A/n: Hi everyone we are really sorry for not posting this chapter yesterday! College, you know? So, to make up for it, we're posting two chapters this week. Enjoy!

Italics = parseltongue

Sign Language = Bold

Chapter Ten

"I have decided." Harry stood in front of Leane, wide-eyed, as he waited for her to disclose which course she had chosen. On one hand, Harry wanted her to be free to swim anywhere she chose, whenever she chose. But on the other hand, in her painting, Harry knew that he could see her whenever he wanted. Upon thinking that, he was upset with himself for being so selfish.

"I want to do it. I need to be with my sisters again." The breath Harry hadn't been aware he was holding forced its way out of his lungs. He took a deep breath and tried to recall all the steps of the detailed process to free Leane. As if she could read his mind, Leane smiled at Harry.

"Do you want to go get the woman who told you how to free me? Maybe bring her here?" Leane asked, hope written all over her face. Harry nodded and turned around to start running down to the kitchens. The sight of a yellow dress in a painting across the hall caught his attention before he could launch himself halfway down a flight of stairs.

Harry walked up to the painting slowly, not wanting to startle Helga Hufflepuff. However, she seemed to know that he would be approaching her. She smiled widely at Harry and waved him nearer.

"Harry, how have you been? Oh, you do have your little friend, right? Good. I heard that Leane made up her mind, and I thought you might need me close to help you through the process. Did I guess correctly?" Harry couldn't keep up with Helga's burst of speech, so he just nodded along until she smiled at him again. "Great," Helga beamed. "Will you introduce me to your friend? I'm not sure we've met before." Harry nodded again, and led Helga over to Leane.

"This is Helga Hufflepuff, and she knows how to get you out of there." Harry explained to a confused Leane. Upon hearing his introduction, however, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She started signing as fast as she could to Helga, whose face had adopted a mildly glazed expression. Harry pressed his hand to his mouth to stifle a giggle, and both women turned to face him. He apologized to both women, and then offered to act as the go-between so they could speak more easily. Both women agreed, so Harry began relaying their conversation.

"So, in order to get you out of your painting, there are a series of steps you and Harry both need to follow."

"I understand that, just tell me what I need to do."

"First, Harry needs to get your painting off of the wall, and bring it outside to the lake without being seen or stopped. I know Minerva doesn't appreciate it when students try to… redecorate."

"Minerva… is that the cat woman?"

"Yes, she can turn into a cat on occasion. But we're losing focus here. Once our lovely boy Harry" - he blushed as he signed this to Leane - "has brought you down to the lake, you will need to tear the bottom of your painting from the inside."

"But how will I do this?"

"You will take your fingernails, or your teeth, or whatever you can find, and make a hole in the protective layer keeping you in this frame."

"Won't my water drain out? How will I survive?"

"This is the difficult part. While you are trying to tear your painting, Harry will be rowing into the middle of the lake, gaining the attention of your sisters. They will help with the next part."

"Okay, so Harry rows into the lake, and I let all the water out of my painting. Should I hold my breath until my sisters come?"

"Yes." Helga looked nervous.

"Okay. I'll do it."

"You will need to trust Harry absolutely, with no doubts in your mind. If you doubt him, you will die. Do you understand me?"

"I do. And I do trust Harry. If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have chosen this."

"Okay. Today is Wednesday, which means there are too many students around that could see something. I'd suggest waiting until Saturday, when most of the older students have gone for their last Hogsmeade trip. Agreed?"

"Agreed. So I hold my breath and wait for my sisters, but I'll still be stuck in the frame at that point. How do I get out?"

"That's where Harry comes in. Once all of the water is drained, he will need to rip the bottom part of the frame off, and tear off the bottom of the painting as well. You will need to be sitting on your rock when this happens, otherwise he could hurt you."

"Hurt me? How?"

"He could accidentally rip your tail off. Or he could tear one of your arms, or your stomach, or-"

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll be on my rock, holding my breath and waiting."

"Good. Once the bottom of the painting is ripped off, Harry will hand the rest of the frame to your sisters. They will slowly lower you into the water. Once the water is at a level where you feel comfortable diving in, do it. Swim down as far as you can, as fast as you can. Swim down until you see plants around you that are not familiar to you, and then look at your surroundings."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"So now we just wait for Saturday."