Harry Potter and the House of Black

When they arrived back outside, the girls had not gotten back out yet. Harry had some old trunks of his father's in a box of James's things that Sirius had found in the attic, labeled "Things from the awful friends of my traitor scum son." They were old and blue but they fit him perfectly. Seamus had purple trunks, Dean's were Gray, Ron's were green, Neville's were red, Max's were black, Terry Boot's were Orange, Justin's were white, and the rest of the colors were all bright and had designs of Dragons or Hawaiian flowers on them.

The girls soon arrived and called Harry and Max back over to help them. Most of them needed help tying up their bathing suits. Cho's was black, Fleur's white, Hermione's was purple, Vanessa's was light blue, Ginny's was red, Parvarti Patil's was dark blue with flowery designs on it as was Padma's, Tonks's was pink, Luna's was a yellow one piece with a tie at the back of the net and strangely shaped pins over almost every inch of it, which she said was to keep the water demons and monsters of the deep away, Lavender Brown's was purple, and Hannah Abbot's was green. The rest were no different. They followed Harry and Max back out to the pool. Harry's jaw which had almost dropped before when he saw Fleur and Cho in bathing suits, now finally felt a hard smack. Max had hit with a beach ball that hadn't been filled up with air yet. Cho picked up the ball and inflated it. Harry shook Max's hand before putting one foot behind him and pushing him with some difficulty over it into the pool. He landed with a great splash and swam up to the surface. Harry looked down at him and began to laugh. Harry walked over to the diving board and dove in.

"I'm going to try something," said Max, "A transformation, I feel it, something I can do it. It's like a lizard fish."

"Go on then," said Harry.

"Alright," he said, and he screwed up his face. His hands and feet became webbed again, His face became longer like a swordfish only the nose ended round instead of a point. The spaces between his arms and his body became webbed. And his skin turned green. He climbed out of the water and did a double back flip back in. He swam to the lit bottom, too deep for any of the others to swim to, and swam back up and flew out of the water like a dolphin before landing in the water and turning back into himself. He climbed out with his arms turned into a wolf and shook water all over the girls which all at once jumped on top of him as he turned back into a human and helped pull him into the pool. He took them all in with him though.

"Want to race?" said Harry to Ron.

"Sure," said Ron.

"I'll go too," said Cho.

"Me too," said Hermione.

"Is everyone else besides Max coming?" asked Harry.

"I won't transform, I promise," said Max.

"Alright," said Harry.

"On your mark," said Max as everyone lined up along the short end of the pool.

"Get set," said Seamus as everyone adjusted themselves to start.

"Go!" shouted Harry.

Everyone either dived into the pool or pushed off the side, and they were off, Cho in the lead then Fleur, Then Harry, Max's lead, now Seamus, no Harry, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Max Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Max. They reached the other side and pushed back off going the opposite direction, and it was Max, Dean, Seamus, Hannah, Ernie, Hermione, Ron, Cho, Harry, Cho, Max, Harry Cho, Hermione, Cho, Harry, Max, Ron, Cho, Harry, Max, Vanessa, Max, Cho, Harry, Max, Harry, Max, Harry, Harry, Max, Max Harry, Max, Harry and Max were swimming neck and neck, Cho was barely keeping up, the three pulled out and were in a tie for almost the entire time. Who would win? Harry reached the other side and came out of the water. He felt a foot push his head back under the water. Max had beaten him.

"Good show," said Max, "You kept up."

"And you won," said Harry.

"Winning isn't everything," said Max nodding at Cho who was totally winded from the race.

"It's just the only thing that matters," said Harry floating on his back he turned over and as he was swimming back, he said, "Especially against Voldemort."

"Heads up," said Cho, and Harry saw the beach ball flying in a straight path for his head. He held out his hand and blocked it.

"Let's play," said Vanessa, "Guy's on girls or picked teams?"

"Picked teams," said Max.

"Captains?" said Vanessa.

Cho pushed Harry forward and Seamus jumped out.

"First pick to the boy in the glasses," said Vanessa.

"Max," he said.

"Dean," said Seamus.

"Dudley," said Harry.

"Ernie," said Seamus.

"Cho," said Harry.

"Hermione," said Seamus.

"Ron," said Harry.

"Justin," said Seamus.

"Anthony," said Harry.

"Michael," said Seamus.

"Neville," said Harry. Neville looked grateful not to have been chosen last.

"Colin," said Seamus.

"Dennis," said Harry.

"Ginny," said Seamus.

"Tonks," said Harry.

"Luna," said Seamus.

"Fleur," said Harry.

"Lavender," said Seamus.

"Michael," said Seamus.

"Pavarti," said Harry.

"Boot," said Seamus.

"Padma," said Harry.

"Hannah," said Seamus.

"Marietta," said Harry.

"Smith," said Seamus.

"Vanessa," said Harry. Noticing she had been standing behind everyone.

"NET, RISE BEFORE US FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE WATER!" Max shouted. The water grumbled and looked as though something were about to emerge. The net came up lying on its side. Max clapped, and the net stood up. Max dove in on one side and swam under the net to the other Harry flipped off the diving board on his side and swam up beside Max. They were ready to play, ready to win.

When the game was over Harry's team had won. Harry had the girls on his team all of which were a bit less distracted than the boys, especially because of Fleur, so it was an easy victory if you counted the fact that the ball never made it past Harry, Max, and Ron, Max kept transforming.

When they reentered the house for lunch they all wet and exhausted. They entered the tile floored kitchen and slid to their seats at the table. All of the plates slid into place and Max began explaining in lavish detail, the painful trials of the Indians.

"They really make you walk on hot coals?" said Hannah.

"That's enough," said Vanessa.

"Come on Nessy," said Max.

"Remember last time Cowboy," said Vanessa.

"I'll transform tonight," said Max.

"Do you want me with Harry?" she asked.

"No, I meant I'll go outside and do my beast thing out there," said Max, "I've been taking dreamless sleep potion since Diagon Alley."

"I wondered where you'd slipped off to," said Vanessa.

"Well I didn't want to say anything," said Max, "image killer."

"Good, Seamus, Dudley, Neville, and Dean can move out of Moody's room," said Harry, "and in with you."

"Invade my space?" Max questioned him.

"If that is the way you choose to see it," said Harry.

"Fine," said Max.

"Move your things later," said Harry to the boys staying in Moody's room.

Max walked away towards Tonks's room. Vanessa followed him. What were they doing? Tonks came back out; she had disappeared into her room when they came back inside. She looked as though she might have been crying, but recomposed herself quickly.

"Hey everybody," she said, "Hey Harry."

"Tonks," said Harry.

"What?" said Tonks.

"Nothing," said Harry.

When they all finished, everyone went back outside and watched Max transform. Max loved to show off for a crowd, so he tried several things before the Grand Finale, which Harry had already seen once before, but hadn't notice how brightly he glowed because it had been day when he had done it before.

Later that night Harry woke up and walked down the stairs. He got back into his fathers bathing suit and got into the hot tub. He sat down, and leaned back against the side of the tub.

"Late, isn't it?" came a voice.

He looked up, it was Cho.

"Did I wake you?" he asked putting his head back on the cushion lining Max had devised for the outside of the hot tub.

"I couldn't sleep," said Cho. She got in and sat beside him. Resting her head on his shoulder and putting his arm around her.

"Listen," said Harry.

"You don't have to say anything," said Cho.

"But I do," said Harry. Cho looked at him. "I had to tell lies to you last year, when you were telling me all about you and Cedric, I tried to change the subject, my friend popped into my head and I talked about Hermione."

"I shouldn't have pried," said Cho, "I told you that when the Quibbler came out."

"Then," Harry continued, "You wanted to talk to me, but there's where I lied, I said I was going to see Hermione."

"Where were you going?" asked Cho.

"I had to go see Snape," said Harry, "I had Occlumency lessons, but I wasn't allowed to tell anyone that didn't already know because of Umbridge. What if she'd gotten a hold of you?"

"I'd lie," said Cho.

"No," said Harry, "See this?" He lifted up his right hand which had the words I will not tell lies engraved in his skin. "That's what I got for saying Voldemort was back the ministry wanted me expelled last year above anything else. If I wanted to remain safe I had to lie. Malfoy walked in that day, Snape said I was in remedial potions. Malfoy however, might have gotten the point that Snape was lying. I don't know. I was too worried about Voldemort, about not having my mind read, because that's what Occlumency is you see. It keeps me safe from dreams Voldemort could make me have or emotions Voldemort might make me feel."

Cho shuddered, "Is that why you didn't say anything to me on the train?"

"I wasn't in the mood to talk as you could tell when I cursed Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle," said Harry, "Plus I was still upset with Marietta, and she was right there with you. You weren't exactly at the top of my list. I had to stay alive."

"Oh," said Cho slightly put out.

"It's alright now though," said Harry.

"Hmm," said Cho, she closed her eyes. Harry put his free hand on top of the hand Cho had put around her bare waist. They sat there for sometime not saying anything. They finally got out and walked back up the stairs, Cho kissed Harry good night, and they got into their separate beds.

Several days passed and Harry watched time fly by like the morning owls at Hogwarts before it was time to head to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a hidden platform on which Hogwarts students and sometimes teachers boarded the Scarlet steam engine called the Hogwarts Express which took them from Platform to school in a matter of hours.

"Hurry up," said Harry to Neville who was having a hard time with his trunk.

"I'm trying," said Neville.

"I'll get it," Dudley picked it up with one hand.

"We'll sand you to see Hagrid's little brother Grawp, from now on," said Harry.

"Grawp's pretty big for being a little brother," said Ron.

"Come on," said Harry.

Once they got into the arranged ministry cars they had to return a total of twenty-seven times. Dudley left several things, Cho left her broom, Hannah Abbot left her cauldron, Seamus left some of the Weasley twins' products, and Harry even left some potions ingredients. It was a good thing Harry had decided to get an early start. They went one by one through the seemingly solid barrier, and rushed to get seats on the train, Dumbledore's Army took up seven whole compartments one right next to the other. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cho took seats in the compartment nearest the train doors, they left the door closed, suddenly it burst open and the one person Harry disliked most at Hogwarts entered the compartment.

"Did somebody want their shoes shined?" asked Harry, "We could use Malfoy's hair."

"Can it Potter," said Malfoy, "Any news reach you about Azkaban?"

"No," said Harry, "How does daddy like it Draco?"

Malfoy continued, "There was a horribly large prison break and I regret to say every single prisoner in their right mind made it out about five o'clock this morning."

"You said in their right mind," said Ron, "So that means your father's probably still there isn't he. You had us worried for a moment there Malfoy."

"To think you can fight Dumbledore, you must be outside of your right mind," said Cho.

Crabbe and Goyle entered the compartment and looked angrily around.

"Well everyone's here then," said Hermione out of the compartment door, "Dudley? Where are you?"

"Right here," came Dudley's voice from the hallway. He walked in.

"Who is that?" said Malfoy noticing Crabbe and Goyle cowering behind him.

"That's my cousin Dudley" said Harry, "He's Muggleborn, like Hermione here."

"Dudley," giggled Hermione, "meet Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle."

"I don't like them," said Dudley.

"Now Dudley," said Harry, "You shouldn't go judging foul, evil little twits like Malfoy before you know them, you should look at how they treat us."

"What happened to your head?" said Dudley loudly to Malfoy.

"What do you mean?" asked Malfoy.

"It looks like somebody missed the car when they were trying to wax it and hit you instead," said Dudley. This was too much. Harry and Ron lost it, they were laughing so hard that they fell over onto each other. Malfoy stormed out of the compartment furiously, and closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Who was that?" said Dudley.

"One of the bad guys," said Harry, "Or one of their sons to be completely honest, nobody to really worry about dueling, but he could get in the way if we need to break a rule or two."

"Just be watchful," said Cho, "and none of it will matter."

The train rolled on and everyone got changed into their wizard clothes, Harry was eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans when the train stopped, and he saw in the hallway a lot of commotion. He looked out to see what all the noise was about, then he looked to his left and saw Malfoy pointing in his direction to a hooded figure that could only be his father. Lucious Malfoy walked toward Harry and raised his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" shouted Harry.

"Locomotor Mortis!" shouted Ron, and Hermione. Hermione's wand was held at Lucious Malfoy. Ron's wand was on his son.

A rat ran down the train hallway away from them.

"Stupefy!" yelled Harry, but the spell missed.

Harry, Ron and Dudley kicked Mr. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco into a compartment. The train began to move again, Harry went back into the compartment with Cho, Ron, and Hermione.

When the train came to a stop in Hogsmeade Station, Harry got off. He saw Dumbledore and ran to him.

"Harry," said Dumbledore, "He got away."

"How?" said Harry.

"He must've flown out the window," said Dumbledore.

"Wormtail was in there," said Harry, "but we didn't catch him."

"Now Harry," said Dumbledore, "I want you to get up to the castle, we can talk later." Dumbledore walked towards Hogwarts.

"I should've had someone watching them," said Harry angrily to Ron as they got into the carriage, "I should've stunned the lot of them."

"That'd be a cheerful greeting," said Ron, "Hello Professor, I hope you had a wonderful holiday, I just stunned three students and a Death Eater."

"Harry," said Ginny getting into the carriage after Hermione, "You did what you thought was right. Don't think about it so much."

"Thanks squirt," said Ron, "She's right for once Harry."

"I know," said Harry.

When everyone was seated in the Great Hall the ghosts made their usual entrances and Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat. The rip near the brim opened wide just as it had last year and it broke into its newest song.

Oh the situation thickens,

Like Blood that has been shed.

And here I sit a cap, a tool,

For placing on your head.

This hymn is just a warning,

So you don't end up dead.

So watch out for the dark wizards,

Full Grown and in the raising.

Because the full grown things are tough,

But younger ones can be dazing.

If you fail to heed my warning,

I regret, I am forlorning,

Of what awaits you in the morning

Your Family will be in mourning,

Because you did not listen to what I said.

You're done,

You're through

You woke up dead.

So here I go upon your head...

Everyone was silent when the song finished. It was by far the scariest thing Harry had ever heard come out of that hat, including during his own sorting, when the hat had almost placed him in Slytherin. So the sorting began Harry noticed as a girl in line with red hair like a Weasley, she smiled and winked at him, he thought for a moment over what she did this for, but Ron started talking to him.

"Remember that second cousin of my mums? You know, the stockbroker," he said.

"Guess so," said Harry.

"That's his daughter," said Ron, "He wanted her to live with s this summer."

"So," said Harry, "What happened?"

"Well it may have worked at first, but she started sticking her nose in official business," said Ron, "She acts almost like Malfoy and Hermione put together."

"Alabastor, Morag," said Professor McGonagall.

Ron continued, "Then dad found her spying in on everything everyone did, Tonks said she was just curious, but she was so rude. She was a know-it-all and she was a show-off. Nobody wanted her there really. So eventually everybody got so tired of being spied on and followed that we sent her back."

"GRYFFINDOR!!!" shouted the old hat.

The little boy with brown hair ran up and sat down across the table from Harry.

"Hello," said Harry.

"Me name's Rag," said the boy extending a hand out to Harry, "You'll be Potter, right? And you're Ron Weasley, heard about you on the train. Where's Hermione Granger?"

Harry looked around. Where was Hermione? He was reminded faintly of a time during his first year where he and Ron had saved Hermione from a smelly, full-grown, Mountain Troll on Halloween.

"Where has Hermione got to?" said Harry to Ron.

"The kitchens," said Ron, "Should be back in a minute or two. I think she wanted to give something to Winky."

"Speaking of them, how do you think they're doing trying to speaking correct English?" asked Ron.

"Knowing how Hermione presses her teachings, they can recite poetry by now," said Harry.

"What do you like to do for fun?" said Harry to Rags.

"All sorts," said Rags, "Quidditch, Fire Magic. Too bad I'm not allowed a broom."

"Don't worry you'll get one, Harry did," said Ron, "Listen there's this thing."

"Ron," said Harry.

"Oh come on," said Ron, "This kid's in Gryffindor."

"Oh all right, but he better be good at magic," said Harry, "and no more first years, this stuff is advanced."

So Ron began explaining all about Dumbledore's Army.

"Jugson, Eric."

"Slytherin," said the hat.

"Kayle, Malfalda."

The second cousin's daughter walked forward. Each step a thud, she sat smirking on the stool. Harry didn't know what to make of her.

"Slytherin," that seemed to sigh as it called out the house name.

"I think I knew," said Ron, "Don't ask me how, but she just doesn't have the Gryffindor traits."

"Guess not," said Harry.

"Back, I'm starved," said Hermione.

"You just came from the kitchens," said Ron.

"Is it against the law to go down there and not steal food?" said Hermione sarcastically.

"Yes," said Harry, Ron, Max, and even Rags in unison.

"Told you I liked this kid," said Ron.

"I'm staying in the dormitory," said Max, "Madame Pomfrey keeps a lot of dreamless sleep potions stocked up. It doesn't work the way it's supposed to on me, I still dream, just not nightmares."

"You sure," said Harry.

"Dead sure," said Max, "What?" He was looking over Harry's shoulder as Professor McGonagall passed the P's. Harry turned around to see Cho standing before him. He made some room at the table.

"What is it?" said Harry.

"I can't say just now, but I need to tell you something," said Cho.

Harry mouthed, "I have to go outside a minute," to Dumbledore, who nodded him off. Harry and Cho went into the empty entrance hall.

"What is it?" said Harry to Cho.

"It's something I just heard, something about that Azkaban prison break. There was a man who got out, completely mad, and with powers to rival Voldemort," said Cho.

"Name?" said Harry.

"Pyrites," said Cho, "That's all I got."

"I'll keep an eye out," said Harry.

"Harry," said Cho.

"What?" said Harry, slightly annoyed.

"It's about Dean," said Cho, "Something I overheard Dumbledore say to McGonagall this summer. He isn't from an all Muggle family. His father got himself killed when he refused to join the Death Eaters years ago. Dean's mother never knew that his father was a wizard. He walked out on her when the Death Eaters came the first time, and when they finally found him they had that man, Pyrites kill him, there was a struggle though. That's what I heard."

"Oh," said Harry, "That's why you didn't want to talk about it at the table."

"Exactly why," said Cho, "Should we tell Dean?"

"No," said Harry, "it might seriously upset him that it's been a secret, wait to tell him until the opportune moment."

"When is that?" said Cho.

"When I say so," said Harry.

"Why is that?" said Cho.

"Because I said so," said Harry.

"Alright," Cho shrugged and went back in the hall. Harry waited a moment before following.

When Harry arrived back in the Great Hall, the line had dwindled down to two boys and a girl who reminded him slightly of himself, Ron, and Hermione on their first visit to the castle, but the three were not placed into Gryffindor or even into the same houses at all. Harry looked up at Dumbledore who rose and with a swish of his wand made the whole great hall sing the school anthem. Ron was last to finish.

"Thank you Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. Ron went as red as his hair. He had not even meant to be last.