Hi there!
First of all, I want to thank you for clicking on my thread.
Welcome to "The Serpent and the Butterfly". I know this is a huge story and it will take you hours to catch up. But I would be thrilled if you did so. And I would be even more thrilled if you left a comment. Regardless which chapter you are reading. It's just nice to know what people think about it, really, and it would keep me going.

Thank you for your time, Flutters

I know it is pretty tough to read it like this, and since I had some complains, I uploaded the whole fanfic as a 165-page word-document. You may read it right there or download. This document is PG 13 and not suit for readers any younger.

Please review here!

Stand my ground, I won't give in
no more denying, I got to face it
won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside
if I don't make it, someone else will
stand my ground... Within Temptation



Serena's Barn


"Why did you make me do this?" he cried and kicked against the remains of an old wooden wall. "Why in the world did you make me do this?" The wood splintered as the man went on battering everything within his reach. He sent a pitchfork flying through the air and a tin bucket followed. The greyish cat that was watching him gave a hiss. It had been lying above him on a cedar beam in the roof of a barn. The bucket had only just missed and now it leaped onto the floor, treading carefully upon its disfigured forepaws. The tall man stopped. Apparently he was discomforted of the felines' presence and he eyed it carefully. The cat was no beauty. Its coat was long and patched, its face had scars all over, an eye was missing and it looked like it hadn't eaten in days.
"Just leave me alone, you ugly beast!" The man yelled and threw a stone in the cats' direction. It didn't move but kept its eye on him as it got up and limped towards him. He could see it was in pain. Yet it started purring upon reaching him and rubbed its head against his legs.
"Do not tempt me. Distance yourself, you mangy fleabag. You are meddling with someone you know not!" the man whispered imminently.
"I know you, Severus Snape," said the cat quietly. "And I can see right to the bottom of your heart, dark as it is these days." Slowly it dragged itself towards the other end of the barn. Snape realized a distant blue shimmer and quickly got his wand out.
"Not to worry," continued the cat. "It is only you and I."
"Disclose yourself!" the man said and pointed his wand at the cat.
"Do we really need to go through all this?" sighed the cat. "Enough harm has been done tonight, do you not think so?"
"Who are you?" He sounded tense.
"A friend."
"A friend..." Snape repeated sardonically as he followed the cat. He could now see where the light came from. There was a cauldron sitting on a blue fire and a turquoise liquid was emitting tiny bubbles.
"Whatever you are trying to confect, you obviously blew it," Snape said coldly.
"It looks perfect to me." The cat sounded amused. "And whilst you are standing there you could stir it three times clockwise. It is about time." It carefully lay down and the man could see the extent of its handicap. On each side half of the forepaws were missing.
"As you see I do have trouble stirring myself, so I would be rather thankful if you could do it for me, Potions Master." Suspiciously the man approached the cauldron and took hold of the wooden spoon.
"So what concoctions have you come up with?" Snape asked, carefully stirring.
"Rainbow Elixir," answered the feline proudly.
"Never heard of it."
"Naturally. It is not commonly known in the wizarding world. I daresay you would not survive a sip of it."
"I shall have a drink then," Snape replied sarcastically.
"Now, now, Severus," sighed the cat. "It is not time for you to go yet."
"I do not care!" he burst out. "I killed the only person who ever put faith in me." His face hardened. "I deserve death... and worse."
"From my understanding," the cat stretched and got on its hind legs, you proved Dumbledore was right in trusting you." Snape's eyes widened and he threw the feline an appalled look.
"Not to worry," she said softly, "I already told you I was a friend."
"But how can I trust you?" asked Snape, slightly irritated.
"Listen to your heart."
Snape looked aghast as the cat transformed into a woman. He eyed her critically. The woman looked more ragged than the feline she was a moment ago. The robe, which clothed her, was such filth that Snape could not fathom its true colour. Half her face bore deep scars, her black hair was long and tangled and she doubled over like she was in pain. On her hands the woman had not a single finger left, only dark stubs. When he looked back into her greenish-brown eye, Snape realized she was young still.
"Who did this to you?"
"Death Eaters," she replied casually as she added a yellow powder to her potion, which emitted even more bubbles and turned pearly white. All of a sudden, it began glowing and cast a myriad of rainbow coloured lights upon the rafters.
"Beautiful, is it not?" the woman smiled. She stood back and took a long look at his sallow face. "Severus," she went on," why do you not sit down and have a tea with me?" Hesitating he sat down on a bale of hay. She held out her trembling hand and a mug appeared out of nothing. When he took it she settled down herself. Sipping on her own tea she asked, "So what is it you are so upset about?"
"I am not upset," Snape said in a low voice.
"Severus," the woman moved closer, "you can tell me." She tried to put an arm around his shoulders.
"Do not" he caught hold of her wrist and removed her hands "touch me!"
She shook her head in disbelief. "What did they do to you?" The woman lingered and gazed compassionately at Snape. He felt a tender sensation when she reached out for his mind. It was so different from all he had experienced within the last years. Not like the longing, greedy and cruel grip of Voldemort. Not like the mature and firm touch of Dumbledore. The woman reached out with such softness, such tenderness that he felt warmth pouring through all his body. He could feel his heart beat; it was not like a cold stone anymore. And for the first time in years he couldn't hold up his blockades. They melted away as old memories, he had long forgotten, filled his mind. They were memories of joy and laughter, of starry nights and sunny days, of wine and music and... love. For he had in fact, from one point on, totally neglected that there had been such thing.
But just as a woman’s' face formed in his mind the pain set in and he gasped for breath. The pain was all inside him now and he felt like he was dying the moment the face in his mind erupted with green flashes. Just when he thought he could take no more he felt a gentle pressure on his arm. I can see when you stay low nothing happens. Does it feel right? The woman’s' tender song echoed in his head. Late at night things I thought I put behind me haunt my mind. I just know there's no escape now, but I won't run I have to stare it in the eyes. Memories flashed through his mind. He could see Dumbledore pleading with him. A black-haired girl dead in his arms, blood trickling from her forehead. Stand my ground I won't give in. A young woman, arguing with tears running all over her face. She turned to leave; her midnight-blue clock billowed behind her. No more denying, I've got to face it. Her corpse floating in cold water, the butterfly-necklace around her throat. Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside. Dumbledore again, a green flash hitting his heart. If I don't make it... Harry’s face, white with hate and anger. ... somebody else will... Harry desperately sending curses towards him. ...stand my ground... A new picture formed. A picture he had never seen before. ...It's all around getting stronger, coming closer into my world... The young woman was sitting by the lake, kneeling over a corpse. Her tears were running down her cheeks, in her hand a leather band. ...I can feel that it's time for me to face it. Can I take it?... Hooded figures were closing in, but the woman did not seem to realize. Or not to care. ...though this might just be the ending of the life I held so dear... A hooded figure grabbed her shoulder. She wasn't even looking up. ...but I won't run there's no turning back from here...
As they dragged her away he could see her horrified face. She was reaching out for something. ...all I know for sure is I'm trying... The leather band was floating in the water for a split second, then the little silver ring it held pulled it down and all that remained was a red glow. ...I will always stand my ground...
"No," he cried. "Not her, not her. Please, not her, too."
This time he didn't push her hand away when she ran her stubs through
his hair. "Everybody," he sobbed, "everybody I care for just dies. Serena... Lily... and..." he couldn't speak the name but let out a cry.
"Why did they take her? Why?" He fell over and buried his face in her lap. The woman patted him as he continued crying.
"Severus..." she whispered, "I think you missed out on an important thing..." She carefully pushed him away as she got up and slowly dragged herself to the cauldron. With her hands she reached inside and as she touched the liquid it gave a soft hiss. When she lowered her head to drink from her hands her fingers were back.
"You..." he gasped and looked at the tall young woman. Her black hair fell down to her waist in big curls; she no longer wore rags but a fine dark green silk dress with a silver butterfly on her chest and a midnight-blue cloak. Her face was tanned, her small mouth was grinning and her eyes were sparkling. As she raised her hand to her mouth, Snape shook his head in disbelief. She looked into his eyes and gently she blew across her hand as though a feather was there and butterflies danced from her palm fluttering about the air. He watched them as they rose higher and higher, carrying their colourful glimmer up to the roof and then disappeared. His throat was very dry and he sounded croaky as he finally asked, "Finja?"

greeat story i love it!




remember to reply to : Dejas version of the half blood prince

keep it up i am hoping for another

Please do chapter 2 its great




remember to reply to : Dejas version of the half blood prince

Deja, this is taking things far enough. I've now edited the FOUR fanfic threads that you've started and reminded you in TWO other review threads that plugging your fanfic in other authors' topics is not allowed. If you would like to advertise, you may do so in your signature -- and ONLY your signature. It's incredibly rude to leave essentially one-line reviews, which are utterly useless to the authors who are so kindly sharing their work with the Internet community, and then leave a longer advertisement for your own story. This is NOT a way to get a readership. Furthermore, double-posting is not allowed. Since your two posts are along the same theme, I'm going to put it down to a computer malfunction of some sort... but please watch out for this in the future. Thanks.

Visitors



It hadn’t been an amusing day at Privet Drive so far. When Harry had told his aunt and uncle that Ron and Hermione would be staying with him for a fortnight the greatest thunderstorm ever had hit Kings Cross. The Dursleys were so furious they didn't even care they were in public. Uncle Vernon and Dudley had climbed the next train to Aunt Marge, and Petunia hadn't spoken a single word on their way to Privet Drive. Yet they had given in. Ron and Hermione were staying. Just after they arrived Petunia had stalked away with a hiss that sounded like "If I ever see one of you down here..."
However, now Harry sat comfortably on his bed, Ron right next to him. Hermione had conjured an extra mattress and took notes while going through their next moves. "You know, I really think we should drop by Grimmauld Place before the wedding. We might find some hints on R.A.B. on the Black's family tree. If she is pureblood..."
"What makes you think R.A.B. is a woman? You said the half-blood prince was a woman, too, and you were dead wrong." Ron interrupted.
"Well, thanks for pointing that out," Harry sighed and hid his head between his knees.
"Ron, you are so tactless!" Hermione hissed.
"I wish I'd meet him,“ Harry snarled. "I wish I'd meet him and I'd hit him just like he hit Dumbledore." He paused. "You should have seen his face. It was so full of disgust and hatred and... How could Dumbledore be so wrong? We told him all the time!"
"Harry," Hermione started, but the doorbell interrupted her.
"Are we expecting anybody? I mean, is anybody from the Order checking on us or so?" Ron asked puzzled.
"Not that I know of," Harry answered. "But if they were coming, Aunt Petunia won't like that one bit..."
And sure enough they heard her shrieks echoing through the house only seconds later.
"You are not welcome! No more wizards in this house! Leave at once, Severus Snape or I will..."
"What?" a voice mocked. "Hit me with a frying pan? Come off it, Petunia!"
"He's here!" whispered Harry transfixed.
"Let's leave, Harry!" Hermione clung to his arm. "Let's apperate to the Burrow or to Grimmauld Place, but please, let's not go downstairs!"
"I'm not running away!" Harry spat.
"I'm with you!" Ron said and got up, his wand clutched tightly in his hand. Harry nodded and got his wand ready.
"Let's go!" and they stormed out of the room, Hermione desperately yelling "No!" When they reached the bottom of the stairs they froze to the spot. The scene was too bizarre to be true. Aunt Petunia stood there with an outstretched hand and sent blue sparks towards a rather odd looking Snape. He had exchanged his black robes and coat for tight muggle-blue-jeans and a white shirt. The usually unkempt and greasy looking hair was tied back to a ponytail. Even his skin didn't look as sallow as it was the last time they saw him.
"Potter," he sneered, and sighing he went on, "Petunia, will you give it a rest? You are wearing yourself out."
"How dare you!" Harry menaced as he slowly moved towards Snape, wand pointing directly at his heart. "How dare you come to this house! You MURDERER! Crucio!"
A split second later Harry found himself sitting on the stairs, Snape staring at him. Aunt Petunia was still sending blue sparks towards his chest with a horrified look on her face.
"You bloody..." Harry meant to go on, but there was a "hem hem" from the front door.
"No magic today, Potter, none of us. Is that understood?" asked a tall woman in muggle clothes. Her white shirt read "Wicked Witch of the West" and Harry could tell she was that kind of person who smiled a lot, even though she had a stern look on her face now.
"Goodness, Petunia, will you stop it! I said no magic, and that goes for you, too!"
Only when the woman spoke, Harry came to realize that his own aunt, who had done anything to make him miserable for being a wizard, was doing magic herself. Petunia stood there with an outstretched hand, sparks appearing in her palm, floating over to Snape and dying down on his chest. In fact the place the sparks hit him had turned black already. Yet Snape hadn't done anything to stop Petunia from doing so. Harry turned to check his friends' faces. But they looked just as confused as he felt. While he tried to make up his mind what to do next, the woman moved closer to Snape and Aunt Petunia. "What is it with you, Tuny? I asked you to stop. Which part of the sentence did you not understand?"
"I... I can't..." Petunia whispered her eyes wide with fear. The woman shook her head with a smile.
"Alright." She stretched out her arms as though pushing an invisible cloak back. And with a whoosh it appeared, midnight blue and glittering. The woman held out her hand, her palm pointing at a blue spark that had just left Petunias hand. It stopped in midair and turned yellow. Slowly it moved back towards Petunias hand and vanished upon touching her skin with a soft hiss.
"I shall teach you how to control your powers once this is all over. Until then... I guess... you better make sure you do not get angry," the woman smiled. "Now, where were we?"
"We were, " Harry growled, "in a house with a MURDERER and an AUNT who neglected to be a WITCH for ages PLUS there is a woman who does not BOTHER to INTRODUCE herself!"
"Forgive me my rudeness. Flutterflie is the name. Finja Flutterflie. And you must be Harry, Ron and Hermione." She came over to shake hands, but the three of them just stood there, staring.
"Okay, I got it. I am evil. Is that what you think?" Ron nodded while Hermione was innocently looking to the ceiling.
"You might," Harry said in a harsh voice. "After all you came here with HIM!" He pointed his wand at Snape.
"I thought you were dead," Petunia spoke quietly into the silence.
"You know her?" Harry asked. His whole world seemed to be upside down. Snape in muggle-clothes and no sign of a wand, his own aunt a witch and then this strange Flutterflie-woman.
"I thought you were dead," Petunia said again.
"And so did everybody else." Flutterflie smiled. "They can catch us, they can even torture us and take everything we got. But they cannot kill us. You should really know that, Petunia."
"How would I?" she answered in a bitter voice before she burst out, "THEY never accepted ME at Hogwarts! While YOUR so-called brother..." She threw a snide look at Snape, "made sure they took you, MY beloved sister only kept banging on about how great she was and how much of a loser I am, thank you very much!" Petunia stood there shaking.
"Well, I hate to say this," Snape said with a voice as soft as thunder, "but even if Lily had tried... it would never have worked out. Even with all the power Finja has, it was a close fit here and there. And then look at you..." Harry could see a hint of pity in Snape’s face that he'd never thought possible. He got even more confused as Snape broke into a wide smile.
"I was just thinking of that day when you almost caused Minerva a heart-attack!" he laughed. Flutterflie giggled.
"We were meant to change a matchbox into a mouse. Well, I, who obviously never was able to use a wand, flicked that useless piece of wood and all of a sudden it changed into a rat!"
"I could hear your scream down in the dungeons! Little Taylor knocked over his cauldron and we had shrinking potion all over the place. Goodness, you would have loved that furniture for your doll's house!" Harry looked from one to the other in disbelief. This was not really Severus Snape, the professor he had loathed from the day he first arrived at Hogwarts? This was not the Death Eater who a few days ago, murdered Dumbledore, now joking about doll's houses?
"We need to get going, Sev," Flutterflie interrupted, "Tonks is on her way."
Snape turned to Harry and got something out of his pocket.
"You have this," he said as he put it into Harry’s hand. "And Granger, I want you to practice non-verbal spells with Potter!" Snape took a long look at Harry, who once again could not read his expression, then turned to Flutterflie. As he touched her hand they both disappeared with a blue glimmer.
"She can't be Snape’s sister!" Ron proclaimed. "She's far too attractive. Ouch, Hermione!"
Harry looked down to his hands. He held the golden locket.

Oh man this is GOOOOOD its JK Rowling worthy! i mean gosh! im lovin it! please continue! I wonder what the blue means and WHOA petunia is a witch!??!!! @_@ lol "Tuny" and she didn't get excepted into hogwarts lol no wonder she is so bitter please continue u are a great writter and reall set the scene well! Natrual u are...*nod head* yep natural. Good Job

Nope, Petunia is not a _witch_.
But you will find out about "her kind" in a few chapters.

I'm glad you like it, though. *smile*

Flutterflie

Conspiracy Theories



"You tell me what you think, Hermione, because I have no idea what is going on," Harry demanded. After the encounter in the hallway Petunia had left the house without a word and they had retrieved to Harry’s room. Hermione sighed and shook her bushy head.
"I don't know what to make out of it, either. It just makes no sense! Snape obviously killed Dumbledore for Voldemort," she frowned, "But then why in the world would he bring you the horcrux? Are you sure it is the real one?"
Harry turned it over and over in is hand, just like he had done a thousand times before.
"I'm positive. It is the locket from Hokeys memory, see, it has the ornate serpentine S. Only it wasn't cracked when I saw it last time. Somebody must have destroyed it. But was it R.A.B.? How did Snape get it? And once again, why did he want me to have it?" Harry queried the locket, just like he expected it to answer all his questions.
"You said Dumbledore told you Snape saved his life after he had destroyed the ring. What if Dumbledore told him?" Hermione suspected. Harry shook his head in disbelief.
"What if he figured Dumbledore's injuries came from destroying a horcrux?" Hermione suggested.
"That's more likely," Harry agreed. "He would have known the injuries were caused by some sort of dark magic. But it doesn't matter how he found out. All that matters now is that he knows and that he knows we know..."
"It all adds up to one thing," Hermione said slowly, "now, I know that you two won't like that, but... just think about it." She paused.
"Dumbledore gave Snape the DADA-job, although he knew it was cursed by Voldemort himself. He then got nobody else but Slughorn for Potions. He could have gotten anybody, really, but he made an effort to get the former Head of Slytherin. Dumbledore personally came to this very house and asked your aunt to take you in one more time. And then he started teaching you everything you'd need to know to go after the horcruxes yourself." Hermione threw Harry a serious look.
"It almost seems like he knew he was dying. Can you see where I am going?" Both Harry and Ron shook their heads.
"Blimey, he even knew about the Unbreakable Vow. Harry, he told you! He said that he'd probably understand more than you did. He knew that he was dying and he knew that Snape would be leaving by the end of the term. Yet he trusted him. You said he asked for 'Severus' at Hogsmeade. What if..." Hermione looked quite desperate and had trouble speaking. "What if they planned it?"
"NO WAY!" Harry burst out. "YOU HAVE ALWAYS PROTECTED THAT SLIMEY MURDERER! HE IS EVIL, EVIL, EVIL AND I DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSPIRACY THEORIES ANYMORE!" Harry threw himself onto his bed and covered his head with a cushion.
"Dumbledore asked you to feed him the potion even if it harmed him. And you obeyed that, too, Harry. Then what about the arguement Hagrid overheard? Snape said he didn't want to do it anymore. Snape said Dumbledore was taking too much for granted... What if Dumbledore asked..."
"STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT THERE! I'M NOT LISTENING!"
"Harry, please..." Hermione begged. "Please, tell me... Why didn't he kill you when you were lying on the ground, unarmed and Dumbledore gone? Why didn't he let the Death Eaters torture you? I mean he could have cared less. Yet he advised you to use non-verbal spells and Occlumency."
"He was not advising me, Hermione," Harry spat angrily. "He was mocking me. Just like he always did!"
"It didn't sound like he was mocking you when he asked me to practice non-verbal spells with you today, He sounded... well, rather concerned."
"Yeah, right, Hermione," Ron jeered. "Next time he shows up he'll take Harry by the hand and sing 'We're off to kill the wizard, the most dangerous wizard of all'. Come off it! Snape is an evil muggle-hating Death Eater!"
"Then tell me, why did he put on muggle-clothes today? Why didn't he curse Harry’s aunt when she attacked him?" Hermione went on.
"She didn't ATTACK him!" Harry yelled.
"Still, an Avada Kedavra more or less... Snape wouldn't have bothered if he really were that evil. And yet he didn't even have his wand out!" Hermione argued.
"But he blocked my curse," Harry objected.
"Nope, that was that Flutterflie-woman," Ron answered. "She'd just walked in the front door when you were cursing Snape and she produced some sort of shield with her hands. It threw you back."
Hermione shook her head. Harry knew that she was doing it because she didn't understand.
"I've never read about anything like that before. There is a spell that casts an invisible shield to reflect all sorts of jinxes; it is really advanced, though. And I never thought you could use it to protect somebody else, really. I mean, it blocked an Unforgivable, and I am tempt to say that you really meant it this time, Harry." He nodded.
"Bet ol' Snape didn't like to be protected by a woman," Ron joked.
"No. It almost seemed he expected her to... I mean, he was not at all surprised or angry or... you know how he can get once somebody gets in his way. He comes here; he knows there are three young wizards who'd want to catch him at any rate. And he puts on really tight muggle clothes. He didn't have his wand in one of the pockets and he didn't hold it either. It looked like he didn't have a wand with him at all. Just like he didn't want to use it on any of us. He must have expected we were about cursing him. And he brings that woman who is obviously a powerful..." she paused and it seemed she had to think of a word, "... person. Like he wanted to show us that he wouldn't harm us. And Flutterflie insisted on no magic. If they were as evil as we expect them to be, they could have just cursed us." Hermione desperately shook her head. "I don't know what to make out of it. I wish I was at Hogwarts!"
"Why is that?" Ron asked.
"Because I definitely need to look something up."
After a moment of silence, Harry started speaking again.
"So, what are we gonna do now? Three horcruxes down, three to go. The snake, the cup and an item we don't know about yet. Where do we start?"
"I think we should leave the snake for now and concentrate on the cup and the thing we don't know about," Hermione suggested. "Also, if it proves me right, we will have somebody close to Voldemort who will take care of Nagini for us. Come along?" Harry gave her a puzzled glance, but Ron looked as if something had just hit him.
"But this is brilliant!" Ron cheered. "This is just like chess!" Hermione beamed at him. "The queen sacrificed herself to leave the other players in a good position for check-mate!"
"I am sorry, Ron, but I don't understand a word you are saying..." Harry said baffled.
"Snape!" Ron hooted excitedly. "He will get Nagini for us!"
"Now, the two of you have positively run gaga! HE IS A BLOODY TRAITOR! HE IS A MURDERER! And you honestly still think he is on OUR SIDE?" Harry screamed furiously.
"Calm down, mate. For now it is the only theory that makes sense. But we will drop it here, okay?" Ron was obviously discomforted. Harry nodded.
"So we're off to London tomorrow?"
"Don't you think we should stay just a little longer?" Hermione asked. "Just to make sure?"
"Hermione, I will come off age in a few weeks time. Do you really think it will make any difference?"
"Probably not," Hermione sighed. "Okay, let's go to bed then, we should get a good nights sleep if we are to leave in the morning."
"Okay, but..." Harry looked at a loss, "where are you gonna sleep?"
"Well, if you don't mind," Hermione slightly blushed, "I'd just snuggle up on the mattress with Ron..."

Wow....Flutterflie you are phenomenal....I truly felt I just picked back up where I left off from HBP! You have a great storyline going here and I do hope you continue on with it to the very end.

I look forward each day to checking the forum and seeing if you have written any new chapters. If not, I'll just reread your current three, which not just to make polite conversation, are truly the best I have read by far.

You keep it along the same storyline as JKR has so far given us and thrown in your own creativity and you keep it honest. It is not vulgar like so many I have read. You do a credit to the FanFic Forum and I was happy to see a change in ideas and format.

Very, very well done! Kudos to you! OK, now take a bow!

But truly, you are doing very good with this storyline, keep it up...I am anxious to see how your plot thickens and twists and maintains my curiosity. You have me reeled in and waiting....hmm....sounds familiar (like us HP fans waiting for the next novel by JKR).

Take care!

Just a short note, Flutterflie...I've only just noticed the rather large spoiler in your topic heading, so I've edited it...

It's just that there are still a lot of people out there who haven't read HBP yet...

Thanks, Dana, for doing so. I figured myself and tried to change it, however, I didn't seem to have the rights to do so.

@JoP: Thanks! *blush* Actually I was just showing the tread to my friends and they read your comment and now I am about 3 inches taller. *lol*
I'll keep you posted about my progress, seriously hope that chapter 4 will be up around the end of the week. And since there will a huge surprise at Grimold Place I'd rather take the time and set all up nicely.

So thanks again,

Flutterflie

Flutterflie: No problem at all. No blushing necessary...you are a great writer. I did enjoy the reading on the first 3 chapters. Keep it up! I cannot wait to read some more!

do you want my honest opinion? If so, Brilliant brilliant brilliant!
It has a great strory line and when i read it i feel as if if i wasn't on the internet it would be like reading Jkr.
I was determined to find something wrong with it and although i did, it is a microscopic detail that doesnt really matter. I felt that you jumped from one thing to another to quickly. I know you must have been excited to write the next fantastic part but in future i would like it if you showed more detail in these change over parts.

I wish i could write like you.

@gred ded ded: Thank you! So if there is anything you found that is not true to the storyline we know so far, please let me know. It is either something I purposely did and you will find out later, or I really missed a thing. Are you talking about Flutterflie calling Snape "Potions Master"? That is because he still was a Potions Master when she saw him last time... Anything else: please let me know!
And in terms of jumping from one thing to the other: did you feel so in chapter 1 already? Because I know it's like that in chapter 2 and 3 - they are only sketches, you see, and I really need to work them over again. So I hope I can sort that out and make the next chapters more enjoyable!
Thanky for your reply, I appreciate it!

@JoP: Ugh, I know I told you last night I was going to work on chapter 4 today, but somehow I can't bring myself to do it. You were a great help to me, telling me you liked the idea of what is happening next and back me up on the changes I made. However, I am seriously afraid of screwing up. *lol* I might find some time tonight.

I have been working on "Forgiven and Forgotten" (chapter 6), "Detention" (chapter 7), the christmas chapter (which is gonna be huge), and the last chapters "Rainbow Elixier", "The last Stand" and "The seventh force". Also I have worked out another chapter in my mind. I don't know if I'll call it "Failing Finja" or just "That night" - as I will refer to "that night" lots and lots of times until we finally get to the chapter. *lol* I know I'm not giving too much away by only telling you the chapters names. I do hope I make you curious, though. *laugh*

So, please, hold the line!

Now I need to feed you the information you need in chaper 4 and 5 to get along in the rest of the story. And I promise, I promise you will get to like it from chapter 6 on (if you didn't like it before).

So, if any of you care to answear my question...
How did you like the idea of Snape being "different" from now on? Keep in mind that we got so see him from a different persons' view already and that getting to know Finja is alive still might cheer him up after 15 years of grieve...

Cheers, Flutterflie

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!

Man, are you a writer? You're writing is wonderful, esoecially in conversation times.

Snape...different? I think he changed but personally I don't like that part about him...I have too much hate for him

Well, I only want to give one thing to make you fix it up a bit, if you din't mind:

Maybe you should abandon the use of "buddy" and put "mate" instead? They're in england, you see. Also use other words like "rubbish" and stuff.

*I'm not from Europe

Thanks Innocent_but_in_trouble.

Nope, I am not a writer. But maybe I will someday. *lol*

I'm sad to hear you dislike Snapey. Let's see if I can change your opinion, after all, he will get a little more human in _this_ story.

Okay, thanks, I made the change. You see, it is different for me to use the right terms since I am German. I've been to the UK, I've lived in the US... so it is kind of hard for me to distinguish. But thanks anyway.

Cheers, Flutterflie

short note: I am progressing and the new chapter "Surprise at Grimmauld Place" will be up tonight!

Oh, thanks for taking my advice!

I read your last chapter, looking for the changes you said you made, and I like what you did with it!

*I think you probably will become a writer

Okay, here goes the fourth chapter. I hope you like the plot...

Flutterflie




Surprise at Grimmauld Place


It was early in the morning when Harry awoke. Through his window he could see the break of dawn diffusing a bright red light as if the sky was on fire. Warily he scrambled out of bed and touched Ron's shoulder.
"Wake up, Ron, it's time to leave."
Ron stretched his arms and gave a yawn.
"Five more minutes, Mom."
Hermione giggled.
"Good morning, Harry."
"Morning," Harry answered, still feeling queasy about her presence in his bedroom.
"I'll get dressed in the bathroom," Hermione whispered. She quickly got up, grabbed her clothes and was gone.
"She must feel as uneasy as I do," Harry thought and stepped over Ron to get to his own jeans.
"Do we need to get up yet?" Ron asked addled, his hair as untidy as Harry’s usually was.
"Yes, Hermione already is in the bathroom and you'd better get going, too." Harry answered as he pulled his T-Shirt over his head.
Ron got up, silently they dressed and magiced the mattress away. A sentimental feeling hit Harry as he packed all his belongings into his trunk. He never would come back to Privet Drive again and even though he hadn't liked staying there, he felt that a stage in his life had ended. When Hermione got back, she performed a neat little spell that shrunk Harry’s trunk and he pocketed it.
"I'm sure glad we sent Hedwig along with Ginny," said Ron. "Hermione wouldn't be able to shrink her."
"Oh yes, I would," Hermione snapped, "but Hedwig wouldn't want to look like Pigwidgeon." Ron threw her an angry look.
"Can you please stop arguing? You will wake Aunt Petunia!" Harry growled as he left a note on his desk.
"What did you write?" Ron bent forwards. "'Thanks for everything'? Come on, you're not being serious! After all they did to you? 'Thanks for everything'? How about 'Have a good life and a quick death'?" Hermione frowned, but Harry couldn't help a grin.
The three of them quietly walked downstairs and in the hallway Harry unfolded his invisibility cloak.
"We'd better not be seen. I don't want to cause Aunt Petunia any trouble." Hermione and Ron nodded and crowded together to hide underneath the cloak. Cautiously they left the house.
"Off to Grimmauld Place 12!" Harry smiled just before they left Privet Drive with a crack forever.
And a second later they stood on the worn stone steps of a dirty house with dreary windows and a battered black front door.
"Creepy," Ron whispered and Harry wondered why he had been looking forward to coming back here. He stretched out his hand to use the doorknocker, a twisted serpent, but then he thought again and tapped the door with his wand instead. He could hear metallic clicks and the clatter of a chain just before the door opened with a moan. They slowly stepped inside. Harry had expected the hall to be dark, but it was lit with old-fashioned gas lamps and the houses' damp and dusty smell was mingled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea. Harry turned to his friends in amazement as he pulled off the invisibility cloak.
"Do you reckon the Order uses Grimmauld Place as headquarters again?"
Both Ron and Hermione shrugged. They heard footsteps from the stone stairs at the other end of the hall and quickly got their wands out. When they recognized the tall black-haired man who walked towards them they could barely move.
"Sirius, you're alive!" Harry cheered.
"Alive and kicking, baby!" his godfather replied, a wide smile on his face.
"But how... why... I can't believe it!" Harry shook his head.
"But is it the real Sirius?" Hermione asked cautious. "How do you know he's not an imposter?"
"Hermione, all up to her usual standard," Sirius smiled.“ Well, fire away. Ask me anything!"
"What do you want us to call you when you have transformed?" Ron blurted out.
"Snuffles," Sirius smiled.
"Oh, Ron, lots of people know that!" Hermione complained. "Would you transform for us?"
A second later a rather shabby looking black dog stood in Sirius place and gave a loud bark.
"BLOOD TRAITOR, SHAME OF MY FLASH, BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE!" Moth-eaten velvet curtains flew apart and the portrait of Sirius' mother berated them. They jumped forwards and with a huge effort the four of them managed to close the curtains again.
"One thing I definitely did not miss," Sirius sighed. "It's good to have you back, though," he beamed at Harry.
"Let's get downstairs to the kitchen and have some breakfast, we can talk there. Goodness, how much I hate this grim old place!" He paused and took a long look around. "I just realized I have not seen Kreacher. Do you, by chance, know his whereabouts?"
"He's working at Hogwarts," Harry said, still beaming at Sirius, awaiting to awake from a dream too good to be true.
"Good job!" Sirius cheered. "One less thing to bother with."
Harry's heart was still pounding as they arrived in the cavernous kitchen. It hadn't changed since his last visit. A large fire at the other end of the room illuminated a drab wooden table surrounded by many chairs, which cast a dreary mood about the place. With a flick of his wand Sirius opened a cabinet and several glasses and plates slowly floated towards him and settled on the table.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect visitors, so all I have is bread and cheese. I hope that'll do."
"Bread and cheese is fine," Ron approved as he sat down.
"Orange-juice, anyone?"
And while Sirius filled their glasses, Harry understood that this was not a dream. This was real life. Sirius was back. He was alive. There were so many questions spinning in his head that he couldn't quite decide where to start. When he finally opened his mouth, his queries just bubbled out.
"So what happened, Sirius? Why did it take you so long to get back? And how did you get out of the veil? Since when have you been here? And why didn't you tell us?"
"Whoa, slow down, slow down," Sirius grinned. "Only one question at a time, please." And he took a deep breath before he started detailing.
"Well, Bellatrix stunned me and I fell through the veil." He sipped his orange-juice. "The curse wore off immediately... and then it was like... flying through... a cloud... everything was misty and I never hit the ground..." Sirius seemed to be in a daze. "I could just stand up and walk... weird that was... no ground... no sound... no nothing... nothing to touch and... nowhere to go... just mist... it was light, but there was no sun... I was stuck... between life and death..." He looked at them and shook his head slightly, as if coming out of a dream. "It's hard to describe, really." He took another sip. "I lost track of time and it didn't feel like I was in there for so long. It was better than Askanban, though." He smiled. "I still had my happy thoughts." He stretched his legs and took a long look at Harry.
"But I was worried. I didn't know what happened to you. Somehow I felt it was all my fault." He gave another sigh.
"See, when I was caught up in that place I had a long time to think. And there's so much I regret doing now. If I hadn't behaved like a teenager... I mean I was even egging you on to despise Snape, and I could have so easily settled it. You would have studied Occlumency and Voldemort had never gained power over your thoughts..."
"Forget about settling arguments with Snape. He killed Dumbledore!" Harry spat.
"I've been filled in on that." Sirius gave him a stern look.
"But who told you?" Harry demanded.
"Can't tell you," he answered plainly.
"Oh, come on," Ron complained. "You always told us when nobody else did!"
"But I can't this time. I promised." Sirius gave a shrug.
"Can you tell us how you managed to get out of the veil?" Hermione inquired.
"Nope." He looked at them in a regretful way.
"I know..." he went on, "I know it must be frustrating for you. But I promised. It's for your own sake, believe me."
"So what CAN you tell us?" Harry asked disgruntled.
"Not much," Sirius sighed again. "I only got here last night. I have a shrewd idea about what has happened... And I keep on pondering about it..."
He glanced at Harry. "I'm not gonna jump on conclusions quickly this time."
"This is just GREAT!" Harry yelled furiously. "So you are telling me that the next time you see that slimy murderer you'll just shake hands with him and say 'Hi there, Snivelly, mate, long time, no see', OR WHAT?"
"No. He will get what he deserves in the end." Sirius hid his head in his hands. "I just don't want you to make the same mistakes I made. Every time I got lost in anger, it caused even more anger. In the end I had so much hatred for Snape, and it started off with a tiny thing. And, blimey," he got up and turned from them, "it was none of us' fault."
"You're speaking in riddles..." Harry said and you could tell from his voice that he was not happy with Sirius at all.
"It doesn’t matter, anyway." Sirius walked over to the fire and gazed into the flames. After a long moment of silence he said in a low voice: "Sometimes things are not what they seem to be."

Harry still was angry when they moved on to the drawing room later. Hermione had told Sirius about the horcruxes roughly and he agreed to help them. Just when they stood in front of the Black family tree, he asked: "What are we looking for?"
"Oh," said Hermione, "I forgot to tell you. When Harry and Dumbledore got the third horcrux, they didn't realize it was a fake. It had a note inside, written by some Death Eater. He said that he'd probably be long dead by now, but that he took the locket and wanted to destroy it. His... or her initials were R.A.B."
Sirius looked at her in wondrousness. "R.A.B., you say? Could it possibly... could it possibly be my brother, Regulus Alphard?" He pointed at a name on the family tree. "I told you he was a Death Eater, but then backed off and was killed."
"And now I know where I've seen the locket before," Hermione squeaked. "It was in this very room. Remember, when we cleaned it out and we found that box that played music and we all got drowsy? We found a locket in the same shelf!"
"Do you have it with you?" Sirius asked Harry.
Harry nodded and retrieved the locket from his jeans.
"I know it, but it didn't have that crack when I saw it last time," said Sirius after he had examined it carefully. "So I was living in a house hiding a piece of Voldemort's soul. Isn't that ironic?" He shook his head slightly.
"So how did you get it?"
"Snape," hissed Harry.
"Come again?" Sirius appeared to be lost.
"Snape came to Privet Drive with his sister and he gave it to Harry," Hermione helped out.
"Hang on. I just think I misheard both of you. Did you just say Snape came to Privet Drive?" Sirius pulled up an eyebrow.
They nodded.
"And he gave you the destroyed horcrux?"
They nodded again.
"And he brought his sister?" Sirius asked in disbelieve.
"Yes," Hermione answered.
"I didn't know there was a sister..." He seemed to be completely confused.
"Her name is Finja Flutterflie," said Hermione.
Sirius scratched his head. "Flutterflie..." He looked out of the window.
"Well..." he paused, "...after all... it would make... sense."
"So you know her?" Ron burst out.
"Yes... I know her..." He slightly shook his head. "But if Flutterflie has a hand in it..."
And he took a long look at Harry. "We must be going the wrong direction."
Harry meant to open his mouth, but Sirius gestured him to keep quiet.
"I don't know what this is all about. But we will find out, I promise."
"Would you care to tell us about her?" Harry asked in a bitter voice.
"Well, she was in second grade when we left school. Somehow she was..." Sirius worded carefully, "...different. I don't know how to describe it." He looked helpless. "Everybody respected her, even though she was only twelve. She hung around with Snape a lot. It quite changed him. Of course we would tease him, but he didn't seem to bother. If she really is his little sister, it would explain everything."
"But how come her last name is Flutterflie?" Ron asked.
"Maybe she is only his half-sister," Hermione suggested.
"I think 'Flutterflie' is a nickname. I told you she was different. Even the teachers felt it somehow. I can't remember any of them referring to her as 'Miss Flutterflie'." He looked out of the windows again and seemed to be lost in thought. After a while he took a deep breath and focused on Harry.
"Okay, here is what I want you to do. You must go back to Hogwarts in September. No, don't look at me like that. You told me about the prophecy. If it is really you who will have to defeat Voldemort in the end you need to go on with Defence against the Dark Arts."
"Oh, come on, Sirius, who knows what kind of teacher McGonagall got for next term!" Harry complained. "You could teach me!"
"I couldn't teach you half as good as your new teacher. You will receive occlumency lessons; I already settled that for you. And..." this time he twinkled at Harry, "I know you will like it."

Flutterflie, you are just cruisin' along with this story...it is great! Keep it up, I cannot wait to find out what is next to come! Harry is harboring so much anger! Great portrayal of a teenager with a grudge! lol

Hey, I didn't see you were online
But thanks...
Hehe, Harry and his anger. He will give his new DADA-professor a hard time in chapter 6, you'll see.


Flutterflie

Flutterflie, this is an outstanding story! lol in the 3rd chapter lol i was laughing becoz i agree snape is innocent and u had the "3 points" lol there is someone on chat named FrankBryceTheDeadGardener who has those same points in chapter three and yeah anyways! lol it was great and Sirius isn't dead!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!! Although he seems so different, Idk he gives off some sort of....evil feeling lol or am i just crazy lol that is prolly it! lol
WELLP ant wait for the next chapter! bye now!

Oh, really, there is another fanfic out there with a smilar third chapter? How curious, I haven't read it! Blimey...

I need to check that out. *lol*

And in terms of Sirius: well, he's not evil really. It just has been a little much for him, being stuck for ages, then being rescued and told all the bad news. And he has a promise to keep - and we haven't heard whet else he has promised, yet... he'll get back to his old self, don't worry.

Flutterflie

First Post....


Great writting Flutterflie. You take it to great detail to and thats what keeps me hooked. I wouldn't be much suprized if the 7th installment of H.P. was very similar to your story. Seriously though, BRAVO. :clap: you deserve it. Can't wait to see who you put ad the new D.A.D.A. Professor.

Excellent writing so far! Though, I'm not quite sure what I feel about Snape at the moment, but he seems good in your story, so...maybe he is good...so Sirius is really back? That's awesome! yay for the return of Sirius! I'm curious as to how he came out of the veil though...but I'm sure that is explained later on or at least, I hope it is...anywho, great writing! and I'm looking foward to reading more!

@sillywalker: Thanks.
Yes, Sirius is really back and of course I will answear each and every single question that pops up within my story. I tried to clue you on several things what will happen later on, but as far as I read in replys and emails, nobody yet figered out.
I know that most of you don't like Snape, but keep on reading and you'll find out what he has to hide... Okay, I won't give away too much. *lol*

@the clever: Thanks to you, too.
But you will have to wait until chapter 6 or 7 to find out about the new DADA-professor.

Okay, I hope the next chapter will be up arround Monday. I just decided to take a quick vacation over the weekend, which means I'm not at home and although I took my notebook with me, I might not get to sit down and write. Sorry about that.

Cheers, Flutterflie

Sorry guys... didn't get to sit down and write yet. *sigh*
I will try and do so now, but I doubt I'll get done with the next chapter. I'll aim for tomorrow, okay? Sorry...

But here is a question for you, and I'd be really thankful if anybody cared to answear...

Would you rather want me to write the story like it was book 7 - meaning I'll take the time and write about the wedding and such, even if it doesn't really help me with "my" plot. Just so I continue the storyline...

Or wouldn't you bother if I skipped this and that and just go on wherever I find it suit for "my" plot?

See, I am kind of stuck here. On the one hand I'd love to go on with the whole story, picture the wedding, picture Godrics Hallow, just like we were told in the HBP.
But if I did so I'd be at least two chapters before I can go on with my story as I planned it. That means I'll have to sit down and think about things I didn't really care about yet because it didn't have to do with "the Serpent and the Butterfly". Still I already wrote quite a few I really don't need for my story to continue... and I didn't mind, actually it was quite fun.
On the other hand I am anxious to tell the tale. By what I've written now I doubt that anybody had the idea yet that this is gonna be a major "love" story.

Actually, it is all up to your patience. If you want the story and you want it now, I'll just cut out everything that doesn't have anything to do with "my" plot. And I'd probably be done within two weeks or so - I already sketched five chapters and I know what I want to write about, so no big deal.
If you can be patient I'll go on like I did so far, taking my time to picture this and that, trying to hide subtle clues. It'll be a lot of work for me. But by the time I get to "my story" I'll probably be able to do it a lot better than I would if I just dropped this and that.

So what do you think?
Are you getting bored yet?

Flutterflie

Well, I think there's one thing that all of us can agree on- we'd love to see more of your fantastic writing! I think you should do whatever you feel is best for your story. I know tons of people will support your story, no matter what! Cheers!
--- Gin

I really think you should write it the way you feel it flutter, dont worry about details that dont go to furthering your plot because you'll probably lose interest in it and that would be a shame.

Write what you know and if it's love then let it flow onto the page without cluttering it up with stuff that is ultimately inconsequential.

hehe... well, you asked...

Hehe.
I am such a bad girl...
I got caught up in a conversation about the fifth chapter with my man last night and there goes, I grew two tiny devilish horns and a long tail and decided to write it all.
I might add a little twist here and there... *evilgrin*
The chapter is sketched and definitely needs betaing, it probably is the longest I ever wrote, but it'll be up around 21:00 CET, promise.

So now that I decided upon chapter 5, I might as well do the wedding. I mean, wouldn't it be hillarious? A tall, good-looking woman in a silvery-white dress, a daydreaming S... ups... I'd better stop it right here.

Thanks for your replies. I desperately needed some feedback.

[donkey]"I think I need a hug!" [/donkey]

Cheers, Flutterflie

Golem Manor


Weeks passed as Harry stayed at Grimmauld Place with Ron and Hermione. They spent each day arguing about how to continue on with the horcruxes. With their spirits at the lowest, Harry found it hard to believe they would ever hear laughter again.
Sirius aimed for distraction bringing them along to the Ministry of Magic to finally register as an animagus. His plan had backfired, as Harry bumped into Scrimgour and was hard pressed to convince him that he was not there to fulfil the Minister's prior request to provide hope for the wizarding world. After that uncomfortable meeting, Harry refused to leave the house again unless in search of the Horcruxes.
He was still angry with Sirius, who constantly dreamed away, but Ron and Hermione didn't seem to bother. They were confident Regulus had left other clues, and they searched the whole house. Harry knew they would want time for themselves, but he did not care. He was sidetracked moping about Sirius, loathing Snape, grieving for Dumbledore and missing Ginny.
Finally they settled down on an enormous couch in front of the fire after dinner, and Hermione for once vocalized the one thing Harry had felt for the last days.
"We just can't go on like that. There are only a few days left until we leave for the burrow, and we haven't worked out a single clue yet. Sirius, please try to concentrate and Harry put all your negative emotions away. We've got to decide what to do today." Harry nodded.
"Right you are, Hermione. We need to find the cup. If only we knew where to start." He sighed.
"I've been working on that and I believe..." she paused then went on with a stern look on her face, "... I believe Voldemort followed a certain pattern." Hermione took out a tiny notepad and turned a few pages.
"So we have the diary, the ring and the locket, and we know about the cup. All those items are somehow connected to Voldemort’s past and he puts them in places he associates them with." Hermione took a glance around but only found puzzled faces.
"Okay, let's start with the diary. The diary is a keepsake of his time at school. It was a preserved memory he intended to use to gain power over the basilisk again. Therefore he made sure it returned to Hogwarts. And that happened." Hermione paused and threw Sirius an angry look, for with a smile on his face he seemed to be lost in thoughts again.
"The ring is a souvenir of his uncle and was never meant to be used again. It has the Peverell coat of arms engraved in the stone and stands for Voldemort’s ancestry. After he killed Morfin he just hid it in his house." She took a deep breath.
"With the locket it is quite catchier. It is a memento on his mother. Yet he didn't have a place he really shared with her. She did give birth to him in the orphanage, but he didn't hide the locket there. The connection was not strong enough. He picked the cave for the lockets' ambush."
"But there is no connection at all," Harry interrupted and shook his head unbelievingly.
"There is," Hermione went on, "and it is pain."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked perplexed.
"Tom must have been in pain every time he thought about his mother. She only lived to name him and then died. Children need their mother. They suffer when she is not there." She gave Harry a sad look, then continued.
"I bet Tom found out about his mother being tortured as a child, too. So there is the connection. They were two children in pain. And so he picked the place he first terrorised a boy and a girl, representing him and his mother."
"I understand what you are trying to tell us. But I don't see where this is going. The cup has nothing to do with Voldemort’s life," Sirius stated.
"The ring is Toms heritage, the locket is his suffering as a child and the diary is the time he had at Hogwarts." Hermione explained.
"Now, I think, Voldemort goes on about the present and the future. He probably is the most powerful wizard in the world. And he uses belongings of the four greatest wizards there've been to show his might." She sighed.
"I don't think that the cup has a special purpose to serve. I mean, it belonged to Helga Hufflepuff and she was known to be fair. He wouldn't use her possession for his own rise. I am sure he hid it somewhere. And since Harry told us that Hepzibah Smith inherited the cup, she must be a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff. I know Voldemort left it at her place. Just like he stashed the ring in Morfin's house. These objects just belong there by heritage."
"You've worked it all out, Hermione." Sirius approved and got to his feet. "And it sounds about right. Amazing." He smiled. "So what do we need to retrieve the horcrux?"
"I don't know," Hermione blushed. "I thought we'd just go there and find out. I mean we could apperate back and forth if we must."
"You're right, Hermione. We have no idea what awaits us and we can't guess. So we need to find out." Harry got up, too. "I think everybody should take along whatever he..." with a side glance on Hermione, "...or she... thinks is useful."
"Agreed." Sirius nodded.
"So when do we leave?" Ron asked.
"As soon as we figured out where to go," Sirius replied with a faint smile.
"Oh, but I know where to go already. See, when you were talking to Scrimgour at the Ministry I sneaked off and... well..." she blushed again, "...let's just say I found out where to go..."
"Good job!" Sirius cheered. "So we meet downstairs in about five minutes?"
Harry’s mind was racing as he quickly climbed the stairs to his bedroom. The invisibility cloak hung over a chair, and he grabbed it while he took a long look around the room. What else would he need? He execrated himself for leaving the potions book at Hogwarts. He'd never thought he would have cared for Snape’s advice, but deep down inside he knew that one or two of the half-blood princes' jinxes could come in handy. Sighing he left his bedroom with the invisibility cloak only. Downstairs he met Hermione and Ron, who didn't bring anything either.
"I decided the 'Standard Book of Spells 7' wouldn't be of much use," Hermione shrugged.
"I would have brought my Quiddich club. But Hermione didn't let me," Ron complained.
They heard the whooshing sound of Sirius black cloak as he sped towards them.
"I have no idea what to take along," he smiled. "I certainly hope we can resolve anything using magic. And you can leave the invisibility cloak, Harry. It won't cover all of us and we can just use a Disillusionment Charm. Know how to perform it?"
They nodded.
"Flitwick taught us last year, but he said it was no use in daylight, because you can still see schemes," Hermione disapproved.
"Well, take a glimpse outside then," Harry smiled, "It's dark already."
"Blimey, is it that late?" Hermione startled.
"And it's full moon also, so we'd better make sure not to bump into Lupin," Ron joked.
"You'd better try that Disillusionment Charm again, Ron. I can still see your freckles," Sirius countered.
"No, you can't!"
They still were laughing about Ron’s terrified face as Hermione told them where to go. After a while they stepped outside in the pale moonlight and one by one they disapperated with a crack.
Harry had gotten used to the feeling of compression by now, but nevertheless he was happy as he opened his eyes and found himself right in front of an old derelict manor. It looked like it was unoccupied for ages, several windows were broken and ivy spread over dark walls. Even in the pale moonlight Harry could spot weed on the gravel walk all the way to the stone steps, which led to the entrance.
"They must have left it after Hepzibah's death," Harry frowned.
"I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to live in a house people were killed before," Ron stated.
"But you do when you stay at Hogwarts..." Hermione reminded him.
"That's different," Ron answered as he carefully moved on to the entrance.
"I think we can take the Disillusionment Charm off," Sirius said and his body became visible again. "The manor is deserted and there is only fields around. Nobody will see us."
"Lumos" four voices chorused as they stepped over the threshold, and four light beams erupted from their wands.
"I doubt we will find anything. It is too dark still," Harry complained as he tripped over something solid.
"And we don't know where to start, either. This place is huge," Ron added. "Do you think we could risk coming back in daylight?" He turned to Sirius.
"We might not need to. I just had an idea..." Hermione's voice echoed in the hall. "Voldemort chose the four founders to accent his own powers. Well, each house represents an element. Slytherin stands for water, and the locket was hidden in a liquid in a pensive right in the middle of an underground lake. So Hufflepuff's cup will be found..."
"Outside in the garden," Harry whispered. "Voldemort must have buried it somewhere."
"Then let's turn around and search the garden. We'll be able to see quite well with that bright moon shining," Sirius respired and Harry wondered if Snape was right in calling him a coward.
"Is there anything you can remember from the pensive, Harry? Anything between Voldemort and Hepzibah?" Hermione asked sternly.
"Well, she seemed to have a crush on him," Harry shrugged. "Just the way she looked at him... and he... brought her..." he turned and took a few steps towards a vast flowerbed, "...roses!"
"Great," Ron said. "Does anybody know how to transfigure a wand into a spade?"
They were each lost in their own thoughts when he broke the silence again.
"A niffler would be cool."
"That's brilliant!" Hermione cheered. "He'll find the golden cup, I know it!"
"Point is," Harry reminded them, "we don't actually have a niffler. And I don't know how to get one this time of day."
"But Hagrid will still be awake." Ron sounded excited.
"Hogwarts will be locked, and even if Hagrid was there to open, it would take ages till we explained everything," Hermione took a few steps into the flowerbed. "I think we'll just have to dig..."
"Hang on," Harry said. He thought for a while and then went on. "I might be able to locate it. But you better have your wands ready. The cup won't be unguarded." Sirius, Ron and Hermione moved closer to Harry, their wands clutched tightly in their hands.
"Accio Horcrux," Harry yelled and a rosebush rustled only a few feet away.
"Dig!"
And with their bare hands they started digging.
"I've got it!" Ron suddenly yelled out. He held a small golden cup with two handles.
"But that was too easy," Harry said in disbelieve and a split second later the earth started quaking. Hermione screamed, and in the pale moonlight Harry could see a hand coming out from underneath the roses, grabbing for her foot.
"Help," Ron yelped and wrestled his own leg from a different hand. The ground was still trembling as several mounds of soil unearthed. They looked like molehills at first but continued to rise. Hermione screamed again as a head began to emerge from the ever-growing mass of soil and a huge creature slowly escaped.
"Golems," Sirius said tonelessly.
"What do they do?" Harry asked quickly and jumped to avoid an earthy hand.
"They squash you..." Sirius whispered. "I can handle one, maybe two... but there are..." he took a wild look around as more and more figures rose from the ground "...so many."
"Sectumsempra," Harry cried as they moved towards him. But even though gashes appeared on their clayey chests they mended immediately.
"Petrificus Totalus," he tried, but nothing happened.
"It just bounces off, Harry," Hermione sounded tense. About twenty tall figures moved towards them now. They looked like somebody made them of clay and didn't waste time on details. The creatures had huge empty wholes for eyes and a gash for a mouth. Noses and ears were missing, but they had enormous hands they stretched out as they slowly moved on with a terrifying growl.
"Listen," Sirius whispered, "they have their orders written on a piece of paper. We need to remove that and they'll just drop down. They have no motivation of their own."
"Where are those papers?" Ron asked in a desperate voice.
"They carry them in their mouth," Sirius answered, "just try and burn it when they open their mouth for a snarl. Golems are really clumsy."
"Incendio!" Harry yelled and pointed his wand to the nearest golem. A flame appeared in the golems face, but it died down immediately and didn't seem to have coursed any harm.
"Keep on trying!" Sirius yelled and soon the air was filled with spells and golem growls. They jumped back and forth to avoid the slow moving creatures but none of their spells seemed to work.
"Try something else!" Hermione yelled.
"Aguamenti!" Harry called out, pouring a jet of water onto a figure right next to him.
"Good thinking!" Hermione cheered and casted the spell herself. "See, they start to melt! We need more water!" And in fact the face of the golem Harry attacked seemed to unravel. Yet it didn't stop the creature from moving towards Harry trying to grab him.
"More water, Sirius, we need a decent spell, come on!"
"I can't rule the forces of nature, I am a wizard only!" he cried as he pointed his wand at a golem.
"Fluctus!" he yelled. A small cloud formed around the golems' head and tiny raindrops fell upon the creature.
"Fluctus!" the others chorused.
The golems were blinded by the clouds, but kept moving. One of the creatures stumbled and fell. Ron yelped as the next figure stepped upon the shape on the ground and just crushed it.
"Fluctus!" Harry yelled once again in desperation as the golems finally managed to round them up and moved closer and closer.
Suddenly a lightning striked right in front of Harry and thunderclap echoed in the air. Harry thought he saw the scheme of a woman through the flash, but it was gone within seconds, and rain started pouring down in thick and heavy drops. Soon they were soaked, but the golems just melted away. The whole flowerbed seemed to turn into a swamp and the creatures sunk down one by one. When the last golem had disappeared, the rain stopped as quickly as it had started and the moon shone as brightly as it did before.
"What happened?" Sirius asked breathlessly.
"But didn't you see her?" Harry asked confused.
"Whom?" the others turned to Harry in amazement.
"That woman," he answered and looked at their pale faces. "She was all silvery and had a coronet in her hair. She spread her arms like that..." he held his hands up to the sky, "and she had a staff..." Harry shook his head and shrugged.
"So she is following me..." whispered Sirius and looked quite pleased. Hermione gave him a perplexed look.
"Look what happened!" Ron suddenly yelled out and pointed at the cup, which lay in a puddle of mud.
"It must have been hit by the thunderbolt," Sirius carefully kneeled down and examined the horcrux. "There is the crack. See?"
"But that was easy," Hermione mourned. "Dumbledore almost lost his life when he destroyed the ring. A horcrux surely can't be annihilated by a common thunderbolt?"
"Now don't you underestimate the power of..." Sirius bit his lip.
"Don't you underestimate the power of a thunderstorm like that," he went on. Harry knew his godfather meant to say something else, but he was sure he'd never get a satisfying answer if he asked and so he remained silent.
"Let's just take that along," Sirius pointed at the cup, "and get back to Grimmauld. I'm soaked and I'm cold." And with a crack he was gone.
Harry picked up the destroyed horcrux and looked at the shabby manor a last time. Then he disappeared with a crack, too.

Oh, come on guys... about 40 people read this within the last 24 hours and nobody cares to answear...
Is it THAT BAD really?

Flutterflie, frustrated

aw, don't be frustrated! It's really good! (I admit, I was one of the people who read it, but I had no time to post a response then, thus the response now...) I really like how you/Hermione figured out all the logic as to where the horocrux was! That was crazy logic...I'd never get that...even though it probably all makes sense...and now, the questions. What was Sirius really going to say? I bet its something to do with the woman Harry saw...but who is it? Is it the same person who was with Snape? Or someone else? Will Sirius actually answer since Harry "was sure he'd never get a satisfying answear if he asked"? I hope so :nudge nudge:

omg you are a super talented author. I wish to one day be able to write like you. I can write pretty well (look at my fanfics) but not nearly as good as you. MAybe you could give me some pointers so I can rise to your leve. WHo knows, maybe we could write a duo story some day

Tootles!

Flutterflie the story is great, you keep giving me new things to wonder about like the new D.A.D.A. teacher and now this mysterious woman following Sirius, though I must admit Sirius is a bit whats the word.... Happier since the other books but I like how odd you made him since his return from the veil how he is very non-forth coming and how he doesn't want harry to know the full truth about so and so. Im hoping we do eventually find out though what Sirius has to tell. Loving it so far just keep writting and you have my word that i'll keep reading.

Wow, it is 8am, I've got a yummy tea, my girl stood up early and is in daycare already, I have the day off and I got three replys! That's how I like a day to start. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

So I'll do my share and answear to your replys right now.

@the clever:
Well, the new DADA-professor will be introduced in the next chapter, I think. And you'll get to see more of that mysterious woman. I'm thinking about a Quiddich match and one of the christmas chapters... well, my ideas for christmas are just too much to squeeze into a single chapter. *lol*
So you think Sirius is odd and happy... O:)

[sing] luck be a lady tonight...[/sing]


@gred ded ded:
I incidantelly read your fanfic and I think I answeared, too. I'll take time and run over it again today, promise.
edit: I PMed you!

@sillywalker:

So you think my logic is crazy? Funny you say that... because everybody tells me so. *lol*
I think I am some re-incarnated Douglas Adams or so... Just kidding.
And I can answear to some of your questions without giving away too much:
Yes, Sirius was about to talk about the woman, but he promised not to and Harry will eventually find out by himself once he gets to meet her himself - and that'll be soon.


So long, and thanks for all the fish!
*lol*

Flutterflie

Flutterflie!
OI i just love ur story! i was reading it earlier today but i had to get off and couldnt reply till now...sorry! but anyways...it like totaly went over my head when u posted *chuckles* i was like whoa when did she post? lol anyways....

This is soooooo good! I loved absolutley LOVED the way u described the creatures um the Golems....that was so awesome..something JK Rowling would make up herself! lol no it was great...and Hermione's logic was clever lol i didnt know about the elements did u come up with that coz its wicked! gosh ur story is so good! i mean really addicting and written SO well and JK Rowling worthy!

So i cannot WAIT to see what happens next!

lol purple underwear *laughs* silly flutterflie silly silly flutterflie

anyways keep it up man!
bye now
fjkrs

@fjkrs:

Okay, I can't take the credits for inventing the golems... *sigh* I wish I could... but no... they are a myth. Well, actually there was only one golem, and that was in Prag - how do you guys spell it - Prague?

I think I changed a little about the lookings, I wondered what kind of creature could attack the four of them and then I remembered there was something about figures made of clay, and my man knew some more and, well, I just used my fantasy on a few facts we already knew.
I think the "real" golem never was destroyed, because nobody could. He still waits somewhere under Prague for his next master to put a piece of paper into his mouth. Scary, isn't it? *lol*

With the elements, no I didn't make that up, either. I just remembered JK explaining that each house stood for an element in one of her interviews. Well, I couldn't quite see the connection between snakes and water, but okay. I can see badger and earth, eagle and air, oh wait... she said Gryffindor was fire and they have a lion. Oh, now I got mixed up.
*sigh*
I just went and got my daughters painting-book to check out the Hogwarts crest. Gee, I hope I got it right with Hufflepuff and earth... dang!

Anyway, we seem to go on about purple underwear a lot lately. *lol*
I find it so funny I might even use it in my story. There will be a chapter with.. um... *blush*... things mommy and daddy do when they get back home from work and aren't too tired... um... Let's see if he doesn't mind purple underwear, because I can see her wearing some. *lol* I think he'd rather go for black, but who knows?

Do I need to PG-13-rate this chit chat already? *lol*

Flutterflie

P.S.: I'll work on chapter 6 now, so you might get lucky and it'll be up tonight...

man this is good. common i wanna read more

Coming Home


"Harry, why don't you try and relax for a bit?" Ginny carefully put her arm around his shoulders. "I know it's hard for you returning to Hogwarts." Harry sighed as he turned his face towards her.
"I really enjoyed this last week, Ginny. The wedding, staying at the burrow, laughing again... But now I feel guilty about it. Hogwarts will never be the same again. And I just don't know how it will feel back there with Dumbledore gone. I'm feeling so helpless. Sirius asked me to go back and learn more defence spells, but I feel it's not the right course for me to take now. I need to go out there and get Snape and Voldemort. I feel like the world weighing on my shoulders. As long as I hide from Voldemort, wizards and witches will continue to be tortured and killed. It's been worse since Dumbledore died. You've read the prophet yourself. I am the only person who can stop all this. I can't wait another year. I feel I am to blame for every single death out there!"
"But Harry, you need to prepare yourself," Ginny patted his hand. "You need to learn everything possible to stand ground against... well... Voldemort."
The compartment door slid open and a round face appeared.
"Harry, Ginny? Mind if we join you?"
"Oh, Neville, Luna, no, not at all, come in!" Harry replied and straightened up. He gazed out at the countryside as his two friends climbed in and settled down. His thoughts were flying by as rapidly as the houses and trees outside the window. Since their return to Grimmauld Place with the forth horcrux, time had gone by so quickly he had hardly had a spare moment to think. Now that he was back on the Hogwarts Express, bad memories crossed his mind, causing the anxiety of whether he would ever enjoy Hogwarts again. But then it probably was unnecessary to enjoy his last year. It was more essential to learn all he could possibly learn from his new Defence professor. Sirius had made it quite clear that he expected Harry to work as hard as he could bear. Not that he had needed it. Harry gave a short laugh. If there was anything that forced him towards learning with no extra time he could spare, it was Dumbledore’s death.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Neville asked worried. "You look pale."
"I'm fine, thanks." Harry lied and smiled at Neville, wondering how to continue the conversation.
"So what did you do during your holidays?" Neville went on.
Harry desperately looked at Ginny, who immediately took over.
"Oh, he stayed with us," she smiled. "My eldest brother Bill got married. You know his wife. Fleur Delacur. Well, Delacur obviously was her name."
"You mean that French girl from the Triwizard Tournament?" Neville asked. "The one with the blonde hair?"
"Yes, exactly," Ginny nodded.
"Tell me about the wedding. I love weddings. They are so romantic," Luna said dreamily.
"They were married in a stalactite cave, on a lake. The cave was filled with soft romantic hues of light cast by thousands of candles. With the soft shadows, Bill's gashed face didn't look so scary ... The stalactites were reflected in the water and everything seemed like a fairly tale. There had been soft music and Fleur looked like a fay." Ginny sighed. "I don't like her.. but still, it was a magical moment I'll never forget."
Smiling she went on. "They are on honeymoon in France now. Well, actually, they repeat the whole ceremony there. Her family was afraid to come to England. But it was nice not to have other phlegm about."
They all remained in silence and Harry stared at Luna, who hid her nose in the latest Quibbler.
"Well, at least some things are back to normal," he thought as the compartment door slid open again and Ron and Hermione made their way to the two empty seats and greeted Luna and Neville.
"Not much to do today," Hermione said in a sad voice. "Half of the compartments are empty. It seems that a lot of parents kept their children at home. Even though the Ministry increased the security on Hogwarts."
"Tell us!" Harry demanded.
"Well, we were only told one of the new teachers is an Auror. There must be something more, but they didn't want to tell us at the prefect’s compartment. Slughorn went on about ancient magic. I didn't get half of what he said to be honest," Hermione admitted.
"So Slug is on the train?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," Ron nodded. "He agreed to stay and is the new Head of Slytherin."
"You know, I'm curious about that ancient protection he mentioned. It didn't make sense when he told us, but it must be working," Hermione pondered.
"Are you talking about the clock again?" Ginny asked.
Hermione nodded and Neville threw her a questioning look. With a sigh Ginny started to explain
"My mom has this really old clock in her kitchen. It has a hand for each family member and on the clock face there are no numbers, but places. Each hand points at the place the person is. Well, ever since Voldemort returned, the hands were stuck to 'mortal peril'. However, this morning Ron's and my hand moved and pointed at 'home'. It seems that since we are going back to Hogwarts, we are in no immediate danger. You can picture how relieved mom was. She had thought about keeping us at home, too."
"So now we're wondering what caused the change," Hermione added.
"Well, obviously Snape is gone!" Harry hissed.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Not again!"
"It is curious," Luna put her head to the side and glanced at Ginny. "My father told me McGonagall had an Archmage come to Hogwarts. She can provide protection."
"Yeah, right," Ron laughed so hard tears were trailing down his face. "An Archmage! And she's probably not on this train because she is riding her pink elephant!" He wiped his tears away but couldn't stop giggling.
"Everybody knows that Archmages can summon lammergeiers!" Luna insisted.
For a split second Harry thought Luna was telling the truth, but when he saw Ginny shaking her head, he knew this was just one of Luna's fixed ideas.
"That has got to be the best thing you've ever come up with, Luna," Ron stated, trying hard not to burst out in laughter again.
"But it's the truth," she said and turned her head away in an offended manner.
"We should change," Hermione suggested, "we'll be arriving in Hogsmeade shortly."
Not a single word was spoken as they put on their cloaks and got off the train. Neville and Luna left them at once and Harry looked around the platform for Hagrid.
"All righ', Harry?" the half-giant's voice sounded behind Harry. Hagrid looked as if he had lost quite some weight, and the part of his face that wasn't covered in hair looked pale.
"Yeh better get goin' or yeh'll be late. FIRS' YEARS!" he said as he strolled away.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry cramped into a thestral-drawn carriage and remained silent until the silhouette of Hogwarts appeared.
"I don't want to go there," said Harry.
"I know," Hermione gave him a comforting look, "but we must."
Harry glanced at the winged boars that flanked the gate to the school grounds as the carriage passed by. In the moonlight they appeared evil and sinister.
He tried to get a glimpse of Hagrid's cabin when they rolled on, but it was to dark to see. Harry wondered whether the professors had been able to restore the hut after the fire. Yet again, memories of the night Dumbledore was killed flashed through his mind and he desperately closed his eyes and tried to empty his brain.
Ginny took his hands as they came to a halt in front of the stone steps, which led to the entrance. Harry bowed his head as he got out and followed Ginny up the stairs and through the front door. His heart turned cold as he looked down at the flagged stone floor and remembered the rubies of Gryffindor hourglass being spilled about like bloodstains. He couldn't bare the sight and lifted his head up, just to find the torch-lit entrance hall completely restored. The marble staircase looked like it had when he first saw it, and as Ginny pulled him towards a doorway to the right, he realized there was whispering and laughter, just like there had always been.
When they entered the Great Hall, Harry saw hundreds of candles floating in midair. The golden plates and goblets were reflecting their light and the ceiling was bewitched to resemble a clear starry night sky. Suddenly he was overcome with the feeling that this was where he belonged, he had finally come home.
He smiled at Ginny and led her to Gryffindor table. Lots of seats were empty as they passed by Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. When they settled down facing Ron and Hermione, Ron let out a cheer.
"It's Tonks! Tonks is at the High Table!"
Harry turned around to face the staff table and his heart gave a jolt when he saw Tonks' heart-shaped face smiling at them. Of course! Hermione had mentioned that they'd have an Auror at school and Sirius had told him he'd like his new Defence teacher. So it was Tonks!
Feeling better now, Harry looked over the High Table again. Professor McGonagall was sitting in Dumbledore's golden chair, just as he had expected. To her right sat Tonks, just like McGonagall had always sat next to Dumbledore. Snape's place still was vacant.
"Didn't they get a new Transfiguration teacher? I mean, will McGonagall go on teaching?" Harry asked puzzled.
"I don't know," Hermione shook her head.
"See, they are bringing in the first-years!" Ginny pointed at the back of the hall and all faces turned to the door. A bunch of scared-looking children stood there, accompanied by a tall black-haired woman in a dark green dress and a midnight blue cloak.
"Flutterflie..." whispered Harry.

OOH Flutterflie a teacher!? hehehe that will be good. U made me laugh out loud when I found out TOnks was the new teacher, Harry was bringing me down then when Tonks was there I got all happy and laughed lol dang thats how good you are! U make me feel emotion when i read it! lol Great Job Flutterflie. I hope harry's year is fun..u know the way a 7th year should be! And why is Hagrids face pale? Is he up to something?? 0.0 Or is he suffering from DD's death still...poor Hagrid hes a great guy...
Anyways I LOVE ur fic and GOOD JOB!
lol and yes we are talking about purple underware a lot! lol I am proud to say the under ware I am currently wearin is RAINBOW! hehehe
hehe bye now
fjkrs

@fjkrs: Hehe, let me check - white. Or shall I say "greying"? *lol*
I was just having a chat with JoP on Snapes underwear. *rotfl*
I have to admit I actually _own_ purple underwear. Hehe. My mom... *lol*

Yes, Harry will be very, very glad *cough* to have Flutterflie as a teacher...

And Hagrid misses Dumbels, yes.

We'll see about Harry having fun. Least I will have fun, hehe.

Cheers, Flutterflie

Hey there, Flutterflie! NP I do love your storyline, so throw them my way anytime!...hehe You are really coming along smoothly with the plot. It's a fascinating read and quite true that it is addicting! Like I once said, I sit idly by waiting for the new "The Serpent and The Butterfly" chapter to be written. It is not as torturous as waiting a year plus for the next HP book....hehe....thank you for only teasing and no torturing occurring! LoL

Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Who knows perhaps one day, I'll be sending my chapters your way! If I ever manage to find my naming conventions that I had lost... It'll be great if I am talented enough to get what dances about my head properly cast in ink! LoL You're brilliant with it!

I'm back to being Green! ROTFL!

Take care!

WoW! Flutter Well done mate! Oh what a tangled web we weave You are really putting in the hard yards and it's paying off! Those last two chapters are wonderful. You write very true to character and you have woven a very interesting story. Will watch for more!


PS If I dont pop in everytime it's just a lack of time not enthusiasm

Hehe,

I'm stuck with the sorting hat song now... As soon as I figured that one out it'll be only two hours or so to bring the next chapter online.

But I'll listen to "midnight lady" for about twenty more times now, and then I'm either in the mood for the sorting hat song or - more likely - "that night" *lol*

Thanks, JoP, for your email regarding the PG-rating. I think there will be two versions once I get to "that" chapter. I will put the PG-one up here and link the PG-13 to my own site. It would be a shame not to write it the way I want it too... *sigh*
But it'll be necessary to know what happens to understand the whole story, and since I know there are 11-year-olds reading this (Hallo, gred ded ded ) I won't let them down and write a version for them, too.

We'll see. I won't torture too long, promise.
I know that chapter 7 won't be a surprise for you, JoP, because you already guessed. Well, you made an observation and it happened to be true.
So let's see how Harry likes it...

edit: Hey razz... just read your reply. Thanks. I'll hurry with the next chapter. It really starts being fun now that the "real" plot pops in.

Cheers, Flutterflie

Hi Flutterflie! Thought I drop a quick line before heading out to take pics of a house. Now that you have your sorting hat's song done the rest should be along shortly. But I sadly won't get a chance to read it this evening. But no worries, I'll be able to give it a read Sunday. As tomorrow I am engaged on the other side of the state.

Keep it up, you're writing brilliantly! Take care! I look forward to see how Harry takes what I stumbled on? It'll be interesting! Take care.

Tonks teaching? Thats awesome! And now I get to know about Fluterflie (thats that person with snape, right? and the one with the lightning?...)...Great chapter! Though, I could imagine it seeming awkward for everyone seeing McGonagal in Dumbledores chair...or maybe I just thought that was awkward, even though it makes sense...anywho, I'm curious to learn more about Fluterflie! And to know what she teaches...and if the students like her...and what Tonks is teaching...so I'm looking foward to more

Thanks sillywalker and JoP.

I was gonna post chapter 7 last night, but I'm not yet satisfied with it. We need... well... a little less conversation, a little more action...
also it got me really down to write the chapter, I somehow connected with Harrys feelings and ended up writing a fight between Flutterflie and McGonagall - which of course I never intended to do since they are really close. *lol*
So I need to straighten that out. If anybody would have the time to beta the next chapter (since JoP won't be online till next Tuesday), I'd be glad if you emailed/PMed me...

Bye for now,

Flutterflie

Sad Sorting


Flutterflie led the first years towards the High Table. They stopped as she placed a three-legged stool on the ground and, on top of it, and old and patched wizard's hat. Harry was anxious about the new song. He wondered if the Sorting Hat would give another warning, now that Dumbledore was dead and Snape and Voldemort on the lose. The hat slowly opened its eyes and took a long glance around. It sighed and instead of breaking into a song as everybody expected, it woefully spoke up:

Another sad year has gone by,
and I do grieve, I don't deny,
but still I play my painful part
and tear the whole of you apart,
I'll sort you into houses four,
thus Slytherin and Gryffindor,
both Huffelpuff and Ravenclaw,

The Sorting Hat gave a loud sigh

still I believe it is a flaw...

and his poem ended. Usually the Great Hall would explode with applause, but everybody kept quiet now. Harry looked around in discomfort. Students started whispering and the staff seemed bemused. However, Flutterflie appeared to be composed as she started speaking to the first years while she unrolled a scroll of parchment.
"When I call out your name you will step up front, sit on the stool and put on the hat. Once you have been sorted into a house, you will get up and take a seat at the appropriate table."
Then she announced the first name, and Harry turned to his friends.
"What is she doing here? McGonagall can't let her teach! She is Snape's sister! They've been at Privet Drive together! She knows where he is, and the Ministry is looking for him! McGonagall can't let her teach!" He looked at Hermione and shook his head. "I don't understand..."
"Well, Sirius seems to trust her..." Hermione tried to calm him down.
"Yes, and Dumbledore trusted Snape, and we know what happened!" Harry tried to keep his voice down, but his anger grew.
Ginny patted his hand again.
"Harry, McGonagall must know. She will have her reasons for trusting Flutterflie. And what is this you were going on about? Snape has been at Privet Drive?" She looked at him in disbelieve.
"You never told me!"
Harry sighed.
"I know, I know," he hid his head in his hands. "And I shouldn’t have said anything just now. I'm just so angry..."
Ginny didn't say anything. Silently they watched the sorting until the last first year got up, and Flutterflie picked up the hat and the stool and carried them away.
"So this woman is Snape's sister?" Ginny asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, she does look like Snape. A little. She washes her hair every now and then, I suppose," she went on.
"And she doesn't have his hook nose," Ron added.
"Yeah, she definitely doesn't have that nose or his sinister aura either," Ginny agreed.
"She is quite tanned," Ron went on.
"And she smiles," Ginny nodded.
"Her eyes are smiling, too. See, they seem to sparkle," Ron joked.
"Will you two just cut it out!" Hermione snapped angrily. "I don't care what she looks like. If she is on our side, fine. If she is a good teacher, even better."
Ron meant to answer, but he realized everyone else quitted talking. Professor McGonagall had gotten to her feet and now surveyed the tables.
"Welcome and welcome back to Hogwarts." She paused as if she didn't quite know what to say. "Let the feast begin!" she shrugged, and the empty dishes magically filled.
Harry didn't feel like eating at all and kept watching Ron, who, of course, loaded his plate as if he had been starving for days.
"I feel bad about the Sorting Hat's... well... poem," he said in a low voice as he felt Ginny's eyes resting on him. "It must be really upset. It has never refused to sing before, has it?"
"Not that I know of," Ginny put her fork aside and took his hand again. "I wish I could do anything to make you feel better, Harry."
"But you won't make anything better if you go on joking like that," Hermione said sourly.
"It won't get better if we just leave him in this mood, either," said Ginny. "He needs cheering up!"
Harry sighed and leaned back in his chair as the girls continued to quarrel. He glanced at the teacher’s table again and his eyes rested on Flutterflie. She was talking to Tonks, and Harry felt his anger rise again when Tonks smiled back at her. How could McGonagall possibly get Snape's sister for the Transfiguration job? How could she, of all people, choose the sister of the man that had killed Dumbledore? Flutterflie must have felt his gaze, because she lifted her head and met his eye. She nodded and smiled at him. It was no snape-ish sneer, Harry thought. In fact it looked warm and friendly. But she was Snape's sister still.
Professor McGonagall stood up again and tried to smile.
"Now, before you leave for your dormitories I have quite a few things to announce." Her voice sounded tense and she grabbed a hold on her armchair.
"The regular start-of-term-notices first. Students are forbidden to enter the forest on the grounds, unless accompanied by a teacher. There will be no Hogsmeade trips this year, as we won't be able to provide you adequate protection." Murmur arose at her words, and Harry heard Hermione bristle with anger.
"But we're off age!" Ron protested quietly.
"However, we agreed to allow you to leave for Hogsmeade if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian each." The headmistress went on.
"Great, now I need a babysitter if I want to go out with my girl," growled Ron.
"No, Ron. Actually, we need two babysitters. One guardian each..." Hermione frowned.
"Mr. Filch asked me to remind you on the list of forbidden items inside the castle," McGonagall said. "It will be pinned to his office door." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Also I would like to you to recall that magic between classes is tabooed."
"Yeah, yeah, we know, get to the point, McG., we want to know about the teachers!" Ron whispered.
"We had a few changes in staffing this year and I am pleased to inform you that Professor Slughorn agreed to become the new Head of Slytherin." The great Hall echoed with applause and some of the Slytherins even got up for standing ovations.
"I am also glad to tell you that the Ministry of Magic provided us with an Auror for extra protection this year. Some of you might already know Professor Tonks. She replaces me as a teacher for Transfiguration." The headmistress waited until everybody stopped clapping, then went on.
"New Head of Gryffindor and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Lady Flutterflie. She..." Harry didn't listen to her words. He wanted to jump up and scream as loud as he could, he felt he was about to burst with anger, but he felt a firm grip on his shoulder and the words were stuck in his mouth.
"Don't..." he heard a soft whisper in his head. Terrified he looked up and met Flutterflie’s eyes again. She was smiling still.
"Good boy," he heard her voice again and felt the pressure release.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked in an apprehensive way.
"She is the new DADA teacher," he whispered bewildered and gasped for breath.
"I heard it..."
"And she is Head of Gryffindor. How could she possibly become Head of Gryffindor?" Harry cried out.
"I suppose she is quite a few years older than Tonks. And Tonks won't stay forever, she still works for the Ministry," Hermione answered.
"But Flutterflie won't last longer than a year. The job is jinxed!" Harry argued.
Hermione shrugged.
"We can't do anything about it, really. Let's see how she is in class," she suggested.
"How can she be Head of GRYFFINDOR?" Harry went on. "She's got to be Slytherin!"
"Would you please stop being prejudiced? Goodness, you know that siblings can go to different houses! Maybe she's not that bad after all!" Hermione seemed to lose her patience and got up. She was not the first student to leave the Great Hall, and Harry looked for Professor McGonagall, but she was gone already.
"You go ahead, I'll get back to you," he said and dashed for the door behind the High Table. He caught McGonagall just in front of the gargoyle at the entrance to her office.
"Professor," he gasped, "Professor McGonagall."
She turned around and gave him a stern look.
"What is it Potter?"
"Why did you get Snape's sister for Defence?" he cried desperately.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about, Potter," she answered and pulled up an eyebrow.
"Flutterflie. She is Snape's sister!" he let out. McGonagall gave a short laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous! I happen to know Finja for twenty years now. And she is the best teacher I could possibly get you. You should be thankful." She turned around and shook her head. "Snape's sister. Ridiculous, really..."
"But I've seen them!" Harry’s anger grew and he was about to explode. "I've seen them!"
McGonagall turned around and her face was white.
"They were at Privet Drive and..."
"And what?"
"Snape..." Harry bit his lip. He knew he wasn't to tell the headmistress about the horcruxes.
"I see you are still alive, so I conclude he didn't kill you. What did he do, Potter?"
"He..." Harry’s mind was racing. What could he possibly tell McGonagall?
"WHAT did he do?" McGonagall hissed.
"He told me to practice Occlumency and non-verbal spells..." Harry answered meekly.
"I see," the headmistress nodded. "You'd better get some sleep, Potter." She turned around and tapped the gargoyle with her wand. A wall moved and marble stone steps arose behind McGonagall.
"Good night to you, Potter," she nodded at him and started climbing the stairs to her office.
"Severus and Finja siblings, goodness. They would have spared me sleepless nights..." Harry could hear McGonagall muttering to herself as she disappeared in the shadows.

Hey there Flutterflie! I am a total fan of your story. How wonderful you have given averyone more heart and soul than our dear beloved Jo could ever do. It is like I have the last book! I await your next installment eagerly!

If it is possible, you have made me love my dear Snape even more!