Sleeping Dragons

Chapter Four: Memories and Games

By Gemini

We came to a halt in front of the large oak doors where Professor McGonagall stood waiting.

She hadn't changed much, but looked a bit older. Her black hair, streaked with grey now, was still pulled back into a tight bun.

"Hello, Professor!" we said, happily. I was quite excited about seeing Hogwarts again.

"It's wonderful to see you three again." Her crisp voice hadn't changed a bit, but she was smiling. We were led into the Great Hall, then through a series of familiar hallways before finally reaching the stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmistress' office. "Tabby cat," she said, and it jumped aside. We ascended a long, moving staircase before finally reaching her office.

"Well, Hermione, your appointment is at ten o'clock this morning so you have about half an hour to pass. You three are welcome anywhere in the school. Why don't you visit a few old teachers? I'm sure they'd be thrilled to introduce the three who helped defeat Voldemort as their former students."

"We'd love to," said Ron enthusiastically. I glanced over at Harry, who seemed a bit tense. I knew he hated the fame, but he didn't say anything about staying behind. I'd have to make sure that he wouldn't be pestered by any first years.

Instead, he asked, "Er, do you think we can go visit the Gryffindor common room? It'd be great to see it again."

She smiled. "Of course. The password is Little Dipper. Have fun today; you're not students anymore!"

We left and headed towards our old common room. The Fat Lady was still there and peered down at us as we approached. "Is that Harry Potter I see? And Hermione and Ron! How nice to see you three again!"

"We've come for a visit to the old common room," Ron said to her.

"Well, I'd love to let you in, but I'll still need the password."

"Little Dipper," I said, and she swung open.

"Same as always," Harry said. He was right. It hadn't changed a bit. The big comfy chairs were still there and a fire was roaring in the fireplace. It was empty though; all the students were in class. We sat there until it was time for me to go to Remus' class, just thinking about the old days and everything that had happened.

We rounded the corner and knocked on a familiar door. Neville opened it. "Hermione! Ron, Harry? This is a pleasant surprise! Just in time." Neville had definitely changed since we graduated. He wasn't as shy or timid. We stepped into the classroom to the stares of seventeen-year-old students. There were quite a few and from the badges on their robes, I could tell they came from all the houses. Apparently all the seventh years taking D.A.D.A. were there.

"Class, you may recognize these three. Hermione Weasley is here to speak to you about working for the Dark Arts Defense Department at the Ministry, and she's apparently brought a few friends along. You all know who Harry Potter is, I assume?" The seventh years started whispering excitedly. Harry tried to avoid their gazes. "And this is Ron Weasley, completing the team. Mrs. Weasley was the top student in our class so you may want to listen to her."

"Thank you, Professor," I said. He went to sit behind his desk and watch my presentation. I set my bag, which they eyed suspiciously, on the table at the front of the classroom. Harry and Ron leaned against the far wall by the door.

"Hello, everyone! I'm here to tell you a bit about the Dark Arts and give you a few tips on defending yourself that they may not teach you here." I smiled at Neville. "I'm sure Ron and Harry will be glad to answer any questions after I'm finished."

"First, maybe I should tell you about myself. I'm an assistant researcher at the Ministry, and my department is Research of Dark Arts Defense. I've been working there pretty much ever since I graduated from Hogwarts, after the Dark War ended." I looked out into the sea of uninterested faces. "Is anyone here planning to become an Auror?" Two or three hands were raised in the air.

"Being an Auror is tough work." I pointed to a tall blonde-haired Ravenclaw girl. "Why do you want to become an Auror, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I just want the wizarding world to be free of Dark Arts. I figure that if we all pitch in, we can do it."

I nodded. "That's a good answer. On average, each Ministry Auror does quite a lot for the Dark Arts Defense department. They get rid of all sorts of items and store them away to be researched. My department works on how we can defend ourselves better in case there is another Dark War. Not necessarily next year or in one hundred years, but in case of a situation, we'll be ready." After I talked for about fifteen minutes, I decided it was time to show them a few items.

I opened the bag and pulled out the medallions I had taken from Gringotts. "Medallions can be either used for defense or offence." I held up a silver disc. "This one, for example, is a defensive medallion. If someone has it on them, certain mild dark curses for inflicting bodily pain can be absorbed into the medallion so they don't suffer as much. With this one," I held a gold one up that glittered dangerously, "the wearer can inflict the Crucio spell twice as painfully." The class winced. "Only ten are known to exist, made by Voldemort himself. The department has confiscated seven." The class began to whisper.

I explained a few odd trinkets I had found then decided it was time for the good stuff. I pulled out the ancient dagger. Even Ron and Harry's eyes grew wide. It was fairly dangerous looking, and I had a feeling the class was afraid I might go a bit crazy.

"This dagger is the former dagger of Salazar Slytherin." The Slytherins perked up at this and the Gryffindors narrowed their eyes. "He made the entire thing himself, carving the hilt and forging the blade out of pure silver. It's enchanted so if a victim is so much as pricked with this, they'll die." The class became a bit uneasy so I put it back into its small scabbard. I said a short spell to keep it from falling out and hurting anyone.

I took out the spell book. It was black, heavy and old. I drew my wand down the middle of the cover saying, "Pateo," then across the middle, "Patefacio." It opened by itself to the title page, then the table of contents. "If anyone opened this book without the correct method, they'd instantly be sucked inside and become a part of it." I debated whether to show them the pictures of those who had unfortunately just opened it without saying anything. Might as well, I thought. I saw worse when I was seventeen.

"For example, the last person to open this book incorrectly is..." I turned to the last page and read out the name. "Joseph Tibbins." I held it up to the class and there was a picture that looked like a quill sketch of a man banging on the page from within the book. I gauged their reactions. The Gryffindors looked spooked, the Hufflepuffs were disturbed, the Ravenclaws seemed alarmed and the Slytherins looked interested. Might as well show them one more.

"This is the worst one for me," and I held up a picture of a young girl with tears streaming down her face. She touched the page from the other side as if trying to see if we were real. "We've been trying to find a way to destroy the enchantments on this book, but we've had no success," I said. A few of the girls had teary eyes.

Finally, I pulled out the vial.

"Slytherin's Blood," I said. Most of the class recoiled. "It's been enchanted to be preserved forever. Voldemort himself searched for it, but it was hidden in Gringotts, and of course, Gringotts is impenetrable. The drinker's power will be magnified enormously on one condition -- the drinker is the Heir of Slytherin. I'd have to protect this with my life if it came down to it. Even though there is no known Heir for now, this cannot get into the wrong hands."

I finished my lecture telling them to think carefully about whether they wanted to continue working so closely with the Dark Arts, then declared it was "question time." Almost everyone's hand shot up. I beckoned Harry and Ron to stand beside me.

I gestured to a Hufflepuff boy. "Yes?"

"It's really well known that you three were key figures in the Dark War. Why didn't you decide to continue as Aurors instead of Quidditch players and Ministry workers?" Half of the hands in the air went down.

Every member of the U.A.A. was supposed to be prepared for a question like that. I glanced at Harry. "Care to explain?"

He straightened up. "The three of us encountered Dark Arts since our first year here. We had to deal with it throughout school until the Dark War ended in seventh year. When we graduated, we got a little tired I guess." He looked at me and Ron and we nodded. "We decided we'd quit the battle and go on to try and lead normal lives, something we didn't really have in school."

I pointed to a Gryffindor girl who had been furiously writing notes the entire time. She reminded me a little bit of myself. "Mr. Potter, can you describe what it was like being face to face with Voldemort?" More hands went down.

I glanced worriedly at Harry. Neville spoke up. "Elaine, I'm not sure that's an appropriate question."

"No, it's fine," said Harry. "I don't mind."

He went on to recount the first and last times he met Voldemort. "He wasn't even a person, he was just... an existence. When he came back to life after the Triwizard tournament, he was almost just like an entity: cold, pale and devoid of goodness." Ron and I chipped in our two cents about the time we first met him in our sixth year as well.

I pointed to a pretty Ravenclaw girl. "Mr. Weasley? What was it like to be the friend of someone so famous? Did you ever feel overshadowed?"

Ron laughed. "All the time! Of course, I knew he didn't really want all the fame, but my family was very poor back then and I took it out on a lot of people. We've had our spats, but I think I was the happiest when I fell in love with Hermione." I blushed, while most of the girls let out a collective sigh. "I finally realized that I wasn't just Harry Potter's shadow when I helped out. We were all equal and contributed a fair share of our efforts to stop Voldemort."

We concluded the lecture by answering questions from the rest of the students, and Neville thanked us for coming.

I packed up my items, and we walked out of the classroom. As I shut the door, I could hear a few enthusiastic comments about wanting to fight the Dark Arts, and I smiled inwardly.

The rest of the visit passed by quickly. We visited our old professors after my lecture and most of them were thrilled to see a few old students.

We went to see Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, first. His class of first years ogled us as we entered. "Potter, Granger and Weasley!" he exclaimed in surprise as we entered.

"Actually, it's Weasley for me too," I said to him.

He beamed. "You're married? Why, that's wonderful! Class, this is Hermione Granger, er, Weasley, and she was the smartest witch in her year." He turned to me. "I was just teaching them Wingardium Leviosa. Care to demonstrate?"

I laughed. Taking out my wand, I pointed it at the feather on a first year's desk from where I stood at the door. "Wingardium Leviosa!" It lifted high into the air. I moved my wand and it fluttered around a little.

"Still got the natural touch I see. Good, good!" We left an excited Professor Flitwick and decided to head to Madame Pomfrey.

"Oh, you three gave me so much trouble back then!" she exclaimed. "I always had at least one of you coming in here every year for some sort of injury."

We spotted Roger Davies, former Ravenclaw captain and new Flying Instructor. I gave him a wave even though I didn't know him that well, but apparently he remembered me. He waved back to me with a suave grin, and then frowned a little as he caught Ron's narrowed eyes.

While Ron and Harry stayed behind to have some fun with the first year class, I went to visit Madame Pince in the library. "Oh, Hermione, how could I forget you? All of my books were always returned in precious condition."

Before looking for Ron and Harry, I went up to the Divination classroom to visit Lavender.

"Oh, it's so wonderful to see you again, Hermione," she said after introducing me to her fourth-year class. "Hermione here dropped out of Divination in third year, but we can't all love it, I guess."

I walked around the class looking over the students' shoulders to see what they were writing. When Lavender was occupied with a giggly pair of girls who sat closest to her, I bent down to whisper to a pair of doubtful boys, "Write down that you're going to fall into the lake and drown during a flying lesson gone haywire. She'll love that."

In one of the hallways I spotted Professor Snape, still the Potions Master. Feeling a little risky, I called out, "Hello Professor!"

He turned and frowned when he saw me. "Granger? What are you doing here?"

"Actually, it's Weasley now. I came to give a lecture on Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ron and Harry are here with me." I smiled at him.

"Well, hope you're having a nice time revisiting your old school." With that, he walked off into the direction of the Potions classroom, probably to hide until we left.

I found Ron and Harry talking with Nearly Headless Nick in the hall. After Nick floated off with a cheery wave, we headed in the opposite direction.

Our last stop was Hagrid's hut.

We walked inside, finding all the furniture as it was in sixth year.

Harry sighed, sitting at the table. "I miss him. He was the first wizard I ever met. I have him to thank for rescuing me from the Dursleys."

Ron and I bowed our heads. Harry and Hagrid's connection had been strong, and Harry had been so devastated when he was killed in the Battle of Giants.

"I'm glad they didn't let the new gamekeeper live here," Ron commented.

"This was Hagrid's hut all the way," I agreed.

After our visit, we said good bye to Professor McGonagall and headed back to Ottery St. Catchpole.

It was late afternoon and Ron instantly became excited. "Quidditch tonight!" he cried. Harry perked up and gave him a high-five.

"What on earth are you talking about?" I asked.

Ron and Harry stared at me. "Don't tell me you've forgotten," Ron warned.

"Forgotten what?"

"The Quidditch Battle of the Sexes is tonight at six!" Harry cried.

I'd forgotten about that. The fairly new Battle of the Sexes game consisted of fourteen random players, seven men and seven women, who were picked from different teams across the UK and put into two separate teams to compete. The players were notified ahead of time but otherwise, no one else knew. It was held at a permanent Quidditch pitch on the outskirts of London. Of course, charms were heavily enforced there so no Muggle would happen to stumble across it.

"I hope someone we know got picked," said Harry.

"I hope someone from our team got picked." That was Ron.

"I hope the women win."

* * *

"Welcome to the sixth annual Battle of the Sexes Quidditch Game! I'm one of your commentators, Lee Jordan, and alongside me is Hannah Abbott!"

"Are you all ready to watch the game?" Hannah shouted. The crowd went crazy.

I sat beside Harry and Ginny, waiting for Ron to come back with refreshments. I already spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd. Fred and Angelina sat a few rows in front of us. Percy and Penelope decided to take the kids with them and sat on the other side of the pitch. Oliver Wood came up to us, and after a vague hello to me and Ginny, began to berate Harry and Ron about missing practice. I even saw Cho Chang somewhere but she had disappeared in the huge crowd.

"I hope Ron gets back soon, or else he'll miss the players," I said to Harry. The naming of the players was part of the intense show.

"First up, we have the sizzling women's team calling themselves the Flying Femmes," Lee announced. "The chasers are..." Here, the crowd tensed. "Isabelle Kingsley of the Harpies, Katie Weasley of the Falcons and my dear girlfriend, Alicia Spinnet of the Kestrels!" They flew out to loud cheers and hollers. Alicia waved wildly to Lee while Katie sailed to George and Alden to give them a kiss on the cheek each.

As I cheered, I saw an animated and still very pregnant Angelina waving to her best friends, and Fred trying to calm her.

"The two beaters," Lee continued, "are Savannah Spiers of the Vultures and Alison Bates of the Tornados! The Keeper, Michelle King of the Eagles! And finally, the Seeker for the Flying Femmes is... Cho Chang of the Arrows!" Cho flew out and did a few fancy flips on her broom. We cheered as she landed with the rest of her team.

"And now," Hannah began, "for the opposing team... the Boiling Bachelors! Our three chasers: Cameron Abrams of the Catapults, Elliot Fox of the Dragons and Michael Marks of the Bats!... The beaters are... Joel Hayes of the Comets and Blake Warrington of the Wasps!" I remembered Warrington as a former Slytherin player at Hogwarts. Still, I cheered for him.

"The Keeper of the Bachelors, though he's no bachelor, Ron Weasley of the Cannons!" So that's where Ron was! I cheered especially hard for him and he blew me a little kiss. I caught it and blew one back. The crowd cheered for us too, but by then they'd have cheered even if someone fell off their broom.

"And the final player, the Seeker... Terence Higgs of the Magpies!" Higgs was also a former Slytherin player.

Both teams were lined up on either side of the pitch and waiting.

"Here comes the referee now with the crate," Lee said. "And he's releasing the Snitch. Chang and Higgs are trying to keep an eye on it but it's gone!"

The referee, on his broom, flew higher. "He's raising his arm," said Hannah. "The players are mounting their broomsticks. The Keepers take their positions... There goes the Quaffle and Bludgers and the players are off to start!"

"Spinnet takes the Quaffle immediately. Neat pass to Katie Weasley, then Jackson, back to Weasley. Fox takes possession and heads the other way! He passes it to Marks! Abrams! Marks! Fox! And Abrams scores! 10-0 for the Bachelors!" The male portion of the audience cheered while the women groaned.

For the next twenty minutes or so the Quaffle was passed back and forth between the two teams. Then suddenly, Terence dived at the ground.

"Spinnet scores, but Higgs dives, Bachelors leading 210-170. Chang follows and... she sees through his bluff, pulling out right on time! Meanwhile, Marks puts another goal past Femmes Keeper King, bringing the score to 220-170."

In front, Angelina was shaking her fist in the vague direction of the Bachelors when she suddenly seized up and grabbed her stomach. I tapped on Harry's shoulder and pointed to Angelina. "Marks scores again! 240-180. Wait a minute, the medics are leaving the pitch. And they're being led by someone... it's Fred Weasley!" Some of the crowd searched to see what was going on while others kept their eyes on the game.

"They're going up into the stands..." Lee was interrupted by a "he scores!" from Hannah. "They're heading towards... oh my goodness. Hey everyone, Angelina Weasley of the Falcons is going into labour!" In the air, the Quaffle was dropped as a distracted Alicia made a crooked pass to Katie, who was scanning the crowd intensely.

The medics had conjured up a small medical tent with a bed and a few chairs. Angelina was laid onto the bed, and a very agitated Fred was standing by her side. In the distance, I saw George, Percy and Penelope making their way over. Ginny leaned over to me and Harry, "Let's go see them!" We weaved our way down while Abrams scored again.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" A near hysterical Fred was bombarding Angelina with questions.

"I thought it was just false labour! -- Ah! -- No, let me stay here, I don't want to be taken anywhere!"

"Ma'am, that might not be a good idea. You should really go to a hospital for-"

"No! Let me stay! I don't want to risk anything... Oww!" She clutched her abdomen in pain.

Through the open flap, we continued to watch the game ("260-180!") for another hour or so while surrounding Angelina. It seemed like forever. Fred was holding her hand -- well, actually, Angelina had his hand a fierce grip. For the next hour, a very frustrated Angelina was shouting at the medics ("Don't tell me how to breathe, you prat! I know how!") and the Bachelors were pulling ahead by a large margin.

"The Femmes are down 340-200 and... Chang is going for the Snitch!" Every head but Angelina's turned to watch Cho diving. "Higgs looks hesitant. Is Chang pulling a bluff on him now, too? He goes down anyway... They're getting closer to ground... Chang grabs hold of the Snitch! The Femmes win by a narrow save from their Seeker!" Hannah, glad that the women had won, happily called out the score as "an amazing 350 to 340!"

The crowd was in such a frenzy that we barely heard the wail of the baby. Lee must have been watching for his friends because he yelled out, "We've got a new arrival, folks! Spinnet and Weasley have dropped out of the victory lap to see their friend and the other Weasley is also heading that way!" Sure enough, Ron was speeding over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our Minister of Magic has a new grandchild!"

* * *

"Great game, Cho," Ron yelled out to the Femmes' Seeker who was heading our way.

The game was over. Ron, Harry, Ginny and I were milling around, talking with people we saw and Harry seemed a bit more relaxed than he was earlier that day. Cho walked up to us and after making some small talk with the four of us, she asked if she could speak with me privately.

She pulled me away and immediately announced to me in a low voice, "Sirius Black is alive."

I gaped at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh don't be daft, Hermione," she said. "Albus asked me to tell you because he knew you would be here."

I still stared.

She sighed. "I'm a U.A. Agent too. No. 27." She pulled out an identification parchment card and gave it to me. It looked like any wizard's regular card, but I pointed my wand at it, muttering "Comperio," and it turned into a U.A.A. card. "I couldn't say anything to Ginny so I figured I'd tell you and you'd relay the message to Ron and Harry."

I snapped out of my confusion. "Of course; I'll tell them."

"Alright then. There's a meeting tonight at eight thirty. I think we're going to have work together to rescue Black."

"Thanks, Cho."

"No problem. See you at eight thirty."

She walked off and I shook my head. Cho Chang, a U.A. Agent... Who would've guessed?