm Room. A plan that would get them a nice proper sleep.
In the Summers when the school year went out they would go home to snoring environments. Dean's stepfather was a large man who snored so loud that the chance of sleeping was next to nil. Seamus' father was pretty much the same but was louder. With Neville it was his Uncle Algie. He lived with him and his grandmother in the family manor. Despite his bedroom being at the other end Uncle Algie's booming snores could be still heard.
When the three boys came to Hogwarts they were hoping to get a nice sleep away from their relatives. But luck was not on their side, as they had the misfortune to sleep in the same dorm as one Ron Weasley. All three of them wanted to hex him for his snoring, but as Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived was best friends with the obnoxious redhead, they felt outnumbered.
Now that Harry and Ron weren't friends anymore they were free to take their revenge on the redhead. Dean had heard a joke about a navy guy and an army guy in the Summer about how to deal with a snorer, and he wanted to try it out. He told Seamus, Harry, and Neville the idea. Harry was currently off with Colin Creevey and the Weasley twins pranking the Slytherin Common Room and wouldn't be back until after midnight.
"Target in sight," Dean whispered, as one Ron Weasley entered the dorm.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked offhandedly.
"Oh, just sitting around," Seamus said.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Ron said, letting loose a loud fart that made the three boys cringe in despair at the smell. Thank god there were windows.
The three boys were already dressed for bed. Before getting into his bed Dean walked over to Ron.
"Goodnight beautiful," he said, putting as much sweetness into his voice. He leaned in and kissed Ron on the right cheek.
Ron jumped back in horror. "What are you doing?"
Dean said nothing, but gave Ron a saucy wink before getting into bed and watching him.
Seamus repeated the same thing on Ron but on his left cheek, whispering into his ear, "I'll be watching you."
Neville repeated the same process, kissing Ron on his head and simply whispering, "I want you."
Later when Harry turned up for bed he noticed his three dorm mates were sleeping peacefully. As for Ron, he hadn't moved an inch. He just sat on his bed watching his three dorm mates, unconvinced they were actually sleeping. At seeing Harry come in to the room he bolted upright.
"Harry," he frantically spoke. "They kissed me and told me they want me. They're not sleeping. They are just waiting for me to sleep so they can do stuff to me."
Dean was right, Harry thought. Much more effective than what a single hex could do. They had tried Silencing Charms on Ron before, but the magnitude of his snore always broke the barrier.
Deciding to contribute for his friends, Harry went straight up to Ron and breathed in the seducing way Fleur did to him. Putting as much allure into his voice he said, "We all want you Ronniekins."
That was the best night's sleep he ever got.
Ron, however, was terrified at what was happening in the room. He pinched himself to see if he was dreaming and hoping it was all a nightmare. He didn't get any sleep at all that night. He just kept watching his dorm mates beds, paranoid at what they would do.
The next day he convinced himself that it was all a disturbing dream, despite not having woken up from it.
But that night it happened again. Neville, Seamus and Dean kissed him on the head and cheeks. Harry had made him feel like he was being seduced.
It went on like that for the next week. During those times, Ron refused to close his eyes and had stopped eating. He tried to use his brain to figure out what was going on, but his head hurt every time he tried to think or use his brain. His grades had been falling since November, but now his schoolwork was suffering worse due to a lack of sleep and insomnia. He was even beginning to hallucinate.
By the sixth day he met a beautiful girl.
"Hello, Ron, " the girl said. She had long blonde wavy hair and blue eyes. "I need you to follow me."
Ron happily followed the girl out to the grounds towards the gate of Hogwarts.
The girl loosened her robes and leaned up against the gate.
"Take me, Ron Weasley."
When Hagrid came out to the gate to lock up Hogwarts for the night he was walking with Lavender Brown who was begging to be let out to visit Snape's twin Fanny, they found Ron Weasley dry humping the gate naked. Once Lavender saw what was happening she ran back into Hogwarts. Given Lavender's reputation as a gossip, the whole of Hogwarts found out within the next twenty four hours what Ron Weasley did. It ruined any chance he ever had to get a girlfriend.
Hagrid carried the poor naked boy back to his cabin and Ron fell asleep on Hagrid's couch, not knowing his reputation was now completely shattered.
IlIlIlI
"What is wrong with your brother?" Hermione asked the twins, plonking down next to them on the Common Room sofa. "I can't hear him snore anymore through the walls. He seems to be staring at the wall most of the time, and now I've heard he had humped the school gate."
She watched the twins closely, searching their faces for any reaction. What she saw surprised her. The twins apparently did not know what was wrong with Ron.
"We don't know what's wrong with him?" Fred, or was it George, said. "I haven't seen him this bad since the cheese and butter incident."
"What did you do with the cheese and butter?" Hermione said, scowling at the twins.
"Uh Oh-"
"-Looks like-"
"-we slipped-"
"-up."
The twins knew Hermione wouldn't accept a 'we'll tell you when you're older' explanation.
Fred looked at his twin. He twitched his head towards Hermione, trying to make him tell her.
George looked back at his uglier brother. Deciding to take the hit for the team, he leaned down and whispered what he did in Hermione's ear.
Hermione's eyes widened as she heard every single detail, and when George finished speaking she burst out laughing.
"I can't believe you got away with that. How did you make the spider look like that? How did-"
"That's enough Hermione," Fred quickly said.
"Yeah, we don't want anyone hearing about what we did," George whispered.
Ron came into the Common Room. His eyes were more bloodshot now and he looked a mess with unkempt hair and wearing a massive cloak that even looked too big for Hagrid.
"Why are you wearing a cloak Ron?" Hermione asked.
"So they won't be turned on by me," he whispered.
Ron looked towards the wall for a brief moment before screaming. "THE SPIDERS ARE IN THE BUTTER! THE SPIDERS ARE IN THE CHEESE!" He ran back out of the portrait and disappeared.
"I still can't believe what you did," Hermione said, feeling exasperated.
The twins just give her their signature evil smile.
IlIlIlI
I need an explanation why I can still speak Parseltongue... I need an explanation why I can still speak Parseltongue... I need an explanation why I can still speak Parseltongue. Harry thought these words fiercely as he walked back and forth in front of the Room of Requirement.
The door appeared and he walked in. There was a warm fireplace and a large sofa with a large parchment on it.
Harry picked up the parchment lying on the sofa and unfolded it. He unfolded another part. There were many other parts to unfold but Harry did not feel like unfolding them all.
"Unfold this, remove the creases, and plant this on the wall," Harry spoke to the room.
The room immediately obliged. The parchment disappeared from his hands only to appear on the massive wall already completely unfolded.
Harry realised now what he was looking at. It was a massive family tree dating back to the early tenth century. But what did it explain.
After three hours of looking through the names on the family tree he finally found out why he was still speaking Parseltongue. He traced back his family history on the Potter side which was shown on the far right. His father was an only child and had one cousin. His grandfather Fleamont (he regretfully sniggered at the name) had one sibling, a brother named Charlus and a nephew who had died young when Death Eaters attacked the Leaky Cauldron sixteen years ago. He traced the Potter's all the way up through several centuries. He waved his wand over some of the names and was surprised as information about his ancestors filled the space where their names were. His grandfather Fleamont invented the Sleekeazy Hair Potion (he was definitely telling Hermione and Fleur THAT). His family didn't just get their wealth by sitting back and inheriting it. He couldn't believe the accomplishments they had made. Another ancestor named Drusilla Potter created the Impediment Jinx. He was delighted to find that he was related through many centuries to Elizabeth Smudgling who had created the Expelliarmus spell, who later married his many times great grandfather Hank Potter.
However, it was the name Ignotus Peverell that had grabbed his attention. When he waved his wand over his name, he finally learnt where his cloak came from. It said that Death himself made the cloak as a reward for trying to defeat his trap. Cadmus Peverell and Antioch Peverell were interesting too. It was when he got to the top of the family tree he made his discovery.
He was related to Salazar Slytherin through many centuries back. Salazar Slytherin's daughter married into the Peverell family and his granddaughter married into the Gaunt family. Salazar himself had one son who didn't have any male children, so the Slytherin name died out very quickly. When Harry waved his wand around his name, he made a surprising revelation.
Salazar Slytherin did not want Muggle-borns dead like he thought. He just did not trust them as the Founders were in a timeline where Muggles were actively hunting witches and wizards, fearing some were spies in order to kill them off. The Basilisk was not left in the Chamber to attack students, but rather to protect Hogwarts from the angry waves of Muggles who often ran up to the school with pitchforks and crosses. To say Harry was astonished was an understatement. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that as a reason as he was aware of witch-hunting. Vernon made sure to say he would love to be a witch hunter and drive a pitchfork into his heart when he went home after every school year.
Antioch Peverell's line died out when his son died of dragon pox before he got married. The line of Cadmus Peverell and Ignotus continued down for several years, the name dying out in the process. All of the Peverell descendants had very small families, at the maximum two children. Harry continued following the line of Cadmus' families, hoping to recognise some names, but he didn't. According to the information, the line became more unstable with the Gaunt Family having incestuous relationships with their own cousins, reducing the line massively.
Marberry Gaunt... Marvick Gaunt... Marvolo Gaunt... Morfin Gau-
"Wait, what did I just see," Harry muttered. He looked up again to the name Marvolo Gaunt. MARVOLO.
"Oh my god," Harry paled. "Please don't tell me I am related to that monster."
He went lower. Morfin Gaunt had died in nineteen-forty-five. He looked at the sister and his blood ran cold.
MEROPE GAUNT-RIDDLE was written right there. Unable to look away, he looked to that name's right. THOMAS RIDDLE SENIOR. He looked down. And there it was. Written below the two names was the name THOMAS MARVOLO RIDDLE.
Harry collapsed into the sofa wondering why this had to happen. Why did he continue reading. Just why?
He looked back up at the massive family tree in front of him. There were only two names on the entire tree that were still alive, and that was him and Voldemort.
Without thinking, he waved his wand in front of Voldemort's birth name. Information after information piled up about Voldemort on it. Wanting to find out more, he thought the phrase 'I want to find out everything about Voldemort' and a book appeared in front of him on a small table. He lay down on the sofa and read the book for two hours.
When he finished reading he was feeling sick. Voldemort had murdered over five hundred people himself and didn't even have the slightest twinge of remorse. He also found out why Voldemort attacked him and killed his parents. Apparently a very drunk Trelawney spouted off a prophecy that he was the only one able to kill the Dark Lord in Dumbledore's office in her job interview. Dumbledore had brought her to the Hogs Head and ensured that a Death Eater overheard her say it again so he could find out who Voldemort would be after and recruit that person to be his successor. "Like that'll ever happen," Harry muttered.
Despite not having a good time that night, he found out the reason he could speak Parseltongue was because he was related to Salazar Slytherin. All the Potter's could speak it, but had kept it immensely private so that no one would ever know. The Potter's were traditionally sorted into Slytherin for centuries until Henry Potter, Harry's own great-grandfather broke tradition and was sorted into Gryffindor. Now he understood why the Sorting Hat was insistent on Slytherin, the Hat must have been embarrassed at suddenly putting Potters into Gryffindor and wanted to send Harry back to Slytherin.
As he walked quietly back to Gryffindor Tower, he wondered how the Merlin his father got into Gryffindor. From the stories Sirius was telling him on the Hogsmeade weekends, his father was extremely cunning with his pranks, was very sly on getting away with it, wicked resourceful, a strong leader, and yet he was placed in to Gryffindor. Harry immediately assumed his father had asked to be put into Gryffindor like his own father.
He did not know that he was exactly right. The Sorting Hat indeed wanted to put James into Slytherin but James asked to be put into Gryffindor.
Like father, like son.
IlIlIlI
On the tenth of February at midnight, there were a group of wizards in the Great Hall waiting for the Goblet to make its choice.
The Second Task was two weeks away now and the Goblet was going to select who would be taken from the Champion as a hostage.
Sirius was there in his capacity as Minister and he didn't like it. He had a bad feeling who Fleur's hostage would be now that she and Harry had started dating. He smiled at the thought that his godson was dating a gorgeous Veela. He still yet had to attract one and his godson had achieved it at fourteen.
He shook the thoughts out of his head as he watched the flame of the Goblet suddenly turn red and a parchment came out. Ludo Bagman grabbed it and read it out.
"The hostage for Viktor Krum will be Hermione Granger," he passed the note to his aide to confirm what he said was the truth as barely anyone in the room trusted the gambling wizard.
Flames spit in the air again and another parchment came out.
"The hostage for Cedric Diggory is Cho Chang."
Another flame spitfire went into the air with parchment adjourning it.
Ludo looked up at Sirius uncertainly and Sirius fears were confirmed.
"The hostage for Fleur Delacour is Harry Potter," Ludo said meekly, ready to run if the Minister lost his temper.
But Sirius didn't. He just sighed and said he was expecting it. There was no letting the hostages back out now. The hostages were bound by magic to the Goblet just like the contestants, even their parents or guardians would not be able to do anything about it. Sirius knew, as Harry's current guardian and Minister For Magic, that he couldn't do anything about it with whatever he said. The Goblet was a very ancient artefact that couldn't be tampered with or have any loopholes.
The Goblet let off another flame and instantly died down. The parchment that fell from the air was picked up by Ludo once again and he read it. "The hostage for Tom Riddle is Albus Dumbledore."
Sirius could not stop the laugh from escaping. He burst into loud laughter at the idea of Voldemort searching the lake for the whiskered fool.
"According to the TriWizard Laws," Ludo said. "Dumbledore is still competing if he is the hostage."
Everyone in the room started laughing then.
IlIlIlI
The fourteenth of February found Harry and Fleur in the swankiest restaurant in Hogsmeade, the Red Dragon.
Harry had treated Fleur to a beautiful expensive dinner in the premises, and now they were walking about Hogsmeade eating some sweets from Honeydukes.
"Harry Potter," Tom ran up to Harry. "Do you remember me? I'm the kitchen sink that likes to get clogged by Dumbledore."
"SHUT UP TOM," came a roar.
"He's not happy I'm telling people that," Tom said, batting his eyes towards the direction of Dumbledore, who was advancing towards them. Harry and Fleur moved away quickly from Dumbledore's line of sight, but not before hearing a "Alby, I'd like to spend time on my favourite planet. I think you know the one I'm talking about."
Dumbledore didn't manage to run away on time before he was being dragged to the Hogsmeade Twenty Knuts Motel by a clearly horny Tom.
Harry and Fleur spent the next two hours of Valentine's Day by Hogwarts Lake. Sometimes they were just talking to each other. But most of the time the two locked lips and spent ages just kissing each other.
A loud scream came from Hogsmeade that tore the couple apart. Harry deduced correctly, and with a sick feeling in his stomach, that the scream came the Twenty Knuts Motel. His quickly forgot all about it when Fleur once again claimed his lips to herself.
IlIlIlI
Harry was sitting waiting in the Common Room in the evening the day before the Second Task.
He knew it was coming. He knew he was going to be put underwater in the lake for the Second Task. After Fleur retrieved her egg from the grounds at the lake she and Harry went into the lake to decipher what the screaming was saying. After a minute of contemplating, she realised Harry would be the one taken from her. Harry had not liked it one bit but he said to he would be part of it just to make her happy. Fleur knew her other option would probably be her sister, and she didn't want her underwater in February. Harry knew of a way to stay underwater and not be cold. The next time he got free, he snuck out of the castle with Fleur, she apparated him to the nearest city which was several miles away. He had bought three dry suits for himself, Cho, and Hermione. He didn't get any for Dumbledore, having no desire to do something for him.
"Potter," came a voice from the entrance to the Common Room. "Professor McGonagall wants to see you."
Harry sighed and left the room with Moody towards the Headmistress' Office.
"What is THAT?" Moody asked as they were walking.
Harry noticed that Moody was looking at his attire. "It's a dry suit, Professor Moody," he said. "It will keep me warm underwater. It is February, after all."
Moody chuckled and walked up to the gargoyle outside McGonagall's office.
"Piertotum Locomotor," he spoke and the stairs ascended.
Hermione, Cho Chang, Dumbledore, Professor Flitwick, Professor Babbling and McGonagall as well as Ludo Bagman were in the room. Harry was expecting to see Dumbledore. Sirius had sent him an amusing letter that Dumbledore would be the one sorely missed by Squibmort and it made him laugh. He had contacted Rita Skeeter with the information and she was prepared to have it ready the day the task ended. She had sent him a rough draft which made him laugh. The power of the press was his. Everyone in Wizarding Britain read the Daily Prophet and he had found out just after Halloween he owned the paper. He wondered what the press would do to him if he didn't own it or the Ministry blackmailed them.
It was explained to them of what was happening and that they would be under the lake as hostages for the champions to rescue.
Dumbledore had been subdued quickly as he tried to escape the room, he was screaming like a child that he wouldn't do it. He was now on the ground as stiff as a statue.
"By the way, what are those you three are wearing?" McGonagall asked, indicating the dry suits that Harry, Hermione, and Cho were wearing.
"These are dry suits, Professor," Harry explained. "It would keep us warmer underwater as we put many warm clothes on before we put this on."
McGonagall smiled briefly at the idea, but quickly reverted to her stern look. "Smart, Mr Potter."
"By the way, Professor," Harry asked bewilderedly. "What does Piertotum Locomotor mean?"
Professor McGonagall smiled slightly before saying, "I always wanted to use that spell."
"Could you three take those off?" Ludo Bagman grumbled, referring to the dry suits. "We'll put warming charms on you so you'll be fine."
"Warming Charms can only last for a short amount of time Mr Bagman," Hermione said. "The longest they last is only ten minutes, and I intend to stay warm, thank you very much."
Harry smiled at Hermione's cheeky but intelligent answer. Ludo Bagman looked very put out.
At six o clock that morning four unconscious bodies were lowered into the lake. The Merfolk came up to pick each body. They hadn't yet been told the names of the hostages, only who they were hostage for.
It was just when he was positioning Harry did the Merfolk man recognise Harry.
"WE'VE GOT HARRY POTTER DOWN HERE. WE'VE GOT HARRY POTTER DOWN HERE," he roared into the lake.
On the way back to shore Professors Flitwick and McGonagall felt something stir beneath the boat. Professor Babbling screamed as she saw a massive figure beneath the water moving very fast towards the Merfolk village.
"What was that?" she asked.
Minerva McGonagall smiled. "That Bathsheda, is the Giant Squid, Big Frankie."
"Why is he rushing to the Merfolk village?" Filius asked.
"I don't know Filius."
IlIlIlI
Once Claktaken had shouted that into the lake, there was a massive rush from all directions of the Black Lake sea life who had heard of Harry Potter.
Big Frankie the Giant Squid was at the other end of the lake and had darted forward when he heard that the famous Harry Potter was in the lake. When he got there he got easy access. Despite his gentle nature, many in the lake feared him because of his size. He got through the crowds of merfish and other sea creatures. The moment he saw the sea horse he glared at it.
"Don't think I don't know what you are doing you dumb Each-uisge," he snarled at the water demon. "Go back or face me."
Detestare the Each-uisge snarled at the Giant Squid and left, transforming back into its last state.
"Is it really Harry Potter?"
"Are you sure it's The-Boy-Who-Lived?"
The questions stopped as Claktaken spoke, "I am deadly sure. No one else has that scar."
"Can we see him up close," came from a voice in the back.
"I really only meant for Big Frankie to hear," he said. "Harry Potter needs to be protected from that water-demon, and Big Frankie's the only one in the lake he's scared of."
Big Frankie stood tall and moved forward, delighted to have the chance to see Harry Potter up close. The war wasn't only known by the humans. Sphinxes, dragons, and many other creatures knew of the war and that it was stopped by Harry Potter. The young boy had been claimed a national hero and now here he was in front of him.
He glared at the other lake life and they all scattered.
Delighted at having Harry Potter so near them, the Head Mercreature Clackatank sent off his trusted aides for answers to some questions. It wasn't until after eight his people found out what he wanted to do to Harry Potter.
They were going to waken him and ensure he had a great time in their premises. They wanted to introduce Harry Potter to their world and reward him for his heroics.
He pressed his fingers to the throat of the boy lightly and chanted in his language with his fellow men. They all spoke the same words while a strong blue water tornado swirled around Harry Potter.
When the swirling stopped Harry's eyes opened. Harry did not look like himself anymore. He was now grey coloured all over his body and his wild dark hair was sticking up straight.
"Uh, hello," he said cautiously to the Merperson who was in front of him.
"Follow me," the Merperson grunted and swam off slowly, gesturing for Harry to follow him. Harry swam towards the Merperson, curious to see what he was asked to follow.
It was only when he arrived he realised he forgot Mad Eye's motto: Constant Vigilance. Why, oh why, did he follow this guy.
There was a large group of strange looking creatures in front of him. All were looking straight at him, all holding arrows instead of pitchforks.
"Harry Potter," a deep gravelly voice boomed. "Step forward and swim to me."
Harry looked ahead and saw a large overweight Merperson sitting on a throne like chair. He moved forward cautiously.
"For your services in the war that had transpired until fourteen years ago we bestow on you a gift. Come forward."
Harry knew he was not sleeping as he had already pinched himself rather hard and did not wake up.
"For your services to our world of magic we bestow on you a talent we have not given to anyone in over eight hundred years. Would you accept the gift to become a Water Mage?"
A Water Mage. He was getting the opportunity to become a Water Mage.
Smiling Harry spoke to the Chief Merperson, "It would be an honour to become a Water Mage."
The Chief Merperson closed his eyes and gave an almighty roar that shook the entire lake. A swirling water tornado encompassed him as the Water Magicks connected to him. The roaring of the Merperson continued for a full minute, shaking the entire lake like an earthquake, loosening several rocks in the seabed.
"FIRE!"
The Mercreatures shot the arrows in their crossbows into the air. The arrows went to the top of the lake before falling down and all landing around Harry who was in a swirling tornado of water.
IlIlIlI
"Where are we?" Harry asked Clackatank, the Chief Merperson.
"This, Harry Potter is the sunken village of Haugh Wards," Clackatank said, gesturing to a sunken underwater village that they had arrived at. "Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff were born here. They were originally going to name the school Haugh Wards but they just combined the two words into the name Hogwarts. When they were building Hogwarts there were a lot of problems with the attempted building. A building prank attempt that had gone wrong between Godric and Salazar caused a massive earthquake and had sunk the land that was next to Hogwarts, including the village. A few months after the build was complete, the founders filled the land with water so they could give Big Frankie the Giant Squid a home."
"The Giant Squid has been here for a thousand years," Harry exclaimed.
"To help with the protection of Hogwarts from all the angry witch hunters from back then," he said. "We have preserved this village and protected it from interference over the years. No one above the surface knows of this place anymore. I doubt the Ministry even knows of it. By the time the Ministry was created everyone forgot of this place."
"Why are you showing me this?" Harry asked.
"You have defeated the one they call Lord Voldemort and rescued our world," Clackatank said. "We believed we were in danger. For all we know he may have found the diary of Salazar Slytherin in the Chamber of Secrets and discovered the secrets of the lake."
"You know of the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked astounded.
"My many times great grandfather saw Salazar building it," he said. "The Chamber is under this lake."
"How did the Basilisk not kill you from being so near you?"
"Salazar told her not to harm us for when Vera swam in here," he said.
Harry sputtered, "The Basilisk was swimming here."
"Of course," Clackatank said. "Vera was so gentle with every one of us. She should be by soon."
At hearing this Harry felt faint. "Is the Basilisk still alive?"
Clackatank chuckled. "Did you really think a sword would kill her? We all heard the story."
Clackatank suddenly looked to his left and smiled. "Hello Vera."
To Harry's horror the massive fifty foot snake he thought he had killed was swimming towards him. He closed his eyes on instinct only to hear a soft, "Don't worry, child. I will not harm you. Open your eyes."
Slowly Harry opened his eyes. He looked into green eyes instead of the deadly yellow he had seen two years beforehand. Before he could think he spoke. "Why are you alive?" He clasped his hand to his mouth, praying he wasn't too rude.
He heard what sounded like a chuckle from the massive snake. "Come down to the Chamber on Tuesday night and I will explain. Today is Friday, is it not?"
Harry nodded. "I will see you then∞"
And with that the Basilisk swam far down to the deepest part of the lake.
"Where is she going?" Harry asked Clackatank.
"Back to the Chamber before the task starts," Clackatank said. "Don't need to scare everyone away."
Harry nearly jumped out of his skin as a massive roar rippled through the entire lake.
"Always a joy, that Vera," Clackatank smiled. "Probably roared to scare the humans above."
IlIlIlI
As Clackatank said, the humans who were above in the stands, who were so far just the judges, dived under the table that was set up the moment they heard the roar.
It took ten minutes for them to come out from their hiding places and a further twenty to get Ludo Bagman out from under the table.
When nine in the morning came students and staff all piled into the stands in the middle of the lake for the task. The champions were already all there.
Fleur was in her bathing suit and the two male champions were wearing what looked like male tank tops.
Tom had been sent a packet of Gillyweed for the task by Harry, who acted as an unknown source as he believed that being married to Squibmort and alive was worse for Dumbledore than being dead. Tom was wearing a frilly pink swimsuit.
"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One … two … three!" Ludo Bagman called out in a Sonorus enhanced voice
The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted with cheers and applause; Fleur jumped into the lake and started swimming in the direction she believed the Merfolk were in.
Meanwhile, Harry himself was having an enjoyable time.
IlIlIlI
"Can I play with Harry Potter, dada," a small voice said.
Clackatank smiled and picked up the small Merchild that had swam up to him. "Harry, this is my daughter Meenreagh."
"Hello Meenreagh," Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Can you play with me?"
Harry give a quick look at Clackatank who nodded.
"What would you like to do first?" Harry asked.
"I want to put some makeup on the white haired hostage," she smiled.
An evil smile appeared on Harry. "Okay let's go."
IlIlIlI
Fleur swam towards where she believed Harry to be. She managed to dodge the Grindylow that tried to attack her and a strange looking sea-horse that lurked near the bottom.
She weaved her way through the tall green like grass and avoided a Hinkypunk looking like creature., continuing her trek towards Harry.
There it is. She saw what looked like a village up ahead. She swam as fast as she could only to arrive at a strange scene.
Harry was with what looked like a Merchild applying some kind of green and purple makeup on Dumbledore.
"Hi flower," Harry said, stealing a glance at her. "Want to help."
Mindlessly she found herself helping apply blue makeup on the disgraced former Headmaster.
She had no idea how long she was doing it for before she heard something what sounded like a squeal.
Harry looked up when he heard the "Ohmigod, Alby, you look gorgeous." Tom had arrived.
Harry stifled his laughter when he saw what Tom was wearing. The pink swimsuit was indeed doing him wonders.
"Put some of that make-up on me, honey Harry," Tom gushed.
Eager for the opportunity Harry applied the strange green stuff to Tom's face. Meenreagh applied the purple stuff to his hair. Smiling she went back to Dumbledore and put the purple stuff into his hair.
"Looks like I'll have to leave now, Meenreagh," Harry said, seeing Fleur motioning to her watch. Viktor and Cedric were just arriving.
"Don't go, Harry," Meenreagh wailed.
"Don't worry, sweetie," Harry smiled. "I will be back soon, I promise."
Harry began swimming to the surface with Fleur. Viktor and Cedric weren't far behind with their hostages. Tom was moving slower with Dumbledore.
Fleur won the highest points for the Second Task.
IlIlIlI
The moment Dumbledore reached the surface he awoke like the other hostages.
"Get off me Tom," he growled.
"I'm so glad you're alive," Tom wailed happily. "I was hoping you'd survive and we'd be together forever."
At hearing that Dumbledore ducked underwater, intending to drown himself and pulling Tom underwater to try and drown him too.
However Clackatank was not going to have the half skunk or the whiskered fool return to the water after hearing what they had done to Harry Potter. With a mighty throw Dumbledore and Tom were thrown out of the water by Big Frankie. Students cheered as they caught sight of him. Deciding to put on a show he went towards the stands and used the opportunity to swim around the stands. He moved his head out of the water and tricked the blonde haired moron named Draco Malfoy standing there into believing he was going to eat him before going back into the water.
On the shore Dumbledore was still holding onto Tom in the same way he had tried to drown him. Tom used the opportunity to lean over and had given Dumbledore a sloppy kiss.
FLASH!
Dumbledore pushed Tom away and noticed Rita Skeeter with her photographer right in front of him. Rita was smiling in a predatorily way at him.
Why is it always me, he screamed in his mind.
"Hey, look Alby," Tom said. "We both now have purple hair. Don't we look amazing together, honey bunny."
IlIlIlI
Severus Snape smiled as he looked around his new store.
He had opened a potions apothecary on the edge between Diagon Alley and Knockturn. He did not have an opening because he knew that Fanny would indeed embarrass him to the visiting public.
He heard the opening bell chime that meant he had his first customer. His smile went away when he saw who it was.
"BROWN," he practically screamed. "Get out of my store."
Lavender Brown had come in to the store and made her way to him. Or rather, to his shoulder.
"The place looks great Fanny," Lavender said, looking around the store. "You did a good job with the designs."
"I know," Fanny preened. "I just wish Sevvy had let me make the walls pink."
"You should have made the walls pink, Sevvy," Lavender said, looking at Snape disapprovingly. "You would get so much customers if you had done that."
The vein that had been throbbing on Severus' forehead was too much for the man and his face fell forward as he slumped in dismay into the bowl of fruit.
"You need to stop doing that Sevvy," Fanny giggled. "I wanted to make the register a floating balloon but he wouldn't agree with me, so I settled for a floating picture of the gorgeous Harry Potter."
Severus Snape really wanted to scream.
Chapter 10: Demon Cats From Hell?
Vernon Dursley did not have a good year.
After Halloween the previous year he decided to try and embezzle more money from his company. He had been embezzling money from his company for years now and had never been officially caught.
Sure he had been caught several times only to be bailed out by a silver-haired freak who wore garish robes. Knowing that he was protected from jail by that freak kept him going for many years.
However this time it didn't work well for him. When he had been caught once again he was just waiting for that purple dressing freak but that freak never turned up. He had remained in a jail cell for three weeks before he got out on bail. Despite getting out of that cell and away from his cellmate Bubba he was confined to House Arrest while the investigation took place.
He was put back in his jail cell on Christmas Day when his dratted freak of a nephew had sent a tape to the authorities detailing his life at the Dursley's. The ungrateful freak had accused him of child abuse. Petunia had been arrested too along with his sister Marge for their so called abuse of the boy. Dudley had been sent to a Secure Children's Home.
When February rolled around he was paraded into court to answer for his crimes. His wife and sister were not there, whom were going to be tried separately from him, however his son Dudley was in the audience and surrounded by two security officers from the Secure Children's Home.
His lawyer advised him to admit his crimes to get a lighter sentence but he would do no such thing. Men like him do not cave in to a court system.
He had stayed silent throughout his trial, only to become enraged when his freak of a nephew appeared out of the blue and testified against him. He noticed the freak's escort, a man whose name was revealed to be Remus Lupin, was glaring at him in pure loathing. He had a bad feeling from those looks the man was sending him.
Finally it was time for the verdict.
"Vernon Ronald Dursley," Judge Doright spoke. "For your crimes of child abuse and embezzlement this court sentences you to thirty years in prison with no chance of parole. Case Adjourned."
With the hammering of the gavel he was dragged away kicking and screaming that he had done nothing wrong.
That night he was completely naked, skin burning and feeling half-blind from that delousing crap they put on him and walking single file behind other prisoners to his cell holding his prison garments in front of his private parts.
"DURSLEY," shouted Captain Byron Hadleigh shouted. "Cell 13. Follow me."
Vernon followed the Captain of the prison guards to his cell.
"You're sharing a cell with a nutcase, Dursley," Hadleigh laughed viciously. "Have a nice night."
And with that he was shoved forcefully into his new cell. He noticed his new cell partner and almost had a heart attack. In the cell with him was Bubba, the cellmate he had a few months ago in Surrey Police Station.
"Dursley, did Hadleigh say," Bubba drawled, standing up. He recognised Vernon Dursley. He smiled a ferocious smile when he saw him. "I heard you got charged with child abuse too, Dursley. You know what we do to people who hurt children in here."
Vernon gulped. He hated his new life.
After a few weeks of extreme pain he heard more news from the outside world. Petunia had been sentenced to fifteen years and his sister was sentenced to fifteen for child abuse and animal cruelty.
As he rounded the corner in the prison yard, he was spotted by Bubba and his friend Boggs.
He didn't manage to run away on time before he was beaten by Bubba and Boggs. The week in solitary confinement was worth it to them.
Vernon spent a month in the Infirmary.
IlIlIlI
Back in Hogwarts Harry was focusing on his Potions homework.
He never thought in a million years he would actually like the subject given how Snape treated him and the way he taught it.
Professor Wrickman was a decent instructor who often helped his students and was friendly. However, Malfoy got on the wrong side of the man and was brought into his office. When he came out he was terrified and was muttering 'machine gun' and 'ho ho ho'.
The man had revealed himself to him to have been his mum Lily's mentor when she left Hogwarts. She had been his apprentice and he was told that his mum was a Potions Mistress. Professor Wrickman had offered him some friendly advice and gave him potions notes Lily had compiled under his tutelage that he had. With his mum's notes and Professor Wrickman's help, his grades in Potions had skyrocketed. He was now the best in the class.
Hermione had been jealous at first and wouldn't talk to him for five days. After a talking to from Fleur she had apologised for her attitude and said she was happy he was doing so well in a subject he originally hated.
IlIlIlI
"Blood traitor," Draco taunted Ron.
"Ferret," Ron retorted back.
Both boys were in an empty classroom with their mothers. Molly and Narcissa came to Hogwarts wanting to see their sons.
Both boys hated that their mothers had become such close friends. When they both heard they would soon be living next to each other they had exploded in anger.
"Now, now, I know you two want to be closer to each other anyway," Molly said sweetly.
"After all, you're always talking about Ron Weasley every time you come home every Summer," Cissy crooned. "I just find it adorable that you talk about him so much."
Draco eyed his mother in suspicion. Something was going on here and he didn't like it.
"And you always talk about Draco dearie," Molly said, cupping her hand gently on her son's cheek.
"So, we both decided on what is best for both of you," Cissy and Molly both said.
Both boys got a sinking feeling in their stomachs before their mothers dropped the bomb.
"We betrothed both of you," Cissy squealed.
"We just know you are made for each other," Molly crooned.
Both boys eyed each other before they passed out.
"Ooh, look Molly, they are so excited that they passed out," Cissy crooned.
"Aw, so adorable," Molly happily smiled.
IlIlIlI
Arabella Figg was finally enjoying herself.
After the Dursley's had gone off to prison she didn't see any point staying in Little Whinging so she packed her bags and her thirteen cats and moved back to where she previously lived. Hogsmeade.
She once again let her cats out of the house so they could hunt and explore. As they were magical cats, they were fiercely intelligent and a lot stronger than the average cat.
So one day in late February she was enjoying a nice drink of Firewhisky in the Hogs Head when the door opened. All of her thirteen cats came traipsing in and meowing to their hearts content.
Albus Dumbledore (who was Bartending that day) scowled at the cats. He truly never really liked cats. They all loved hunting birds which were his favourite animal. He was very much a bird person.
However Dumbledore failed to realise that his extended time around birds made him smell like bird to cats. So he was completely unprepared when all thirteen cats lunged at him. Albus fell to the ground, whereas five of the cats stood on his body to prevent him standing up. The eight other cats started pulling him by the ankles. Given that these magical cats had superior strengths similar to a jaguars they easily managed to pull him right out of the bar.
He tried screaming at Arabella to call them off but she uncaringly continued drinking her Firewhisky. Arabella was of the firm belief that he deserved it for ignoring her claims of the Dursley's abuse of Harry.
The damn creatures pulled him towards Hogsmeade. He started struggling to get free. Tom was in Hogsmeade at the dress store. He did not want to go near him.
Too Late!
"Alby," Tom screeched happily, running up to him. "Ohmymerlin, ohmymerlin, ohmymerlin, not only did you decide to get me a cat, but you got me thirteen. Come to Uncle Tom, kitties."
Albus firmly hoped the cats would take him away to his death. However, the cats were delighted to meet the now friendly Tom that they got off him and cuddled around his legs. Tom picked up that black cat that tried to rip out his beloved beard.
"I'm going to name you Sweetie," he crooned.
More like Satan, Dumbledore thought.
As if reading his thoughts Sweetie (no, it's Satan) pounced on him. Tom used the opportunity to force Dumbledore into the gorgeous frilly purple and pink dress he had bought in the shop.
As he fought getting that damned black cat off of him, he did not realise that it was a Hogsmeade weekend for the students of Hogwarts. There was a crowd of at least forty people watching him trying to fight a cat while wearing a hideous dress. Once he discovered he was watched the entire time he was rooted to the spot, paralysed. He did not notice that Tom had picked him up and carried him into the Twenty Knuts Motel next door.
"Seeing you in that dress has made me happy, if you know what I mean Alby," Tom huskily said.
IlIlIlI
While all the drama was unfolding in the street, Harry, Fleur, Hermione and Viktor Krum were having a double date in the Three Broomsticks.
Harry and Viktor were having a fun conversation about Quidditch. Harry was very much liking the older guy. Out of brotherly instinct for Hermione he had warned him a few weeks back what would happen if he broke her heart. But Viktor, ever the gentleman, made it very clear with the way he looked and acted with Hermione, was completely besotted with her and did not want to do anything to hurt her or break her heart.
Hermione was the same. Harry had not noticed it until Fleur pointed it out but she was completely enamoured with Viktor. She would blush madly every time he did something nice for her and was always smiling in his presence. He was glad to see her so happy. He knew Ron was not happy with her relationship but he didn't care. He knew Ron had a crush on Hermione but he highly doubted he could ever put a smile on her face like the kind she had now.
"Anyone sitting here."
Harry looked up from his conversation to see Ginny and Colin standing there.
"No, there isn't," Harry said cheerily. "Might as well join us."
Ginny and Colin sat down and they all chatted with each other throughout the now triple date
"Butterbeers from the gentleman by the bar," came Madam Rosmerta's voice, leaving a tray of six Butterbeers on the table.
Harry looked over to the bar and saw Professor Wrickman giving him a friendly wave. Harry smiled and waved back. He really liked the Professor. Everyone did. While he had a voice that was similar enough to Snape, the man was very friendly and was always encouraging his students to try harder instead of insulting or berating them.
"A Potions teacher willingly giving us Butterbeer and smiling at us," Colin joked. "Now I've seen everything."
They all laughed and give Professor Wrickman a wave.
IlIlIlI
Harry was nervous as he entered Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. After the encounter with the Basilisk in the Black Lake he had been debating to himself for a while how to approach the development that the massive snake was still alive. Despite the discovery he made in the Room of Requirement a while back that said the Basilisk was not planted to attack Muggle-born students he was scared.
Scared because he had skipped the meeting with the Basilisk a few weeks prior because he was still collecting himself about the new information he was afraid she would be angry about missing their date to talk.
Apparently he had nothing to worry about.
Vera the Basilisk was delighted to see him when he arrived and wouldn't stop chit-chatting about her life. Apparently, she only attacked Muggle-borns because Tom had only agreed to talk and listen to her if she did so. The reason Tom had sealed the Chamber was because she was getting angry he wasn't actually bothered with talking or listening to her.
It wasn't until nearly four o' clock he finally managed to ask the question on his mind.
"How did you survive when I thrust the sword through your head?"
"I only chased you because I hoped that brat Tom would talk to me once I ate you," Vera hissed. "But the moment you thrust that sword through my head, one of my teeth pierced your skin. I'm sorry for that by the way. But my tooth going into your skin and touching your blood made me instantly realise that you carry the blood of Salazar Slytherin in your veins. I was just overjoyed, so overjoyed I decided to fake dead and make you think you had killed me. But I could still control my tooth that had lodged itself in your skin. The moment that blasted diary came within my senses, I made that tooth in your grasp control you and destroy that damned diary. Once you and that girl left the Chamber I simply righted myself and went swimming in the lake. I found Clackatank and he healed my eyes so I could see again. I had hoped you would come down here again someday as I didn't want to search you out and scare you or other students."
Harry stared at Vera, completely astounded. The story sounded absolutely ludicrous, like something created in a fictional universe. But he found it believable though.
"I found out not long ago that Salazar Slytherin didn't want Muggle-borns dead though," Harry asked. "Is it really true?"
"Yes, it is true," Vera hissed, sighing. "But you need to understand. In those days, all witches and wizards were being hunted and burned at the stake. Hogwarts wasn't as well protected in those days with the wards it now has so I was the main protection against all those angry Muggles who wanted us all dead."
Harry decided to check his watch and was shocked to see it was almost seven in the morning.
Vera saw his response. "Is it time to go now?" she asked. Harry nodded. "Follow me."
Harry followed the Basilisk into the mouth of the statue of Salazar Slytherin. He was now in a massive cavern. There was a continuous tunnel up ahead big enough for Vera to go through. Vera went up to a massive statue of Salazar Slytherin holding a snake around his neck.
"Stand underneath the snake's tongue and say where you want to go," Vera ordered. "It is an ancient teleportation device only Salazar Slytherin knew of. He created it."
Harry went and stood underneath where he was told. Closing his eyes he spoke, "Gryffindor Tower."
Harry kept his eyes closed, expecting it to not work, but when he opened them he was standing in front of the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room.
Well, that's handy, he thought as he went back to his room to start getting ready for the day. It was already morning so he didn't bother getting any sleep.
I need to go back down and keep Vera company sometime soon, he thought as he put on his clothes.
To pass the time until class, he decided to pull a prank.
IlIlIlI
Draco Malfoy woke up feeling angry.
He couldn't believe his mother betrothed him to that ginger haired moron. He was never going to forgive her for doing that to him.
His anger that morning made him lost in his thoughts on what he would do in retaliation to Ron Weasley. So stuck in his thoughts he hadn't noticed while having a shower his shampoo was a different colour.
His hair had finally grown back after that dumb Veela made him bald back in November. It had taken nearly four months though.
He went to the Great Hall to have his breakfast, not noticing the odd glances and whispers sent his way. Halfway through his breakfast, Crabbe showed up.
"Malfoy, what happened to your hair?" he asked, completely shocked.
Draco was scared. What happened? He snatched Pansy's mirror from her hand -Honestly does she ever stop looking at herself, he wondered- and looked at his appearance.
To his horror he had red hair. Weasley red hair. He actually looked a bit like Ron Weasley too.
"I'm not sitting with any Weasley," Crabbe said, and walked several seats away.
Draco was furious with that declaration. He glared at Crabbe only to notice Potter at the Gryffindor Table looking at him and smiling. Potter raised his goblet to him and winked.
"Draco Weasley," Greengrass purred. "That's a nice name. Now you and your husband look alike. You should take the name as a vow to your beloved. All the wives do."
Everyone who heard her roared in laughter while Draco glared at her furiously. The whole school now knew he was betrothed to the moron and he hated it. But he was the husband, not the wife.
Great Merlin, did he just think of himself as Ron Weasley's husband. He groaned out loud and banged his head on the table. Repeatedly
IlIlIlI
Sirius Black was very much enjoying himself this year. As the new Minister For Magic after former Minister Cornelius Fudge was ousted he ensured that sweeping changes were made.
Sometimes the change wouldn't show itself at first and he would be convinced that something would go very wrong, like when Voldemort was stupidly released from Ministry custody.
His release had angered many, especially Madam Bones who he was working closely with throughout the last few months. She had grounds to investigate those in the Wizengamot who voted to have him released. Of those twenty-one, seventeen were now imprisoned when evidence was found in their homes that they were Death Eaters. Trials had been set up immediately and now there were only four left whom were in Ministry holding cells awaiting trial. All of the supporters of Voldemort in the Wizengamot had been hounded up and now there were none in the ranks who supported the bastard.
The Aurors had recently found the bodies of the missing Death Eaters off the coast of America in a sunken tugboat. Apparently the Death Eaters had stolen the famed Ark of the Covenant. Knowing the immediate danger of the artefact, Sirius had conferred with the Magical President of America, Conner McCarran, who agreed that the artefact must be kept in high security only accessed by a higher force than even the Muggle president. It was now locked away in a place only Sirius and Conner knew.
While being Minister he decided to reconnect with someone he missed dearly. His Hogwarts sweetheart Bathsheda Babbling, teacher of Ancient Runes. He contacted her after Christmas and she agreed to meet up for a date. Despite not seeing her for many years it was like as if he saw her the previous day. They reconnected instantly and they were both now living together. He bought a mansion with the reparation money the Ministry gave him for his false imprisonment and was now living there with Bathsheda
Remus often came around to visit but he now had a proper place to live. Now that James and Lily's Will was officially opened they left a sizeable amount to Remus with a message to spoil himself. He decided to do so and bought himself a high styled apartment in London. He was able to afford and brew the complicated Wolfsbane Potion and had just recently started dating his cousin Nymphadora Tonks.
He was going to finish being the Interim Minister in June. Elections would be held in May. Amelia Bones decided to remain in her position, saying she had no interest to work in the Minister's Office. Amos Diggory and Rufus Scrimgeour were the top contenders for the office. While Sirius liked both, Amos was a very likable man and seemed the one most likely to run the Wizarding World, Rufus was an accomplished Auror who fought Death Eaters since the First Wizarding War and had many scared of him.
"Penny for your thoughts, Siri," Bathsheda asked, cuddling against him as they watched their favourite film together, Carrie.
"Just thinking I'm the luckiest guy in the world," Sirius smiled, pulling Bathsheda closer to him.
"Siri," she whispered lovingly.
"Yes, sweetie," he mumbled, stroking her hair.
"I'm pregnant."
Sirius looked at her for a split second before jumping up and pulling her close. "I'm gonna be a father," he spoke, vibrantly happy.
"And I'm going to be a mother," she spoke mischievously, planting a kiss on him. Sirius smiled into the kiss and pulled her close. They didn't care about the film anymore and just spent the night cuddling up and talking to each other about the joy of having a child.
Life, Sirius thought, was pretty damn awesome.
IlIlIlI
"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands! If you're happy and you know it clap your hands! If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it…"
"SHUT UP!" Snape bellowed. "I'm in the middle of a finishing a potion!"
Fanny was bored. Being attached to the shoulder of a cranky wizard may have been fun, but there were times she missed company. Specifically Lavender Brown.
"You shouldn't talk to your brother like that, Sevvy," Fanny tutted. "But I'm just happy that you love me, like every pair of brothers. Come on, sing along with me."
"…if you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" He finished, then took a deep bow. "Thank you, thank you!"
Snape gritted his teeth and kept working on the Felix Felicis. Maybe this damn potion might help him get rid of the abomination on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, no potion ever would.