44. Relative Peace

After taking care of Narcissa, and fixing things as best as possible, everyday life returned to normal in our house. Or as normal as possible of what is expected of a wizarding family.

Narcissa was recovering well, slowly but well, from the shock she suffered from being mistreated by her own son. One thing that Harry and I were helping a lot, as she had a lot to teach us.

Of course, we would never replace her son, who she considered dead, using that to pacify her heart.

Harry discovered in Narcissa, and vice versa, how good and attentive a mother can be to a child, and how much the opposite also works. I won't be scared if I happen to hear Harry call her mother at some point, either because of a slip or whatever the reason.

Sirius was Sirius. A grown man, with a child's mindset most of the day, but who could surprise us with some wisdom or words of comfort. He was an enigma.

Our father and son relationship was extremely confusing, at times we got along super well, we played and joked with each other, but when it was serious, we tended to be on opposite sides.

In order to have relative peace, we pledged not to get in each other's way, and if our decisions were going to get in the way, we'd let you know ahead of time.

I wasn't a planner, and neither was he, so it was an easy situation to live with. At the end of that vacation, before the beginning of the school year, our house was full, like never before.

Harry invited his friends to his birthday party, which brought a lot of people to our house. Bones, Weasley, Tonks, Granger, Lovegood, Longbottom, they were all there, enjoying Harry's joy.

I just decided to stay aside, because like it or not, it was his party and they were his friends, with whom he wanted to share his joy. Of course, I kept close so he wouldn't think he was excluding me.

I was sad, because I eliminated a Draco, but I got a worse one, Ron. The damned boy looked like a redheaded reincarnation of the blond boy from before. Always wanting to show what was good and best, and bla bla bla.

To help him, a certain Head Boy Percy further flustered him with his superior air. The breath of fresh air was the twins, Ginny and Luna. The girls would be starting their freshman year, just like me.

The difference is that I would start in the 4th year, since I'm 2 years older than Harry. Even with all this mess at the Ministry, my grades were approved and I would enter this year at Hogwarts.

Much to my delight, I wouldn't have to take the first-year route, as it wouldn't make much sense, and it would be a shame, let's be serious here. So I had a special visit to find out which house it would be.

The damn hat wanted to throw me in Slytherin anyway, but I fought with him, and won, going to Hufflepuff. So, at the party, I asked Susan for help, who very happily accepted, giving me a tour of the castle.

It was easy to make friends with the girl, who was sweet and kind, with Hermione too, as many times, Harry would give her ideas about some spells, and then say it was my doing. So she pretty much accepted me as a senior student.

I wasn't ready to be a teacher yet.

It was a quiet night of peace and fun, but time is running out, and the day of our trip arrived, it was time to visit the great castle of Hogwarts.

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It was a smooth ride on the train. Tight though. Besides Harry and I, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville and the spacious nouveau riche Ronald. I thank the higher forces that I am not friends with this guy.

After arriving at Hogwarts we had the feast, Ginny went to Gryffindor as expected and Luna to Ravenclaw.

The problem was that I was the new student, so all eyes were on me. I applied to be a scout for Hufflepuff, much to Harry's surprise.

The classes were as I imagined they would be, boring and tedious. Of course, with some exceptions. Flitwick and Snape.

I broke the record for losing the most points in a single day, 450 points were deducted from me by Professor Snape. That's just on my first day of school.

Of course I saw his tactics, he wanted to make me a problem in Hufflepuff, undermining his chances in the School Cup prank, but to his horror, none of that happened. It was worse.

I gave it all back at Quidditch, with interest. In short, the game score was 650 for Hufflepuff X 0 for Slytherin. The game ended as there were no more players available on the Slytherin team, with everyone in the hospital wing.

I just landed on the broom, giving him the nicest smile he could muster. We didn't win the House Cup, but we won the Quidditch Cup, which made me the hero of Hufflepuff that year.

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As far as the Ministry was concerned, investigations were still ongoing, those who had their asses buried in shit were quiet, especially the defunct Malfoy family.

Yes, Draco died, having not been able to withstand his injuries, and Lucio, in a fit of rage, tried to ambush me in Diagon Alley on vacation, so I bundled him up too.

Nothing else.

But not everything is meant to last, and Peace is one of those things. We were quietly enjoying Christmas when a special edition of the Prophet was delivered to us. The cover was simple and straightforward.

"MASS ESCAPE FROM ASKABAN"