Disclaimer:This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J. K. Rowling. No money is being made.
A.N.: Idea for he first few chapters is based on eternal cosmo's 'the world without me'.
I did ask if I could use it and was given permission. That said, if you continue to read my story I hope that you don't expect my story to stay like 'the world without me', though the first chapters are similar, by chapter 10 it will have lost any similarities to it.
Chapter 3 – Same faces, Different People
Just as Albus had ordered it, Harry was sent to the infirmary and his pets were on a bed by his side.
Madam Pomfrey looked him over, and she said that he appeared to be exhausted but other than that he was fine. They tried to take his clothes of but just like with his wands they weren't able to. Since James, Lily, Sirius and Remus seemed reluctant to leave the boy's side, Albus agreed to continue the meeting in the infirmary.
They went trough the usual things quicker than normal and finally reached what they were all wanting to discuss.
"Now we just need to decided how we are going to deal with young Mr. Potter."
"What do you mean Albus? He's our son, it's a second chance for us..."
"Lily, nobody said he wasn't your son. But we don't know anything about him. In his world things could be different. He could be allied with You-Know-Who, I know that he said under veritaserum that he wasn't, but he could have a different name in their world, or it may even be someone worse. We have to take precautions and be careful."
"Frank's right. I think we should sent the kid back and be done with it." Moody grumbled.
After that declaration pandemonium broke trough the room and Albus saw that four of his favorite students had recuperated some of their fire. But all the shouting was helping no one and he was rather glad that he had cast a silencing charm around them, or they would have woken the boy up by now.
"Calm down. Nobody is going anywhere," Albus told them, "As I told you before, the spell is only one way. It is not possible to send him back to his world..."
"But Albus, the boy should have died. The magical strength needed for the spell, it's unthinkable. And he is only 17. I don't see how it was possible."
"Filius, we have to assume that he is magically strong enough to sustain the spell."
"How strong would that be exactly Albus?" inquired Moody, those that knew him well could hear a little of apprehension in his tone.
"I don't know old friend, I don't know. But I do know that I couldn't sustain the spell."
"That's absurd Albus," Minerva exclaimed, looking quite agitated, "He is a child, it's impossible. Someone must have done the spell for him."
"Maybe, I fear we will only obtain more answers when young Harry wakes up. We have to decide where he is going to stay..."
"He will stay with us," interrupted Lily, "he is our son."
"Very well, when he wakes up, we will talk more about it. Let's conclude the meeting, we all had a long night. If you want to stay in the castle you are all welcome. Have a good night."
Saying good-night they left the infirmary one by one, all but four.
The two Potters, Sirius and Remus, all sat around the bed where their son and godson from another world was lying. They still couldn't believe it. It was so hard to believe it was true, but a part of them wanted to believe it so much that it hurt. They were afraid that if they took their eyes of him he would disappear and crush all their hope that they really were gifted with a second chance.
"He looks like me, don't you think?" James ended up asking, not able to contain himself.
"He has darker hair Prongs, but yeah, he kinda does."
"Moony's right, his hair is really dark, completely black."
"What about his eyes? Our Harry's eyes used to look so much like mine..."
"Lily..."
"I know James, but what if they are right? Look at his familiar and the name he gave it."
"Lily, we know nothing about him, we don't know the kind of live he had," Remus told her, "We don't know if in his world serpents were associated with the same things. We have to wait for him to wake up. Besides, his smell is familiar."
"Moony is right, we have to wait for him to wake up, but he is my godson. He may not be the godson our Harry would have turned out to be, but he is still my godson."
"Just as he is still our son."
"You're right James, I just hope that he accepts us. We may be nothing like the parents he had in his world."
Silence was the only thing that followed Lily's words. And so they spend the night beside their son and godson, waiting anxiously for him to wake up.
It was almost lunch time when Sirius saw Harry moving and groaning.
"Moony, he's waking up. Prongs, Lily, Harry's waking up."
The other three, that had been having a little nap after spending the whole night up, woke up rather abruptly and focused on the boy in the bed and they saw that he really was waking up. He tried to open his eyes but he quickly closed them again because of the light.
"Argh... Poppy," they heard him mumbled, making them smile, "No matter what I do, I always end up here..." he muttered, "Wonder what I did this time..."
It seemed obvious to those watching that he was still half asleep. However that didn't last long, only a few seconds after he moved so quickly that they almost missed it, one second he was lying in bed the next he was standing besides it, his wand in hand and aiming at them.
Harry looked around him and when his eyes landed on Sirius he felt his heart stop. There, in front of him were Padfoot and Moony, alive and well. And before he could think about what he was doing he let go of his wand and hugged them.
"Padfoot, Moony... I'm sorry... Sirius, I'm really sorry, I didn't want to... It was all my fault Moony. I'm sorry." Harry wasn't even aware of what he was saying, he wasn't thinking. He just acted, forgetting for a moment that these Sirius and Remus were not the ones he had known in his world.
The adults present didn't know what to do. But they didn't need to do anything, as fast as it had happened, Harry let them go and they could see that he had a little blush on his cheeks.
"I'm sorry about that. I don't know what came over me."
Remus was the first one to react, he was always able to have a level head when everybody around him was panicking, "It is no problem at all, you have to be a little disoriented. How do you feel?"
Harry laughed, the four adults loved the sound, and answered, "I've been worse Moony. Where are my familiars?"
"Ah... they are on a bed, over there. We had to stun them..."
But apparently Harry wasn't listening to him anymore. They saw him pointing his hand at his pets and to their amazement they woke up.
"Hey Hedwig, how are you girl? Everything alright?"
They were quite shocked when the owl hooted, nibbled on Harry's finger and practically forced him to pet her. It was a rather peculiar behavior for an owl.
"I'm glad you're fine girl. And I see you're fine to Umbra, I'm sorry, I didn't know they were going to stun you, when we leave Poppy's care I'll give you a big juicy rat. Licentia, you alright? You're probably hungry, thirsty to. I'm gonna see if I can find something for you."
The others in the room were finding the situation rather amusing, the snake didn't seem as menacing as before and Harry looked like a normal 17 year old. They noticed Harry turn around and look a them attentively.
"Suppose the spell worked then, I really wasn't expecting it too. And you are all here. It's hard to believe it's true. I'm happy to see that you are all well. I really don't know what to say, I... I wasn't expecting to see you all so soon. You obviously know who I am, so I suppose there's no need to introduce myself, tough it would be the polite thing to do..." Harry hadn't even noticed that he was rambling, however before he could continue with it he was enveloped in two pairs of arms. It was a new sensation for him, he couldn't remember either of his parents hugging him. He admitted to himself that he quite liked it, until that moment he hadn't realized how much he wanted it.
"Oh Harry, we never thought..."
"We're so happy..."
"Ah, I see that our young friend woke up."
The five already inside the infirmary looked to where the voice came from, none of them to happy with having their little reunion interrupted.
Albus, Kingsley and Moody were by the door of the infirmary observing them. Harry wanted to laugh when he saw them together. Apparently some things never changed, no matter the world. James and Lily let go of him and he turned to face the newcomers.
"Good afternoon professor. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Ah, well, you know Harry..."
"Hey! Who woke the creatures up?" interrupted Moody before Albus could say anything else.
"The creatures, are my familiars. And I'm the one who woke them up, I don't appreciate that my familiars were stunned. Specially Licentia, she's still a baby, it could hurt her."
"I am sorry about that Harry, it was my fault, we couldn't take any chances. It won't happen again."
"It's no problem. They are fine. Now I suppose that you have some questions?"
"Yes, we do. However first we want to know why you came here."
"Professor, I didn't even know if the spell was going to work, I was kind of expecting it not to, to be completely honest. But if you are asking why this world, I have no idea. Maybe because it's the most similar to my own world, or maybe it's the most compatible with me. I believe we will never now for sure."
"Very well. And what plans do you have?"
"Plans?"
"Yes, you have to have some plans coming here. If I'm not mistaken you turned 17 a little while ago, you should be starting your seventh year at Hogwarts."
"Honestly I hadn't even thought about it. I didn't even know if it would work, so I had absolutely no plans. And I haven't been to school for technically a year, going back to classes wasn't something that even crossed my mind..."
"But finishing your education is important Harry." interrupted Lily.
And suddenly the seventeen year old boy standing before them, that looked a little like James, with eyes similar to Lily's, disappeared. In front of them was a man, with cold eyes and a hard look on his face. His eyes shone with power and he had a haunted look in them that no teenager should have. When he spoke his voice contained power and demanded attention and obedience.
"Sometimes, it isn't in school that they teach what we need to learn."
And then he smiled and just as fast as it appeared the image disappeared, leaving those present wondering if it had been their imagination.
"Plans... I had thought I could spend a little time with my parents and godfathers. If they want of course..."
"Of course we want to!" the four exclaimed gaining a smile from Harry.
"I don't see a problem with that. However they are all professors here and classes start in a week. You would have to stay in the castle to spend time with them, you may frequent their classes if you wish, even if it's only to pass the time. You are free to go to the other classes as well if you wish."
"Thank you for your offer professor. I suppose that Kingsley and Mad-Eye are going to keep an eye on me?"
"Well..."
"It's no problem professor. I would have done the same. Constant Vigilance, right Moody? I really don't want to be rude but I don't remember the last time I ate. Do you think it would be possible to have some lunch?"
"Of course, of course. Let's go then, we will have lunch in the Great Hall."
"Right. Umbra, you can go hunt in the forest, I'll meet you there later. Hedwig stay with Licentia ok? You can go flying and hunting, but take care of her for a while alright? You know where to find me if you need anything."
Having finished talking with his familiars, the seven wizards and one witch left the infirmary, seven of them paying close attention to their young companion.
Harry may not seem like it, but he was rather nervous. After all it wasn't every day that you get to see people, family and friends, that are, technically, dead. He tried not to think about it. He tried to enjoy the fact that he was at Hogwarts again, and that the castle was whole. He hadn't thought that he would see it like this again. It may have been a different castle, but he felt at home.
Before he knew it they were in the Great Hall and the Headmaster motioned him to a place at the head table. He sat between his father and Sirius, he didn't really know what to say. He was trying to control all his emotions, but it was so hard. What could he say to them? He had no idea. Although he was close to a breakdown, he held it together, promising himself that he could have a breakdown when he was alone. He could almost feel them by his side giving him strength, and arms wrapping around him, promising that everything would be ok. But everything wasn't ok and he was alone. Fortunately, before he could drown in his memories, his father initiated a conversation with him. Unfortunately it was about something he had no wish to speak about.
"In the infirmary you said you didn't study anymore, was it because of something special?"
Harry knew that all those present were trying to listen to his answer, and he didn't blame them. He was the one that landed in their world, coming from Merlin knows where. They had every right to want to know who he was, if he was a danger to them or not. They didn't trust him and Harry didn't trust them either, it was only natural after all, they were strangers. And he was certain that they would kill him if they knew just how dangerous he was, if they knew just what he was. Well, he didn't think Albus would kill him, but maybe lock him away. Whichever the case, he wasn't wiling to risk it, at least not now. On the other hand, he didn't wish to lie to these people, that appeared to have accepted him, even if it was only to make him more comfortable so that they could learn more about him, specially the Potter's, Sirius and Remus. Not wanting to lie, but unable to tell the true, he opted for part of the true.
"Yes, you could say that it were special circumstances."
"Such as?" James asked.
"Hmm, well, can you answer something first before I explain?" seeing his father, he felt rather strange thinking that, nod he continued, "Are you at war here? Does Voldemort exist here? Do Death Eaters exist? If you are at war, when did it start?"
Bravo Harry, he thought to himself, great job shocking them enough to give them heart attacks. Although in his defense he hadn't thought that they would be so shocked ate the use of Voldemort's name, though that did answer his question if Voldemort existed in this new world.
Though Albus looked rather stunned he answered his questions. "Yes, we have a Dark Lord that goes by the name Voldemort." Harry noticed that they seemed less shocked to hear Albus say the name, he had to wonder why that was. Maybe they were so used to him saying it that they didn't notice it anymore, but when other people said it they found it more shocking or something like that, he had absolutely no idea. "And his followers are called Death Eaters," continued Albus, "But we are not at war, there are attacks and they are brutal, however it isn't a daily occurrence, fortunately. And the Ministry hasn't declared state of war."
"It's better than I expected..." muttered Harry, talking more to himself than to those around him.
"What do you mean by that boy? Watch what you say, many good people lost their lives."
"Frank Longbottom," said Harry, looking in his direction with a small smile, "It's a pleasure seeing you. And I meant exactly what I said, it's better than I thought. Where I came from we were at war. There were attacks every day, people were dying left, right and center, that's the reason why I didn't attend classes anymore, and believe me, I wasn't the only one, we were at a point where classes weren't a priority."
"And your parents were alright with that? They didn't say anything?" asked Moony looking incredulous.
"My parents died on the 31st of October of 81. I grew up in Petunia's home. I didn't even know I was a wizard till I went to Hogwarts."
"With my sister? Who was the idiot that had the brilliant idea to put you with my sister?" asked Lily indignant.
Harry couldn't hold the laughter that bubbled in his chest and smiles appeared on the Potter's, Sirius and Remus's faces, they loved to hear him laugh, it was something they never thought they could experience.
"It was Dumbledore's brilliant idea. Moony told him that if you were alive that you would have had a similar reaction."
Harry's laughter was contagious and some of them joined him, while Lily blushed a little for having called the Headmaster an idiot, even if it was one from another world.
Wanting to keep the conversation to a lighter note James asked, "Do you play Quidditch?"
A smile spread trough Harry's face, they were back to safer territory, he could answer questions like these without having to analyze everything he said, it was quite tiresome to have to watch what you say and how you act the whole time, he didn't know how long it would take before he slipped and said something that would lead to questions being asked that he had no wish to answer.
"Of course. I was the youngest seeker in a century, I joined the team in first year. I miss flying."
"Oh no," Lily groaned exasperated, "Two Quidditch fanatics in the family."
"Like father like son." James said with a touch of smugness in his voice.
Some of those present couldn't help the smiles, it had been a long time since they had seen the Potter's that lively. They thought that the fact that the Potter's couldn't have anymore children after Harry's death, had made it harder for the couple. They never truly recovered, and seeing them laughing and joking with others were rather rare occasions. They just hoped that this Harry wouldn't break them, they hoped they could trust him.
Harry was happy, well, happy may be the wrong word but at least he wasn't feeling like he was breaking. He could smile a real smile, and feel joy at seeing James and Lily happy. But he was still to damaged to let himself truly be happy. The wounds he had were far to recent and far to deep. But maybe, maybe this was his chance, an opportunity he had to be happy. Maybe they could help him heal. He wanted so much to grasp this chance that Fawkes had given him, wanted so much to believe that he could be happy in this new world, however he didn't know if he would be capable of that. But he hoped he would be able to, he hoped he didn't have to fight again, he hoped there wouldn't be a war, he hoped he could truly overcome his past and be happy. However until the day came that that happened, he would pretend that he was happy, that he wasn't broken, that everything was ok.
The rest of the meal was rather uneventful, they talked a bit more, mostly about the classes each of them taught and they made Harry promise that he would attend at least one of each classes. Lily spend most of her time telling him to eat a bit more and James was already planning several quidditch games.
Harry smiled and joked, but he couldn't keep the anxiousness at bay. They were, technically, his family but would they accept him? He knew he wasn't a light wizard, he knew as much dark magic as Voldemort. With the life he had chosen it was impossible to not have learned dark magic, he wasn't ashamed of it. But would his family accept it? Should he tell them now or risk getting closer and have them reject him later. At least now he didn't truly know them, it would be less painful. He withheld a sigh and continued his talk with James about Quidditch. His treacherous heart wouldn't let him tell them now, part of him wanted to know them even if it meant it would hurt him more in the future.
The week before classes begun was relatively calm. He spend his time with Lily, James, Sirius and Remus, talking with them, mostly about things of little importance, or reading when they were busy with preparations for classes.
Harry learned that the four friends lived in the castle, apparently his family couldn't handle his death and never left the castle. So Dumbledore offered them the professor positions and they made Hogwarts their home. Harry wanted to know what had happened to his other self, but neither the Potter nor Sirius and Remus would talk about it and he didn't want to push them. And since nobody that knew who he was felt comfortable talking to him and the newspaper's in the library only went back ten years he had no way of knowing what had happened.
He rather enjoyed the time he spend reading in the library. He noticed that some of the defense books were a little different to the ones from his world, special those about duels. He usually took a book, found a nice quiet corner by a window, sat on the floor and read his book in peace. And that was how Remus found him.
"Hey Remus." Harry greeted him without taking his eyes from the book.
"How did you know it was me?" asked Remus incredulous, because of his wolf he moved much more silently than most people and Harry hadn't even taken his eyes from the book.
"Hmm? Oh... I suppose that old habits die hard..."
Remus sighted, when they thought that they had found something out about Harry something new always showed up. He did everything he could to maintain the conversations about trivial matters and it was rare that he revealed something personal about himself. Remus understood that they were practically strangers, no matter how much Harry knew about many of them, but they wanted to know Harry so much. They wouldn't force him but that didn't change the fact that they wanted to know everything about him and not just trivial things like, he likes quidditch, his favorite color is blue and he adored treacle tart.
"That's quite an advanced book, it has things in it that surpasses that of seventh year." Remus commented, maybe his reading material would reveal something about him.
"I read it before, when I was in fifth year. But it has a few differences from the one in my world, especially in the duel tactics."
That had Remus's immediate attention. Reading that book, understanding it and being able to do what was in it wasn't easy. "You must have been rather studious to read that book in fifth year."
Harry surprised him by laughing.
"Studious? Nothing like that, to be honest I was rather lazy, sure, I had good grades, but it wasn't something I spent a lot of time with. No, I read the book because my two best friends convinced me to created an illegal defense group and named me the leader/teacher, and since there were members that were sixth and seventh years I had to know things to teach them."
"Illegal? Why was it illegal? And if there were older members why did you teach them?"
"It was illegal because we were forbidden from creating it, but, well my friends and I never really followed the rules, you know? If we did we would never have left Hogwarts in the middle of the night to raid the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry, would we? But well, we created fake galleons that we gave all our members and they had them always with them. They would heat up when the date and time of the meetings were set. Even when they did searches, they never found anything. We lead the whole operation right under their noses.
And I suppose that I was the one who taught them because I was the one with more experience."
Remus was astonished, it was the first time he could obtain so much information from Harry, but what did it all mean? He had to talk with James and with the others as well. He just didn't know what to make of all of it. He staid with Harry a little longer but as soon as he left he went in search of his friends.
Harry watched Remus go and released a sigh. He hoped he hadn't revealed to much. He had thought it over and concluded that it would be easier to tell them a few things, so that they could see that he wasn't a normal seventeen year old without having to outright say it. He just didn't know what to say and what not to say. He wasn't really sure it was the right choice and it was painfully obvious they wanted to know more about him, he just hoped it wouldn't backfire.
Remus found all three of them in James and Lily's quarters. They were going over some of the material they were going to use with the older students but stopped when they saw him enter their living room.
"I'm glad you're all here."
"What's wrong Moony?" asked James concerned, Remus looked a little out of it, which was rather strange for the usually compost werewolf.
"I was talking with Harry. James could you go get you pensive? I wanna show you the conversation, because I don't know what to think about it."
James did as he was asked and after a few moments they were all inside Remus's memory. Just a few moments after that they were back from the pensive, sitting around the table immersed in their own thoughts. Remus not standing the silence any longer exclaimed, "Well?"
James was the first out of his stupor.
"How does a teenager know about the Department of Mysteries?"
"And why the hell would they raid it?" asked Sirius to no one in particular.
"Exactly! And what experience did he have that the others didn't? And what habits did he have that made him so attuned to his surroundings? I just don't understand."
"You're not the only one. Lily, honey, what's wrong?"
"Didn't you notice? The method that he described, the words he used. The galleons that heat up, terms like 'members', 'organization', it doesn't remind you of anything? The Death Eater's Dark Marks... And why would they forbid a study group? And that book has nothing that is asked in exams..."
"Lily, are you suggesting..."
"I don't know James. But there is so much that doesn't make sense."
"When he's ready he will tell us."
"Do you really think so James?"
"I want to believe it Sirius. I don't have another choice."
And they spend the rest of their afternoon with a teenager with green eyes on their mind.
On September the first, Harry woke up earlier than usual. No matter what he did his nightmares haunted his dreams several times a week. Knowing he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep Harry spend some time with his familiars and asked them to stay in his room, especially Caliga, because the students would be back that day. Seeing as it was rather early, and the inhabitants of the castle appeared to still be asleep, he used the opportunity to train a little. He hadn't trained since he arrived and he was starting to feel like he was rusting.
He put on some sweatpants and a t-shirt and went outside. He started by doing four laps around the lake, then he stretched and finally he started his various martial arts training, that he had learned because of the war.
Without him noticing several people were observing him from the castle, fascinated with how graceful his movements were. To those watching it looked like a beautiful dance, deathly but beautiful nonetheless.
After three hours Harry concluded his training and went back to the castle. When he arrived at the entrance hall there were people waiting for him.
"Hello Harry."
"Good morning dad, mom. Hey Sirius, Remus. You're up early."
"We? Kid you were the one out there before the sun was up." Sirius answered him with a big smile on his face.
"It was already up when I went out." informed him Harry, with a smile just as big on his face.
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing special. Just some light training... You know how it is..."
"Of course, son. Go get a shower, so we can have breakfast together."
"Alright, I won't be long." he said, giving Lily and James a hug and going in the direction of his rooms.
The four adults went in the opposing direction for a meeting with the Headmaster, adding another piece of information to the long list of things they didn't understand about Harry.
"Ah, glad you arrived."
"Good morning Headmaster." greeted the four, taking their seats around the Headmaster's desk.
"Good morning, good morning. Well, as all of you know Harry is going to stay in the castle, but he isn't going to go to classes regularly. He told us that he hadn't been to classes in approximately a year, however I invited him to attend the seventh year classes. We don't know anything about his magical strength or knowledge, since he arrived he hasn't used magic, so I ask that you pay attention in your classes to see what he is able to do and what he knows. The professors that don't belong to the order think he is James's cousin, who is attending a few classes only, and only occasionally because he was home-schooled. And since his parents passed away and he doesn't have any other relatives he came to stay with James. I don't think that we will be able to hide for long the fact that he is your son, but at least we can delay it as long as possible. The other professors will give detailed information on his abilities if he decides to go to their classes.
I also want you to pay close attention today at the feast."
"Why at the feast Headmaster?" inquired Frank.
"Because based on the reaction he has to the students we may find out who his friends were in his world. Maybe it will help us with figuring out what kind of person he is."
Although the four friends didn't like the idea, they admitted that it was a good way to learn more about Harry, and besides nothing forced them to give the Order every little piece of information they learned.
The rest of the day was spend making sure that they had everything ready for the students arrival. While the professors went back and forth Harry was laying by the lake. He was a little nervous, he was going to see his friends again. Although these people weren't his friends, they hadn't lived trough the same things, they hadn't had the same life. They were strangers looking like the people he loved. He tried not thinking about it, but every time he did he couldn't help but finding it more cruel than anything he could think of, it was a constant reminder of what he had lost.
The hour of the feast arrived faster than he would have liked but now there was nothing he could do. He was seated at the head table, between Frank Longbottom and James, waiting for the students to arrive.
It didn't take long for the students to appear and faces of people he had spend almost a decade with started to appear in the crowed. People he knew as Gryffindors were Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs. People he trusted with his life were now strangers.
"This is so weird." Harry muttered to himself, unfortunately James heard and asked him what was weird, catching the attention of the Order members and the Headmaster.
"People that I trusted with my life are now strangers that show me what I lost." Harry told him, not really paying attention, he was to lost in his memories, "Friends that would have given their lives for each other hardly talk. Seeing Neville sitting at the Hufflepuff table instead of at my side at the Gryffindor table, seeing Neville as the boy he is, compared to the man I knew him as, it's hard."
"You were friends with my son?" Frank asked him, "He was a Gryffindor?" there was a bit of incredulity in his voice, but a little bit of pried as well.
Harry's little speech had captured everyone's attention, but Harry really didn't care, far to lost in memories of times where he wasn't alone, where he had his loved ones with him.
"No, we weren't friends. We were brothers," answered Harry with a smile and nobody could deny the emotion in his voice, "He was a true Gryffindor, there was no one with more courage. He was one of us, he became one of the leaders quickly. I would have gladly given my live for him. Ron, Hermione and he were my favorites to have with me in a fight. Ron and he were deathly. I remember perfectly the effect they had when they entered the battlefield. People even said that one of them was my right hand and the other the left one and Hermione the head of course. The three of us were far to impulsive, without her we would have walked towards our deaths more than once."
"If you had friends like that why did you leave?" asked Frank. What Harry had told them had disturbed him more than a bit, and the others as well. They could shake the felling that Harry wasn't speaking metaphorically when he said that they walked towards their own deaths. However the answer Harry gave them troubled them even more and did nothing to reassure them.
"Sometimes, the price we pay for peace is far to great."
Unfortunately the first years started entering the Great Hall and they couldn't ask anymore questions. But most of those that had heard Harry's answer couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for a price to be to high to pay for there to be peace.
A.N.: Harry may seem more in control of his emotions, less hotheaded, but the reason why he is like that will be explained in chapter 11. He is still impulsive and has a temper but he will have a bit more control, at least in the beginning. In the next chapter Harry will have one of his hotheaded moments.
Thank you all for your support, it makes me really happy. *cookies for everyone* :)
