Ripples

Chapter 5: First Year #3

Albus frowned as he entered Nurmengard, he didn't particularly want to be there, but he felt he didn't have a choice. Ariana had told him about Mercutio's dream, and the poor boy's resemblance to Gellert, even if it was in the face structure alone. He had to be sure. Albus slowly made his way to Gellert's cell, Newt and Nicholas had offered to join him, but Albus felt he need to do this alone.

"Gellert." Greeted Albus, announcing himself to his old, former, friend.

"Albus," Smiled Gellert, "You're here about Mercutio."

Albus felt his heart freeze, how did Gellert know of the boy?

"He and I have met, or rather, I saw him seize control of Aurelius." Said Gellert, "He's going to be very powerful. He'll be very useful in the coming war."

"What are you talking about?" Demanded Albus, advancing toward Grindelwald.

"It's very uncommon for there to be more than two of a kind, have you contacted Colombia?" Asked Gellert, seemingly ignoring Dumbledore.

Albus drew his wand and jabbed it against Gellert's throat.

"You didn't bring the Elder wand, old friend?" Smirked Grindelwald, "Smart move, leaving a disloyal wand behind."

"What war?" Demanded Albus, before the answer dawning on him.

"There you go." Smiled Grindelwald, as Albus retreated.

"How did he survive?" Asked Albus, looking at Gellert.

The man shrugged, "I do not know. My goals were never the same as his. He wanted to bring forth blood purity, I wanted wizard supremacy, even if that Wizard came from Muggles."

"Some may argue that those two principles are one and the same." Said Albus, frowning at Gellert.

"His meeting with me wasn't his first time warging, you know." Gellert suddenly changed the subject, "Or maybe it was, his kind are known to have involuntary spurts of power at a young age."

"So, Mercutio is…" Albus trailed off.

"A Green Seer, yes. I distinctly remember the last one bemoaning the fact she was the only one in the world, excluding the dearly departed John of course." Answered Gellert, "You're probably going to ask if I know what's causing his turns. I suggest you look to the mountains when you get back to school."

Albus decided against speaking further and turned on his heel and left the room. Grindelwald gazed out the window, "He's going to win, Albus. The Snake will fall to him."

R

"What possessed you to accept a duel with Malfoy?!" Demanded Bones, propped up in a bed in the Hospital Wing.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Said Harry, his voice muffled by his arms.

"He's a Malfoy, they always jump ship as soon as things don't go their way!" Exclaimed Bones, throwing his arms into the air, "To put it in the words of an ancient wizard, he's a lesser son of greater sires."

"You do know that's a Dark Wizard, right?" Muttered Harry, getting a snort from Ron.

"Knowing him, he probably dreamt it."

Bones glared at Ron, "When I'm out of this bed, I will pull your teeth with a block of cheese."

"You do know that your latest turn has hundreds of students in the library trying to figure out where your symptoms are from?" Asked Hermione, dropping into the seat next to Harry.

"Is that where you've been?" Asked Ron, wrinkling his nose, "I can't imagine being around books all the time."

Hermione huffed and threw a glare at Ron, before turning back to Bones, "One of the prefects said he thought you were something called a Green seer, whatever that is."

"A seer that's green?" Snarked Ron, smirking at Hermione, "He's in here so much, he's practically green."

"I've heard it be used for the sword, but not for a person." Remarked Harry, frowning, "I think gran mentioned it somewhere, in a book maybe?"

"It's a rare type of seer," Said Bones, looking down at his hand, "I asked Madam Potter about it."

They stared at Bones, shocked and confused by his statement.

"But why would he think you were one?" Asked Harry, as Ron frowned.

"Because, one of the signs of a green seer is speaking in a stupid voice, wetting yourself and slamming your head into a table." Shrugged Bones, "The last two known were a couple of guys called Clive and John."

"Have you tried talking to them?" Asked Hermione, making Bones stare at her.

"Hermione," Said Bones, after a minute, "they're both dead."

R

"Are you still reading that?" Asked Harry, looking at Hermione's book, "It's just a dictionary that hasn't been updated in years."

"The latest edition, which is this one, was published at the start of the school year." Retorted Hermione, turning a page, "Did you know the school has an ancestral sword?"

"That's a technicality." Muttered Harry, folding his arms.

"The Sword of Gryffindor is a sword commissioned by Godric Gryffindor, it's made of Goblin Silver-" Harry cut her off with a laugh.

"S-s-sorry." Laughed Harry, "the Goblin's have been trying to lay claim to it for years, saying that Gryffindor stole it."

"Did he?" Asked Ron, looking up from his and Bones' chess game.

"No, he commissioned, paid for, and claimed it before they could get a hold of it." Answered Harry, "He had House Peverall forge six Elven Steel blades and presented one to the Goblin King. Found out that Elven Steel burns them like lava."

"Can anyone make an Elven Steel sword?" Asked Hermione, curious.

"No, the craft was lost when the High Elves died out, there are some wizards who know how to reforge already existing Elven Steel, but their prices are extortionate." Answered Harry, "According to gran, Potter men held the title of Master Forger for the Ministry for seventeen generations. My Dad said they also became Aurors, but I think he knows how to rework Elven Steel."

Ron looked at Harry, "What's lava?"

R

James shuddered as he arrived at Azkaban, he hated Dementors, normally he'd bring Giant's Bane with him, but Madam Bones had flagged him as he was leaving his office. She said Sirius wanted to talk to him.

"I already know the way." Said James, ignoring the warden.

James walked along the halls and up the stairs until he was in front of Sirius's cell.

"Hey, Padfoot." Murmured James, as Sirius slowly looked up at him.

"Has he been found yet?" Asked Sirius, darkly.

"For once in his life, Peter's kept himself hidden." Muttered James, his mood souring, "Madam Bones said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Have you found Leo?" Asked Sirius, making James frown.

"Who's Leo?"

"My son."

R

"Why did Hagrid build a hut on the edge of the forest?" Asked Bones, as Harry, Ron and Hermione walked him and Neville down to Hagrid's hut.

"Because he's Hagrid." Responded Harry, not looking back.

Because of Bones' turns, he hadn't been able to join them on their first few visits. Which led them to the present, the three of them leading Bones to meet the gamekeeper. Harry had met Hagrid shortly after the start of term and formed a quick friendship with the giant of a man.

"When did you meet him again?" Asked Bones, finally getting Harry to glance back at him.

"The day you shoved your hand in unicorn pee." Getting a scowl from Bones.

"So, while I had detention with Snape, you got to have tea and biscuits with the walking embodiment of a teddy bear." Said Bones, getting a snort from Ron, "I almost cracked my teeth."

Bones stopped and looked at Ron, "Have you considered finding a dentist?"

Neville and Harry let out a snort, while Hermione sighed.

"What's that got to do with my teeth?" Asked Ron, scowling.

"Honestly, Ronald," Interjected Hermione, "I told you my parents are dentists, and explained what it was to you yesterday!"

"I forgot." Said Ron, defensively.

Harry, Neville and Bones started laughing, getting a filthy look from Hermione.

"S-s-s-sor-ry." Gasped Harry, his laughter causing him to stutter, "w-w-we-e s-s-should-dn't l-laugh."

"Yeah, we should." Said Bones, stepping to the side as Fang charged at him.

"Fang!" Yelled Hagrid, as the dog bounded around the first years, "Ge' back 'ere yeh grea' lump!"

Harry heard Bones grunt as Fang finally landed on him, Hagrid quickly pulled Fang off Bones, allowing the boy to sit up with slobber dripping off his face. Slowly and carefully, Bones wiped his face on his cloak, before looking at Harry, "My mouth was open."

R

James sighed as Charles Stevens and Albert Greengrass forced Augustus Flint onto a fallen log.

"The bastard tried to escape after he'd been handed to us." Grunted Greengrass, glaring down at Flint.

"Augustus Flint, you've chosen death over imprisonment in Azkaban," Said James, looking down at Flint, "if there's anything you want to say, now's the time."

"Filthy blood-traitor! You stain your blood with that mudblood whore!" Snarled Flint, thrashing against Stevens and Greengrass.

James sighed, before raising Giant's Bane above his head, and bringing it down on Flint's neck.

R

"Now, the incantation is Wingardium Leviosa." Squeaked Professor Flitwick, "Remember, swish and flick, and pronunciation is everything."

"I was worried he was going to mention Baruffio, again." Muttered Neville, getting a short snort from Bones.

"Wingardium Leviosar!" Yelled Ron, violent waving Charlie's old wand.

"Ron, Ron, stop!" Said Hermione, grabbing Ron's wrist, "You're going to take someone's eye out."

"Or singe your eyebrows." Said Harry, watching one next to Seamus.

"Or set Hemione's hair on fire, again." Said Bones, looking down at his feather, "Wingardium Leviosa."

Bones watched as his feather floated upwards, before idly flicking his wand, somehow transfiguring the feather into a foul smelling sludge, which landed on Hermione's head.

"Oh, shit, sorry!" Rushed Bones, hurriedly pointing his wand at Hermione, "Evanesco."

Given the complex nature of the vanishing charm, Bones only worsened the situation by simultaneously multiplying the sludge and setting it on fire, "Oh fuck."

"Aguamenti." Said Professor Flitwick, dowsing the flaming, screaming first year, before silently casting a drying charm, "Fifteen points from Gryffindor, Mr. Stevens, for nearly injuring a classmate."

Bones winced and mumbled out a sheepish, "Sorry."

"I suppose we can finish up here for today." Said Professor Flitwick, before looking at Bones, "Stay behind, so I can arrange your detention."

As soon as they were out of the door, Hermione turned to Harry and Ron, "I'm going to wash whatever this is out of my hair."

Without another word, the girl spun on her heel and stalked off.

"What was that stuff?" Asked Neville, frowning, "It stunk."

"It smelt like troll bogies." Said Harry, "Mum keeps some for some of her potions, the smell and how flammable it is means she keeps it locked away."

"You don't think he's having unconscious visions, do you?" Lavender suddenly said, making Harry, Ron and Neville jump, "I heard one of the fifth years talking about how young seers will have aspects of their visions appear as errors in their spell work."

Harry, Ron and Neville stared at her.

"Why is everyone so convinced that Bones is a seer?" Asked Harry, looking around, "He has epilepsy and he tried to use a fifth-year charm."

"But he could be." Insisted Lavender, getting an awkward cough from the back of the group.

Bones nervously shifted from one foot to the other, "Does anyone know where Hermione is?"

"She's gone to wash her hair, I think." Said Harry, frowning, "When's your detention?"

"5th." Said Bones, looking around, "I'll apologise to her at dinner."

R

Jean Granger frowned at the letter in front of her, she hadn't gone by Poppy in years, and now Petunia was trying to get in contact. She and Petunia had a massive falling out regarding their younger sister, Lily, which led to her cutting all ties she had with Petunia. She'd fallen out of touch with Lily before she fell out with Petunia, but she wouldn't put it past Petunia to intercept or destroy any letter Lily had written her.

She hadn't been entirely honest when Hermione had gotten her acceptance letter, she was infinitely glad she only had one child, in an effort to prevent another Lily-Petunia scenario, but she had feigned ignorance when Hermione asked her what the letter meant.

Her thoughts now turned to Hermione, her daughter was incredibly bright, but had trouble making friends and it didn't help that lump of lard Dursley had gone out of his way to bully her. For some reason the name was familiar to her. Hermione had written several letters from Hogwarts, saying how she had made four friends, all boys, Mercutio Stevens, but Hermione kept calling him 'Bones' for some reason, Neville Longbottom, a boy with an escape artist for a toad, Ronald Weasley, who owned a fat, lazy rat, and Harry Potter. For some reason, that name was familiar to her as well.

Jean sighed, before looking at her calendar, she had a Ms. Bones coming in for a check-up, followed by Johnathan Smith, a lovely old man who had fought during the war, he kept going on about the Hood and how he'd survived her.

Her phone going off jerked Jean from her thoughts, noting the number, she picked the receiver and held it next to her ear, "Southampton dental practice, how may I help?"

"…Poppy?" Came Petunia's voice.

Jean silently groaned.

R

Grond plodded through the forest, stooping so he didn't appear above the trees. He was twice the size of normal giants and had skin that resembled stone. The giant stopped at a small pond, with deer and wolves surrounding it. The raven landed on a rock and cawed, as Grond prodded a wolf pup, from one of the packs that were descended from two werewolves, silently requesting he go to the seer in the castle.

The wolf huffed, before silently making its way through the trees towards the school. Grond looked around again, letting out a deep, rumbling hum, before he moved away from the pond and back to the mountain he called home, climbing over his fallen brothers and sisters as he went.

Meanwhile, the wolf pup successfully managed to get into the castle, and started his search for the boy.

R

Bones felt a strange scratching at the back of his mind, quickly shrugging it off, he looked around the table. Hermione still hadn't returned from washing her hair, "Do you think she's alright?"

"It's Hermione, she'll be fine." Dismissed Ron, shoving food into his mouth.

Just at that moment, Professor Quirrell ran into the Great Hall and up to the staff table.

"T-troll. In the dungeon. Thought you'd ought to know." Said Quirrell, before dropping into a dead faint.

The Great Hall erupted into a sea of noise.

"You were saying?" Said Harry.