Disclaimer: I own nothing and gain nothing except for useful writing tips and experience.
A/N: Yeah, so college is starting and I'm just getting settled in. This could be last post for a while but I promise MORE WILL COME. I will do my best to post every week but we'll see. I'm really sorry about this b/c I hate waiting to read stories, too but I promise you I will do my best. This one is a longer one so I hope you enjoy it. Will update ASAP…keep reviewing! I love getting them in my email…
Thanks to:
RyougaZell: Your welcome.
Griffindor-girl12: Here you go! Sorry now about the future wait.
Demonstone12: It is not the end…or even close. I've just been busy with college prep and stuff…here's some more but not the ending yet. (And I'm aware of the misspelling of the last name…but thanks.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing and gain nothing except experience and useful writing tips.
Chapter 9: Unblocking the Exit
The sun had barely begun to rise over the hills outside when Harry woke Ron. "WhatchadoingI'msleeping…" Ron muttered incoherently.
"If you are coming with me, get up. If not then go back to sleep." Harry demanded. Ron rolled over in the bed and Harry walked to the door. No sooner than his hand hit the knob, Ron popped up in the bed. Harry looked back at him. "Take a quick shower and let's go." Then he walked out of the room.
He was on his way to wake Hermione when she appeared before him. "Good morning Harry. Bright and early right?"
"Yeah…you're ready already?"
"Yes I am. Did you doubt me? Well, I'm not Ron who sleeps until the very last possible minute—he does everything at the very last possible minute actually," Hermione smiled. The two of them walked down the stairs, expecting everybody to be asleep, seeing as it was barely after dawn. But much to their surprise, Lupin and Charlie sat at the kitchen table, food waiting for the three of them.
Lupin sat and eyed Harry as he entered the kitchen. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked as he and Hermione sat down. Lupin continued to stare at him.
"The question should be, what are you doing Harry?" The two of them stared at each other as if they were expecting the other to fall into pieces there at the table.
"I'm doing what I'm supposed to do." The statement was simple yet it seemed to break Lupin's worried anger.
"Which is what exactly?" Harry didn't move. He wanted to tell him but it wasn't wise. If he were supposed to know then Dumbledore would have told him before…
"It's the only thing that can be done and I am the only one who can do it." Harry said it forcefully but he meant it. He did not expect Lupin's reaction of a smile when he said it.
"Well, then. You certainly are sure Harry. But we are here if you need any extra help besides…"
"I don't think I will. I don't even want Ron and Hermione to help. It's too dangerous for anyone else." Harry said this just as Ron came into the room. He could immediately see the tension that was before him.
"Ok, Harry. But the offer stands. You know, you really are like your father…stubborn as a bull that one. Just remember that there are people who love you and don't want to see harm come to you. I am one of them. And I could name a few others," Harry followed that with a bite of his food and small blush as he thought of Ginny. "Now may I ask, if your plans include Severus Snape?"
"Not exclusively. But if he gets in the way then that can change."
"Well," Lupin began, "do remember that people aren't always what they seem to be..."
"I'll never forget that again, Lupin. I've learned it too well." Harry said aloud.
"I'm saying that sometimes our emotions overtake our thoughts and we do things we regret…like murder."
"Murder!" Ron spoke up. "After all that worthless git did you think any of us will regret killing him? You're mad. We'd be doing the world a justice."
"The world maybe but yourselves?" Charlie finally spoke.
"I get what you lot are saying but Snape killed Dumbledore. And that's all I need to know." The table went back to their breakfasts without another word.
(sc)
"I'm very glad that you have gotten rid of the one you did. It will be of much service to Harry," Dumbledore smiled at her.
"But how will he know that I got the Hufflepuff cup? What if they go there and get hurt or something?" Ginny asked as she paced the room.
"Do not worry. It is taken care of."
"But how? I don't understand any of this!" Ginny cried as she slumped back into her chair. Dumbledore looked at her from his spot on the wall.
"Miss Weasley, I will assure you once more that I know what I am asking and I know what must be done. All things will become clear in due time. If you must question reasons I would question your own for why you are really involved and be careful not think too deeply in the things you think you see around you. For sometimes, one does not see what is before them, even as it is standing in their way before the only exit. Sometimes, it takes another to show them what is blocking the only way out."
Ginny stared at him blankly. What does that mean? But as she thought a bit about it, she understood…at least she thought she understood. "Are you telling me that I should…?"
"I am not telling you anything, Miss Weasley. I am simply showing you what is blocking your way out." As Dumbledore said that, the door to the office flew open. Ginny couldn't help but think it was completely weird how much power he possessed…even in death.
(sc)
"You really can go back you know," Harry said to Ron and Hermione as they Apparated into Godric's Hollow.
"Oh Ron! Can you even believe he is still bugging us with this? We told you Harry, we are staying to help you," Hermione fumed calmly. The three of them walked in a line to the front door. Harry's heart pounded as he opened the broken door. This is where I was born. This is where I was with them. This is where… Harry's mind and heart raced against other.
This was where it all happened. This was the home they had planned for him. This was the last place they were all together. He didn't even know what he would find here…if anything at all. But he couldn't get it out of his mind. Afterall, Dumbledore had said that Voldemort was one horcrux short the night he came here…and if he wasn't short when he left then he must have found somewhere to store it.
"What now?" Ron asked, stopping Harry's thinking. Harry didn't reply. He just closed his eyes and stood there. The longer he stood there in the quiet, the closer he felt. Harry wasn't sure what was happening to him or around him…but he could feel something take hold of him—something that he had missed for a very long time. It was a feeling he had only felt a few times before, when he was with Ginny. This feeling—whatever it was—was real and it now completed him once again.
(sc)
"What are you looking at? Sod off you git!" the blonde boy shouted across the dark park.
"You know that you really ought not attract attention to us Draco," Severus Snape whispered. "Aurors are looking everywhere for us. This place is not safe anymore. I doubt that there is anywhere safe."
"But we are under the Dark Lord's protection. No one can hurt us because we did as he asked and now—"
"Now nothing, Draco!" Snape screamed at him. "We did not do as the Master asked. Yes…he is dead but his orders were not followed as he asked…and the Dark Lord may only protect us for so long Draco! It would not be wise to draw more attention to us." Snape started to walk briskly again in the night air.
Draco's once smug expression was now one that looked as if he had been slapped across the face. He scurried to catch up to the fast-moving Snape. He wanted to ask where they were going but he could not bring the question that had formed in his head, to come out of his mouth. So instead, he walked beside Snape in the dark, windy night.
(sc)
Harry could vaguely feel them moving around him. They were walking around and searching for something. Harry was about to join him when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was covered with dust but he could see the scratches and rips around it. It was obviously very worn and old. He was so intrigued that he walked over to it.
He wiped his finger across the railing of the old baby cradle. On the dirt-filled sheets he could see the vague resemblance of baby dragons on the faded and worn sheets. He pulled it up with his hand. Under the sheet was an old baby toy…a rattle shaped like a broom. He picked it up in his hand. He knew this. He had seen it before.
Harry closed his eyes, still clutching the rattle and end of the blanket. He could feel something hidden within the items. He knew them but he couldn't remember. It was as if there was something blocking the memory. He tried but he couldn't reach them. They were buried in the back of his mind, which was now too full of stuff to get to anything.
"Did you hear that?" Hermione whispered as a loud thud fell onto the ceiling above them. Ron and Harry looked up. There was something up there.
"Stay here," Harry ordered the other two. "I'll go look." He pulled out his wand and still clutching the rattle and the blanket in the other hand, he walked toward the top of the stairs. He raised his wand in the air. Higher…higher…
"AH!" The girl screamed as tripped down the steps. Harry, however, broke her fall to the ground.
"Ginny!" Ron yelled, helping her and Harry to their feet. She looked from her three friends' faces. Harry looked at her. He couldn't decide whether he was furious at her for being there or pleased that she had come.
"What are you doing here?" Harry bellowed throughout the old house. Apparently, he had sided with the furious part of his head. "Well?"
Ginny looked at him and then walked away. "I was told to come here. To help you."
"By who?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. And even if I did tell," she smiled, "you wouldn't believe me anyway." Ginny's eyes moved to Harry's hand. "What's that?" Everyone looked to his hand. In it, he was still clutching the blanket and rattle.
"This?" He moved his hand to the front if his eyes. "This is something…it was mine I think. I remember it but…I don't. It's like the memory is blocked. Something is standing in my way but I can't move it."
"That's why I was sent here. Here and everywhere else you go—to help you unblock the memories," Ginny stated bluntly as she walked to baby crib and pointed. "This is where you found that?"
"Yeah." Harry took a step toward her but came to his senses. "How can you help me?"
"Well, I had to learn how when I was involved in the situation in first year and I was told to help you. He knew you'd need me…" Ginny said.
"He? Dumbledore?" Hermione, who had been quiet until now, asked Ginny with a confused look on her face. Ginny said nothing just stood until Harry finally came over.
"The thing is…the exit is blocked, I mean obviously, your brain can't see what's right before it. And you just a need some extra help." Ginny took his hands and it sent chills up his spine. Hermione and Ron watched as Harry and Ginny closed their eyes and Ginny whispered directions into his ear.
Harry could feel himself slipping from reality. He was floating back into the past. He was clutching the rattle and blanket in his hands again. He could remember it…see it. He could almost touch them.
There they were…standing like this over his crib. His parents' smiling faces were looking down at their son. "He's so beautiful isn't he, Lil?" James asked his wife.
"He is. I bet he'll look like you when he's older," she smiled to him.
"Don't jinx the boy. I wouldn't want anyone to have my hair. I hope he has your eyes…your emerald eyes," James smiled again and pulled his wife into his arms. "So how long did you want to wait?"
"Wait until what?" Lily asked him.
"Wait until we have another…surely next time it will be a daughter who's the image of her mum…at least we can hope." James smiled mischievously. "So, how long was that then?"
"James! Not now. Sirius will be over soon!" she laughed. Baby Harry pouted up at them and began a small cry as Sirius appeared beside them.
"You really should care for the child first," Sirius joked, startling the snogging couple.
"Sirius, my friend." James hugged him.
"Great to see you. Lily, you are looking as beautiful as ever." Sirius hugged her and kissed her cheek. "It's been a while. After the last time I thought it best to stay away for a bit."
"A bit?" Lily exclaimed, picking up the crying Harry from the crib, "It's been longer than a bit. It's been nearly a month. James has been going stir crazy without his best mate. And frankly, so have I. He really is a nutter when he's all alone." Lily joked and they all laughed at her.
Harry was still crying, wrapped in his dragon blanket. "I picked this up for Harry." Sirius pulled out a metal rattle that was in the shape of a broom. Lily took it in her hands. "It's engraved too. I had Ollivander do it when he shaped it."
James jumped up to Harry and Lily to get a look at the broom rattle. "HJP—Oct. 29, 1981" "Sirius this is really a beautiful keepsake! And Harry really seems to like it." Harry sat quietly in the crib with his rattle, oohing and aahing at the noises it made as his parents sat there with Sirius, together and smiling and laughing…on what would be one of their last days as a family.
"Harry? Is everything ok?" Hermione asked him as he opened his eyes. He stood there for a moment and looked at Ginny then nodded to Hermione and Ron.
"Did you see it?" Harry asked Ginny, who had moved quickly from him, "Did you see it Gin?" Ginny looked at him and wearily shook her head. Harry fingered the rattle in his hand and moved toward her and pulled her in a hug.
"I didn't know I'd be able to see it too. I would've let go of your hands…" Ginny looked at him. "They were really happy weren't they?"
"Yeah they were." Harry suddenly realized that Ron and Hermione were staring at them, unsure of what was happening. Harry turned to them and out the rattle in the air. "It's from Sirius. He gave it to me…two days before they died."
Harry looked back to Ginny and she smiled at him. Right now he was so confused by everything he was feeling that he couldn't ask her any questions. He couldn't move and he couldn't think. All he could do was stand there, stare and try to keep all the emotions from boiling to the surface.
A/N: Thanks for your patience. I'll post ASAP. And look! NO cliffy this time. See? I am nice! REVIEW!
