Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

Also, if you have not read my story, Harry Potter and the Muggles' Daughter, you are going to be lost. That is the prequel to this. But hey, if you haven't, BONUS! You've got a whole story you can go read before coming back here!


HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

A Growing Storm: Part II


HPHPHP


"YES!" The word exploded ecstatically past Ginny's lips. She turned to Harry and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him joyously. "We made it!" Harry staggered back a step before he managed to return her hug.

"I told you, you would," Hermione said.

Ginny let Harry go and turned to her other two friends. "Congratulations, Ginevra," Luna said. She hugged the redhead tightly.

"Easy, Hermione," Harry gasped.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly and released the death grip she had around his neck. Harry smirked at her and tried not to think too much about the hug he'd received from Ginny. He just wished it had less to do with the excitement of making the Slytherin quidditch team and more to do with wanting to hug him. But at least it was a hug, which was a first. Hermione darted her eyes to Ginny and back. "Knock it off," Harry hissed under his breath.

She gave him a superior look and turned to the posting. "They've named that Marcus Flint captain," she said. "He's been nice to you right?"

Harry shrugged. "Indifferent is probably a better word."

"Who else is on the team?" Luna asked.

"The first team is Harry, Ginny, David Akers, and Amber Payne at Slasher; Marcus Flint is Keeper, Terrance Higgs and Paden Urquhart are Beaters. Second team is Miles Bletchley, Mandy Vaisey, Bradley Wallace, Elgan Bole, Tiffany Taylor, Bo Derrick, and," she paused, "Draco Malfoy."

Harry and Ginny groaned. "I knew it was too good to be true," Harry went on.

"He's a second team, Beater?" Ginny cried.

"I know what you're thinking," a new voice interrupted. All four of them whipped around. "And if he's out of line, he'll be off my team faster than you two fly."

"Marcus," Harry croaked.

The burly seventh year stretched over their heads and pinned a notice on the board. "Don't be late," he growled and stalked away.

The four friends exchanged nervous glances. "Doesn't exactly give you a warm fuzzy feeling, does he?" Harry said.

"Harry, this is a problem," Hermione said.

"What?"

"He has you practicing every Tuesday and Thursday evening, plus Saturday mornings."

"Crud," Harry sighed.

"Can't we switch nights for Judo?" Luna asked.

"When?" Hermione asked. "We already meet with Mrs Tonks on Tuesdays and Sirius is every other Thursday."

"Lets go to the library and see if we can't find a way to make our schedules work," Ginny said.


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"GINNY, DUCK!" Harry shouted. Ginny didn't bother to even look. She just barrel-rolled under the onrushing bludger.

Marcus left his hoops where the team had been heading and bore down on Draco. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!"

"Hitting the bludger," Draco retorted derisively "Like I'm supposed to, Captain."

"I'D BLOWN THE WHISTLE!" Marcus roared.

"I didn't hear it.

Marcus glowered at the younger boy. "Funny," Everyone else heard it, Harry said. "Maybe you should get your ears checked, Drac,"

"Don't call me that!"

"SHUT UP!" Marcus bellowed. Harry smirked at Draco. Getting under the blonde boy's skin was about as easy as taking candy from a baby and he never passed up a chance to do it. "Listen up you inbred maggot, Marcus growled."

"How dare yulp," Draco's rant was cut off when Marcus grabbed a handful of his robes and hauled him clean off his broom. The broom hovered for a moment before plunging the twenty feet to the ground. Draco grabbed at Marcus' wrist and held on for dear life.

"You've nearly put her in hospital three times now," Marcus growled. "The next time you don't hear my whistle you're finished, got it?"

"When my father hears about this," Draco croaked.

"Ohh," Harry taunted, "Better watch out, Marcus, Drac's gonna tell his daddy on you."

"What is the meaning of this?"

The whole team whipped around to see Professor Snape standing below them. "Sir," all but Harry, Marcus and Ginny croaked.

"Sir, Flint attacked me," Draco cried.

"On the ground," Snape hissed. "Now." The team descended, with Marcus unceremoniously dropping Draco about ten feet before he reached the ground. The blonde landed in a heap and it was all Harry could do not to laugh.

"I'll have you expelled for this," Draco cried.

"Silence," Snape drawled.

"But, Sir!"

"Did I fail to make myself clear, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape hissed. Draco fell silent, and his glare eventually faltered under Snape's malevolent eyes. "I trust you have an explanation for putting your hands on another student, Mr Flint?" Snape asked, turning his attention to the older boy.

"The little piss-ant seems to be hard of hearing, Sir. He's nearly hit Weasley three times now after I've stopped play."

"And you felt that reason enough to assault Mr Malfoy?"

"You told me discipline of the team was under my discretion."

Snape held Marcus' gaze for another moment. "Indeed," he said. "Carry on." Snape turned to walk away.

"But, Sir!" Draco cried.

Snape whirled on him. "Yes?" he drawled. Draco quailed. Snape glowered at him for another few seconds before he turned and walked away again.

Eventually Draco turned hate filled eyes on Marcus. "Just wait till my father hears about this."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Good lord, Drac, does your father ever get tired of having such a Nancy for a son?"

"Shut up, Potter!"

"Or what?" Harry retorted. "Going to tell your daddy on me too? Go ahead. I'm shaking in my boots."

"That's enough, Potter," Marcus said.

"Yes, Sir," Harry answered.

"You got two choices, Malfoy," Marcus said. "You can be part of the team or you can be off it. But I'm warning you now, one more late bludger and you're done."

Draco glowered at him. Unfortunately though, he didn't quit.


HPHPHP


October wore on and things remained difficult for the foursome. They were all extremely busy with classes, revision, judo practices, physical training and their work with Mrs Tonks. Harry and Hermione also continued to work on their Animagus transformation. As well, Harry and Ginny now had quidditch practice three days a week. Thankfully for the two of them they had Hermione and Luna. The two girls used the time he and Ginny had quidditch to review any essays they'd been assigned, ensuring the four remained firmly atop the class rankings. Whatever issues the student body had with the four, they had quickly become favorites of their professors. Except for Snape. He remained an absolute nightmare. As bad as he was though, the worst was Gryffindor house, and specifically Ginny's brothers. They were horrible to Ginny; and Ron, in particular, was making Hermione's life miserable. She left Gryffindor tower early every morning and didn't return till the last possible moment before curfew in her efforts to avoid him. Unfortunately, she had every class with the git and rarely had a friend in Harry, Ginny or Luna to help weather the storm. It all came to a head on the 31st, Halloween.

Harry woke in a foul mood and was short with Ginny before they even made it to breakfast. The jack-o-lanterns and other decorations about the great hall only served to darken his mood further. "Really," Ginny said, "buckets of sweets, good pranks and a feast tonight, what's not to like about Halloween?"

Harry abruptly stood. "Maybe the fact that it's the anniversary of the night my parents were murdered?" he snarled and stormed off.

Ginny paled. "Harry," Hermione called after him. "Ohhh," she moaned.

"I'm sorry," Ginny mumbled. "I didn't think."

"It's not your fault," Hermione assured her. She grabbed her bag. "I better go after him."

She was almost to the doors when Ron, followed by Neville, Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas came in. Ron stopped, blocking her path. "Move," she said.

"No," he retorted. "I think it's time we stopped letting you run around with that dirty snake."

"Like you could stop me." Hermione moved to go around him and he grabbed her arm. Inside of a second Ron was flipping through the air to land flat on his back. Unfortunately Professor McGonagall picked exactly that moment to walk in.

"Miss Granger!"

"Professor," she croaked. "I –I," her eyes darted between Ron and Professor McGonagall. Without Harry, the presence of her head of house instantly cowed her.

"Ronald started it, Professor," Ginny said, running up.

"I saw it too," Luna said.

"My office," Professor McGonagall hissed, "all of you."


Half an hour later Ginny nervously set Harry's book bag on the desk before slipping into the seat next to him. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Harry merely grunted in reply.

"Good morning, class," Professor Flitwick, squeaked from his stack of books. Scrolls out now please. Students quickly dug their work out and with a flick of his wand Professor Flitwick floated them to the front of the room.

By lunch, Harry still wasn't speaking to her and Ginny was feeling a bit put out. Maybe she should have thought about the fact that Halloween might not be the happiest day of the year for Harry, but it had been an honest mistake. She'd apologized and she'd brought him his bag when he'd left it behind. He'd have gotten marked down in charms and care of magical creatures for not turning his homework in if she hadn't. Didn't that count for something?

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I haven't seen her since Professor McGonagall gave her detention for fighting with Ronald," Luna said. Harry didn't get a chance to ask why Hermione had gotten in a fight with Ron because an owl swooped down and landed in front of Ginny. It stuck its leg out. Tied to it was a blood-red envelope. Ginny stared at the bird, slowly going pale.

"Oh dear," Luna sighed.

"Is that?" Harry asked.

"A Howler," Luna confirmed.

"Why are you getting a Howler?" Harry asked. "Did you get detention too?"

"No," Ginny said.

"Then why are you getting a Howler?"

"I don't know!" Ginny snapped.

"Soorrrry," Harry retorted. Ginny gave him a murderous glare.

The envelope began to tremble and a bit of smoke curled from it. "You best take it, Ginevra," Luna said. "It might hurt the owl if it goes off before you detach it." Indeed the owl was beginning to get a bit frantic and it hopped towards Ginny, sticking its leg out urgently. With trembling fingers Ginny untied the letter. The owl shot away. Resigned to her fate, Ginny peeled the envelope open.

GINEVRA WEASLEY!

HOW DARE YOU BLAME RONALD AFTER THAT LITTLE BRAT ATTACKED HIM. IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH YOU WERE SORTED INTO SLYTHERIN, OR THAT YOU DEFIED ME BY TAKING FLYING CLASSES, NOW YOU'RE TURNING ON YOUR FAMILY? I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EMBARASSED IN MY LIFE BY ONE OF MY CHILDREN AND THAT INCLUDES FRED AND GEORGE. KEEP IT UP, YOUNG LADY, AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF PULLED OUT OF HOGWARTS TILL YOUR THIRTY!

The letter blew a last raspberry at Ginny before it spontaneously combusted, leaving her covered in black soot. Harry's ears were ringing but his blood was boiling. How dare Ginny's mother call Hermione a brat! Ginny abruptly stood up. "It's not my fault!" she shouted at Harry before she stormed off.

"Ginny!" he called after her.

"Leave me alone, Harry!"

Harry stared after her, eventually turning to Luna. "What?" he asked defensively when he saw her scowling at him.

"I'll have you know it's because of Ginevra that Hermione only has one night of detention and not a full week, Harry Potter," she snapped. "It's not her fault her mother called Hermione a brat."

"Wh –what are you talking about?"

Luna narrowed her eyes at him. "You were angry with her because of what her mother said, Harry. I saw you glaring at her."

"I was not!" Harry protested. "Well, ok, I might have been glaring, but it wasn't at her. What the hell is going on? Why does Hermione have detention and why is Ginny's mother sending her howlers and calling Hermione a brat?"

Luna studied him for a few seconds. "You really aren't angry with her?"

"Of course I'm not, I know the difference between Ginny and her mother."

Luna considered for another moment before relating to him everything he'd missed after he'd stormed out at breakfast. "I think Ronald may have said something to Hermione in care of magical creatures as well," she finished.

"So Ron grabs her, she throws him, you and Ginny defend Hermione, and Ginny's mum sends her a Howler because of it and she calls Hermione a brat on top of it?"

"Yes. Professor McGonagall was going to make Ronald write home. I don't really know how she blames Ginevra or Hermione for it, but she's always been harder on Ginevra than any of her brothers. It's been even worse since her father died and I imagine she's very upset about Ginevra being in Slytherin and that she can't control her because William won't let her. I know Ginevra's written home six times. That Howler is only the second letter her mother has sent her."

Harry stared at Luna for a long few moments. "Bloody hell," he muttered. "Should we go after her?"

"Ginevra has a filthy temper. It's probably wise to let her calm down a bit."

"Ok," Harry agreed reluctantly. "Do you know where Hermione is?"

"I don't." Luna leaned forward. "Perhaps you could look on your map," she whispered.

"Good idea," Harry agreed. He stood, grabbing his and Ginny's bags. "Come on." Luna quickly followed. Two minutes later they were tucked in an alcove examining the map for where their two friends had gone. They found them together, in the first floor toilet. "Guess this means I'm not going to look for Hermione either," Harry sighed.

"We'll leave them be till dinner," Luna said.

"Alright," Harry agreed.


Harry was sitting in their usual spot at the Ravenclaw table, watching the doors for his friends when Luna walked in. He stood and met her half way. "Can we go get them? They'll both be bummed if they miss the feast."

"Yes, let's," Luna agreed.

Just then the doors burst open and Professor Quirrell rushed in. "TROOLLLL!" he screamed. The dull roar in the hall instantly fell silent. The professors all stood. "In the dungeon," Quirrell said. "I thought you ought to know." And then he promptly fainted. There were two seconds of dead silence and then the students exploded in screams of terror.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roared. The hall instantly was. Harry's skin crawled. This was the second time his magic had responded to Dumbledore's. "Everyone will please not panic," Dumbledore went on. "Prefects, will lead students to their houses. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons."

Harry looked at Luna. "Let's go," she said. And they dashed away. Quick as you could blink they were bolting for the stairs and the first-floor lavatory. As Harry accelerated he grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her along with him. They reached the landing and rounded the corner, skidding across the hall into the wall before righting themselves and racing down the hall. Just as they reached the far end and turned the corner there was a blood-curdling scream.

"HERMIONE!" Harry cried. He dropped Luna's hand and accelerated away from her.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry heard Ginny cry. He burst through the door of the bathroom and skidded to a halt. His jaw dropped as he stared at the back of the massive mountain troll, it had to be at least sixteen feet tall, with legs as big around as tree trunks, a huge middle, narrowing as it went up to its shoulders and pointy little head. It carried a club that was bigger than Harry was tall and probably weighed more than he did as well. It's skin was a disgusting grey with molted areas of sickly looking yellow and bloody hell did it stink. How the hell am I going to throw that? Harry thought. He snapped out of his stupor when the troll roared and raised its club to swing at Hermione and Ginny. Apparently Ginny's petrifying spell hadn't worked.

"MOVE!" Harry bellowed. Ginny and Hermione dove to the ground as the troll swung its club. It flashed over them and crashed through the stalls, sending chunks of wood and an entire toilet slamming into the far wall. "STUPIFY!" Harry shouted. A jet of red light flashed form his wand and smashed square in the middle of the troll's back. The troll stumbled forward, crashing into a row of sinks. They shattered and water exploded out from the broken pipes. The troll bellowed and whirled around to face Harry. With a roar of primal rage it raised its club over it's head and slammed it down on the floor. The tile cracked all the way from where the club impacted, to the wall; going right between Harry's legs.

"I think it's angry," Luna said.

"Ya think?" Harry retorted incredulously. The troll slammed its club to the floor again and beat its chest with its free hand.

"I'm fairly certain," Luna confirmed. "Oh dear!" She and Harry dove to the side as the troll charged them. It ended up running right between them and smashing face first into the wall. Harry came to his feet with his wand on the beast. It swayed unsteadily and he unleashed another stunner at it's back. Unfortunately, instead of knocking the dazed beast out, it seamed to clear it's head. The troll roared and whipped around. Somehow it seemed to know Harry was the one hitting it with spells and it zeroed in on him. It took a step towards Harry but stopped suddenly and started swatting at its legs.

Kaa was wrapped around one of the troll's legs and she was repeatedly sinking her fangs into its flesh. The troll managed to grab her and in the time it took the beast to hurl her against the wall she struck a half dozen times. She smashed into the wall and fell to the floor where she didn't move.

"STUPIFY!" Hermione cried.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Ginny shouted.

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" Luna shouted.

"REDUCTO!" Harry snarled.

The first spell managed to push the troll back and Ginny's petrifying spell seemed to slow it down for a moment. Luna's spell yanked the troll's club from its hand and floated it to the ceiling before she canceled the spell and dropped the troll's club back down on its head. The beast swayed on its feet and then Harry's spell smashed into its face. The troll jerked back and dropped like a rock.

There were a few moments of silence, only broken by the sound of water spraying from the broken pipes and then Harry was diving to the floor. "KAA!" He went to pick her up and froze. The bottom half over her body, where the troll had grabbed her was completely crushed and misshapen. "Kaa?" Harry croaked.

"I cannot move, my Harry," she hissed.

"We'll fix you. I'll get someone to heal you."

"Lisssten to me, my Harry," Kaa said. "I ssse clearly now. When I came to you, you had no one. Now there are many. And you have found the one I was sssent to bring you to. Ssshe fearsss a cage, my Harry. Never forget thisss and three isss hope."

"What are you—"

"If you remember what I ssspeak, sssomeday you will underssstand. If you do not, ssshe will never be yoursss. Now, my lassst gift. I cannot move ssso you must help me to bite you. Be sure to press at my glandsss ssso that all my venom is passsed to you."

Hermione watched as Harry knelt, trembling over Kaa's mangled body. The serpent was hissing softly and she knew enough to recognize she was speaking to him. Harry started to speak to her once but it seemed like she had cut him off and a moment ago tears had started to leak from his eyes. She knelt down beside him. "Harry?" she ventured cautiously. He didn't respond so she gently reached for his hand. "Harry?" He slowly looked up and her heart broke when she saw his eyes. It confirmed what Kaa's mangled body told her.

"She's dying," Harry croaked. He looked up at Ginny and Luna. "She's my friend." The two girls couldn't say or do anything as tears slipped down their cheeks.

"Harry," Hermione said. "I think she's speaking." Harry turned back to Kaa. "What is she saying?" Hermione pressed.

"She's t-telling me t-to h-hurry," Harry said.

"Hurry what?" Hermione asked. Harry didn't answer, he just reached a trembling hand to stroke Kaa's nose. "Hurry what, Harry?" Hermione pressed.

"Sh-she wants me to help her so she can bite me." Ginny and Luna gasped.

"To pass her protection on to you?" Hermione asked.

"She says it's her last gift."

Kaa hissed again and Hermione didn't need to be able to understand Parseltongue to know she was fading quickly. Hermione swallowed thickly. She watched the last time Kaa had bit Harry. Even knowing everything she did, it had been terrifying. She took a steadying breath. "Do you want me to help?"

"I'm afraid I'll hurt her if I move her." Kaa hissed again. Harry gave a strangled half laugh half cry.

"What did she say?"

"Help me," Harry croaked. Hermione didn't know if Harry meant help him or if he meant Kaa had been asking for her help but Harry didn't move and she knew if the serpent passed away before the bite was made Harry would lose out on the protection her venom would give him. Gathering her courage she gently picked Kaa up. She'd watched a show on the telly where they had milked various snakes for their venom once. It was surprisingly easy to force Kaa's mouth to open and her fangs to extend. Harry didn't move at all when she positioned Kaa's fangs against his skin and he didn't so much as twitch when she pressed them into the flesh of his arm. He stayed perfectly still as she found the glands on the sides of Kaa's mouth and pressed. They weren't large, but she felt them deflate. She gently pulled Kaa back and laid her in Harry's lap. A second later it hit her that she had just injected her best friend with deadly poison and she began to shake uncontrollably. "Please tell me haven't killed you?" she whispered.

Harry shuddered and hunched over Kaa, his body shaking with silent sobs. Hermione wrapped herself around him. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Ginny and Luna knelt beside them and placed a hand on Harry's back.

"We're sorry too, Harry," Luna said.

"Shushhhh," Ginny soothed, running her hand on his back.

"I want my mum," Harry whimpered.

Hermione stiffened. "I'm sure you'll be able to call mum and dad," she tried to cover for him. "She'll be thrilled you're calling her mum instead of Mali now." Harry shook again and her heart felt like it was shattered into a thousand pieces. She and Harry had been instant friends, bonding over the shared misery of being shunned by nearly everyone. But as more and more truths of his past had come to light she'd realized just how much worse it had been for him. And now, with his first friend lying dead in his arms, he couldn't even ask for the one person he needed. The unfairness of it all burned in her veins. It consumed her and filled her so much that she didn't even hear the professors rushing into the destroyed toilet behind them.


Minerva McGonagall slid into the toilet with Severus and Quirenus hot on her heals and stopped dead. The toilet was utterly destroyed, the stalls smashed with one toilet broken free of the wall, an entire row of sinks were demolished, mirrors were cracked and shards of glass lay in the water pooling from the broken pipes. The largest mountain troll she'd ever laid eyes on was sprawled, unmoving, on its stomach. There were scorch marks on its back, its head was oddly – even for a troll – shaped and blood oozed from dozens of places on its legs and arms. Slowly her eyes were drawn to the four students huddled on the floor. Ginevra Weasley and Luna Lovegood turned to face her. Both girls had cuts on their faces and their robes were a disaster, but neither appeared seriously injured. The two other students, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger – who else would she find with these two – remained motionless with Hermione wrapped protectively around Harry.

"Wh–what is the meaning of this?" she stammered.

"Hermione and Ginevra weren't in the hall when professor Quirrell made the announcement about the troll being in the dungeon," Luna said. "Harry and I came to get them; only the troll had already found them. It attacked us and I'm rather afraid we had to kill it."

Minerva's mouth dropped and Quirenus squeaked. Really, she was going to have to speak with Albus. How this man could possibly be an effective teacher was beyond her. Severus moved to check the troll.

"It is dead," he confirmed. "Might we ask why Miss Weasley and Miss Granger were not at dinner?"

"Not now, Severus," Minerva said, recovering herself. "These two obviously need the hospital wing. Are either Miss Granger or Mr Potter injured?"

"I believe Harry's heart is," Luna answered.

"His heart?" Minerva asked. "For as well as the girl performed in class, she'd never met another student quite like her. She could be rather… vexing."

"The troll killed Kaa, Professor," Ginevra answered.

Oh dear, Minerva thought, if this is anything like when Fawkes first disappeared. She shook herself. "Miss Granger, are either you or Mr Potter injured?"

Hermione turned. She had a gash above her right eye, but otherwise seemed fine. "We're fine, Professor," she said. Please, will you contact my parents, Harry wants my mum."

Minerva blinked a number of times. Apparently, Harry's relationship with Hermione and her family outside of Hogwarts was quite strong. Enough so that it seemed he viewed Mrs Granger as a surrogate mother. She cast a quick glance about the toilet. The danger was past so there was no reason she couldn't give Harry time to compose himself before delivering the lot to the hospital wing and the care of Poppy Pomfrey. And given his present company – she was well aware of how Ginevra had lost her father and Luna her mother – perhaps Harry was in the best hands he could be till he could speak with Hermione's mother. A wave of her wand stopped the flow of water from the broken pipes. "We shall wait for you in the hall. Take as long as you need."

"Thank you professor," Hermione said and turned back to Harry.

Luna and Ginevra followed suit, sitting beside the boy where they wrapped their arms around him protectively. Minerva glanced about the toilet again, her eyes coming to rest on the troll. How could four first-years, even ones as promising as these, not only fight, but kill a mountain troll? For Merlin's sake she'd be pressed to deal with a beast like this. "Severus, Quirenus," she said, snapping out of it, and led them back into the hall.


Lily Potter saw nothing when she looked at the Maurader's Map. If she tried holding a portkey it left her behind. She had to be held onto by someone else to use one. Flooing was the same. She could sit in a conjured chair, be harmed by a conjured sword or arrow, but a magical arrow spell had no effect on her at all. Not a single spell Remus had used directly on her worked. Not even the imperious; of course that could possibly be due to him being incapable of effectively casting it. They didn't know for certain. The cruciatus and the death curse, it went without saying they hadn't tried those particular spells. Wards were a bit different. She could see through most of them. The Fidelius being one she couldn't. Even if she didn't know a ward was there she could blindly walk through it unscathed. Unless the spell that was tripped set in motion a physical object of some sort she was untouchable. At the same time, if she entered a warded area, she was just as hidden and protected as anyone else in the ward. One of the things that didn't quite make sense was James' old invisibility cloak. She couldn't see a person using it any more than anyone else. And it hid her perfectly fine. But for the trip to Florida and West of Key West, they wouldn't have thought it particularly strange; just another thing they didn't have all the answers too. But then she had been the only one to spot the young thief trying to sneak out of the candy shop. The mystery of why she could see through every invisibility cloak but for James' had yet to be answered.

As she slipped behind Sirius into the Hogwarts infirmary under James' cloak she resolved to spend some time looking for an answer. Something had been tickling in the back of her mind about it for a very long time and it was time to pay attention to it. She stopped at the foot of Harry's bed and stared at her son. He was curled on his side, staring blankly into space. His face glistened with salve spread over a number of new cuts. As she watched a tear leaked from the corner of his eye, ran down the bridge of his nose and dripped on the pillow. He didn't acknowledge, or even seem aware, Sirius was there when he placed a large diamond on Harry's bed and tapped it with his wand. To her eyes nothing happened, but Sirius moved away from the bed a few steps, made a quick circuit of it and stepped back inside the ward. "All yours Lils," he said.

Lily pulled the cloak off and stepped to him. "Thank you, Sirius," she said. She stretched up and kissed his cheek.

Just be ready to whip that thing on if I have to take the ward down," he said.

"I will." Sirius stepped outside the ward to keep watch again and she turned to Harry. She squatted down in front of him and reached to brush his fringe back. "Harry, Love."

Harry blinked a number of times before his brow furrowed. "Mum?"

"Yes, Love." She smiled painfully at him.

Harry frowned, seeming lost in thought. "Is this a dream?"

"No, Love, I'm really here."

Harry reached out to touch her cheek. He pressed his hand against her, reassuring himself she was real. "I didn't think you would come," he whispered

Lily took his hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. "I will always be there when you need me, Harry. No secret is worth more than that."

"It hurts so much."

"I know, Love."

"Is this what you feel like without dad?"

"Sometimes, yes."

"How can you stand it?" Harry whispered.

Lily stood and walked around the bed, climbing in behind him. Harry shifted and she wrapped her arm around him. She kissed the back of his head. "It will get better. I promise." Harry gave a shudder and she pulled him tight as he silently shook against her. Eventually he stilled and drifted into a deep sleep. She kissed his crown and softly whispered. "I love you, Harry."


HPHPHP


Author's notes:

Anyone seen a shovel? I'd like to dig a hole to hide in before the howlers start coming.

For anyone looking for an interesting story, head on over to Nifty Niffler's page and check out The Beast Within and Unity in Diversity! Actually, check out all her stuff. There are some really great reads there if you've not yet your way to her page.

Last, as always, a very special thank you to those who have reviewed. I do appreciate your thoughts.