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Not As It Seems	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 4953 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Not As It Seems

Chapter 9

Harry didn�t see the twins again until the next day, when the owls delivered mail to the students. They were sitting together at the Slytherin table. He watched while they and other students that he knew were under Aquila�s care for various reasons received packages.

The twins traded items back and forth between their packages and then wrapped up part of their packages into a third bundle. Pollux coaxed his fire lizard off of his shoulder and gave it the package. He whispered to it for a few moments, and then several of the students watched while it launched itself from his hands, holding the package, and flew across the room to land in front of Hermione.

Hermione stared at the little lizard in fascination, and then cautiously reached out to touch it on the head.

It ducked a bit as her hand approached it, but it submitted to the caress. After a moment, it arched into the touches, chirping in pleasure as she petted it. After it had its fill of petting, it chirruped and jumped off of the table and flew away, leaving its burden behind.

Harry nearly drew his wand when an unfamiliar shriek owl dropped in front of him.

The owl had a package and a letter. A tawny barn owl landed next to it, and the two of them battled with their beaks for a few moments until Harry reached forward and relieved both birds of their burdens. He offered both of them identical-sized pieces of sausage, and watched in relief while they flew away.

Aquila�s handwriting was easily recognizable on the letter and package from the screech owl. The writing on the other package wasn�t familiar, and the scent of lilacs wafted up from it.

Ron leaned over and took a deep breath.

�Bloody hell, mate,� he said. �Did you spend the summer with a girl or something?�

�I spent the summer with Remus,� Harry said. �Ron, stop sniffing my mail.�

�You�re weird these days, Harry,� Ron said, scowling.

�I�ve got a psycho sending his goons for me,� Harry said darkly, his scowl matching Ron�s for a moment, and then growing deeper. �My parents died before I knew them because of that stupid prophecy. Neville�s parents were tortured, because Voldemort disappeared, because of his attack on me.

�Thirteen years later,� Harry continued, his voice rising with each statement. �Cedric was murdered by Wormtail because they were trying to lure me. Moody spent several months in the bottom of his seven lock trunk because a Death Eater wanted to make sure I won the Tri-Wizard tournament. My godfather died because he went to the Ministry of Magic to save me. You, Hermione, Ginny and Neville were all hurt because of me. Ginny got killed because he wanted to hurt me. Just how much do I have to put up with before it�s okay for me to be weird? When one of you dies?�

Harry took advantage of the complete silence that followed to gather his packages and letters and hurry away to open them in solitude.

The package from Aquila contained chocolate, some shrunken clothing that Harry had left behind, owl treats for Hedwig, and instructions for removing the geas from Ron. A note at the bottom of the parchment told him that it was enchanted to look like a note admonishing him for leaving his winter cloak and waterproof shoes behind.

The letter was reassuring, much like the letters Harry had seen his classmates get.

Harry;

I hope the train ride went as you wish. I know that things are not the way you want them to be, but you must be more cooperative with the Headmaster. He really does have your best interests at heart.

Since Sirius was a cousin of mine, as well, through my unlamented mother, let me give you some advice. Sirius went to the Ministry of Magic to save you, as he had promised when he became your Godfather. He did it because he loved James Potter�s son, not because you are the Boy Who Lived. You should learn all that you can, so that when the time comes, you can defeat the Dark Lord once and for all, and bring this nightmare to an end. Remember that Sirius� killer worships her Master. Destroying him will destroy her.

If you have any need of advice, or someone to talk to, or any of the books you studied from during the summer, feel free to write to me. I knew your mother well enough to love her like a sister, and since her sister is a dried-up shrew, I�ll take it upon myself to give you the advice and help that a mother gives.

On another note, Bernadette was very impressed with you, and she asked Remus and I for permission to write to you. I know that this is a painful subject just now, but she really does like you. The Dark Lord can�t get her in France, you know.

Let me know how school goes, Harry. I know how much your mother and Sirius both loved you, and I think I love you more than a little, myself.

Aquila

Harry folded the letter away, and popped a piece of chocolate in his mouth. Aquila�s carefully worded letter was a reminder to keep up appearances with Dumbledore and the others. He picked up the other letter, and opened it.

Bonjour, Harry;

I know I�ve only been away from you for a short time, but we already got to know one another so well, that it seems like a century. I�ve started school again, and it�s just like coming home.

There is a new girl in my school, Genevive. Actually, she�s a cousin of mine. I�d never met her, but she is very nice. She transferred here from somewhere else; Salem, I think. She�s making friends already, and she�s a truly gifted witch. I think she�ll be fine here. She�s suffered a tragedy in her family, so she�ll be finishing school here.

I can�t wait to see you again, Harry. Mamam is already talking about what will happen after I finish school, but I�m going to concentrate on the end of term exams. Will you be spending Christmas at the estate? If you are, please tell me. I would like to come up and see you again, even if it�s only for a couple of days. I�d like you to meet Genevive, as well.

Please write me back, Harry. I miss you so much.

Your Bernadette

Harry folded the letter closed with a smile. Ginny was settling into school, and he might be seeing her at Christmas. He was hoping that everything worked out for Ginny and the twins. If one of them married Ginny, and the other married Hermione, then he wouldn�t be missing both of his best friends.

The package from Bernadette contained chocolates with flavored fillings, Ice Mice, Bertie Botts, and some red globes labeleed �DragonFire Balls�.

Harry popped one into his mouth, wondering what they were. It collapsed when he bit down, and it was chewy. It tasted strongly of cinnamon, which became stronger and warmer the longer he chewed. Moments later, Harry belched, and a small plume of fire erupted from his mouth, sending a small fireball across the room, where it dissapated without damaging anything.

Smiling, Harry put the candy in his pocket.

***** *****

It was dinnertime before Harry had the chance to slip Ron one of the DragonFire Balls. He did it just before Hermione sat down across from them. He knew the fire wouldn�t hurt Hermione, but it would frighten her, and it would probably show her just how much of an idiot the youngest Weasley boy was.

Ron chewed happily on the candy for a few moments, while Hermione loaded her plate with what she wanted from the offerings on the table. She started eating while Ron�s face started getting red, and sweat popped out all over his forehead. His cheeks bulged with the effort of keeping the building flames inside of him.

Finally, he couldn�t hold it in anymore. A five foot blast of fire burst out of his mouth, not damaging anything, but causing general chaos in the path of the flames. Hermione screamed and jumped away from the table, retreating to the far side of the Ravenclaw table. Pollux jumped up from his seat, and wrapped his arms around the badly frightened witch.

At the main table, all of the instructors stood, and McGonagall rushed down to find out what was going on.

Harry contrived to look shocked and surprised. He honestly had not expected Ron to hold it in and make the jet of fire larger.

�Mister Weasley!� McGonagall exclaimed. �What was that, and where did you get it?�

�It was some candy,� Ron said, feeling at his mouth to make sure that he still had lips. �Harry gave it to me.�

McGonagall turned to Harry, her eyes flashing.

�It was with some other candy that my girlfriend sent me,� Harry said. �I had no idea it was anything dangerous. I never would have given Ron one if I thought that anyone was going to get hurt!�

�I believe you, Harry,� McGonagall said. �I must have a look at those candies, thought, unless you don�t have anymore.�

�I have a whole bag, Professor,� Harry said. He pulled the bag out of his pocket and handed it over to his Head of house. She examined the bag, and the �Made in France� lettering before she handed it back.

�I didn�t know that those were available in this country, yet,� she said, smiling slightly. �You didn�t see it, Mister Potter, but those caused a bit of excitement while we were watching the first task during the TriWizard Tournament. Fortunately, they are harmless.�

�Harmless?� Hermione cried hysterically. �It didn�t feel harmless!�

�Hush, liebchen,� Pollux said, stroking her hair. �You are unharmed, and that is what matters.�

Hermione turned into Pollux�s protective chest and wrapped her arms around him. He smiled triumphantly at Harry before turning his attention to her, murmuring supporting things to her and assuring her that everything was alright.

�The flames are an illusion, Miss Granger,� McGonagall said. �There is no true fire, so they are harmless.�

�I vill calm her, Professor,� Pollux said. �It is allowable, is it not?�

�Of course, Mister von der Lippe,� McGonagall said. �If she does not calm down on her own, then take her to Madam Pomfrey for a calming potion.�

�Ja, Professor,� Pollux said. �I vill take her somewhere else for ze moment.�

He turned away and slowly led Hermione out of the Great Hall.

~*~*~*~*~

After dinner, Harry made his way to the library, expecting that Pollux would have brought Hermione to somewhere that she was comfortable.

He found the three of them: Hermione, Pollux, and Castor, in one of the corner study areas of the library. Pollux was still holding onto Hermione, and Castor was coaxing her to eat some of her favorite foods, no doubt received from the ever-helpful house elves.

Harry came cautiously into the area, noticing the sodden handkerchiefs on the table, and the traces of tears on Hermione�s face.

�Hermione,� he said carefully. �I didn�t know that was going to happen. I never would have � �

�I know, Harry,� she said, her voice rough with tears. �You would never do something like that. I�d suggest that you check things out yourself, in the future, before you give some to Ronald. You know he never thinks, and never turns down candy. That�s how the twins were able to try out so many inventions on him.�

�Are you going to be okay?� Harry asked.

She smiled hesitantly, and looked over at Pollux.

�I�ll be fine,� she said. �I just needed to calm down. I�m glad that I got all my homework done. I wouldn�t be able to do it after that.�

�Come on, Hermione,� Harry said. �You faced down a mountain troll, a giant three-headed dog, Devil�s Snare, attacking flying keys, a potions puzzle that would have had anyone else dumbfounded, and a giant chessboard before you were twelve. You can�t convince me that you�ve lost your nerve over a little bit of illusionary fire.�

�Girls change, Harry,� Hermione said. �We get more emotional for a while. I�m sure I�ll be fine in a few months. In the meantime, I�m probably going to be more easily upset.�

Harry looked at her blankly, not understanding where his levelheaded, always sensible friend had gone.

�It�s called puberty, Harry,� Hermione said. �Girls go through it sooner than boys do, and we tend to get weepy and emotional. Boys tend to get more aggressive. You watch Ronald for signs of it. I�m sure he is getting close. So are you, but you�re different from him, you always have been. You�ll still be Harry. I don�t know what Ronald will be.�

�I thought you liked Ron,� Harry said.

�I thought I did, too,� Hermione said. �I think I just turned towards him because he was there, and I knew I could trust him. Things changed, though, starting with the TriWizard Tournament. He blamed you, Harry. He didn�t believe you when you told him you didn�t want it. Anyone could see that you didn�t do it, even Snape didn�t believe that you�d put your name in that cup.�

�That is because only a fool would do so,� Snape�s voice interrupted them. �I take it that you will be recovered for Advanced Potions in the morning, Miss Granger. I would hate for Mister Malfoy to take the top place because of an unfortunate happenstance and adolescent hormones.�

�I�m fine, now, Sir,� Hermione said. �I will be fine in the morning. Will Harry be in Advanced Potions, Sir?�

�I have been ordered by the Headmaster to admit Mister Potter to my Newt level class,� he said. �Being the Boy-Who-Lived has it�s compensations, I am sure.�

�Thank you, Professor,� Harry said. �I know you dislike any favoritism for anyone but Slytherins.�

�That is enough, Mister Potter,� Snape said. �If I thought it would do any good, I would take points.�

�You won�t regret this, Professor,� Harry promised.

�I already do, Potter,� Snape said.

TBC
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Not As It Seems