‘Yes please,’ Hermione smiled looking away from her book.
‘Finally some actual practice,’ Holly’s fist pumped at the idea.
‘Wait, he’s not actually going to let us do magic, we are not supposed to,’ Hermione said looking scandalized at the idea.
‘Well, that rules more of a warning under a wizarding house so long as you have adult supervision, and the fact that that little charm does not go into effect until after a sorting,’ he muttered a little too loudly. ‘We should be fine in making sure you’re not behind on anything, but Holly I would recommend reading up on your potions book,’
‘Why?’ Holly asked a little confused,
‘The professor, in charge of that class, may not be very friendly towards you,’ her father warned, ‘Maybe I could be, off on it, but let’s not give him any ammo, however despite any attitude, if there is any trouble, like something that you would need an adult for going to him discreetly wouldn’t be a bad idea.’
‘This is very confusing,’ Hermione pointed out.
‘Well, he was an old enemy of mine and an old friend of your mothers. Do not mention either of these details to anyone are we clear?’ Her father glared down at the pair,
‘Okay,’ Holy rubbed the back of her head not sure why her dad was being so firm on the matter.
‘right,’ Hermione nodded and with a sudden pop, her dad had vanished from sight. ‘Wow,’
‘Right forgot he could do that, it’s called apperating, can’t learn that until you’re seventeen,’ Holly explained.
‘Sounds complicated,’ Hermione admitted,
‘Yeah and dangerous, I think Sirius lost a toenail when he first tried it,’ Holly went on, anyway want to come in and look over the books, perhaps the potions one.’ She sighed but Hermione was damn excited dragging her into the house as the pair lounged in the living room.
Holly frowned at the book, it felt so dull and nothing seemed to linger while her friend seemed to devour the literature.
‘Hey, girls, already going over your books?’ Lupin asked as he walked in. Hermione smiled as Holly gave a slight grunt. ‘Ah potions, your dad does don’t much care for the subject either. Mind you anything outside of defense against the dark arts, or Quiditch he didn’t care for.’
‘Ugh,’ her father grunted as he headed in through the back door of the house.
‘Speak of the devil,’ Lupin smirked as he walked into the living room.
‘Up for some real practice?’ David offered as both girls all but leaped to their feet Holly infinitely more excited as David opened up the door to the basement.
While the house was as muggle as one could get the basement was far from it, it was opened up with plenty of floor space. The walls were linseed with moving photos. As well as shelves filled with magical ingredients and books that looked older than the house’s residents combined.
‘Put in a few charms to help expand the space a bit give Garius plenty of flying space during the day, Speaking of wich have you got a name for your owl?’ He asked as Hermione spotted the gray owl perched up a tree.
‘Hedwig, she seems to like it,’ she answered, as Hermione made a rush for the book shelves.
‘You forgot to shut the door,’ Lupin tutted with a small smile.
‘So what are we learning?’ Holly about jumped at the idea came f finally using magic. Her father while happy to teach her never let her use his wand during any lessons settling for a stick to practice motions.
Five minutes later Holly felt like screaming her friend was now working through basic spells. she frowned working on the levitation spell.
‘Easy Firefly, you’re going to burn a hole in that feather,’ David eased as Holly glared at him ‘magic is not a switch you can’t just snap your fingers and bam. It feels intent if you get frustrated enough you could blow the feather up.’ David eased as she huffed dropping her wand.
‘So now what?’ Holly glared as her father’s eyes seemed to twinkle.
‘Incision the feather floating, saw the words, then swish and flick,’ he instructed.
‘wingardium leviosa’ she cast the spell and twitched the wand as the feather floated upward.
‘Magic relies on the intent, and the flow of magic, both the wand and the word convey it. If you cast this spell, again and again, learn it you could cast without the words or the wand flick, or maybe even your wand,’ David instructed before patting her on the shoulder.
‘So the more I use it the better I get?’ Holly half asked as David nodded.
‘Magic isn’t easy to explain, but I am trying to explain how it works, just know for every rule or expectation there always seems to be a loophole or an exception. That’s not even getting into potions and transfiguration,’ he smiled.
The bell suddenly rung as Her father checked his watch. ‘I believe that it’s about dinner time,’ Lupin pointed out.
‘Crap,’ David cursed as he realized he completely forgot about preparing something. Holly watched her dad rush up as Hermione was startled from her own activity.
‘I forgot to tell my parents,’ Hermione realized having been so wrapped up in her new books she had forgotten to tell them she was back.
‘You know where the phone is,’ Lupin ushered and the bushy haired girl was rushing up the stairs.
Holly lingered as Lupin glanced over at her, ‘Can I stay down here and keep practicing?’ She asked looking at Lupin.
‘I don’t see why not,’ Lupin smiled, ‘anything I can help with?’ He offered. She eyed him before playing with her wand weighing the options. ‘Something bothering you?’ He asked.
‘Why is she always so good?’ Holly broke, ‘Classes, and now magic, I practiced so much I should finally be at least a little better than her,’ She glanced down feeling ashamed of her words. ‘I shouldn’t I should happy for her, I know and I feel so terrible.’
‘It’s just fine,’ Lupin smiled, ‘Being jealous isn’t fun, especially towards a friend, but nobody is best at everything. Your mother this may not seem helpful so bear with me was the best despite being the first of magical blood in her family. She was top of her class, with the exception of two classes, Potions, and your father outshined everyone in defense against the dark arts and might I add flying.’
‘Also,’ Sirius added startling the pair, ‘It’s how you use what you know, your father took on people who knew more and had decades of experience in magic and he fended them off, don’t worry about. Its what you do with what you have that makes you a good witch now how much, so smile for her success cause some day you may find you can do something easily that she may struggle with.’ Sirius advised.
‘Thanks,’ she sniffed giving a slight smile as the two uncles walked her upstairs for dinner.
It was the last day home the next morning they would be heading to kings cross station and off to Hogwarts. Her father had asked to have the house to themselves. She sat at the dinner table waiting for her father. ‘Dad?’ she asked as he walked down the stairs with a package in his hand as he sat down the package resting between them.
‘What I hold here,’ he rested his hands on the package. ‘Inside is an odd item, that has been passed down from generations. Normally to first born sons,’ he chuckled at that comment. He slides the package across to her.
Holly gingerly opened up the package revealing a cloak one that was way too big as she spread it out to get a better look at it. It seemed to her to have a dark red with hints of black near the edges with a glossy sheen to it.
‘Put it on,’ her father offered as Holly frowned at the size but did so only to see nothing.
‘My bodies gone,’ she realized glancing between her body and her dad who seemed rather amused.
‘Yep it’s an invisibility cloak, it cannot be summoned and never once needed repairs it is the most valuable I team in the Potter family and it is now yours,’ David smiled as he suddenly was rushed into a hug. ‘Take great care with it and treat it with the utmost respect, also use it to get some fre
e food,’ he winked.
The night was filled with a good meal and lots of stories and secrets he talked about passageways and shortcuts he left out a few of the dangerous ones as well as those that would help her out of the castle but David was always willing to answer any questions to help his daughter navigate the insanity that was Hogwarts castle.
‘So I know you and mom were in Gryffindor what about the other houses,’ Holly asked as she glanced at the folded cloak resting near her.
‘Oh yeah the sorting I was wondered about that, well you know a lot about the Lions I suppose knowing about the others wouldn’t hurt. Hufflepuff, are hardworking, loyal, keen to please. I like to think they play to fair very rule oriented, and very conservative don’t like change much. Ravenclaw is filled with the brainy people,’ he waved off. ‘Often times filled with your genuine or wanna be’s or worse people who think they are. That last group is a pain. Then Slytherin they are cunning and ambiguous they share one major weakness with raven claw is they attract people those who want to be cunning and ambitious not just those who are; however they have a second issue which is what idiot would go to a house known for being cunning any cunning person would avoid it, go to Hufflepuff and surround yourself with loyal people, not other ambitious people,’ David laughed.
‘They all seem okay,’ she hesitated,
‘There is more to it some families have long lines take potters almost always Gryffindor. But Sirius his family was filled with Slytherins, but he is a lion cause he chose to be, the hat takes what you want into account. But I wouldn’t recommend Slytherin,’ he admired her father going stern.
‘Why, do you not like that house?’ Holly asked although her old man didn’t seem to have as many nice things to say as the other houses.
‘Each house has its downsides lions are called soft-hearted fools, the Eagles all talk no action, and the Badgers being sheep-like. A lot of families that have kids in your upcoming year, will not be easy to deal with,’ he admitted he pulled at his collar.
‘Why?’ Holly asked but later regretted it, David with a bowed head explaining a lot of things the relationships the war he fought in as well as the old blood dealings.
‘…Mind you the blood the dumbest thing to base skill off your friend Hermione showed that. But these kids will and convincing them otherwise wouldn’t be easy, so if you want to enjoy school I would knock that house out no matter what the hat says,’ he breathed taking a cup of water.
‘Hat?’ She asked as David waved,
‘I think that’s enough time for bed you got an adventure ahead of you,’ he said getting up.
Sleep didn’t come easily storied of sports and pranks. Despite getting what felt like no sleep she still ended up finding her Dad asleep.
‘Up Ian up,’ he mumbled and Sirius was even worse since he looked like he had gotten less sleep.
‘I wouldn’t worry about it any way I asked Remus to have your supplies up at the station,’ David started
‘What about Hedwig?’ She panicked only for the bird to shoot. ‘Can she fly along the bike?’
‘I don’t see why not,’ her dad shrugged as he slides a rather foul looking drink to Sirius.
‘Thanks, Prongs,’ Sirius grumbled,
‘What is wrong Sirius?’ She asked as her uncle glanced up.
‘Bad breakup,’ and he grabbed the drink downing it. ‘Nasty,’ he admitted, smacking his lips as David passed him a plate with a few sausages, eggs, and bacon. ‘Prongs you are the best,’ he smiled as he dug into his meal.
Was silent which was odd as her father kept my going checking the time always be my antsy. ‘Well, then we should get going, got your ticket? He asked as she held it up.
The bike revved up the motor purring as Sirius popped away going to meet them up at Kings Cross, Hedwig and Garius flew above as her father strung the familiar spells and they were off.
‘Are you okay?’ He asked over the engine before casting another spell to let them talk easier.
‘Yeah, nervous this is really exciting,’ She smiled but her father just nodded, ‘are you, okay dad?’ She asked.
‘I am going to miss you,’ he admitted she glanced back at him in surprise as he set the bike down and make sure nobody could see the canceled the spells roaring into the parking lot. Sirius and Lupin were waiting with a cart filled with her supplies as they headed into the busy station.
After a brief explanation about the platform nine and three-quarters. She was looking at the Hogwarts Express.
‘Wow,’ she said as Sirius started putting her supplies on the train. She suddenly felt her stomach fellow out, realizing it wouldn’t be till Christmas thanks she would get to see her dad again.
‘David!’ Someone shouted as her father about jumped out of his skin and then she started to notice everyone noticing them.
‘Frank!’ David greeted back. Holly looked up at the friendly man, his rather pleasant face sporting a few scars, he’s hair was short and his hairline seemed to be receding. He was sporting some scarlet robes as her two uncles came over to the man. ‘Alice,’ David smiled as who Holly guessed was the man’s wife. ‘I see you grew your hair out,’ David commented as the round-faced Wwitch pushed a few strands away as Holly noticed a few gray strands hidden away.
‘You must be Holly pleasure to meet you,’ Frank belt down to her eye level and school her hand,‘our son Neville will be joining you do me a favor and keep an eye on him.’ He winked,
‘Dad,’ Neville protested when Holly noticed a string of red heads spear on the platform. ‘Arthur, Molly! Come on over I need to introduce you to a couple of chaps that saved my life,’ he stated as the two red headed parents blinked at the sudden attention.
‘Would love to, after we get the kids sorted,’ he called back as the whistle blew warning everyone about the time.
Holly glanced back at Neville who looked rather pudgy with a round face that reminded her of his mom. He seemed less interested as he wrestled with a rather large toad that seemed to want to escape. ‘ I am going to get on board and see if I can find Hermione,’ she announced as she headed off only for her collar to suddenly get snagged.
‘What no hug?’ Her dad joked.
‘Dad,’ she half resisted as everyone seemed to find either their own kids or something interesting to look at.
The hug held for a moment when suddenly it was over and soon found herself on the train waving as her dad got farther away.
‘So, you want to find a compartment?’ Neville asked her.
‘Sure I want to find my friend Hermione, her parents probably got her here early, Holly by the way nice to meet you,’ she amended.
‘Neville,’ he answered awkwardly, Holly moved around checking compartments when she found an empty room with her stuff already loaded in. Hedwig rests up near her trunk Neville put trunk up he struggled a bit as Holly took out her wand and with the words levitated it up just in time to see the toad hopping out into the hall.
‘Toad,’ she called out as Neville grabbed at him.
‘Trevor,’ he flopped grabbing the toad before it got too far. ‘Thanks,’ he smiled when a red head moved into view.
‘Can I sit with you? Everywhere else is taken,’ he half mumbled. Holly glanced over at Neville before shrugging. ‘Sure,’
‘Right,’ he brightened ‘Names Ron, Ron Weasley,’ he introduced as he put his trunk up with less difficulty.
‘Right this is Neville Longbottom, and I am Holly Potter, a pleasure to meet you,’ she introduced, offering her hand.
‘Really, do have the?’ He asked his hand going to his own forehead.
Neville glanced upward towards her forehead as well before she gave an amused smirk and pursued her hair back to show the lighting bolt scar.
‘Wicked,’ Ron awed as he sat down.
‘Anything of the trolley?’ Asked a voice as they spotted a witch with a cart of sweets.
‘No thanks, I am all set,’ Ron grimaced as Holly pulled out some gallons,
&nb
sp; ‘Let’s see what we can get,’ she smiled and much to her delight more than enough for everyone to sample a bit of everything as Hermione finally found them in the middle of a conversation over the cannons.
‘There you are,’ she said stopping the conversion.
‘Hey Hermione, this is Ron and Neville,’ Holly introduced.
‘Hello,’ Ron said with his mouthful, Neville paused before giving a clearer greeting.
‘I already had a compartment picked out,’ she informed giving Ron a slight frown.
‘Good I can change there till then have a Frog,’ Holly smiled as she tossed her friend a chocolate frog.
‘Watch out we already lost one out the window,’ Neville warned jabbing a thumb up at the window. Hermione sighed as Holly realized she was already in her school robes.
‘Couldn’t wait?’ Holly lightly teased, but her friendly jab was met with a frown as Holly wondered what was wrong. ‘Look I am going to get my robes, you guys should as well,’ Holly smiled as she got up to grab her supplies pausing to frown at the skirt. Throwing it together she followed Hermione out and shut the door beheld them.
Hermione silently leads the way as Holly tried to figure out what had Hermione so annoyed. She entered the compartment and got into her school robes.
‘You okay?’ Holly asked,
‘Why didn’t you find me?’ She frowned,
‘Uncle Remus put my stuff in that compartment,’ Holly admitted, besides Neville needed some company, he’s the son of a friend of my dad. And then Ron showed up and I got really interested in the conversation and it slipped my mind, sorry about that,’ Holly explained. Hermione sighed, not able to stay too mad at her friend when a knock hit the door it was about to slide open but Holly who wasn’t finished dressing snapped it shut as a boy’s voice hissed at his pinched fingers.
‘Getting dressed didn’t your mom tell ya to wait for a response,’ Holly shout as the shadow moved on. ‘Rude,’ she frowned ‘Don’t these things come with locks?’ She mused as she pulled on her robe.
She whispered Page 6
