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A Deathday to Remember by Midnight Blue [Reviews - 2] 
#1.A Deathday to Remember for Sir Nicholas He had no way to tell what was to happen that night. Naturally, he had thought it would have just been another boring celebration of his deathday with his ghostly admirers. But the swish of the robes at the doorway told Sir Nicholas that someone had arrived. This was curious to this ghost, for all of his guests had already arrived. And this person was obviously alive, for ghostly robes simply do not make a sound. Gliding out the door, torward the direction in which the robes had left, Sir Nicholas was wondering who it could be. The long passageway was empty. But as soon as he could wonder, a glimpse of dark red hair was spotted rounding a corner. The bewildered Nicholas followed this mysterious figure. He also rounded the sharp corner, and wondered where this girl was leading him. A couple flights of stairs later, he realized that it was headed torward his home of Gryffindor Tower. Maybe, perhaps, this woman was looking for him, to acknowledge his deathday. He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. She didn't flinch. 'This is strange,' though Nicholas. 'Ghosts send a shiver, but this woman didn't seem to notice me.' Nicholas cleared his throat. "Um...excuse me, Miss." But the figure ignored him. Curiously, she was glancing around the Common Room at the students that were back early from the Halloween Feast. As if she was looking for someone, she shook her head, indicating that the searched was not present. She looked directly at a girl sitting in a corner, trying to practice a Summoning Charm. The woman watched intently as the girl waved her wand and uttered a spell. The pillow she was trying to summon from the couch didn't move. The red-head stepped forward, and as the student muttered the spell again, she guided the girl's hand through the correct posture of the charm. The fluffy red pillow soared right onto the girl's desk. Startled, the witch turned and glanced around, looking for the source of her success. For a second, Nick could have sworn that she looked directly at the woman, but didn't acknowledge her. Looking around once more, she saw a boy fast asleep on the couch, in an uncomfortable situation. His head was resting on a book, on the side table. He slightly shivered from the cold. The woman clucked her tongue. Waving a wand, which she withdrew from her pocket, she conjured a pillow. Slightly lifting up the boy's head, she took away the book, then lowered down the pillow, resting his head gently on it. Conjuring a blanket, this time, she gently laid it on top of the boy. He snuggled in, in his sleep, and a look of content fell across his face. The woman seemed to have had enough time spent in the Common Room, and she exited via portrait. Nick began to wonder if he will ever see her face, but just her hair. He speculated that this was probably Ginny Weasley, out for a stroll. But he also thought about how no one but him seemed to see her clearly. Out of the Common Room, and back in the hall, this woman was met by another. She smiled clearly, and seemed delighted to see him. The man's black hair was also the only facial feature visible, just like the woman's. Nick quickly came to the conclusion that this was none other than Harry Potter. "I am so glad to see that you made it, dearest." said so-called-Ginny. Her eyes shown with delight, and she gave the man a quick kiss on the cheek. He smiled. "Of course I would have. I'd go anywhere to see him again." The female frowned. "I've been looking for him everywhere. I checked the Great Hall, but all I saw were the remaining students at the feast. And the Common Room was with just the same luck." A sudden realization struck her. "What if he didn't make it? What if he was lost? It would have been all my fault. If only--" Her voice was broken off by the man's. "Shh. Of course he made it. I am sure of it. Call it Father's Instincts." Nicholas frowned. Harry Potter was only seventeen. Isn't that a little too young to be a father? Of all the times Harry would be irresponsible, this seemed to top the charts. He shook his head. All of his thoughts had stopped him, and he realized that the couple had left him, and were walking, hand-in-hand, torward the other end of the hallway. He had to float generously fast, so that he could catch up with the duo. Following at a deliberate pace, Nick tagged along after them, as they made their way outside. The dark sky of night set a hollow chill, perfect for the Halloween night. The group seemed headed torward the Quidditch Pitch, their eyes torward the sky, scanning for flying witches or wizards. When they found none, they frowned, but continued walking. "I thought he would be out flying. That's what I like to do at night." said the man, deep in thought of where this person may be. The woman shook her head. "Well, he might not like what you do. He's a whole different person completely." She snapped with a hint of frustration in her voice. The man looked like he had just been slapped. "Sorry, dear." he mumbled, his head bowed. The couple stopped, and Nicholas almost bumped into them. The woman kissed the other on the cheek. "I'm sorry, love. You know I didn't mean it. I love it when you fly. It's just...I want to see him so badly." He nodded. "I understand. But--" It was his turn to shake his head. The couple gave each other another hug, and then began walking back to the castle. Once inside, the man leaded the woman through an obstacle of stairs, walls, and doors. He seemed pleased when they entered a small brick wall, empty of doors. "I think he might be in here," said the man, beaming proudly at the wall. The woman seemed bewildered at his sudden outburst. "But this is a wall," she protested, as if her brain were failed her. "I know," he said, smiling even more brightly. Once more, she intervened. "But how can a wall hold people, Ja--" Nicholas had almost heard his name. Apparently this wasn't Harry. Unless it was a nickname. He was yanked out of thought once more, as "Ja--" pushed the girl around a corner, and started walking, taking time to explain. Nicholas himself had never heard about this wall himself, and decided to listen in. "Okay, love. Its okay. This is the Room of Requirement." She looked on suspiciously. "It's a wall." He laughed. "Now it's a wall. But I know how to make it a door. Follow me." Nick and the woman both followed him as he traveled around the corridor two times. (With the woman unsuspecting Nicholas' presence of course.) As they rounded for a third and final time, a new guest came down the hallway. It was Minerva McGonnagal. Letting the pair stroll ahead, Nick lagged behind to meet the Headmistress. McGonnagal smiled at Nicholas, unaware of the other two. "Why, good evening, Sir Nicholas. Having an evening stroll?" Nick could only nod. He wondered if McGonnagal had anything to do with this strange couple running around Hogwarts. She was, after all, all knowing, being the Headmistress, and all. "Well, it was a pleasure to encounter you on your walk, but I do believe that I have some important matters to attend to." And with that, McGonnagal gave Nick a small wink, and exited the hallway, leaving Nick alone to catch up with the figures. "I see now. You think what you want, a door appears, and then it gives you what you want." said the woman. She and the man were staring at a long door that had appeared at the wall. Nick only heard this single sentence, but somehow he still didn't understand how the door appeared. The two took a deep breath, (or so Nick thought, as he couldn't see their faces), and stepped toward the door. The woman looked nervous, and grasped the man's hand. "What if he is not in there? What will we do then?" The man sighed. "If he is not in there, we can still look, love. But I am sure he is in there." She nodded, and took the door's old, rusty handle. "Are you ready?" she asked. He nodded, and the door was opened. Once inside the room, Nick could see a weird sight. Four students sat in this large room, covered in scattered papers, quills, and books. They must have had a late-night cram session. Nicholas saw it all the time in seventh years. Too worried about N.E.W.T.S., they study right from the first night. These four were soundly asleep. He glanced at the first student. It was a boy of messy red hair, and freckles. In his hand was a short, stubby quill, and his hand was also drifted over a peice of parchment. He was in mid-write of a sentence. Nick glanced over the title. "Three Ways a Niffler Can Be Dangerous." Looking over his answer, Nick felt the need to roll his eyes. "Can read a book faster than Hermione," could not possibly be the right answer. Ron Weasley was not the smartest of the bunch. "You don't think he is one of Molly's?"asked the woman, to the man. She was looking at Ron, too. The man just shrugged his shoulders. Over in the corner, was Hermione Granger, with a book upside-down on her lap. A small amount of drool resided over her bottom lip. She twitched in her slumber. Her bushy brown hair was tangled, with her wand behind her ear. Nick turned to the final two students and his jaw dropped. It was none other than Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. 'But if that is Harry and Ginny, who are these people?' thought Nick. He watched as the others also glanced at the two. The woman's hands immediately came to her mouth, and sobs were escaping. The man grabbed her in his arms, and comforted her. "I told you he was okay. We did it, sweetie. He's safe. We didn't lose everything." She broke through his hold, and went quietly over to Harry. The man followed her. She gently stroked Harry's cheek, with her soft, smooth hand. In his sleep, Harry stirred, about to wake up. Taking his hand, the man, used his other to gently rub Harry's back, until he was back in his deep sleep. "I used to do this to put you to sleep when you were just a baby, Harry." whispered the man. The woman kissed Harry's cheek, and stroked it once more. "We're right here, honey. Don't worry. We're always with you." She glanced up at the man, and smiled. He smiled back, and then he, himself, gave Harry a kiss. "I'm right here, son." Nick was still in wonder, of how these people knew Harry, or why they were talking to him so. Should he call McGonnagal? Or the Minister? Or perhaps even St. Mungos? Surely, they would help these people with any sickness they had. The couple gave Harry once last glance, then quietly and quickly exited the room. As Nick, too, went into the hallway, he saw that they had vanished. When the clock struck twelve, realization came over Nicholas' face. It was Halloween 1997. It was All Hallow's Eve. It was his Deathday. It was also the anniversary of Lily and James Potter's deaths. And now, sixteen years after that fateful night, mother and father had returned, only to be sure that their baby boy was safe. Sir Nicholas had never really seen these people's faces, but in his heart, he knew the truth about them. And in his mind, he knew that he would do the same thing, to be sure that his loved ones were safe. Nick also knew that this Halloween would go down in his history books. No one would ever believe that he saw Lily and James Potter tonight. But he knew that this would be the Deathday that he would never forget. |
