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Harry Potter and the Ritual of Love's Memory | ||||||
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Category: Post-HBP Characters:All Genres: Action/Adventure, General, Romance Warnings: Death, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 268 Summary: After the horcrux hunt implodes leaving most of those Harry loves dead, he starts a new life with a few fellow survivors far away from wizarding Britain. But the discovery of an ancient ritual that promises to send a single memory back in time sparks hope that maybe things can change. Dark ending to DH followed by a tweaked retelling of GoF through DH. Harry/Ginny. Friday updates. Original Timeline Voldemort's Victory - Chapter 1-5 (Feel free to skip if you don't like major character deaths) Tenochtitlán - Chapter 6-9 New Timeline Harry's 4th Year - Chapter 10-28 Harry's 5th Year - Chapter 29-68 Harry's 6th Year - Chapter 69-Current Hitcount: Story Total: 282620; Chapter Total: 1541 Awards: View Trophy Room |
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Harry winced in pain, rubbing his shoulder gingerly as he sat on the cold, stone floor of the Defense Chamber. Daphne and Anthony both reached a hand down and helped hoist him back onto his feet. An eager Owen hurried to retrieve Harry's wand, which had clattered to the floor and rolled away during the final volley. It took a few rolls of his shoulder to regain his full range of movement. "Are you alright, Harry?" called Hermione as she dispelled the Full Body Bind that had frozen Ernie in place. "Yeah, I'll be fine," replied Harry, trying not to let the dull ache in his shoulder affect his voice. "Everyone okay over there?" "That stunner was no joke," answered Terry, shaking his head as if to dislodge fog from inside his brain. "It shredded right through my shield." Daphne smirked. "I do what I can." "Think we've got time for one more go?" asked Owen. The fourth year's enthusiasm reminded Harry of Colin, but it was coupled with a good deal more skill. Daphne had been hesitant to bring someone so young onto the team, but her reservations melted away by the end of their first training session. After seeing him pull his weight in practice duels, first against Cho's team and now versus Hermione's, Harry felt quite pleased with his inclusion. "Wish we could, but we've got prefect rounds," replied Blaise as Hermione brushed some dust from his cloak. "Try not to get knocked out of the tournament early, alright? It'd be fun to see you in the finals!" The two teams made their way back up the stairs to the student lounge, where the prefects among them split off to patrol the castle. Even after their exit, the room was still almost filled with students. There was a table dedicated to a massive game of Exploding Snap, a few circles of friends loudly chatting and laughing, and a couch where two seventh years were cuddling to the point that most others moved away from that corner of the room. Harry enjoyed it when the lounge was more sparsely populated, giving him easy access to the comfy seats nearest to the fireplace, but he felt no ill will toward all the newcomers as he and Owen plopped onto chairs a little further from the warm glow. "How are things going for the fourth years in Defense Club? Hermione and Blaise share bits and pieces, but it'd be nice to hear what it's like from your perspective." Owen beamed. "It's been fantastic! One of the best parts of my term. I think all of us felt like we were behind after last year with Umbridge, but we're really catching up now. Sometimes we'll go over a spell or a technique in Professor Flamel's class or Transfiguration or Charms that we've covered in the club, and everyone in our group gets it much faster." "That's what I like to hear," said Harry with pride. "Do you think the others in your year are enjoying it, too?" "For sure. It'd be one thing if it was just studying or learning stuff, but the meetings are always fun. I think that's why we've got so many of the fourth years joining." Owen began listing off what seemed like an endless string of names and houses, pausing only occasionally to take a breath or add an interesting tidbit about one of them. The boy's exuberance could certainly run away with him, but Harry couldn't help but agree with the other Defense Club leaders' estimation of his strengths. "So, Owen," began Harry when the younger student finished. "Our club leaders have spent this term thinking through which of the fourth years might be willing to help with things. I'd had my eye on you since our meeting in the spring, and Hermione and Blaise both said you'd make a great addition. What would you say about stepping up as one of our Defense Club leaders next term?" The Hufflepuff's jaw went slack as his eyes widened to saucer-like levels. "That sounds incredible, Harry! I'd love to help out, but I probably need to talk it over with my parents. They've been talking about moving back to South Africa ever since the end of the apartheid. I wouldn't want to accept your offer too quickly and then find out I might change schools. I can run up to the owlry to send a letter right now!" "Don't worry about figuring it out so fast," assured Harry, worried that the fourth year might sprint away at a moment's notice. "We're not in a hurry. Maybe chat with them about it over the holidays and either send me an owl over the break or talk to us when we get back for the new term. Sound good?" Owen enthusiastically agreed, bringing a smile to Harry's face. "Any idea when they'll reveal the tournament brackets?" "Well, I think McGonagall said that the individual matches based on year were going to be in the week leading up to the team competitions, so those matchups should be posted fairly soon. I think they're having the first, second, and third years on Sunday since the duels shouldn't take as long and there probably won't be as many entrants." "Are you going to watch the fourth years on Monday?" asked Owen, hopefulness brimming on his face. "That's the plan," replied Harry warmly. "I want to see more of what you're capable of before our tournament. Plus, it'd be worth scouting out the others from your year, in case you can't join Defense Club as a leader." "Then the fifth years Tuesday…" noted Owen. "I bet Ginny dominates!" "I sure wouldn't bet against her." "Who do you think will end up in the finals with you from sixth year?" Harry crossed his arms and looked at the younger boy askance. "If you'll recall, we got beaten in today's practice session a few times. Hermione and Blaise are both excellent duelists and perfectly capable of knocking me out of the tournament, as is Ron. And if I get sloppy or overconfident, I could see some of the other Defense Club members getting the drop on me, too." Owen's shoulders drooped slightly, disappointed that Harry wasn't overflowing with the same levels of confidence that the fourth year felt about him. "Okay, but who do you think has the best shot?" Harry pursed his lips as he mentally ran through available options. Though he wasn't exactly lying when he said people other than the three leaders had a chance, nobody else seemed likely to give him too much trouble. Ron was likely to come in with the most strategically sound plan of attack. He'd observed Harry's strengths, weaknesses, and proclivities over nearly three terms of Advanced Defense and would be tough to beat. Hermione knew more spells than Harry and was more precise with her wandwork. She also had an edge when it came to nonverbal casting, which could prove decisive. Blaise was the one of the three who Harry had fought alongside and against the least. He was strong at both offense and defense without favoring either, and often cast in ways that surprised Harry. "It's hard to say," hedged Harry with a shrug. "But I'll be pretty surprised if the sixth year finals don't include two Defense Club leaders." "That makes sense. Then it's just the seventh years on Thursday before the doubles tournament on Friday!" "Did you end up finding a partner for it?" Harry had encouraged Owen to enter to gain some experience. The Hufflepuff agreed, even though he didn't expect to get far. "Yeah, I did! You know Rebecca, from fifth year?" Harry nodded, remembering the Slytherin girl's hard work the previous term during Defense Club. "She and I are teaming up!" "That's excellent! She casts a really strong shield charm. I bet that the two of you will both perform well, no matter how you finish." "Hope so. If I don't completely make a fool of myself in the tournament, I'm going to try to ask her for a dance at the ball!" Harry chuckled to himself and gently shoved Owen's shoulder. "I think you can make that happen no matter how your matches go." ~RLM~ The tournament bracket for the first, second, and third years wasn't posted until Saturday evening at dinner. Harry watched tiny students clambering en masse to find out who their opponents would be, shaking his head at the chaotic scene. Ron swore loudly when it became apparent that each year's matchup would only be revealed the night before their event. He'd hoped for extra time to plan strategies around potential bouts, especially with so many of their classmates entering. When Hermione requested a count of how many entrants to expect, Professor McGonagall said that more than thirty had signed up. After breakfast the next day, Dumbledore vanished the tables and chairs from the Great Hall. In their place, he drew three large circles on the floor with his wand, leaving a golden perimeter that nearly spanned the width of the room. A vast swath of younger students crowded around the headmaster and the many professors present, along with quite a few older students, as well. Harry noticed that many of those with younger siblings in the lower years were hanging around to watch the event, as well as quite a few of the more competitive and curious older students. "Welcome to the first event of our Dueling Tournament!" called out Dumbledore, his voice ringing with excitement throughout the Great Hall. "Before Professor Flamel goes over the rules and regulations, I would like to commend those of you who have chosen to participate, no matter the outcomes of your matches. May you gain knowledge and experience, as well as have a bit of fun!" He nodded to Professor Flamel, who flicked her wand to effortlessly wheel to the center of the ring in the middle of the hall. "Good morning, students. The rules for this tournament are simple, yet important. Please understand them well and abide by them, lest you be disqualified. Two students shall meet within the circle and await the start of the match, as indicated by one of your professors." She raised her wand, firing green sparks up toward the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling, which was beginning to transition from the oranges of sunrise into the cool blues and greys of the morning. Green sparks erupted from either end of the hall, cast by Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. "When given the signal, the two combatants will attempt to eliminate their opponent in one of three ways: by knocking them unconscious, by forcing them to give up, or by casting them out of the circle for a ring-out. The winning students will progress to the subsequent round until only one remains." As she explained various spells that were or were not allowed, Harry's mind began to consider the possibilities. The circles were certainly large enough to hold a close-quarters duel, but there wasn't enough space for many of the tactics the Advanced Defense class had practiced. There was no cover to hide behind and not enough room to evade for long. He'd expected to be able to win via knockout or surrender, but the addition of the ring-out option was intriguing. The rule made quickly gaining a dominant position near the center of the circle more crucial and also provided underdogs an option for getting an elimination against more skilled opponents. "First years to Professor McGonagall, second years here with me, and third years will join Professor Flitwick. Are there any questions?" The students began swarming past each other to reach their designated positions before any questions could be asked, chattering with excited nervousness as they filled in around the perimeter of their rings or began queueing near their professors. Harry and Ginny found a good vantage point to observe the third years from behind a few particularly short onlookers. It looked as if most of the third years had decided to participate, which made Harry a little concerned that the tournament might take much of the day. Instead, most of the matches were done in under a minute. Few of the competitors were capable of casting powerful magic, but the simple spells they knew were often enough. Both Ron and Ginny gave Harry a hard time when he hastily cast a shield in front of two boys nearby when an errant curse flew their way, only to remember that Dumbledore's drawn line protected all the bystanders. Harry noted that those who knew how to cast a decent repulso often made short work of their opponents and that a few students wielded a wingardium leviosa to good effect. Ginny elbowed him in the side after a fourth match was won by someone relying on a Disarming Charm. Harry's prowess with and proclivity for using (some might say overusing) the expelliarmus had increased the spell's popularity with the student body. He gave a thumbs up to the proud third year Hufflepuff girl who caught his eye after disarming a Gryffindor to win her quarter-final match. He and Ginny clapped appreciatively when a girl from Slytherin took the top prize by besting a boy from Ravenclaw by using a well-conjured shield. Harry whispered to Ginny that the Defense Club might need to put in some extra work on Shield Charms, since few of the third years attempted one and almost none were able to produce anything capable of protecting themselves. The next evening brought larger crowds to the Great Hall for the fourth year's tournament, which was scheduled for after dinner concluded. Quite a few of the competitors were members of the Defense Club, which was also well-represented in the audience. Many younger students pressed in to watch the bouts, too. After some complained about not being able to see well the previous day, Dumbledore conjured floating seating that hovered around the rings. Other than two second year students who used the vantage point to fling dungbombs down at unsuspecting targets (only to be caught by an incensed McGonagall), the elevated seating was a success. The matches tended to last longer than those from the previous evening, and the gulf between the fourth years' skills and the younger students appeared to be vast. The evening still didn't take too long, though, with the fourth years spread between multiple rings. Harry did his best to encourage everyone, especially the members of the Defense Club, but he couldn't help pulling for Owen. Two well-aimed jinxes from his Gryffindor opponent nearly sent him packing in the semi-finals, but he was able to recover to get the elimination. The boy he faced in the finals wasn't quite as tough, and Harry cheered whole-heartedly when Owen was named the fourth year champion. The fifth year tournament had Harry a nervous wreck. Not that he doubted Ginny's ability to win; he felt confident she would come out on top. Instead, he scurried back and forth between the rings trying to catch as many of the duels that his fifth year Defense Club members were in as he could. Quill and parchment in hand, he did his best to jot down quick notes about how they each performed to better aid them in their break-out sessions and to offer specific encouragement later. Of course, whenever it was Ginny's turn to compete, he allowed himself to stand back and watch merely as a spectator. She won her early matches handily and without needing to overexert herself. But when Harry saw who she was up against for the semi-finals, he knew things were about to change. Stephanie was one of the better magic casters out of all the fifth years who Ginny and Harry worked with in Defense Club. She had proven herself capable with offensive and defensive spells and was often one of the first to master new skills. Unfortunately, the Slytherin was also a bit too haughty for Harry's liking, often looking down on other members of the group. Her negative attitude had extended to Ginny when the club began, casting aspersions on her ability to lead the group based on Ginny's poor performance during their first two years at Hogwarts. Stephanie quickly changed her tune after Ginny showed herself to be head and shoulders above the rest of their year in Defense, but the memories of her behavior were etched into Ginny's mind. Harry had the good sense not to make a big deal of the matchup before the duel, only whispering a reminder to be in control of her emotions. She rolled her eyes as she stepped into the ring, pulling her long hair into a ponytail as she awaited the cue to start. To Stephanie's credit, she lasted longer than Harry expected. Unlike Ginny's other opponents who had pressed forward immediately, she steadily crept forward with her wand at the ready. She managed to dodge one of Ginny's jinxes and deflect another with a fairly strong shield. They circled each other warily, firing spells with caution as they sized each other up. With little warning, Stephanie managed to shoot a stunner that soared straight at Ginny's chest. At the last moment, Ginny conjured a shield strong enough to dispel it entirely. Before Stephanie could recover, she was tagged with a well-placed nonverbal jinx. Harry was almost certain it was a Full Body Bind, even before it made contact. Sure enough, Stephanie's limbs snapped to her side as she was frozen in place, then began to topple over backward. With a self-satisfied grin, Ginny cast a slowing charm to ensure her opponent wasn't hurt as she clattered to the ground. Harry took great pleasure at the roar from the assembled onlookers, almost all of whom had either been rooting for Ginny or against Stephanie. In the end, Ginny had been right when she bemoaned this particular event as being not as fun for her. Not even the finals provided much intrigue, although the crowd was almost treated to a Luna vs. Ginny match that Harry thought would have been interesting. But a Slytherin boy managed to oust Luna in the next-to-last round before Ginny avenged her friend by knocking him out of the ring in less than a minute. Harry still yelled in exultation as McGonagall held his girlfriend's clinched fist aloft. ~RLM~ All things considered, Harry was quite pleased with the sixth year tournament bracket. The most important thing was that he, Ron, Hermione, and Blaise were spaced apart so that none of them would face off against each other until the semi-finals. That suited Harry just fine, as he didn't want to suffer a potential early exit. Ginny thought his path to the finals looked a little more challenging than the other Defense Club leaders, but not by much. More than any of that, however, Harry couldn't believe who the tournament bracket pitted him against in the very first round. "Hey, Potter," called Dean from halfway down the table at dinner. "How many galleons did you slip to Flamel to have a go at Malfoy?" "Philosopher's Stone, Dean! I bet she's got more gold than she knows what to do with," countered Seamus with a laugh. "Harry probably offered to teach her classes for a month!" "I'm still trying to get him to agree to my polyjuice idea," retorted Ginny, her voice filled with mock concern. She scooted closer to Harry and batted her eyelashes. "Wouldn't you love to see me take him down for you?" "As fun as that'd be to watch, I'll fight my own battles," he replied. "Who's feeling particularly lucky tonight?" In truth, most of the sixth year Gryffindors who weren't leading the Defense Club didn't display supreme confidence. Parvati had drawn a first-round matchup against Blaise while Lavender ended up paired with Anthony. Seamus was set to face Pansy Parkinson, while Dean squared off against a Ravenclaw named Mandy. Hermione had been matched with Lisa, a Ravenclaw who Harry thought was fairly skilled with a wand, despite not joining Defense Club. They were on the opposite side of the bracket from Harry, who wasn't the only one to notice that Hermione and Blaise appeared likely to be on a collision course for the semi-finals unless one of them suffered an upset. Ron had drawn Ernie in the first round, which wasn't the easiest matchup. "I think I'd feel a lot luckier if you three and Blaise had all ended up on the other side of the bracket from me," answered Neville ruefully. He was taking on Tracey, a girl from Slytherin who'd begun occasionally attending Defense Club meetings with Millicent earlier in the term. Before Harry could offer any words of encouragement, Dumbledore called for everyone's attention and began vanishing tables and chairs. "Oi, Harry!" called Ron as he meandered toward the Ravenclaw table. "Give the ferret one from me, mate, then I'll see you in the semis!" "Oh, so you're rooting for Harry?" Padma's expression looked unimpressed. "Even if he's against me in the second round?" Ron, who had not realized that his girlfriend was within earshot yet, grimaced as he turned to try to explain himself to her. Uninterested in being a part of the squabble, Harry slipped his hand around Ginny's waist and attempted to mentally prepare for his upcoming duels. |
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