Harry Potter and the Chains of the Soul
by RyianaT
Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter are owned by JK Rowling and Warner Brothers. All things Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Twentieth Century Fox. My muse lays claim to the plot. I own nothing and receive no profit.
Rating: I am placing it at an "R" for violence and adult situations. However, I really think its closer to a PG-13.
Spoilers: Buffy - through the end of Chosen; Harry - through Order of the Phoenix
Author's Notes: Thanks again to my beta Arie!
Chapter One - Perchance to Dream
'This is not going to be fun,' Remus thought to himself as he walked up the pathway to Number 4, Privet Drive. Dealing with the Dursleys never was, even when they were terrified of you. And seeing Harry, as much as Remus loved him, seem to drive home the point that he was the last of the Marauders left. Not that that would stop him from visiting Harry; not a chance. Harry was grieving every bit as much as he was; and the boy was the last link he had to the past, just as he was Harry's. But that didn't stop it from hurting. He just really wasn't in the mood to deal with the Muggles today. 'At least it's the last time for awhile,' he thought as he reached the door. 'Nothing to be done for it, really. Might as well get it over with,' he thought, reaching out and knocking on the door. A few moments went by, and then the door was opened by Petunia Dursley, whose thin face got even thinner at seeing who it was. She said nothing though, simply set her jaw and stood back to let him in. He smiled and nodded at her, determined to be polite in spite of her, "Good afternoon, Petunia. Is Harry..."
He was cut off by a sudden loud scream from upstairs. Remus jerked in surprise, recognizing the yell instantly and immediately set off in a run towards Harry's room. As he ran by the parlor he could hear Vernon Dursley begin to speak, "Now, see here, you..." Remus paid him no attention. The only thing he could think is that somehow the Death Eaters had gotten past the defenses. He could only think to himself, 'HOW!' as he put on extra speed and threw open Harry's door, wand out and ready, a spell already forming on his lips. He was surprised to find only Harry in the room, seemingly asleep on the bed. However, it was quite obviously not a peaceful sleep, as the boy yelled out again. This time, Remus was able to discern a word in the yell, "Sirius," said with such anguish and fear, that his heart broke just to hear it. Remus found himself fighting back tears as he went to Harry's bed, and grabbed him up as if he were a small child, and not a 16-year-old boy.
"Harry," Remus said, "Harry, it's a dream, you need to wake up."
Harry jerked awake, startled, his hand going for the wand that was under his pillow. He looked around the room, wide-eyed, as if searching for something. Then his eyes settled on Lupin.
"Its Sirius, he's in this horrible place! Please, we've got to help him; we've got to get him out! They're hurting him!"
Remus swallowed the lump that had settled into his throat, "Harry," he began, then had to swallow again, as he fought back tears. "Harry, it was just a nightmare. Sirius is...he's somewhere safe now."
Harry shook his head violently. "NO! You don't understand! I saw him, they were hurting him, and he was trying to fight them but he couldn't get away. There were other people there too, but I didn't know them. We have to help him, we have to..."
"Harry!" Remus said, cutting in loudly.
Harry cut off in mid-sentence, looking at Remus in surprise and then blinked, looking as if he were only just realizing Lupin was there.
"Remus? Remus, please, I saw him. We have to, we need to..." Harry broke off, tears running down his face, as the pull of the dream began to fade and reality began to assert itself.
"I know, Harry," Remus said, adding a few tears of his own, "I have dreams about him too. But, it was just a dream. Wherever Sirius is, he's beyond us now. He's safe."
Harry took a deep breath, embarrassed by his tears now that the force of the dream had lessened some. "I...it seemed so real," he said, quietly. He and Remus both sat in silence for a moment, Remus still half holding Harry, sharing in their grief. Then, the 16-year-old portions of Harry wrested back control, and he self-consciously pulled away, running a hand through his unruly hair.
"So, uh..." Harry fumbled, feeling awkward, "what are you doing here? With Moody coming to see me yesterday, I figured I wasn't due another visit until at least Friday."
Remus nodded, "Well, that would certainly be the case. Except for the fact that Dumbledore sent me to take you to headquarters."
Harry blinked, looking at Remus in confusion. "He sent you to take me to...but, well, aren't I supposed to stay here?"
Remus raised an eyebrow at Harry, sending him a half smile. "Well, if you want to stay here, I suppose that could be arranged."
"NO! I mean, course I don't. I'm just, surprised I guess."
Remus nodded, "It was a surprise to us too. But, Dumbledore said you've been here long enough for the protection it provides to stay in effect, and he figured you might be...that you might like it better with the others."
Harry made a face. "He probably just wants me there so he can keep an eye on me. Make sure the weapon's all taken care of," he said bitterly.
Remus sighed, "I know you're angry with Albus, Harry. I am too, sometimes. One of the hardest lessons we learn in life is that the people we respect and look up to are human too, and they make mistakes. He thought he was doing the right thing and he did it because he cares about you."
Harry looked at Remus, his jaw set and his eyes hard, "His right thing cost Sirius his life. He should've told me everything and then I would've known...I wouldn't have...He should've told me."
Remus looked at Harry sadly, "Harry..."
Harry shook his head, "I don't want to talk about it, Remus. At least he's getting me out of here. I'll get my things together."
Harry moved across the room and began gathering his things. The anger radiated off of him in heavy waves and the tension sat heavy in the room. Remus wondered if there was something he should say, but he had no clue what it was. He understood that Harry needed to direct all that anger somewhere; he also knew that Harry's real problem wasn't with Albus, but with himself. Harry blamed himself for Sirus' death. Remus and Moody and the others had all tried to tell him he wasn't to blame, to talk with him about what had happened at the Ministry, but Harry was having none of it. He always changed the subject. Recently he had begun to focus on Dumbledore as the cause of Sirius' death, as if, by placing blame elsewhere, he could alleviate the pain he felt. No one was getting through to him right now, and Remus was worried. It was one of the reasons Albus had decided to let Harry come to headquarters earlier, in hopes that being back at Grimmauld Place, and in close quarters with Albus, would force him to confront the feelings festering inside of him and bring about healing. At this point, Remus wasn't sure it was going to work. Harry had Lily's temper; that was for sure, along with her ability to stay mad at something, or someone, for a good long while. However, he didn't have a better idea, so this was what they were going to do.
"Ok, I'm ready," Harry said, pulling Remus from his thoughts.
Remus nodded, "Good, then let's go, shall we. Moody and the others should be waiting outside by now."
"Are we flying again?" Harry asked, a hopeful expression coming across his face.
"No," Remus said, shaking his head with a smile, "Portkey, I'm afraid."
Harry made a face, "I don't like portkeys."
Remus nodded sympathetically, "I know. But it's the best and easiest way to get you there."
Harry sighed, "All right, whatever. Let's just go, so we can get it over with."
Remus nodded and quickly shrunk Harry's things and followed Harry down the stairs. At the bottom, speaking in hurried whispers, stood Petunia and Vernon Dursley. At the sound of tread on the stairs, they both looked up, similar expressions of distaste on their faces.
Harry gritted his teeth and strode down the stairs past them, Remus following closely. "You can all relax now, I'm leaving," he said, and with that walked straight out the door. Remus gave a nod, for politeness sake, to the two of them, and then quickly followed Harry out to where Moody, Tonks, and Bill Weasley were waiting.
"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said, sending the boy a grin.
"Potter," this from Moody, who was busy keeping an eye on the street.
"Hey, Harry," Bill Weasley said, "Ready to get out of here?"
"You bet," Harry answered.
Moody held out what looked to be a silver tea serving tray. "Just grab hold," he said, "Bout time now."
Harry grabbed hold of the tray, waiting for the portkey to do its job, when suddenly another vision from his dream – Sirius, planting his fist in the face of some...thing, and a glimpse of blonde hair – grabbed hold of him. Harry had time to gasp before the portkey took effect and whisked him away.
