Hello everyone!

Okay, this is my first post on this site's fanfiction sections, but I must confess that this story is old. This is the first Harry Potter fanfiction that I ever wrote, back in 2004. So there won't be too much waiting between chapters.

BUT, this is a rewrite, meaning I've changed a lot of things from the original story (especially in the romance aspect of it).

Given the contents, I've deemed it more prudent to post this in the High Security Vault, under advice from Droo and Hera (thanks for the help).

I must also claim that I don't own any setting of the wizarding world created by JK Rowling, nor her characters. I've created a few original characters for this story, but it's not for any conmmercial purpose. If you want to use any of my OCs, just ask permission first, and it will be fine.

Last precision: this is an AU story. I've started to write just after Order of the Phoenix came out. So, this is a different continuity from canon. It's a post-Hogwarts story, but in which year 6 and 7 have been very different, with different outcomes for some characters.

Hope you'll like it.



HARRY POTTER AND THE SEAL OF CHAOS


Prologue: Rise of the Entropist


1981
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October 31st: The night of the “Boy-Who-lived”

The night sky shone with a thousand lights over Kent. Stars were shooting in every direction in a fantasy of colours that was far from being natural. A little five year old boy was looking to the sky with a dazzled face, and he couldn’t care less if that was natural or not. This was the most beautiful night he had ever seen. The celestial lightshow was receding now. There still were some sparkling stars falling off the sky. And his mother didn’t seem too pleased about it.
He could hear her mumble behind him. “This is madness! Taking such a risk!” But he couldn’t understand what was wrong with the falling stars.
“Come on, Chandra,” said his father voice. “If we can’t celebrate today, when can we, honestly?”
“I’m not saying this isn’t a time to celebrate, Damien, but to risk the exposure of our world today just to celebrate, this is madness. Dedalus should know better, after all.”
“Dedalus is a little light-headed sometimes,” admitted Damien. “But you can’t deny that this is a beautiful show!”
“I do think it’s beautiful,” said Chandra, a little impatiently. “But it’s risky.”
“You would be surprised, my dear,” Damien said. “Muggles are so easily forgetful of those things. They seem to be able to wipe the most astonishing things from their minds; just to be sure they won’t have to face the mere idea of believing it. And the kid loves it.”
The voice of his father was warm and calm. He always had been warm and reassuring to him, but in these days, he had sounded worried as well... deeply worried. That was beyond all the little worries he could show when his son got into trouble. It had been a shadow that had scared the boy. Tonight, the shadow was gone.
He heard his mother come near him.
“Come on, little wizard, it’s time to bed!”
“Couldn’t we just wait a little, Mum?” the boy asked.
“No, Honey, we can’t. It’s already ten. You should have been in bed for an hour.”
His father joined them and they walked back to their house, each parent grabbing one of his hands. This felt good.
“Say, Daddy, why do we celebrate, today?” he asked.
Damien chuckled. He stopped walking and kneeled before his son.
“Were you eavesdropping again?”
The boy danced slightly on one foot, feeling a little guilty having overheard their conversation.
“Well, you were talking very loud,” he said, trying for that explanation.
Damien laughed a little louder. His mother smiled.
“Today, something great happened,” she said “.And something terrible as well. You remember this Dark Wizard who is terrifying everyone? The one who killed so many people?”
“Voldemort” the boy said, nodding.
It was a name he wasn’t used to speak aloud. His father had told him many times not to tell it to his friends, as many people were even afraid of this name. His parents didn’t fear that name, and they didn’t fear Voldemort. They hated him, which was a thing the young boy had figured out himself. Voldemort had killed some of his parents’ friends. He was an evil man.
“Well, today, Voldemort has been defeated” his father said.
“Really? How? Who did it?”
His curiosity was natural at his age, but his mother seemed a little uncomfortable.
“How, we don’t know,” his father said. “But we know who did it. It was a little boy. Do you remember James Potter?”
“Your Quidditch partner? The tall guy with glasses?”
“Yes. He has a son, Harry. And Harry Potter caused Voldemort to be defeated.”
“Wow! Is it possible, Mum? Can a baby defeat a Dark Wizard?” he asked.
“A little boy can do so many things,” said Chandra with a smile. “Even getting in trouble every hour of the day,” she added with a pinch of feint reproach in her voice, but still smiling.
“That’s why we celebrate tonight. To remember the day the Dark Lord disappeared.”
“Is he gone for good, Daddy?” the young boy asked.
“We don’t know, son,” his father answered. “Only time will tell. I hope so, but it’s not sure. Come on, now, off to bed.”
The boy followed his mother to their house. He turned to his father.
“One day, I’ll be a hero, too,” he said. “I’ll defeat a great Dark Wizard myself!”
“I’m sure you will, my son, I’m sure you will,” said his father, grinning.
“But before that, you have to sleep!” his mother urged him to move over to the front door.
They have been watching the falling star rain from the garden of their house in Kent. The couple lived there for years now.
As his mother was tucking him into his bed, the little boy asked.
“And that little boy, Harry… what will happen to him. Will he be a hero?”
“I don’t know, honey,” his mother said. “I don’t know.”
There was something wrong about it, the little boy knew it. His mother suddenly went sad.
“What’s wrong, Mum?” the boy asked.
His mother always told him the truth, so she couldn’t hide it from him.
“It’s just that this poor Harry will have to live without his parents now. They’ve been killed by Voldemort.”
The little boy felt suddenly sorry for the young Harry. And he felt sadder because he had liked James very much. James was a nice man, always good to him when he came to visit them, even if it hasn’t been really often. He felt the tears coming to his eyes, without really understanding why. His mother took him in her arms, and he began to cry. But finally he fell asleep, in his mother’s arms.
Chandra kept looking at her son for a long time. Damien joined her at some point. Chandra couldn’t help a shiver going down her neck. Damien’s arm came over her shoulder, reassuringly. He smiled to comfort her.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Chandra,” Damien said. “Now Voldemort’s gone, everything will get better.”
“I’m thinking about Harry, all alone, orphaned. What if the same happens to him?” she said, looking at her son.
“It won’t happen,” Damien said. “Our son is safe. Voldemort never was after us, nor were his followers. Our son won’t be deprived of his parents. He has a destiny. But he won’t be alone just like this poor Harry.”
Chandra broke into tears.
“I still can’t believe it. James and Lily! It’s horrible!”
“I know, love,” Damien said. “I know.”
And all this time, young Alexander Lockenburn was sleeping, unaware of his parents’ worries, but dreaming about a little baby, forced to face the world alone, now. A little baby with a scar on his forehead.
When he told his parents about his dream, the next morning, they looked puzzled. Where did he get the idea of a scar on the baby’s forehead?

------------------------------
Two weeks later

“And still you say he must live there?” Damien asked. “He should live in his own world, you know.”
“I understand your concern, Damien,” Albus Dumbledore said. “But there is a powerful magic where he lives that protects him. It may not be the best way, but it’s surely the safest. We all want to keep Harry safe.”
“Why? He can’t be touched! Voldemort’s gone, isn’t he?” Damien said.
“Nothing’s less sure than that,” said Dumbledore. “And I’m quite certain an Auror like you has considered the idea of someone wanting to avenge him.”
“I can’t imagine what would have happened if Sirius had put his clutches on Harry,” said Chandra, with a shiver.
“There’s still something fishy with Sirius,” Damien said. “I still can’t believe he’s a traitor. Are you sure he was James and Lily’s Secret Keeper?” he asked Dumbledore.
The old Wizard nodded, sadly.
“The last time I spoke to James about the Fidelius Charm, he was still intending to make Sirius their Secret Keeper. So it leaves us only one truth.”
“Sirius” Damien whispered. “It doesn’t stand! He was dark, yes, but nobody despised dark Magic more than him, except maybe James. He was so willing to escape his family’s history. I still can’t believe he’s guilty.”
“And I still say we could have taken Harry with us,” Chandra said. “We may not be family, but we were friends of his parents. Even if we weren’t as close to them as Remus was, we could have taken that poor child. He could be happy here.”
“I know, Dumbledore said. But still Harry’s safety will pass before his happiness. I’m sure you understand, Chandralène. The Magic of his blood will protect him while he’s there.”
“Of course,” Chandra said, a little gloomily.
Damien couldn’t help a smirk.
“She wants a little brother for Alexander, whatever the cost,” he told Dumbledore, teasing his wife.
“How’s the boy doing?” Dumbledore asked. “He’s the reason of my visit, after all. You said he dreamed of Harry?”
“Alexander’s fine,” Chandra said, with a light trace of bitterness in her voice.
“What is it?” Dumbledore said. “You look concerned”.
“It’s just that Alexander is showing very little sign of Magic. All his friends are teasing him saying he’s a squib,” Damien said.
“But Hogwarts registry has his name on it,” Dumbledore said, surprised. “Never any sign of Magic?”
“Well, we sometimes feel he will do something, and suddenly it stops,” Damien said. “It’s a little frustrating.”
“I’m sure it will come with age,” Chandra said, a little aggressive. “My son is not a squib!”
“I don’t believe he is,” Dumbledore said, “especially not after experiencing a vision like this one.”
“A Vision?” said Damien.
“A vision,” said Dumbledore. “Dreaming of Harry Potter is normal right now for a lot of kids. He’s bound to enter legend. But nobody knew about this scar until a few days ago, when it was mentioned in the Prophet. If he has seen it on the night Harry was attacked, it means it was a vision of some kind. And it means Alexander has magic in him. It’s amazing he managed to see the truth about this scar. It kind of shows a connection between him and Harry. Curious. Anyway, I doubt his magic will stay discrete for so long. Not with this particular destiny he seems to have.”
“Still no news about this Prophecy?” Damien asked.
“No,” Dumbledore conceded. “It’s strange. We have rarely seen a Prophecy so powerful but we never found the exact meaning of it.”
The night Alexander was born, a very famous Seer had experienced a Prophecy. At the exact second Alexander came to this world, the prophecy was enounced by the Seer. It was short, clear, but still mysterious. And the vision had a strength few people had seen before.
The Son of Entropy is born, the world dreading his rise. Watch his path closely, for it will define the fate of those who will come after him.
That could, obviously mean a thousand things, and nobody knew for sure what would happen to Alexander. But still the fact he didn’t show any magic was concerning for Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of the greatest wizards in the world.
At this moment, somebody came knocking frantically on the Lockenburns’ door. Chandra came to open and Lavinia Hawkeye face appeared rather pale and flustered.
“Damien, Chandra, quick! There’s something wrong with Alexander at the little school!”
The little school for Wizard children was more a place to play and learn usual interaction between wizards than a real school. Most children of this region were attending this place, to learn how to live with each other.
When Dumbledore, Chandra and Damien apparated in front of the school’s garden, what they saw made them stand still in shock. But the shock lasted only a few seconds. Dumbledore started to smile. But Chandra didn’t.
“ALEXANDER TIBERIUS LOCKENBURN!” she shouted. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
Slowly, carefully, Alexander turned to face his mother, his face red with embarrassment, but with still a slight trace of fury in the eye. Right over him, there was a pack of four kids who seemed tied by an invisible bound, and stranded, floating in the air. Each one looked in pure panic!
Chandralène knelt before her son, a stern look on her face.
“What are you doing?” She repeated.
“It’s their fault!” Alexander said, pointing at the boys angrily. “They keep saying I’m useless! They say I’m a Squib!!”
“Let them go, now, Alexander,” his father said.
Alexander looked at the boys, frowned slightly and the boys fell roughly on the ground. Mrs Hawkeye ran to them and took them in the school, talking softly to calm them. They were giving Alexander terrified looks, as if he would make them explode, this very second.
“How did you do that? “ Chandra asked.
“Do what?” Alexander looked puzzled.
“Do what? You just levitated them in pack! How did you?” Chandra said, a little note of concern coming in her tone.
“I dunno,” Alexander said. “I just did! I looked at them and I wanted them there, so they wouldn’t mock me anymore!”
Chandra looked petrified.
“If I may, Chandralène,” Dumbledore intervened.
The Old wizard knelt in front of Alexander. He smiled reassuringly.
“You have done this before? Make things happen like that?”
“Sometimes, I do things weird, but when I want to show someone, it doesn’t work!” said Alexander.
“His tone was so frustrated that they couldn’t doubt for a second he was honest. Yet for all his anger, he looked at Dumbledore with wide eyes. He seemed fascinated by the Old Wizard.
“What kinds of things?” Dumbledore asked.
Alexander looked up to his father.
“Come on Alexander, answer Professor Dumbledore,” he said with a smile.
“Well, one day, I turned a frog into a lizard, because it was the same green, but then he seemed not happy so I turned him back!”
Chandra blinked, her mouth fell open, out of surprise. This kind of transfiguration was just out of range of a five year old wizard.
“And then, one day, I send this rock up to the top of the hill,” Alexander said.
“To the top of the hill?” Dumbledore repeated.
“He was the only rock in the grass” Alexander said. “There are plenty of rocks up there, so I sent it at the top, so he could be with his friends”.
“That was nice of you, Alexander,” Dumbledore said with a smile. “Very nice indeed”.
“Am I going to be punished?” Alexander asked reluctantly.
He was looking so repentant, now, that Chandra couldn’t help but laugh. She was more than convinced that he regretted to have done that... at least a little. She took her on in her arms and held him tight against her.
“Just promise you won’t do that again to your friends, okay?” she said.
“‘Kay” Alexander said, looking very relieved.
Dumbledore turned to Damien and exchanged with him a significant look. Something odd was going on, that was for sure.
“He’s using very powerful forces on his own” Dumbledore said. “And on a very instinctive level. That’s very rare. The last case we had a wizard act like this with such a power was in the Thirteenth Century.”
They were back in the Lockenburns’ lounge. Damien and Chandra sat, facing Dumbledore, over the tea set. They looked concerned about their son’s first shot in magic. But at the same time, they were reassured, as Alexander obviously wasn’t a squib.
“So what is he?” Damien asked.
“I think we found the meaning of the 'Son of Entropy', said Dumbledore. “Alexander seems to use Magic at its most primal level, when it’s still pure chaos. He’s using its power at will. Many wizards can perform wandless spells, but never at such a level. I think that we can consider that Alexander is what we call a Chaotic Wizard. That’s very strange indeed. I’ll have to study the question.”
“My goodness! Does it mean he won’t be like the others?” said Chandra.
“We’ll have to wait until he attends Hogwarts,” Dumbledore replied “When he gets his first wand, we’ll see how he evolves as a wizard. You need not to worry, Chandra. At least he has proved everyone that he’s not a squib, didn’t he?”
Dumbledore had a twinkling in his eyes that Chandra wasn’t sure she liked. Somehow, she suspected the Old Wizard to find all of this thoroughly amusing.


1986
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August, Diagon Alley: Ollivander's

“Mrs Lockenburn,” Mr Ollivander said, with a kind smile. “Headmaster Dumbledore told me you would come soon. So this is young Mister Lockenburn,” he added, looking straight into Alexander’s eyes.
Alexander felt a little scared by this old man. He had eyes that were so clear they seemed unnatural, even in the wizarding world. Alexander had the odd feeling that Mr Ollivander was looking right into his soul.
“So you’re here for your first wand, aren’t you, my young Sir?”
Alexander nodded.
“Which hand are you using?”
Alexander raised his right hand. Mr Ollivander began taking all kind of measure with a self-acting ribbon. Until he looked satisfied, the ribbon continued to measure things on Alexander, even the compared length of his two little fingers. Then, on a snap by Mr Ollivander, the ribbon dropped on the floor, without any further moving. Alexander only noticed that Mr Ollivander had gone in the back of his shop, but at the very same second he turned to his mother, Ollivander was back, with small black leather boxes under his arm. There were five of them.
“May I suggest you try one of these? Headmaster Dumbledore warned me you may be a tricky client. And according to my measures, you seem to fulfil his expectations. Let’s try this one. Ebony, very strong, and Dragon heartstring.”
Alexander took the wand Mr Ollivander was giving him. Nothing happened at all. The old man looked a little thoughtful for a moment. Then he smiled cunningly.
“Hmm, maybe a more reactive substance, then,” he mumbled.
He opened another of the black boxes. He held out a different wand to Alexander. A wand that was thinner and longer as well.
“Thirteen inches, Beachwood and Phoenix feather. Let’s see.”
Alexander took the wand, waved it, but nothing happened. He was starting to get nervous. He knew that he may not find the proper wand. His parents have already told him he was dealing with Magic a very special way. But the idea of not getting any wand was scaring him. It would confirm for good the fact he wasn’t like the others, an idea he clearly disliked. After the five boxes, Ollivander gave him wand after wand to try and get some reaction. With each failure, he was noting something on a little notepad, with a little quill. After a while, he seemed to conclude complicated calculations, and his clear blue eyes lit up somehow.
“Aha,” he said. “Well, maybe we do need something unusual… really unusual.”
He went to the front of the shop, opened a delicate frame and got out a very beautiful wand, before to hold it out for Alexander.
“We’ll try with this one, then. Mahogany and Willow, twelve inches, and…”
Mr Ollivander seemed to make his sentence last, in order to preserve a mystery. A little uneasy, Alexander took the wand, felt its warmth in his hand. He gave it a wave. There was a flash of lightning. All the wands in the shop seemed to react as there was a trembling in the piles of boxes. Mr Ollivander looked around, with a surprised look on his face. And then he smiled with the look of someone who was given a very special treat.
“I never thought I would sell this one at last,” he said. “But to the unusual magic, the unusual wand, of course.”
“Unusual wand?” asked both Alexander and his mother.
They smiled at each other.
“You see, Mrs Lockenburn,” Mr Ollivander said, “I usually make my wands out of one type of wood and with three very special substances. Dragon heartstring, Unicorn hair, and Phoenix Feather. One day I took on the challenge of making a wand out of unusual substances. This one is a mix of Mahogany and Willow, combined by magic which makes it both strong and flexible. And in the core, I used Magic blue Quartz. I thought it would never fit anyone. It was more like an artistic challenge, you see. The trick with that wand is that to make it react properly, you must be in real deep contact with magic inside yourself. Some wands reinforce the inner power of their wizards, but some others need a great personal force to be worked. Professor Dumbledore told me your son was going to be a special case.”
“And so this wand…
“This wand needs very powerful inner magic to work properly. And as you saw, it worked. I’m sure you will be satisfied with this wand, young sir,” Mr Ollivander said turning to Alexander.
Alexander watched his wand closely. It really gorgeous. There were some markings on it, drawn by the two different wood colours. Alexander looked up to Mr Ollivander.
“As I told you, an artistic challenge”. The old man smiled.
They paid the wand (a little higher than usual, for it was unique), and went out, back on Diagon Alley. All the way back to the Leaky Cauldron, Alexander looked at his wand case, made of elegant black leather. What did it mean? Did he really have such strength inside him?
And what should he do with such strength?

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King's Cross Station, Platform Nine-and-three-Quarters

Three days later, he said goodbye to his parents, who waved to him as the Hogwarts express was starting to move from Platform Nine and three Quarters. Very quickly, he saw them disappear in the locomotive steam, and just as fast, London began to pass before his eyes, at full speed.
Alexander sat back into his seat, in his empty compartment. But he didn’t stay alone for long.
“Hi, Alex!” said the voice of Judy Waterhouse, his best friend, as she entered the compartment, with a cage that contained a nice Owl.
“Hi, where have you been? I looked for you at the station,” Alexander said.
“We overslept,” said Judy with a grin. “Malcolm is such a marmot! Dad was forced to shake him off his bed. We almost missed the train! So, back together, huh?”
“Yeah,” Alexander said, smiling.
Judy was entering her second year in Hogwarts, being one year older than him. Her brother Malcolm was in his fourth year. Alexander had missed her this year, while she was away in Hogwarts. He couldn’t wait to join her in the greatest school of Magic in England.
“So,” Judy said in a conspiracy tone. “Did you get a wand or what?”
Alexander smiled, and pulled his wand case out of his trunk. He had told Judy of her mother’s concern about his wand, of course. He was telling her everything. He pulled his wand out and showed it to her. She whistled appreciatively.
“Nice! She said. What is it made of?”
“Mahogany, Willow and Blue Quartz”.
“Alex, I’m serious! What’s in it?” Judy said in exasperation.
“I’m serious,” Alexander replied. It’s a special wand. Mr Ollivander said it was a “vintage”,” he added with a chuckle. “He only done one of this kind”
“Wow, this is cool,” said one voice at the entrance of the compartment.
A short and stocky young man, seeming a little older than Judy was standing there, a large smile on his face. He had a freckly face and red hair. He wore his wizard robes, black with a red and golden emblem sewed over it. Alexander knew he was in Gryffindor, just like Judy.
“Hey, Charlie,” Judy said. “Alex, this is Charlie Weasley. He’s the Gryffindor Quidditch team Seeker. He’s in his third year. Charlie, this is Alexander Lockenburn.”
“Hi Alexander,” said Charlie, vigorously shaking Alexander’s hand. “Welcome to Hogwarts. We’ll see if you join us in Gryffindor.”
Alexander chatted a long time with Charlie and Judy. About Quidditch, and other stuff. He was following Quidditch, of course, but he wasn’t very fond of flying, so he didn’t play it. His favourite team was the Falmouth Falcons. And while talking just about anything, he thought of the Houses of Hogwarts. He didn’t want to argue with Judy, but he’d rather be in Ravenclaw than in Gryffindor. Ravenclaw House was one House for Wizard with minds and thirst of knowledge. He thought it was the best place to understand his gifts. And it was something he was wanting more than anything else. Understand who he was. And of course, his mother had been in Ravenclaw, while his father was in Gryffindor. Damien always said he didn’t care in which house his son would end in, as long as he did his best. Chandra, on the other hand seemed to be very proud of her house, and Alexander knew it would please her to see her son in the same house as hers.
The trip was pleasant. Alexander met a lot of young wizards going to Hogwarts for the first time. The closer they got, the more excited they were. Alexander couldn’t wait to see the school.
When the train stopped at last, night has fallen on the land. They were all dressed in robes, now. They all left the train, leaving their stuff behind as ordered. When they got on the platform, Judy waved to Alexander, wishing him good luck for the Sorting. She disappeared in the crowd, as a huge voice roared over the mass of students.
“First Years, this way please!! Come on, don’t be shy!! Over here!”
Alexander found himself facing the biggest man ever. He was hairy (Alexander searched the big man head for a hairless spot), and had eyes shining like beetles. He was smiling.
“Everybody here? Okay, follow me, all o’ yeh”
The rest of the trip was lost for Alexander, as he walked right behind the huge man, whose name was Hagrid. He was the Game keeper. But the next thing he saw was the wonderful Castle, its towers pearly white with the moonlight.
This is the coolest place I’ve ever seen, he thought as the students made their way to little boats, to start their journey across the lake.

------------------------------
“Alexander Lockenburn!”
His name echoed freely under the bewitched Ceiling, showing the starlight of outside. After her rather stern welcome, Professor McGonagall was now calling the first years one by one to Sort them in their Houses. Alexander’s turn had come.
He made quick steps toward the stool and sat on it, a little shaky. Professor McGonagall put the Hat on his head and it came to block his view of the Hall.
Well, well. Interesting, said a voice in his head. You’re an unusual boy, aren’t you?
With a sudden panic, Alexander hoped this comments were not heard by the whole school.
You’ve got talents. Talents which long to express. You’ve got the will to understand. That is clear. But this is not the most important thing in your mind. You want to do something in your life. Something … Ah, fascinating! A very unusual combination. Well for that there’s only one place, my boy… GRYFFINDOR.
The hat was removed from Alexander’s head. He saw Gryffindor table cheer at this shout of the hat. He stood up and walked to their table, feeling a little puzzled. Why did the Hat put him in Gryffindor? He saw his will to understand things. What could be more important? And if that thirst to do something in his life was so great, why didn’t it put him in Slytherin, where ambitious belong?
There was something fishy, here.
But as soon as Judy was beside him hugging him in delight to have him in her house, his worries about his Sorting disappeared. After all, Gryffindor was a good house. His father went there. And even Albus Dumbledore made his studies in Gryffindor. This was an honourable place.
Let’s hope that Mum won’t be too disappointed, he thought at one moment.

------------------------------
After the end of the feast, the First years were led to their Dormitories by the prefects. The place was unbelievable. So many halls and corridors, moving staircases, so many paintings to welcome you in Hogwarts. It was beyond all of his wildest dreams.
This is the coolest place I’ve ever seen, he thought again, echoing his first impression of the Castle.
“Mr Lockenburn!” A voice called him, just after the prefect gave them the password to enter the Gryffindor Common Room, behind a painting with a fat lady.
Professor McGonagall was standing at one of the crossing of two corridors. All the first years stopped.
“I’d like a word with you, please,” she said.
He followed her in the stairs, leading to her office. She gestured to him to sit in front of her desk, and took her seat in a large comfortable armchair. She gave him a long penetrating look, as though she wanted to see right through him.
“Professor Dumbledore told me about your specificity. I must insist that nobody knows about it in this school. Except for the teachers, of course. I know your talents may be impressive, but I must ask you to refrain your potential will to, well, “show-off”. I wouldn’t tolerate show-offs in my House. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Professor,” said Alexander.
At no time, he would have thought of showing off. It was a very hard work to control all these phenomena that were happening around him. But, in the past three years, he didn’t have any accident. And now, he didn’t need to be reminded of that. Only you couldn't cross your House Head on your first evening at Hogwarts, so he only nodded at that.
“Not that I had to worry,” said Professor McGonagall. “You seem just as gifted in Common sense as your father was. I hope you will make my House pride, and that you will honour your family’s name. Now…”
She stood up, and walked around her desk to face him closer.
“Could I have a look at your wand or is it in your trunk?” she asked.
In fact, Alexander’s wand was in his pocket, as he had simply put it back in it, when he had begun to chat with Charlie. He held it out for the professor, who took it cautiously. She looked at it very carefully. She weighed it, tested it for a long moment. Her stern expression was suddenly a little more relaxed, as if she was so immersed in her fascination for the wand that she just forgot how to look intimidating. After a while, she waved it. Alexander was surprised to see the wand react and send out a little burst of light.
“Hmm,” said McGonagall, almost to herself. “I see what Ollivander meant by saying it needed punch to make it react.”
Then she gave it back to him.
“Professor?” said Alexander, a little lost.
“Your wand maker wrote to me about this very special piece,” she explained. “You see, I have a hobby. I like to study wands. I'm interested in any innovation that appears in the making of those. Yours is not only unique for you. It's a completely new way to conceive a wand. I find it remarkable.”
Alexander nodded, with a timid smile. Surprisingly, she returned that smile.
“It’s a very interesting piece of work, Mr Lockenburn,” she said, before to regain her seriousness. “Regarding your special... let’s say abilities, you will have a special lesson every week, on Saturday. We will keep it discrete, so your fellow students won’t have anything to say about it. These lessons will aim at teaching you the control of this very special gift you have. You will follow Professor Flitwick’s teaching on this matter. After your third year, I will take the relay, and by your sixth year, the Headmaster will take care of it himself. We will teach you how to use these gifts on a more controlled way and to specific uses. I will give you your timetable tomorrow. Now you can go to your dormitory. If anyone asks you why you were delayed, you can tell them that I was interested in your so particular wand. It won’t stay a secret that it's not the usual wand. Students love this kind of little mysteries.”
Alexander left her office, with more questions than answers in his mind. Special lessons? A special timetable? It was troubling. Why did everyone think he was that special? He was not Harry Potter, after all!
Now, what? he thought.


1991
----------------------------------
September the 1st: King's Cross

“Hey, Alex! Over Here!”
Judy waved to him, and Alexander bid his parents good bye before joining her beside the train. This was September the first, and he was on his way to begin his new year in Hogwarts. His Sixth year. That was a fascinating perspective.
Aside from the idea that this was an OWL-free year (to his great relief), It was this year that his personal lessons, on Saturday Morning, were about to be taken by Professor Dumbledore himself. Alexander was thrilled by the thought. Even if it had to be kept a secret, it was a great honour to study with the greatest Wizard of the age. Of course, he had enjoyed working with Professor McGonagall. And he was certain that she would succeed in maintaining some of their sessions, as she had promised at the end of last term. Still, it was Dumbledore!
Judy interrupted his thinking by jumping at his back, laughing like a little girl.
“Woohoo! Another year!! And that’s my last one!” she said.
He was trying to get rid of her when he was joined by a group of Sixth year, and among them were his classmates, Davon Riley and Alfric Twowands. He greeted them warmly.
“Hey, how was your vacation?” Davon asked.
“Good,” he said. “I went to Ireland with my parents. We’ve been in the Fairy Forest. That was beautiful!”
“Ireland, huh? Did you saw the Quidditch match of the National team against the Wales?”
“Yes. Dad got us tickets. That new seeker, Aidan Lynch. He’s awesome!!!”
“Hi, Alexander,” said a soft voice behind them, which make him turn right on his heels.
Phyllis McRoth was facing him, a sweet smile on her face. She was a fifth year coming from Ireland. He met her in her second year, but they only became friends last year, during a Quidditch match. She had flaming red hair, and Soft blue eyes. And if you were to ask Alexander, she was the most beautiful girl in the world. He smiled back at her, feeling a little strange. Like always when she was facing him, he felt like a fool, had his tongue tied and could do nothing but uttering the most inane comments. No wonder he still hadn't gotten the nerve to ask her out, despite his friends' teasing and Judy tireless efforts.
“How was your summer?” She asked.
“Great. I went to your country. It’s beautiful”
Alexander felt really stupid. He was surely making a fool of himself in front of her, unable to say anything better than “Your country’s beautiful.”
“Thanks,” she said, blushing a little. “Too bad I was in France, then. We could have met.”
Somebody called her, far behind the group. Too far, if you’d ask Alexander.
“Well, see you soon,” she said.
“Okay,” he replied, his heart in his throat.
As she walked away, somebody patted Alexander’s head.
“Hey, come back on earth, Buddy,” Judy said.
“I can’t believe you went in her home country and you didn’t even manage to meet her,” said Alfric, rolling his eyes. “What are we going to do with you, Xan!”
“Give me a break, Alf. How Diana’s doing?” replied Alexander with a nasty grin.
Alfric was dating a Ravenclaw sixth year, named Diana Wentworth and he was very sensitive about it.

------------------------------
During the train trip to Hogwarts, the main subject was the summer, but at some point, Davon told them that her mother was so pleased with his OWLs results, that she bought him a new set of robes, all out of silk. He was showing them to Judy, when Alfric asked Alexander about his own OWLs results.
Alexander had done quite well. He managed to have three “E” and even an “O” in Charm lessons, as he was very gifted with that subject. His E’s were in Astronomy, Defence against the dark Arts and Transfiguration, which granted him the access to Professor McGonagall’s NEWT, which was the only one he cared about, along with Flitwick’s. He also got a series of A’s in Care of the Magical creatures, Arithmancy and in Rune translation. He completely ruined his Divination OWL, with a D, and Professor Snape, apparently disgruntled that young Professor Quirell was confirmed as the Defence against the Dark Arts Teacher seemed too happy to grant him a P on potions, which meant he couldn’t attend the NEWTs required to become an Auror like his father. Not that it mattered really. The only thing he wanted to do was to improve his level in Transfiguration, and Charms, so he could become a Curse breaker. Charlie Weasley’s elder brother, Bill, was now working for Gringotts in Egypt. That was a career that fascinated him.
The chat in the compartment was suddenly interrupted by the passing of a toad. He went across the wagon, croaking loudly. That interruption made everyone laugh.
After the lunch Trolley has come through the train, students began to walk across the train. Davon went to see some friend of his in Ravenclaw. Judy went to find her young sister who was beginning her first year at Hogwarts.
When Phyllis passed before their compartment, she waved discreetly at him. He stood up to follow her, hoping to catch up with her so they could talk a little privately. But as soon as he got out of his compartment, he walked into the person he disliked the most in all Hogwarts, including Snape.
“Hello, Lockenburn,” said Devin Stiller with a mocking smile. “Trying to find the guts to talk to her at last?”
“Zip it, Stiller,” Alexander replied.
Devin Stiller was a Slytherin Prefect, with sand hair, and clear blue eyes. He was a handsome young man, according to some girls Alexander knew. But in Alexander’s view, he was nothing more than an aristocratic git.
“I don’t understand why you waste your time over this little mudblood,” Devin said.
There was a quick slapping sound, and a second later, Devin was holding his cheek, looking furious. Alexander hadn’t moved. But his power had soundly slapped him in the face.
“There are so many things you don’t understand, Stiller,” said Alexander, on a very tired tone. “I begin to think your case is hopeless. You still didn’t understand to stay out of my life. And to stay cordial to girls. One of these days, I’ll have to teach you more seriously.”
And without waiting for his reaction, he passed him and tried to find Phyllis.
But there was no way of finding her. Alexander felt for a moment a will to walk back to Devin and punch his foul words on Phyllis back into his throat. But that would be useless. His ideas about blood were incurable stupidity. More violence wouldn’t help it. And Phyllis hated violence, most of the time.
As he wandered down the train, he crossed two first years.
“Have you seen a Toad?” asked a little girl with bushy brown hair, caramel eyes and rather large front teeth.
She was speaking in a very bossy way.
“Neville lost his” she added, indicating the other boy, who blushed furiously.
“I think I saw it back there,” said Alexander, as he guessed it was this toad which passed before their compartment.
The young girl thanked him and hurried “Neville” toward the rear of the train. Alexander smiled. A lost toad. What an adventure to begin with Hogwarts! He remembered his first trip on the Hogwarts express. While wandering in the train, half hoping to find Phyllis again, he heard rumours, spread by excited students, as usual. Most of these rumours were ridiculous, as the one saying that Snape was leaving Hogwarts to go and grow flowers.
But at some point, a name made Alexander stop dead in his tracks in front of a Compartment.
“Harry Potter? You’re sure?”
“Yep!” Said one of the Weasley twins... Fred or George. Alexander didn’t know them well enough to distinguish them. “He’s on the train! With my brother Ron. I saw his scar!”
“Will you get out of my way?” said a drawling voice. “I don’t have all day, you big tree!”
A young boy, first year apparently, was standing in the passage way, escorted by two rather big acolytes. He had a pointed face with blond hair that seemed almost white. He wore a contemptuous face. No need to guess who he was. Alexander had already seen this face, one day, when he had met the Malfoy family with his father, in Diagon Alley. This day, Lucius just had the same expression on his face. Alexander narrowed his eyes. This had to be the young Malfoy, whatever his pompous first name could be.
“I don’t think it would hurt you to be polite, Malfoy,” he said.
“How do you know me?”
“None of your business, actually. Know just that what I know of you is more than enough,” said Alexander. “Now, talk to me like that again, and you’ll regret to have crossed me, I can guarantee that.”
Malfoy lost a little of his pride. He passed him, avoiding him with a mumbled apology. Alexander liked to do that from time to time, using one of his father's favourite ways to put someone back into his place.
Alexander headed back to his Compartment. So Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts? If he thought about it, that would make sense. Harry had to be eleven now. Alexander began to think that would be an interesting year, with Harry Potter in the school. He remembered all these curious dreams he had as a child about the life of the legendary boy. He wondered if any of what he had seen was true.
A thought passed through his mind, almost against his will, as he didn’t care much about the Houses.
I Hope he gets in Gryffindor!

------------------------------
The great Hal fell silent as Professor McGonagall brought on the stool and the Hat for the sorting Ceremony. Alexander didn’t really listen to the song of the Old Hat, even if it was a new one. Instead of that, he looked at the first years. They looked anxious, some mumbling spells they remembered. Some were whispering furiously, making sure to keep their voice under the Hat’s song.
When the song ended, the Hall exploded in applause. And the Sorting began. Hannah Abbott was sent in Hufflepuff, and so was Susan Bones. Terry Boot was sent in Ravenclaw. The young Girl who asked him about the toad on the train was named Hermione Granger, and she was sent in Gryffindor. Alexander greeted her cheerfully.
Suddenly, silent fell on the Hall. A silence followed by a surge of whispering.
“Potter, did she say?”
“The Harry Potter?”
Alexander watched closely when a young boy with jet black hair climbed on the stool. Before it disappeared under the Hat, Alexander had a glimpse of Harry’s face. He was very much like his father, as Alexander remembered him.
It took a long time to the Hat to cry out.
GRYFFINDOR!
Alexander clapped vigorously to greet the famous young boy to his table. 'We got Potter! We got Potter!' chanted the Weasley twins.
It would definitely be an interesting year.

------------------------------
“Are you still alright, Mr Lockenburn?” asked Professor McGonagall.
Alexander nodded, without opening his eyes, still lost in his concentration. He was gathering the energies of the Chaos to draw pure power and transfer it into his teacher, as she was incanting. Her wand was swishing and turning in every direction, in moves so complex Alexander had given up the idea of trying to follow them. So he had decided to shut his eyes, to ease the process.
His mentor had resumed their sessions, alright, even if Dumbledore was now teaching him directly every Saturday. But the contents of the lessons with McGonagall weren’t what he had expected. In fact, she had requested his help for a very special project. It was about turning giant Chess pieces into animated warriors that would play Wizard Chess against... who? That was the question. Alexander had understood by the look of his teacher that it was better not to ask questions. So he had simply enlisted into the project.
It was very simple. McGonagall provided the spell, he provided the power. They were halfway through it, by now, after two weeks of work. Alexander had helped completing the black set. Now, they were starting on the white King.
“Let me finish this one, and then, we will take a break,” said McGonagall.
Alexander nodded again, still focusing on his power. He couldn't help but wonder. What was this chess board supposed to be used for? And against who? And more precisely, since the outcome of the game seemed to decide whether someone would cross the door at the other end of the room, what was kept behind that door?

------------------------------
“Gryffindor wins the House cup!” announced Dumbledore, as the decoration was shifting to red and gold.
The table literally exploded in cheers. Everyone in the House was hugging each other, shaking hands, dancing joyfully. Alexander fell into the embrace of Judy, who was totally beside herself.
What a year! Alexander could hardly believe it. Harry Potter had just changed all the rules that applied in the way a year went on. Since he had gotten in Hogwarts, he had become the youngest seeker in a century, and he had just plunged the whole school in mayhem with his feats. Battling a Troll, facing a monster in the Forbidden Forest, and most of all, stopping Quirrell to get his hands on the Philosopher's Stone. Alexander had been finally told, after the ordeal was over, that his help on the Chessboard was aimed at guarding the mythical substance. And Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend, had beaten the board.
This was no small feat, either. If Professor McGonagall was good at something besides transfiguration and handling her students, it was at chess. They had spent hours playing, Alexander slowly rising in talent, but unable to catch up with her. And an eleven year old boy had been good enough to beat her!
What a year!
Alexander looked at Harry Potter, who was shaking hands with Lee Jordan. He felt curious about all of this. He had never directly talked to the boy, but still, he felt that connection, as if something in his future would be connected to him. That was a puzzling idea.
Anyway, now, Harry Potter was in Hogwarts and you could expect just about anything.
Alexander crossed Professor McGonagall's look of pride as she was surveying her House. He did something he would never have dared at any other moment. He smiled at her and winked.
She winked back! His smile widened.
Now what? He thought.


1992
------------------------------

The graduation party was going on for most of his friends, but Alexander was looking for someone in particular. He never had the chance to talk to him, within the two years they have had in common at Hogwarts.
He was looking for Harry Potter.
He was walking toward Gryffindor tower, where he thought he would find him. After the events of this year, He was usually hanging with Hermione Granger and the Weasley Family, in the common room.
Alexander just couldn’t believe what the young Harry had done. He had faced a basilisk on his own; to rescue a girl. After the bout he had with Quirell last year, it was a monumental understatement to say that he was a hero. Alexander still felt bitter about all of this. Not about Harry. He was glad that the boy had saved his friend and solved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. But he couldn't help but thinking that he had been completely useless this year. With all his power, with everything he could do, he had been able to do... nothing.
“Don't blame yourself, Alexander,” had said Professor McGonagall, in the middle of the crisis, as he had voiced his anger at himself. “The issue here isn't about power, but about how you use it. You have an uncanny ability, but it simply couldn't help with the situation. You're not all powerful. This curse that hits our students is simply beyond your range of power. Try not to over step your limits, my boy.”
That was meant to ease his conscience, but still, while he, a sixth year gifted with Entropy, was staying helpless in the Gryffindor Tower, a young twelve year old boy, with nothing more than his courage and a sword, had faced one of the deadliest creatures on Earth and rescued his best friend's sister.
If someone was trying to teach Alexander that the power didn't make the hero, he was doing a hex of a job with it.
Alexander entered the Common room and found the whole them sitting in the armchairs beside the fireplace. Percy looked up to him and waved discreetly to him. Alexander nodded. He liked Percy, but he thought he was a little too stiff, even for a prefect. His elder brothers hadn't been like that.
Alexander walked toward them.
“Hum, Harry, could I have a word with you?” he asked.
Harry blinked, a little surprised, but nodded. He stood up and followed him in a corner of the room. Harry seemed to be looking for his name in his memory. Alexander smiled to reassure him.
“I’m Alexander Lockenburn,” he said. “We never talked before. But there was something I wanted to tell you since you arrived.”
Harry raised his eyebrows. Alexander thought a little before to speak. What was he trying to say, exactly?
“My father knew yours. They were playing Quidditch in Gryffindor team,” Alexander said, finally.
Harry’s eyes widened.
“Really?” he said.
“Yes. They were friends. I remember your dad. He came over to visit us. He was nice, you know. And… Sorry, it’s ridiculous.”
“What?” Harry asked.
“I’ve tried to find the time to talk to you for two years and now I’m here, I don’t know what to say. I just wanted to say that I was sorry of what happened to your parents. I was sad when I heard about it, even though I was only five. You see? Something like that.”
Alexander realised it sounded completely ridiculous. He could have told him about the dreams, about the fact that he could have helped him. But all he could do was doing nothing but opening an ancient wound again. He wanted to slap himself. But Harry smiled.
“Thanks,” he said. “You know, you’re the first person, beside my friends, to tell me that. Thanks.”
“Don’t’ mention it,” Alexander said, reassured. “And also, I wanted to say that you made these last two years much more exciting, you know!”
“That wasn’t my idea,” Harry said with a grin.
“It never is,” Alexander said. “Anyway, if one day after school... you need help, you can ask me.”
“I'll remember that,” said Harry.
“Good bye, then,” said Alexander. “Maybe we'll see each other again.”
“Maybe,” Harry said.
Alexander smiled. No need to bother him about these dreams. He had more than enough on his plate, right now. Alexander thought he needed to tell Dumbledore to call him in case of need. Something was telling him that he would cross path with Harry Potter again, someday. And a feeling told him it wouldn't be a peaceful time.


1994
----------------------------------
The Second Rise

“Your appointment, Minister,” said Dolores Umbridge, without trying to hide the dubious tone colouring her announce.
“Ah, yes, yes,” said Cornelius Fudge, standing up from behind his office to greet Alexander. “Come in, come in. You can leave us, Dolores, thank you.”
Alexander could tell that the under-secretary who had greeted him as if he was an inconvenience was both surprised and clearly annoyed by that order. He didn't mind her discomfort. There was something fishy with the toad-like witch. He pushed her out of his thoughts as he entered the Minister's office. Fudge came to shake hands with him, with a bright smile on his face. Too bright. What was the matter with him? Didn't he realise the mess he was in, now?
“Sit down, my dear boy,” said Fudge, stirring him gently toward a comfortable looking seat. “Cup of tea?”
“I'm fine,” said Alexander, sitting down, with one eyebrow cocked up expectantly.
“To what do I owe the honour of such a summoning, Mister Fudge?” he asked.
“I have a business matter to discuss with you,” said Fudge. “You seem surprised.”
“I am surprised,” said Alexander. “Given that, during the two years I collaborated with the Ministry, you always managed to avoid direct contact with me, I'm, somehow, shocked, now, that you would feel the need to meet me in person.”
“Well, I guess I have been busy...” began Fudge.
“I'm sure you were, Sir,” said Alexander, sarcastically. “Still, my astonishment stands, when I think of the attitude of your subordinates when dealing with me.”
“The... the attitude?” stammered Fudge.
“Yes,” said Alexander. “Everyone in the administration seems to think of me as a ticking bomb. Why would the Minister of Magic want a ticking bomb in his office?”
The dark look he gave the Minister was enough to make Fudge spill a little of his tea. Alexander wasn't used to be neither so direct nor so rude to someone both older and higher ranked than him. But his view of the Ministry had reached an all-time low during his last intervention for them. The way they feared him, refused to consider him a full-time employee, and yet never failed to summon him to counter a very nasty spell was unnerving. They considered him a hazardous asset, at best. Fudge hadn't hidden his distrust of Chaotic Magic. And now, he needed his help? There was something behind all this. And Alexander knew what it was.
He had received a letter from Minerva, before mayhem exploded in the papers. Of course, he knew why fudge wanted him in his office.
Fudge tried to appear undisturbed by Alexander's glare... and failed miserably.
“Surely a misunderstanding,” he said. “I've got nothing but respect for your powers.”
Alexander's eyebrows shot up again.
There we are, he thought. Power. Minerva was right to warn me.

He recalled his mentor's letter quite clearly. And as Fudge began his speech, he could hear her own words as a counterpoint.
“You know that the Triwizard Tournament has sadly ended in tragedy,” Fudge said.
Alexander, something terrible has happened at the last task of the Tournament.

“Some mishap happened with the trophy after a lone madman altered it. The two champions disappeared for a while.”

A Death eater masquerading as Alastor Moody has arranged for Harry Potter to be snatched away from the school grounds and he was confronted to Lord Voldemort.

“When they returned. One was dead. Cedric Diggory died in an accident after the transport.”

A student was murdered by the Dark Lord's wand and they used Harry for a ritual to restore Voldemort to a full body.

“Potter brought his body back, but I think the shock has somehow... altered his mind.”

Harry managed to escape but now the worst has happened.

“He claims that You-Know-Who has returned, can you imagine that?”

Voldemort has returned and soon, he will be gathering his followers again.

“He even went further with his lie. He added names of respectable members of the community, accusing them of being Death Eaters. The nerve of this boy!”

The Death Eaters have already joined him.

“And Dumbledore... the old man must be losing his grip, because he bought the whole thing. He went as far as announcing it to his students! He is using all his influence in the Wizengamot to back up Potter's wild tale!”

Dumbledore is already calling on to his old allies as well. I hope I can count on your help, in the dark days to come.

“We can't allow that to go on, of course. If they spread their lies any further, they will cause panic.”

The Minister refuses to see the truth.

“I mean, the very idea of You-Know-Who's return is preposterous. It's more likely some of Sirius Black's doing. Crouch and him were allies, you see.”

He's too scared to accept that he needs to take measures to save the country from Voldemort.

“I've been very disappointed to hear that Potter hides very troubling issues, and a few dark abilities, as well.”

He has started to claim Harry is insane.

“But Dumbledore... backing him up, I mean... it's outrageous. And he threatened me, you hear that? ME? Preparing for the worst? My eye! He wants my job and that's all. He's been planning all of this very carefully. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't gotten the Diggory boy killed so he could launch his tale, supported by this hysterical boy.”

Soon, he'll claim Dumbledore is only after his job.

“But we can't have that, can we, Lockenburn?”

It is even possible he tries to recruit you.

“I will need your help to counter that move against the Ministry's authority. We can't let hysteria get the best of us. You-Know-Who isn't back. But we must focus on the real threat... Dumbledore.”

Don't be fooled by what you will read. Voldemort is back, I can assure you. You must be ready to fight.

Incredible to think she could have foreseen each and every move of the Minister, weeks in advance. Fudge had used this argument with many people before Alexander, if what his Father had told him was right. And now he was trying to gain the Entropist to his side. That was a good move from the Minister. Except it was futile, it was too late, and it was a little too desperate to seem truthful. Fudge wanted to use him against Harry and Dumbledore.
In the two years that had followed his graduation, Alexander had gathered certain fame because of his powers and the various interventions he had done for the Ministry. His nick-name, the Entropist, was starting to make people talk. If Fudge got another prominent young wizard to stand up to the Boy Who Lived, then he would get credibility and counter the efforts of Dumbledore.
Alexander was lucky Minerva's letter had caught him before he was summoned, for he had entered the office fully prepared for what Fudge had in store for him.
The Minister had finished his ranting and was now facing Alexander, expecting an answer, or a loyal salute. Alexander hoped he wasn't this deluded, really, because the country in the hands of such an idiot would stand no chance against Voldemort.
“What say you, boy?” said Fudge. “Will you help your country?”
“What is it you want me to do, exactly?” asked Alexander, rather dryly.
“Well,” began Fudge.
“No, let me get that for you,” Alexander cut him. “You want me to go public and claim that Harry Potter is a liar, that Dumbledore is a liar and that everything is fine. And then you want me to go to Hogwarts, defeat Dumbledore with a snap of my fingers and all will be well again in the world, right?”
Fudge looked at him, uncertain to follow his meaning.
“What will it be, next? A tap dance on the Giant leader's bones? And then I will be your magical lapdog, enforcing your will on those who disagree with your short sight of the world?” Alexander went on.
He stood up from his chair and saw Fudge back down a little.
“Forget it,” he said.
“What?” exclaimed Fudge.
“What do you think is going on, here, Minister?” said Alexander. “A seventeen year old boy was murdered. I knew Cedric Diggory at school. I can tell you I won't let you slander his memory by claiming that his death was either an accident or plot by Dumbledore to overthrow the Ministry. Didn't you read the signs? If Harry Potter says Voldemort's back, then I believe him. If Dumbledore is calling us to fight him, then I will fight. You want me to oppose the man who taught me magic. Fudge, you're a fool.”
“Now, listen, young man,” said Fudge, his face growing red and his voice rising. “I will not be spoken to on such a tone by a weird nineteen year old boy!”
“You were trying to cajole the weird nineteen year old boy a few minutes ago, because it suited your goals! Don't play me for a fool. I know how it works. I will not betray my principles because you're scared out of your wits.”
“That's enough!” roared Fudge. “I'm the Minister of Magic!”
“Then act like one!” Alexander shot back. “If Lord Voldemort is back, you have more to do than try to save your seat. Sorry, Fudge, but you won't enlist me in your petty manoeuvres against Hogwarts.”
He headed for the door.
“You think I will let you walk out on me, like that?” spat Fudge, still looking furious.
“Watch me,” said Alexander.
“You're with them! You're a threat to the Ministry!” Fudge exploded.
“Right,” said Alexander. “Go on like this, Fudge, and soon there won't be a ministry any more. Because you're playing Voldemort's game, here.”
“HE IS NOT BACK!” roared Fudge.
“Keep deluding yourself if you want,” said Alexander. “I'm going out there to fight. Stay and hide behind your precious desk for all I care.”

----------------------------------

“So we agree we can use this place as Headquarters?” said Dumbledore.
“Yes,” said Moody, before to turn to Sirius. “Thanks for lending us the place.”
“Anything to be helpful,” said Sirius. “Don’t you think Harry could come here? He would be safe under the guard of the Order.”
The discussion was taking place in 12 Grimmauld Place, in the kitchen. The guests were making their decisions about their action regarding Voldemort’s return. Sirius could barely put his mind off Harry, since he had to go away from him, in search of allies.
“I’m afraid it’s not possible,” said Dumbledore. “The magic protecting him in his uncle and aunt’s home will keep him safer than any wand. Besides, I still need you to gather a few more allies, while we still have time. We need to ensure you don’t get caught again.”
Sirius nodded at that.
They had gone over the list of potential allies when a name came up that Sirius had never heard of.
“What about Alexander?” asked Minerva. “I sent him an owl merely hours after the Diggory boy was killed. He isn't likely to turn his back on us. I’m sure he will help us.”
“I'm afraid he cannot help us,” said Dumbledore. “Cornelius has made a terrible mistake. In his move to counter what he fears is my taking over the ministry, he has tried to recruit him against Harry and me. Since he refused, Alexander has been labelled as suspicious, and even dangerous, for all authorities under Fudge’s control. He just left the country.”
“He just WHAT?” exclaimed Minerva.
“Hold on a minute, who's Alexander?” said Sirius.
“The son of Damien Lockenburn,” said Dumbledore. “He has a great power, completely based on chaotic magic.”
“I can't believe the son of Damien would be a coward,” objected Sirius. “Why would he leave?”
“Not for his own safety, I can assure you,” said Dumbledore. “Cornelius has pushed the idiocy as far as sending Aurors after Alexander. He left the country so he wouldn't be forced to... incapacitate them.”
“Incapacitate them?” said Sirius.
“You don't know the Lockenburn kid,” said Moody, in a growl.
His eye was still twitchy and he still looked a little restless after so much time locked up in his own trunk, but the glint in his eye was intact. And his determination looked clearly stirred up by the events, as if he had just been proved right after all these years being called paranoid.
“He's got a power you can't imagine,” he went on. “If Voldemort wasn't such a tricky son of a hag, and if the fight was a fair one, all we would need to do would be to sit back and look at Alexander beating the pulp out of the bloody snake. But the stakes are different, now.”
“It has to be Harry, then?” said Sirius, darkly. “Why? Could someone tell me why?”
“In time, Sirius,” said Dumbledore. “Anyway, I'm sorry, Minerva, but we will have to count without Alexander, no matter how willing to fight he would be.”
“Damn Fudge and his paranoia,” said Moody. “Lockenburn could have been a great help against the Death eaters, at least.”
At this moment, an owl swooped inside the room from the nearby window. It landed near Minerva who untied the letter from its clutch. She read the name on it and recognized the handwriting.
“Speak of the devil,” she said. “It’s Alexander.”
She began to read aloud.

Dear Professor,
I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’ll have to count me out, for the time being. Because our minister is a paranoid oaf, I’m now on the run. I'm sorry I had to get away like this, but the Aurors were on my tail, and I can't decently turn against them, no matter how dim-witted their orders are.
I just want you to know that I continue to stand by your side, even from the other side of the sea. Over here, there is a movement rising in response to the Dark Mark. I can sense it, and I’m already on their trail. I’ve come in contact with another friend of Professor Dumbledore, Aldwyn Armstrong. He has given me a few directions already. Many dark wizards are starting to stir trouble in Eastern Europe. I will keep an eye out from here, and try to help you on this front.
I can only wish you the best. If things really get awry, send a message to me and I’ll return even if I have to break a few skulls and wands to do so. Right now, I prefer to divert Fudge’s attention from you. I heard he has still sent people after me even though I’m abroad. The idiocy of that man is of the mythical kind.
I’ll try to keep in touch.
Yours, sincerely,
Alexander

“Alexander still hasn’t lost his flame, has he?” said Dumbledore, smiling.
Sirius mouth had twisted into an ironic smile.
“Doesn’t care much for etiquette, does he?” he said.
“Well, he’s always been a free spirit,” said Minerva, with a smile. “I’m glad to see he’s alright.”
“I think we can say that Alexander may be of help to us, after all,” said Dumbledore. “With him and people like Aldwyn on the continent, we can focus a little more on the problem of Voldemort.”
“I know a few Death Eaters that are still abroad for now,” said Moody. “We can set Alexander after them if need be.”
“Agreed,” said Dumbledore. “Now let’s focus on the Prophecy, shall we. What measure do we need to ensure it’s safe from the enemy?”


1998
---------------------------

Grimmauld Place

“Do we have any news on Severus?” asked Dumbledore, urgently, as he entered the Headquarters.
“Not yet,” said Kingsley, very sharply. “If he was dead, Voldemort would surely have made it as public as possible, I guess. I hope our people got to him in time.”
Dumbledore looked very tense. He hadn’t shown such a worry since the moment Death eaters had managed to snatch Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom from Hogwarts. No matter if they had been thwarted, this had come so close to disaster that everyone had been under a huge shock. Now, their most valuable spy was uncovered and his life was at risk.
Minerva arrived at this moment. Her face showed a deep concern.
“I can see from your look that you have heard the news,” said Dumbledore. “Severus is still out of touch.”
“I know,” said Minerva, tensely.
There was some commotion at the door and soon, the screeching of Mrs Black resumed in its greatest fury.
“Disgraces to the name of magic! Blood traitors in my home! Plotters, cowards, weaklings! Statues!”
Both Dumbledore’s and Minerva’s eyebrows shot up at that. Statues?
“Oh, will you shut up,” said a voice in the corridor.
And the screaming suddenly ended. That alone was enough to stun everyone in surprise. But Minerva’s face had lit up suddenly. She had recognized the voice, like Dumbledore had.
“Alexander?” she said, her voice blanching in shock.
“Could someone come and give me a hand, here?” called the distinct voice of Alexander Lockenburn.
Everyone rushed in the corridor to find themselves confronted to a shocking scene.
The door was closed and in the entrance, stood a man, in a black overcoat, over a statue that had fallen on the wooden floor. The pose of the statue was far from flattering. The man represented was recoiling in abject terror. Minerva was looking at the statue with something like fascination, while Dumbledore was staring at Alexander. He took notice of them, and he had a slight smile.
“Hello,” he said. “How are you, Professors?”
“Well,” said Dumbledore. “It depends on what is that statue.”
“That, Professor,” said Alexander, “is the late Derek Masters. I caught up with him before he got to Snape.”
“Where is Severus?” asked Dumbledore, sharply.
“I dropped him at the gates of Hogwarts’ grounds, I think,” said Alexander. “I was kind of in a hurry, so I may have been a little imprecise.”
Kingsley came bursting in the corridor.
“Dumbledore!” he said. “Severus just reported in from Hogwarts!! He’s… what the hex is that?”
He had just seen the statue. Every eye got fixed back on Alexander, who smiled at them.
“Can anyone help me with the statue?” he said. “It's quite heavy and ugly, but I couldn’t leave it in plain sight, really.”
“You did this?” asked Dumbledore, after they had levitated the statue in apart of the cellar.
“Had to,” said Alexander. “He was aiming a killing curse at me.”
“Masters is dead?” exclaimed Kingsley. “Dumbledore. He was Voldemort's main assassin.”
“I guess thanks are in order,” said Dumbledore, turning again to Alexander. “How did you silence the painting?”
“I dispelled the magic of the piece,” said Alexander. “You want me to restore it?”
“No, thank you,” said Dumbledore. “We're all better off without that as well. How did you come upon Masters and Severus?”
“I'm following a Death Eater off east Germany,” said Alexander. “Lazlo Morgenstein. He's after something linked to Chaos. His trail led me to Masters and when I found out he was after Snape, I took a detour.”
Dumbledore's eyes went sharper.
“Tell me everything about this Morgenstein,” he said.


-----------------------------------
The Desert of Mongolia

Alexander raised his hand at the second Morgenstein raised his. Their wills clashed against each other. The world around them was pure madness. The Rift was reaching its greatest size, swelling with each wave of furious magic escaping from the Magic Dimension.
It had to be stopped. If that thing was left open, it wouldn't just destroy this patch of the Mongolian desert. It would cover the world with its fury and destroy everything.
Morgenstein's wand was flashing furiously, keeping the portal open. He had to be stopped. Alexander took his decision. He raised his wand and added a fire spell to the energy wave he was sending at Morgenstein. Morgenstein's shield suddenly faltered.
“No! No! It's not possible! You can't defeat me!” he roared.
“Face it, Death Eater,” snapped Alexander. “You've lost.”
“Nooo!”
He raised his wand in the opening move of a spell Alexander knew very well.
“AVADA...”
Alexander suddenly unleashed everything he had at Morgenstein. The wizard's shield exploded. He let go of his wand, which kept floating in the air, and screamed in agony. The explosion was blinding. When the light receded, Alexander could look at the damage. What he saw made him sick. Morgenstein was in pieces. Alexander fell to his knees, exhausted. He hoped he would have enough power to stop the Rift.
And then, as the light from Morgenstein's wand died, and the wand dissolved into dust, something happened.
It was just like the vision. Just like his dream, three days earlier. Alexander couldn't believe what he was seeing. The Chaos Rift was now collapsing on itself. The ground quake slowly calmed down. The tear in the sky closed on its own and the clouds returned to normal. Alexander heaved a sigh. It was done! It had been stopped. Killing Morgenstein had been enough.
Alexander looked around. His companions were all dead. He went to investigate the remains of Morgenstein, and made sure that he was dead. He was starting to feel a little light-headed, after these excruciating efforts. Facing another Entropist had been incredibly tiring.
All he wanted now was to sleep for three months. But then he remembered England, and Voldemort. Now that he had dealt with Morgenstein, he could help Dumbledore with the other grave threat.
With a deep breath to give him courage, Alexander apparated to the nearest relay, to head to England.


-----------------------------------

Ministry of Magic

“I can't believe I missed the fight,” said Alexander, rolling his eyes.
They were walking through the Atrium, walking out of a conference with Heads of departments and heading to a reunion of the Order of the Phoenix. The fighting were over. Most of them, anyway. The Aurors were rounding up the Death Eaters. Some of the inner circle were on the run, Lucius Malfoy at the lead.
But Alexander knew that he wouldn't pose a threat like Voldemort had.
It was madness, these days. People were celebrating all around. The Atrium seemed to buzz with excitement. Alexander could see that most of the wizarding population of England had other worries than work, right now. Since he had returned, he had seen around twelve parties, three ceremonies of awards, and special reports every day in the press.
Voldemort was gone. For good this time. The whole country hailed Harry Potter as their saviour. Of course, there was cause to celebrate. Alexander remembered the rain of shooting stars, when he was five years old. He guessed that there had been a lot of stuff like that, these last few days. Once reassured that his parents were alive, he had taken news of his close friends and family. He had been immensely relieved to hear that most of them had survived the fighting. He had gotten word of Phyllis, by Judy. She was fine as well.
And he had missed the whole thing. He just couldn't believe it.
Albus Dumbledore looked at him, surprised.
“Don't think like that, Alexander,” said Albus Dumbledore. “Let's face it, you had your share of fights, these days.”
“Well, I could have been of some help, here,” said Alexander. “We had so many deaths.”
“And yet, there would have been so many more if you hadn't caught up with Morgenstein in Mongolia,” said Dumbledore. “I don't think people realise it, but your own battle was as important as Harry's confrontation with Voldemort. Perhaps even more important. If Harry had lost, darkness would have fallen all over the world. If you had lost, I think it is safe to say the world would have been ravaged, good people and Death Eaters alike.”
“That is why you insisted on me meeting these officials?” said Alexander.
“Yes,” admitted Dumbledore. “We need to ensure your expertise is recognized by those who could become the next Minister for Magic.”
“What is happening with Fudge?” asked Alexander, fiercely.
“I believe no Minister has ever been sacked as quickly as Cornelius will be, once the commotion settles down,” said Dumbledore with a sad smile. “It should comfort you to know that the Wizengamot was really appalled by his treatment of you.”
“I don't really care,” said Alexander. “How's Harry taking all this?”
“He's incredibly relieved,” said Dumbledore. “You can't imagine the weight lifted off his shoulders.”
“I think I can,” said Alexander. “The dreams have stopped, by the way.”
“Stopped?” said Dumbledore.
“Yes,” said Alexander. “I don't have any more visions. It's like there's no need to, now.”
“I still wonder about the nature of these visions,” said Dumbledore. “It seems you have dreamed of every danger you have found yourself into. It is like your power has led you on the path that took you to Mongolia and close the Rift.”
“I understand that part,” said Alexander. “It's the dreams about Harry I don't understand.”
“Your parents had told me about it,” said Dumbledore. “It is strange. I guess we will understand it in time. I think you will understand if I don't trouble Harry about it for the time being. He needs to lead a normal life for a while.”
“I understand,” said Alexander, “though I doubt he'll ever manage that. The Daily Prophet won't shut up about him. They have called for the creation of Harry Potter's Day!”
“Utter nonsense,” chuckled Dumbledore. “I think Harry will just take his distance with all this. You should maybe do the same before they find out about you.”
“I won't stay around for long,” said Alexander.
“How so?” asked Dumbledore.
“I need to get back abroad,” said Alexander. “The Rift is closed but there are many effects of its opening. I need to investigate them and maybe try to fix them. It may take a while.”
“If you ever need help, you know you only need to contact the school,” said Dumbledore.
“I know, Sir,” said Alexander.
“And do drop by before you leave,” said Dumbledore. “Minerva will be very cross with you if you don't.”
“I will, Sir,” said Alexander, smiling. “I've got this feeling, you know,” he told Dumbledore, after a silence. “I think I will have to return sooner or later. And somehow I feel Harry will be involved. I just can't understand where that certainty comes from. It doesn't make sense.”
“It doesn't have to,” said Dumbledore. “Your last dreams have led you to save our world. I guess you should just trust your feelings. When do you plan to leave?”
“I don't know,” said Alexander. “I think I will wait for the first signs of trouble in Asia. But I guess I won't be in England for a long while.”


--------------
There... a first post. Hope this will catch your interest. See you soon for the next part

Harry and the Seal of Chaos © Entropist, September 2004, rewrite October 2011

First to post!

The Entropits (both the writer and the character) are back! Yeah!

Loved reading this chapter again, this time with the new added content. I think I'm going to highly enjoy this re-write.

This little bit has always been one of my favourite of the chapter. You captured the mind of a five year old quite well there and also show us that Alex has a good heart.

Looking forward to the next parts mate!

After that prologue meant to introduce my OC, here we plunge into the action and get back to Harry.

Remember this is a Harry that lived a very different sixth and seventh year in Hogwarts and whose fight with Voldemort went very differently....

Hope you'll like it.


Chapter One: An Owl, a dream, and a Piece of News


2002
-------------------------------------------
London
-------------------------------------------


London City was waking up, slowly, and in the case of the tenant of 14, Carnaby Street, with some difficulties. The coffee helped, but still, he really wasn't a morning person, these days. He had been used to early wake-ups for years, but his job had recently turned him into a late sleeper. But it had been difficult not to wake up with the noise of passers-by, right below his windows. One of the only drawbacks of living in such an active neighbourhood.
The man was a terrible case of bed hair, but yet it was usual with him. He had always experienced the worst trouble when trying to tidy his hair up. It was a hopeless case, so he had just given up. He was a lean, yet muscular young man with jet black hair, striking green eyes and round glasses. To everyone, he would have looked as an athlete of some kind. The thing that would draw curiosity when looking at him was a lightning shaped scar right on his forehead. If that scar seemed strange to the Muggles living in Carnaby Street, they would be in for a serious shock, if they found out that this man was actually a wizard... and not only a wizard but one of a kind.
Harry Potter was taking his breakfast when a bird suddenly flew through the kitchen window. The Owl landed softly on the table. Harry took the three parchment envelopes from the clutches of the bird, and gave it a piece of his toast. The owl let out a grateful hoot, and then flew out the wide open window, disappearing across London sky.
He hadn't opened the envelope addressed to him that he heard some steps over his head.
“What is it, Harry?” Ron Weasley’s voice came from upstairs.
“Mail,” Harry answered. “And there are letters for you two, as well.”
Ron joined him in the kitchen, looking surprised. Ron was taller, stockier and he looked in quite a better shape than his best friend. He was fully dressed up, contrasting strongly with Harry's outlook, since he was still in his sleeping attire. He looked at his friend with a wince.
“Rough wake up?” he asked.
Harry groaned something indistinct, handing out the letters addressed to Ron and his wife, respectively.
“Who could have known they had to send your mail here?” he asked.
Ron shrugged as he looked at the letter.
“Fred and George know we're visiting you, but that’s all,” he said. “Those are from Hogwarts.”
Harry nodded, surprised as well to recognize the crest of his former school on the back of the envelope.
“So, what keeps your dear wife upstairs?” Harry asked, with a sly grin across his face, as he was tearing the envelope open.
“Bathroom. Women and their look,” Ron groaned. “How it can take so much time is just beyond me.”
“You’ve got to understand her,” said Harry. “All girls want to be attractive,especially for their man. Don't say you complain about that.”
“I don't, but she knows she’s attractive to me!” Ron objected. “I married her, right?”
Harry’s grin only grew wider. He knew better than to believe Ron's complaints about his wife's little quirks.
The subject of the conversation, Hermione Granger-Weasley, entered the kitchen at this very moment. She was fully dressed as well, ready for her day, and as far as Harry was concerned, the time she spent in the bathroom wasn’t a waste of time at all. She was positively gorgeous in her elegant robes, her chestnut hair nicely groomed.
“Hi, Harry,” Hermione said, smiling. “Slept well?”
“Yes, m’dear,” Harry replied, smiling over a yawn. “It's not the sleeping that's a trouble. It's waking up. Coffee?”
“I’ll get it,” Ron said as Hermione nodded, pouring two cups and handing the first one to his young wife, while Harry resumed the opening of the letter, a task made very complicated by his current state.
Ron and Hermione had been married for a year now. They had spent a few years dating, and then living together, while Hermione had undergone additional studies after Hogwarts. After that, she had started what could be called a meteoric ascension in the Ministry's Department of Law. Last year, at Christmas, Ron had finally picked up the courage to propose to the girl he had been in love with since he was Fourteen. Harry remembered quite well that evening. His doorbell had ringed furiously, at 10 PM, and the second he had opened the door, it was to see Hermione and Ron, their faces glowing like the rising sun. He hadn’t needed any explanation and he had simply congratulated them warmly, before to invite them in for a glass of champagne.
Harry smiled at this memory.
He went back to the letter. What he read made his mind go into full stop.
“Wow! Hey listen up”.
He read the letter aloud for his two friends, who had still not touched theirs..

To Mister Harry Potter
Dear Hogwarts graduate,

It is my great pleasure to announce you that this year for the first time in centuries, at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be held the first Reunion of ancient students. This is a way to help the current students to find their way in their future life by taking advantage of your experiences.
I hope to see you all at this great event, which will take place at Hogwarts, on Halloween. The Reunion will last two days.
In order to ease the preparation, you would be kind to signal your coming by sending back an owl before the start of this term, September the first. The guests will get to Hogwarts by the Hogwarts Express, on October the 30th.

Yours Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore,
(Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, Grand Master, grand Sorc., Chief Warlock, Supreme Mungwump, International Confederation of Wizards)

PS: I really hope to see you there, Harry. It’s been too long and the two of us have something to discuss. Nothing that should cause you any worry, though.

“That’s fantastic!” exclaimed Hermione.
She had opened her letter and soon, it appeared that the three of them had gotten the same invitation.
“Yeah, that’d be cool,” Ron acquiesced. “What do you think Harry? You think you’ll be there?"
“Getting back to Hogwarts?” Harry said with a smile. “How could I say no?”
The idea of getting back to the first place he had ever been happy in his life was delightful. He suddenly couldn’t wait for Halloween to come.
“I’ll have to arrange with the Ministry,” said Hermione, thoughtfully. “To take a day off”
“Given all the people who attended Hogwarts in the Ministry, who will be left there?” chuckled Ron. “Haven’t you got a game planned at that date?” he asked suddenly to Harry.
Harry shook his head. Harry's team was supposed to play Glasgow just before Halloween.
“That’s two days before Halloween,” he said. “No problem with that.”
“Imagine, seeing all the old faces again!” Hermione was excited.
“Relax, honey,” said Ron with a smile. “It’s only in one month.”
“No wonder the owl knew it would find you here,” said Harry. “Dumbledore has a knack at knowing where is anyone at any time. So! What are your plans for today?” he asked.
Ron and Hermione had spent the last few days in his flat, during a break Hermione was taking from work. London wasn't an exotic location for them, as they both worked in the city, but the three of them liked to reunite like that from time to time. Harry was sometimes passing long week ends at the Burrow, Ron's home.
“We go and visit Fred and George in Diagon Alley,” said Ron. “Want to join us? Don’t tell me you’ve got Practice today, it’s Sunday! And you’re on vacation!”
“I can join,” Harry said with a grin. “I haven’t seen them in months.”
“Tsk, tsk. You live in London and you don’t even consider paying a visit to old friends? Shame on you, Harry Potter. Shame on you!” Ron teased.
Harry refused to rise for the bait. The fact was that he had been quite busy, this season.
His Quidditch team, the London Falcons may have won the National Cup this year, but it had needed weeks of training, to bring back the team at this level.
Originally located in Falmouth, the Falcons had been a team hovering low in the ranks of the Quidditch League. After Voldemort had returned, then Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge had tried to divert the public's attention by developing the League and increasing the number of teams in the run for the Title. Falmouth had managed to get a second team of players in the League and one group of Falcons moved to London, each one keeping the name. If the Falmouth Falcons had been spared by the war, the London Falcons had sadly lost one of their best Seekers during the fighting. Harry’s arrival in the team ended an awful series of defeats and a long streak of bad luck. They had risen again in the ranks, going as far as winning the Cup, this year. But it had a price and this was the first real vacation Harry had been able to take in six months.
But today, he had no emergency, no appointment, and no practice. His best friends had still three days to spend with him, he was going to lunch with the Weasley twins and he was going back to Hogwarts for Halloween.
Harry still wasn't a morning person, but he had a great day ahead of him.

-------------------------------------------------
Russia
-------------------------------------------------
A corridor was opening in front of him. A place that was familiar. Oddly familiar. Why was he back to Hogwarts? He hadn’t seen the Castle since his graduation, ten years ago.
The wide Corridor was dark, except for the few torches lighting a path toward a door that he didn’t know. This was a part of the Castle he couldn’t remember. It was strange. Everything seemed to be a little out of focus, like he would see through a fog. But at some point of the dream, his vision cleared.
He was standing in front of a door. A dark door made of cold steel. He shivered. How could he know this was cold? He didn’t feel a thing.
This was getting creepy. His heart was beating faster, he could sense a feeling of emergency, as if he had to stop everything before it was too late. But he didn’t have any control on what was going on!
The door cracked and opened slowly, with a loud creaking. And beyond the door, he saw a strange whirl of light, spinning endlessly in the darkness of the room. As he made one step forward, he suddenly felt a force surrounding him. Something he never experienced before. The force was pulling him into the room. He suddenly felt the urge to fight this pull. But the more he resisted, the stronger it grew.
And there was a voice. No, not a voice. His voice. His own voice was calling behind him. He turned his head and saw himself standing in the corridor. He was shouting something, but he couldn’t hear it. Something hit him on the back of his head, knocking away his glasses.
Glasses? He never had glasses in his life! Was he seeing things through somebody else?
Just before his vision faded away, he managed to understand what his double was screaming.
“HARRY!!”

Alexander Lockenburn woke with a start, his entire body covered with cold sweat. He looked around, and recognized his hotel room, in a small town of Russia. He took a deep breath, as he tried to remember his dream. Somebody lured into a trap or something. And he was trying to help him, but he was too late.
A Dream. Another one. The second in two weeks. But it was clearer this time. Whatever the meaning of the vision was, it was getting closer. Soon, events would set in motion and converge toward that moment he had seen in the vision.
A curious thing came back to Alexander as he was trying to grasp at the remains of the dream. It had taken place in Hogwarts. And it involved somehow Harry Potter.
Alexander got up. He walked to his window, opening slowly the curtains. He couldn’t see anything, except for the dark outlines of the trees, standing against the moon light. What hour could it be?
He was still trying to sort out his thoughts about this dream. Was it a warning? A premonition? Or a hallucination? He never was too good in Divination. He wasn’t subject to hallucinations. But he had gotten warnings like that for most of his life. It had led him to face his greatest challenge ever. The most vicious fight he had to go through.
And throughout the years, he had dreamed of Harry Potter. It was something he had never been able to explain. Why was he dreaming of Potter,when he barely knew him? He kept having visions of Harry's life, where he had lived during childhood, when he had faced Voldemort, and other moments of Harry's life. He had discussed it with his teachers and they were at a loss as how to explain it, either. Since Voldemort's defeat, Alexander has only dreamed of short flashes about Harry. But now they were happening more often, as if the urgency was growing with time.
He had always been careful with his dreams. And this one felt strangely similar to the one he had five years earlier, when he had to face Morgenstein.
But what to do with this one?
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of an Owl out the window. It was a screech owl. It was carrying a letter. Alexander snapped and his window slid open, letting the night bird through. It landed on his bed. Alexander took the Letter. He looked at the seal. His mind made a full stop. What the…?
A letter from Hogwarts. It couldn’t be a coincidence! He tore it open and read it. He recognized the handwriting. It brought many memories in his mind.

To Mr Alexander Lockenburn.
Dear Hogwarts graduate,

It is my great pleasure to announce you that this year for the first time in centuries, at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be held the first Reunion of ancient students. This is a way to help the current students to find their way in their future life by taking advantage of your experiences. It is my belief that your very personal history would be a great thing to share with some of the young students.
I hope to see you all at this great event, which will take place at Hogwarts, on Halloween. The Reunion will last two days.
In order to ease the preparation, you would be kind to signal your coming by sending back an owl before the start of this term, September the first. The guests will get to Hogwarts by the Hogwarts Express, on October the 30th.
I really hope to see you there, Alexander. A few things came up that I would like to discuss with you.

Yours Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
(Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin first Class)

Alexander reread the letter. It was a simple invitation, but he could sense that Professor McGonagall was really urging him to be there on Halloween. In any other circumstances, he would have skipped the party, and he would have simply made a short trip to Hogwarts, to meet his old teacher. He didn’t like great reunions, and he didn’t feel like telling young students about his own achievements. It would feel a little strange. It would be great to see his friends again, but he wasn't very keen on huge feasts, with hundreds of people around.
Yet, he had received that letter just two minutes after having a really worrying dream about Hogwarts and Harry Potter. This changed everything. So much for the eclipse he was here to see. His next stop would be England. He felt that he needed to check a few things before to get back to Hogwarts. It would be a good idea to check out things a little, before Halloween, to catch up with his home country.
Unable to go back to sleep, Alexander began to pack up his things back in his travel bag.
All of this was very disturbing.


-------------------------------------------------
London, two days later
-------------------------------------------------

“How’s your coach reacting to your decision?” Fred asked.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were having lunch in the Waving Wand restaurant with Fred and George Weasley. The room was full, and the food was excellent, as usual. They were discussing the last development in Harry's Quidditch career.
“She wasn’t pleased,” Harry said. “The qualifications begin during the regular season. So I’ll have fewer breaks than the other players. She’s afraid that I will get exhausted before the season ends. But how could I say no? You can’t refuse to play in National Team.”
“The World Cup is ours, this year,” said George. “Even the Irish squad can’t stop us to get it! Not with Harry Potter as the Seeker. Who else is on?” he asked enthusiastically
“Angelina’s been picked from the Wimbourne Wasps,” Ron said. “They got Roger Davies from Puddlemere, along with Walter Cunningham, from the Cannons. I don’t know who the beaters will be; but probably the pair from Liverpool. They’re pretty good,” Ron said. “And Wood’s the Keeper, of course. After his last three seasons, they couldn't keep him out of it. Three from the old winning squad! Nobody stands a chance against that!”
“How come you know so many on the team’s line-up, Ronnie?” asked George.
“Well, you remember the guy who filled in for Ludo Bagman, when he disappeared?”
George nodded.
“His name is Baelish Worthington, and he's pretty good at his job,” Ron went on. “He asked Dad’s department some advice on how to settle the qualifications matches without getting Muggles in the way. Dad and I spoke about it, I don’t know, maybe two weeks ago.”
Mr Weasley was now the Head of a new department, called Department of the Magic Protection. It aimed at guaranteeing protection to both Muggles and Wizards against any misuse of Magic. No need to say it was far more respected than his previous position.
“How’s the work going, ‘Mione?” asked Fred.
“Oh, quite well. The Department of Magical Law is going under a serious rebuilding, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“When will you at last accept the promotions they offer you, by the way?” Harry said. “You could do great things in the Head Office.”
“I think it’s a bit too early,” Hermione replied humbly. “And besides, I really don’t like this man who’s just gotten the Head position. There’s something I don’t feel with this man”.
“Who is it?” asked Harry.
“A man named Devin Stiller,” Ron said. “I had to deal with him once, on an Intervention. We had to undo a Curse on one of his rooms, in his personal Manor. He said he didn’t know where it came from. I’m not sure it was an accident, though.”
Ron was working full-time for the Order of the Phoenix, which had evolved from a secret Society to a completely legal organization, with salaries and benefits, since it took over the task of monitoring and fighting the effects of the Dark Arts of all kind. Some claimed that they were over stepping on the jurisdiction of the Aurors, but many also felt safer knowing the Order was out there. Their ranks was expanding as well. Harry's friend Remus Lupin had started to get more and more responsibilities in the structure, as Albus Dumbledore was delegating his authority, in order to preserve the Order's independence. The legal status of the Order had been debated for weeks in the Wizengamot. And now, an intervention by Ron on behalf of the Order was in fact written down and kept for legal purpose.
“An accident with Stiller? Not a chance!" said Fred.
“You know him?” Hermione asked.
“He was one year ahead of Percy. Slytherin.” He paused to roll his eyes. “A filthy rich boy, a lot like Malfoy, in my opinion. But he was a brilliant student. Prefect, and all that stuff. He’s a bloody ambitious man. But the only thing that kept him in the Ministry was that his parents had been fighting You-know-who. Sorry, Harry, Voldemort.”
Harry had a little smile. Five years after his final victory against the Dark Wizard, the name had still some power left, and he was doing his best to help his friends and whoever he could mention Voldemort with to overcome this fear.
“So you think he’s not trustworthy?" Hermione asked.
“He’ll do his job, alright,” said Fred. “But he’s aristocratic in his views. He wouldn’t want you in his Office anyway, Hermione. No offence meant, dear, but you’re still a Muggleborn.”
“After all she had done against Voldemort?” Harry and Ron both exclaimed.
Everybody laughed at the protestation. Hermione smiled and gave a kiss on the cheek to both of them. Ron put his arm over her shoulder.
“As if he would care about these things,” George said. “He’s ambitious. He lives for Politics and his old idiot beliefs. You could have saved the world from a giant fire Dragon, if you aren’t on his side, you’re nothing. And if you’re a Muggleborn, forget it! The problem is that the underlying issue remains. Some still believe in the blood's purity and all that nonsense. Let me give you some advice, Hermione. I heard you were offered a place in Hogwarts, once. Take it!”
Hermione blushed. Ron was looking at her, his eyes like two galleons. Harry must have looked the same way.
“Hermione!” Ron said, in disbelief.
“Well, it wasn’t really serious, I think,” Hermione said. “Professor McGonagall wrote a letter to me, two months ago. She said there was going to be a new Arithmancy teacher, next year. She told me that with my background, I could take the job, if I wanted it. I told her I’d think about it.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Ron said.
“Well, I want to be sure of what I want before I take any decision,” Hermione said. “And when I got my letter, may I remind you that you were in Egypt, having a ball with your dear brother?”
Ron stopped his complaint at once. Hermione had a triumphant smile. Ron and Hermione had gone through a huge fight over this matter. As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Ron had been tasked with chasing some monster escaped from a secret illegal magical laboratory. Its trace had led him to Egypt, where he and his brother Bill had a rather violent fight with a mix of Chimera and Dragon. At no time he had told Hermione about this, until she had read it in the Daily Prophet. Ron’s return back home hadn’t been the safest part of the adventure. To avoid any more screaming, Ron decided never to mention the subject again. And Hermione knew it. The best way for her to prevent Ron to voice any complain was to bring up the matter.
“So,” Said Harry. “Are you coming to Hogwarts, in Halloween?”
“You think we’d miss that?” Fred said. “We wondered why Dumbledore insisted on giving us the diploma from Hogwarts, but now we find a use in it. We’re graduates, so of course we'll be there!”
“I wonder how they will manage to house everyone who will come back to the school,” Harry said.
“You know, I’m not sure every student will come back. So many people are living abroad, after Hogwarts. And there’s some people who simply won’t be able to make it,” Hermione said.
“I bet there won’t be many Slytherins showing their faces there,” said Ron with a grin.
An owl interrupted their conversation, as it dropped the Daily Prophet on Hermione’s lap, and flew away, in a swift move, after she had paid it.
“You took the any-where-delivery-option?” Fred noticed.
“Yes, in case there would something important,” Hermione said with a serious face.
“Blimey! Look at that!” Ron said, reading over her shoulder.
“What?” Hermione said, with an anxious look on her face.
The article Ron was showing was a small insert.

THE FAMOUS SEEKER BACK IN HER COUNTRY FOR THE WORLD CUP
A public statement Made yesterday by Mr Xing Yeng, the Coach of the Chinese Quidditch team has said that miss Cho Chang, currently Seeker for the Puddlemere united Club, will be playing for her birth Country for the World Cup.
Miss Chang has confirmed these rumours today. She will however continue to play for her Club for the regular Season, for the relief of her British fans.
The next Game the Chinese team will play will be against the Russian Squad. And in the first weeks of spring, Miss Chang will have to face her own public, when she will face the British team.


“Looks like you will face her twice this year, Harry,” Ron said.
He caught the look on his wife’s face. “What?” he asked.
“When I said “Important,” I meant something that could force us to get back to the office, Ron, not Quidditch news!” Hermione say, seemingly annoyed.
“But this is important,” Ron objected. “That’s Harry’s career”.
Hermione was about to reply when she realized he got her on this one. She stayed there, mouth agape, for a moment, before to compose herself.
“Alright, you got a point, darling,” she admitted with a smile.
"Yes!” Ron yelled in rejoice. “I love it when I win!”
He kissed Hermione on the cheek, which made her giggle.
“Maybe because that happens so rarely,” Harry said under his breath so only George and Fred caught it.
The three of them burst into laughing.


-------------------------------------------------
Alexander entered his garden. He looked all around him with an incredibly warm feeling of homecoming. It had been years since he had come here for the last time. Each time he had come back in England, he had met his parents in London, but he had never had the time to really come home, in their house in Kent. The garden was still as well kept as ever. Alexander smiled. His mother took care of her flowers as well as she had taken care of her own son.
He saw her mother by the kitchen window, and went to knock at the glass. She jumped in fright but her face lit up as soon as she saw him. She rushed suddenly outside to hug him tightly.
“Oh, my goodness,” she said after a long moment of hugging and kissing. “You could have warned us! Your father is out for work! Oh, it’s so good to see you!”
“I thought I had to drop by,” Alexander said with a smile.
Chandra looked up on him.
“I thought you were staying in Russia for that eclipse?” she said. “Did anything go wrong?”
“No,” he reassured her. “’ I just received a letter from Hogwarts.”
“Ah yes, the Reunion. We got our letter as well,” his mother said. “But it’s in a month!”
“I had a strange feeling about the reunion. I think I have to be there, but first I want to catch up with things a little. I was away for a long time.”
“Yes you were,” Chandra said. “Come on, don’t stay outside. I made some tea”.
“How come you’re not at work?” asked Alexander.
“I’ve got a day off,” explained his mother. “The three next issues are all lined up, so they didn’t need an article today.”
Chandra was working for the Herald, a magazine, which was dealing with wizard information. It was a lot more serious than the Quibbler, without being as policed as the Daily Prophet.
“And how’s Dad?” asked Alexander.
“Busy!” Chandra said with a wince. “He’s after a bunch of young dimwits who fancy themselves as dark wizards, and they try to play in the same categories as Death Eaters. They’re nothing compared to the original ones, but they still give the Aurors a lot of work. Thanks to the Order of the Phoenix, they got some help from Alastor Moody, and Nymphadora Tonks. That did a lot to discourage these wannabes.”
Alexander sniggered. Moody and Tonks were two legends of the Second War. He didn’t think there were many people willing to face them in combat.
“I heard something about you, last week. You were said to be in Siberia, fighting a horde of trolls.”
Chandra’s look was worried. Alexander dismissed her fears with a shrug.
“There were four of them. And none of them could get close enough to do me any harm,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“I’m sure you would have told me,” she said. “But the way I see it, the newspapers try to find another hero, now. They discovered that heroes are selling, since Harry Potter got rid of Voldemort. And then they found out about you. They still try to make a hero out of you.”
“They won’t succeed,” Alexander said. “I can’t imagine how Harry’s coping with it. And I didn’t achieve the tenth of what he had done.”
“Harry would be far better away from all of this. At least, papers begin to talk more about his Quidditch victories than about his heroic features. I can’t imagine him loving all this attention. If he’s like Lily, he wouldn’t.”
“I guess you’re right. He didn’t seem too pleased about all the honours he got at school. But anyway, what’s up with the league? I lost track of the Quidditch months ago.”
“Boys,” sighed Chandra, but then she smiled. “The Falcons have won this Championship. That was a close shot, although. Puddlemere and Chudley were really close behind. But given the Falcon rank last year, that’s a huge work. I heard Harry Potter was the Seeker for the national team, for the World cup.”
“Great,” said Alexander. “Dad must be pleased”.
Since Harry Potter joined the League, Damien was his greatest fan. He often said that Potter was the best Seeker he had ever seen. He compared him to Lynch and Krum, the two most brilliant Seekers of the past decade.
“And now for the ill news,” said Chandra, with a grim look. “Devin Stiller has been chosen as the next head of the Department of Magical Law.”
“You’re kidding me!” Alexander exclaimed. “That snake, in the ministry? What are they thinking?"
“Remember that the Stillers have an excellent reputation,” said Chandra.
“Yes, but most of them deserve it,” said Alexander. “ Where was Devin when Voldemort returned? Even his grandfather was here for the second round, and this asp was laying low in the grass, waiting for all of this to be over”.
“Calm down, son,” said his father’s voice, through the window, as Damien apparated in the garden.
He didn’t seem surprised to see him at all. The day Alexander would succeed in surprising his father would be an event. He greeted his father warmly, and Damien joined them around the tea set. Soon the subject went back on Devin.
“He’s an ambitious fellow, that’s for sure,” Damien said. “But I don’t think he’s as dangerous as let’s see… Malfoy, for example.”
“I know that, Dad,” Alexander said. “Lucius was a public menace and a poisonous snake. But Devin gets undeserved credit on his family name. I mean, look at the Weasley children. They could all have a place in the Ministry, thanks to their actions against Voldemort. But, look. Bill’s still in Egypt with his wife, Charlie goes on with his dragon studies, the twins are ruling a joke shop, and Ginny writes for the Daily Prophet. And Ronald, the one who had done the most still works with the Order. It took Dumbledore to force the Weasleys to accept a posthumous Order of Merlin first class for Percy. As for the Stillers, they never asked for any honor, after the war. And now Devin, the worst coward of my school year is using his name to get ahead? He really has some nerve.”
“You’re right, dear,” said Chandra. “But honestly, you shouldn't worry too much about that.”
“I'm not,” said Alexander. “It irritates me more than it worries me”.
He saw the Daily Prophet beside his father.
“What news?” he asked.
“Oh yeah,” Damien said. “I saw it at work. I don’t know how they did it, but they already know you’re back. That’s how I knew you were here. Look.”
He showed him a very small insert on the third page, in the rumours section.

GLIMPSE OF THE ENTROPIST
According to some rumours, Alexander Lockenburn would have been seen back in England.
Known by many people as the most powerful and the most mysterious wizard of his generation, the Entropist could not be joined to state what business brings him back in his home country after years of absence.
No doubt it is an important matter.

“They’d have a heart attack if they knew I’m only back for a student Reunion,” said Alexander, with a vicious grin.
“Why do they say you’re always up to something important?” said Chandra in exasperation.
“Because they can, Darling,” said Damien. “Alexander is a mysterious character for the press. He could be very well plotting to take over the world or save it from annihiliation, for all they know. And that’s the kind of stuff that sells paper. They like the mystery about Alexander.”
Alexander sniggered again. This attention he was the centre of remained really limited, compared to what Harry Potter had to endure daily.
He couldn’t keep his mind off Harry very long. Maybe because of the news, but more surely because of his dreams. He was pretty sure that Harry wouldn’t miss this reunion at Hogwarts. He’d had many friends at school, if he remembered well. An occasion to see them again was enough to drag Harry Potter anywhere, even if it was into the spotlight.
And Alexander would make sure he would be there if anything was to happen in Hogwarts.




-------------------------------------------------
That's it for today. in the next chapter, a little quidditch and a big reunion...

Next: Back on the Hogwarts Express


Harry and the Seal of Chaos © Entropist, September 2004, rewrite October 2011

Loving this re-write the more I read it. Very interesting way to rediscover a fic.

Looking forward to the rest.

@ Wolf: Thanks, mate! Hope you like the new version of that one. The changes are starting to show a little more in that chapter.

Note to the new readers: This is the moment where the AU-side of this story is starting to show. Keep in mind that it has been started before book 6 came out. Hope that won't drive you away.

Here's the next part.

Chapter Two: Back on the Hogwarts Express

----------------------------
A few weeks later
----------------------------

“Look at that flying demonstration the two seekers are giving today!”
The voice of the commentary echoed in the whole stadium.
“Still it’s Spinett holding the Quaffle for London. She passes to Warbird, who passes back, avoiding a collision with McGregor. Spinett still in possession. She passes to Hutchinson. Hutchinson aims, shoots, and she scores!!!! London scores again!!!!!”
The wind was whistling in Harry ears as he flew around the pitch, in search of the Golden Snitch. The game was getting mad. The Glasgow Highlanders were a serious opponent, but still, there was a clear domination on Harry’s side, as they led the score seventeen to ten. Harry had seen wonderful attack actions led by Alicia Spinett his old team mate of the Gryffindor team. They had been playing together again for two seasons now. They had both transferred to London at the same time, and they had changed the whole team’s play. Alicia was a great tactician, and with her two fellow chasers, she was ruining the chances of Glasgow to score.
But, because of that, Hamish McDermott, the Scottish Seeker, was trying daring manoeuvres to lure Harry into traps, as the only remaining chance of Glasgow was to catch the snitch before him. This has been one the most exciting chase between seekers he’d lived since he was chasing Cho Chang across the Hogwarts pitch in his sixth year. They had just buried the thought of ever getting together at the time, and thus the match between them had been furious.
McDermott dived at Harry, who was forced to avoid him in a very dangerous loop. And then, he saw a golden flash passing before his eyes. The snitch was right behind McDermott. Harry leaned on his broom, and dived just behind the Scottish Seeker. The crowd made a confused sound, as some had seen the snitch and some hadn’t, and so didn’t understand Harry’s trick, believing he’d fallen into one of McDermott trap. Hamish must have believed it too, as he turned his head to see Harry. He smiled, but the smile faded away from his face the second he saw Harry extending his hand before him.
Harry winked at Hamish, and his fist closed on the snitch. He flew past McDermott (Whooshhh!) and pulled up, as his opponent slowed down, a look of disgust clear on his face. Harry raised his fist to the air, showing the snitch to everyone. The crowd cheered (not that much, as they were playing in Glasgow) when the referee whistled the end of the game. Harry was joined by his team mates in the sky. They formed a circle, who flew slowly back to the ground.
After ten matches, they were taking the lead in the League for the second year in a row, as they still were undefeated. Harry was carried on the two London beaters, John Curry and Aloysius Freeborn. His Captain, a large Keeper named Jeremy Westham, chanted “He’s quick! He’s strong! He never did us wrong… Potter! Potter!” He was trying to find a new motto for each victory. Harry thought that this wasn’t the best he’d ever found.
As he was carried to the changing rooms, he caught a glimpse of someone in the main tribune. A cute face with red hair. Ginny Weasley waved at him. Harry waved back, trying to spot Jeb, her boyfriend. Maybe she was here without him, to work. She was writing the sports pages of the Daily Prophet, after all. But beside her, there was someone else. Someone Harry was very pleased to see.
He waved even higher.
“Remus!” he yelled.
“I’ll see you later,” Remus managed to get through the roaring sound of the crowd. And Ginny nodded. She surely hoped an exclusive interview. Harry wouldn’t dare to refuse this to her.
His thoughts were brought back to the celebration when the Beaters kindly asked him to get off their shoulders, so they could enter the changing room. He laughed with everyone and the team disappeared from view into the room.


-----------------
An hour later, Harry was making his way through a wild horde of wizards and journalists, who wanted to get his impressions on the match, the League situation, and London's chances for a second title, along with the rumours about his love life and even the weather forecast.
By the time he got through, he must have said a dozen times “We’ve got very good chances,” ten “YOU were watching the game,” and a hundred “No comment”. Then he caught sight of Remus and Ginny, who were talking together, a little away from the crowd.
When a journalist asked him for the third time he was really dating the niece of Cornelius Fudge, he answered “No, I’m not. And if you want any more details, you’ll have to check the Daily Prophet. I’ve got an exclusive interview with Miss Weasley, so if you’ll excuse me…” The crowd reluctantly let go of him, and tried instead to get a grip on Alicia. She made a face, and crossed Harry’s eyes. Harry winced, and she suppressed a laugh.
Harry joined Remus and Ginny. Harry hugged his former professor for a long time. And then Ginny jump to his neck, kissing him madly on the cheeks, and chanting “you were amazing!! Amazing!”
“That was a pretty good game, Harry,” said Remus. “You have improved even more since last time I saw you.”
“What about a Butterbeer in my Inn?” offered Ginny. “It’s really close.”
“Jeb’s not with you?” asked Harry.
Ginny shook her head.
“The department of magical games is a heartless monster,” she said with a feinted sigh. “They sent him on a two weeks mission in France, for the organisation of the World Cup, leaving his poor girlfriend alone and forlorn.
Harry chuckled, knowing full well that Ginny didn't mean it. She had inherited that sense of humour that ran wildly in Fred and George and sorely lacked in Ron sometimes. Harry wondered if Hermione would be able to get the best over her husband so constantly, if Ron had only half the wits in words as his sister.
Ginny gave him a false stern look, and then laughed with him.
“Anyway, he's due back tomorrow,” she said.
Half an hour later, they were sipping their Butterbeers in the common room of the Inn where Ginny had her room. Remus looked a thousand times better than the last time Harry had seen him. It had taken months for Remus to recover from the wounds he got facing Voldemort on Snape’s side. And after a short time, he had been through an experimental magic charm, in order to deliver him from the Werewolf Curse. It had been a success, but it took Remus two more years to recover from this. Now he was looking better than ever. The only hint of what he had gone through was this thin scar running down his cheek, from the temple to the jaw. He was now working full time for the Order of The Phoenix, alongside with Ron. Harry had gotten word from him through his best friend. But it was their first meeting in two years.
Ginny had taken news from Remus, and then she had turned to Harry to receive his impressions from the match, the Season and his opinion on the spectacular rise of a little team, which had won five matches in a row: Redwall United. Harry answered that things were going quite well for the Falcons, but that they shouldn’t stop here, especially because of emerging teams like Redwall, whose players were impressive, in Harry’s opinion. The championship wasn’t over until all the matches weren’t all played. He vigorously denied the rumour of his departure from London, and confirmed the one which said that he would play for the National team.
“I was available,” he said humbly as his final comment. “It’s a great honour to play for my country. I hope I’ll be worthy of their expectations.”
“That will do, Harry,” said Ginny with a smile, putting down her quill and parchment. “Oh, I forgot a last question. Will you go to the Hogwarts reunion of ancient students, which takes place in two days?”
“Sure,” Harry said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Cool,” Ginny said with a wink. “What about you, Remus?”
“That’s why I’m back in England,” Remus said. “I was in France, until last week. They’ve got a Werewolf Problem.”
“And the Order sent you?” Harry was surprised.
“Now that I’m proved to be a full human again, they found out that I’m one of the finest experts on the Werewolf case, “ Remus said with a false satisfied voice, which made Ginny laugh. “My personal experience, you know. Even that poor Lockhart couldn’t pretend having approached a Werewolf closer than me.”
Harry smiled. Remus was not only in better shape, but he looked even more alive and happier than Harry has ever seen him. It was something important to him, since Remus was his last close link to his parents’ past.
The evening went very well. They were only interrupted once by a young boy, who came at their table to ask him shyly to sign a little photo of one of his most spectacular actions. Harry signed with a smile. The beaming face he got in response was enough for him. He liked those kinds of fans. They weren’t intrusive and never too curious.
By the time Harry apparated to his own Inn, it was already half past eleven, and the night was beautiful.
Only two days before he would go back to Hogwarts. Harry felt good at this idea. He opened the Inn’s door, to be greeted by a huge cheer from his team mates, who were going on with the celebration with some friends. Harry thought that he only had to be in London two days later.
He could have a long sleep tomorrow.
He joined the party with enthusiasm.


-----------------
Alexander had apparated in London at eight o’clock. The train was leaving at 11, just like in the old days. His parents would meet him at ten at the station. Another letter had told him that every guest of the Reunion had to be dressed with the colours of his House. He thus had a travel bag with two sets of robes for the evenings and one for the days. He was dressed as a Smuggle for now, as he walked in London streets to King’s Cross station.
While he walked, he thought about what he had found out during the last months. Although his father wasn’t too worried about it, Alexander did find the political manoeuvres of Devin very disturbing. It was unusual enough to become Head of a department such as Magical Law, but given Devin’s lack of abilities, it was moreover troubling. How did he get there?
Alexander had a very precious gift, apart from his particular brand of magic. He was good at seeking rumours and sorting them out. So he had heard a lot of things during these three months he had passed with his parents. And most of them were meaningless, or simply uninteresting. But some had caught his attention.
For example, there was a huge agitation among the Seers. Prophecies and Vision were still concealed in the Department of Mysteries, but Seers were talking more openly of their visions now. And according to some reports within the ministry, a lot of Visions and glimpses of the future had been seen by the Seers. The last time it had happened was five years ago. The Ministry was at this time swept under a gigantic wave of Prophecies, most of them senseless and useless. But two great events happened that year. Voldemort was destroyed for good, and The Chaos Rift was closed, back in Mongolia. Alexander had witnessed the latter and had even been a part of it.
Was this recent agitation linked to his own dream? Did he experience a vision? It was more of a warning, he thought. But still it remained unclear.
Another thing he had learned was that there had been a lot of owl posting between the Department of Mysteries and Hogwarts. That was pretty unusual, as the Department of Mysteries was used to keep completely quiet on anything. To see them start a correspondence With Dumbledore was something you could worry about. There were so many things that remained unexplained in the alleys of the Department.
He crossed the street and found himself facing the King’s Cross station. A wave of memories rose in his mind. The reunion with his friends every September the first. He saw again the fun he had with his friends aboard the train. He saw again his friends’ faces. Judy, Davon, Alfric, all his classmates. And Phyllis. Alexander had a nostalgic smile. Too bad he never had the nerve to ask her out. Years after, he still had forgotten neither the redheaded Irish girl, nor his feelings toward her.
He passed through the great door of the station Hall. Packed with Muggles, as usual. This was Halloween week-end, after all. A lot of people were visiting their family at this time, even the Muggles.
He made his way through the crowd of voyagers, walking discreetly toward The Platform Ten. When he got there, he casually leaned closer on the barrier between Platform Ten and Nine. He passed through the magical passageway to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. There wasn’t many people at the time, but still the Red locomotive was standing there, ready to start. Alexander walked slowly along the train cars. He was still savouring his old memories, associated with that train. He had to admit that, although it hadn’t been the most adventurous years of his life, his Hogwarts years were among the happiest.
He looked around, trying to catch a familiar face in the few people that were standing on the platform. And suddenly, he heard his named cried out by a woman voice.
“Alex! Alexander Lockenburn! I can’t believe you’re here!”
Alexander saw Judy run toward him and she threw her arms around his neck. They hugged for a long time.
“How are you, Judy?” asked Alexander.
“Great!” she said. “But I thought you were in Asia. Did you come back especially for this reunion?"
“In fact, I was in Russia,” said Alexander. “And I did come back for this reunion.”
“It’s wonderful to see you,” said Judy. “Hey, Colin! Malcolm! Come over here, look who turned up!”
Alexander greeted Malcolm, Judy’s older Brother, and Colin Carmichael, her husband. He had been at their wedding, luckily for him, since Judy had promised she would have ripped him apart if he hadn’t.
“Come on,” said Judy. “We have reserved a whole compartment for the old group.”
“I’ll have to warn my parents; they’re coming too.”
He stepped up on the train and entered the compartment.


------------------------------------

“Come on, we’re getting late, children,” Mrs Weasley said, on an urging tone. “Is everybody here? Bill, Fleur? Are you done with the owls, now?”
“Yes, Mum,” said Bill, with a side look at Harry. He winced a little, and then smiled widely.
Harry suppressed a chuckle. Mrs Weasley hadn’t changed a bit since he first met her in his first year at Hogwarts. She was still acting toward every child of hers, just like they were little kids. The fact that Bill already was married to Fleur Delacour and father of a young girl didn’t matter to her.
Ron also winked at Harry.
“Molly,” said Mr Weasley. “They’re all grown up now, you know. They can handle getting on a train.”
The twins nodded furiously, a large smile on their faces.
“So, we’re going with…” said Mrs Weasley.
“Your former classmates,” finished Charlie in her place. “We know. It’ll be okay, Mum. You can go now!”
He patted her on the shoulder. Mrs Weasley frowned, half smiling. Fred and George tried to pat her on the shoulder, too, but one look discouraged them for good, which made Ginny snigger.
“Daring but no fool,” she said under her breath.
The Weasleys parted from their children and strode to their car. Mr Weasley turned to his children and winked. That would mean “now whatever you do, how will she know?”.
Hermione giggled. Harry turned to her and saw that Ginny was whispering something in her ear.
“Care to share the joke?" he asked.
“In fact, I was saying that Mum would soon feel so way back in time that she would forget she has children”.
“You don’t believe in that any more than I do, Ginny,” said Jebediah Curren, her boyfriend, smiling.
Ginny had to admit he had a point. She and Jebediah had been dating for six months, now. And Harry thought he was alright, as far as boyfriends went. But he was a little pedantic, sometimes. And there had always been some tension based on the fact that he had always paid more respect to Harry than to Ron, which was, in the fine art of surviving a relationship with a Weasley, a fatal error. But Ginny liked the guy, so everyone was making an effort, even Jeb himself, if Harry had to be honest.
They got on the train and found a compartment that was empty.
“Harry Potter!” cried a voice from the corridor.
Harry was about to enter his compartment. He turned to the voice. A tall, beautiful woman, with dark skin was walking toward, frowning.
“So, I heard Mister Potter was going to play for a certain Quidditch team? How come they asked you to be on? They didn’t find a decent Seeker?”
Angelina Johnson was smiling broadly as she spoke. Harry returned the frowning.
“In fact, they thought that their first chaser was so pathetic, I would look quite good on the pitch next to her.”
Angelina burst into laughing.
“Nice one, mate! You’re getting better at this, aren’t you?”
And suddenly she hugged him, still laughing. Harry returned the hug with a smile. This was a game. They had settled a deal. Each time their team met in the League, they would throw fake insults at each other. The more elaborate the insult was, the more inexistent the grudge between them would be. In spite of their rivalry on the pitch, Angelina and Harry were great friends.
“So back together, huh?” said Angelina. “And with Wood, to add on things.”
“You didn’t hear the news?” said Harry with a smirk.
“What?” said Angelina.
“Cunningham injured himself yesterday. He won’t be able to fly for a month. Chudley said they wouldn’t risk his health. The national team called Alicia to fill in.”
“Awesome! Four from the old Squad! Just like old times. No offence, Weasleys,” she said to the compartment.
A collective groan came in response. Angelina may have forgotten that five person in the compartment had played for the Gryffindor team, at some time. From Charlie to Ginny.
“How’s Bob?” asked Harry.
“Fine,” Angelina replied. “He sends his bests.”
Bob Walkovich was one of the Chasers of Wimbourne. And he was Angelina’s boyfriend, which explained they worked so well together. Bob was from another school in Europe, and thus he wasn’t invited. He had declined coming with her, since he didn't know so many people at Hogwarts. Angelina said she was going to look for Alicia and Oliver, to celebrate the reunion. Harry finally made his way to a seat in the compartment.
“You didn’t tell me about Alicia,” said Ginny, on an accusing tone.
“When you interviewed me, Walter was perfectly fine,” Harry replied innocently.
The clock in Fred’s pocket rang, telling everyone that it was eleven. The train started immediately to move on, and soon, he was rolling fast through London. Harry smiled. They were on their way home!
As the train left the city, there was some agitation all along the train. People began to pass from compartment to compartment to say hello to old friends or just to see who was here.
Some familiar faces passed before them. Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown, who were on their way to get married soon, showed up at some point. Dean Thomas, Ginny's ex-boyfriend, and still a good friend of the group was with them. They all exchanged recent news before Seamus, Dean and Lavender went on.
Oliver Wood made a stop at their compartment, to say hi to everyone and rejoice a little with Harry of their selection in the National team. This had been Oliver’s obsession during all his years in Hogwarts, to get in high level Quidditch. Being asked for the National team, had to be the achievement of his whole life.
The next person to sneak into the compartment was Neville Longbottom. He waved at someone outside and entered, shaking hands with everyone, a large smile on his round face. He was followed immediately by Luna Lovegood, his girlfriend.
In some ways Luna wasn’t any different from the girl they had met in their fifth year. She still was a little strange, as if she was absent. Except for Neville. She seemed to catch half the words of everything they talked about, but each time Neville spoke, she was getting it all. Harry couldn’t help but thinking that Ron got really lucky that Hermione finally made her move on him in sixth year. Because Luna had seemed really interested in him. Harry liked Luna, but he was sure it took someone with the patience of Neville to handle a relationship with her. At no time Ron could have coped with that.
Harry noticed also, that if Luna still looked a little lost, she was now dressed in a very elegant way. She was now working with her father at the Quibbler. She was something of a redaction manager, or anything they would call such a position in the Quibbler. Harry had never completely understood the organization of the magazine. It was as confusing as the theories published in the pages of the paper. But he was glad that she was doing so well.
Neville, on his side, was now doing more than well in a herbology lab, depending from the Ministry. He had always been gifted with plants of all kind.
Neville and Luna stayed with them for the rest of the trip. Jeb, who was from a different year than them, parted company from them, saying he was going to meet some friends. Ginny stayed behind to catch up with Luna.
Some other old friends passed by. Lee Jordan was pretty excited about Quidditch, but moreover, as an associate of the twins, he wanted to talk about the shop all along, until Fred himself told him that they were on vacation, for a change. Then Lee went completely back on Quidditch. Meanwhile; Hermione, Ginny and Fleur spoke about what Ron qualified half mockingly as “girl’s stuff.” He avoided the slap from his wife with a chuckle, and kissed her on the cheek, before leaving the compartment with Lee. This kiss had made Hermione fell silent and looking dreamily through the train window, with a little smile on her face. Harry had already noticed that his two best friends could have this effect on each other.
Many people passed before them. Cho Chang passed before one of the compartment window, winked and smiled at Harry. Both Hermione and Ginny gave her a thoughtful look and raised their eyebrows to Harry, in a single move that made him laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“I didn't know you were on such good terms with Miss Hosepipe,” noted Ginny, frowning.
“So that’s it, you have a nickname for every girl I dated?” he protested.
“Pretty much,” said Ginny. “Honestly, you’ve given us all the material we could have hoped for with your girls, Harry.”
Harry had a wince. Even he had to admit that it was true. Actually, it wasn’t surprising that his friends would put so much meaning in his interaction with Cho, since she had been his longest relationship, in fact, over two years. After the war, Harry had begun to go from date to date, with girls that didn’t ask for much. They were Quidditch groupies, for the most part. He had tried for another kind of girl, Sophie, who had turned out to be a Harry Potter groupie, based on his status as the conqueror of Lord Voldemort. Oh, boy did that end badly! Ron, Hermione and occasionally Ginny had been commenting on his love life, preferring to stay out of limiting their contacts with his dates to the minimum required by politeness. And so the ritual of the nicknames had begun. And to say they weren’t friendly was putting it obscenely mildly.
“I mean, Harry, you’re on a celibate trend, these days.” Ginny was going on. “If you’re having good contacts with Cho Chang, you should stick to your trend, because between the Cow, the Grindylow, the Gnome Brain and that… what was the name we picked for Brenda, again?”
“The Very Common Welsh Twit,” supplied Fred, helpfully. “I remember that was my favourite,” he added with a toothy grin.
“Thank you, Brother mine,” said Ginny, with a frighteningly similar smile. “Anyway, with a track record like this, you don’t really want to get back at the Hosepipe square, do you?”
Harry laughed.
“Well, first, she's not crying so often, these days,” said Harry, with an amused grin. “And second, since we play against each other, we became very good friends,” he said. “We're playing that game, and the newspapers love to speculate about us. But we both know we're just friends. Her fiancé doesn’t mind,” he added with a grin.
“She’s engaged?” Hermione said.
“You didn’t know?" Harry said, surprised. “It was all over the papers. Cho has many fans, so it was well documented. She’s engaged to the singer of the Banshees.”
“Jimmy Stringless? Said Ginny. “Oh, my, he’s absolutely gorgeous! Hum, don’t tell Jeb I said this!”
“We’ll be silent as a tomb, sis,” said Fred with a devilish smile, like he had been offered an early christmas present.
They all laughed. Charlie said he wanted to find his old classmates, and so left the compartment.

-----------------
Alexander chuckled seeing Davon playing with a little fairy he had summoned. His old friend was still the little clown he had always been. The compartment they were in saw a lot of people pass. Old unknown faces or more familiar ones. Students from all years passed before them.
Alexander thought he recognized Ron Weasley when he passed with Lee Jordan, talking excitedly about Quidditch. Then he saw Charlie Weasley, who stopped by to say hello. Charlie and Judy had always been good friends and Judy was delighted to see him.
Alexander was half hoping he would see Phyllis aboard the train, but then he remembered that she was working for the local bureau of Gringotts, in Hogsmeade, so she didn’t need to take the train. He suppressed his disappointment.
After the lunch, Judy, Davon and Colin went to wander in the corridors of the train. Alfric and Diana followed them.
Alexander stayed alone with Malcolm, but a young lady came into the compartment to speak with Malcolm. Alexander caught a meaningful look from Malcolm, took the hint and went for a walk, leaving the compartment all to his friend.
He was making his way to the front of the train, when he crossed a familiar face.
“Hello Alexander,” said Remus Lupin with a smile.
“Hello. How are you, Remus?”
“As you can see, a lot better than last time we met,” Remus said with a grin.
Alexander had met him many times with his parents as he was an old friend of Damien. But he had met him more recently, while he was on an investigation in Europe. Lupin was there on the same mission, for the Order of the Phoenix. At this time, he was still under recovery from his magic treat of his lycanthropy, and he had been looking positively dreadful. Right now, though, he was smiling, and he had rarely looked that healthy.
“What news from the East?” Remus asked.
“Not much, except that some trolls are going out of their caverns a little too early for the season. But nothing the Russian minister can’t handle. But there has been some fascinating things to see up in the sky,” said Alexander.
“Really?” Remus said.
“Two Eclipses in the same months is quite the unusual phenomenon,” explained Alexander. “I think that the whole region is still under the effects of the Chaos Rift”.
“That is possible,” said Remus. “’We don’t know the exact amount of effects that it could have. How long have you been back in England?”
“Roughly a month,” Alexander replied. “I stayed at my parents’.”
“So the rumours I read were true.”
“They're a hughe pile of exaggeration, if you ask me,” said Alexander with a wince.
“Are your parents on the train?” Remus asked.
“Yeah, they’re with the Hawkeyes, as far as I know.”
“So I guess I’ll drop by their compartment,” Remus said.
“I’m sure they’d be delighted to see you.”
Remus walked away in the direction Alexander had indicated. Alexander stayed a long moment, looking by the window. The night had fallen around them. And the landscape was familiar. They were almost there. He walked back to his compartment, to find Judy back with her husband and grinning widely to her brother. Apparently she had walked into him in a very interesting situation with the young lady. Alexander chuckled at the embarrassed look on Malcolm’s face.
The train began to slow down.
“Yehaa!” shouted Judy. “We’re there!”


-----------------
Harry got off the train with Ron and Hermione. Bill and Fleur had left the compartment earlier to check on the owls. Charlie had never showed back after he left. The twins followed Harry on the platform. Ginny caught up with them, Jeb in tow, from the rear of the train, after a moment spent with the girls of her year. Everybody had changed at some point to wizard robes, with the colours of the Houses clearly visible. The twins wore absolutely dashing robes, all red and gold, with a huge Lion on their back. The lion was winking endlessly to those who were looking at him.
Harry almost expected to hear a deep, roaring voice to call for the first years, when he remembered that there were no first years to welcome and that Hagrid had to be in the Castle with the other teachers.
And then Harry noticed one thing. It was earlier than he had thought. Usually the train dropped them at Hogwarts just in time for the feast, but it was only seven PM, now. Could the Hogwarts Express be faster than before?
“Well, you know,” said Hermione. “The train can go at any speed we want it to go. The students arrive at the time of the Feast because Dumbledore wants to make sure that everything is ready to greet them. Maybe he has other plans for us.”
Harry admitted that it made perfect sense, as the crowd of guests made their way to the carriages, still pulled by Thestrals. Harry climbed in one of them, gently patting one of the winged skeletal horses on the flanks. Hermione gave him a smile and did the same by climbing in the carriage. Harry had a flash of sadness at the idea that now, most of his close friends were able to see Thestrals. But the sadness faded away when he saw the tower of the castle stand against the starry sky.
Hogwarts. The place he had discovered so much about his world and about himself.
The carriage stopped before the great door of the Castle. And on the top of the short stairs, smiling broadly, stood the most renowned wizard of the Century.
Albus Dumbledore greeted them cheerfully. At some point he crossed eyes with Harry and winked. Harry smiled and nodded.

“Welcome back in Hogwarts, dear graduates,” Dumbledore said. “I’m glad to see so many had been able to join us tonight. I’m really happy to see familiar faces and I’m even glad to see you again, dear misters,” he added, staring intently at the twins, who chuckled. “We, teachers of Hogwarts consider that all kind of experience would be a good thing to share with your young successors. Even the most unusual ones,” he added with a wink to the twins again.
“So before you join us for the first feast of this Reunion, I will explain how we are going to proceed. We asked you to wear the colours of your Houses. When you’ll get to the feast, I’ll ask you to get to your House table, grouped by year. You’ll find of course, that we have made some arrangements with the great Hall, so don’t be surprised. You will be joined then by the current students. They will be mixed with you, so they can begin to ask questions, in order to make them more comfortable. But before that feast, you may want to take a walk and a look around in the Castle. To meet some people, and that kind of things. So we’ll meet for the feast at nine. And for now, the place is all yours!”
At these words, the Doors of the Castle opened and there was a huge cheer from the crowd of guests.
“Ah, one more thing! The passages to your ancient Common Room have been warned of this event. So any password from your years in Hogwarts will grant you access. Have a good evening!”
And he stepped aside, to let the flow of people enter the gate. Harry and his friends didn’t follow. Dumbledore waited that the flow of people dried out to turn to them.
“I’m glad you’re here, Harry,” he said. “And of course, I enjoy seeing all of you. How’s the Order doing, Ronald?”
Ron smiled, a little embarrassed.
“Well, fine, Sir,” he said.
“Oh, Hermione,” said Dumbledore. “I believe that Minerva will want a word with you about this letter she sent you lately. My guess is that she wants a chance to convince you more directly.”
Hermione beamed at him.
“I’ll see her with pleasure, Sir.”
Harry knew that Hermione had always professed an unconditional love for her transfiguration Professor. Of all the Hogwarts teachers, she was the one Hermione had real links with.
“But my guess is that you may want to pay a visit to someone before getting to the feast,” Dumbledore said to all of them, with a wave of his head towards the grounds and a really familiar hut near the Forest.
“I guess you’re right, Sir,’ said Fred with an exuberating voice.
“Then I’ll see you at the Feast,” said Dumbledore. “And, Harry, I’d like a word with you before you leave Hogwarts.”
“Anytime, Sir” Harry nodded.
Dumbledore walked into the Castle, and after Jeb had told ginny he would see her later, as he was going to visit the Ravenclaw Tower, Harry and his friends headed for Hagrid’s cabin.


-----------------

Harry knocked on the wooden door, his heart pounding in his chest. It had been ages since he had seen Hagrid. And for Harry, Hagrid would always be the first thing he had discovered about the Magic world. He knew that Hagrid had been the one who saved him from the ruins of his parents’ house. But, moreover, he had been the one who came to save him from his miserable life in Privet Drive, when he had turned eleven.
The Door opened on Fang’s barks. And Hagrid’s face appeared.
“Blimey, Harry, it’s abou’ time!” the huge man said. “I thought yeh’d lost yer way ofr somethin'!”
He was beaming. Suddenly, Harry’s heart went up his throat, preventing him to say a word. With bright eyes, he simply hugged Hagrid furiously. The half-giant patted him on the shoulders, looking rather moved too.
Everybody around was looking with wide grins. Hermione and Ginny’s eyes were full of tears. Ron held his wife against him to comfort her.
After a long silent moment, Hagrid cleared his throat.
“Well, whatta yeh waitin’ fer? Come in, all of yeh!”
Harry broke the hug and smiled at Hagrid. He entered the cabin. Each one of his friends passed before Hagrid and shook hands with him. When Ron and Hermione passed before him, Hermione couldn’t stand it any longer, and she burst in tears, hugging Hagrid, too. Hagrid looked confused a second then smiled under his beard. He stroke Hermione’s head, while his other hand was hitting gently Ron’s shoulder.
“Aww, c’mon, Hermione,” he said. “A great strong girl like yeh don’t need te cry like that, yeh know?”
Hermione wiped her tears with a little nervous laugh, and she entered with Ron.
Hagrid closed the door, as they all took seats somewhere in the hut.
“Now, what about a cup o’ tea?” he said, clearing his throat again.


-----------------

Alexander was walking in the great corridors of the School, all his memories coming back to him. It was a great feeling to revive all this years of fun and learning within seconds. He couldn’t help a slight smile to remain on his face.
He was heading a particular place, though he wasn’t sure it was a good idea. He had waved to his friends and told them he would see them at the feast.
And now he reached the place he was looking for. Funny how he could have remembered so well the way to get to it.
Professor McGonagall’s Office. He knocked on the door.
“Come in,” said an impatient voice.
He opened the door.
“Hermione, I didn’t expect you that soon…” the professor began, without raising her eyes from a parchment. Then she stopped and did raise her eyes. She looked surprised, but then she smiled.
“i guess I bet on the wrong student to come visit me first, this time,” she said, as she stood up. “I’m sorry, Alexander. I just thought this was Mrs Weasley who would drop by first. But do come in, come in. I’m pleased to see you here, of course. Have a seat.”
Alexander smiled and sat in front of her Office, just like in the old times. This was a whole new relationship that he had to establish with her. The last time he had seen her, he was about to leave England, and she had told him to call her Minerva, which was a serious shift in his view of her. She wasn't a teacher any more to him, but a friend and an ally. And still, he could still feel her as a mentor.
“You mentionned Mrs Weasley?” he said, after they had caught up with a few things.
“I’ve had Hermione told to come up and have a chat, but I didn’t expect to see you before the feast, Alexander,” she said.
“Well I thought it would be appropriate to come and visit the one who invited me,” said Alexander casually. “because I was under the impression that you really wanted me to show up, no matter how much I dislike big parties like that.”
“Well, it is true, I needed your expertise,” Minerva admitted. “ We encountered several issues and I need your help on them.”
Alexander raised his eyebrows, interested.
“Go on,” he said.
“First; as you know, there had been some phenomena, linked with the closing of the Chaos Rift. You have dealt with some of them, by now. But the problem is that some of these Phenomena are now happening in England, as if the tide raised by the closing had finally reached our shores. I’ve had some letters from the Department of Mysteries asking me If I could talk to you into helping them to sort things out”.
Alexander grinned. That’s what the Owls have meant, finally.
“Since I’m done in Russia, I could stay around for some time,” he said.
“Thank you,” Professor McGonagall said. “And second, I hoped I could convince you to stay in Hogwarts on a more... permanent basis.”
“Permanent? You expect me to teach?” said Alexander, puzzled.
“Well, it so happens that one of our first years is a chaotician like you,” said Minerva.
“You can't be serious!” said Alexander, thunderstruck.
“I couldn’t be more serious,” said McGonagall. “We figured out his magic accidents were similar to yours. But I had to see it for myself before I could confirm it. Mr Malcolm is having some difficulty controlling these gifts. I was planning on teaching like we did teach you, but I figured you have an edge we will always lack.”
“I known how it feel,” said Alexander. “Right, Professor?”
“Exactly,” she confirmed. “I could stuff the head of this poor boy with all the theory in the world, it would still be better if yo handled his teaching. It doesn't seem that he's at your level, but with the proper guidance, he could use that power to reach great range as a wizard.”
“But to ask me to teach? I’ve never…”
“I’m aware of that, Alexander,” said Minerva. “But as you are the most aware of these things, I think Ian could really benefit from your teachings. Of course, I would be here for any kind of help you’d need.”
Alexander gave the idea some serious thought.
“Well, I can’t really leave this boy without help, can I? I’ll do my best, Professor.”
“Thank you again, Alexander. You can’t imagine the burden you’re taking from me. Professor Dumbledore will be much pleased. I’ll arrange some apartments for you, of course.”
Alexander smiled. The idea of sleeping again in Hogwarts, and in a teacher apartment, was an appealing prospect. It's not like he could stay at his parents forever and his old flat had been long rented since he had left the country.
“Well, if it is settled, I’d like to have some news,” said Minerva with a more relaxed voice. “What have you been up to all these years?”
Alexander grinned and began to talk about his trips and discoveries in the East. As he spoke, the thought of becoming a teacher was spinning endlessly in his head. It was really something! And of all the reasons he expected from Minerva to call him back to Hogwarts, this was the one he hadn't seen coming. She could still catch you off guard, whenever she wanted, that woman.
He had an inner smile, as echoes of the past flickered in his mind.
Now, what?

-----------------

That's it for today... on the next bit, we're going through some social mingling...
Next Chapter: The Great Reunion

Harry and the Seal of Chaos © Entropist, September 2004, rewrite October 2011

Another great chapter mate. Yeah, the re-write is showing more here and it is getting better chapter by chapter.

Well, time for an udpate. Thanks Wolf, for posting, . The next one is longer, and the reunion progresses...

Hope you like it


Many turns in the Slytherin Way


The Feast began at nine, but it took time before the guests all found their seats. Many former students hadn't seen each other for years, so, there were some cheerful reunions that needed to settle down before a semblance of order could fall on the Great Hall.
But finally, Harry and his year’s friends were all sitting at the Gryffindor table. Harry looked around him, completely astonished.
The Great Hall was four times larger than it once was, as it had been enhanced by magic, to offer enough room for everyone. He was sitting facing Ron and Hermione, while Neville, Seamus and Dean were sitting on his side of the table. Seamus was facing Lavender. Harry looked around for Parvati Patil, as she never was too far from Lavender at school, but there was no sign of her.
He was about to ask Lavender about her when the door of the Great hall opened one more time, to leave passage to some more guests who looked in a hurry and rather embarrassed to be late. And among them, Parvati made an entrance that didn't go unnoticed. Harry was suddenly struck by the vision she offered. She was walking with as much dignity as she could muster, while still trying to get to her seat quickly. Lavender waved at her and Parvati saw their group. She took her seat beside her and waved to everyone. She had been in touch with most of them since leaving Hogwarts, butHarry hadn't seen her in at least three years.
Ron snapped in front of Harry’s face.
“Are you okay, mate?” he asked, looking worried.
“What? Er... yeah; I’m fine,” he said.
He was still under some kind of shock. At one point he crossed eyes with Parvati, and she smiled at him. He found himself blushing before he could help it. He was feeling rather odd. And a thought was spinning in his mind.
He had forgotten that Parvati Patil was so beautiful.
Some memories rose in his mind. Dean muttering “I still can’t work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year,” when Harry and Ron were taking the Patil twins to the Yule Ball in fourth year. He had to admit now that it was true. If He hadn’t been so obsessed with Cho Chang at the time, he would have seen how lucky he had been, and he wouldn’t have screwed all the evening up.
“What’s the matter, Harry?” asked Hermione.
“I was just thinking on how much you can be an idiot when you’re fourteen,” he said distractedly, still having his eyes riveted to Parvati’s face. She was explaining how her work at Hogsmeade made her so late.
Hermione followed his look and suddenly she seemed to understand. She had a twisted smile, which she refused to explain to Ron.
Harry went back to earth when the current students made their entry. They were looking around rather excited and impressed by the new look of the Hall. Some students passing before the famous wizards began to point out and whisper excitedly. Harry was relieved that he got as many fingers as the others Quidditch players. A lot of young wizards, at the Ravenclaw table, began a little fight to decide who would get the empty seat beside Cho Chang. She and Harry exchanged one long look. Harry winked and Cho chuckled a little. Then she pointed out to Parvati with a smile, which looked a lot like Hermione’s and Harry blushed again, realizing that his reaction could have been seen by everyone at the Ravenclaw table.
One student took his seat at the left side of Harry, looking a little impressed. He nodded humbly to the older people around him and then he saw who he was seating beside. His eyes seemed to pop out of his head, and he went rather pale, then red, then pale again.
“You... you’re Harry Potter!” he said, with an almost dead voice.
“i'm afraid I am,” said Harry, embarrassed by his shock.
His friends were all highly amused, apparently.
“You… you’re my hero!” the kid went on.
Harry smiled uncomfortably to the young boy. That was even worse than what he had feared. The idea that most of these kids would act like that with him made the week end look a lot less entertaining. Everybody around was looking at him, some sniggering at the thought he would be as embarrassed as the young boy, who seemed in his second year.
“I mean, you’re the greatest seeker of the Century!” said the boy, more excited than ever, as he found his voice again.
Harry eyes widened. His old reluctance to face his fame as the Boy who lived had been quick to resurface, and the boy only wanted to talk about Quiddtich!? Harry was so relieved he chuckled.
“I'm sure that's an exaggeration,” he said, smiling.
“Oh, I wish I had your card, so you could sign it!” said the boy.
“My card?” Harry said, turning to the others.
“You didn’t know?” Ron said, and he started to laugh.
“You were added in the Chocolate frogs Collection,” explained Hermione, as Ron was still hammering the table with his fist, laughing even louder at every second.
“I was WHAT?” Harry burst out loudly, drawing all the sights again.
Parvati looked at him with a smile, and when he crossed her eyes, she blushed! What on earth was going on? Harry had the feeling the situation was getting really out of hand. How could he deal both with a fan and his new impressions on Parvati?
“You think you could sign my card later?” asked the boy, shyly.
“Hum! Well, of course, If you like,” said Harry, getting a grip on himself, finally.
The boy seemed to be offered a wonderful Christmas present.
“Are you a Creevey?” asked Ron under his breath. But the second year caught it.
“No,” said the boy, without understanding. “I’m James McDonald. What’s a Creevay?”
Ron burst again into laughing and Hermione gave him a look that reminded Harry strongly of McGonagall.
“Doesn’t matter, boy,” said Ron, wiping tears from his eyes. “So, what do you want to do when you’re older?”
“Er… I’d like to become an Animagus. “My father is one the seven registered. He can change himself into an eagle. I’d love to do the same.”
“That’s a nice prospect,” said Hermione, smiling kindly at the wkid, while trying to kick her husband in the shins.. “Did you talk about Professor McGonagall about it? She’s an Animagus herself; she could tell how to become one.”
“Well, my father told me you had to be very good in transfiguration,” James said. “ And that it was very rare to become one in the school years, so I guess I'm not in a hurry.”
Harry thought about another James, who had achieved it.
“Honestly,” he said. “If you work hard enough, that is possible. I knew an animagus who became one in his third year in Hogwarts.”
“Really?” asked James, fascinated. “Who?”
“My father,” said Harry, refusing to think of Sirius now. “He was changing into a stag”.
“Cool!” said James.
Somehow, this conversation did a lot to show Harry that Voldemort’s days were gone for good. This young boy was more interested in becoming an Animagus than in becoming a Dark Wizard hunter. He knew Harry more for his exploits on the Quidditch pitch than for his battle against the Dark Lord. The wizarding world was getting back to normal. And that thought was really reassuring.


----------------

Dumbledore stood up suddenly and silence fell over the Hall. He seemed to clear his throat but nobody was able to hear him. He raised his wand, and pointed it to his throat.
“Sonorus!”
“Dear students and graduates. It’s a great pleasure to see you all gathered here for the first time. From now on, the tradition of the reunion will continue every seven years, so that every student here can have at least one chance to meet his predecessors.”
There was a huge cheer from all the tables.
“Now, before the feast begins, and since it is the first time we are gathered in such a number, I would like to take a moment to remember and pay homage to some people. I’d like all of you to give a toast with me to the memory of all the students of this school who aren’t with us tonight, not because they had more pressing things to do, but because of dark events, accidents and painful separations.”
He raised his goblet. Everyone stood up and raised their goblet as well. They drank silently. Harry thought of his parents, Sirius, Cedric, many of the people in the Order. Neville’s parents, still in St Mungo’s. He saw Ron and Ginny share a sad look with their family as they remembered Percy. Hermione had to think of Viktor Krum, Harry was sure. Harry also toasted the memory of the Bulgarian Seeker, dead fighting two Death Eaters to protect Hermione.
Dumbledore put his goblet down.
“But even darkest times have their share of hope and light. And thus, I’d like also to pay homage to all the members of the Order of the Phoenix that I see among us. Your fight has saved so many lives that nothing could express our gratitude properly.”

There was a huge roar of approval in the crowd and Alexander joined in.
Dumbledore raised his hands again, calling for silence.
“And more precisely, I’d like to give out a few names, and I apologize to their owners, for I know they don’t like to be praised too much. But if you can't single out people for their deeds in an evening like this, what is the point?”
There were some laughs in the Hall. Dumbledore tilted his head before to go on. He gave out a few names, cited a few families that had been involved directly in the war. And at some point, he spoke names that caught Alexander's attention.
“I’d like to pay homage to the Weasley Family, who has suffered many pains and loss in their fight against evil. Arthur, Molly, William, Charles, Frederic, George, Ronald and Ginevra. We owe you very much, my friends.”
Alexander could tell that all the red heads of the family were going even redder. He smiled.
“Then, I’d like to salute some close friends of mine, that attended studies here and that had been a huge support in these dark years we went through. Kinglsey Shacklebot, Alastor Moody, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Nymphadora Tonks, and all the members of Hogwarts' staff and faculty, whose modesty equals their bravery.”
The cheers went even higher.
“There is someone else I’d like to name, but I know he would call the thunder upon me if I did so, so I’d just like to say that he saved us from a great peril, even if very few people are aware of that.”
Alexander met his eyes and knew Dumbledore was referring to him. Professor McGonagall smiled approvingly. Alexander discreetly nodded to Dumbledore. Nobody apart for some friends of Alexander, seemed to understand what Dumbledore meant, but as it wasn’t unusual, they waited for the next part of the speech.
“Finally, I’d like also to give credit to maybe of the most extraordinary students I’ve met in my many years as Hogwarts Headmaster. I want to speak of Miss Luna Lovegood, Mister Neville Longbottom; Mrs Hermione Granger-Weasley, and of course, Mister Harry Potter.”
All the eyes went straight to Harry and his friends. Luna smiled dreamily at her Ravenclaw former classmates. Neville was red but couldn’t help a little smile. Hermione and Harry on the other hand were trying their best to disappear under the table.
Dumbledore began to clap his hands, and the entire Hall followed his example. This time Harry really disappeared under the table. But the Hall didn’t stop cheering and clapping for a long time.
“And now, let the feast begin!!!” said Dumbledore.
All the plates were suddenly full and everyone threw themselves at it.


After the feast, the tables disappeared and the Great Hall was turned into a reception hall, with seats all along the walls, tables with drinks and cakes. The evening was planned to go all the way until next morning, apparently. The students were now more relaxed to talk about careers with their famous predecessors.
Hermione had to answer a lot of question about her job at the ministry. Ron and Bill explained the career of Curse breaker and how it had evolved since the second war. Harry and his colleagues were solicited by young witches and wizards that wanted their autographs or simply wanted to know how to get to professional Quidditch. Harry met the enthusiastic Captain of the Gryffindor team who professed his admiration for his work with the Falcons.
But some other students were curious about Voldemort, of course, and Harry didn’t feel really easy to talk about it to young people like these. He found an unexpected help when a girl who seemed to be in her third year strode toward a group surrounding Harry and began to tell them off.
“Do you think he likes to talk about painful memories?” she told them. “You should be ashamed. You can get all the details you want in the papers!!!”
The young ones parted reluctantly, giving her grim looks. Harry smiled at her, however.
“Thanks a lot.”
“Oh, don’t mention that!” the girl said shyly. “I just thought you found them offending.”
She reminded him terribly of Hermione.
“Not offending, but this is a part of my life I’d rather forget.”
“I can understand that,” the girl said. “I lost my Dad in the Second War.”
“I’m sorry,” Harry said.
“Thank you,” she replied.
Her name was Janet Spencer, and she was really interested in the Auror career. Harry talked to her a long moment, before she was called by one of her friends. They parted friendly and Harry joined back Hermione and Ron.
“So, any interesting wannabe?” asked Ron.
“The Quidditch Captain reminds me of Wood,” Harry said with a smile. “And I just encountered a younger version of you, ‘Mione, except she was in Slytherin.”
Hermione asked how it was so, and protested when Harry explained that the telling off was almost identical, while Ron was laughing madly.
Harry caught a glimpse of Parvati and must have looked like an idiot for some time, because Hermione patted him on the head.
“Come back with us, or go talk to her!” she said.
“Yeah,” said Ron. “It's not like you need an introduction, do you?”
Harry had to admit it was true.
Suddenly, Ron stiffened. Harry wondered what came over him, but was only half-interested, as he couldn’t tear his eyes off Parvati. Hermione looked at Ron’s face, turned to follow his sight, and her mouth fell open.
“I don’t believe this!” exclaimed Ron.
“What?” Harry asked, turning to him.
“How dare he come back here?” Hermione said, her eyes narrowing with an unusual anger.
Harry followed their sights at last to see what they meant. And he felt suddenly very cold. His hands clenched violently into fists. His eyes must have seemed blazing, as Ginny looked suddenly a little worried. Harry couldn’t part his teeth anymore.
On the entrance of the Great Hall, looking as cocky as ever, stood a young man Harry had hoped never to see again.
Surrounded by a bunch of Slytherin wizards, wearing the colours of his former House, Draco Malfoy was smirking, glancing around with a contemptuous face.


---------------------------

“He can’t have been invited,” said Ron in disbelief. “He’s been banned from Hogwarts. You think Snape…”
“No way,” said Hermione. “Snape said that he wouldn’t have any business with any of the Malfoys.”
“But still he’s here,” said Ginny angrily.
They were joined by George and Fred, who looked positively outraged.
“Look at that little piece of scum, hanging out here like he’s home! Come on, Harry let’s get him!” said Fred.
Harry didn’t move. How on earth could Malfoy have come back here? Not after what has happened in their seventh year in Hogwarts.
Just after Christmas, Percy Weasley had uncovered a plot from a spy in Ministry. A plot of the Death eaters to take over control in Hogwarts. He had warned the twins (by unofficial ways), and the two of them had reached the school just in time to warn Harry and his friends. The plot involved a lot of Slytherin students, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle at the lead. At the end of the exams, the rebellious students tried to jinx Professor McGonagall, and then to break into Dumbledore’s Tower, to allow a death eater to come inside the school. It had taken Harry’s intervention along with his friends and surprisingly Snape, to stop them. Dumbledore had been out of Hogwarts at the time, of course, which had been the reason they had attacked at this moment.
As a sanction, all the students involved had been banned from Hogwarts. The Slytherin rebellion had been the first event that had led to the final confrontation with Voldemort. For having uncovered the plot, Percy Weasley had been the first victim of the huge battle that ensued. He had been killed by the hand of the spy himself, a very close person to Fudge.
And now, Malfoy was entering the Hall, as if nothing happened. Who the hell did he think he was?
Everybody was looking at Harry, now, waiting to see what he’d do. And suddenly Harry moved. He walked straight at Malfoy.
“What do you think you're doing here? Get out of here! Now!” he spat between his clenched teeth.
Draco looked him up and down, still smirking. His eyes were full of disdain.
“Well, well, Potter,” he said. “There you are. I see you haven't learned any of the manners a proper wizard should have. And still hanging on with losers, as I see,” he added with a side look at Harry's friends. His own cronies had a snicker at what surely passed for a witty repartee for Malfoy. If Harry's eyes had been daggers, Draco would have dropped dead.
The rest of the gang joined them. Malfoy looked unbearably smug. He noticed Ron.
“And there you are, Weasley. I heard some stunning news about you. I heard you finally managed to get some gold for your family. I wonder if the shock has managed to kill some of them, actually. And of course, you married that”.
He pointed out Hermione with a nod of his head.
Hermione’s eyes blazed with anger. Ron clenched his fists.
“Be careful, Malfoy,” he said. “The time when you could act like the king of the place is way over. Don’t you dare speak ill of my wife.”
“I can handle myself, honey, thanks,” said Hermione, posing her hand on Ron’s arm. “What was that, Draco? I'm surprised you even consider messing with me after what went on between us. If I remember correctly, I pointedly proved it wasn't a good idea, back then, and not so far from here. We can always adjourn to the Entrance Hall, so I can waste your face again. You weren’t so proud when you were lying stunned in the Main Stairs.”
The duel between Malfoy and Hermione had been the climactic conclusion of the Slytherin rebellion, five years ago. And Hermione had dealt with the pale boy with such talent and flair that even Snape had congratulated her.
Malfoy eyes narrowed slightly.
“Don’t you dare talk to me, you little…”
“And who invited you, in the first place?” she cut him, her voice sharp as a razor. “I thought even Professor Snape didn’t want to hear anything from you”.
Malfoy was about to respond, when someone made his way through the crowd of guests. He was tall, had sand hair and clear blue eyes.
“I did,” he said. “Welcome, Draco. Glad you could make it. Why don’t you join me? I have a group of friends that want to meet you.”
He then turned to Hermione.
“Mrs Weasley,” he said with a little nod. “Pleasure to meet you again, of course.”
It was clear in his tone that he didn’t mean it at all. The look he was giving Hermione made Ron go even redder. Harry was fighting hard the urge to seize his wand at once.
“Mister Stiller,” answered Hermione with the same nod. “I didn’t know you had Malfoys in your acquaintances.”
In her tone, she made it clear that it wasn't something to be applauded. Stiller ignored her tone.
“I learned that Draco hadn’t been invited,” he said to Malfoy. “I thought I had to rectify this mistake.”
“There was no mistake. He has been banned from Hogwarts before he graduated. He has no business being here.”
Harry’s rage was clear in every single word he let out. Stiller turned and glanced at him.
“And you are…” he asked, feigning ignorance, on a very insulting tone.
“Mr Stiller, I'm certain you remember Harry Potter,” Hermione said.
She still looked at Malfoy with eyes that could kill. Devin Stiller exchanged a look with Malfoy, and then turned back to Harry.
“Oh, right, of course, how silly of me not to recognize you. I don’t believe we have met before. I remember you, though. I saw your arrival at Hogwarts. And your brave deeds, of course. I’m Devin Stiller.”
He held out a hand. Harry hesitated just two seconds before taking it. Hermione’s warning look was enough to sense that Devin was an important person.
Harry considered Devin for a moment. He looked as the typical Slytherin to him. Maybe a little less dark than Lucius Malfoy, and of course younger. He was only five years older than him. But there was something, in his attitude, that made Harry wish he could strangle him right now, in the middle of the Hall.
“As you speak of banishing, I don’t think such a decision was legal, at the time. As you may know, I’m pretty involved with Law myself. I realised that there was no reason whatsoever to forbid to Draco to come and visit the school. After all, no charges were called against him.”
Stiller’s voice was so contemptuous that Ron had to get a grip on himself not to explode.
“He tried to kill a teacher,” Harry said coldly.
“That never has been proved,” replied Devin.
“Of course no charges were called,” said Ron, harshly. “There were two kinds of people in the Ministry back then. The ones that were busy fighting Death Eaters and the ones who were... hiding.”
He had thrown such an intense look at Stiller as he finished his sentence that there was no mistake that comment was aimed at him.
“This was our dear Headmaster, I believe, who said that the time of fear and distrust was over now. Professor Dumbledore insisted on mending the wounds of the Dark Lord years. You’re not really following his mind, are you? In this same vein of idea, I offered Draco to join my office, now that I've entered my functions. I’m sorry, Mrs Weasley, I heard that my predecessor had considered you for the job, but…”
He looked anything but sorry. Draco smirked.
“As you see, Granger, I don’t need my family to make my way in life,” he said.
“That’s lucky for you, given where they are now,” Ron said in disgust.
“Don't get cocky, Weasley,” Draco said. “You may finally have made your family a little richer, but you still stay a loser. And now you married a mudblood. This is disgrace for ...”
Ron had his wand in his hand in a second, and so had Harry. But before they could do anything, and even before Draco could finish his sentence, the blond Slytherin was suddenly hurled to the air, his feet pointing to the ceiling. He tried to free himself, but couldn’t move. Harry could read pure panic in his eyes, as Malfoy was looking around to see where the attack had been coming from.
“I distinctly remember having told you once that it wouldn’t hurt you to be polite, Malfoy,” said a voice from behind Harry.
A tall, thin man was making his way through the crowd, which parted before him quite rapidly. Everybody around was looking straight at him and Malfoy. The man was walking with his hands buried in his pockets, like he was just strolling around. There was no sign of wand at all. Harry was amazed. The man stopped just after he passed before Harry. He stood still, facing Malfoy’s face upside down, with an expression that was almost comical.
He had brown hair, that was a little unkempt, and deep brown eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light, at the moment. He was wearing black robes, sewn in golden motives. On his heart, the Gryffindor lion was bright red and shining gold.
And suddenly, Harry knew him. He was the student who came to speak to him, at the end of his second year. The one who had known his father. He did remember his name was Alexander. He seemed to be the same age as Stiller.
“I see that you haven't learned anything, Malfoy,” said the wizard.
“Lockenburn!” protested Stiller. “How dare you…”
“Silence, you,” the man interrupted, with a finger lifted in front of Stiller's face, on a distracted tone, as he was observing Malfoy like a decoration of the room. “I’ll deal with you later, alright?”
“Wha…”
“I just told you to be silent, so SHUT UP!” the tall man suddenly roared. “Unless you want to join him,” he added, pointing at Malfoy, back to a friendly tone.
Without paying any further attention to Stiller, he turned again to Malfoy.
“I’m roughly a tolerant man, Malfoy, but there’s one thing I can’t endure,” he said, with an amusing wince. “And that’s the word Mudblood. It kinda hurts my ears, you know? It set my teeth on edge a little, you see what I mean? Especially on a young woman like her, coming from a degenerate like you. So you will apologize.”
The last sentence had been said on an icy tone, but Malfoy seemed to pick up his courage. He frowned.
“No way will I apologize to this…”
The man snapped his fingers casually and Malfoy was thrown three feet higher in the air, and back again, between the ticks of a second, which were punctuated by a squeaky scream. His face was so pale now he looked a lot like Nearly-Headless Nick.
“Let's try it again, shall we?” said “Lockenburn”. “So you will apologize.”
Malfoy mumbled a few words, which were lost to most people around.
The man sighed like a disappointed teacher and snapped again. A short trip back and forth to the ceiling was punctuated again by a squeal from Draco, who was shaking a little now.
“Once more, with feeling, this time,” encouraged the man.
It ended as a short “I’m sorry, Granger”.
The man turned to Hermione, with a doubtful face.
“I’m afraid this is the best we can get out of him,” said Lockenburn, looking at Hermione.
She had an amused smile and nodded. Lockenburn snapped a last time and Draco fell on the floor. He hit the stone with a loud “Wud!” and he stood up uneasily, nearly falling twice before to catch his balance. He glanced at Lockenburn, half furious, half terrified. Lockenburn didn’t pay any more attention to him. He turned to Stiller instead. The Slytherin Wizard seemed to shrink a little.
“Now you,” said Lockenburn. “What gives you the right to overthrow Dumbledore’s authority, by bringing this scumbag here? Your Slytherin solidarity is going a little far, this time.”
“No student can be banished from Hogwarts without the approval of the board,” Devin said between his teeth. “This exclusion was an outrage”.
“The very freedom of this one is an outrage,” countered Lockenburn. “After he tried to kill a Hogwarts teacher, he led a rebellion against the authority of the school. And I still don’t know what business you have in the school laws, anyway. As far as I know, Hogwarts has never been under your jurisdiction.”
“Things may change,” Stiller replied with haughtiness.
“Well, they haven’t, yet,” said Lockenburn. “Now, you pick up your trash and you get out of here.”
“Will you force me?” mocked Stiller.
Lockenburn’s eyes emitted a flash of blue light.
“Will you take the dare?” he asked with a smile that was relaxed, but somehow seemed very threatening to Harry.
Stiller clenched his teeth. Then he gestured to Malfoy, before leaving the Hall. They drained a whole chapter of cronies in their wake, so it caused quite a commotion. Malfoy followed, after a quick look at Harry, Ron and Hermione.
“One day, I’ll get you,” he said.
“You want to be careful, Malfoy,” Lockenburn said with a smile. “Messing with me may not be the safest activity in the world. Messing with Harry Potter is clearly a mistake in regards of your health... Unless you want to end up like Voldemort.”
Some people flinched a little at the name, including Malfoy. He strode out of the Hall, looking furious.
Lockenburn turned to Ron, who was still fuming. He had a weak smile.
“I'm deeply sorry if I meddle in your business, Weasley,” he said. “But I just overheard your conversation and I couldn’t stand the way he talked to her.”
“No problem,” Ron said. “But one day, I’ll make him swallow his bloody pride!”
“I'll make sure to buy first row seats for that,” Lockenburn said with a toothy smile. “You look more like Bill than Charlie, as I can see. And I remember all of you,” he said around, smiling to the twins, when they had a little wave. “And of course, I know you,” he said to Harry.
“I remember you, too,” said Harry. You’re Alexander, aren’t you?”
“That’s right,” Alexander said. “Alexander Lockenburn, at your service,” he added to Hermione with an old fashioned bow that made her laugh.
“Well thank you for defending my honour.”
“I don’t think your honour was at risk with those two with their wands in their hands.” He pointed to Harry and Ron.
“It’s been ages since we didn’t hear from you, Alex,” said Fred.
“I’ve been abroad,” said Alexander.
“No kidding!” George laughed. “He calls that being abroad!”
Alexander smiled again.
“Harry,” he said. “I think my parents would be glad to meet you, if that’s all right with you.”
Harry nodded and Alexander led the way through the crowd. The last thing he heard from his friends was Fred speaking loudly to Ron.
“What, you don’t’ know Alex? C’mon Ronnie, he’s the Entropist.”
Harry didn’t quite understand what that meant, but the name ringed a bell in his mind. Something he had read in the Daily Prophet maybe. But he couldn’t think about it any longer, because Alexander turned to him.
“As you could see, there are still many things even Voldemort’s doom hasn’t changed,” he said on a sad tone. “But I’m not surprised seeing Stiller taking sides with Malfoy.”
“Their families are close?” Harry asked, figuring that would explain this attitude Stiller had.
“On the contrary, Harry,” Alexander said. “The Stiller family was one of the first ones to oppose Voldemort. They had some losses, I can tell you.”
“They were Voldemort’s enemies?”
“And every one of them came out Slytherin,” said Alexander. “You’ll find out that there are many turns in the Slytherin way.”
“The Slytherin Way?”
“That’s how my family calls the path the Slytherins are taking in their life. There is a difference between safe ambition and thirst for Power. The Stiller were ambitious, but they knew what was right and what wasn’t. Devin got some connections in Hogwarts that made him comfortable with his own ideas of aristocracy of the pure blood families. But he did not dare to turn on Voldemort’s side. But I recall that when Malfoy arrived at Hogwarts, they became quite good friends, in spite of the detestation there was between his father and Lucius Malfoy. They’re both part of a bunch of students that shames even the Head of Slytherin. You’re well placed to know where Snape’s sympathies go.”
Harry nodded. Despite the hatred that still existed and would probably never fade between Snape and him, Harry couldn’t deny that the Potions Master was indeed a loyal supporter of the “good side.”
“Ha, here they are!” said Alexander suddenly. “Mum, Dad, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
They emerged from the crowd to face a very nice looking witch and a tall wizard, who had the same hair and eyes as Alexander. The minute they saw him, Harry could tell they were surprised. He was kind of waiting the look they would eventually give to his scar. Except this look didn’t come.
“It’s unbelievable!” said the witch. “How can he look so much like James?”
“Except the eyes,” said her husband. “But you must hear that all the time, Harry, don’t you?” he added with a smile. “I’m Damien Lockenburn. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last.”
He held out a hand, and Harry shook it. But the witch forgot all protocol and kissed him on the cheek.
“We were so worried about you,” she said. “When we heard for James and Lily, we even told Dumbledore you could live with us. But he said it was impossible. I’m so glad to see you at last!”
Harry was like thunderstruck. These people were so warm and friendly. They knew his parents! And suddenly, a memory arose in his mind. The wedding Picture of his parents. Just below it, there was a picture of his Dad with a tall man with brown hair, they were both dressed in Quidditch robes and they both held broomsticks. The man was exactly like Damien Lockenburn.
“You were playing Quidditch with my father,” he managed to say.
“That’s right,” said Damien with a smile. “In Gryffindor team. I was the Keeper. No wonder you don’t remember us. In fact, you never met us. But James was a real good friend of mine. Not as close as I’d like it to be, but... this is my wife, Chandralène. She knew your mother very well.”
“To be honest, I was more jealous than friendly to her, in our years here,” she said with an apology in her eyes. “But after we graduated, we became good friends. Especially after she married James.”
“What was all this commotion about?” Damien asked his son.
“Devin Stiller brought Draco Malfoy here,” replied Alexander.
“He didn’t!” exclaimed Chandra, scandalized.
“Malfoy insulted my best friend,” Harry said. “Alexander taught him a lesson about how to behave with a woman,” he added with a smile.
“I’m sure he did,” Damien said. “Alexander’s always been ticklish on the manners toward ladies.”
He winked at Alexander.
They began to talk about a lot of things. Damien told Harry that he had followed his Quidditch career, and that he was impressed by the job he had done with the Falcons. Bringing a team to the top of the league in less than one year was a great achievement. Chandra talked a lot of her memories of Hogwarts, comparing them to Harry’s. This was a really pleasant conversation.
For the first time in years, he had met people who didn’t want to talk with him about Voldemort. He had a nostalgic thought, wondering what would have been his life if he had come to live with the Lockenburn. But it was too late for regrets, now.
“Anyway, I’m so glad you turned out so well, Harry, Chandra said. As friends of your parents, you can’t imagine how proud we are of you. With a life like yours, you seemed to have achieved some happiness after all.”
Harry thought about it one second, and he nodded. She was right.
“Damien, Chandra!” a voice called from behind Harry.
Harry turned as he recognized the voice. Remus Lupin was making his way to them.
“Ah, Harry,” he said, with a smile. “I see you’ve met the Lockenburn. That’s great. How is it going for you, so far?” he asked Damien.
“Very well,” Damien said. “This party’s fantastic.”
Lupin smiled a little wider. His scar on his cheek formed a funny corner with his mouth, but he looked in a really good mood. Harry caught a glimpse of Hermione, waving to him. He excused himself and went toward her. Alexander waved at him a last time before he couldn’t be seen any more.



-----------------------

Harry was still under the surprise of such an encounter. It all had seemed so natural, meeting some old friend of his family. He was still smiling while walking toward Hermione and Ron.
Somehow, the memory of Malfoy had disappeared from his mind, wiped out by the kindness of the Lockenburn family. A short reminder of his presence passed before Harry’s eyes when he crossed path with Snape. The dark looking Professor saw him and they exchanged a long meaningful look. And after a long time Snape nodded to him. So did Harry. It was a mutual recognition in this gesture. No one forced him to like Snape, and Snape didn’t want to like Harry. But they had fought together against the same enemy, and they had to respect each other.
Alexander’s words rang in his head again.
Many turns in the Slytherin way.
Harry understood the truth of these words by looking at Snape. He was a Slytherin. But you could respect a Slytherin, as he was able to pick the right side on the right fight.
He joined Hermione and Ron in the crowd, and Hermione proposed to have a trip outside on the grounds. They all accepted, and soon, Harry, Hermione, Ron and his brothers, followed by Ginny, Jeb and Neville were on their way to the outside.
“What were you saying about Alexander, Fred?” asked Harry.
“He’s the Entropist,” said Fred.
“The what?"
“Entropist,” finished Hermione. “He’s been cited a lot by the Daily Prophet. Maybe if you read more than just the sports page, you would know it,” she added, with a feint scowl.
“Play nice with me 'Mione,” chuckled Harry.
“Anyway,” Hermione went on, “he’s a very powerful Wizard. And he poses some kind of a mystery to the public. He doesn’t answer to the Ministry in the strictest sense of the term. He basically does whatever he wants. He was involved with the Order after his graduation, but only marginally in England. He has played a large role in the Second War, but on another front. I think he’s got very special powers.”
Ginny seemed to be willing to add something. But before she could talk, Ron had given her an ankle in the ribs. Harry turned to see what he saw. Cho was walking toward him. Ron had a grin.
“We’ll see ya,” he said.
“I don’t see why,” Harry said, annoyed.
But before he could add anything more, he was alone facing Cho. He saw Hermione and Ginny protesting against Ron, who was dragging them behind him. He caught a curious look from Ginny. Was it worry he read in her eyes? She didn't need to worry about him.
Cho joined him and smiled. Harry gave back the grin and nodded his head at his friends, who were disappearing in the night. He rolled his eyes.
“Ron still believes that we need to be alone,” he said.
Cho chuckled lightly.
“Funny how one can get defined by what happened to them at school,” she said. “He doesn’t read papers?” she asked.
“Not this kind of news. You know Ron,” explained Harry. “How’s Jimmy?”
“Fine,” said Cho. “But he had a show, so he couldn’t make it.”
“Imagine the disappointment of all these young wizards, if you’d come here with your fiancé,” said Harry with a side-look at the bushes at their right.
A little group of wizards that seemed to be in their fourth year was spying on them, clearly to find a right time to get to talk to Cho. Harry was quite sure they weren’t here a minute before. Harry and Cho began to walk along the lake shore, talking about a lot of things but mainly about the World Cup.
“So I heard your British team picked up four of the ex-Gryffindor team. That’s great.’
“Hey, they picked Roger, too, didn’t they?” said Harry.
“They basically had to, he’s the best,” Cho said with a smile.
Harry nodded. Roger was one of the bests, if not the best Chaser of the League.
“I guess we’ll face each other twice this year,” he said. “Can’t wait to see that."
Cho smiled broadly.
“Well this time, I’ll try to get you at least once.”
“Yeah, you’ll try,” said Harry with an unbearable self satisfied voice and a wide grin on his face, which made Cho laugh.
“Don’t get so arrogant, Harry Potter,” she said with a fake determination. “And so you’re back on Parvati, aren’t you?”
Harry coughed, taken off-guard by the question.
“Back?"
“You went to the Yule Ball with her, didn’t you?” Cho said, surprised.
“Yes,” Harry replied. “Because you turned me down."
“Oh!” she winced. “Well, I thought…”
Cho was the one feeling uncomfortable now.
“I ruined the whole evening,” said Harry, to reassure her. “I was sneaking glances at you and Cedric. I ignored her the whole dinner, I didn't take her to dance. I blew it.”
For once, the name of Cedric didn’t cause him any pain, associated with happy memories.
“She got tired of waiting for my mood to improve so she went out with a guy from Beaubâtons,” he went on. “At least she ended the evening nicely, I think”.
Cho winced again and then chuckled.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t easy on you, the year after,” she said. “I must have been a pain in the…”
“You sure cried a lot,” said Harry with a smile. “And in sixth year, you got a little paranoid about Hermione. But you had your reasons, I guess. Well you were wrong on Hermione, but I’ve not been the easiest guy to date, honestly.”
“How come we never got along,” said Cho thoughtfully. “I mean I know I liked you a lot and that you…”
“I had a huge crush on you at the time,” Harry finished in her place.
She thanked him with a smile.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I think I just had no clue of what I was doing.”
“Well the fact is that I wasn't sure what I was doing, either,” said Cho. “After Cedric died, I think I got scared, so I went completely the wrong way. Too bad. But no regrets, huh?”
“No. None at all.”
“Well, you were a good kisser,” she admitted with a grin.
“Thanks, you do wonders for my ego.” Harry laughed.
They stood silent for a moment before Cho talked again.
“Well, you should talk to her,” she said. “Before you miss the occasion.”
“Now you’re giving me advice on my love life?” Harry asked, grinning.
“Harry, I've seen the kind of girl you've dated, these past years,” said Cho. “Honestly, you could use some advice. I don't say you're about to find true love, but at least she's got two brain cells to rub together. Honestly, you hit the all-time low with that stupid Sophie .”
Harry winced.
“I thought you liked Sophie,” he said.
“Harry, none of your friends liked her,” said Cho patiently. “But none of us also wanted to tell you that. We kind of figured you would realize she had the brain of a troll on your own. That was obvious, no matter how hot she was.”
Harry chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. That was what he liked about Cho. She didn't spare his pride or his feelings. When she thought something needed to be said, she did. She was right. At least he knew Parvati wasn't stupid.
“Thanks for that,” he said. “I think your admirers have picked up their courage at last. Don’t be too hard on them.”
The group of fourth years was now walking toward Cho, as if Harry’s kiss had reassured them. They finally seemed to take the dare to talk to the beautiful witch. Harry left her to look for his friends.
He wandered around the lake, checking any familiar place for any trace of them.
“Oi Harry, over here!” Ron shouted.
Harry spotted them on the stairs of the Castle. He picked up the pace to join them on the top of the stairs.
“What did she want?” asked Hermione.
“Well, to share some news,” said Harry.
“You’re sure it was all she wanted to share?” asked Ron.
“Yes, I’m sure,” said Harry. “I've grown out of that “share-my-saliva-with-Cho-all-the-time” phase, thank you very much.”
“See?” Hermione said, on a severe tone. “Besides, she's engaged. Harry may have a poor taste in dates, he's not indelicate enough to seduce a woman about to get married.”
“Oh, thanks, Hermione, that means so much to me that you hold me in such high esteem,” Harry sneered. “Is it Bash-Harry-day, or something?”
Laughing, they re-entered the Castle and were heading for the Great Hall. Jeb excused himself when he saw a group of former classmates. He had left after a kiss on Ginny's cheek, when a voice came from the main stairs.
“Hermione?”
Professor McGonagall was walking down to reach them. She nodded to everyone, smiled to Harry and then turned to Hermione.
“I was wondering if we could have this little chat, now, if you're not too busy,” she said.
“Of course, Professor,” said a beaming Hermione, as she followed her back up the stairs, after kissing her husband on the cheek. “Sorry if I couldn’t see you earlier…”
Her voice disappeared in the heights of the Castle.
“Well, she’s in for a long time, if you ask me,” said Fred. “She’ll find us when she’s done. What about another drink?”
They all got back in the Great Hall.
“We’ll try to find this Edmund Fireheart again,” said Fred waving to them. “He’s in sixth year.”
“Why do you want to find him?” asked Ron.
“He told us about some ideas he got on his own to lighten up the atmosphere in the school. Quite a few good jokes, too. We consider hiring him as soon as he’s out of Hogwarts,” George said.
Neville took his leave as well.
“I wanted to speak with Professor Sprout and I have to find Luna.”
That left Ron, Harry and Ginny who made their way to their drinks.
“So what did the Entropist want with you, anyway?” asked Ron.
“His father was a good friend of mine. He was Keeper in the Gryffindor team, while my Dad was a Chaser. So Hermione told me he did great things in the Second War. What makes him so famous?” he asked Ginny.
“He got his nickname by using forces of Chaos. He may be the only one wizard who can use truly powerful magic without a wand, in this Century. The Prophet tries to follow him for years. Five years ago, he chased a Death Eater named Morgenstein across all of Europe. Morgenstein was trying to open something called the Chaos Rift. Most people say it was for Voldemort, but some say that Morgenstein was after his own agenda. Anyway, if the Rift had been opened, it would have been a disaster. Alexander defeated Morgenstein and closed the rift before it expended. The prophet tried to make a hero out of Alexander when the public got tired of hearing your story over and over again.”
“Wow!” said Ron.
“Most people know his name, but still he’s very secret,” Ginny went on. “He’s always travelling all around the world. I think he doesn’t want to be famous. He could write a book, and yet most people don't even know what he looks like. But ask around if people have heard of the Entropist and you'll get a few people who will tell you complete sagas of his exploits.”
Harry was impressed. He tried to find Alexander’s face in the crowd. But someone patted his shoulder from behind. He turned around to find himself facing Parvati.
“Oh! Err... hi,” he said.
“Hello, Harry,” said Parvati with a nice smile. “Fred told me you wanted to speak to me.”
Ron elbowed Ginny firmly in the ribs, before she would begin to comment. He then dragged her away, leaving Harry completely alone, facing Parvati.
“Well, er…”
“I think I get it,” Parvati said. “You didn’t know you sent him, did you?”
Harry blushed. He wanted to say something both to agree and to deny it. But he definitely didn’t want her to go away. Parvati gave him a sweet smile.
“That’s okay, Harry,” she said.
“But in fact, I did want to talk to you,” Harry managed to let out.
Parvati’s eyes narrowed, and her smile widened.
“Really?”
“Yes... er… would you like to take a walk? I mean outside,” Harry offered.
“Are you always that eloquent?” Parvati said with an amused grin.
“Er… no,” Harry admitted with a wince. “I usually have better control over myself. I've been caught by surprise.”
Parvati chuckled. Harry was really grateful she didn’t start to giggle. He offered his arm and she took it. As they were walking out the Great Hall, Harry caught a sight of Fred making victory signs. He gave up on the choice between hugging him gratefully and strangling him right on the spot.


------------------------------

Alexander was amused to see Ron Weasley drag his younger sister through the crowd, apparently against her will.
“Why would you do that?” she was asking.
“I figured Harry needed some time alone with her,” said Ron
“Why?” protested Ginny. “I wanted to say hello, as well.”
“You haven't been eyeing her since the beginning of the feast,” said her brother.
“Really? Oh... I didn't see that one coming. Parvati? Isn't she a little...” began Ginny.
“She's still a lot smarter than all the brain dead bimbos Harry has dated since graduation,” said Ron.
“Yeah... I guess you're right,” said Ginny.
The y disappeared through the crowd. Alexander didn't know what this was about, but he could guess the core of it: They had just set up their friend with a girl. Typical of parties like this. Speaking of which, Alexander had been wandering the crowd in search for one face. He had pretended he had seen a friend to get rid of a clingy sixth year, who wanted to know everything you had to know about Chaos magic, as soon as he had been told Alexander's name. But now, he actually was looking for a specific person among the guests.
And finally he found her.
He caught a glimpse of red flaming curled hair. And he saw her face. She was speaking with an impressive young man, who was wearing Hufflepuff colours. And, as he always believed she would be, Phyllis McRoth was even more beautiful than in his memories. And she looked really bored.
Alexander made a beeline through the crowd to reach the Irish witch. She took notice of him and smiled. The Hufflepuff man seemed to believe this smile was for him, as he went on with his subject, whatever it was.
“Excuse me,” Alexander said, tapping on his shoulders. “Do you mind if I borrow this young lady from you?”
“Well yes!” was the rather shocked response.
At least he was honest. Phyllis had a twisted smile.
“How are you, Alexander?” she asked, greeting him warmly and kissing him on the cheek. “Excuse me, Gregor, but it’s been ages since I've seen my friend here. Come on, Alexander, my parents will love to see you.”
She took his arm and led the way anywhere far enough from “Gregor,” who didn’t seem too pleased about it.
“Did you need help, my young lady?” Alexander asked with a laugh when Phyllis sighed in relief.
“This was such a burden,” said Phyllis. “Thanks for the rescue.”
“Does he know your parents are Muggles?” Alexander asked with a grin.
She laughed with him.
“How’s your job doing?” Alexander asked.
“Aww, come on, Alexander! You disappeared from England ages ago and you want to know how my job’s doing?” said Phyllis. “It’s me who has questions! Where have you been all this time?”
“Here and there,” answered Alexander.
“Are the papers true on what you did?” Phyllis asked.
“Well, if you scratch from it all the stuff that glorifies me and all this heroic deeds I’m supposed to have achieved, that’s pretty accurate,” said Alexander.
“Always the modest one,” said Phyllis with a discouraged smile. “I’ve often wondered if I would ever see you again.”
“Well, apparently you will,” said Alexander, “as Professor McGonagall convinced me to stay a while in Hogwarts, in order to give a young first year some pointers on using Chaotic Magic.”
“Really? That’s wonderful! Did you know I work and live just over there in Hogsmeade?”
“Actually, I did.”
“You did?”
Phyllis looked astonished. Alexander nodded.
“You may have noticed it, but I’ve always been interested in you, you know. I’ve always managed to get some news of you by the others,” he told her.
She smiled as if the news flattered her a lot.
“As you will live around,” she said. “Do you think we could meet one of these nights, maybe in the three Broomsticks?”
Alexander felt a nice warmth in his heart, spreading to all his being.
“Yes, I’d love to,” he said.


-------------------

The moment they were outside, Harry felt a little less intimidated. Maybe it was because he now had so much space to run and hide, now.
“So what did you want to talk me about?” asked Parvati.
“Well, I remembered something during the feast,” Harry said. “Something about the Yule Ball. I wanted to apologize, even if that's seven years overdue.”
“Apologize? For what?” Parvati really seemed surprised.
“For having been the worst partner ever,” Harry said, with a wince.
Parvati laughed softly.
“To be honest, I think Ron’s been the worst partner. Padma was really upset. You had your worries at the time, so that excused things a little. Of course it took time for me to figure this out. I realised it when Voldemort returned.”
“My worries?” asked Harry.
“Well the Triwizard Tournament, for one thing. Your scar hurting, for another. And Cho going out with Cedric Diggory, last but not the least.”
Harry’s eyes must have popped out of his head because Parvati started to chuckle again.
“Come on, Harry. It was obvious. You were eyeing her like a dead fish since third year,” she said. “All the Gryffindors of our year knew it.”
“So I didn’t vex you or anything?”
“You did upset me much, at the time,” said Parvati. “But that really was no big deal. I think I’ve punished you enough, the rest of that year.”
Harry made a face at the memory. She had been rather cold with him after the ball. Parvati grinned.
“Since we are on the apology thing,” she said. ‘I’d like to apologize too, for all these times I’ve been pestering you about all these stupid omens of death you were supposed to carry on you. Hard to believe I was so stupid at the time.”
“I thought you really believed in Divination,” noted Harry, surprised.
“Oh I gave up on these things years ago mainly because of you, as a matter of fact,” she said, with a dismissive wave of hand.
“Me?” Harry repeated.
“Well, Professor Trelawney had predicted your death so many times that I would have sworn you would be dead before you got out of Hogwarts. And then you faced Voldemort again in seventh year. Remember that I tried to stop you?”
“Yeah,” Harry said.
“I was so worried about you,” Parvati said. “Hermione knew better. She told me off to be so negative. And then you survived. I began to think that real predictions are really rare. Just like this Prophecy on you. Funny that the only true prediction Trelawney made about you wasn’t that you would die. I gave up on this stuff.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Harry. “That makes one person less to whisper behind my back as if I would die in the next minute.”
He smiled to soften his remark. She gave it back to him. Harry was surprised to find that, now they were talking like normal persons, Parvati's company really did feel nice.
“I was wondering if I could make up to you for that Ball thing,” he said, picking up his courage.
He had faced the most dangerous Wizard of the Century, He could do that.
“Really? How?” Parvati asked.
“By taking you to dinner one of these times,” said Harry, mentally crossing his fingers.
“Oh! Mr Potter, are you asking me out?” she said with feint shyness.
“Well, er… yeah,” said Harry frankly.
Parvati’s smile grew wider, and she had sparkles in her eyes. Harry was praying she wouldn’t start to giggle. He really had developed a phobia for giggling. But she didn’t. Instead, she took his hand.
“Yes, I’d love to go out with you, Harry,” she said.
“Great,” Harry said. “Look, I’ve got a game in Hogsmeade Stadium, Thursday evening. What about we meet right after the game?”
“Who are you playing?" asked Parvati.
“Hentown.”
“Any chance you lose? I wouldn’t want having to comfort you all dinner,” she said with a cunning smile. “I do intend to have a good evening.”
“Well, I don’t want to show-off or sound over confident, but there’s very little chance we lose.”
She grinned. Harry chuckled a little. He did remember she could be really funny back in school, when she wasn't busy being all girly with Lavender and whispering behind his back about the signs of his impending doom.
“Am I the only one who thinks THIS is a really good evening?” he said.
“Well I share the feeling,” said Parvati, beaming.



--------------

Alright, that's it for now... next chapter, the action begins...
Don't hesitate to comment and review, constructive criticism is helping.

Harry and the Seal of Chaos © Entropist, September 2004, rewrite October 2011

Last Updated: 31/10/2011