Chapter Text
Hallie-Rose Lily Potter was used to strange things happening to her. In her 15 years of life, she had found out she was a witch, survived a dark lord’s attempts to kill her 4 times and went from being an eleven-year-old nobody to internationally famous war-hero overnight among other things. She had just learned to expect the unexpected.
But that didn’t keep her from being caught off guard when she found herself awaking up in a very bare Great Hall when moments earlier, she had drifted off to sleep in her dorm.
Brilliant green eyes blinked as she pushed her messy shoulder-length jet-black hair out of her pale heart-shaped face, trying to remember what happened that she ended up here. Then, she heard soft ‘pops' all around her. Adjusting her glasses (How did they end up on her face when she had taken them off to sleep?), the fifteen-year-old was surprised to see her schoolmates, professors and other familiar faces - including the Order of the Phoenix, fellow Triwizard champions Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum, the Weasley family, Minister Cornelius Fudge and Head of the DMLE Amelia Bones - gradually appear in the hall, all of whom looked droopy eyed and confused.
“Hallie?” The witch looked to her immediate left to see Hufflepuff Head Boy Cedric Diggory shift to an upright position whilst rubbing his tired storm grey eyes, his wavy dark brown hair reflecting the gentle moonlight which was being cast from the enchanted night sky of the Great Hall’s ceiling. All the tables had vanished, so everyone was lying or sitting on the cold floor. “What’s going on?”
She shook her head, answering her friend in a quiet, uneasy voice. “I’m not sure, Cedric. The last thing I remember is falling asleep in my dorm.”
“Same here,” Both students looked over to the Gryffindor’s right. A few meters away from them, Hermione’s frizzy brown mane was even more untidy due to waking up under rather strange circumstances. She looked over at the duo. “Do you think we were brought here for some late night announcement?”
“Looks like we’re about to find out,” The dark haired Gryffindor replied, looking to the front of the hall where their Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, had walked up to the podium, dressed in a fluffy maroon nightgown that reached the floor and a floppy maroon nightcap with a silver bauble on the end.
The elderly wizard had a note in his hand which had appeared in his grasp when he had been transported to the hall. Adjusting his half-moon spectacles, he cleared his throat and spoke to the curious students. “Fellow students, staff and guests,” his voice was gravelly due to having been abruptly woken up. “It appears that we have been brought here by someone who is not at all happy with current happenings both within and outside of Hogwarts.”
Frowning, sixth year Slytherin Terrence Higgs spoke up among the murmuring. “You mean you didn’t bring us here yourself, sir?”
The Headmaster shook his head, smiling at the boy. “No, Mr. Higgs, I did not. Even if I were to bring us here to discuss this particular topic, I don’t have the power to perform this feat of teleportation we have all experienced.”
“Why not?” Ron Weasley asked looked very perplexed, his red hair hanging in his face.
Hermione rolled her eyes, lightly smacking her friend on the arm. “Because apparating within Hogwarts is impossible, Ron, much less apparating the entire school from all over into one area.”
“Well, whoever-.”
“-brought us here-.”
“-must be very-.”
“-powerful indeed to-.”
“-overpower the Headmaster then.”
Despite the bags under their eyes showing their exhaustion, Fred and George Weasley grinned as they finished their twin speak in sync.
“Bloody hell, Weasleys, do you have to do that speech thing now? It’s too tiring to keep up with it when I’m wide awake.” Cedric grumbled, though he was grinning good-naturedly.
“They’ve got a point, Dumbledore.” Kingsley Shacklebolt told the man with a frown. “If you didn’t bring us here, then who did? Because they have overcome all Wards placed around Hogwarts.”
“That’s because,” Dumbledore said reading the note. “We have been summoned here by Hogwarts herself.”
Gasps filled the Great Hall following the announcement.
“Preposterous!” Cornelius Fudge sputtered indignantly. “Hogwarts is a building, Dumbledore. She isn’t alive and certainly cannot bring everyone here in the middle of the night!”
“I beg to differ, Cornelius.” Minerva McGonagall’s mouth was thin, showing her displeasure at having the Minister in the school with them. “Hogwarts is a very old magical building, filled with century’s worth of magic.”
“And it’s not uncommon for inanimate objects to gain sentience when exposed to magic after prolonged exposure to magic,” Bill Weasley informed him. “The spirit of Hogwarts is what keeps the wards and enchantments on the castle alive.”
“Is that why the staircases move? Because the school is alive and helping us get from class to class?” Hallie-Rose queried, looking at the eldest Weasley brother with a fascinated glimmer in her emerald eyes.
The redhead grinned at her, nodding. “Exactly, Rosie.” He relished how her pale cheeks flushed a light pink at the nickname.
“Professor Dumbledore,” Hermione raised her hand slightly. “You said Hogwarts brought us here because she’s unhappy with us for some reason. Do you have any idea why?”
Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled amusedly. “Indeed I do, Miss Granger.” He gestured to the note. “It has to do with the public’s treatment of one Hallie-Rose Lily Potter.”
As one, everyone turned to look at the young witch, who shrunk in on herself, glaring at the floor. Hermione, Ron, Fred and George all walked over to her and joined Cedric in surrounding her in a protective huddle, glaring at everyone who was looking at her accusingly.
Seventh year Slytherin Adrian Pucey looked up at the Headmaster. “Is this about the Ministry slandering Hallie and calling her a liar for claiming Voldemort is back?”
“She is a liar, and he. Is. Not. Back!” Dolores Umbridge shrieked, nose upturned.
Amelia Bones shot her a warning glare as everyone groaned about having to listen to ‘the toad’ as students had come to call the insufferable pink-clad witch.
Cedric glared at the Undersecretary, gritting his teeth. On the other side of the hall, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum were shooting her similar looks of contempt.
“Eet’s easy to dismiss what you don’ see for yourself,” Fleur declared unhappily, looking over at the Gryffindor who was being shielded by her friends.
“Ve cannot forgit vot ve vitnessed zat night.” Viktor agreed.
Cedric pulled Hallie a little tighter into his arms as he voiced his opinion. “You can so easily dismiss Hallie’s word because you don’t want to believe that You-Know-Who has returned, and targeting her is easy since she is world famous. But what about me, Fleur and Krum who were there too?”
Fudge sputtered at the response. “You’ve clearly been under a Confundus charm! Or better still, Potter is paying you to support her word!”
Big mistake. Everyone who was fond of the Girl-Who-Lived were on their feet, shouting and cursing at the Minister. Remus Lupin's eyes were glowing a dangerous amber and he and the large fluffy dog at his feet growled in sync. Nobody noticed it, but in the commotion, the walls themselves rattled at the foolish man’s accusation. Only Hallie herself sat on the floor, eyes screwed shut and hands clamped over her ears.
Alastor Moody eyed the girl’s vulnerable position and banged his stick on the ground. “Enough!” he barked, grabbing everyone’s attention. His regular eye turned to Dumbledore while the magical one remained on Hallie. “Albus. Since Hogwarts is so unhappy about the situation, surely she has also done something to help settle this.”
“She has, indeed, old friend.” Dumbledore confirmed. He turned to read the note aloud. “To all whom it may concern, I have remained silent about the situation long enough. My students’ safety and happiness is my main concern, but for four years I have watched one student in particular suffer like no child or adult has, while all with the power to help either fail to notice, ignore the problem, or even add to the issue. I have compiled seven books regarding the life of one Hallie-Rose Lily Potter.” At this, he paused, glancing up at the girl in question, who paled but said nothing. “These books contain what happens in Miss Potter’s years through Hogwarts and, if read, will expose the truth of the past, present and future of her destiny.”
“Then we shall start reading at once!” Umbridge was grinning maliciously, determined to prove the brat a liar.
“I’m not quite finished, Professor Umbridge,” the Headmaster informed her, eyes twinkling amused. “Each book shall appear after the previous is complete. The reading shall only proceed if Hallie-Rose allows it to happen, given that her personal life will be exposed. Only she will have the power to accept.”
Umbridge scowled at this, while McGonagall smirked victoriously. She may not show it, but Hallie was one of her favorite students. She didn’t like the idea of her privacy being invaded like this.
“If accepted, the reading will proceed under the following conditions:
1. No punishments are to be handed out for past actions, including removal of house points or detentions. However, legal action may take place when it is needed.
2. With a few exceptions which will make themselves obvious, no information from the books is to be taken outside of the hall.
3. The reading need to be done within one sitting. Breaks for meals and exercise may be taken when needed but everyone is to remain in the Great Hall.
4. If anyone would like to request anything during the reading like drinks, parchment, blankets or anything else, mentally ask and you shall receive.
If conditions are agreed to, once reading commences, you shall remain in a time bubble until the end of the seventh book.
I hope to see the needed changes made.
The Spirit of Hogwarts.”
For a few minutes, everyone was silent as they took in the information. Then:
“Well what are we waiting for? Let’s read so we can show everyone what a liar she is!” Umbridge was pointing a stubby finger at the girl gleefully.
“Have you not heard what the terms are, Dolores?” McGonagall looked outraged. “Only Miss Potter can agree to reading the books or not. It’s not our choice to make.”
“Zis ees an outrage!” Fleur looked murderous. “Zis cannot be allowed. ’Allie ees but a leetle girl!”
Severus Snape scoffed. “As if Potter needs any bigger an ego by having everyone read about her. She’s arrogant enough, just like her father.”
McGonagall, Dumbledore and Remus all looked ready to reprimand him for his comment when the entire castle shook, the enchanted sky growing dark with storm clouds and the floating candles dimming.
All comments died on everyone’s tongues as the tremor passed. Luna Lovegood smiled at the sky dreamily as she spoke. “I don’t think Hogwarts appreciated hearing that, Professor. She thinks the nargles have gotten to you.”
Everyone stared at her baffled (with the exception of Hallie, Cedric, Neville, and Remus who shot her amused smiles) with Cho Chang muttering under her breath something about ‘Loony Lovegood being crazy’.
Hermione, Cedric, Ron and the Weasley twins turned to Hallie. Her eyes were downcast and her face was mostly covered by her raven locks
“Well, Hallie? Do we go through with this?” Hermione asked her gently.
The green-eyed witch looked at the floor thoughtfully. She knew that she and her friends had broken several rules over their years at Hogwarts, and that while the teachers couldn’t punish them, that did nothing to stop their families from punishing them. She also would much rather not have her privacy invaded like this, especially on the chance of the books exposing what her home life was like. Merlin knows Malfoy didn’t need more ammunition to taunt her with.
But, she thought as she looked up at Remus, Hagrid and a certain fluffy black dog named Snuffles, she wasn’t the only one who had been wronged. And these books would expose the truth about them as well. She met their eyes, smiled, and looked up to the podium.
“These books are one hundred percent truthful?” she asked to make sure.
“Of course, my dear.” The Headmaster confirmed with a grandfatherly smile. “I can even have Madam Bones check them for us if you like.”
She nodded. She then looked around the room to see everyone looking at her expectantly. Hermione, Ron, Fred, George and Cedric were grinning at her, nodding in solidarity. Remus was smiling at her supportively, as were Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Charlie and Bill Weasley, Aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt, Fleur, Viktor, Hagrid, Adrian, Terence, and Luna. Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell were giving her a thumbs up. McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Dumbledore were nodding gently at her. Moody and Amelia nodded at her. Malfoy was sneering at her, but worry was present in his eyes, knowing the trouble his father would be in should his involvement with Voldemort be exposed. Snape was sneering at her as well. The rest of the students were peering at her curiously. Fudge, Percy Weasley and Umbridge were smiling arrogantly, certain Hallie would be caught lying.
She smirked, green eyes lighting up as her raven hair curled around her face impishly. “Then let’s proceed.”
Excited chatter erupted. Hallie leaned back onto her hands before calling out. “But first, can we have more comfortable seats than the floor please?”
As soon as the request left her lips, plush couches appeared all around the Great Hall. Hallie was accompanied by Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Cedric and Remus on one. Snuffles lept onto the couch and curled up on Hallie's lap, causing her to laugh as she scratched the large canine behind the ears. Oliver, Angelina, Alicia and Katie stole giant cushions from one couch and laid them on the floor so they could sit at the group's feet, Oliver leaning against Hallie-Rose's leg. On the couch to their left sat the rest of the Weasley minus Percy, who sat at the head table with the people from the Ministry and the Hogwarts staff. Fleur and Viktor each oocupied an armchair on Hallie’s right. Everyone else say with their houses, though Adrian and Terence made sure to sit directly accross from Hallie, who exchanged a smile with them.
Once everyone had taken a seat, a book appeared in Dumbledore’s hands. He dusted the cover and read the book’s title.
“Hallie-Rose Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”