Harry Overreacts
Chapter 13: Harry Overreacts
October 15, 1993
Cedric Diggory was standing at the Astronomy Tower, looking off into the sky.
It was really pretty. Glowing moon, blinking stars, dark sky…
But he wasn't here for that. He was here to do his Astronomy homework, which he was extremely behind on.
"Cedric?" came a feminine voice from behind him. He whipped around to see Cho standing there. "Sorry for disturbing you," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to startle you." She smiled a little bit.
"No, you're perfect," Cedric replied, smiling warmly at her. "Did you need something, though?"
"I just came up here." Cho shrugged. "It's a really pretty sight."
"It is," agreed Cedric. Then he frowned. "Why are you still standing there? Are you going to come here or not?"
Cho blushed. "I got stuck. My foot is in between the two stairs."
Cedric stood up and walked over to her, holding out his hand. "Grab on," he said softly. She grabbed his hand, and he put his hands on her waist, pulling her out of the stairs. He gently carried her to the ledge where he had been sitting, and set her down. He didn't remove his hand from hers, however.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Yeah, no problem," Cedric responded, giving her a smile.
"Why are you up here, though?" Cho wondered.
"Homework," Cedric answered, grinning. "I hadn't finished it yet."
"I can help," offered Cho. "I know I'm younger than you, but I'm pretty good at Astronomy."
Cedric looked at her before handing the quill to her and positioning the telescope so she could use it.
"We're doing Jupiter moons," Cedric informed her.
"Okay. That's Europa, not Ganymede," she said, crossing out something on his paper.
"Thank you," Cedric said, glaring at his paper. Had he seriously just messed that up?
"You're welcome." Cho flashed him a smile.
"I think I'm done with homework for now," Cedric said, pushing his papers to the side. "I'm just going to sit here and watch the sky. Do you want to?"
"Sure," said Cho, and they laid back together, watching the stars.
Tonks was attempting to "run into" Remus today.
She'd been trying to for a while, but since he was a teacher and she was an Auror, they were both here for a job and didn't really have much free time.
But now it was the evening, and neither of them had any work. Remus never had work in the evenings, but she had most of her work on the weekends. She couldn't interrogate students and teachers during class!
She was going to go for a walk, near the Forbidden Forest, like she normally did. She knew that Remus liked to meet Hagrid sometimes… and Hagrid looked like he was getting ready for a visitor (he was preparing pumpkins for Thanksgiving). So she hoped with all her might that Remus was the lucky visitor.
She pulled on an amethyst purple sweater and lined sweatpants. Her hair was a vibrant shade of red, curly and reaching just below her shoulders. She pulled on boots and strolled outside, her plan foiling just as she exited the castle.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the visitors to Hagrid's hut. The three of them were entering Hagrid's hut. Tonks could make out the word Buckbeak, but couldn't hear anything else.
Oh, well. She'd try meeting him another day. Just because today's plan failed didn't mean that-
"Hi, Tonks," came a warm and weary voice from behind her. She turned around to see the face of Remus Lupin. Wow. Looked like her plan hadn't failed, after all.
"Hey, Remus," she greeted, trying to keep her voice casual. "What a… surprise."
Remus looked like he saw through the pretense, but he - thankfully - didn't comment. "What are you doing out here?"
"Taking a walk," Tonks replied, leaning against a tree behind her. "I like walking near the Forest."
"I remember that," Remus recalled, smiling. "You told me that just a few days ago."
"I did?" Tonks frowned. "Oh. I did." She shook her head. "Anyway, what are you doing out here?"
"I was hoping I'd run into someone," he said smoothly, smiling down at her. Tonks's heart started beating a little faster than it had before. Who had he been hoping to run into? Why would he come to this place, where he knew she liked to go…
Then it hit her. He'd been trying to see her. But why? Why would he want to meet her?
"Oh?" she asked, controlling her heart rate. "Fun. Did you meet that someone?"
His eyes glinted as he moved away from the topic. "How's the investigation going?"
Tonks looked at him curiously. "It's going good," she responded. "I'm thinking of sending in a team to go into the woods in a few days to try to find the three girls. And Sirius, while we're at it. It's a two-in-one situation."
"Good luck," said Remus, and he sounded like he meant it.
"Thank you," said Tonks, flashing him a bright smile.
Remus smiled down at her. "How's the jacket?" he asked.
"I love it," Tonks replied truthfully. "It's amazing. And warm. I couldn't love it more." She frowned. "Are you sure you don't want it back?"
Remus let out a soft laugh. "Please, no. You keep it. I want you to have it. I'm truly glad you like it, though, that's what counts."
Tonks gave him a sideways smile. "You're the best, Remus, thank you."
Remus returned the smile. "I think I have to go." He didn't sound too thrilled at the prospect. "I really hope I see you around."
"Yep." Tonks nodded. "Bye, Remus."
Remus squeezed her hand softly, and he was gone, leaving a very flustered Tonks standing in the grass.
James watched Remus carefully. "You think we can pull this off?"
"I mean... you said it wouldn't truly be a prank. So it should be fine..."
"Exactly," James told him. "I'm just so... so... annoyed that Liana's gone. I need some sort of, well, fun thing to keep me occupied. And Lily, too. She's miserable."
"Yeah," murmured Remus. "Okay, sure. I'll do it."
James's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"You're the best, Remus. Okay, I have the best idea. Make Madam Pince wear a shirt that goes 'I love Argus Filch?'"
Remus blinked. "Okay."
"Seriously?"
"Sure," said Remus, shrugging. "Why not?"
"Awesome."
"And... What about making Argus wear the same thing?"
"What, 'I love Irma Pince'?"
"Yep."
"Awesome," repeated James. "Let's do that. Well, I'll see you at the prank tomorrow, Remus. I have to go tonight."
"Go?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, to the woods you and Tonks went to the other day." James looked at him. "Oh, did I forget to tell you?"
Remus laughed. "Seriously, Prongs, how could you forget?"
"Sorry," apologized James. "Well, Lily and I are going tonight. Harry wanted to come, but we told him not to. It's dangerous."
"I wish you luck," Remus said. "Tonks and I didn't get much."
"Oh, I'm sure you did," James said, grinning. "Well yeah, Lily and I are going tonight. A piece of cake."
"It's not that easy," Remus warned. "Stop underestimating things."
"Sure, sure." James chortled. "Okay, well, I'm meeting Lily in the Great Hall. I'll take your leave."
Remus ruffled James's hair. "Have fun. Be safe. Return alive."
"You don't worry about me," James said. "I'll return whole."
"Good."
"Thanks, Remus," James said, walking out of the room. "You're amazing."
Remus smirked. "I sure hope so."
"Fail, huh." Harry smirked.
James crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't you start, young man. It was too dangerous for you, and had you come along, you might've been dead. We wouldn't have been much better."
"You shouldn't seek attention like this," Lily added.
"Seek attention?" Harry asked. "I'm not seeking attention. You get this, right? I don't want to have to do this. I don't like that all this happens to me. Trouble comes to me, I'd prefer to stay out of it."
"But…?"
"But it's Liana," Harry explained. "My sister. And all this stuff that happens… It's all related to this whole Voldemort thing. And I dunno, it's all sort of connected to me. Why?"
James and Lily exchanged a glance. "When you're older," Lily said simply.
"Even Dumbledore says that," grumbled Harry. "Stop treating me like a child."
"Yeah, yeah, we get that." James patted Harry on the shoulder. "Would you like some assorted sours?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "If this is a ruse to get me to move away from the topic… then yeah, I'll still have some."
Lily smiled at him and handed him a few sours.
"Seriously? Blueberry, Cherry, Watermelon, and Green Apple?" Harry closed his eyes. "You don't have much flavor sense."
"Thanks," laughed Lily.
"No, it's fine. Thanks for the… friendly gesture," Harry mumbled.
"It's a family gesture," James said. "To a good son."
"Yeah, cool, thanks," Harry said, giving his dad a small smile.
"So… You up to any good mischief lately?" James asked, winking at Harry. Harry resisted the urge to laugh.
"James, no! Don't get him into that!" Lily chided.
"You don't think he already has?" Harry asked, chortling. "Where do you think all the chocolates went this summer… down the drain?"
"You found them?" screeched Lily, looking like she was about to choke. "You ate them? They were for Melinda's engagement! Agh, I can't believe this!" She looked at James. "Seriously? You couldn't find any other chocolates to nick from your own house?"
James laughed good-naturedly. "Don't tie your wand in a knot, please," he said. "Take a deep breath."
Lily made a face at him before turning to Harry. "Did the chocolates taste good?"
"Honestly… nah." Harry grinned. "No offense."
"Good," sighed Lily. "I bought the rotten ones on purpose."
Harry stared at her incredulously. "What was that?"
She turned a little pink. "Melinda told me my fashion sense was terrible… and so I…"
"Bought her the bad ones for her engagement?" Harry gasped. "Mum, you're evil!"
"She told you what?" James looked furious and shot to his feet.
"Dad, please, don't…" Harry trailed off.
"She told me my fashion sense was terrible, but please don't do anything about it, James, it doesn't matter."
"No, Lily, it does." James looked at her. "Where does Melinda live?"
Lily rolled her eyes. She put her hands up, grabbed James's shirt, and pulled him back down on the chair. "Do you care about me?"
"Of course I do. Do you want me to rip Melinda into fourths or thirds?"
"No, James, listen," Lily implored. "I don't care."
"Yeah, Dad, it doesn't really matter," Harry put in. "It's just a stupid woman saying stupid things. Mum's got good fashion sense, we both know that, so there's no need to get angry or do anything about it."
"Thank you, Harry, you said it just right." Lily made to ruffle lhis hair, and he ducked. "Please, James, for me? Don't do anything about it."
James sighed. "Okay. But tell me if I need to do something."
"Dad, you're overreacting," Harry muttered. "It's fine. You can't murder everyone who says something bad about Mom."
"Fine," sighed James. He turned to Lily. "But you know that your fashion sense is amazing, right?"
Lily snorted. "Yeah."
"And that I love it, right? And that I love you?" James scooted closer to Lily on the couch and Harry closed his eyes. Here came the yucky part.
"Do I?" Harry heard a playful smack on James's cheek and squeezed his eyes even tighter. Gross.
"Do you want me to prove it?" James asked.
"Yes. Please."
Oh gosh, did parents always act this way? This was so disgusting. Harry was right here, listening to them. Did they forget about him? Gross.
Lily let out a content sigh. "Don't stop, James."
"Who said I will?" James asked, his voice not teasing anymore. It was full of sap. Once more… Gross!
Harry opened his mouth, wondering what to say. Hello, I'm right here? Er, guys, can you stop? Mum… Dad… Can you do this somewhere else? Or should he just walk away.
"I'm just telling you not to," Lily's voice came. "I could stay here all day."
"Well, er, I can't," Harry mumbled, his face turning red as he opened his eyes to see his parents jumping up and staring at him. "Is it okay if… Can I… erm… go?"
Lily blinked a few times. "Oh."
"Doesn't look like I'm needed here, anyway," Harry continued. "I think Ron and Hermione are waiting for me…"
"Sorry," James said sheepishly.
"It's okay, I guess," Harry replied. "It's just… I dunno, affection? I'd just prefer not to be in the same room, you know."
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry," Lily apologized, reaching in for a hug.
Harry leaned back. "No, Mum, it's okay. I'm not, like, mad. Just kind of…" He didn't know. "I think I'm going to go. Bye." He was out the door in a flash, running to the Hospital Wing as fast as his legs would carry him.
"Madam Pomfrey?" he called, banging against the door. "Madam Pomfrey?"
The oak doors opened and Madam Pomfrey frowned down at him. "Do you need… oh, dear. It's you. What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"I've seen something horrifying," Harry explained, panting. "Can you please get me some sort of potion to get the sight out of my head?"
"Emotional trauma?" she asked, her eyebrows joining together in the middle.
"Er…" Harry didn't know how to explain this. "Sort of. Just a sickening sight. Kind of shaken up."
"Come in," said Madam Pomfrey, escorting him to a bed. "Sit down. So, should we begin by you telling me just what you saw?"
Harry blinked. "Adults. In love. In front of me."
She raised an eyebrow. "You came to the Hospital Wing because of that?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, but I can't help with that. Of course, I can give you a potion or administer a memory charm, but you can't come running to the Wing anytime that happens."
"Fine. Check my head, though, I think it's given me a horrible headache."
Madam Pomfrey sighed. "This is going to be a long night."
"Checkmate."
"Oh come on, Ron, not again!" groaned Dean. "You keep winning."
Ron grinned, looking smug. "It's how I work." He looked over at the other tables of chess-players. "Hey, who's winning? Who's playing me?"
"You're already done with your game?" Seamus, who was playing Hermione, asked. "No way."
"I told you, Finnigan, he's a good player," Hermione said.
"Unlike you," Seamus muttered.
"I have a plan," Hermione said coolly. "Calculated and planned."
"Well, we'll see about that," Seamus said wickedly.
"Dang, Harry, you're good too," Lavender said, frowning at the board. "How did your bishop come here?"
"I made it move diagonally," Harry answered, rolling his eyes. "Check."
Lavender cursed. "Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang!"
"Do you need to say it one more time?" asked Parvati teasingly.
"No. Shut up. How can I move my king?"
Ron leaned over and speculated the board. "Take out the knight," he suggested.
"No, don't you help he-" started Harry.
"Use the pawn." Ron pointed to the pawn.
"Oh. Thanks!" Lavender gushed. "There goes your knight, Harry."
Harry cursed. "I hate you, Ron, was that necessary?"
"Let me think." Ron frowned, pretending to think. His face cleared up. "Yeah, yeah it was."
"Stop interfering in our games!" Harry cried. "Now I have to come up with a new plan."
"You don't have a plan," accused Ron. "You play by luck."
"Point."
After over ten minutes, the in-progress games were finished, and the "losers" were sitting on the couch grumpily, watching the semi-finals. Ron took it pawn-by-pawn, bishop-by-bishop, king-by-king, and game-by-game. Soon, he'd won the entire thing.
"Why are we not surprised?" asked Neville.
"Not like you would be, you were the first one to get out," said Parvati, smirking.
Neville blushed bright red. "Oops."
"Great job, mate," said Harry, walking over and smacking Ron on the back. "Any tips you'd like to share?"
Ron snorted. "A good magician never reveals their secrets."
"We're all magicians," pointed out Hermione, and everyone started laughing.
Just then, Fred and George appeared in the common room, holding bags of food.
"Party time," George said.
"Why?" asked Ron.
"Because… well… does there really have to be a special occasion to have a party?" Fred defended.
"You got this from the Kitchens," Hermione said flatly.
"Yeah. We did," said George. "Anyway, Ron, we can pretend the special occasion is that it's such a sunny day. Sunny Day Party."
"You got this from the Kitchens."
"Yep." Fred grinned. "Cool, huh? And George, a sunny party is lame. How about just a party about the Quidditch Season?"
"Are you referring to Ravenclaw's new seeker… why would we even support that?"
"Ravenclaw's seeker is actually kind of nice," Harry said with a shrug. "Not like we know her, though."
"Yeah, but she's an enemy," Fred pointed out. "No time to be a gentleman."
"She plays well," noted Ron. "Another reason to hate her?"
"YOU GOT THIS FROM THE KITCHENS!" Hermione screeched.
George frowned, turning to her. "You've stressed the point. Is there something in particular you wonder about that topic, or have you become a parrot?"
Something in Fred's eyes lit up, and he looked like he was about to say something but Hermione cut him off.
"You realize that's against the school ru-"
"Oh, please don't start there!" George cried. "We don't care about the dumb rules, you know this."
"My dad definitely does," muttered Harry, and Ron shot him a grin.
"Yes, but… you know how hard the chefs work?"
George and Fred exchanged a snigger. "Sure," said Fred. "Real hard." Ron felt like he was missing something here, but didn't press the matter.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "How did you even get in them? Did you steal it?"
"Of course we did," George said, looking affronted. "Do you think they handed it to us on a platter?"
"That's exactly what they did," murmured Fred, but so low that Ron was sure he'd heard it wrong.
"No," Hermione said through gritted teeth, "but it's against the rules. You should've left money for them or something."
"If they'd let us!" George cried. "Okay, Hermione, forget it. The rest of us are going to have a party. Come on, Gryffindor, let's party!"
As the party - for what reason still hadn't been decided - commenced, Ron eyed Fred and George backing into a corner silently. He knew what to do. He had to follow them, find out what new mischief they were cooking.
"Yeah, Fred, you were trying to say something?"
"Well, I got the idea when you asked Hermione if she'd become a parrot."
"Oh?" George's voice sounded interested. "What about that?"
"Well… What if we made people turn into parrots?"
George frowned. "That's high-level transfiguration. I don't even know if you can do that."
"Well, we can learn!" cried Fred.
"Hey… Maybe we could put it in a sweet and feed it to people?" suggested George. "Parrot… Parrot Pudding?"
"It doesn't have to be parrots." Fred's voice was brimming with enthusiasm. "Maybe hawks? Pigeons?"
"Canaries?" suggested George. "They'd be fun! And easy, too, McGonagall said so."
"Perfect," said Fred, clapping his hands together.
"This is going to be amazing," whispered George.
Ron couldn't disagree more.