Author's Note: Not much to say here, except a Grawp sized thanks to miss-harry-potter-weasley for her overly flattering review.
CHAPTER – 2
OLD MALADIES, NEW CURE
The group of four moved outside, into the Great Hall. They passed the table where Malfoy's were sitting, ignoring the table and its occupant's completely. Someone called from behind. Harry turned and saw Draco Malfoy waving his hand at him. Harry was amused and startled, seeing this strange sight which if anyone had told him before he would have laughed. But war changes everything and it seemed it changed Malfoy too.
Harry walked to Draco and said, "What do you want, Malfoy?" His voice was a little harsh.
"Thank you, for saving our lives." Draco said.
Harry felt like someone had smacked his face with a bludger. Draco Malfoy and thank you and to me?
"It was nothing. And I was just paying for what your mother did," said Harry, pointing discreetly at her mother.
"No, still, I want to pay you back." Draco said.
Ron who couldn't believe his ears and was ogling Draco, asked, perplexed, "How come you will pay us?"
Draco hesitated a little but said in a firm tone, "I can tell you where um… What was his name, yes, Mad Eye is?"
Harry acted on impulse. He whipped out his wand and plunged it straight into the chin of Draco and said, "Don't make a joke of his death. You know he is dead. Your master, that filthy excuse of wizard killed him."
Draco gulped, as sweat beaded his forehead. Everyone sitting around the Great Hall was staring at them, or more precisely Harry wand tip in utter amazement and horror. Some of them were even hoping that Harry would kill that
"No, no he is alive." Draco continued sinking a little in his seat, "Have you ever found his body?"
Harry replaced his wand back into his robe and said, "We never found his body."
"He is locked in one of our cellar," said Draco.
"Are you saying the truth, Malfoy?" asked Hermione.
"Yes." Draco answered.
Harry froze on the spot. He couldn't believe his ears. This was too good to be true. Mad Eye the survivor had survived once again, was still alive, fighting for his life in a rotten and damp chamber. And Harry knew Draco wasn't lying. War changes people and the example was in front of him. But still Harry wanted to say it too himself, to turn the simple sentence in reality. The word he meant to come out as whisper, came as a shout, because of the zest his body was pumping through his nerves, amplifying the voice hundred fold.
"MAD EYE IS ALIVE."
The result was instantaneous. The Great Hall was enveloped in a deathly silence. Kingsley who was drinking something slopped it all over the table as Harry completed his sentence. He and all of the Order members came running to him and said, "What are you saying, Harry? Is it true?"
"Yes, he is alive," replied Draco for Harry.
"We are going to take him out of that stinging place now," said Harry.
"No, we will send Order members there. It could be a trap, Harry," said Mr. Weasley.
"No way," said George, "We are going. You can't steal D.A. glory. And anyway I absolutely agree Malfoy is a git, but he wouldn't put his and his parent's life at stake. We are going. Where are our brooms?" he added hastily.
"No, you are not," said Mrs. Weasley. She looked like a hungry tigress and Harry was amazed when George stood his ground, although he cringed a little under her mother rage.
"Mum," said Ron, "We are going. We all are adults here and we all have faced much."
Mrs. Weasley didn't reply, which amazed everyone. Then from the corner of his eyes Harry saw her whipping out her wand. But she was a little too late. Ron noticed it and disarmed her mother and as soon as he did so, he hid behind Harry, trying to look completely innocent. George had summoned some school brooms, kept one himself and gave one to Harry and Ron.
"You will need me to open the cellar," said Draco.
"Fair enough," George said, "Accio Broom!"
One more broom came pelting in the air to him, which he gave to Draco.
"It will take you hour's to reach there," said Mr. Weasley.
"We will do Apparate once we are out of the school boundaries," said Ron matter-of-factly.
"But, there are reporters clinging on Hogwarts boundaries like vultures." Professor McGonagall reminded them, and Harry wasn't amazed to see a victory smile on her usually thin lined lips.
He couldn't let anyone other than him go. Fighting with George and Ron was useless, they outnumbered him. But the main reason he didn't want anyone to go because if somehow it turns out to be a trap, he would rather die than see anyone else die.
"We will use the Quidditch field," supplied Harry and was amazed by his own quick thinking.
"I will go too," Neville said. He had a broom in one hand.
"Are you sure Neville?" asked Ron, and it looked as he was having a hard time controlling his laughter. Harry could understand Ron suspicion. But he couldn't say no to Neville, not after what he had given for Hogwarts. Neville gave a firm nod.
"So, let's get going," yelled Harry, not wanting any more persons to join. And it was partially because from the corner of his eyes, he had seen Ginny sneaking out, presumably to find a broom.
They all ran to the Quidditch field, ignoring the roar of disapprovals. Harry quickly applied a sealing charm on the changing room doors to stop the others. All five of them, mounted their brooms as soon as they got in the field and they shot-off upward in the sky.
"We will get a little altitude before moving downwards. So, they won't see us," instructed Harry.
They all flew upwards. Hogsmeade looked like an uneven stone.
"STOP," Harry yelled and all of the brooms came to halt at his yell, except Neville whose broom jerked a little.
"As I reach to three, we will go downwards. One… Two… Three." There was sound of swish…. And all of them flew downwards. All of them un-mounted their brooms in front of Hog's Head.
"Do you know how to Apparate Malfoy?" asked Ron.
Malfoy sneered and said, "Yes, hold my hand."
Harry felt that sensation again. Everything in front of his eyes went black. He was being pressed very hard from all directions. He could not breathe, there were iron bands tightening around his chest. His eyeballs were being forced back into his head; his eardrums were being pushed deeper into his skull and then he stood in front of the Malfoy's house gate.
Malfoy moved to the gate and touched it. The iron was contorting, twisting itself out of the abstract furls and coils into a frightening face, which spoke in a clanging, echoing voice: "State your purpose!"
"I am Draco Malfoy, and I have come with some friends."
The gates swung open. They all strode off into the manor. After a minute walk, Harry was standing in the same steep stairs from where they were taken to the prison. Ron body went stiff as he glanced up to see the room where Hermione was tortured ruthlessly by Bellatrix. Malfoy halted in between the steps and said to Harry, "My wand, if you don't mind."
"Oh, yes." Harry said plunging his arms in his robe and he took out Malfoy wand. As soon as Draco got hold of his wand, all others made same moment of rustling of robes. Draco blanched for a split second and then tapped his wand on an odd looking brick three times and the stairs shifted to reveal a passage to the basement. The last three stairs sank in the ground and there was now a platform, wide enough for all of them. They all got on it and Malfoy said,
"Descendo!"
The platform moved downwards and they stood in a room, which appeared to be a prison. The room was very dimly lit and it smelled horrible. They all murmured, "Lumos!" and their wand tip ignited. In the room there was nothing except some bones and some piece of decaying flesh.
"What the hell is this supposed to mean?" George bellowed.
"Show some patience," said Malfoy.
He tapped a corner of the wall where a snake was carved. A small slit appeared in the wall. He thrust his wand in the slit and they could see a man laid on the floor unconscious.
"See he's there. But, I can't help you more. These enchantments are placed by Dark lord and I can't break them."
Harry knew what he needed do. He moved to the corner where the snakes were carved and said, in parseltounge, "Open." The wall moved and sank in the ground. All of them ran to Moody aid. But, he was clenched tightly in numerous chains.
"Diffindo!" Ron shouted. But, nothing happened.
"Relashio!" Harry shouted. The chains whimpered a little but didn't free Moody.
"We should all cast at once," suggested Neville.
"Good idea, Neville." Harry said, "On the count of three, One… Two… Three."
"RELASHIO!" Chains broke free of Moody. But as, they moved to free him they again clenched to him.
"That's a little problem, we have." George said.
"Rennervate!" Neville shouted suddenly startling all of them.
"Blimey, what are you doing Neville?" Ron shouted at him.
Harry nudged Ron in his chest. Moody was getting up.
"Who's here?" Moody growled.
"It's us, Moody. Harry, Ron, Neville and George… and Draco," Harry said.
"What's that indisposed piece of shit doing here?" Moody growled.
"We will talk later, listen Moody, you will run from the spot when these chains broke free. Okay," Harry scowled when Moody looked at him blankly. After a moment, Moody nodded.
"Then at the count of three" Harry sighed, "One… Two… Three."
"RELASHIO!" Chains broke free of Moody. He ran and fell face first but, now he was free of the chains. He tried to stand up but fell face first again and let out a growl.
"Where's your leg, Moody?" Ron asked.
"Don't know." Moody said as he faced Ron. Ron shrieked and stumbled, ultimately, falling backwards.
"What happened?" Moody scowled.
"See your face. You look cuter then an Inferi. One eye gone, face peppered with sexy looking scars and a scowl fixed permanently on your face," George described, "A dream face for every woman."
"Now, will you help me?" Moody said.
"Accio Wooden leg!" Harry said. They waited for minutes, nothing happened. Harry looked sheepishly at Moody and tried again, "Accio Moody staff! " And still nothing happened.
"Good," roared Moody, jumping on his single leg, "Jolly good."
"Wait," said George suddenly, "I can fix something for you."
The look that passed from Moody face was priceless. For the first time, since Harry had known him, he looked a little scared and the funny part was not from Voldemort, but from George.
"I can manage."
"Oh, you can't," George purred on Moody, "Wait a second."
Harry nudged Ron, who was shaking with silent laughter.
"What's so funny, Ron?"
"You don't know," Ron managed to choke out. Harry answered, immediately, "What I don't know?"
"Last time Moody visited Burrow," said Ron, gaining a little more composure, "Fred hid his leg and changed it with a transfigured firecracker. It was damn funny."
Harry glanced at Moody, who was punching and sniffing his new leg. When he was satisfied he replaced it on his leg. George was ready with a newly transfigured staff. He gave it too Moody, who after his initial check up held it in his gnarled hand.
"I'm now only missing my eye," Moody grumbled mostly to himself. He snatched George wand and said, "Accio Magical Eye!" Ron and Harry were red in their faces and could feel the heat building up in their cheeks.
"It's not here," said Harry in a low voice.
"I can see that Potter," retorted Moody. After some silent moments, comprehension dawned on his heavily scared face.
"Where it is then?" Moody demanded.
"In forest where the Quidditch world cup took place," answered Ron.
"WHAT?" Moody growled.
"Let's move. I will tell you the story in the way," said Harry.
"Wait Harry," said George suddenly, "we need to check if he is the real Moody, not a charming Death Eater."
Everyone nodded in agreement. George turned to Moody and said, "Okay which photograph you used to keep in your wallet?"
Moody burned red. Harry and the others sniggered and George winked at them. Moody seemed to have turned into stone. George prodded him with his wand and warned, "I won't hesitate to jinx the truth out of you. So, be a good lad and spit out."
"Elaine Marysoft," Moody grumbled as everyone toppled off laughing. George replaced his wand in his pocket and gave Moody a hearty smile.
"Who told you this?" snarled Moody.
"Dumbledore," said George and laughed when Moody bared his teeth.
"Who is Elaine Marysoft?" asked Harry to Ron.
"She was a Auror for Ministry, when Moody was young," said Ron, "and from what I have heard, she was a awfully beautiful witch. Poor Moody, gave her his heart."
Harry snickered and Moody growled, "You were going to tell me something, Potter?"
Harry told them the story of the ministry fiasco (But he didn't tell him about the deaths). Everyone was amused but Draco was most amused. When they came out in the country lane, Moody said, "I am not going to go without my eye."
"Don't act like a child," said George, "Or I will tell Mum you dragged us in that awful place in night."
Moody gave him a dirty look and seeing the coming fight, Ron said, "Let's go to the forest. It won't take much time anyway. And Merlin knows we want fresh air in our lungs"
They Apparated in the forest. The trees in the night dark look like Dementors and Lethifolds. Neville was shuddering and said, "Let's get out of here quick."
"Blimey, I started to think you as a man, but, you are behaving like a child again, Neville," said Ron.
"Lumos!" They all murmured. Harry felt little cold but, he thought that it was probably because it was night and they were in a forest.
"Accio Magical eye!" Harry said. Nothing happened. From his behind Moody growled, "What are you doing Potter? It's a magical eye. It would not be summoned like this."
Before he could speak, Ron shouted at Moody, "Down in the cellar, you used it too."
Moody cheeks got red. It was a very rare occasion and it made Moody look somehow more dangerous. He tried to answer in a calm voice, "I am an old man and I can make mistakes. And I got a little nutter, spending months in that hell hole."
"Amazing," George murmured under his breath, "I thought he was a born nutter."
But, now Harry was not listening. He started to move randomly looking for an old, gnarled and resilient-looking tree. When he heard footsteps behind him, he said, "Let's split and look. It will be faster. Look for an old tree with a cross on its bark."
Harry didn't stop while he was giving them instructions and kept looking for the tree. He heard some voices and turned to look at what caused that noise. He didn't found anything. But, the more near he got to the center of the forest, the more cold he felt. It was unusual. But, he didn't mind it because Moody was alive. But, the cheerful thought was vanished even before it came. He started feeling gloomy and the cold was piercing his chest like someone was forcing ice shards in it. He felt that he couldn't be happy in his life. He understood what it meant and turned to go as far as from the center of the forest. He bumped into a Dementor and saw many more circling him. He shrieked for help. He felt grief and fear overpowering his senses. He heard someone… someone laughing…
"You're joking, Perce!"
"You actually are joking, Perce. . . . I don't think I've heard you joke since you were — "
"No — no — no!"
"No! Fred! No!"
Then a more powerful grief seized him. He saw many Dementors circling him. He heard voices again… his own voice…
"Dobby — no — HELP!"
"HELP!"
"Dobby, no, don't die, don't die —"
"Harry . . . Potter . . ."
And then more grief gripped his heart. He felt a chill running down his spine, his vision blurred, but he could make out a dark face. Where there should have been eyes, there was only thin, gray scabbed skin, stretched blankly over empty sockets. But there was a mouth . . . a gaping, shapeless hole, sucking the air with the sound of a death rattle.
He heard voices again… familiar and he felt a cold hand clenching his shoulder…
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl . . . stand aside, now."
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —"
"This is my last warning —"
"Not Harry! Please . . . have mercy . . . have mercy. . . . Not Harry!
Not Harry! Please — I'll do anything —"
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"
He felt something being thrust in his mouth. He opened his eyes his vision still blurry. He slapped his hand on his mouth to conform that he was awake and heard joint sigh of relief. He realized that he was not wearing his glasses. Was this the cause of his blurred vision? He got up and spurted what was being feed to him on the ground. The light from the wands illuminated it. It was chocolate.
"Blimey, are you fine now?" asked Ron, giving him his spectacles.
"Yes, I suppose so," answered Harry.
"The credit goes to Neville; he founded you." George said, "He produced a Patronus which averted some Dementors from you. He told us that they had nearly kissed you when he arrived. And then he also cried for help as half of them were now mounting towards him and his Patronus was protecting you. And then… you won't believe… Malfoy came. He couldn't produce a Patronus but he also averted some of the Dementors. He was shooting feeble sparks from his wand towards them, when we came. These two" — pointing at Neville and Malfoy — "were on the ground and Neville Patronus was at the point of extinguish. But, both of us scared them away with our Patronuses."
There was a moment silence, after which George said, suddenly, "Sorry forgot to mention Moody. He was ruddy brilliant. Don't make a face on simply the fact that he doesn't have a wand now. He came forward and seeing his cute face, Dementors turned to pepper him with kisses. Saved our lives."
Harry smiled, seeing the old George back in action. But it still didn't felt right, natural. He stood up, his legs shaking and for keeping straight, took support of the tree. He jumped in astonishment when he looked at the tree and shouted, "This is the tree."
He dug the ground and took out his eye. It had become slippery because of the fungus, dirt and moisture.
"Aquamenti!" Harry said and a jet of water cleaned it.
"Take it," said Harry as he thrust the eye in Moody hand.
Moody fixed his eye in his eye socket and the eye started rotating in his eye socket sickly.
"Now, let's Apparate to Hogsmeade, I am not felling well in here," said Harry casting a furtive glance around the forest.
"I told you we should get out of here quickly," rebuked Neville.
"What the hell they were doing here anyway?" asked Ron.
"Probably, on hunt. From the point Voldemort was defeated, Dementors would have went into hiding. When they saw Harry, it was like a feast to them and they all plunged the opportunity," Moody elaborated.
"Speaking of which… you were the reason we are here in the first place." George scowled and continued beaming at Moody, "Let Mum hear it, it will be so lovely. She will just tear you apart and feed you to our chickens."
"You are not going to tell her, are you?" asked Moody.
"It depends." said George, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Let's Apparate," said Neville.
"Not now. Look at Harry, he looks pathetic. We should rest for some time," said Ron, motioning something to the other three, which Harry didn't notice.
Harry sat on the ground, taking the support of the tree. Neville sat beside him.
"We will keep watch," said George, and Ron, Moody and George circled them. He saw a body. When he pulled the body near him, he saw Draco. His body was pale.
"What happened to him, Neville?" asked Harry.
"Dementors overpowered him," said Neville.
"Speaking of Dementors, what did you thought that you produced a Patronus in that gloomy atmosphere and what shape it took?" asked Harry, looking, feeling and sounding curious.
Neville hesitated but seeing the emerald eyes of Harry gazing intently upon him; answered, "I thought that my parents would be proud seeing me like this. And I said the incantations. And it spurted out of my wand, my father favorite animal, Lion," He added his face red with embarrassment.
"That's cool, Neville," said Harry.
"But, it was not as powerful as your Patronus. It didn't manage to drift all of them away." Neville said.
"I think different. If you take my thoughts in consideration your Patronus was even powerful than mine. I wouldn't have been able to produce a Patronus in that kind of atmosphere."
Someone shuddered. They both looked around and saw Malfoy shuddering. Before Harry could realize that what happened, Neville whipped out his wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum! " and a silver lion erupted from his wand and charged toward Draco. Harry saw 5 or 6 Dementors dissolving in air.
"That was cool." Harry exclaimed.
Before Neville could reply, they heard footsteps. Ron, George and Moody came running towards them.
"What happened?" Ron asked.
"A couple of Dementors were attacking Malfoy," said Harry.
"We should get a move on. This place is packed with Dementors," said Moody.
"And the funny part is that I couldn't even sense them," said Harry, "seeing that I'm extra sensitive to them."
"No one can. I shot three of them when they were on top of me." George said, "And it's probably because they are swarming around us."
"So, who will take Malfoy?" asked Ron.
"We will worry about it later." Harry said, "Let's Apparate out of this place as quickly as we can."
They held each other arm. After passing the suffocating sensation of Apparition, they were standing in the front of Hog's Head. Everyone gave a sigh of relief. Standing in front of the bar, George got an idea and he said, "Why don't we use the passage to the school."
"No use. Neville grandmother sealed the passage." Harry said.
Ron asked, looking stern, "So, who is going to take the load" — he pointed at Malfoy — "to the castle?"
"Neville" "Ron" "Moody" "George" "Harry". They all shouted at the same time.
"I will." Harry volunteered.
"You are yourself in a dying condition." Ron said, "I will take this scumbag with me."
They all summoned their brooms and mounted them. Ron needed help to mount Malfoy on his brooms and when they took a fast start, Ron shouted at all of them, "Will you mind going a little slow? I have a unwanted load on my broom." Everyone understood he meant Malfoy and slowed their speed.
They landed gracefully in the Quidditch field and Ron jerked a little, making Malfoy smash in the ground on his back. Ron sniggered, and Harry had a shrew suspicion that it wasn't a accident.
"Now, that's really good, little bro," said George.
Harry said, "OK, let's move. And now no need to worry about him." Harry added seeing the look on the face of Ron.
He pointed his wand at Malfoy and said, "Mobilicorpus!"
Malfoy body rose in the air and hung few inches from the ground. They started walking towards the Great Hall. They had barely entered the hall when Mrs. Weasley and Narcissi came running towards them. Harry was took in a rib-cracking hug by Mrs. Weasley and Narcissi looked at the pale face of Malfoy.
"What happened to him?" she asked Harry.
"Attacked by Dementors." Moody said bluntly before Harry could say anything tactfully.
Narcissi supported Draco and took him to Madam Pomfrey. Moody moved to the platform, to greet his friends.
"Bloody hell! Over at last," Ron sighed, slumping on the floor.
"Get your bony arse up," said George, kicking Ron butt.
"Ah…………" Ron shouted and made a dirty gesture by his hand at George. George ignored him, and moved to his seat looking weak and broken. They saw two figures charging towards them. Before they could brace themselves for the upcoming collision, they collided with the two figures. Harry lost balance and fell on the floor with a thump. Ginny was atop him, staring in his eyes. Before, any of them could go any further or say anything, they heard throat-clearing noise, "Hem Hem."
They looked at the source, and so Ron looking at them with a disgusting expression. Harry quickly stood up, and felt color rise in his face, when he saw many pair of eyes upon him and Ginny.
"Now, if you both are done with your — erm — welcome, I would like to eat," said Ron.
"Ginny, could you excuse us for a moment, I need to discuss something with them," said Harry, pointing at Ron and Hermione.
Ginny stared at him in disbelief, snorted angrily but reluctantly followed order, stomping her feet all the way. She was murmuring something under her breath, which none of them gave importance to. The three of them moved to a empty classroom, and sealed it.
"What's the matter Harry?" asked Hermione, looking worried.
"Nothing," Harry started, "just, why is everyone behaving so oddly?"
"No one is behaving oddly, Harry," answered Ron.
"Oh yes! They are. Have you seen their eyes, they are all puffy and red, but their faces are all supporting a wide grin."
"It's just — they can just cry all their life," said Hermione, the doubt in her own voice clear.
"Oh, but I don't suppose they would forgot them so early," said Harry, his voice a little weary.
"Just tell him truth, Hermione," said Ron, crashing in a nearby chair.
"Yes, I will like that," said Harry, taking support of a chair to stand.
"They um… took cheering potion," explained Hermione, gazing in the other direction.
"And why so?" Harry asked, his temper again rising to the surface.
"That's because of you mate" Ron answered, "None of them want to give you any more trouble. Madam Pomfrey told us that you are in some kind of depression and it will help if people around you are all happy and you know, are cheery."
"Do I look this daft to you? I could never ever digest if all of a sudden people start burning crackers and eating feasts when they should be mourning over the dead, the limp and lifeless body of their loved one's," said Harry furiously, his voice cracking with emotions.
"Don't get angry, Harry. All of them want you to be happy after all you had gone through." Hermione stated.
"But, I don't want people to sacrifice their happiness and life for the stake of me. They had more right then me to be happy," said Harry, trying to fight back the tears, which were threatening to fall out any second.
"Harry, why can't you understand a simple thing, these people care for you and you have every single damn right to be happy," said Hermione.
Sensing defeat and wanting to lift the atmosphere from this gloomy one, Harry said, "That's explain all the weird behaviors of people. And please can you tell them that to take an antidote or something for that potion."
Ron looked thunderstruck and Hermione at unease. They both stared at him, as he had said something forbidden. Sensing their unease, Harry asked, "What?"
"Nothing. Just let me go and ask if their is space enough for two more bodies because when Mum gets to know we had disclosed this to you, I would better like to be dead and rest in peace then to hear her yelping and shouting at me for my reckless behavior," stated Ron matter-of-factly, "and yes don't exclude me getting grounded for life."
Harry laughed, but Hermione looked drop-dead serious.
"Loosen up, Hermione," said Harry.
"Don't laugh, Harry. I am bloody serious." Ron pouted.
"I need to go somewhere. I will meet you in the Great Hall," said Harry.
"Wait Harry. Where are you going?" Hermione called.
Harry didn't stop. He just waved his hand to them and climbed the stairs. He halted in the seventh floor. He quickly made his way to Dumbledore's office.
"Can I go in?" Harry asked the gargoyle, which was still knocked aside.
"Oh yes. Don't mind me," the statue said.
Harry made his way up to the spiral staircases, and pushed open the gate. Every Headmaster and Headmistress face turned to see the new arrival. They were looking at him with great interest, which he thought was because of the morning incident. He kept his eyes on the portrait of Dumbledore only, but was amazed seeing the portrait of Snape. The background was a creepy looking room, which Harry thought probably was his old office. Before he could think what he was saying, he blurted out, "What your portrait is doing here?"
Snape looked livid and all the others portrait occupants were looking at them.
"If I have been alive Potter, I would have told you what I am doing here?" Snape snarled, his eyes fixed on him.
Harry wanted to say more, but suddenly he remembered what he had done for him and quickly decided to keep quiet. He strode to the portrait of Dumbledore, who was looking happy.
"So, what's bring you here, my boy?" asked Dumbledore cheerfully, his blue eyes twinkling like sapphires.
But, this question triggered something in Harry's mind, and he strode towards Snape portrait and asked, "Do you know something about Mad Eye body?"
Snape gazed at him in amazement and then sneered, "This is the same question Dumbledore had asked me a thousand times, and I have always told the same answer."
"What?" Harry demanded.
"Manners Potter," Snape said enjoying every moment, "manners."
"Just tell me what I am asking?" Harry said his anger jolting to the limit.
"Or what?" Snape snarled, his nostrils flaring and his eyes boring in Harry's eye.
"Let's see," Harry said sardonically, "maybe I can burn your portrait, huh."
At this many portrait occupants winced and shuddered, Dumbledore just looked at him with bemused expressions. Before either of them could say anything Dumbledore said, "Harry, why do you want to know?"
"Because we found him alive," Harry stated cheerfully.
At this, Snape jumped from his chair, and if he wasn't restricted in the canvas he could have jumped out of it.
"It can't be possible," Snape yelled.
"And why so?" Harry retorted.
"Because Dark lord trusted me and he would have surely told me about him, if he was alive," answered Snape, his eyes still on Harry.
Harry reacted as he hadn't listened to him and said to Dumbledore, "We rescued him from one of the secret chambers of Malfoy manor, which I think only Malfoy and Voldemort knew about" — he looked at Snape portrait, a menacing smile — "not people who just thought that they were near to him."
Snape scowled at this and took it on him as his personnel insult. Harry chuckled and turned to Dumbledore, who said, "Harry, I thought you would be more polite to him after you know what he had done for you, or more precisely for your mother."
Before Harry could answer, Snape snarled, "Dumbledore, we are talking to a ruthless and arrogant Potter. He won't understand anything like this. He is just as worthless as his father."
Harry tried to ignore Snape previous talk and said, "I was just, you know doing it for Sirius. Snape took a great deal of amusement when Sirius was ordered to be caged in that disgusting house and not to mention Remus. I hadn't forgotten the night incident of shrieking shack." He completed it by giving a dirty look to Snape.
"I wish Professor, you could go and see him, but umm… you are kind of stuck in this frame," said Harry.
"Oh! I doubt it Harry. I have my ways if you wish to know." Dumbledore said calmly.
"What ways?" asked Harry and continued, "there are no portraits in Great hall and there is no chance we can fit that much people in any corridor, let alone a class."
"I was not talking about walking down the portraits, Harry," said Dumbledore with a glint of childish mischief in his eyes, "I am talking about using my second portrait."
"You have a second portrait?" asked Harry. Every old Headmaster and Headmistress stared at him, and one of them said, "Dumbledore is a very famous wizard. He obviously have many more portraits."
"We are talking to a Potter here," Snape snarled, "they are well known to be arrogant and narrow-minded."
"I wasn't saying that what you are intercepting," said Harry, "I said that how can he go and meet Moody in the Great Hall, as all his other portraits would be in there places."
"I understood what you are saying Harry," Dumbledore stated calmly, "I have my second portrait in this room."
Every pair of eye turned to Dumbledore, who was smiling benignly. There was a deadly silence, which no one dared to break as everyone waited for Dumbledore to speak. Dumbledore motioned for Harry to move to his desk. He followed the order and stood by the table his hand rested on the top of the table.
"Harry, took out your wand and tap the phoenix carved on the table," said Dumbledore.
Harry looked at him with a quizzical expression, but when he didn't change his expressions, he bent down and lazily looked at the table. Then, he got sight of the something carved on the table. When he gazed at it, it turned out to be a small-carved phoenix. He tapped it. Nothing happened. He tapped it again, but, nothing happened. He looked at the portrait of Dumbledore, who was also staring at the table.
"Oh! I forgot. Say the name too." Dumbledore calmly stated.
Harry looked bemused and at the se time befuddled. What name? It wouldn't hurt Dumbledore too once in a while make things easier for him. But no, then how could he learn.
"Now, there's around a million name, and am I suppose to yell every single name." Harry murmured.
"Did you say anything Harry?" asked Dumbledore, a glint of mirth in his eyes.
Harry grumpily murmured something and tried every ridiculous name which came into his memory. After twenty-thirty names he was fed off and looked at Dumbledore, with a pleading expression and said, "Do you really have to do it? Just tell me the name and I can be over it."
Dumbledore didn't say anything. He just gazed at him, with his piercing blue stare, which made shiver run down his spine. Someone laughed, and when Harry turned he saw Snape laughing. Harry thought of saying something nasty, but found himself exhausted to have an argument with him. He looked at Dumbledore with a pleading expression, but he vanished from his portrait. He turned and looked in every portrait but there was no sign of Dumbledore.
"Oh great! What I needed the most," Harry said sarcastically, "a mind rattling quiz."
He resumed his blabbering of every name which crossed his mind. He slumped to the floor, and sighed. It was a mess. He didn't even need to go through all this pain. He can just get up and move up. But, there was Snape and he was quite sure that he would never leave the chance to pick on him. So, he quickly searched his mind for an appropriate name, which Dumbledore may have use for hiding his second portrait.
"Even a animal would have more brain than you Potter. Maybe you should use a phoenix as your pet, because they are surely more intelligent than you," snarled Snape.
But, Harry got what he needed. He wanted to jump and kiss Snape portrait, but thought opposite. He tapped his wand on the carved phoenix and said, "Fawkes."
The carved phoenix started to emit a red-golden glow; the rectangular aside it emitted light and with one swift movement the hidden drawer slid open to reveal a small compartment. He saw Dumbledore resting in his portrait and said, "You took lot of time, Harry."
He was no mood in answering it and just pulled the portrait out of the drawer. The frame looked very expensive, as the frame was made of shiny white metal, which probably was platinum, with strange engravings on it. Seeing Harry curious look, Dumbledore said calmly, "A gift from Doge." He kicked the drawer, and it again merged with the table.
"Show some respect to the Hogwarts possessions," snarled Snape, his lips curling in a cold smile.
"Listen to me Snape," Harry said, Dumbledore gave him a disapproving look, "Professor Snape, lets start on a new front. I'm ready to forget how big of a git you were, that you were a biased scumbag who hated anyone who was popular and was not from Slytherin…"
Harry couldn't control himself. Seven year worth of hatred and loathing is hard to forget and anyway it was tribute to his father, Sirius, Lupin and every other Gryffindor who was exploited by Snape. He would've whole heartily continued, but he caught Professor Dumbledore eyes, who didn't look even remotely pleased, Harry chanced a glance at Snape portrait and felt his inside dancing with pleasure, when he saw the look on Snape face.
"Anyway you get the general idea," Harry couldn't hide a smile, "so, are you on it. You just have to ignore me and if utterly important only then open your mouth about me and mostly about my parents and their best friends."
"I will tell you, you brat of Potter," shouted Snape, who looked positively livid "Lily loved me, me; not that god forsaken Potter, your ugly Dad. But he came between us; he just desired her…"
"Now, stop it," snarled Harry, "you may have saved my life and I'm grateful about it, but, and make it clear in your greasy head, no matter what, I won't tolerate insults on my parents, Sirius or Lupin. If you ever so opened a mouth a fraction to insult them, I will personally make sure that they will be your last words."
"See Dumbledore," Snape rounded on Dumbledore, "that's why I hate every Potter. I gave away my life for him, and what do I get in written, a threat to destroy my portrait."
"I never said that I will destroy your portrait," scoffed Harry, "And I'm grateful that you gave your life but not because of me, because of my Mum. If it wasn't for my Mum, I would have burned your portrait to ashes by now. You have protected me and I accept and honor the fact. And I will make it my first priority that your part is not stamped on, but it doesn't give you any right to point a finger or accuse any of the deceased, who had died fighting by our side. And do you think it's easy to forgot the six year of hell you put me and my friends through, me through. If you think that's possible, than forgot about my Dad. He never did all of it out of fun. You and Dad were fighting, fighting for my Mum attention. And he turned out to be better and so my Mum chose him. And my Mum and Dad suited each other" — Harry drew a deep breath — "And then it's your mistake. You loved Dark Arts, for why? I will tell you. To out power my Dad and show my Mum that my Dad wasn't that cool and powerful everyone thought. But, you know what, he was. Much more than you would have ever been. He died trying saving me and my Mum, even when he knew he have no wand and he was facing Voldemort. You, on the other hand, sold my Dad life, hoping that you will get what you desire" — Harry gave Snape portrait a look of deep loathing — "My Dad saved your life and you took it as one more reason to hate him. Because he was better than you, he had friends who liked him because of who he was, not what he could do. They respected him and for earning that kind of respect people should know how to love, not how to hate. And that was your bloody problem. My Dad was a competition to you. After he and Mum died and I came here, you saw me and thought 'I couldn't defeat the Potter, so what; I will defeat and harass his son'. And don't tell me its wrong. I know you bloody well; you are a sick, lamented man…"
Harry leaned against the wall to stay standing. His throat felt dry and itchy, but it was not the time to think about it. Harry waked to Snape portrait, cupped it with his hand and said, "But there's one thing I will always envy about you. Your power to love and the bravery generated from it. You loved my Mum with all of your heart and that kept you from turning completely evil. Even though you had strong dislikes for my Dad, you helped Professor Dumbledore to protect me because I was her son and I had her eyes. You could have killed me right here and satisfy the anger. But you didn't. Why? I know. Because you wouldn't have been able to see the life vanishing from my eyes, her eyes, my Mum's eyes. I know we can't be able to get along smoothly seeing our past clashes, but lets try to make a truce, in which you can respect my Mum memories and I can of my parents, Sirius and Lupin and many more.
"This war have taught me many things," said Harry, running a rough hand in his hairs, "Bravery is not just about playing the hero and staying calm in front of your death; bravery is staking your life for your friend's life, for the people you care, like Dobby did for me; bravery is about respecting love in hard times, to cross every border for its protection, like you did for my Mum; bravery is not completely about courage, its about your ability to love, care and respect others. It's about selflessness, like Dumbledore showed, its about faith. Ultimately bravery is comprised of every small thing people usually forget to take in account. But you did take them in account, even siding the loathing for my Dad you shared. To be honest, I won't be able to completely forget you, but yes I will always envy you, for the man you were by heart, the man having a heart of pure gold even in the darkness surrounding it., for being a man who believed in love and its eternal power. Maybe someday when the scars of the war and childhood fights will fade, we would have a little talk. Not about my Dad, but about my Mum…"
Harry's voice cracked by the flood of emotions that surged through his body. He was shaking from head to toe, as his eyes were flooded with tears. And to his amazement, Snape spoke, "Yes, maybe someday, eventually."
Harry smiled, took the portrait of Dumbledore in his hand and walked out of the Headmaster office, leaving it in silence.
"I'm proud of you Harry," Dumbledore beamed, "very proud of you. I never thought that you will control the situation this well. You have clearly shown that you are your Mum's son."
"What do you mean by it Professor?" asked Harry, as he slowly walked down the stairs to the Great Hall.
"Harry I'm proud because you let your heart control the situation, not your head," said Dumbledore, "You share your Dad's head, impulsive and hot; but you have your Mum heart, clear and calm. When you were speaking to Professor Snape, you were talking by your heart and that's why Snape didn't interject, because he too knows, you have your Mum heart. If, any second he would have thought that your head is gaining control of the situation, he would have interjected you, Harry. But all in all, I'm glad that you were able to knock some sense into him."
Dumbledore chuckled and Harry looked at him, surprised.
"Don't be surprise, Harry," said Dumbledore, cheerfully, "I have a shrew suspicion that he met your Dad, Sirius and Lupin on the way and they gave him quite a bit of their heart. That's why from the very moment his portrait appeared on the wall, he had been grumbling about toerag Potter and his wanker friends," Dumbledore sighed, "Something never changes."
"And they are best if they are not, Professor," replied Harry as he took the corridor to the Great Hall.
"Yes Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes shining with pride, "yes."
Harry entered the Great Hall and no one noticed him. Quickly he performed a disillusion charm on the portrait and strode to the head table. In the was to the head table, he had to resist some very alluring offers, some of them being sitting next to Ginny or laying flat back on the quilt and into a deep slumber. Sighing Harry walked on the head table, where every one was busy talking to Moody and the man in question was busy stuffing himself with foods.
"Hey Moody," said Harry, dropping in the chair next to him. Moody ignored him and continued to gnaw on the chicken leg. Harry, obviously irritated because of lack of sleep and exhaustion, had to control his hand to plant a punch in his face. Instead he bought his mouth near to his ear, in a conspiratorial way and shouted, "I said, Hay Moody. Someone wants to meet with you. And it's not Elaine Marysoft."
The reaction was what he had hoped for. Selected few in the crowd and head table howled with laughter, and Moody sprayed chicken legs bits and pieces all over the table. He turned to glare at Harry, and Harry glare at him unabashed. There were two reasons that Harry didn't cowered under Moody sinister gaze, he was weak and his wand was not with him. Moody looked like he was in a mental war and after some moments he said, "I'm not deaf, Potter," and then in a whispered tone he added, "you will pay for it, have no doubt about it."
"We will see that in the time being," said Harry, "Anyway, Dumbledore ants to talk with you."
"Tell Dumbledore we will talk later," growled Moody, "I want sleep and I have every right to it, since the war has ended and now there are no more reasons for me to give up my sleep and listen to him rattling."
Harry smiled; he knew that all this was because Dumbledore had slipped his little secret.
"Why don't you tell him, yourself?"
"How many times do I need to tell you, Potter?" growled Moody, "I'm not going."
"And I'm not saying it too," Harry snapped and rapped his wand tip at the place where Dumbledore portrait edge should be. Dumbledore portrait came into view and Moody scowl deepened, "I have brought him here."
Elphias was beaming and said, "That's the one I gave you on your one hundred fiftieth birthday. Right?"
"Yes Elphias," said Dumbledore, "it's a nice piece of artifact."
"Yes it is," said Elphias, proudly, "but the trouble was well worth for you, Dumbledore."
"I'm flattered," said Dumbledore, giving Elphias a bow.
"Honestly Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall, "if you keep continue to be this flattered on this portrait more than I'm going to use you as a rug."
"It will be my pleasure," said Dumbledore, cheerfully; enjoying the situation.
Professor McGonagall glared at the portrait and then turned her accusatory glare on Harry, as saying it is your mistake. Harry stiffened in his chair; even after numerous thin lipped expressions, he never quite got the hang of it. Every time McGonagall would look at him like that, he would want nothing more than the ground to swallow him whole. Harry shifted on his chair, leaned on the portrait and said, "Professor, I'm going."
"Okay Harry," Professor Dumbledore said.
Not wanting to be in the stiff environment anymore, Harry slipped out of the chair to the Gryffindor table. Ginny and his eyes met and he flashed her a brilliant smile. Ginny ran toward her and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Harry hugged her back and buried his nose in her sweet smelling hairs. The Great Hall was filled with wolf-whistles. Harry quickly untangled himself, red with embarrassment and said, "Good night."
He quickly pecked her lips and turned around, his vision swaying because of exhaustion. But his weight seemed much more than ever, and his back arched forward because of the sudden weight. He felt something soft pressed against his back, and without second though he realized that is was Ginny.
"What are you doing Ginny?" asked Harry, standing still, "It's not that I mind, but right now I don't think I can even lift a Pygmy Puff."
Ginny got off from his back, feeling a little put-off. Harry turned, smiled at her scowl and kissed her, a slow sensual kiss, which maybe lasted for many hours or for no time at all. Coughs and wolf whistled filled the Great Hall again. Harry didn't want to end the kiss, but when the noise level became too much for his fragile ear, he had to pull away. When Harry pulled away, Ginny was still lost in the euphoric feeling of the kiss. Her eyelids were closed and her lips were pouted just a little, with a crack between both lips. Harry smiled fondly, pecked her cheek and nudged her a little.
"Why did you pull away?" Ginny complained in a dreamy voice.
Harry didn't answer. He turned and headed toward Gryffindor common room. After a exhausting walk to the Gryffindor common room, in which he had to give autographs and shake hands, he stood in front of the portrait of fat lady.
"Password?" Fat lady said.
"I don't know," Harry yawned, "can't you just let me in. I'm tired to the last bone of my body."
"No password, no entry," Fat lady stated simply.
Harry snarled at the fat lady, and for one nasty moment thought of accusing her that how in the hell she could stop their savior from entering his house common room. But quickly that impulse died and he grumbled, sleepily, "Fine, BLOODY FINE."
He turned on the spot and collided with Ginny, falling on Ginny body. But because of his Quidditch reflexes, he was able to turn in mid air and instead smacked on the ground.
"Oh Harry," Ginny said, surveying him with his eyes, "Are you fine? I'm so sorry. I thought you would be in common room."
"I'm fine Ginny," Harry said, "And I would have been in common room or in my dorms if she" — he pointed a accusing finger at fat lady — "hadn't stopped me from entering."
"And why would she do so?" snarled Ginny, turning to fat lady. When Ginny turned, he realized how much close their bodies were. Ginny breasts rubbed against his chest and he moaned. Ginny turned red and jumped away from him, while fat lady rolled her eyes and snickered.
"WHAT?" Ginny snapped and rounded on fat lady, "Why didn't you let Harry entered?"
Before fat lady could respond, Harry said, "She said we need password to enter."
"But all the passwords were reset," Ginny said, "you could enter any common room and you still won't need password."
Understanding dawned on her and Ginny said to fat lady, "Maybe its time to change the painting. Our old one has gone senile, stopping The Chosen One from entering Gryffindor common room. How about um… we use a paint remover."
"What kind of cruel thing is that?" asked fat lady with a shudder.
"You know, it's a muggle thing," said Ginny, with a evil smile, "they use it remove unwanted bits of paint."
"I was only trying to lighten the mood," said fat lady in her defense.
"Yeah, yeah," Ginny waved it off, "same old story."
Harry was getting more and more exhausted by the passing second. He turned around and stumbled downstairs, trying to find a niche, crook or anything which was devoid of any kind of noise. He heard pounding of steps, but couldn't tell with whom they belong. His or someone else? After what felt like countless steps, he crashed in a door, his feet unable to take his weight. The door burst open and he fell on soft grass. Was he outside? He didn't give a damn about it. The only thing he needed was sleep. When someone entered the room or grounds, he mumbled in sleep, "Close the door."
His order was complied as he heard a click, confirming the door was closed. After some more moments, in his semi-conscious state, he felt his head being lifted upwards and resting on something warm and soft. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around the thing, snuggling in closer as sleep drifted him to wonder land.
Harry was standing on a cliff of a mountain. Day was pleasant with warm sunlight, clear blue sky and pleasant cold winds trees were scattered around the mountain on which birds were chirping.
"Catch me, Harry," a girl with long fiery red hair called, as she started running down a steep of a mountain. Harry ran after her and called, "I'm going to catch you, Ginny. You can't run forever."
Harry started chasing Ginny, zigzagging to avoid colliding with trees. They ran for minutes and from the top of his eyes, Harry could see a lake.
"You're cornered, Ginny," Harry called and his voice was reflecting his cheerfulness and joy.
"I don't think so," Ginny called back and jumped in the lake.
"Oh so, you want to play it like this," Harry mused and then said aloud, "so let it be like that."
Harry dived in the lake, but to his horror found that the lake was now not there. The place where lake was, now was a big black hole, from which he was falling downstairs.
After some moments of falling, he again landed in the dark corridor. But this time, somewhat about it was different and more eerie. Now it was devoid of the torturing figures of his friend, but still he could sense them around.
And then his eyes swayed and whirled, or maybe the surroundings around him whirled and he saw Voldemort sitting on a very ugly chair. The brackets around the room flared with fire and to his horror and instant displeasure and grief saw that the chair was made from his friends limbs. Voldemort was sitting on the chair, his hands tapping its arm. Suddenly the full room was flooded with light and Harry screamed when he saw the chair. Its right arm was made of Hermione head's and its left arm was made of Ron head's. And on the top-center of the chair was Ginny head's. All the faces were ghastly white. Blood was pouring through every part of the chair as Voldemort snarled at him, his red eyes glinting with malice.
"Harry Potter," said Voldemort in his usual cold voice, "we meet again. And believe me its not the last time."
"Who are those?" asked Harry, pointing at the chair.
Voldemort grabbed Hermione hair, pulled on them and said, "How easily we forget Harry, don't we. She's your Mudblood friend, Hermione Granger."
He poked in Ron eyes, and blood poured from it like a jet of water, "He's the son of filth's, Ron Weasley."
He tilted his head upwards, his tongue licked the sides of Ginny sliced neck, "She is your girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. A blood traitor."
He plunged his wand in her sliced throat and Harry shouted, "NO……………"
"NO……………"
Author's Note: Hello, again. Hope you liked the story. I haven't much to say, so only this.
Please tell me how did you like the Snape-Harry conversation, I wrote it by my heart.
Some of the lines are directly taken from book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.
The chapter which I have posted is a slightly altered version. But still if you want to read the un-altered chapter, tell me. I will change the rating to M [which is bound to happen, sometime in near future].
If you want to read the next chapter, review.
And yes, if you lot get the time, please review my other three stories (The Year Alone, Harder Than imagine and I Knew It All Along) too.
Keep Reviewing.
Thanks.