Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts, 3/6/1993
Harry watched his younger self zooming overhead while his twins cheered loudly on either side of him. The game was really starting to get interesting now, Katie Bell had just scored another goal, and the Lions seemed to be getting into a groove after a somewhat shaky start. The Hufflepuff centre chaser was phenomenal and had definitely caught the Gryffindor line by surprise, but they were adapting admirably to the situation.
The weather was quite nice today, the sun had come out, and the sky was a beautiful shade of blue interspersed with fluffy white clouds. In other words, it was perfect weather both for the players and the spectators, and he had agreed to bring the twins to Hogwarts so they could watch the match. Bellatrix had opted to stay home, not that he could blame her, considering she was almost six months into her pregnancy.
It was always surreal watching his younger self play quidditch. He remembered preparing for this particular game in his own time, though the match never took place, thanks to the attack on Hermione and Penelope Clearwater right before it started.
After spending all of the previous day in an emergency Wizengamot session, watching a school quidditch match was a welcome change of pace.
As expected, a vote was called to lift the travel ban, which was passed by an overwhelming majority. Harry wasn't sure how he felt about this. On the one hand, the travel ban was an enormous pain in the ass. On the other hand, this meant Voldemort's minions could flow in and out of Britain at their leisure, which was definitely something to be concerned about.
"Look Daddy, I think Harry's seen the snitch!" Carina exclaimed, pulling him from his thoughts.
Harry looked in the direction that she was pointing and spotted both seekers going into a steep dive, speeding towards the pitch from hundreds of feet over the heads of their teammates.
...AND MACAVOY SCORES YET AGAIN. THE SCORE IS NOW ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TO SEVENTY, WITH HUFFLEPUFF IN THE LEAD! HEIDI MACAVOY IS REALLY GIVING OUR CHASERS A LOT OF TROUBLE TODAY!
Harry ignored the commentary as he scanned the pitch below his younger self, hoping to spot the snitch himself. It was a bit difficult at this distance, but eventually, he saw the snitch weaving lazily in and out of the Gryffindor goalposts about ten feet off of the ground.
Cedric was closing in on the snitch as well though little Harry was much closer to it, but there was still a chance the snitch could veer right into Cedric's path.
OH, AND WHAT HAVE WE HERE? IT SEEMS THAT DIGGORY AND POTTER ARE BOTH AFTER THE SNITCH! THEY'RE NECK AND NECK AND DIVING AT INCREDIBLE SPEED! COME ON, POTTER, KNOCK HIM OFF OF HIS BROOM. WE NEED A WIN!"
Harry chuckled at Lee Jordan's commentary and listened with half an ear as Minerva chastised him for his bias. Cedric and Harry were jockeying for position and slamming their shoulders into one another to try and knock the other off course. The snitch had realised that it had been spotted and was zooming across the pitch toward the Hufflepuff goals, its little wings looking like twin golden blurs as it zoomed through the line of incoming Gryffindor chasers.
"POTTER MISSES BELL BY INCHES AND DIVES UNDER STRETTON. HE'S GOING INTO A DIVE AND SEEMS TO HAVE LOST DIGGORY IN THE SCRAMBLE."
Harry had to force himself not to look away as his younger self nearly flew head-on into Katie Bell before diving under the other chasers, nearly knocking one of the Hufflepuff players off of their broom in the process. Cedric had slowed down to avoid a collision and fell behind Harry as the younger seeker swerved under the line of chasers and closed in on the snitch.
Harry watched with a certain amount of pride as his younger self closed the distance to the golden ball. Harry made to snatch the ball out of the air when a jet-black ball slammed into his forearm, giving the older Harry a horrible sense of deja vu.
"Ouch," Iggy muttered as he watched Harry Potter barrel roll from the force of the bludger's impact.
"POTTER TOOK A NASTY BLUDGER, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SLOWING HIM DOWN. HE'S CLOSING IN ON THE SNITCH WHILE DIGGORY IS STILL CAUGHT UP IN THE SCRAMBLE!
"I think he hurt his arm," Carina said as she bit her lip nervously, her eyes never leaving the game.
"If he hurt himself, Madam Pomfrey will have him healed up in no time, Princess," Harry assured her as he watched Cedric try to catch up with the other seeker.
Secretly Harry was patting himself on the back for taking care of Lockhart before the man became a problem. His younger self wouldn't have to find out how painful it was to regrow all of the bones in his arm as Harry had done in his own second year, thanks to Lockhart's incompetence.
Harry watched as his younger self went into an almost vertical dive and hooked the crook of his broken arm around the handle of his broom before leaning forward over his broom to snatch wildly for the winged ball with his offhand.
KATIE BELL SCORES AGAIN JUST AS POTTER IS GOING FOR THE CATCH! HE MUST HAVE REALLY HURT HIS ARM WITH THAT BLUDGER BECAUSE BOTH OF HIS HANDS ARE OFF THE STICK. HE SNATCHES ANNNNND... I THINK ... HE'S .... GOT IT! YES, HE'S GOT IT! HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!
Harry watched as his younger self snatched the snitch out of the air with his left hand before hastily grabbing the broomstick with the same hand and pulling up hard, levelling out mere feet before he would have collided with the ground. His younger self zoomed across the pitch to bleed off speed before coming in for a soft landing and held the snitch in the air for the crowd to see.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS THEIR SECOND MATCH WITH A FINAL SCORE OF TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY TO ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY! WAY TO GO, LIONS!
Harry grinned as the roar of Gryffindors echoed over the stadium at Lee's final commentary. On the pitch, the players flew towards the ground, the players in red robes making a beeline for where little Harry was standing near the Gryffindor stands while the badgers flew toward the centre of the pitch where their captain was waiting for them.
Harry suppressed a snort as he watched Madam Pomfrey push her way through the gaggle of Gryffindor players before she began escorting little Harry off of the pitch, much to the boy's consternation.
"He was amazing the way he caught the snitch even with a broken arm," Carina gushed as she watched the other Gryffindor players moving to let little Harry and the matron through.
"You still can't marry him," Ignotus smirked.
"Shut up, you prat!" Carina snapped, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
"Alright, enough of that bickering. Are you two ready to head over to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked as he stood up, noticing that the stands were quickly emptying.
"Why are we going to Diagon Alley, Dad?" Iggy asked as he hopped to his feet.
"Your mother asked me to pick her up something on our way home," Harry explained.
"I wanted to fly on a real quidditch pitch," Carina whined.
"Absolutely not. You'll wait until you're a student like everyone else has to," Harry said as he began leading them down the ricketty wooden stairs to the lawns below.
"But you're a professor. Shouldn't we have privileges others don't?" Ignotus asked, reminding him eerily of his cousin.
"No. Your time at school will be harder than most because I'll have my eye on the both of you," Harry smirked.
"Daddy, you make it sound like we're always in trouble," Carina pouted as they stepped onto the lawns.
"Princess, you and your brother are the most troublesome children in magical history," Harry teased while he guided them across the lawns toward the gate.
"You're making that up," Ignotus sniggered as they weaved through quite a few students that were heading back to the castle.
"Okay, Tonks may have been a tad worse than you two," Harry conceded as they stepped onto the path to the gates.
"I never get into trouble," Carina protested, giving him a reproachful look.
"Really? What about the time you put a bunch of live spiders in your brother's bed?" Harry smirked as the three of them stepped through the open gates.
"How do you know it was me?" Carina mumbled, not looking him in the eye.
"Because I know my daughter," Harry smiled as he offered them both his left arm.
"That was awful. I woke up to a spider crawling on my face," Iggyscowled, visibly shuddering at the memory.
"Then you shouldn't have eaten my chocolate cauldrons," Carina said, a triumphant grin playing on her lips that reminded Harry of her mother.
"I knew I was right to ground you for that. Are you both ready?" Harry asked after they had both taken a tight hold on his forearm.
"Yeah, Dad," Iggy nodded.
"I'm ready, Daddy," Carina agreed, her grip a tad tighter than necessary due to her discomfort with this type of travel.
"Good, here we go," Harry said before turning on the spot and apparating them away for a surprise trip to the ice cream shop.
Hogwarts Express, 4/2/1993, 12:38
Harry was sitting in a compartment on the last carriage of the train as it sped south through the Scottish countryside. He was joined by his usual group of friends who were all on their way home for the Easter holiday.
They were currently enjoying refreshments from the snack cart, which had come through a few minutes ago.
Harry was sitting between Hannah and Susan, with Daphne, Draco and Hermione seated across from them.
"So, is your Uncle Harry hosting a beach party over break?" Daphne asked after daintily wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"No idea, but he doesn't live on the beach anymore," Draco shrugged.
"So he moved to Leeds after all?" Daphne asked with interest.
"Mum said in her last letter that they had settled into the new manor shortly after the new year," Draco said, looking up from the magazine he was reading.
"I bet the twins aren't happy. Carina loved the beach," Susan said, looking thoughtful.
"I doubt it. There is enough room at the new manor for a full-sized quidditch pitch. She'll be thrilled," Draco smirked.
"And now the Peverells can host balls," Daphne added, sounding excited at the prospect.
"Why are you so pleased about that?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"My younger sister is in a betrothal arrangement with Ignotus Peverell. She may get to assist him in hosting a few of the balls in the coming years," Daphne beamed
"Betrothals are still a thing?" Hermione exclaimed, looking taken aback at this news.
"Where have you been, Granger? Of course, betrothals are still a thing," Draco snorted, giving the girl an exasperated look.
"And Professor Peverell's son is in a marriage arrangement with your sister?" Hermione pressed.
"He is, but Father only set that up because he was being hounded by a few of the darker families to make arrangements with their sons," Daphne explained.
"My father has been approached a few times about an arrangement," Susan admitted, her cheeks colouring slightly at the admission.
"With who?" Harry exclaimed, having never heard of Susan getting marriage offers.
"Like I would tell you, you'd just make fun of me," Susan muttered, shooting Harry a look of annoyance.
"It's probably Lord McMillan. It's pretty obvious Ernie has a crush on Bones," Draco smirked.
"Or maybe Lord Goyle," Harry Teased.
"Yuck," Hannah muttered before elbowing Harry lightly in the ribs causing him to jump in surprise.
"Ouch, Abbott," Harry grunted as Susan elbowed his other side much harder.
"Then quit being a prat," Susan snapped, her eyes narrowing to slits.
"I just can't believe that betrothals are still acceptable in the wizarding world," Hermione exclaimed, looking indignant.
"Just with the older families, most people think they are a bit dated," Hannah assured her.
"Sirius threatened to marry me off to a troll if I didn't keep my grades up," Harry admitted earning a guffaw from Draco and disapproving looks from the girls.
"A troll?" Hannah asked sweetly.
"It means an ugly girl," Draco explained helpfully
"Knowing Sirius, I think he meant an actual troll," Harry snorted, getting a nod of agreement from Draco.
"He wouldn't, really?" Hermione asked, looking scandalised.
"No, it was a joke. Sirius wouldn't go for an arrangement," Harry assured her.
"Neither will my parents," Hannah admitted sounding relieved.
"Shame. As rough as you are, that's probably the only way you'd ever find a husband," Harry quipped.
"Watch it, Potter," Hannah warned, nudging him with her elbow a second time.
"Ouch, you're just proving my point," Harry smirked.
"Uncle Harry still owns the beach house, so he may still throw a beach party over break," Draco said, deciding to get the conversation back on topic.
"I hope so," Harry said.
"I'll bet you do. We all remember your disastrous flying last summer," Susan giggled as she got up and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked before Susan could slide open the compartment door.
"I told Lavender I would stop by and see her after lunch" Susan shrugged.
"Mind if I tag along?" Hannah asked, giving her friend a hopeful look.
"Sure," Susan beamed and was soon joined by Hannah, leaving Harry alone on the bench.
Harry watched the two girls leave and quickly slid into the seat Hannah had been sitting in by the window.
"I pity those two, Lavender Brown is the biggest gossip I have ever met," Daphne said with an exasperated shake of her head.
"She"s not that bad. She's actually quite nice," Harry said, feeling a sudden need to defend his housemate.
"And the fact she's starting to develop isn't influencing your opinion?" Hermione quipped.
"Developing?" Harry asked, nonplussed.
"She means that Brown is developing breasts," Draco smirked.
"Oh," Harry said dumbly, his face feeling very warm all of a sudden.
"It seems that Draco has noticed as well," Daphne smirked.
"I have no idea what you mean," Draco said a bit too casually, his cheeks colouring slightly at the look Daphne was giving him.
"What are you doing over break, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Mum promised to take me to the London Museum of Natural History," Hermione beamed.
"They have an amazing dinosaur exhibit," Harry said, getting a surprised look from Hermione.
"You've been?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"We all have. My mother is fascinated by history. She takes her students there every summer," Draco shrugged.
"She's also obsessed with birds," Harry added.
"She is. Mum is still collecting birds from Costa Rica," Draco chuckled.
"What do you mean collecting?" Hermione asked.
"Lady Malfoy has an aviary that would rival the London Zoo's bird exhibits," Daphne explained.
"That sounds fascinating," Hermione said, giving Draco a look of envy.
"It is. Mum loves to feed them," Draco said, a fond smile playing on his lips.
"And the birds live to trick people into diving in the pool," Daphne added, shooting Draco a smirk.
"I still say she puts them up to it," Draco muttered darkly.
"So, what electives did you sign up for, Hermione?" Harry asked, not wanting Daphne to bring up the time he had fallen into the pool after being tricked by a mischievous golden oriole.
"All of them," Hermione beamed.
"That isn't possible. A lot of those classes take place at the same time," Harry pointed out.
"Professor Flitwick said it can be done but it will be a lot of work," Hermione assured him.
"I don't think you need muggle studies," Harry pointed out.
"I want to see how wizards view the muggle world. What classes did you sign up for?" Hermione asked.
"Care of magical creatures, runes and arithmancy," Harry shrugged.
"Those are the ones I signed up for, too," Daphne admitted.
"Just creatures and arithmancy for me. I never liked runes very much," Draco said as he looked back down at his magazine.
"Your mother is a runes mistress," Daphne smirked.
"Exactly. I learned how to read both dialects of Futhark when I was eight. I would be bored to tears in that class," Draco exclaimed.
"I know a bit about younger futhark, but that's about it," Harry said as he glanced out the window.
"You three are so lucky," Hermione sighed.
"Why's that?" Draco asked.
"You grew up around magic," Hermione sighed.
"It has its drawbacks. We've had to attend etiquette lessons since we could walk," Daphne pointed out.
"When I was little, my father betrothed me to Pansy Parkinson," Draco added, causing Harry to give his friend a look of horror.
"Bloody hell," Harry muttered.
"Tell me about it," Draco chuckled.
"That sounds horrible. Her voice is so grating," Hermione muttered as she gave Draco a look of sympathy.
"Mum and Uncle Harry got me out of the contract, but being magical definitely has its downsides," Draco pointed out.
"And I will have trouble finding a husband willing to take the Greengrass name," Daphne added.
Before Hermione could reply, Hannah slipped back into the compartment without Susan looking a little annoyed.
"What's the matter, Abbott?" Harry asked as soon as the compartment door slid shut behind her.
"Susan was taken to the prefects' compartment for the rest of the trip," Hannah sighed as she took a seat beside Harry.
"For what?" Harry asked with interest.
"Cursing some Slytherin boy who was picking on Justin," Hannah sighed.
"She was always a bit of a hot head," Harry sniggered.
"Who was it?" Draco asked with a look of amusement.
"Markus Flint. He was trying to spray Justin with garlic extract," Hannah scowled.
"But Justin is pretty much cured," Harry muttered, looking over at Hannah in confusion.
"He's highly allergic to garlic even after the vampire virus was destroyed," Hannah explained.
"Then I hope she cursed him good," Harry muttered.
"She used a bits-squeezing curse her aunt invented. Markus sounded like a squealing chipmunk even after the curse was lifted," Hannah giggled.
"Serves him right," Daphne said, looking like she was fighting a smile.
We never did get to Lavender's compartment," Hannah sighed as she leaned into Harry's side, and he draped an arm over her shoulder without really thinking about it.
"What classes did you sign up for?" Daphne asked, giving Hannah a knowing grin.
"Care of Magical creatures and runes," Hannah said, her cheeks flushing a rosy pink colour.
The rest of the trip passed with the five of them chatting or playing the occasional game of chess. The trip to London always seemed to pass much quicker than the trip to Hogwarts.
Harry ended up falling asleep around three and woke up when they entered the outskirts of London to find Hannah still asleep with her head on his shoulder.
Harry felt bad that he had to wake her when the train began to slow down as it neared the station. She seemed rather flustered when she realised where she had been sleeping and quickly hopped up to gather her trunk as the train ground to a stop on platform nine and three-quarters.
Immediately Harry noticed something unusual when he looked out the window. There were dozens of aurors spread out all over the platform, their red robes standing out amongst the crowd of parents waiting on their children to arrive.
"It looks like they've upped security," Harry muttered as he stood up and used his wand to levitate his trunk from the rack overhead.
"Harry, you're not supposed to use magic outside of Hogwarts," Hermione protested when she saw his trunk float gently to the floor and land with a soft 'thunk'.
"You know that the ministry can't detect underage magic in places that have heavy magic use, don't you?" Harry asked as he reached down and grabbed the handle of his trunk.
"They can't?" Hermione exclaimed.
"Their instruments aren't that precise. They can only detect magic in the muggle world because it stands out," Daphne clarified as she levitated her own trunk to the floor.
"So muggleborns are the only ones who have to abide by the rule?" Hermione huffed.
"I can't use magic except for lessons," Draco shrugged.
"Same with me and Susan. Amelia is the head of the DMLE. She won't let us break the law," Harry assured her.
"Most parents adhere to the rule. They could get in just as much trouble if their child is caught using magic illegally," Daphne agreed.
Hermione seemed placated at their explanation and followed the group as they exited the compartment and made their way off of the train to find their parents.
Harry couldn't fight his grin when he caught a glimpse of Susan being led over to her parents by an extremely pompous-looking Percy Weasley.
Harry couldn't tell what was said, but he watched Susan's parents march her off of the platform, most likely so they could interrogate her about what happened when they got home.
"I'll see you lot after break. Have a Happy Easter," Hermione said before she began making her way through the crowd to the portal that led to the muggle side of the station.
"I see Mother and Sirius," Draco said, pointing to a group of people that were gathered a short distance away from the barrier to the muggle side of the station.
"My mother is with them," Daphne said when she looked to where Draco was pointing.
"So is mine," Hannah beamed.
The four of them began making their way towards their parents, which was made difficult by the crowd of parents, students, and the abundance of aurors packed onto the tiny platform. Their heavy school trunks didn't help matters either since they were forced to hunch over and drag them along behind them.
"Why are all of these aurors here?" Hannah muttered to Harry as they were forced to come to a halt.
The Weasley family had just crossed their path in a seemingly neverending stream of redheads separating them from Daphne and Draco as they waited for the Weasleys to go by.
Harry supposed that large gatherings of people like this were a recipe for disaster and made things much easier for the death eaters. They could attack a crowd of people with a lot less effort than going to peoples' homes one by one. It also had the added benefit of spreading fear which was the death eaters' ultimate goal, according to Sirius.
Harry glanced over at the blonde, noticing the concerned look on her face as he gently took her free hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"They're just here as a precaution after the attack on Diagon Alley," Harry said gently.
"That's comforting," Hannah muttered, her green eyes locking onto his.
"I doubt they would try anything here," Harry said, giving her a comforting smile.
"I hope you're right. My family's already been attacked once," Hannah muttered softly
"I remember," Harry admitted, hastily releasing her hand as the Weasley twins passed by.
"I can't believe those two just left us," Hannah said, looking over towards the other side of the platform.
Harry looked in that direction, noticing that Draco and Daphne had already made it to their parents. Harry watched as Draco was pulled into a hug by Missy Cissa, much to the boy's embarrassment. Daphne's mother was a little more reserved but pulled her daughter into a gentle hug nonetheless.
Finally, Ginny Weasley succeeded in dragging her trunk past them, and the two second years began to make their way through the crowd again. The crowd seemed to be thinning now. Most parents were just picking up their children and leaving, very few opting to stay and socialise due to the heavy auror presence.
"Hannah!" Harry heard a familiar blonde woman squeal when they arrived in front of their parents.
Hannah was quickly engulfed daughter in a hug by her mother, who strongly resembled her. A few seconds later, Harry was pulled into a bone-crushing hug courtesy of his godfather.
"Bout time you got here. We thought the train had broken down," Sirius exclaimed when he released his suffocating hold on Harry.
"The train was a bit behind schedule," Daphne's mother agreed.
"The train left Hogsmeade later than usual. We had to wait on a team of aurors to check out the train before it could leave," Daphne explained.
"Yes, well, I hate to rush off but we must go pick up your sister before she drives the Peverells mad," Roxanne said, giving her daughter a meaningful look.
"We had best be getting along too," Hannah's mother agreed, giving her daughter an apologetic smile.
"Goodbye, Harry," Hannah whispered before giving him a quick hug and following after her mother.
"Goodbye, Harry. Forgive me if I don't hug you," Daphne smirked.
"Very funny," Harry scowled, his cheeks heating up.
Daphne said her farewell to Draco, but Harry was too far away to hear it. A moment later, she was guided away by her mother, and Harry turned back to Sirius.
"Come on, mate, we have to go pick up Edgar from his uncle's so you may see Daphne again soon," Sirius grinned.
"Yes, and I am dying to hear how your term was, Draco," Narcissa said as she looked down at her son.
"It was fine, Mother," Draco said with a put-upon sigh.
"It was good to see you again, Harry," Narcissa said as she pulled him in for a hug catching him by surprise.
"It's good. To see you too, Missy Cissa," Harry mumbled, feeling his cheeks heating up.
"I hope you will visit us before you go back to school?" Narcissa questioned as she released him from her embrace but kept her hands on his shoulders, looking him up and down critically.
"Of course, Missy Cissa," Harry agreed, earning a dazzling smile from the Malfoy matriarch and a snigger from her son.
"Excellent. Now come along, Draco, we have much to discuss," Narcissa said and got an affirmative nod from her son.
"Good day, cousin. Send my best to Amelia," Narcissa said before she led Draco over to the row of fireplaces that were connected to the Floo Network on the other side of the platform.
Harry and Sirius waited until Narcissa and Draco disappeared into one of the fireplaces before they turned and walked through the portal onto the muggle side of King's Cross Station.
"I figured we'd grab a bite before we pick up Ed," Sirous answered at Harry's questioning look.
"Not a problem, I could go for a pizza," Harry beamed.
"You read my mind," Sirius nodded as they made their way through the crowded station.
As Harry and Sirius sat down at a pizzeria a few minutes later, he couldn't help but feel pleased with this turn of events. Going out like this reminded him of his early years when it was just him and Sirius. Harry's wondering thoughts were broken when the pizza was brought to their table, and the two of them dug in with gusto.