Hiya! Thanks all of you for the kind reviews, alerts and favouriting. It really means a lot and I am extremely grateful.
I was a bit upset by the first flamer that this story received but am moving forward and going to ignore it. So a warning to anyone who flames this story:
DON'T BOTHER FLAMING; ALL FLAMERS SHALL BE BURNT TO A CINDER!
However;
Please READ and REVIEW Constructive Criticism is always reflected upon.
This chapter focuses on Harry's wakening and Flashbacks of his past school year.
Also, hopefully this will address the issue of how quickly Harry will come to trust the pilots and what his mental state is like.
Chapter Four: Revelations:
Inside Harry's Mind - Harry P.O.V:
He was surrounded by a pool of golden light. It was warm and safe here. His body seemed so far away and all the pain he'd been feeling was gone here. It was just warmth and safety; two things he rarely ever felt and barely knew.
He knew he wasn't awake; didn't know how long and didn't really care; this was better; nicer.
He knew he had to go upwards to wake but really didn't feel like doing that right now or ever.
There was no point in going back. Was there?
Nobody wanted him or cared for him; cared for just Harry. They all wanted something else from him and cared not for his feelings or what he wanted to do. Ha! They never let him be who he wanted or gave him the chance or time to figure it out. Always with the expectations and ideas of who he should be and act. Never once was he seen as a person.
Basking in the sensation of floating, he pondered just what was waiting for him if he went back.
The public had what they wanted from him. The Minister just wanted a mindless little puppet to parade about.
If he died, they'd soon get over it. If they even noticed.
Flashback:
He stood in the Ministry Atrium, panting heavily, blood running down his arm and leg, ribs wincing with each breath and wand pointed outwards; on defence. Before him sat a pile of ashes, the remains of Voldemort.
He'd done it; the man who killed his parents was no more.
Around him swarmed Ministry Officials and Employees, arresting Deatheaters, staring and applauding Voldemorts' death.
Not a one came up and congratulated him or came to check he was okay after killing someone.
They ignored him; walked past or around him. It was like he wasn't even there.
They flocked to Dumbledore; listened to what he said about events; obeyed him when he didn't even DO anything!
End Flashback
So, they no longer needed him, he'd done his job. They were safe now and wouldn't miss him.
His friends? Now, that's a laugh! What friends! He has none.
His whole life was nothing but a lie. All his choices; actions; accomplishments; were carefully planned out by the man he thought he could trust. A man he thought was like a grandfather to him.
Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, all of them, they were nothing more than schemers and betrayers. Using him in ways far worse than anything the Durlseys ever did.
Flashback:
Walking silently down the stairs of Grimwald Place, he carefully crept past the portrait of Mrs. Black. Last thing he needed was to set her off and wake up the entire house when all he wanted was a glass of water.
He paused outside the kitchen door, noticing the light was on. Frowning he moved closer to the door, careful not to accidentally move it. He was curious as to who was on the other side and why they were up at this hour.
"...keep a better eye on him this year." Frowning slightly, placing the voice as Dumbledore's.
'What's he doing here and who's he talking about?'
"Yes Sir." Hermione's voice now.
"Good, now you must keep him from the library and others. Can't let him learn too much."
"Sure, it's easy to convince him to goof off instead. It always works but why is this year so important?" Came Ron's whinging voice.
'But why is he talking to those two?' He felt dread creeping up his backside and the hairs on his neck stood on end.
"Oh Ron don't you know anything!" Man, Hermione sounds snappish and in front of Dumbledore, no less!
"Now, Now Hermione, that's enough. The reason Ron, is because now that he's fifteen Harry can take control of his vaults, and we don't want that. Which is why I need you two to keep him from being told or finding out. Watch out for Longbottom and Malfoy; there the most likely to say anything. Everyone else thinks he knows and is letting me carry on as overseer. You must keep it that way, otherwise no more money."
"Oh right, 'cos the money comes from his vaults."
Hearing enough, I crept away from the door and headed back upstairs.
Silent tears ran down my cheeks.
'There using me. There not really my friends, they're being paid to watch me. Dumbledore sees me as a tool. And what vaults? Just what have my parents left me?'
Thoughts swam through his head as he crept back into bed. Yet sleep did not come that night.
End Flashback
After that I figured out just what they were up to and thwarted them. Only thing I never did was seize control of my vaults and take back my money.
Funny, maybe I should have done that but I just didn't want to know who else was involved.
I won though. I may be on the verge of death but I've won. I thwarted their plans for me.
I killed Voldemort ahead of their schedule and did it for good too. Got rid of those nasty Horcruxes, something they never told me he made or that I was one. Good thing I overheard them, then!
To think they wanted me to die in the battle and do so after signing everything to them and Ginny; my wife!
Flashback:
It was late, far past curfew and everyone else was asleep.
Three figures sat in the common room under various wards to prevent eavesdroppers. There was two redheads and one brunet.
"It's not fair that you two get so much money and get the fame of being with him!" The female redhead bemoaned.
"Ginny, shut up! You'll get your time." The other redhead snapped.
"When though!"
"Dumbledore says that your mum will invite Potter over next summer and you'll slip him a love potion. You'll be engaged before the end of summer and then marry in his 7th year." The brunet explained with just a hint of sneer in her voice. She obviously couldn't see why anyone would want to marry him.
Smiling smugly Ginny just stuck her chest out at the bushy-haired brunet and said in a spiteful voice. "Then I'll be Mrs. Potter and one of the richest women in Britain."
"Yeah, but once Potter's dead you'll go back to being a Weasley and we'll be the richest, most influential family. We'll have more money than the Malfoys." The other redhead added, a greedy gleam in his eyes.
"Yes, Ron, you will be." The brunet said, smiling seductively. "But remember we need to keep him in line and make sure he follows the plan without ever knowing of it. We can't lose out on all that money and power."
"Yeah, yeah Mione. Besides like he'll ever figure it out. The Dursleys did their job and beat him down. Now he'll do whatever we want so long as he thinks we're his friends."
"True, I mean HOW can he not realise that his parents left him a lot more than his trust vault! He's such an idiot. All that influence and power is such a waste on him." Hermione sneered, voice sounding eerily like Severus Snape at the end. Her face was twisted up and she looked positively repulsive.
"Too true. Oh well he'll be dead soon enough and we'll have everything."
Standing up and yawning widely, Ron turned to look at the other two. "Come on we should get some sleep. We'll need it to put up with his moaning tomorrow."
Nodding in agreement, the other two followed, lowering the wards.
None of them noticed the two narrowed emerald eyes staring at them stonily from the darkness of the portrait entrance. Having heard everything.
Turning round, he headed out of the common room; heading straight for the library, just as he had been doing every night since coming back to Hogwarts.
End Flashback
They called him stupid; yet they never did catch on that he wasn't in bed when he was supposed to be, or that he rarely spoke to them anymore.
He worked tirelessly; reading and learning new spells and researching ways to kill Voldemort. Learning the stuff he should've already known about magic and how the society worked; paying particular attention to what affected him.
He learnt that as the last male Potter, he was actually considered Lord Potter and had seats on the Wizengamot and Board of Governors. Then there was everything else as a Lord of a Pureblood family; the rights and privileges he was supposed to receive and never had. The fact he been misled and misinformed, that his mail had obviously been tampered with as he'd never received any letters about Ministry meetings or votes.
Soaking up the warmth surrounding him he turned once more to survey the way out; the way back to life. Debating what was waiting out there for him; what he could do now.
He'd found new branches of magic which he excelled at and enjoyed. Discovered other magic schools which would except him, knew of a way to make up for the mess that were his OWLS and even take exams in the skills he'd newly learnt which Hogwarts did not teach.
He could go to Gringotts; inform them of the errors in his vaults and the manipulations of the Headmaster. He knew as soon as they found out about the money theft, they'd support and aid him; Goblins took such matters very seriously.
He could take those that had stolen and wronged him to court; it didn't even need to be the British Ministry either – another perk of being a Lord and having a business based in America.
Or he could just use his money and power, to disappear from the Wizarding World altogether; fake his death; reveal everything publicly then portkey away; go to one of his houses and live his life in solitude under heavy wards with the Potter house-elf.
He had plenty of options laid out before him, but did he want to carry on living?
None of those options included friends and a family; family being what he truly desired more than anything and had been denied it three times over.
They all had him being alone or in the line of fire; the one to target and yell at. Did he really want to confront and deal with those he once trusted? Then there were still a lot of the Deatheaters still free and wanted him dead; preferably after several rounds of torture. Those that are his 'friends' had done far worse; could he handle dealing with them. There was the questions of where the public sat on it and who the Ministry would support. How far did the betrayal go and did he want to know the answers?
Shifting away from the exit, there was his other option; of giving up; giving in to death's embrace.
He could go join his parents; people he never got to know; people who others would not tell him about. He could see Sirius again; someone who was recently stolen from him; who he saw as a father figure and never got to truly know; someone who tried his best to look out for him and loved him. He could see Cedric again; apologise for his death and his actions that year.
There really wasn't much of choice. Life held very little meaning for him and death had people who actually loved and cared for him.
Smiling, he slowly began to let go and the feeling of warmth intensified as he felt his connection with life begin to fade.
Hospital Room: Normal P.O.V:
People carefully avoided the room at the end of the corridor, fearing the wrath of the terrified people waiting inside of it. Not the any of them would admit to being worried.
The past few days had calmed all of the upheaval and drama of the previous week. The reporters, excess Preventer Agents and police had left, leaving behind only four highly trained and tense agents who only left the room in ones or twos to eat.
An intense dark aura surrounded that room; an aura which only the patients Doctor dared enter. Even then he only went in when necessary and only did his job; leaving at a brisk pace.
Inside the room; tension was running high as was impatience. The more time that elapsed, the stronger the fear, and the more snapping at the staff who came, until only the Doctor dared come anymore.
Wufei Chang sat in a foldable chair by the door where he could snap and glare at any who tried to enter, along with see everyone else and the window. He could keep an eye on everything and protect everyone from his position. Beside him lay Heero's precious laptop, upon which he'd been doing research and making notes on the current situation. He now had a list of questions that the kid needed to answer; once he was well enough. Without those answers there was no way to fill in the blanks, and to get all of the names of those who had a hand in harming the kid.
A permanent scowl was on his face as he watched his brothers, his comrades, his family and the kid that was now to be part of that.
Duo Maxwell was agitated, he couldn't sit still; the endless waiting and beeping of machines was getting to him. He paced the room, pausing every three turns to look at the kid for any signs of waking, and then to glare at the machines that were attached to him, before continuing his pacing.
Trowa Barton sat on the only comfy chair in the room, pulled right up to the bed. In his large slender hand he held the small pale one of his younger brother. His visible eye was bloodshot; fixed on the too pale thin face - with its yellowing bruise on its temple - of his little brother.
On the other side of the bed sat Heero Yuy, in foldable chair like Wufei's and mirroring the position that Trowa was in. Except, whereas Trowa seemed more defeated, Heero was rigid and firm. Every now and then his gaze would dart to Duo, watchful that he didn't overdo it.
"Damn it, someone say something, do something! This silence is deadening!"Duo bit out explosively, waving his arms up in the air, braid whipping about.
Wufei stifled a sigh; it was only a matter of time before Duo lost it. It was surprising he'd lasted this long. "What would you have us do, Maxwell?" An eyebrow raised, hands clasped in his lap.
Violet eyes narrowed at him. "I don't know Fei, but something." Turning to glare at the others, he exclaimed. "You two, why don't you try speaking to the kid? Huh, well? Maybe it'll help! Tell him you're here for him. He needs you... us; he needs to know what he's got now!" Stopping for breath, Duo reached out to grasp Heero's shoulder in a vice-like grip, as he stared down at the raven-haired youth, willing those beautiful emerald eyes to open.
Grasping Duo's hand, with his free one, Heero locked eyes with his expressive lover. "You do it, Duo. You're the words here, not us."
Nodding in acceptance, Duo reached down to slowly stroke the kid's cheek.
Picking up on this, Heero tightened his grip on his brothers' hand, as Trowa began stroking the hand he held with his thumb, bringing his other hand to rest on his brothers' chest, tracing the bandages softly.
"Hey kid, it's me, the guy that came to saved ya' from that fat whale of an uncle. Well you don't need to worry about him, he's never gonna hurt ya anymore. You're safe now. We've got you. We won't let anyone hurt ya' like that ever again." Duo spoke softly, hand tracing the pale face softly, ruffling the untameable hair. Duo smiled slightly when he felt the hair, it was exactly like Heero's. But it was a teary smile, feeling Heero tighten his grip, he continued. "Did you know you've got two brothers kid? There two f the best guy's ever, trust me I know them really well, you can trust them. They really care for you and want to get to know you, you know? But you've got to wake up first kiddo; you need to wake up for us, okay? So come on now sleepyhead, it's time to wake up. Rise and shine kid, rise an' shine."
Several tears fell from closed violet eyes and a chocked sob escaped him. Strong, calloused hands grabbed hold of him and pulled him into the owners lap. Burying his face in Heero's shoulder, he cried quietly, all of the events catching up to him.
Wufei jumped slightly when he saw Duo begin to cry, frowning he pondered whether or not to call Sally Po and insist she get here. 'Would she be able to do anything more for the kid? His comatose state is tearing them apart.' Gulping, he refused to think of what will become of them... if the kid does not make it.
He was startled out of his thoughts by Trowa's baritone voice, speaking quietly in the kid's ear, about who they all were, and what they could do once he was better.
Wufei's eyes widened in surprise having never heard Trowa speak so much at once, or give such detail on all of them and their personalities. The surprise was quickly replaced by a half-smile at the praising words of his friend.
This quickly turned to a gripping shock and fear as the machines began beeping erratically. Jumping up in shock, he left the room at a run, heading straight for the closest Doctor, intent of dragging their arse back to fix matters.
Back in the room, Heero and Duo had stood in shock. Duo frantically shouting and begging the kid to not do this and to wake up, to come back to them, and that he couldn't leave them before they even got to know him. Trowa had tightened his grip on the kid's hand, almost tight enough to leave a mark. His other was knotted in the sheets, visible eye widened in shock and overly bright as he stared at his brothers' face pleadingly.
Harry's P.O.V:
As the warmth grew and intensified around him, he became aware of voices, speaking to him. They were fuzzy and unclear, but the feeling of safety and concern in them overrode the light surrounding him.
For what seemed like an eternity he just floated there, hesitating in his decision and listening to the words.
Then the light began to fade and others came to him, this time closer and all the more familiar.
"Listen to them son, it's not your time yet, live my son and be happy, you deserve it and more." A soft feminine voice told him, sounding all the more pleasant and lilting, when not begging for his life.
"We're proud of you son, no matter what you do in life, know that and that we love you." A male voice, he had never heard before said, adding, "Trust in your brothers, let them look out for you."
"What you mean brothers? What's going on? Mom, Dad, I love you, I need you..."
The hazy figures of his parents began to blur and fade, smiling serenely. "Go back, Harry, live your life; find your family; experience love; live your life. We love you."
Seeing their departure, he made to follow them, wanting to be with his parents; the only two people he could safely say always loved him for him.
"Three people prongslet. Three." A round of barking laughter encompassed him.
"Sirius! I'm so sorry."
"Shut up Harry. It wasn't your fault. You are not to blame for what happened to me."
Staring at the hazy visage blankly, he nods his head. Tears fall slowly as he moves closer. The light dims even more, the warmth fades.
"Harry stop, you got to go back, you need to pronsglet. Go back; do as your parents told you. Have fun and give those scumbags hell." More laughter, as Sirius began to fade, calling out as went. "Get Snivellous hell for me!"
Chortling softly, he closed his eyes and began to drift towards the surface; towards life. He still didn't know if going back was the right thing to do but he would try; try, for those he loved.
Hospital Room: Normal P.O.V:
If the hospital room was tense earlier, then it was nothing to the well of tension that it was now. They dared not breathe; their eyes remained glued to the pale face, with the long dark lashes and messy tresses. They stared for what felt like an eternity, hoping; praying; begging; pleading, that it would turn out in their favour.
Finally, they were rewarded. In a lunge and gulp of air, the kid moved; his eyes snapped open.
A collective sigh of relief was heard. Smiles broadened on three faces, each moving to clasp a part of the kid to reassure him that there here for him and to reassure themselves that this is real. Gently each of the new brothers placed a hand on his shoulders to keep him lying still.
Two of three were speaking to him, one loudly and full of merriment, the other soft and soothing. The third remained silent, his cerulean gaze taking in every detail of the now awake person before him.
The kid lays there blinking confusedly, trying to resist their hands on him and move, all of the tension in the air is replaced with relief and happiness. At that moment nothing else matters but that they were altogether and alive.
The sharp voice of a Doctor breaks through their happy daze. Quickly he brushes them aside, not bothering to tell them to leave; knowing they would refuse and having no desire to argue with them.
"Hello there Harry, glad to see you're awake. Now I need you to answer a few questions for me, then I'll let you guys catch up, okay?"
Tubes down his throat make it impossible to answer. They're quickly removed and after swallowing some water, the questions are soon answered and the Doctor is one his way; after removing a few more of the machines.
Shadowed green eyes dart around the small room, taking in the people present.
The Doctor pauses to speak to one of the Asian teens that are in the room; the two step outside.
The other more Asian teen and one with the braid return to his line of sight. The teen with the unibang and green eye like his, had never moved or let go of his hand.
The braided one is grinning madly and bouncing on his feet, if it weren't for the hold the other had on him, then it was pretty certain he'd be on the bed and hugging the life out of the kid.
"Well it's about time you woke up! You any idea how long you've been asleep for? Three days! Three whole days! We were going sparse with worry kid!"
"Duo" The cold, somewhat emotionless tone of the Prussian teen, cut the braided one, now identified as Duo off. Taking a step away, Duo muttered an apology, before turning to grin at Harry expectantly.
Turning away from those eyes that reminded him so much of Sirius, - or at least how Sirius eyes would've looked like had he not gone to Azkaban, - Harry's gaze landed on the auburn-haired man, with the eyes like his. As the single green eye bore into him, radiating warmth and acceptance, he found confidence and reassurance to speak with these strangers.
Swallowing more of his drink, he tightened his grip on the stingers' hand before speaking.
" Er... Who are you guys?" Feeling overwhelmed by the recent events and by the strange conversation he'd had with his parents and Sirius, meant that manners was not at the top of his list right now. That and the fact he felt so comfortable around there guys, when he didn't even know them, made him very wary and uneasy.
A niggling thought in the back of his head told him they could be trusted but he'd thought that about people before and look how that turned out.
The one holding his hand chuckled lightly, something which could probably be a smile tugging at his lips. "I'm Trowa Barton, the hyper-active one is Duo Maxwell, the one beside him is Heero Yuy and the one who has just come in is Wufei Chang."
As each name was uttered, there was a quick exchange of nods between Harry and said person. Though at the end, his gaze lingered on Wufei's, the scowl on his face piquing his curiosity. Obsidian eyes bored into his own jaded ones, in a way which said the man was trying to puzzle him out.
"Okay, why was Duo at number four and why are you guys here? What do you know and want?" Again, he came off a tad rude and very blunt but if he was going to carry on living, then he wasn't going to be submissive and dormant as he was before. Know it was time to let the skills he'd picked up this past year to show, and with them his real self.
Staring at him in surprise, it was Duo who answered. "You remember me?" His voice was pure joy at the thought of it. "Hey, you woke up and called me Sirius, who's he?"
Instantly, Duo regretted speaking at the grief which clouded the guarded eyes. Trowa tightened his grip on Harry's hand and Heero pulled Duo closer to him, letting him know he couldn't have known.
"It's okay Harry; you don't need to tell us." Trowa spoke in a hushed tone.
"No it's fine, Sirius was my godfather, he died er... less than... er sorry but what is the date today?"
"July 23, we removed you from your relatives three and a half days ago; you've been in a coma since surgery." Wufei spoke up for the first time, in a clear concise voice, which also sounded displeased.
Nodding, Harry continued. "Okay, so he's been dead since June 3." Everyone winced at that, though for different reasons. Heero and Trowa shared a look, there was more to this but for now they would let it slide. There would be plenty of time to learn everything about him later.
"You still haven't told me why you're still here and so many of you. Surely Preventers have better things to do than watch me sleep, especially you four."
That certainly caught them off guard. Choosing to concern himself with the latter statement, Wufei retorted bluntly. "What did you think that we'd just sit idly by let that man, continue to beat you; to kill you! Who do you think we are? Of course we'd help and sort that miserable excuse of a human being out." He could have gone on and ranted for a while on the point, however Heero had gone over and grabbed hold of him. Silently the two communicated, whilst the other two studied Harry.
Trowa decided it was time to tell Harry who they were. Clearing his throat, he waited for Heero to come back; this was something the two of them should do together. As Heero moved to stand beside Trowa, Duo moved closer on Harry's other side, perching on the bed slightly. Wufei, who'd followed Heero, stood at the end of the bed; staring intently at bed sheets.
Looking at each of them in turn, Harry finally settled on Trowa for the answers; failing to keep his annoyance from showing.
"Harry, the reason we're here is because Heero and I are your brothers."
Okay, well that's all for now everyone! Hope you all liked and enjoyed this chapter!
Let me know what you thought.
As for Lily, James and Sirius showing up, I felt that it would add more to Harry's choice to go back and that it would add more drama and emotion. Also Sirius will NOT be coming back to life or any such, he's dead. I just wanted to say that because in a lot of fics people have Sirius coming back from behind the veil, well it's not happening here.
Out of curiosity, I was wondering which you'd prefer concerning Remus, Snape and Percy Weasley. Where should each of them stand in their loyalties? Other characters have already been decided and will not be revealed until they make appearances.
Hopefully the g-boys didn't seem too AU here or anything and Quatre will be back next chapter!
New Chapter should be up round the end of September.