This is a revised chapter, Griffin instead of Hippogriff as Harry's Animagus form.
……………………………………
The World Without Me
Chapter 11: Tattoo
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"James! Can you go to Diagon Alley for me? Ollivanders owled me yesterday because he repaired my wand," Rosmerta said while mumbling the last part.
She had nicked her wand pretty badly three days ago and sent it to Ollivanders' wand shop to have it repaired and polished. James had been at Hogwarts when it happened.
Harry nodded to the grumbling woman; he knew that witches and wizards always felt naked and defenseless without their wand and he knew that to have it repaired cost a lot of money. Harry wanted to help her pay for it but he still couldn't really use his key to take money out of his vault just yet.
"Of course I'll go Rosmerta. But won't you need my help today? It IS Saturday."
Rosmerta shook her head negatively and gave him a pouch of money which he put in his pocket. "Nah! There won't be any students coming here this weekend, I know this from experience. No student in his right mind will go out right before the exam week. They need to study and practice."
James nodded and stepped in the fireplace after throwing in the Floo Powder. "Diagon Alley!" He vanished as the green flames engulfed him.
When he reappeared (as gracefully as he could) in the Leaky Cauldron, everybody gave him the evil eye before they went back to their occupations. Tom's gaze followed him heavily until he marched out of the back door.
Harry tapped his wand on the bricks and he walked toward his destination without looking backward. There were many people around, shopping for their Christmas gifts.
A couple of young kids not old enough to go to Hogwarts where playing together and ran in his direction. One of them accidentally pushed him on the side, making the child who had come in contact with James fall in the snow.
The sudden shove made Nagini hiss angrily and warningly, and perhaps a little too loudly.
The kids, who were in the middle of a hurried apology, froze and looked at the young man who suddenly appeared to be menacing.
Harry put a hand quickly on his stomach and cursed and winced mentally at the same time. He gave the kids an empty look and they ran away on the border of tears, no doubt to tell their parents about the strange and scary boy walking alone in Diagon Alley.
Harry didn't feel like lingering here anymore and he got the sudden urge to get this over with as soon and fast as possible. He ignored everyone looking at him suspiciously with practiced ease, his mask of indifference locked on severely.
He had to find a better way to "hide" Nagini once he came back to The Three Broomsticks; today had proved that his second familiar was too volatile to simply stay under his cloak. If it only took someone to push or hug him to get her started, he didn't dare think about what she would do to the person who maimed him with bad intentions.
He entered Ollivanders' shop and waited for the old man to show up. Harry tensed and solidified his mental wall when Ollivanders finally walked toward him. The shop owner looked at him curiously and he looked lost when he finished his examination. "Curious…" he whispered mainly to himself. "I have never seen you around before…What can I do for you, Mister?"
James nodded his hello with a tight expression. "James Evans. I come in Rosmerta's stead to get her wand."
A light of recognition seemed to illuminate Ollivanders' eyes and he nodded, turning around to get the woman's newly polished wand. His expression was still pensive, though, as if searching in his memory the identity of the dark looking young man waiting for him. 'This boy's stance…he looks like another young man I helped find a wand from long ago…Sixty or so years ago…but that's preposterous!'
He gave the wand to James Evans while staring straight in the boy's blue eyes with his own narrowed ones. "Tell me, what kind of wand do you have?"
Harry stiffened and mentally cursed the old man's tenacity. "Frankly, that's none of your business," he answered roughly. He gave the wary man the pouch with the exact amount of money and turned to leave.
But as his hand touched the doorknob, he felt a slight pull of magic and the hundreds of small boxes stacked behind the wand-maker started to shake and vibrate, greatly startling Ollivanders. "What's happening!" the old man cried out in shock. "The wands are all resonating!"
Harry was standing in the doorway, motionless and frowning, but when he moved, barely an inch, the boxes unexpectedly fell quiet, except for a black one that hurled in his direction dangerously fast.
Thankful for his fast Quidditch reflexes he caught it before it could smack right in his face. His other hand reached his own wand in his wand holster and, as he touched it, a song echoed in the shop. Harry recognized it all too well, as well as he recognized the box he now was holding.
Ollivanders watched with wide eyes and a gaping mouth as the dark haired boy narrowed his blue orbs with determination, opened the box and took the wand out with a disturbing sentiment of familiarity.
The wand shot angry red sparks and quivered in James' hand. With blatant awe and curiosity, though it never showed on his face, Harry set the box aside and retrieved his wand, bringing both of them at eye level.
Ollivanders stuttered in awe, confusion and fear and he stumbled backward, surprised and scared probably for the first time in his life. "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! WHERE DID YOU GET THIS WAND!" he panicked as the boy brought both magical items closer and as the Phoenix song resonated again, faster and louder.
The magical tension in the room was thick and suffocating for Ollivanders, who could only stare in horror at the two identical Phoenix feather core wands; Evans' wand, if it truly was his real name, wasn't the brother of the other but the exact same one coming from the same feather from Dumbledore's pet Phoenix Fawkes. But that was completely IM-PO-SSI-BLE!
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" he cried out as he found out what the glazed eyed boy was doing.
Harry didn't hear anything the white haired man shouted at him so fearfully.
The wands touched.
Ollivanders' heart almost stopped beating as fire enveloped both sticks but the boy remained unaffected by the scalding flames. Magic was literally pouring out of him but some of this magic clearly didn't come from the merging wands but from the boy himself.
It was light, it was dark, it was everywhere, dangerous and comforting…The boy was a complete living contradiction and Ollivanders wasn't so sure he wanted to know who he truly was anymore, as well as the life the boy led to get this sort of aura.
He preferred to stay aside, as far away as possible from the teen and with fearful and apprehensive eyes.
Out of a sudden, a ball of flame flared and gave the appearance of stroking the boy's right cheek and lower down the neck and chest on the right side.
In the short amount of time he felt his eyes open, Ollivanders was sure and certain that he briefly saw the boy change in both silhouette and stature and something red marking his cheek that wasn't a burn mark. But when he blinked and reopened his eyes James Evans was back to normal, as well as his magic level; but the wand-maker now knew that somehow the suffocating magic he had felt was being dampened.
The old man shook his head, trying to clear his raging thoughts. 'Did I imagine this? The young man's appearance changing and the…thing on his cheek? I am very much awake, though…'
When Harry reopened his eyes he felt the changes in is body, as if the real part of his magic had finally being unleashed; he had always felt somewhat fatigued in his younger years and at Hogwarts, maybe his magic hadn't been totally released it always pushed to get out.
It was only his thoughts about it, though, but somehow he was certain that he now also held the power of the heir of Slytherin: Tom Marvolo Riddle. Or was it his magic Tom had fed off of since the attack on Godric's Hollow? This truly was mind boggling.
When the wand finally stopped crackling in his hand and the fire receded, even Ollivanders had to stare at the new sight. Harry twirled it around expertly, scaring the old man further into the corner, and yet Ollivanders couldn't help but continue his wand gazing: the magical item was now completely changed and it was the most beautiful, if not deadly, wand he had ever seen.
Harry ignored Ollivanders to test the flexibility of his new wand. The now longer fifteen inches Phoenix core wand was completely red and so polished that it was almost giving off the impression of shining.
He holstered his new wand and turned to another source of problem: Ollivanders. Harry had felt his glamour fall for a mere second because of the rush of magic and Ollivanders had seen it, whether he believed it or not. Harry wasn't going to take any chances.
"I trust this new development will not get to Dumbledore's ears," was the subtle warning James Evans gave.
Ollivanders didn't know what to do but opted for a little bit of frowning. "Albus Dumbledore told me personally that I had to write to him as soon as the second Phoenix feather core wand was sold. Why shouldn't I?"
James almost snorted but refrained himself; he smirked in amusement instead. "Maybe because you've already warned him seven years ago? You saw the wand I held before it changed."
The shop keeper was baffled and completely lost. He sputtered "what do you mean seven years ago! I-I don't understand any of this!"
Harry sighed and looked at the befuddled man, deciding to spare him a heart attack. "I'm sorry Ollivanders but I can assure you I'm not an enemy. However, I need my secret to stay secret for a little while longer."
Ollivanders gazed at the blue eyed teen with a sigh of defeat. "You're going to obliviate me, aren't you?" he asked mutedly.
James continued to stare at him and stayed silent, the soundless warning evident enough for the old man to get.
"Fine. Maybe it's better that way anyway. But how can I know that you're on the right side and telling the truth? I need a proof or else I won't let myself be obliviated that easily. There ARE many witches and wizards outside just ready to help me if need be and I doubt you would want that kind of attention," Ollivanders threatened.
James chuckled. "You know how to bargain old man. Fine with me if it's the only way you'll leave me alone."
James approached the old wand-maker and bent above him to murmur in his ear: "I'm not from this world, yet it's in this world I will now live. My name is Harry James Potter."
Ollivanders' eyes widened to a nearly impossible size as the boy backed away and pointed his red wand at him.
He opened his mouth but the dark haired boy shook his head and gave him an apologetic look.
Ollivanders' knees buckled from under him and he shook from the shock.
"I'm sorry Ollivanders. You're a good man but nobody can know, not now. Obliviate!"
………
"Here Rosmerta, your wand. I'm going up in my room; just call me if you need my help."
Harry all but rushed in The Three Broomsticks, gave Rosmerta her wand and jumped up the stairs, leaving the baffled woman behind, as well as a couple of customers. "What's with him all of a sudden?" asked a regular client residing in Hogsmeade.
Rosmerta merely shrugged.
Harry put the usual reinforced silencing charm around his room and tossed his heavy winter cloak aside. Nagini hissed her contentment but also her curiosity when the boy all but ran into the bathroom.
"Ssnake-child? What wass that bursst of magic I felt not too long ago? The ssong wass vaguely familiar and sscaring, at leasst for me. Wass there a Phoenix around? A Phoenix like the one who transsported uss in this world?"
No response.
"Masster?" Nagini slithered in the bathroom just as her owner slowly dropped the glamour surrounding him; the first time since they arrived.
Hedwig hooted and flew to Harry, giving her master a few pecks of recognition. "It's good to see the real me. But what did the wand do to me!"
Harry turned his face to have a closer look at the right side and fingered the tattoo, for lack of a better word. There was a face of a fire Phoenix starting in the middle of his cheek, closer to his ear, and the neck and body were trailing down his own neck and disappearing under his shirt.
Harry all but ripped the shirt off of him to gaze at the rest of the mark; the body and tail of the elaborate representation finished on the right side of his stomach. It truly was a mystifying work of art, as well as a confusing one.
Why would the wand mark him like that? Was it because it considered Harry as its true owner? Because Harry was now whole and his magic restored? Because he was a member of the Order of the Phoenix? Only Fawkes had the answer to that.
Harry restored the glamour and, luckily for him, the marking also vanished under the spell. He went back to his bedroom and sat down, taking in all these new developments. Hedwig landed on his shoulder and he petted her absentmindly while Nagini coiled around his stomach once more. The move made Harry snap out of his daze and he watched Nagini make herself comfortable.
"Nagini, you almosst gave me away today. Can you not sstay quiet even when people touch me? You know I would call upon you if need be."
"I apologize, masster, but it is a normal reaction for me. I would have sshown mysself if I had thought you in danger, whether you called me or not. I may hide under your cloak but your sstomach iss an open target, do not forget thiss. I do not wissh to be ssquasshed by someone'ss sstupidity."
Harry understood Nagini's point of view but that didn't help his problem. "If only there was a way to hide you better…"
Harry startled as his pocket began to glow and he retrieved his quivering wand. A green light darker than the killing curse shot out of the wand and Harry yelped as it burned something in his left arm; all of this happened so fast that he was powerless to stop it. As soon as it started it stopped and the red wand went as back to normal as it could be.
For a minute Harry thought the burning light had traced the Dark Mark on his left arm but he was surprised to see some kind of language he had never seen. After his eyes got used to the strange symbols, he recognized it as being Parseltongue, but in written language. "I never thought Parseltongue could be written down!" Harry said with wonder.
He tried to read it and he whispered: "Sssnake."
He blinked.
"Snake? That's it? But why?"
He thought about it but when Nagini's hissing voice interrupted and asked him what the strange light had been and if he was hurt, Harry got an idea. "Nagini, can you get on my left arm?"
Nagini looked at him curiously but obeyed nonetheless. As soon as she touched the word on his arm Nagini started to literally get under his skin. It didn't hurt one bit: it's as if she was becoming a moving tattoo as she coiled around his arm.
It was a disturbing experience, though, to see his familiar moving "under" his skin. She had to coil around many times and even then, she took his entire arm's length, her head at his wrist and tail stopping just before his shoulder.
Harry panicked for a second. "Nagini, can you get out?" He held his arm up and she slowly slithered, head first and then the rest gradually, out of his skin as if detaching from it. When Nagini came out completely Harry started to breathe again, unaware that he had held his respiration.
"Nagini?" Harry started tentatively with unsure eyes, "How…How do you feel?"
The snake blinked up at him. "I feel fine, masster! Thiss wass truly a captivating experience! Your sskin kept me warm and it wassn't disssagreeable at all. Actually, I would prefer to sstay with you like thiss insstead of around your sstomach."
Harry blinked. "I think I found the way to bring you everywhere with me during the day!" The boy almost wanted to kiss his wand but he doubted that it would flare like this again any time soon. He let himself fall onto his bed with a tired sigh and fell in a light sleep with Nagini at his side.
………
During the exam week Harry continued to help Rosmerta, now serving with long sleeved shirts instead of with his cloak. He had even spelled a pair of black dragonhide gauntlets to reach just below his shoulders; there were finger holes in them so Harry could move more easily in them and Nagini wasn't bothered at all by it since she preferred to stay in the dark.
When he wore the gauntlets he had to put both of them on since he didn't want people to get suspicious. After all, hiding only one's left arm was a very bad idea when everybody knew that it was the Dark Marked arm.
Xiomara Hooch had visited often during the week since the students didn't have any exams concerning the flying lessons, and she had once again bothered James about that one-on-one Quidditch match he owed her.
James had merely chuckled at her enthusiasm and told her he would play with her after the Christmas break; right now The Three Broomsticks was starting to get fuller each passing day.
Dumbledore didn't have any time to come but Sirius and a very tired looking Remus did come a couple of times, mostly when the day was over. Harry had faked a worried gaze at Remus because he didn't look healthy but both men had shrugged it off without elaborating on the matter.
Harry wasn't stupid: he had looked at the calendar and the moon was going to be full very soon.
……
It was Thursday now and Harry was still working. The day was coming to an end and Harry sighed in relief. "Hey James! Just clean the table and then you can stop for today! Good job!" Rosmerta said from her place behind the bar.
James smiled slightly and nodded. He took a wet cloth and proceeded to wipe the table but as he finished he felt someone tapping on his shoulder. Turning around, he raised a surprised eyebrow at the one and only Ginny Weasley. "Ginny! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Hogwarts like everyone else?"
The girl blinked. "You know who I am?"
James narrowed his eyes because she didn't answer his question. "Of course I know who you are. Even if Ron hadn't told me about each and every member of his family then the red hair would have been a dead giveaway. Now answer my question! Did you come here alone?"
The sixteen years old girl had the decency to blush and look embarrassed. "Um…Yeah…But I'm okay!" she quickly added and blushed even more. However, when she looked shyly up at James Evans, her blush dissipated to make way for shame; he didn't look happy in the least.
"Why did you come here?"
Ginny gulped. "Well…Everyone knows you're good with your magic, at least from the little bits they've seen. Tomorrow I have the Defense against the Dark Arts exam and I was wondering if you could help me practice? I really need help in that department! I really need to be able get stronger to duel better! You ARE good in this subject, right?" she exclaimed with a desperate voice and hopeful eyes.
James frowned and sat down, letting a sigh escape his lips. Ginny sat eagerly in front of him but her hopes started to fade as he massaged his temples while making a face.
"Defense is my best subject, Ginny, but your exam is tomorrow. I can't help you with that and you know it. And anyway, in a duel intelligence and tactics are way more important than power."
Ginny sulked deeply in her chair and crossed her arms. "I bet you're saying that to avoid helping me! Everyone knows you need to be more powerful than your opponent to win a duel!" she muttered under her breath.
Harry heard her, however, and his head snapped in her direction. He looked at her with piercing and intense eyes, which made her recoil a little from the heavy gaze.
"If this is what you have believed in all these years then here's your problem! Tell me this, Ginny: if the person you're dueling with is more powerful than you but is a complete dope, who do you think will win? Him, who duels only with power and depletes his magical reserves without a care in the world, or you, using your head to think of tactics to take him by surprise?"
Ginny opened her mouth to answer but closed it with a snap when she finally got the point.
James nodded with a somber expression. "I thought so. Believe me when I tell you that I have always dueled with this in mind."
Ginny gazed at him timidly. "And did you win often?" she asked with a small voice.
James closed his eyes and sighed again. Ginny watched as many emotions crossed his face, some looking harsher and others sadder.
"Every time…"
Ginny's eyes widened in awe.
"But I lost things…people more important than a mere duel. You shouldn't be hurried to fight. Merlin knows this joyous winter atmosphere won't last for ever."
The red head girl stayed still in an uncomfortable silence, not knowing what to say. What could she say anyway? He was completely lost in his thoughts.
"MISS WEASLEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
Ginny shrieked in surprise and jumped in her seat while Harry had the natural reflex of getting his wand. He stopped short, hand still in his pocket, when he blinked and looked up to see a horrified Rosmerta gazing at Ginny. His hand left his still untested wand and he adorned a stiff position in his seat.
Ginny giggled nervously. "Ha-ha! Hum, hello Madam Rosmerta…I wanted to talk to James and-"
"And you disobeyed the rules! Now it's dark outside and you know that Death Eaters and Dementors roam this area! Some were even spotted near Hogsmeade yesterday! How will you go back to Hogwarts now?" Rosmerta said with an angry and yet concerned frown.
Since the younger Gryffindor looked on the verge of tears, James rolled his eyes in annoyance and got up, motioning for Ginny to put her cloak back on. "Come on," he said gruffly, "I'll accompany you back to school."
Ginny looked very thankful while Rosmerta transferred her worry gaze to him. "Are you sure it's wise? James I'm worried about you. One of these days the Death Eaters will get you, if not them then the Dementors!"
James shook his head and put his cloak on. "They won't. Now come on, Ginny. It's getting late and I don't have the intention to get to bed at one in the morning."
The girl bade Rosmerta good night and James nodded to the woman before closing the door.
Rosmerta walked to a window and chewed on her lips anxiously. "Oh, I hope they'll be okay!"
Something shone upon her and her gaze transferred upward where a fully round astral shape glimmered and lit the black sky, giving it an eerie glow.
………
"Come on Ginny! Can't you walk a little faster?" James asked while looking back at the girl.
Ginny was panting and trying to walk without falling in the thick snow. She was shivering. "H-how c-come you're n-not c-cold?" her teeth where practically shaking.
James rolled in eyes. "Ever heard of a warming charm?"
Of course, he wasn't about to tell her that he had done it wandlessly on himself.
The girl reddened, took out her wand, spelled herself and then sighed in relief and relaxed.
A howl resonated in the air, making both of them freeze. Ginny shrieked in fear. "Wolves?"
Harry frowned while the girl approached him out of terror and he gazed at the sky. "Oh shit." His expression turned dead serious and he grabbed the girl by the arm, not caring if he hurt her at the moment. It would hurt more if Remus found them in his transformed state.
Ginny shrieked again as James pulled her forcefully and rapidly toward the castle. Another howl echoed even nearer, making James cuss loudly. 'Shit damn fuck! Isn't Sirius supposed to force him to stay in the Shrieking Shack!'
"James! What's going on! There's a wolf following us, isn't there?" Ginny asked shakily.
"Not wolf, Werewolf. Now stay silent and hurry up!" James let out forcefully and Ginny gasped in pure panic.
The castle was now in their view but as they were almost about to leave the path the Werewolf came out of the Forbidden Forest in a jump and landed in front of them, just a couple of meters away and ready to pounce. It kept growling and showing its sharp teeth and claws.
"Ginny, when I tell you to you will run toward the castle without looking back. I'll occupy it so you'll have time to escape."
Ginny spluttered in fear and shook her head back and forth wildly. "No! No!"
Harry wanted to shake some sense and nerve into the girl but any wrong move would set the Werewolf on them both. "Do as I say!" he harshly told her and she jumped slightly. She gulped and nodded.
Ginny watched in horror as James roared and ran toward the beast, which snarled back and jumped on the boy. "GINNY NOW!"
The girl cried out when they both disappeared in the Forbidden Forest when the Werewolf pushed James on the ground but she started to run toward Hogwarts nonetheless, completely petrified by what was happening. 'I should have never gone to Hogsmeade!' Now her priority was to get the teachers if it wasn't already too late.
James wrestled with the beast that was ten times stronger than him and managed destabilize it and push it away from him for a moment. That moment was enough for him to transform into his Animagus counterpart.
The Werewolf was busy shaking its head to see that and when it turned around it was pushed to the ground on his back while a massive black Griffin screeched a long and dangerous note, its green eyes contrasting greatly with the black feathers.
The Werewolf growled and snarled, trying to get the Griffin off of him and slashing with his claws blindly. The winged creature screeched angrily and knocked the Werewolf with a hit of his own appendage, mindful of his claws: it was still Remus in there, after all.
The werewolf fell unconscious with the strike and the Griffin turned back into a panting Harry, who had to put his glamour on again. "I'm sorry Remus."
With one last look at his poor friend he went back to Hogwarts to make sure that Ginny was safe. "At least I'll sleep well tonight…" he muttered darkly. Nagini was probably worried like crazy on his arm and unable to get out because of the thick clothing he had on.
When he opened the great doors to Hogwarts every movement in front of him stopped suddenly and he was "attacked" by a sobbing and nearly hysterical girl. "JAMES! YOU'RE OKAY! I WAS SOOO SCARED!" Ginny wailed while she hugged him tightly.
Harry was only happy that Nagini wasn't there right now.
He pried the sobbing girl off of him and lifted an eyebrow at the still stunned teachers who all had their cloak on and where ready to go outside. Sirius and Remus were absent, of course, but Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Pomfrey and Manx were there.
"James my boy! You're all right!" Albus exclaimed in relief but gave him a concerned look. "Are you hurt somewhere? Anywhere? What happened to the Werewolf?"
Harry sighed; he knew that they were as worried for his health as Remus'. "I'm okay. A couple of bruises but nothing more. They'll be gone tomorrow. As for the Werewolf, I knocked him out with a spell."
'Liar!' his mind told him. He was almost afraid to use his new wand anyway.
The teachers looked at each other out the corner of their eyes, obviously relieved glances. Manx, however, looked disgusted. "I told you, boy! Dark creatures are dangerous and should all be eliminated!"
James snarled at him, surprising the man. "I dare you! There's a living human soul in there, you fool! It's not their fault they've been bitten or born this way! They can barely control it, if not at all!"
The other members of the faculty looked reassured to hear that from him. Albus stepped toward him. "Well, now there's no way I will let you go back to Hogsmeade alone at this hour. Poppy will check you and them Minerva will show you to the Gryffindor common room since they seem rather taken with you. I'll transfigure another bed in the bedroom Ronald Weasley and his friends occupy."
James protested as Poppy took his cloak off and she lifted an eyebrow at the long gauntlets he was wearing. "A new fashion trend I should know about?" she asked curiously.
James shrugged and stopped the nurse from taking them off. "I like them. And my arms aren't hurt. It's just my back but I told you the scrapes will be gone by tomorrow morning."
Poppy tutted but turned her attention on his back and let go of his hands, to Harry's great relief. She applied some healing salve she always took with her on his back and told Albus that he was fine.
"You were quite lucky, Mister Evans. It's not everyday that someone manages to escape a Werewolf unscathed," Severus Snape said guardedly, looking at him with narrowed, suspicious black eyes.
Harry mentally winced. Was Snape on to something?
Minerva glared at the insensitive Potions Master and whacked him on the shoulder. "Severus, be nice! The boy's had enough emotions for one night!" She turned to James with a warm smile. "Now, follow me young man. You too Miss Weasley. We will have to write to your parents about this little expedition."
Ginny winced and followed silently.
"I can't stay here Headmaster! Rosmerta is certainly waiting for me," Harry said; he could go back to the village with his Firebolt no problem, but the teachers didn't know that.
Albus shook his head, a definitive no. "Then I send an owl to her and she'll know that you are here and safe. Now follow Minerva."
Harry sighed and followed the woman quietly. "She'll kill me," he deadpanned. He kept his gaze riveted on the ground and narrowed his eyes even more at each passing minute.
They got up the moving stairs ad at the second level Harry faked curiosity. "I never went in that corridor before. What's in there?"
McGonagall glanced backward at him. "There's my classroom: Transfiguration."
Ginny interrupted. "And Moaning Myrtle's lavatories!"
James raised an inquisitive eyebrow and Ginny explained; "Moaning Myrtle is a ghost! She's always crying in her cubicle so nobody goes in there. She died some fifty or so years ago in there and nobody ever knew how!"
Harry was all ears but Ginny didn't look more informed on the matter. He turned his attention on McGonagall. "So, nobody knows how she died?"
The teacher shook her head negatively and stayed silent. 'So, nobody told the students about the Chamber of Secrets…'
"I hope what happened all those years ago didn't happen again!" Harry exclaimed innocently, and McGonagall once again shook her head no. The dark haired boy was happy to hear that Tom Riddle hadn't gone back to Hogwarts to claim the Basilisk just yet. Maybe he could still have his chance to turn it on his side this time. He made a mental note to check it out at a later time.
"Here it is: the Gryffindor common room. Malfoy stinks!" Minerva rolled her eyes and James raised an amused eyebrow at the password.
Ginny snickered. "Ron chose the password this week!"
James snorted.
The portrait swung open.
"GINEVRA WEASLEY!" Ron bellowed as soon as he saw her.
Ginny grimaced as her brother's red face came centimeters from her own.
"WHERE WERE YOU! I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!" he shouted.
Minerva told Ron to calm down as Seamus and Dean pulled Ron away. "Mister Weasley calm down. Your sister is okay, thanks to Mister Evans. She went to Hogsmeade, for what reason is a mystery to me, and they where attacked by a Werewolf when James accompanied her back here. She's all right and James merely has some scratches. Now I want everybody in bed. Mister Evans, go with Mister Weasley. Albus probably has put the fifth bed in the room. Make yourself at home. Good night." McGonagall turned and left.
The guys almost jumped on James. "What happened! A Werewolf! And you're still alive?"
James yawned and pushed them away, walking up the stairs. "I'm sorry but I'm tired. You have exams tomorrow so I suggest you all get some shut-eye. Good night."
Ron watched him disappear up the stairs. "How does he know the way to our dorm?" he asked the others, but they shrugged.
Seamus looked at Ginny excitedly. "Spill girl!"
Ginny was all too eager to tell them what a heroic thing James Evans had done to save her.
Harry let himself fall on the bed after he took his cloak off. There was a pajama at the end of the bed and he put the pants on, but he hesitated to put the top on. 'What if the boys see Nagini as a tattoo on my arm?' He shuddered at the thought.
Harry took the left gauntlet off and Nagini hissed her hello at him from her place beneath his skin. She started to move to separate herself from his arm when he stopped her, hissing as low as he could.
"Don't, Nagini. Not tonight. I will have to leave the gauntlet on; we are sstill at Hogwartss."
Nagini coiled tighter around his arm once again and let Harry put the piece of clothing back on. She didn't mind at all to stay there for the night if it prevented her master from being in trouble.
Harry pulled the covers up after muttering a wandless silencing charm. It wouldn't be as strong as one made with his wand but it would have to do for now. He didn't want to try his wand here, just in case something happened and he made something explode or whatever.
He fell asleep almost instantly while the others where still down the stairs and quite awake, listening to Ginny's tale.