Second Chance at Saving Them {Harry Potter}

Enter the Maze

This chapter is one I've been looking forward to for a while. I type these notes at the beginning of the chapters, so I don't know how far into the task this will go, but rest assured, the story is nowhere near over. Anyway, question time.

Why did Neville earn ten points in his first year?

(And this isn't for anything, but what House would you put Shawn Spencer in?)

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The day of the final task came faster than anyone would have liked, given what they were trying to do. Everyone had exams, except for Harry who was exempt as a champion. Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Mrs. Weasley, and Bill had all come up to see Harry in the task, and Harry grinned from ear to ear when he saw them. Mrs. Weasley had smothered Harry as soon as she saw him, gently scolding him for not letting her know about him and Ginny before she had to find out through the newspaper. That, of course, was immediately ruined by Sirius making fun of him for it while Remus winked at him behind Molly's back.

"You know," Bill mentioned, "Charlie has some stern words for you after that stunt with the dragon. Personally, I think it was well done, but those things are his babies."

"Well, thanks. I didn't think so. I was just trying to keep from getting hit with another fireball."

"Survival is our greatest instinct," Bill said. Harry nodded, then noticed that Fleur and her mother were both staring at Bill looking extremely interested, and neither seemed bothered by the long hair and dragon fang in his ear. Bill didn't notice and commented on how it great to be back. "Not much has changed. Is that portrait of the knight still terrorizing the halls?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah. He's a bit of a menace."

"And the Fat Lady?"

"Oh, she was around in my days. I remember the scolding I got when I got back to the common room at four in the morning."

Sirius' interest was peaked, "Oh? And what was dear old Molly doing out at four in the morning?"

Molly blushed slightly while neither Remus or Harry could help but snort, causing Sirius to look sharply at both of them. "Oi! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sirius," Remus said with a laugh, "You were never in the common room on time. I think the closest you ever got was two in the morning."

Tonks laughed, "And how would you know that Remus? I'm guessing you were out with him?"

Remus shrugged, "I never suggested I hadn't been. Just pointing out what Sirius seems to have forgotten."

"Alright!" Bill said, stepping in despite being amused, "How about you give us the tour?"

"Oh, yes. It's been so long since I walked these halls." Mrs. Weasley agreed, and the group set off. Mrs. Weasley had a story for just about everything on the grounds. As did Remus and Sirius, but their stories usually involved a near miss after doing something that would have gotten them a weeks detention.

Mrs. Weasley showed a great interest in the Whomping Willow, which hadn't yet been planted when she was in school. Sirius, Remus, and Tonks, however, all had great stories about kids making bets on how close they could get to the trunk. Tonks mentioned a Gryffindor in her year that actually touched the trunk, and Harry would have bet twenty Galleons that that Gryffindor was Charlie. Not that he'd say anything in front of Mrs. Weasley.

They soon went back to the castle for lunch. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the twins joined them once they'd finished their morning exams, and Mrs. Weasley smothered Ginny in a similar way she had Harry. After Mrs. Weasley returned to her seat Ginny sat next to Harry and began filling up her plate.