Rating:
R
House:
Schnoogle
Characters:
Draco Malfoy
Genres:
General Romance
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 12/31/2003
Updated: 04/18/2004
Words: 181,191
Chapters: 46
Hits: 99,765

Harry Potter and Unexpected Beginnings

dan's girl62

Story Summary:
The summer after OoTP, Harry discovers he has control of his connection with Voldemort, and uses it to his advantage. With the help of his friends, and an unexpected joining of their team, Harry and the gang return to school for their 6th year and go in search of a way to defeat Voldemort. However, when teenage hormones set in, can Harry find room in his heart to love, or will he reject her based on fear of a prophecy that dictates his future...or lack thereof. Rated R for future chapters.

Chapter 33

Posted:
03/04/2004
Hits:
1,935


Chapter thirty-three

Harry and Neville climbed the steps to Gryffindor Tower, sore and exhausted. It was past midnight, and they had spent the past three hours scouring out cauldrons and scraping mildew off the dungeon walls. They were nearly to the fat lady's portrait, when a sound echoed from a nearby room. Harry rolled his eyes. Surely it was Ron and Hermione, but much to their surprise the door opened and Parvati Patil exited, straightening her robes and running a hand through her hair. Neville and Harry slid into the shadows, afraid of being seen out this late. They watched as Parvati stepped through the portrait and were about to follow her when the door she had just exited opened again, and a very flushed faced blond stepped out. Harry nearly gasped when he saw Malfoy straighten his expensive robes and smooth back his hair from his face. They watched as he hurried down the stairs and out of sight, then issued the password to the fat lady and crawled through the portrait hole.

"Where have you two been?" Parvati asked, as she headed toward the stairs, catching sight of the two boys.

"Detention," Neville said boldly.

"And you?" Harry asked. "What have you been up to this late at night?" Parvati smiled a seductive smile.

"Just a little last minute studying," she said.

"On a Friday night?" Harry asked again. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were fluttering around after curfew. Have a secret rendezvous?" Parvati frowned, the smile leaving her petite features.

"What do you mean?"

"Just a question, Parvati. You looked like you just came from a serious snogging fest. I mean, you're all flushed and your makeup is smeared."

"Yes, well," she stammered. "I'm tired, good-night." She turned and hurried up the stairs, disappearing into the sixth year girl's dormitory.

"That was really weird," Neville said, following Harry up the stairs. "I wonder what she was doing with Malfoy?"

"Surely, even you can figure that out," Harry said, watching the color creep up Neville's face.

"What I meant was, I wonder what she was doing with him, apart from the obvious. She's a Gryffindor and he's a Slytherin. I didn't think he mingled outside his house."

"When it comes to Parvati Patil, I don't think there's a man alive that's safe, Slytherin or otherwise."

Saturday afternoon arrived before they knew it and Ron was still having a problem keeping his shoes tied. He'd used two spells already but somehow managed to mess both of them up and instead of tying them separately, either tied them together or tied them to his legs. It took Hermione issuing the counter spells to get him loose and get the laces to tie properly. Harry had spent over an hour tying to get his hair to stay down, then finally gave up completely and grabbed his cloak, joining the others in the common room.

Mr. Weasley had arranged for one of Hogwart's carriages to meet them, taking them to Hogsmeade in style. They arrived at Madame Puddifoot's shortly before three o'clock, much to the surprise of Mrs. Weasley. Ron nearly choked on his laughter, having seen Fred and George in pressed new dress robes, their hair slicked back nearly as bad as Malfoy's. It wasn't until he saw Bill, Charlie and Percy, each looking as uncomfortable as the others, that his laughter had gotten the best of him. Hermione tried to shush Ron's laughter and prevent attracting attention from the café's staff and reporters, but finally had to resort to stepping on his foot - hard - to get him to settle down. The result was Ron complaining of his sore foot and limping the remainder of the day.

Bill stepped up to Harry, smiling and pulling on the tie he was sure had a strangulation spell on. He had his hair pulled back, and much to Mrs. Weasley's disappointment, refused to remove his earring. He looked rather dignified, in a trapped sort of way.

"So Harry," he said, pulling on his tie again. "How's it feel to be an official Weasley?" Harry blushed as he looked up and saw Mr. Weasley smiling proudly at him.

"I guess it's all right," Harry said, and then smiled brightly when Ginny wrapped her arm through his. "Maybe a little better than all right," he said again.

"Well, if it's any consolation it's driving Percy nuts. He claims he's glad you and Ginny are together, but it's still driving him crazy that neither of you are asking his opinion. The fact that Percy doesn't like, just makes the rest of us like it more."

"Thanks," Harry said with a frown.

"Don't worry about it Harry," Charlie said, trying to smooth the wrinkles from his dress robe. "We liked you even before you started sha...seeing our sister," he said, correcting his mistake quickly. Bill looked around to make certain the reporters were not listening, and then glared at his younger sibling.

"Maybe you should learn to not speak unless absolutely necessary," Bill scolded. "I swear, you and Ron should be the twins, you both speak without thinking."

"It was a slip, so bugger off," Charlie said in a soft hush, glancing back to their mother.

"Maybe we should go congratulate dad," Ginny said, pulling on Harry's arm.

Mr. Weasley was standing near the back of the café, allowing Mrs. Weasley to primp over him. She straightened his hair - what there was of it, and smoothed his tie as she brushed the imaginary lint from his new official cloak.

"Oh Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging him in a fierce hug. "I'm so glad you decided to come. I can't imagine what it would be like, without you."

"I'm happy to be here," he told her, returning her hug briefly with a deep blush. He turned to Mr. Weasley and smiled, shaking his hand. "Congratulations Minister Weasley," he said with a cheerful tone in his voice. Mr. Weasley seemed to stand a little taller, and his smile seemed a little brighter, as he shook Harry's hand.

"Thank you Harry," he said. "I hope the governors haven't made a mistake. I don't know what I'm doing."

"You'll learn," Ginny told him, kissing his cheek. "I can't think of anyone better than you to be Minister of Magic."

"I can," he grumbled softly. "What about Mafalda Hopkirk from the Improper Use of Magic, or Amelia Bones she's head of the Department of Law Enforcement, she'd be perfect for the position. Then there's..."

"Honestly Arthur," Mrs. Weasley grumbled. "Mafalda Hopkirk hasn't the seniority you have, and Amelia Bones is busy with...well, she's just busy."

"Then what about Croaker?" Mr. Weasley insisted. "He has the seniority, he's been with the Unspeakable Mysteries for years, and he's well thought of. He'd have made an excellent Minister."

"Croaker, father please," Percy snapped, stepping to his parents side and listening in on their conversation. "He's a doddering old fool, and he's jinxed. Everywhere he goes, he ends up causing chaos. Once, he went into the cauldron shop in Diagon Alley because he was told there was a shipment of enchanted cauldrons from Norway, and ended up knocking shelves over filled with very expensive Wilda's Golden Cauldrons, broke two windows and cost the Ministry over fourteen thousand Galleons worth of damage."

"He is not a jinx," Mr. Weasley insisted. "He's just a little...clumsy."

"Regardless of that, you are the Minister now, and that's all there is to it," Mrs. Weasley insisted. "It's because of your loyalty and your respectable reputation for doing the right thing, that convinced the governors that you were the right man for the job."

"Well, I still say there must have been somebody better for the job," Mr. Weasley complained.

"I thought Dumbledore would take over," Ron said, limping over to his parents.

"That was just Fudge's delusional ideas," Hermione corrected, curling her lip when Ron tried to limp over to a chair. "He was always convinced Professor Dumbledore wanted his position, but he doesn't want to leave Hogwart's. Fudge has always been jealous of Dumbledore's powers and his group of supporters. That's probably what sent him over the edge to begin with."

"I'm just happy, it all worked out the way it did," Ginny said, then lowered her eyes at the dark look Harry gave her. "I mean with dad's promotion and Fudge's imprisonment."

"Why did he get sent to Russia, instead of Azkaban?" Ron asked his father.

"Azkaban is no longer safe. Our Aurors have been able to recapture five of the Dark Lord's followers, but the most deadly are still loose. We have the Ministry's Dementors guarding the prison, but even that is no guarantee."

"So Russia has a stronger prison?" Ron asked again.

"Honestly Ron, don't' you ever listen in History of Magic?" Hermione asked with a disgusted tone. "Russia was the first to develop the Wizard's Prison System. Their defenses are nearly as invincible as Hogwart's. There, Fudge will not be able to try and influence anyone or risk having You-Know-Who get at him. He's actually safer in a Russian prison than in England."

"Oh," Ron said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"All right now, that's enough of all this," Mrs. Weasley scolded. "We're going to have a very lovely day, and a wonderful celebration has been planned for all of us, so let's just relax and enjoy it. Ron, you and Hermione come over here," she continued, issuing people into position for the publicity photos.

Harry walked past Rita Skeeter, who had appeared some time after they had, and saw her scribbling with her magical quill. Her jeweled spectacles sat on the end of her nose, her heavily penciled brows rising as she took in the sights of the new Minister and his family. She looked rather dignified, her blond hair tightly rolled back on her head, unlike last year when Hermione forced her to interview Harry for the Quibbler. Then she looked rather unkept, but now she actually looked much as she had two years ago, when she continually harassed Harry, misquoting him and writing about his so-called love life.

"I hope you're planning on writing the truth," Harry said softly, as he stepped to her side. Rita jumped, startled by his appearance, and found her actually sizing him up.

"You've grown up quite a bit in the past year, Harry," she said, trying to make herself sound calm.

"Yes I have, and I'm a little wiser as well. If you cause any problems, or write any gossip, I'll see to it Hermione's information gets into the right hands this time. Understand?"

"I would never consider writing anything but the truth," Rita said, sounding as if she had just been insulted horribly. "I am a professional."

"Yes, we both know what kind of professional. Just watch yourself. I don't want anything to tarnish Mr. Weasley's appointment, and that includes anything you may feel 'bugs' you. If you know what I mean."

"Yes, well, can I quote you on that, Harry?"

"Quote all you want, so long as it's the truth. And keep your gossiping to a minimum." Harry turned and walked back to where Mrs. Weasley was calling him, standing between Ginny and Ron. He wrapped his arm around the little red head's waist, and turned back to issue one last warning glare to Rita, who actually looked embarrassed.

"What did you say to her?" Ron asked softly.

"I just warned her to keep her nose clean," he told him, glancing back to the woman, watching as she returned her magic quill to her handbag, and removed a genuine one.

"She looks like she took you serious," Hermione said, leaning closer to the two.

"She better had, or the new Minister will have a very interesting tale to hear."

The pictures were taken and after nearly an hour, the reporters had their stories and left, leaving the family to celebrate on their own. Madame Puddifoot's staff had prepared a variety of delicacies, ranging from lobster bisque, tripe soup, roast lamb, salmon with creamy Arran mustard sauce, blood sausage, haggis broth, Glenfiddich whisky cake, cock-a-leekie cake, hasty pudding, syllabub, scones, and Moet champagne for the adults, and butter beer for the younger ones. Ron ate as if he had died and gone to heaven, with Hermione serving up a plate of hasty pudding and blood sausage, while Ginny found a definite liking to the syllabub and scones, and Harry enjoyed seconds of the salmon and haggis broth. By late afternoon, every bit of food had been eaten, everyone was full and nobody was complaining about a single thing. Harry however, was beginning to wonder how the Weasley's were ever going to afford such a feast. He knew their financial situation wouldn't stand for such an extravagance, and felt the need to at least pay his and Ginny's share. He caught George's eye, and motioned for him to follow, and the two stepped out of the café, leaning against the side of the building, out of sight.

"What's up Harry?" George asked, with his usual smile. "Come to ask for Ginny's hand? Shouldn't you be asking the Minister about that? I'm sure he can bend the rules and allow under aged wizards to marry, if you need to."

"It'snothing like that," Harry said with a blush. "I was just worrying about how your parents were going to...I mean, I know they aren't wealthy, and if I can help...see I have some money on me, and if they need help..."

"You're quite a gentleman, there Harry Potter," George snickered. "But don't worry, the whole thing is being picked up by the Ministry. It's typical for the new Minister to throw a celebration party, and mum and dad wanted it to be a very private affair, family only, you know."

"So, your dad is doing all right then?"

"Sure is. He's got a huge raise with this promotion and an expense account. I think things are definitely going to change for the Weasleys."

"I hope so, I mean your parents deserve the best. They are really great people, and I'm glad things have turned out so well for them."

"Yeah, so am I. Fred and I were trying to figure a way of telling them we're moving out. We've built a flat here above our shop in Hogsmeade, and well, you just can't take girls back to your parents' place, if you know what I mean. This way we can be close to Hogwart's, just in case, and still have our freedom."

"I'm sure it will be disappointing to your mum, but I know she'll understand so long as you don't mention the girl part."

"Yeah, you should have seen me trying to hide Katie the other night, when mum walked in on us. I thought I'd have to turn Katie into a frog in order to keep mum from finding her."

"I can just see it," Harry said laughing, glancing up as the sound of footsteps neared them. He looked across the street to see the familiar blond walking into the post office.

"Wasn't that Ferret-face, Malfoy?" George asked with a frown.

"Yeah, it was. I wonder what he's doing in Hogsmeade?" Harry said.

"What's he doing in the post office? There are more owls then you can count at Hogwart's. Why would he need a private one?"

"Lets find out," Harry suggested as the two hurried across the street, quietly following the boy who had stepped into the post office. They watched him through a side window, as the blond hired a large bird, obviously for long distance travel. He paid the postal clerk for the service, tied a parchment to the leg of the owl and watched as it quickly soared out the window and headed north, before Malfoy left the interior, pulling his hood up over his head and hurrying down the street toward Hogwart's.

"Why would he want to hire a long distance bird?" George asked, watching the bird soar away.

"I don't know. He's been acting really weird at school lately, and Neville and I saw him and Parvati Patil in a closet together last night."

"It's not a surprise with Parvati Patil, or Draco Malfoy for that matter. I know he was always being caught by Filch last year, snogging Pansy Parkinson, or some other girl in a closet or deserted classroom. It's only because of his favoritism with Umbridge that kept him from earning demerits or detentions."

"But Pansy Parkinson is a Slytherin, Parvati Patil is Gryffindor. I thought he never went outside his house?"

"He never has before, he's always stuck with the Slytherin whores to satisfy his desires. But then again it is Parvati Patil. She is a real looker. Just don't tell Katie I told you that. She'd have my balls in a noose." Harry chuckled; as they turned and walked away from the post office, back down to the café.

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. But I still want to know what Malfoy was doing."

"See if you can't dig up something at school, I'll see if Fred and I can get some information from Burt. He's the kid that was on duty today, maybe we can bribe him. He's been wanting a few Canary Creams to use on his wife's mother. She moved in with them last month, after he and his bride came back from their honeymoon."

Harry and George hurried back to Madame Puddifoot's and returned to the table, before anyone missed them. They were both eager to learn more about Malfoy and their thoughts were distracted most of the afternoon. By the time they returned to Hogwart's, the students had all retired to their houses. Harry told Ron, Hermione and Ginny about Malfoy, and they all decided to keep a closer eye on him. For Harry at least, it wouldn't be that difficult. He and Neville had detention in Snape's classroom all next week, and since becoming the ward of his godfather, Malfoy had been spending a great deal of time in the Potions dungeons practicing extra lessons, or so Snape had stated bitterly when Harry asked about his presence last night. It didn't seem much like Draco Malfoy, star pupil of Severus Snape having to take any extra lessons, but nonetheless, that was the excuse and all it did was increase Harry's curiosity. Especially after the way Malfoy had been treating his fellow students. He seemed to somehow be turning back into the old Ferret-face they had grown to know and hate, but he was still different. He didn't spend much time with his friends, or wasted any extra time on his Quidditch, instead he spent a great deal of time in the library. And until now, it didn't really seem to faze Harry. Now he began to wonder exactly what it was he was up to. His mood was growing as bitter as the February winds, but Harry knew there was something else brewing in the dungeons. Something he couldn't put his finger on, but something he was determined to find out about.

They had a legitimate reason to be out. Perhaps they were nosey, perhaps they didn't want to embarrass Parvati? Instead of saying afraid of being see; just have: " ...slid into the shadows, not wanting to be seen."

Why would he frown? I could see teased, or nudged...we know Harry doesn't think Neville is stupid...


Author notes: Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing and writing to me, especially to my new beta reader, "D". Please continue to R/R, but be aware, I am extremely stessed right now, so the next chapters may take a few days, but I promise it will be out no later than next week.