Harry Potter and the Old Believers

Chapter 22

Friday, November 6, 1998

Ron Weasley was not an entirely happy man. He had left Hogwarts with six N.E.W.T.s (Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Creatures, and both Theories) and joined Hermione (who had 13 N.E.W.T.s -- she hadn't tried for the one in Divination) in Weston. Hermione was studying Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Runes, and so was very busy. They had married on July 10, and spent a month's honeymoon visiting Muggle Canada and the United States before settling in.

Titus Pwy, Hermione, and Harry had created a portal, which allowed them to travel between Pwy's cottage in Weston and the church in Merthorp (which was also the official portkey and apparation points for the village), which they visited every other weekend. Hermione's mother was established in her separate apartment, and had opened a small dental clinic in the market town, some fifteen miles away.

Ron was busy with his sersiant training. After the Yule celebrations, he would be inducted, and have fewer weekends to spend with Hermione or to travel to Merthorp.

Overall, he should have been happy, and overall, he was. But he knew that he was receiving this training because of Harry and Hermione; that he had a house in Merthorp because of Harry. It was hard not to be a little jealous, and a little of the glow was taken off his otherwise satisfactory life.

And tonight was not making things any better. Here he was, walking down the High Street to meet Fred, George, and Neville. Harry was the Seeker on the Chuddley Cannons for the year, and they were going to see their home opener.

The Cannons were off to their best start in over a hundred years -- currently 5 - 1, and four of those wins were totally due to Harry. Harry had also entered three dueling meets, and was 10 - 1 - 1. Harry had outscored Ron on the N.E.W.T.s. (Harry had 9 -- Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Practical Magic Theory, Runes, Astronomy, Creatures, Muggle Studies, and History -- to Ron's 6) and would be studying at the Sefydliad on his own merits. Harry was happier than any time Ron could remember -- even more so than their first few weeks of their first year.

Ron stopped dead in the street, and realized exactly how he was feeling, and why. He wasn't ashamed, or even embarrassed, but he understood why he had been feeling jealous, and why he didn't have to. Harry wouldn't have made it without lots of help, a lot of it from Ron. Just like Ron deserved to be happy, so did Harry. And Ron was happy; he had Hermione and he would have a career.

"You're looking happier than usual," George said when Ron finally made it.

"We're off to see the Cannons win," Ron retorted, "why not be happy?"

George and Fred laughed. Ron noticed Neville was orange. "Haven't you learned, Neville?"

Neville handed Ron a piece of boiled candy. "I'd have thought you'd want to go in Cannon colors, too," Neville teased.

"That's right!" Fred said, and popped one in his mouth. He slowly started turning orange. Ron shrugged, and he and George took one as well.

"How long does it last?" Ron asked.

"Oh, the candy should last about ten to fifteen minutes if you suck on it, and the color will last about two hours. If you crunch it all at once, you stay the color for about twelve hours. We can't release them until we get that bug out, or come up with a warning that the Ministry will accept," Fred answered.

"Let's go!" George prompted.

Late the next evening, Harry and Ron strolled down the High Street from the apparation point (in the old church) towards their houses. Harry had entered another dueling meet, and had dispatched his two opponents easily, moving on to the second -- and final -- day of competition.

"You seem pretty preoccupied," Harry said. "Think I should have feinted better in that first match, or let the chasers try for a goal instead of catching the snitch for a tie last night?"

"No. I guess I'm still just trying to sort some things out."

"Like what?"

"I just realized it last night, but I was pretty jealous of you and Hermione, and a little resentful."

This didn't surprise Harry, but he didn't show it. He was glad Ron could finally talk about it. "Why?" he asked, to encourage him.

"Well, why am I allowed to be at Weston? Hermione is brilliant; if anyone deserves to be at the Sefydliad, she does. You do, too. Ginny will, next year. I'm there, but only because of you and Hermione."

"I talked with my cousin last weekend."

"Huh?" Ron was a bit confused by the apparent change in subject.

"He was saying how well you're doing in your training."

"Really?" That a member of the Tuatha was even paying attention to that minor a detail was surprising.

"He of course has seen me fight."

"True." 'Where is this going?' Ron thought to himself.

"He told me back in August that while I'm doing my charms training, I could be trained to be a Llofrudd if I wanted."

"Wow." Ron was impressed.

"Last weekend, he told me that he thought you should be trained as a Cigfran as well, as part of the International Law Enforcement Agency." This was the new agency to combat Dark Wizards.

"Really?"

"Really. He wanted me to sound you out. And you certainly aren't being offered this because of me, let alone Hermione or Ginny. You're earning this."

"Are you going to do it?"

"Not exactly."

Ron huffed. "Meaning what?"

"Can you keep a secret from Hermione?"

"Probably not," Ron admitted.

"So all I can say is, trust me, Ron. You're earning your own way from now on. And unless we're confronted by a Grindelwald or Voldemort, you and I shouldn't be within the same chains of command. I don't think either you or I would want to be under the other's command on a long-term basis."

"Harry, to be honest, it would bloody well bother the hell out of me to be under your command every day, but there's no one on earth I'd rather follow against a Dark Wizard."

Harry flushed a little. "Thanks."

"You're taking the same path as Doc, aren't you?"

"Essentially."

Ron thought about it. "Cool." He decided he should bring up the final likely topic of contention, since he knew once Harry decided to be close-mouthed on a subject it would take himself, Hermione, and Ginny at a minimum to get him to talk. "Seen Ginny lately?"

"Last Saturday; it was the first Hogsmeade weekend."

The reminder that Harry could only easily his sister on Hogsmeade weekends and official visits comforted Ron a little; he and Hermione were not just together, but married -- he'd achieved something before Harry. Ron then dismissed the idea as unworthy. "How's she doing?"

"Well, she's having more fun as Head Girl than Hermione did, or Percy did as Head Boy, that's for sure."

Ron laughed. "Well, let's say she's having a different type of fun, anyway."

"True."

"Are you really going to give up being a professional seeker after this year?" Ron asked.

"I've reached the upper limits in terms of size, Ron. If I put on another kilo or two of muscle or another half inch in height, I just couldn't do the dives needed to even be a second reserve. It's not a matter of broom size or power, either."

"I never thought of that."

"Hey, if we just make the play-offs, I'll go down in the club history books."

Ron frowned. "Ha, ha; very funny. How about the dueling?"

"It's fun. If I had your chess ability on top of everything else, I could be a world champion with ease. I'm not certain if I can make the move up to the international level or not. Doc says they'll be giving me time off to compete, and that I'll make the jump easily, but I don't see it." Harry looked at Ron. "Are you competing in the chess leagues?"

"Yeah," Ron admitted. "It's a tough group. I'm picking up, though. I'm getting close to the master's level."

Harry smiled. "We're on our way, aren't we?"

"We are!" Ron declared.

Sunday, June 13, 1999

"AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FLYING SEEKER FOR THE CANNONS FOR THE LAST TIME, THE CURRENT BRITISH NATIONAL DUELING CHAMPION, THE NUMBER THREE RATED DUELIST IN EUROPE AND NUMBER TWELVE IN THE WORLD! THE ONE, THE ONLY, HARRY POTTER!"

Harry flew out into the Bats' stadium to fairly loud cheers, especially considering most of the crowd were Bats' fans. Win or lose, the Cannon fans were ecstatic. They understood that Harry was getting a little too muscled and tall to stay a professional seeker, but hoped he could hang on for one more game. The Cannons had placed fourth that year, the highest they'd finished since before World War I. This was the first time they'd been in the finals since 1907. If they won the championship, it would be the first since the late nineteenth century.

"Does one player really make that much of a difference?" a reporter had asked the greatest seeker in recent British history (now retired) for a story the day before the match.

"It does when it's Harry Potter," she'd answered. "Potter is a great seeker, although far from the greatest playing today; though he's probably in the top ten, certainly in the top twenty. What he also provides is inspiration and leadership. Every player has consistently played right at their top form, which is difficult to do, even for professionals, or for an entire season. Potter really isn't that much a better seeker than the Bats' Johnson, but he's more inspiring than any of the Bats' players. Hell, he's the most inspiring player I've ever seen."

Fortunately, Harry hadn't read that yet. If he had, he would have been far more nervous. And, if he'd been any more nervous, he wouldn't have made the quickest catch in the history of the British professional championships -- 2 minutes, 57 seconds.

In the stands, Ron Weasley fainted. The Cannons had won, 150 - 0.

Saturday, July 10, 1999

Great Hall, Hogwarts

"Welcome to the first marriage feast we have had here in a number of years," Albus Dumbledore said. He was standing a bit shakily; his age and the stresses of the last nine years or so were showing. "Eight years ago today, I was thinking about how to get Harry here his Hogwarts letter and worried about reports of Voldemort gaining some strength in Albania. Last year, we were at Ottery Saint Catchpole, and I was announcing the N.E.W.T.s of Harry and the happy newlyweds."

"Today, I can announce Miss Weasley, excuse me, Missus Potter's, N.E.W.T.s -- Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Muggle Studies, History, Herbology, Runes, Magical Theory, and Magical Substances, for a total of nine."

He waited for the applause to die down. "We all know the exploits of the groom. He now leaves Britain and his beloved Quidditch, taking his even more beloved bride to study at the Sefydliad. I can only say that I hope that both continue to be as successful in the future as they have been in the recent past, without nearly the trials and tribulations of the darker past. I therefore raise my glass and ask you to do the same."