By: Someone2
I somehow doubt
We'll ever be the same
There's too much poison
And confusion on your face
~ "Hate This Place" By
The Goo Goo Dolls
"When is that train going to get here?" exclaimed Ron. "It was
supposed—"
"Supposed to be here five minutes ago, Ron," explained
Hermione patiently. "Remember, this is a muggle train, they always run late."
"I just wish they would get here. This is the first time any
department has paid any mind to us. This time we may actually find him!" Ron
was pacing back and forth on the platform. Ron was so caught up in his thoughts
that when the loud whistle blew he jumped nearly five feet into the air. "About
bloody time," he mumbled.
"Ron! What have I told you about talking like that…?"
Hermione started to lecture him.
"Hermione," he interrupted, "We don't have time for this! We
have to look for—what's his name again—Oh yeah, James Black. We have to look
for him. We have got to focus our priority on finding Harry, he is our last
chance."
"That's what I'm here for," came a low voice, which sounded
like silk. Hermione turned to look at the man. Or should I say look up at the
man? He was as nearly as tall as Ron was, with black hair pulled into a low
ponytail. At the time he was wearing black sunglasses. Well he was also wearing
a black t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket. He had his hands stuffed
into his pockets and was wearing a grin which looked half sinister. But one
thing stood out like a hot poker. He was only their age. Hermione blinked.
He reached up to pull off his sunglasses, so that she was
looking into bright blue eyes. Eyes that looked haunted. "You are Ron and
Hermione Weasley, right?" came the lulling voice again.
"Yes we—" Ron started.
"I am Hermione Granger-Weasley. And who are you?" the
aforementioned woman said with her eyes narrowed.
He laughed and held up his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry,
my bad. I'm James Black, but you knew that. You just wanted confirmation. Well
are we going to go, or are we just going to stand here letting Mr. Popularity
get further away?"
"In just a moment," Hermione said to him. She turned to face
Ron. "Honey," she said in a sugary-sweet voice, "I need to talk to you. " She
glanced at Harry. "Alone, over there," she pointed vaguely over to a bench.
"Okay," Ron said, rolling his eyes at Harry.
Harry laughed as they walked away. Well in Ron's case,
dragged. Harry grinned and mumbled to himself. "This is going to be easier then
I thought. Hermione is already suspicious of me. Now if I can keep it that
way…"
"Ron," Hermione said, watching Harry, "I don't trust this
'James Black' person. Something about him strikes me as odd."
"Hermione," Ron said, sounding annoyed, "right now I don't
really care what is odd about him, I just want to find my best friend."
Hermione sighed. "Me, too, Ron. Me too. Let's go now."
They walked back to Harry. Hermione greeted him with a fake
smile. Harry looked at her with a lopsided grin. "You don't have to fake being
nice to me. I know you don't trust me."
She looked at him. "How did you know that?"
"I can read your face like a book. You don't trust me; you haven't
since you first laid eyes on me. I'm just curious as to why."
Hermione looked down at her feet. "Ron and I, we, well we want
to find Harry more than anything in the world. He is everyone's hope. But to us
he is just a friend that we miss so much. It took four years before anyone
would even look at us; give us a chance to find him. And they sent you. You are
the same age as us but that's not why. You don't seem to care. This is just a
paycheck to you."
Hermione looked up at him. "You can't tell me it isn't."
Harry looked up to the sky. "You are right, I can't. But I
will tell you one thing. The Ministry cared enough to send me. I am one of the
best, miss, it may not seem like it but I am. I can find Harry, but I want
answers first. I am not going to start until I have answers that satisfy me."
He looked at both of them and then at his watch, "Now I do believe we need to
catch a train to Hogsmeade. And if I am not mistaken, since the date is
September 1st, the train leaves in two minutes. Which means we can
continue this conversation on the train…?"
Harry looked from one to another for confirmation. Ron nodded
and they all started running to the Hogwarts Express. Harry grinned as they got
on the train just as it started pulling out. Hermione led them to the back of
the train. She looked into the windows. "Where is she? She said she would save
us a compartment in the back. Right, Ron?" He didn't answer. Hermione looked
back to see Harry and him leaning against a door that she had skipped.
Harry spoke up. "Does this person you speak of have red hair?"
Ron caught on. "Yeah, and does she happen to be related to
me?"
Hermione glared as Harry continued. "If she does then maybe
she is in this compartment. Hmmm? Shall we go see?"
"Oh just shut up." Hermione pushed past them and went into the
compartment.
Harry glanced at Ron and smiled. "I thought it was funny."
"Yeah, me too," said Ron nodding in approval.
They walk into the aforementioned compartment. Harry smiled at
the red headed girl, who smiled back. She raised her eyebrows at Ron and
Hermione. "Hello there. You must be the person who is going to find Harry
Potter."
Harry nodded at her. She had certainly changed in the four
years he had been gone. She was tall and slender, with a wide grin. She also
had more confidence than she had before. Well that could be due to the fact
that she didn't have a clue who she was talking to. Harry sat down next to her.
"Hello Ginny Weasley. My name is James Black. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ginny nodded in approval. "Same to you. So just how are you
going to find Harry?"
Harry leaned his head back against the wall and closed his
eyes. "I'm not doing anything until I get some answers. I don't believe that I
can go up to him and say that people want him to go out of hiding, he'll want
some kind of reason."
They all waited for him to continue. Ginny spoke up. "Ask
away."
Harry sat up and looked her straight in the eyes. "Why? Why
do you want to find him? Why not just let him live his life in peace? He
obviously left for a reason, why would he want to come back?"
Ginny's eyes widened and she started to stutter. Hermione,
with an ice-cold tone, was the one who answered. "Because, Mr. Black, we miss
him. And we don't think he left on his own accord. Why would he want to leave
us? We were his only family."
Harry interrupted. "From what I gather, you were his
only family, but all the time that he was around you your lives were in danger.
Maybe he didn't want you to get hurt. Now maybe you would like to tell me why
you won't leave the poor man alone."
Ron spoke up. "If you weren't our only chance at finding him,
I would have hit you by now. However, we have to humor you. We need him. He is
our only chance—"
"Why? Why is he your only chance? The only thing I see
that's special about him is that he survived the killing curse and Voldemort."
"Because he has powers that no one else in the world has!
He needs to train and defeat You-Know-Who or else the world is doomed! He is
the only one who can kill the monster!" Hermione finally snapped. She was
standing up and shaking with rage. She glared down to a smiling Harry.
"Thank you, that is enough for now. Though I want details of
this 'power' that he has when we see Dumbledore," Harry stated calmly. "I think
I am going to take a nap now. Wake me before we get there," and with that he
leaned his head back and was dead to the world.
Or so they thought. It was a trick that Harry had picked up. He
could get a lot of information when no one thought he could hear him or her. He
listened for a while.
"He is an odd, odd man," came Ginny's voice.
Ron's shocked voice came next. "I have never seen anyone keep
their cool around Hermione when she loses her temper."
"He is a jerk. He doesn't care at all. I want to know who he
is. I won't stop until I have a baby picture of him butt-naked on a rug,"
Hermione said with a stony voice. Harry couldn't help but grin at that. It was
exactly what he wanted her to do. Because, simply put, James Black didn't exist
until 3 years ago. He wasn't going to be the one to tell her who he was; she
had to figure it out on her own. He started listening again.
"That man is amazing. I mean he has a way of earning your
respect. He was able to pull information out of us that we didn't even want to
tell," Ron said in an envious tone.
Harry frowned. Why hadn't they wanted to tell him? It wasn't like
he was a spy for Voldemort or anything. He gave up listening and actually fell
asleep.
Harry woke to a gentle shaking on his arm. He forgot where he
was and his arm reached out and twisted the arm with lightning speed. Ginny
gave a small squeak. Harry cocked an eye open at her. He frowned and let go of
her arm. She was gently rubbing her wrist as he talked. "Never do that. I don't
want you getting hurt. Trust me, I could've done worse," he sat up. "So why did
you wake me?"
Ginny shushed him. "I was wondering if you wanted to play
chess with me. I'm kind of bored and those two," she waved her hand over to the
sleeping figures, "are no fun." She grinned, "So are you up to it?"
Harry grinned evilly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Glad you see it my way."
Ginny reached into the bag that was near her feet and pulled
out a chess set. Harry looked at it oddly as Ginny spoke.
"I'm sorry if the pieces don't listen to you. Harry was the
old owner of it and the pieces are just like him—very suspicious if you don't
seem right. Here, you can be white."
Harry shook himself out of his stupor. That was why it had
looked familiar—it had been his. He grinned. "I have a feeling that the
chessmen," he stressed this word, "will like me just fine."
Ginny shrugged and gave
him the pieces. Harry just set them down and let them go to their respective
places on the board. Harry then moved one of his pawns. The piece didn't even
shout. It just acted like a muggle chess set. Except for the fact that, the
pieces moved on their own. Ginny and Harry played in silence for a while. It
was Harry who broke the tension.
"Check," said Harry.
Ginny's eyes widened. "Where?"
"Can't tell you that much," Harry said laughing. Ginny joined
in as she moved her king out of check.
"So Mr. Black," she said carefully, "tell me a bit about
yourself."
"What do you want to know?" he asked, not taking his eyes off
the board.
"Umm, how about your age?"
"I'm 21," he said shortly. "What else?"
"How long have you been
an Unspeakable?"
Harry grinned and looked at her. "I've never been one."
Ginny's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Then what do you do?"
"I work in the Department of Mysteries. There is more to it
than Unspeakables."
"Like what?" she asked genuinely curious.
"Can't say. There is a reason that the Department of Mysteries
has that name." He looked down at the board, "Checkmate."
Ginny's eyes snapped down to the board. "What?" she exclaimed.
Harry grinned. "Checkmate," he said drawing out the word. "By
definition that means I win."
Ginny scowled and playfully stuck out her tongue. "Play again?" Harry nodded. "Good, I'm white
this time. You want to know something? I've never seen these pieces take to
someone this quickly before."
Harry smirked. "I guess I'm just special then."
Ginny smiled. "Yes, you are very…" she paused and then
carefully said the next words, "…very different. But that doesn't mean I'll
hold it against you."
Harry groaned. "Ha, ha, very funny there. And just how much do
you get paid performing this comedy?
"None," Ginny said with a confused expression on her face.
Harry playfully grinned as he trapped her king. "Check and
that's what I thought."
Ginny stuck out her tongue again. "Oh shut up. Check, Mr.
Hot-Shot-Chess-Player. Maybe you should play Ron." She had an evil grin on her
face but she quickly changed that to an innocent expression. She did all that
before he looked up.
"You know," she said in a sweet voice, "he isn't that good, I
bet you could beat him."
Harry didn't even break his concentration. "Nice try, Ms.
Weasley. I happen to know that no one can beat Ron at chess. That makes me
wonder why you brought it up." His now raised face had an eyebrow cocked.
"My name is Ginny, Mr. Black. I—"
Harry cut her off. "Checkmate and my name is James, not Mr.
Black."
Ginny groaned. "How do you do it? That's already the second
game you've won and we've only been playing for an hour!"
Harry thought back to all the games he played with Ron.
"Practice," is all he said is reply.
Ginny smiled and started picking up the game. "Okay, enough of
this embarrassment. Let's just talk."
"Okay, but what about?" Harry asked as he helped pick up.
"Oh not much. You never did finish telling me about yourself."
"Really?" Harry glanced over at the sleeping couple.
Ginny grinned at him. "Uh huh, I want to know about you."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yes, on one condition though."
"What's that?" she asked looking at the man sprawled next to
her. He turned and gave her a winning smile.
"I'll answer your questions if and only if you answer one of
mine."
"Okay, shoot."
"Are you asking me these because you want to know about me or
did Hermione set you up to get as much information out of me as you could?" His
eyes remained on her, never blinking.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"You heard me." His blue gaze was eerie.
"Yes, I did," she nodded absently. "I had just hoped I had
heard you wrong," Ginny frowned. "What on earth made you ask something like
that?"
"Hey," Harry held up his hands in surrender, "I never said you
had to answer. I just feel that if you get to ask me personal questions then I
get to ask one that hits the nail on the head. I guess this means I don't have
to answer your questions then."
Ginny didn't speak. Harry just smiled and leaned back, closing
his eyes. He mentally counted to 3. One… two… thr--
"Wait a moment, James, don't jump to conclusions," Harry
cocked one eye open at her earnest face. "I never said I wouldn't answer. I am
not spying for Hermione. I honestly just want to know about you."
Harry sat up and stared out the window. "That's all I wanted
to know. Now you can ask me whatever, just remember I don't have to answer."
Ginny smiled at him. "Okay. So do you have any girlfriends? A
wife?" She bit her lip.
Harry laughed. "Don't bite your lip," she stopped
mid-gnaw. "That's better. No, I don't
have any girlfriends. Girls that are friends, yes, girlfriends, no. As for a
wife…" He held up his left hand and wiggled his fingers. "No ring, no wife."
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes, why are you single? I am sure you could have any woman you
wanted."
"I just don't have time for that type of responsibility. My
work is dangerous and time consuming. I can't tell people what I do, unless of
course, they hire me. In that case, I can. But I don't want to have secrets
with a woman I'm dating. I also don't want anyone I like to be in danger
because of me. Nor do I want them to be worried."
"Wow," Ginny said dryly, "That was quite a speech there. It
even made a little sense. Okay, on to the next question. Tell me about your
childhood."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "You mean I had one?" He smiled.
"My parents died when I was very young. I was sent to live with my aunt and
uncle. They hated me. Said my magic was an abnormality," his tone had taken on
a bitter edge. "Treated me like dirt. They always were comparing me to my
cousin, and they never did anything kind for me." Harry shook his head and then
smiled at Ginny. "Anyway, I went to school, made friends and, when I was 17,
got the hell out of there. Obviously I did okay, I'm not dead yet," he winked.
Ginny sat there a minute in silence. "Oh, wow, I am so sorry.
I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," she finally said.
Harry laughed. "I have lived my whole life that way, they
aren't bad memories, just not exactly pleasant ones. Don't worry about it." He
looked out the window and his eyes lit up. "Would you look at that? We're
almost there. You should probably wake Hermione and Ron up."
Ginny glanced out the window. "You're right," she said
shocked. "I didn't know that much time had passed!" Ginny grinned at Harry.
Harry grinned back. "Oh I know that grin. You have something
planned. Spill."
Ginny leaned over and whispered in his ear. Harry's grin got
bigger. He laughed and turned to face her. "Oh, Hermione will hate that!"
"So, is it a plan?"
Harry nodded. "It's a plan."
Ginny got up and poked Ron. She quickly leaned over and told
him what Harry and her were going to do. Ron smiled and very slightly nodded
before pretending to go back to sleep. Ginny went over and sat on Harry's lap.
She winked at him before she kissed him. Harry smiled through the kiss. It was
only a matter of seconds before Ron played his part.
"Ginny! What are you doing?" he exclaimed.
They didn't stop. Then they heard what they were waiting for.
"Ginny, I need to talk to you. Now," Hermione's low
voice growled.
They broke apart. Harry winked at her as she got up and went
over to Hermione. Before the two could start talking, the train stopped.
Hermione glared at Harry, who smiled innocently back. "I need to speak to
Ginny. Alone. Ron, why don't you take James to the school? We'll catch
up to you in a bit."
Ron just nodded. As they were leaving, Harry waved cheekily at
the two girls. The two men walked in silence until they got off the train, then
they burst out laughing.
"That was classic! Hermione is going to be so pissed when she
finds out it was a joke!" Ron said leaning on the train for support. Harry was
right next to him. Harry nodded.
"Just another reason
for Hermione to dislike me."
"I don't see why she does, you seem perfectly fine to me."
Harry stopped laughing. "She doesn't like me because I am not
as serious about my job as other people are. I am not simply going to find him;
I am asking questions about something she doesn't want me to know about.
Therefore, she dislikes me."
Ron looked at him seriously. "You will find him though, won't
you?"
Harry started following the kids to the castle. "It's my job
to, though I won't until I have answers."
While the boys' conversation was taking place, Hermione had
been lecturing Ginny. After the boys had left the compartment, Hermione turned
to Ginny with white rage on her face.
"You were fraternizing with the enemy! How could you?"
Ginny laughed as Hermione went on and on. After a while she
decided to interrupt. "Hermione, calm down, I want to explain something to
you."
Hermione glared but sat down. "Thank you," Ginny said quietly,
"It was a joke, Hermione. We both thought it would be funny. Ron did too,
otherwise he wouldn't have helped out. We only kissed as a joke. Okay?"
Hermione sighed and nodded. "Okay. I just have this feeling
about James Black though. It feels as though he isn't telling the truth and I
don't like it. At all."
Ginny nodded. "That's reasonable. Should we go now? Ron and
James might have waited for us so we better hurry." Hermione agreed and they
started walking out of the compartment. Ginny linked her arm with Hermione's.
"I was asking him questions and boy does he sound too good to be true. Just
wait until I fill you in…"
Hermione laughed.
Harry stopped at the sound of three sets of feet behind him.
He turned around and faced the three people who hired him. The trio was running
towards him. Harry waited until they caught up before silently walking towards
the castle again. They walked like that for a long time, until Ginny caught
Harry's arm and pointed at the castle.
"That's Hogwarts," she said.
Harry smiled. He was home again.
A/N: So I guess I didn't
trash this. *grins* Thank you for all the support you people have given me. It
means so much to me. Like I said in an author's note in Days Gone By I will
continue both stories. It may take some time, but I will finish them. Promise.
Remember to read and review!
Oh yeah, I don't own
anything but the plot and what you haven't heard of in the books.
Thanks to Krazy Kris, Pumpkin
Hatching, and Katrina Skyfrost—wonderful beta's that they are.
Sorry for taking so long to
get this up, I have actually had this written for a while, but fanfiction.net
was down and I couldn't post.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You people are
amazing!
Remember to read and review please!
someone2
