A/N: I hope you'll all forgive me for taking so long with this chapter. As some of you know, I was working on finishing Letters To No One (if you haven't read that already, check it out!). Now I'll be focusing solely on this one. It's the end of Thanksgiving break, but I hope to get a lot of writing done over Christmas break and I'm also hoping that my teachers won't give a lot of homework again. Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Backwards
The three Gryffindors and Slytherin met by the Fat Lady the next day and proceeded into Hogsmeade. Since it was now fall and the weather had taken a turn toward the chilly side, they decided to warm up with some butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta. They sat at a round table close to the window while Harry left to order drinks.
"So, Adrienne," Hermione began, "how are you?"
"Fine," Adrienne answered awkwardly. "Ron decided against participating in this rather odd conversation.
"So, um, you like Harry, then?" Hermione continued.
"We're just partners for a project," came the stiff reply. There was a silence, and Harry returned.
"Sorry, bit of a wait up there," he said as he sat down. There was a silence again. Hermione nudged Ron with her elbow.
"Um," Ron said, clearing his throat, "do you like Quidditch?" he asked in Adrienne's direction.
"Not particularly," she answered curtly. More silence.
"Oh, our drinks are ready," Harry said, standing. "I'll be right back."
"I'll help you," said Adrienne, also rising. When they were at the counter, out of earshot of anyone, Harry noticed her eyes were glassy as he handed Adrienne two bottles of butterbeer.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded, then stopped and shook her head. "No. I'm sorry if I've seemed… preoccupied, but that's because I have been. I'm… so sorry!" she started crying. Harry began to say, "It's really okay," but she wasn't finished. "I'm sorry; I opened my eyes that other day in your dorm. I tried to keep them closed and not look, I really did!"
"What's this all about?" Harry asked, confused.
"I… can't say," she sniffed. "But I strongly recommend you change beds, Harry. Really. Take me seriously, please."
Harry was bewildered, but he said no more. As soon as Adrienne had magically dried her face, they returned to the table.
The rest of the afternoon that the four of them shared passed by dully. After Ron and Hermione decided to return to the castle, Harry and Adrienne walked around Hogsmeade. After a while, Adrienne spoke. "Okay, so, for the record, double dating is not a good idea, right?"
Harry laughed. "Right." Then he said, "So, it's late November. I guess I'll be doing my Christmas shopping soon…" He put on an air and tone of a "proper" baron. "I'd be delighted if you'd accompany me," he said, stretching out his arm.
"I would love to," Adrienne said, taking his arm and the same mocking tone. "But just as friends."
"Well, of course."
-
"Hey, Sirius," Harry said as he entered the Room of Requirement.
"You're certainly in a good mood," Sirius commented.
"I guess I am." Harry took a seat on a pillow. How are you feeling?"
"I'm not sick, Harry," Sirius reminded his godson.
"Right. I know. Sorry. So really, how've you been?"
"Well, no new memories, so don't bother asking. I've just been here, running errands and doing odd jobs for Dumbledore sometimes, but nothing out of the ordinary. Why? Come to talk to me about something I used to know?" He sounded a little bitter.
"No," said Harry firmly. "That's not the reason I came." He sounded like he wanted not only to keep it true to Sirius.
"Good." They were silent for a moment, and Harry desperately wished that they had the bond they used to have.
"So," said Harry at the same time Sirius said, "How's school?" As Sirius backed off, Harry continued his thought. "So, have you looked at the scrapbook I gave you?"
Sirius smiled. "Yeah. Nice pictures. Didn't remember any of them, but they were nice." He pulled it out from under one of the pillows and opened it. Together they leafed through pictures from before Harry was born to last year's pictures. Harry smiled at the memories, which was accompanied by a bitter taste in his mouth. Would everything good also have to be awful as long as Sirius couldn't remember it?
After he left Sirius and the scrapbook, Harry went to the lake and sat at the foot of an oak. After a few minutes, he got bored. Taking off his robe and rolling up his pant legs, he waded into the water, wand within easy reach. The icy water felt good, numbing. The waves lapped at his ankles. He tried to forget the disappointment he had just experienced, the tears on his cheeks turning cold because of the chilly air.
He didn't notice that someone was watching him. "Hello."
Harry whirled around. Adrienne stood motionless beside the tree he had been sitting against. "Oh. Hi." He turned his back to her once more, gazing at the metallic water, but now was uncomfortable. He climbed out of the lake and painfully walked back to the oak tree, wincing as he sat down.
"What's wrong?" Adrienne asked as she sat down beside him.
"My feet. Numb."
"Oh, let me help." Adrienne pulled out her wand and whispered something. A faint, dull glow emanated from his bare feet. There was a tingling sensation, and then the pain began. The intense, burning, stinging pain.
"It'll hurt a little," Adrienne said as she near-completed the spell.
"Too late," Harry groaned. After the spell was done, he muttered a "Thanks."
"Not a problem," she said, and looked up at him. They seemed to connect for a moment, then Adrienne turned away sharply. Harry shrugged indifferently and muttered, "Accio." A frog zoomed from the bank of the lake into his hand. He played with it absentmindedly, the animal just something to keep his hands occupied while he thought.
"Harry," Adrienne said finally. "Um… what… never mind." She was desperate for conversation. Harry said nothing in reply.
"Why'd you stop the hair color?" he asked. Adrienne shrugged.
"Just wasn't me."
Now Harry was confused. First, she was completely dull. Then she was incredibly spunky. Now she was dull again. He couldn't understand what was going on, and he didn't dare ask her for fear that she would do something odd again.
"Adrienne," Harry said slowly, "if you don't mind my asking—now don't answer unless you're completely honest—what's been up with you lately? I'm sure the question is getting old, but really, I'm curious."
She thought carefully before answering. "I'm just going through some changes. Mood swings and such, I know, but nothing serious."
Harry nodded. She was being evasive again, but he did not pry any further.
"So what did you think of Binns' performance today?" she asked.
Despite his mood, Harry managed to crack a smile. "Spectacular," he said.
"I know. I just loved the part where the windows blew open and the wind took him around the room!"
"Definitely brightened up the lecture." They talked for what seemed like hours. It seemed as though Adrienne had put the life back into both Harry and herself. For the time being, anyway. All of a sudden, a click and a bright flash brought a halt to their conversation. They both looked around, but there was no one in sight.
"I'd better go," said Adrienne. "Why don't you bring the rest of the ingredients to my place, and then we'll start brewing."
"Your place? But—"
"Don't worry about it. See you tonight!" She ran off to the castle. After righting the frog and putting his socks and shoes back on, he followed.
-
"Hey, mate. Big Gobstones tournament tonight in the Common Room. You coming to watch? There'll be food," Ron was saying.
"No thanks. Working on Potions tonight," Harry replied. Ron shrugged.
"Um, Harry," Hermione said timidly. "I was thinking of visiting Sirius tomorrow or the day after… would you like to come?"
Harry genuinely thought about it, and replied, "Yeah, sure. Day after tomorrow."
Hermione smiled. "Great."
-
That night, Harry crept down the dungeon corridors, wand in his hand. Why did Adrienne have to ask him to meet here? Why couldn't they meet on neutral territory? There were all sorts of Dark Magic floating around in the Slytherin corridors.
When Harry got to the end of the tunnel, he didn't know whether to turn back or not. He was pretty sure this was the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, but he didn't know how to enter.
Suddenly a large flame burst out of the wall and formed the image of a face. "Tell the password," it boomed, "or you might not leave alive."
Harry pointed his wand. Just then, the flame was sucked back into the wall, which pulled aside. Adrienne stood on the other side.
"Sorry about that," she said apologetically. Then, loudly, she said, "What? Oh sure, Draco. I'm going with Draco, guys. Clean that mess up." She stepped out and closed the dungeon door behind her.
"What was that about?" Harry asked.
"Erm, long story. But now they think I'm out with Draco." Then she gasped, but waved it away. "Whatever," she muttered. "So, where are we going?"
"But—I thought you knew where we were going to brew this." Harry held up the half dozen vials of ingredients in his hand.
"Huh? No!" Adrienne said. "I just needed you to pick me up to create the illusion that I was out with Draco."
"Well…" Harry thought quickly. "I know a place. Follow me." He took her to the girls' bathroom that Myrtle haunted. "No one will bother us here."
"Why not?" asked Adrienne. Just then, Myrtle's voice, followed by her ghostly body, came floating toward the two teenagers.
"Oh, Harry!" she shrieked. "You've come back! I've missed you. I—" she stopped at the sight of Adrienne. "Oh." She squinted, scrutinizing her up and down. "You're not that pretty," she said.
"Myrtle, could you leave us alone, please?" Harry asked with a groan.
"But why?"
"The Ravenclaw Quidditch captain is taking a bath in the Prefects' bathroom." She was through the wall in a flash.
"Is he really?" Adrienne asked.
"Well, no. But someone very unfortunate probably is." He winked.
-
As he undressed and prepared himself for sleep, Harry thought back on the day, a thing he seldom did anymore. It had been an odd day and had, oddly enough, revolved around Adrienne. They had gone for drinks, spent time at the lake, and set the potion over a flame. Adrienne had been her regular-human self, and this troubled Harry slightly. Not the fact that she could act like a normal human girl, but the part of her that didn't. Or couldn't.
Dear Diary,
Life lately has been a whirlwind. It used to be so dull, so predictable, so monotonous. I didn't have a choice or a say, but I didn't really mind because I had never known anything else. Now I do—I do know and I do mind. Father made the right and the wrong… and the right decision sending me to Hogwarts. I know I don't make much sense, Diary, and I don't have time to explain. I meant that it was good for me, bad for him… and then good for him, too. Sigh.
Harry's been on my mind a lot lately. I'm worried about him, but at the same time I don't want to stop spending time with him. I really don't want him to get hurt… am I really that selfish? I guess I'm entitled to a little selfishness after all these years… right?
2:30. 'Night.
Harry thought about Sirius. He thought about how he hadn't remembered anything lately and of how he still didn't remember a lot or anything of importance. What about his entire life—Harry's entire life? Did that mean nothing to Sirius? Were all the memories worthless? And what of Harry's memories? Was he expected to throw them all away? Because he would not just throw a life away. He would not.
What if all the time he spent and the effort and the hope were wasted? What if Sirius never recovered?
A lone cold tear crept into Harry's eye, but he would not let it fall. Before going to bed, Harry moved his stuff to the bed across the room and tried to fall asleep in that bed.
A/N: I'm incredibly sorry it took me so long! I wrote 4 pages of the next chapter while I was on vacation the last 3 or 4 days, but I have to type it and then finish it. Here's part of my Christmas present to all of you, and the next part will be late.
Enjoy! OutofAzkaban
potts- Yesyes you can! You really should write; you've got some awesome ideas. Trust me. And thank you! You'll find out about Adrienne, I promise. It just won't be too soon because silly me—I take forever to write.
IamSiriusgrl- Sirius' POV. Good idea; I'll do what I can. I'm going to try and work in more Sirius in the next chapter.
