::cricks neck::stretches:: yawns:: Although I find that I write my best at around 2-3 in the morning, I do get a little tired.
A/N: I got a review which brought a point out in the open which I had been thinking about for some time. This story is rated R. Currently, the content has perhaps been mature enough to warrant a PG-13, at best. I want to assure all of my readers that in time, the story will live up to its rating. Most of the R-rated material will come towards the end of the story (It will be violence, not sex. Sorry, but I've only written smut once before and I don't want to ruin this story with bad judgement.). If you want to read the smut piece that goes in the middle of Chapter 2, it's called The Best Birthday Ever, and will only be posted on Portkey (as Fanfiction doesn't allow NC-17 works). Thank you all for your continuing patience.
A/N#2: Speaking of smut, WOW! I never expected the response I got from 'The Best Birthday Ever'. I'd like to personally thank each and every one of you who reviewed, and as of right now, I have not received a single bad review (which is a record for me). Remind me to write smut more often, it nearly doubled the number of reviews I got for this story since Chapter 8. A round of beers for everyone!
A/N#3: I made a fix in chapter 4, which removed the use of the 'Light Mark' on Order members' arms. I realised that I hadn't been putting it to use, and the plot bunny that had been carrying that idea got shot and killed. Sorry to disappoint you all, that portion of this story no longer exists.
BTW, I was really tired when I beta'ed this chapter, so forgive me if there are more errors than usual.
Well, you all were asking for it, and here it is: the truth revealed.
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Chapter 10: Tricks, Tryouts, and Truths
"Harry, Hermione, wake up," said Lily softly.
"Mmmefedra," mumbled Harry sleepily.
"C'mon I'm not joking! Breakfast's already started and we have classes in half an hour!" she whispered urgently. Hermione immediately sat bolt upright on the couch.
"Why didn't you wake us up earlier?!" she exclaimed getting up.
"You looked too peaceful to disturb," said Lily smiling. Hermione gave a frustrated growl and tore up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. Lily chuckled. "What's with her?"
"School is the most important thing to her," Harry said yawning and sitting up. "You should've seen her back in our first year, going on about how 'We need to pass these exams in order to get into second year!'," he finished with a grin. Lily chuckled.
"She really didn't say that, did she?" she asked. Harry nodded. "Bit of a bookworm?"
"Understatement of the century," he said laughing. "But I love her all the more because of it."
"You should go get ready, I daresay you'll have missed half of breakfast already," Lily said.
"Yeah, yeah," said Harry. He got up and ran a hand through his hair, which provoked a snort from Lily.
"Just like your father," she said. Harry gave her a accusing stare, but went up to his dorm to change anyways.
Upon entering the dorm he walked over to his trunk and opened the lock (which required the use of some nifty spellwork, considering he had charmed it so that it could only be opened by him). Taking out some fresh clothes, he stripped down and began to change when a voice to his right made him jump a foot in the air.
"Not hungry either?" James said from his own bed. Harry spun around panting.
"You have to scare me like that?" he asked, calming slightly. James smiled.
"Considering what you've done in the past day, it's about the only payback I'll probably ever get."
"You're not still on about revenge, are you?" Harry asked pulling on his shirt and buttoning it.
"Nah," said James. "No point really, since you've already shown that there's nothing we could do to get you anyway."
"Good," said Harry. "Glad to see you're growing up." At this James crossed his arms.
"And what information do you possess that let's you know I had some growing up to do?" he asked derisively.
"Let's just say I've had run-ins with people who know you," said Harry smiling to himself. James eyes narrowed in a glare.
"Lily?" he asked.
"Not just her," Harry replied. "I've met a certain Slytherin who you dislike very much."
"Snivellus," James said growling. "Knows less about me than you."
"A great deal then," retorted Harry. Hearing this, James stood up to face him.
"Listen," he said. "I don't know who you are, or where you come from. But I'd appreciate it if you tell me how it is you claim to know so much about me." Harry laughed.
"I'm glad to see you're not as thick as you appear James," he said. "But I'm not telling you the answer to that right now."
"Why not?" James demanded.
"Because if I told you right now, you'd think I was mad."
"I already think you're mad," he said. "Try me." Harry laughed again.
"Not right now," he repeated. "I daresay you'll find out eventually, but you're not ready to hear the answer yet." And with that, Harry left the dorm thinking about how much he sounded like Dumbledore at the end of his first year.
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Harry, Hermione, and Lily arrived in the Great Hall to find Professor McGonagal already handing everyone their schedules. Noticing that she was halfway down the Gryffindor table already, they hurriedly rushed to their seats.
"Ms. Granger and Mr...." began McGonagal eyeing them as she walked over next to Harry and Hermione.
"Lockheart," Harry finished quickly. "Harry Lockheart." McGonagal peered over her spectacles at him and bent down so she could speak in a soft voice.
"Professor Dumbledore has informed me of your situation, Mr. Potter," she said. "I want you to know, although I do not know all the details, that I am most sympathetic towards you and Ms. Granger." Harry and Hermione blanched. Neither had known Professor McGonagal to be one to show pity.
"It's not so bad," said Harry. "I do get to see my parents, at least."
"Yes, about that..." said McGonagal reaching for their schedules. "You might be pleased to know that your schedules are identical to that of your parents'. I will tell you now, however, that I do not permit any interruptions in my class -"
"We know Professor," interrupted Hermione. "You've been our teacher for the past six years in the future." McGonagal looked mildly surprised at this.
"Well I'm glad to hear that I'm still a teacher here in twenty years time," she said straightening up. "That will be all. And Ms. Evans, here is your schedule as well."
"Thanks," said Lily, who was eyeing her orange juice carefully. McGonagal walked off and Harry turned and faced Lily.
"So what do we have first?" he asked. Lily looked away from her goblet, giving up on examining its contents, and gazed at her schedule.
"Potions," she said. "With the Slytherins. Then double charms and we finish the day out with Defense." Harry groaned slightly at this.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione.
"I was just hoping that I might not have to endure Snape in Potions," he said. "Oh well, I guess you can't have everything in life."
"He's not all that bad," Lily said. "Just keeps to himself, mostly."
"Except when James and Sirius are hanging him upside-down in midair showing off his underwear for the school to see," mumbled Harry.
"How'd you know about that?" Lily asked. "Never mind, I forgot. You're from the future, you know everything."
"Well, not everything," admitted Harry. "Now Hermione here, SHE knows everything." Hermione swatted at him playfully.
"Well without my help you'd have never passed your final exams," she said smirking.
"How very true," commented Harry staring at her. There was a small silence for a moment as the two gazed at each other with interest when Lily cleared her throat.
"Come on, you two," she said. "No snogging here. People are trying to eat." Harry and Hermione snapped out of their reverie.
"We should start heading for the dungeons," said Hermione. "Class starts in five minutes." The other two nodded and gathered up their things for the walk to the potions classroom.
Hermione and Lily were conversing with each other during the walk, but Harry was lost in his thoughts. Contrary to what Lily had believed, he was not about to snog Hermione senseless in the Great Hall. In fact, he had been fairly certain that he was talking to her in his head while they were staring at each other. 'What could this mean?' he thought. 'Perhaps it had been some sort of Legilimancy-'
"Harry, class is starting," whispered Hermione. He had been so engrossed in his thinking that he completely failed to notice that he had followed Hermione and Lily into the dungeons and was now seated next to them.
"Class..." said the Professor in a low voice. "Most of you know me, but for those of you who don't -" he cast a glance at Harry and Hermione. "I am Professor Munson. This is the N.E.W.T. level potions class for 7th years, those of you who are in the wrong place, leave now." Harry hadn't expected anyone to stand, but to his surprise, a strangely familiar young girl with pink-hair who looked to be in her fourth year or so got up and stumbled out of the classroom.
"Now that we haven't any students who don't belong here," drawled Munson. "Here are your potion instructions. Begin." And with that he went and took a seat at his desk.
"Dear me..." said Hermione eyeing the blackboard. "The Vulnero Draught was outlawed in 1983. Why are they teaching us how to brew it?"
"It's 1977, remember?" said Lily.
"Still though, this potion is deadly," Hermione whispered.
"What's it do?" asked Harry.
"It takes away good feelings, such as relaxation, pleasure, and love, and instead replaces them with pain," Hermione said. "If it goes untreated, eventually the drinker feels nothing but pain, and eventually suffocates because they cannot breathe without passing out, the hurt is so great. It's probably one of the worst ways to go in the world."
It was at this point that Harry heard a derisive sneer from somewhere to his left. Looking over, he saw none other than Severus Snape himself carefully adding ingredients and mixing his potion carefully. Every once in a while he would look up towards the front of the room where the Marauders were sitting quietly brewing their potions. Harry continued to stare, and eventually Snape glanced in his direction, only to do a double take.
"Hey," Harry whispered to Lily and Hermione. "Look at the way Snape is looking at me. This time he truly doesn't know who I am and I can tell he already hates me." And Harry wasn't joking either. The stare that his future Potions teacher was giving him was rivaling the Malfoy family's.
"He doesn't matter," said Hermione. "Harry! You haven't even started yet? Get to work!" With that Harry put all his thoughts about the future out of his mind and concentrated on his potion.
=====
Surprisingly, the first few days of the school year went without incident. Ever since Harry's little chat with James, the Marauders had stayed away from him, Hermione, and Lily. Harry wanted to believe James about him not wanting revenge, but something in his father's eyes told him that James was up to something. Harry related his feelings about this to Hermione and Lily in the courtyard that Friday after classes.
"I don't know," said Harry hesitantly. "He's definitely planning something, I just don't know what."
"Well I seriously doubt that you're going to be the victim of it," Lily said. "James isn't stupid enough to get himself embarrassed like that again."
"Yeah, well...hey look who it is..." Harry said nodding in the direction of a slowly approaching Snape. Hermione shrugged.
"It's strange, not to be noticed by him after all these years...isn't it?" she asked. Harry gave a distinct snort.
"What, you think that he just sits in the dungeons during potions and stares into his cauldron waiting for the water to boil?" he said derisively.
"He doesn't?" asked Hermione.
"Lord no," Harry replied. "Every time I glance over at him, he's either looking at James and Co., or he's staring at us."
"That doesn't really surprise me," said Lily. "He had a crush on me last year."
"WHAT?!" shouted Harry and Hermione in unison.
"Yeah, you didn't know about that Harry?" asked Lily.
"No!" he responded angrily. "How could he have a crush on you? He called you a...a mudblood." Harry said the last two words in a hushed voice.
"He must've just been confused about his feelings," said Hermione. "It kinda makes sense once you think about it." Harry looked at her as if she were a blast-ended skrewt.
"Makes sense?" he asked incredulously. "It makes about as much sense as me saying that Malfoy had a crush on YOU!" At this Hermione turned away from Harry, her face turning slightly red. Harry's eyes widened in realisation. "Please tell me that what I just said isn't true?" he asked.
"It's true," Hermione said softly. Harry let out a low growl and ran his hands through his hair.
"I'm going to kill him," he said. "I'm going to learn how to transfigure humans, turn him into a ferret, and feed him to Buckbeak."
"There's no point, he doesn't like me anymore," said Hermione. "At least not that I know of."
"How'd you find out?" Harry asked.
"He cornered me one day and straight out told me. He said that he didn't expect me to return the feelings, but that he had to tell me before he burst."
"And he never told you why he appeared to hate you so much?" Harry asked.
"That's obvious," Hermione said. "It's because I'm friends with you. You two really rub each other the wrong way, you know."
"It's amusing," said Lily, "But that's exactly what happened with me and Snape. Although he took it a little worse than this Malfoy person." Harry sighed and put his head in his hands.
"Talking about me behind my back?" asked a sneering voice from in front of them. The three of them had been so wrapped up in their conversation that they failed to notice that Snape had been passing just as Lily had mentioned his name.
"If you must know Snape, then yes, we were talking about you behind your back," said Harry lazily. Snape's sneer became more menacing at this.
"And who, pray tell are you?" he asked icily.
"Harry Lockheart," Harry said standing. "Although I daresay you know me well enough by the way you stare at me in Potions."
"Harry..." said Hermione warningly. Snape's sneer turned into a lopsided smile.
"You should listen to your girlfriend, Lockheart," said he said. "On second thought, though, you might be better off without her advice. She looks to be a mudblood, just like Evans here." Harry plunged his hand into his robes without a second thought, when all of a sudden, there was a noise similar to a gunshot, and smoke everywhere. Coughing, Harry stood back and saw as the smoke cleared, that Snape was spinning like a top in the air, clearly under the full-body bind.
"WHAT HAVE I SAID ABOUT CALLING EVANS THAT?" roared the voice of James a few feet to the right of them, flanked by the Marauders.
"James, let him go," said Lily as if she was bored.
"No Lily. When he insults you, along with a girl he doesn't even know, he needs to be punished," James said. Lily got up to go over to James but was blocked by Sirius.
"Don't make me hex you," she warned threateningly.
"Do it if you must," replied Sirius. "But Snape will pay just the same." Lily huffed and drew her wand, but seeing that Sirius was not moving, she relented and sat back down next to Harry and Hermione.
"You're not going to stop him?" asked Hermione.
"What's the point?" Lily answered. "I can't stop these fights no matter how hard I try. In the end, they always - HARRY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Harry had his wand out and was conjuring up snowballs, which he proceeded to send zooming at the still spinning Snape, making them bounce off his head. Harry reddened at being caught but didn't relent.
"Harry quit it," said Hermione reprovingly.
"Nah," he said sending another snowball at Snape which splattered all over his face.. "I've wanted to do this for too long." Stealing a glance at the Marauders, Lily saw that they were all doubled over with laughter. James, catching Lily's gaze, wiped a tear of laughter from his eye and flicked his wand. Instantly Snape disappeared.
"Where did you send him?" Lily asked in a very motherly tone.
"The hospital wing," said James coming over to the three of them, followed by the Marauders who were still laughing. "Lockheart my lad, that was a fine bit of conjuring there."
"Thanks," said Harry. "You didn't do too bad yourself."
"Yeah well, I can't stand to hear him talk to Lily like that. Not to mention Hermione, who he doesn't even know." Harry felt a rush of gratitude towards his father at hearing this.
"It doesn't mean that you handled it the right way," said Lily. "I'm used to hearing him call me stuff like that, you know."
"Yeah, but you can't tell us that it doesn't affect you," said Sirius. Lily bowed her head slightly.
"All right," she said. "Thanks. I suppose he did deserve it, but you should really be more careful about doing that to him in public, you could've lost us a lot of points."
"You know that I'd just award Gryffindor points until I made up the ones I lost," James said smiling.
"Way to abuse the Head Boy position," said Lily. "Don't you ever feel guilty about doing stuff like that?"
"Sometimes," admitted James. "But you've always been there to punish me, so it generally takes the guilt away." Lily blushed as she realised the truth to this statement. The two continued in their conversation as Harry grinned and put his arm around Hermione.
"It begins," he whispered in her ear. Hermione smiled at him at gave him a quick kiss.
"What was that about?" asked James staring past Lily at the two of them. "What begins?"
"Oh, nothing," said Harry. James shook his head at him.
"Someday I'll find out, Harry," he said.
"Yeah, you will," Harry admitted. "But until then, you have to just keep wondering." James gave a slight laugh at this before continuing his conversation with Lily. Sirius, however sauntered around behind Lily over to Harry and Hermione
"Hey Lockheart," he said sitting down. "I want you to know, the snowballs? That was brilliant. I'd have never thought to do that one in a million years."
"Thanks," said Harry with a smile. "Although I don't know if it's saying much." Sirius grinned at him.
"Gonna make me prove my worth?" he asked.
"It's a thought," said Harry with a lopsided grin.
"If you think that I'm dueling you, you're very much mistaken," he said.
"Frightened?" asked Hermione with a smile. Sirius looked at her menacingly, but then gave a small laugh.
"I guess you could call it that," he said. "So how is it that I need to 'prove myself' to you Harry?" Harry thought about this for a second then an idea came across his mind.
"How about a race?" he asked smiling. "First to complete ten laps around the grounds. You can fly, can't you?" he added at the end seeing Sirius' shocked look at Harry's first proposal. Letting out a chuckle he turned to the Marauders.
"Did you guys hear that?" he asked. "Lockheart here just challenged me to a race." James stopped talking with Lily and looked at him.
"On brooms?" he asked smiling. Sirius nodded. "Lockheart, you do know that Sirius was the best flyer Hogwarts had seen until he got kicked off the quidditch team."
"What'd you get kicked off for?" Hermione asked. Sirius guffawed.
"I threw my beater's bat at the other team's seeker," he said. "He'd said some bad things about James."
"Hmmm, well I'm still offering you the challenge," he said. "You accept?"
"Ten laps around the grounds on brooms?" asked Sirius laughing. "You're on."
"Very good," Harry said. "Accio Firebolt!" Lily and the Marauders looked at him with confusion, as Harry's broom came hurtling into the courtyard.
"Now?" asked Sirius.
"Unless you have plans," Harry responded. Sirius nodded and took out his own wand.
"Accio Comet!" And moments later Sirius' broom flew into his grip. Both riders mounted their brooms and looked at each other.
"Would you like a head start?" asked Harry. "To make it fair and all." Sirius looked at the Marauders like he was mad.
"Sure," he said turning back to Harry.
"Very well, I'll give you a ten second head start then," Harry said. "Whenever you're ready." With that Sirius nodded and zoomed off into the air.
"You think you have a chance this way?" asked Remus. Harry turned and looked at him.
"You think HE has a chance this way?" asked Harry.
"3...2...1...GO!" shouted Lily and Harry rocketed off to catch up to Sirius.
"Bloody hell," said James looking after him. "I've never seen anyone take off so fast." Hermione snickered at this.
"By the way, Harry's has the fastest broom world," she said. James looked at her and laughed.
"Sure he does."
"Just watch," said Hermione.
Up in the air Harry could see Sirius about 500 feet ahead of him. They had already completed four laps, and Harry could tell that James wasn't joking when he said that Sirius was one of the best flyers at Hogwarts. However 500 feet was nothing when it came to a Firebolt versus a Comet, and Harry drew even with Sirius on the sixth lap.
"You know," Harry shouted to his opponent. "Maybe next time I'll give you twenty seconds, it'll be harder for me that way." And with that Harry shot off past a completely stunned Sirius.
"That was invigorating," Harry said as he landed a few minutes later, to shocked looks from the Marauders. "Sirius should be done in about a minute."
"How....?" asked Remus in bewilderment. Harry smiled at him.
"Years of flying," said Harry trying to conceal his amusement. Sirius landed beside him, clearly out of breath.
"How?" he asked mirroring Remus' question.
"Good flyer, isn't he?" asked Hermione walked over to Harry. Expressions of amazement were on the Marauder's faces and silence fell until James finally spoke.
"You play quidditch?" he asked softly.
"Come again?" asked Harry.
"Do you play quidditch?" James asked, more pronounced this time. Harry smiled.
"As a matter of fact, I was a seeker where I came from." James smiled.
"Well it just so happens that we have a seeker position that needs to be filled," he said. "Tryouts are tomorrow."
"I know," said Harry. "I was planning on trying out anyway."
"Mmm," grunted James. "Well then, see you on the pitch at a quarter to nine in the morning. Report to me, I'm the captain." Harry nodded and James walked off, followed by Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"I take it your broom is from the future?" Lily asked once the Marauders were gone.
"Of course," said Harry. "Best broom there is."
"I can tell," she replied. "James wasn't joking. Sirius really was the best flyer in school until you showed up."
"I never knew he was on the quidditch team," said Harry. "He never told me."
"He doesn't like to talk about it," said Lily. "Him and James got into a terrible row about it because James was furious that he'd lost his best beater."
"This isn't good," said Hermione all of a sudden. "We're turning into them. Challenging them to races, not caring about Snape..."
"Hermione, don't worry about it," said Harry. "We've never been able to truly relax before. It's high time we had some fun and mischief."
"I suppose you're right," said Hermione. "I just miss the future a little, that's all."
"Why?" asked Harry. "In the future Ron and Luna are dead. In the future there's a train full of students that's been attacked. In the future is an inevitable confrontation with Voldemort that will leave either me or him dead. I, for one, wish I could stay here."
"As much as I love your company, Harry, Hermione's right," said Lily. "You don't belong here. Your place is the future, and it doesn't do to dwell in the past, whether it be physically or mentally." Harry frowned at the thought of leaving his parents behind. It would be like losing them all over again. Even though he had been fairly cold to James and Sirius, being around them always made him smile slightly.
"Maybe you're right," he said hugging Hermione. "Maybe we should start being warmer around them."
"Yeah," she said.
=====
The next day Harry was awoken by someone shaking him frantically. Opening his eyes, he saw the Marauders peering down at him.
"Morning Harry!" said James dressed in his quidditch robes. "It's 8:30, you coming to the tryouts or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," groaned Harry getting up.
"Put on some loose fitting clothes, and meet us in the common room," said Sirius. With that, the Marauders walked out of the dorm and left Harry by himself. Grabbing his Firebolt and throwing on some baggy jeans and a t-shirt, he ran out of the dorm without socks, and his shoes untied.
Entering the common room, he saw that not only the Marauders, but Hermione and Lily were waiting for him as well.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked. Hermione looked at him as if he were daft.
"You expect me not to come to your tryout?" she asked in a bossy voice.
"Let's not forget that I have to be there, being that I'm on the team," said Lily grinning. Harry smiled and looked at James.
"I'm ready," he said.
"Well it's about bloody time, we should've been down there by now," said James.
"Then why'd you wait for me?" Harry asked.
"I wanted to make sure you got up in time, which I see was a good thing. Now LET'S GO!" And with that the seven of them made their way out of the common room and down to the quidditch pitch.
The entire team had showed up to watch the practice, and Harry didn't recognize any of the other four players except for the familiar pink-haired girl that he saw the first day of classes.
"Hey James, who's that?" Harry asked pointing to the girl.
"Tonks," James answered. "Dunno what her first name is, I've heard she doesn't tell it to anyone." Harry smiled to himself at the thought of Tonks playing quidditch, but then he remembered that she was a pretty avid flyer.
About twenty people had showed up to try out, but it was easily apparent that none were as good as Harry. Like Wood, James had thrown them all golf balls instead of using the snitch, and no one except for Harry had managed to catch them all. The tryouts ended with James pronouncing him as seeker, and after congratulations from Lily and a bone-crushing hug from Hermione, everyone made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Congratulations," said Remus in earnest. "You really were the best out there."
"Thanks," said Harry.
"He means it," said James coming up behind him and clapping him on the back. "You were marvelous, we're sure to win the cup this year." Harry smiled.
"Well when's the first practice?" Harry asked.
"Tomorrow," said James. "Make sure you get good rest tonight, because I work my players hard."
"He's not lying," said Lily quietly. "One time before a match he had us all out there until midnight in the rain just because were weren't doing very well."
"It worked, didn't it?" asked James. "I seem to remember us crushing Ravenclaw in that particular match, by a score of nearly 300 to 20."
"Yes well..." said Lily trailing off. They reached the common room and Harry slumped into an armchair, Hermione sitting down on top of him. The Marauders occupied the couch, while Lily took the other armchair.
"Good job today Harry," said Sirius. "You're probably the best seeker we'll have had in a good many years."
"Yeah well, my team's captain was very paranoid," Harry said laughing. "Made us work everyday. Didn't think about a thing aside from qudditch."
"I'm a lot like that too," said James. "But dinner's in a few hours, and I want to get washed up and change. I'll see you tomorrow at noon, ok Harry?" He nodded and James set off up to the dorms, followed by the rest of the Marauders.
"I'm with him on this one," said Lily getting up. "I could use a nap before dinner, I hate getting up so early." Harry and Hermione nodded and Lily got up and headed for the Head Girl's room. As soon as they were alone Hermione grabbed Harry and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
"What was that for?" Harry asked smiling.
"It was congratulations for making the team," Hermione said returning his smile.
"I thought you hated me playing quidditch?" asked Harry.
"I do, but it's something you love, so I'll learn to like it," she replied. Harry smiled and looked into her eyes, seeing a lustful fire burning in them.
"You think Lily will have a problem with us using the Head Boy's room again?" asked Harry.
"Not as long as we put silencing charms everywhere," replied Hermione getting up. Harry grinned and grabbed her hand, sprinting to the room adjacent to Lily's with Hermione in his wake.
=====
"Harry? You in there? C'mon we have practice!" shouted Lily through the door to the Head Boy's room. Harry groaned and looked around blinking. He and Hermione hadn't bothered to leave the Head Boy's room the day before, and had managed to fall asleep at around 5 in the afternoon. Sitting up, he noticed the Hermione was wide awake and looking at him.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer," said Harry smiling. Hermione swatted at him and pulled him down for a kiss.
"Why take a picture when I have the object of my dreams right here in front of me?" she asked.
"HARRY! YOU IN THERE?" came the voice of Lily again. Harry groaned and got out of bed. He was just about to open the door when Hermione spoke up.
"You may want to put on something," she said grinning. Harry looked down and realised that he was wearing naught but his birthday suit. Blushing slightly, he grabbed his boxers and pants and put them on before opening the door.
"What's up?" he asked Lily, who was standing outside the door in her quidditch robes.
"What's up?" she mimicked in urgency. "It's 11:45, that's what's up! A fine way to impress everyone, show up late for your first practice!"
"Ahh, bollocks," said Harry remembering that his first practice was today. "Give me a minute?"
"It had better only be a minute," she huffed. Harry smiled and closed the door to find Hermione putting on her clothes.
"You don't have to get up," he said.
"Like I'm going to miss your practice," she retorted. "What else is there for me to do on a Sunday?"
"The library?" asked Harry. Hermione laughed.
"I'd rather be with you," she said. "If you had only fallen in love with me earlier, I would've gone to all your practices in sixth year too."
"I'm sorry," Harry said.
"It's ok."
"Oh hey, I forgot to tell you, you know that pink-haired girl who was in our potions class that first day? The one that's also on the team?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, what about her?"
"It's Tonks."
"Is it really?" asked Hermione with a smile. "I would never have thought she played quidditch."
"She's much better in the air than she is on the ground," said Harry. "She was with the group that flew me to Grimmauld Place before 5th year, remember?"
"Oh right," said Hermione. "You better get going before Lily breaks in here. I'll meet down at the pitch."
"All right," Harry replied giving her a kiss on the cheek. "See you there."
=====
"You two!" bellowed James as Lily and Harry made their way down to the pitch. "Hurry up! You're late!" Harry and Lily ran the rest of the way to the field and arrived to find James glowering at them.
"I may be hopelessly in love with you Evans, but that doesn't mean I won't punish you for being late. Hand over the broom. You too, Lockheart." Lily sighed and handed her broom to James.
"What are you doing?" asked Harry.
"Whenever anyone shows up late to practice, I put weights on their broom so that you have to put more effort into flying. It also helps you move faster once you take them off," James said fitting Lily and Harry's brooms with black collars. Handing the brooms back to their owners, he addressed the team. "Listen up!" he shouted. "You all saw Harry here yesterday, he's our new seeker." There were murmurs from the assembled group. "We're going to run practice in groups today. Dolsher, Muldew, and Lockheart, you go and work on triangle forms. Kielty, Tonks, and Evans, you're with me.
The weights on Harry's broom were making it tough for him to move so quickly with the beaters. He was working on a triangle formation where the beaters covered him while he was in pursuit of the snitch. It was an idea of James' to try it, and it seemed quite ingenious when the beaters had told Harry about it. Harry was just making a swoop that they had planned, when he saw Hermione out of the corner of his eye. Smiling, he took his eyes off the space in front of him to look at her and collided with James.
"Oy!" yelled James struggling to stay on his broom. "Watch where you're going!"
"Sorry," Harry muttered. Practice continued for another few hours, until James called it to a stop.
"Ok, good job gang," he said back in the locker room. "Just remember what we practiced and be back here at six on Tuesday." The group nodded and began to file out of the room, when James called out again. "Lockheart! A moment please?" Harry stopped and walked back over to James, followed by Lily.
"What the bloody hell happened out there?" he asked wide-eyed.
"Sorry about that," said Harry. "It was an accident."
"Listen," James said. "We can't have you crashing into other players during a game. If the sight of your own girlfriend makes you lose control, then you'll have to ask her not to come."
"James leave him alone, it was an accident," said Lily.
"Evans this doesn't involve you, he nearly knocked me off my broom," said James.
"James, you're putting all the blame on me, but let me assure you, that the last I had checked, the space in front of me was clear," said Harry hotly. "Maybe you should watch where you're going and not fly right into my path." This caused James to stand up.
"Do not talk to your captain like that!" he bellowed.
"James Potter, you do not yell at your son!" Lily screeched. The silence that followed this outburst was deafening, only to be interrupted by Hermione entering the locker room.
"Hey I was just wondering where you were, so I came down here.......what's going on?" she asked seeing the shocked look on James' face.
"Well..." James said. "That would explain a lot."
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I know this chapter is fairly short, I had a pretty bad case of writer's block with it. It's getting really hard to write this story, since I'm running out of ideas for while Harry and Hermione are in the past. I don't want to rush it, but I get the feeling that I'll only be able to make Harry and Hermione stay in the past for another 4 or 5 chapters or so, instead of the 8 or 9 I'd been hoping for. Who knows, some new inspiration may come to me yet.
That's all for this week folks, hope you enjoyed it!