‘Pick your battles, my young witch.’ He grinned as he ruffled her hair some more despite her protests.
The pair headed back to the hotel as Holly got ready for bed, a vanilla colored owl flew in with a letter from Fluer.
‘Looks like you got a pen pal,’ David commented as Holly nodded as she read over the letter with a grin.
The vacation thrummed on, while the rest of the vacation was fun it wasn’t as interesting as the talk with the Delecore. They headed home, went out to the beach where everyone got to watch Sirius stick out with muggle and witches alike.
It was closing in on the end of the summer when she got an invite to spend some time over at Ron’s house.
‘So do you want to head over, just promise you’ll be back in time to go to the ally,’ her dad half insisted half asked.
‘Sure,’ she shrugged. ‘Seems Mr. Weasley wants you and Sirius to look at his car.’
‘Muggle tech sounds good to me.’ Sirius butted in as Holly shook her head.
‘So what is floo powder, they mention they are connected to the network,’ Holly brought up as David smirked, as Sirius burst into laughter. ‘What?’
‘Memories, I am not gonna bother we can take the bike.’ David waved off,
‘I want to try this out.’ Holly insisted.
‘Okay, I’ll get this set up.’ Sirius chuckled as he headed off.
‘What is so funny?‘She eyed her father.
‘I’ll tell you after I stop Sirius there is a reason I kept us off the network.’ With that, her dad chased after her uncle.
The trip over snowballed as the men hung around the car, talking about the engine.
‘I can’t believe your dads just as mental as mine.’ Ron sighed, as they hung out in his room. He seemed uncomfortable, as he glanced at the window.
‘You have no idea my dad and uncle flew away from the muggle police and ended up getting in a shoot out with some death eaters.’
‘Your dad is crazy,’ Ron admitted, as Holly nodded,
‘So what is up with your sister, she ran off as soon as she saw me?’ Holly asked Ron laughed,
‘Oh you are here hero, wouldn’t stop talking about you all summer long,’ Ron explained, as Holly felt very uncomfortable. ‘Don’t worry about it mom says she’ll grow out of it. I know you want everyone to give your mom the credit, so maybe say that in front of her.’
‘That could make it worse, oh that reminds me meat a friend over at France.’ Holly moved to show Ron.
‘Does he like Quidditch?’ Ron asked as Holly laughed,
‘What makes you think it’s a guy?’ Holly paused.
‘You normally hang out with guys technically?’ Ron scratched his read hair.
‘Her name is Fleur and sadly I don’t think so.’ She admitted,
‘Wow!’ Ron exclaimed as he looked at the picture as Holly felt a string of negative emotions hit her with that word.
‘Yeah,’ she said in a neutral tone that Ron didn’t pick up on.
‘Here, you want to go pick up a quick pick-up game of Quidditch?’ He asked as he handed the picture back.
‘Sure,’ Holly smiled as all was forgiven. The pair quickly rounded up the usual suspects and with out a seeker Holly took up the chaser position.
The game gathered a slight crowd, despite it not being much of a game more like a half court game.
‘You have a broom I can borrow?’ Sirius asked,
‘Yeah,’ Arthur admired as he handed him an adult broom as Sirius road up next to Ron. The activity stopped. ‘I think we can work up a bit of a game now, me and Percy will be keepers sound good.’
‘If I must,’ Percy doing his best to look like his arm was being twisted.
‘So Ronnie kins and his girlfriend versus us then,’ Fred teased as Ron turned red,
‘Less talk more game,’ Holly grinned as Sirius tossed her the ball as she spun it on her finger.
‘Watch out, Fred, I think the youngest seeker of the century may have a big head,’ George commented as Holly passed the ball to Ron. Who got it past Percy into the makeshift hop.
‘I don’t think I am the one with the ego problem.’ She smirked as the game was on.
Her dad passed the ball up to Percy, the twins easily had the better teamwork, they played a while longer. But her uncle was able to make up for the lack of experience, the adults called out advice, Ron for the most part struggled with the change more use to keeper than chaser. Holly stole the quaffle and passed it to Ron who lingered near Percy’s side. They day went on until Dinner with both sides convinced they won the game.
‘Molly you didn’t have to,’ Her dad commented at the spread, the large group spread the living room.
‘This is payback for Christmas,’ Mrs. Weasley insisted,
‘Your boys helped out my daughter, it was the least I could do.’ David reasoned as Holly watched his dad squirm under the woman’s gaze.
‘I didn’t cook all this up to go to waste, sit,’ she ordered as her dad and her uncles complied.
‘You wouldn’t believe it, these raids are getting crazy,’ Mr. Weasley went on,
‘It’s weird, that such an important job is being reduced to two people.’ Lupin commented, ‘when it comes to the statute of secrecy, your job is the most important.’
‘I can handle it, although I wouldn’t mind having a bit of a budget to hire on more hands.’ He admitted.
‘Yeah those muggles are getting sharper we may need the extra man power.’ Sirius nodded,
‘What do you mean?’ Arthur asked,
‘Oh they set up the Endeavor last May,’ Sirius commented,
‘Up,’ Arthur asked,
‘Yeah outer space, they got a network of stuff orbiting the planet to speed up communication, mind you it’s not as amazing as the floo network but they are doing there best, I would give another decade or so and they maybe able to rival our communication spells.’ Sirius shrugged,
‘You have been watching to much tv,’ Lupin chuckled, ‘but he isn’t wrong the muggle society is much smarter than most wizards give it credit, we could stand to learn a thing or two.’
‘You must show me some of this stuff.’ Arthur smiled as Molly sighed.
‘Still can’t get pictures to move,’ Ron grumbled, as Holly chuckled,
Dinner moved on, Sirius and Mr. Weasley moved away as the pair talked on about Muggles, Sirius going on about the more cutting edge technology such as the speed tests they did in America.
‘So David, I heard you’re going to be teaching this year, I really wish you wouldn’t have gone for the cursed position.’ Mrs. Weasley commented.
‘I only signed out for about a year, so I don’t plan on getting cursed,’ David admitted,
‘Any plans after?’ Molly asked as Holly noticed a front in the woman’s eye.
‘I have a few,’ David responded as he blinked in confusion.
‘I was wondering if you planned on getting back in dating scene, Holly could use a mother figure in her life.’ Molly brought up as David froze like a deer in the headlights.
‘Good luck Sirius has been trying to get David out there for almost five years now.’ Lupin admired,
‘Not that Sirius has had any luck,’ David commented wryly.
‘Batchelor for life,’ Sirius proclaimed, as Holly noticed Mrs. Weasley give her a concerned look.
‘It’s okay, dad’s not ready beside I don’t think any woman alive could complete with my mom.’ Holly smiled which seemed to soften the matron up a bit.
‘Well deary if you need anything you just let me know.’ She insisted,
‘Speaking of which I was wondering, Holly grew out of her old uniforms was wondering if you could take them off our hands.’ David went over there was a slight pause, ‘if you don’t want em I am just gonna take them to one of the second hand store,’ David admired,
‘Sure, we got no issue.’ Arthur spoke up,
‘Good to know, I will have Garius drop it of tomorrow,’ David finished,
&
nbsp; ‘Speaking of witch when are we getting the letters in, it’s getting a bit late.’ Holly spoke up.
Dinner finished up as everyone said goodbye. ‘You really did it this time Jame, now you and Molly are going to try and kill each other with kindness,’ Sirius laughed,
‘The world could always use more kindness,’ Lupin smiled, as David tossed him the bike keys. ‘Why?’
‘I feel like going for a run, I need to clear my head.’
‘Can you teach me?’ Holly asked with a grin, as her Dad paused,
‘I think we got enough time before school starts.’ David smiled,
‘David, that’s very dangerous,’ Lupin warned,
‘Oh Remues we got two guys who did it why not?’ Sirius smiled, ‘I could go for a run as well.’ The two shifted and rushed off into the distance.
‘They can’t seem to say no to you huh?’ Lupin asked her.
‘More than you realize lets go,’ she jumped into the side car.
‘Hope you are ready I can tell you this project is going to be, fun.’ He chuckled darkly.
‘So a mouth?’ Holly looked at the leaf her dad had handed her.
‘I didn’t stutter did I, one mouth and that’s just the start try not to eat it when you have your meals.’ He warned,
‘This is just the start, back out know, cause after a point it gets dangerous to back out,’ Lupin warned.
‘Any extra tasks we can finish up at the school you should have your new form before Halloween.’
Holly put the leaf in her mouth and instantly wanted to spit it out as her dad did his best to hide his amusement. ‘How anyone figured out this step I will never understand.’ She frowned as her face went over a series of different faces.
‘Mandrakes are very magical in nature, they can also cure petrification, I think that was second-year herbology?’ Lupin half guessed as David shrugged, ‘Anyway have fun with the leaf,’ as the three walked away as Holly wanted to shout at them but the rank flavor kept her from doing more than making faces.
The proses weren’t fun as she found herself talking a lot less. When Hermione came over her friend took full advantage of her quitter behavior. ‘You are looking rather green.’ Hermione had commented.
After a fun day of hanging around the Granger household she headed up to her messy bedroom when she heard her bed springs. She opened the door, to find a rather wrinkly creature with tennis ball sized eyes with a rather poor looking pillow case as makeshift clothing.
‘Who are you and why are you in my room?’ She asked very concerned that something got into her room.
‘Oh, my name is Dobby the house elf, mistress Potter, and I come with a grave warning you must not go back to Hogwarts.’
‘Right,’ Holly grimaced, ‘care to explain, take a seat I got a feeling this is going to be fun. Suddenly the creature started to ball uncomfortably.
‘Dobby has heard of your greatness, but Donny has never heard of your compassion. Donny has never been asked to sit next to a witch like an equal!’ He cried out as Holly sat down and let the house elf calm down.
‘You okay?’ She asked as the house elf nodded and sat down on the chair at her desk as she sat down on the bed.
‘A terrible plot is being hatched at Hogwarts, your life will be in terrible danger Holly most promise not to go back.’
‘Sorry, my dad won’t let me,’ Holly admitted Donny looked panicked he seemed to think Holly would agree.
‘But your life,’ he looked very worried,
‘Wouldn’t be the first time, I appreciate the concern, why don’t you head home,’ she urged. The House-elf looked torn as he suddenly rushed out of the room, ‘Crap,’ she thought as she rushed after, she tried to shout but the leaf almost fell out as the Elf headed down into her Dad’s basement. Holly chased after Dobby. The house elf suddenly vanished in a poof as she spotted her dad who was just as confused as she was.
‘House-elf, how odd, so no details?’ David asked after Holly explained what had happened. Sirius and Lupin remained silent.
‘Not really he seemed to panic after I said I would go back,’ Holly admitted.
‘This is troubling, we need to make sure that Dobby can’t get back in. I didn’t even consider a house elf.’ Her Dad frowned,
‘Nobody does, this will take some doing, house elves, don’t follow the same rules even if we put up anti-apparition wards.’ Lupin frowned.
‘What’s the big deal?’ Holly asked,
‘The big deal is that a house elf is magically required to listen to the house, they serve so if a house elf is tasked with keeping you away from school we may have a few issues on the way. If you end up stranded don’t panic, send an owl, and don’t go running off.’ David imparted, ‘This elf maybe trying to scare you or it may have a real concern. Sirius has a house elf that is a bit on the weird side, we have no way of knowing. I’ll talk to Sally let him know either way.’
The time to get books came and Ron was even less observant about Holly’s weird leaf, the proses went easily enough until they found themselves at bookstore store which was filled with witches.
Gilderoy Lockhart was having a book signing.
‘Ugh mom’s been pushing those books, the household pests one the most.’ Ron made a face.
‘Wasn’t he that git, four years below us who said he was going to make a philosopher stone before graduation?’ Sirius asked,
‘As well as play for England,’ David rolled his eyes,
‘Now then, I recall it was Captain get the cup, then buckle down and become the youngest minister for magic,’ Sirius recalled,
‘You remember all that crap but couldn’t pass your exams with more than an A.’ Lupin frowned.
‘He beat that crap into my head,’ Sirius grumbled,
‘Let’s get the school books, this is going to be fun,’ David grumbled.
‘Too bad he couldn’t be our teacher, his exploits are incredible,’ Hermione commented, as Ron looked a little green.
Something about the man-made Holly uncomfortable as Molly seemed to share Hermione’s interest, who seemed disappointed at having any books for him to sign.
They walked in as David grabbed the needed book before he passed along one to the Weasley students.
‘How did you know?’ Fred asked as David smiled at him.
‘I may have had a hand in what books got picked.’ He winked,
Holly moved around when she bumped into the photographer,
‘Watcher,’ he growled only to spot the scar. ‘Holly Potter!’ He proclaimed, her name reappeared until she found herself, next to the celebrity,
‘Together we will make the front page, he smiled,
‘Hello Gilly weed,’ David greeted as the man turned to see a very angry looking dad just as the camera flashed.
‘David,’ he smiled nervously, as he realized the crowd went silent,
‘I hope you think before you pull such a stunt again.’ David put a hand on his shoulder, ‘I would advise you ask. Wouldn’t want anyone getting jumpy. Right?’
‘Right.’ He smiled,
‘Well since the press is here, I would like to announce, I will be taking up the Defense against the Dark Art position at Hogwarts, were like my good friend Mr. Lockhart will continue to teach wizards and witches how to defend against the darkness in the world.’ He grinned as the photographer got every pained expression on Lockhart’s face.
Her dad leads her away as he ignored the dirty looks the author sent him. ‘What was that all about?’ Holly asked doing her best to keep the leaf from obscuring her words.
‘I upstaged him, you can’t spend time arguing or fighting with people sometimes it’s better if you make the best of a bad situation. You may have to deal with people like this, interviews fans crap like that, we will talk more about it later. Sadly this is a complicated situation, that we need to talk about.’ He patted her shoulder as he moved away to pay for the books.
Holly grouped up with Ron and Hermione, towards the front,
‘wow famous Holly Potter can’t even go to a bookstore without making the front page,’ he glared, Holly frowned at the leaf.
‘Leave her alone.’ Ginny glared at him,
‘Another fan, got a little girl to fight your battles for you?’ He glared at her,
‘oh it’s you,’ Ron looked at Malfoy like it was something gross he stepped in. ‘Why do we keep running into you, don’t you have anything better to do than stalk my friend?’
‘Stalk,’ Draco glared at Ron, as even Holly looked horrified at the implication. ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead, half-blood!’ he glared at Holly who just gave him a disinterested look, while Hermione blinked in surprise. Holly had to move as she grabbed Ron, but even with Ginny and Hermione, they were still skidding towards Malfoy.
‘Ron!’ Mr. Weasly called, as Ron froze, ‘ what are you doing Let’s go outside it’s too crowded in here.’
‘Well, well, well, Arthur Weasley,’ said a man that Holly could only assume was Draco’s dad as they looked so much alike. He had a similar sneer on his face as he placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.
‘Lucius,’ Mr. Weasly returned,
‘Busy time at the ministry I hear, all those raids I hope they are paying you overtime.’ He pulled a book out of Ginny’s cauldron that she had picked back up after Ron stopped trying to beat Draco. ‘Apparently not, what’s the point of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don’t even pay well.’
‘We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,’ Mr. Weasly gritted back his face turning a deeper shade of red then both of his children.
‘Clearly,’ Lucius affirmed as he spotted Mr. and Mrs. Granger who were watching apprehensively unsure of what to do in such a situation. ‘The company you keep, and I thought you couldn’t sink lower,’ Lucius was cut off, as Ginny’s cauldron went flying, and Lucius went into a bookshelf as an encyclopedia crashed into his eye. as Ron and the twins shouted encouragements and Molly told her husband ‘No, Author No.’
‘Please, please, Gentlemen,’ cried out the owner of the bookstore. when a few figures moved in to break it up, David grabbed onto Lucius as he dragged the man up roughly, as Sirius grabbed Author up. Lucius winced under her dad’s grip as Arthur licked at his busted lip.
She whispered Page 80