Chapter 11
Thank you Giant Squid (Hero Complex)

The first week went by faster than Harry could have imagined. Classes and research kept him busy, which he was grateful for. It gave him less time to ponder about the past and more time to get to know his parents and their friends. He talked to Remus and Lily about homework and classes. They helped him with Potions and Ancient Runes, the last he had decided to take at the last minute.

He talked to Sirius and James about Quidditch and 'fun things' as they liked to call it. He saw them more than one time sitting together heads bend over paperwork. It reminded him of the Weasley twins and wondered what the two were plotting.

Peter was a different story. Harry had mixed feelings about getting to know the boy who would later betray his parents. The boy seemed to have only two feelings at times. Either almost annoyingly happy or deep in a dark hole depressed. The first Harry didn't mind, the mood was almost infectious. The latter seemed to take Peter on a quiet and lonely path that no one disturbed him with.

Harry had asked Remus about it once. "Oh you noticed," he had said thoughtful for a minute. "Yes, I cannot quite remember when it started. Must have been Christmas last year. Peter and James had an argument about something I can't remember. It was just before break and they parted less friendly. When Peter and James returned to Hogwarts it was forgotten but since then Peter has been like that. He wouldn't talk about what happened though."

Of course listening to the rumour mill at Hogwarts, everyone apart from most first years was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. There were a few who were even anxious about something. Harry had frowned when he had heard the whispers and he had turned to Kitty who he was sitting next to in Transfigurations.

She had smiled. "It's to do with them four." And she had nodded her head in the direction of James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. "Usually when they enter Hogwarts they give the school a 'welcome' of sorts. To make the first years feel welcome and to give the older students a 'welcome back'. This usually happens between the beginning feast and dinner the first school day. But almost a whole week has past and they haven't done anything yet. People are getting worried. It is their last year and all.

"Some reckon they have been given a warning by the Headmaster and professor McGonagall. They say that if they do as much as one thing this year they'll be thrown out. Others say the famous quartet has lost their nerves. But most are waiting and preparing for one big explosion of multiple things by the end of the week."

"And what do you think?" Harry asked as he made an attempt at transfiguring his raven into a writing desk. A "Pay attention Mr King," from McGonagall shut them up for a while. "First find the why and then the how as you attempt to transfigure your raven into a writing desk."

Something that had bothered Harry about the whole lesson and he raised his hand. "Yes Mr King, what would you like to know?"

Then he felt a grin spread across his face as he realised the question he was about to ask. "Professor, why is a raven like a writing desk?"

There was an amused twinkle in her eye and a few fellow classmates snickered. "Very good Mr King. Two points to Gryffindor. That's it for today. Everyone else please explain in two rolls of parchment the why. Mr King I want similarities of the two with other objects and how they can be transfigured into the other. Also two rolls."

The rest of the class sat in silence for a minute while Harry packed his things away. A look of confusion clearly visible on their faces. Harry grinned. "That went well professor," he said as McGonagall stared at her students in amusement. "You should do that more often, I think. Well, see you Friday professor!" And with that he had walked out the door. His classmates soon followed.

"How did you figure it out?" Remus said as Sirius clapped Harry on the back with a grin on his face.

"That was brilliant," James cried out. "I didn't get it at all, but it sure as hell got us off earlier. Amazing Harry!"

Lily had commented later on his brilliance when they had been in Ancient Runes. And she had asked his help on her essay. He had asked her about the rumours as well, but his mother seemed not too bothered about it. "Nothing to worry too much about Harry. I'm actually hoping that they had stopped their devious ways. I can focus better on my studies when I don't have to run after that lot."

And so the week was nearly over and still the famous Marauders hadn't done anything to the school. It seemed to unnerve even the teachers by this time. When Sirius and James were talking quietly together, people shot them curious looks and some even worried looks. There was so much tension by the end of the week that some teachers cancelled their classes. They could see the four Marauders grinning as the announcement were made. And so the student population of Hogwarts were roaming the castle and the grounds

"You know, I like it here," Ginny said, glancing outside as they walked along the corridors of the first floor. They had just returned from the Library. If they had free time they might as well do some research first before they would lounge outside.

Harry stopped to look at her. His eyes searched hers for a minute, before he turned to look outside. Down below was the lake and his father's tree. They could see James and Sirius fooling around, while Remus was reading a book and Peter was looking at Kitty and Lily practicing spells on objects they had conjured. "It is nice here," he said softly. "It's so quiet; you would think the war wasn't even going on at the moment. Everyone looks so care-free. But still you can hear it when you pass people in the hallways and you read it in the morning and evening papers. He's going stronger once more and as soon as this school year is over he will have even more followers. But I'm glad the war hasn't affected the students to much yet. It's time to talk to Dumbledore though, about extra lessons. I don't trust this DADA teacher. He's too old to really be able to teach anything."

Ginny nodded and covered his hand with hers. "It's time to bring a new DA together. But we may want to change the name. We´ll think about it and maybe Dumbledore will have a few ideas." Suddenly a lot of activity down by the lake interrupted their thoughts. A disagreement brought up an argument and suddenly a loud BANG, a shriek and a body flying over the lake. "Kitty!" the heard Lily shout and the group of students watched as the unconscious body of the seventh year student dropped beneath the surface of the Black Lake.

"Oh hell," Harry muttered as he saw the rest of the students hesitate. "Get down there and bring Madame Pomfrey with you. I´ll see what I can do." Stripping away his robes and shoes he jumped unto the windowsill. As he flung himself over the edge, Harry cast a barrier so no one else could follow into the lake.

"HARRY BUBBLE HEAD CHARM!" Ginny shouted after him, knowing he would have probably already thought of it. Not wasting any more time she ran down to the Hospital Wing.

…

Remus had been enjoying himself just fine, until his reading time was rudely interrupted. He didn´t mind his friends playing games by the tree, he was used to James and Sirius being loud. He also didn´t mind Lily and Kitty practicing spells. It was a fine day to be outdoors so why not. But suddenly Peter stood, first ridged and then he disappeared. Confused as to where his friend had gone, he laid his book down to see if he could spot Wormtail. But he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Frowning he turned back to his book and as he was trying to find his line, another thing happened that disturbed his peace.

A discussion between the two girls was forming on blasting charms. One that grew heated when other arguments were thrown in. "Fine," Kitty yelled. "You do it then since you´re so good at it!" Lily narrowed her eyes and pointed her wand at the object. Remus noticed a few things at once.

The object itself was a pillow, it would not hurt anyone if it exploded but depending on the force of the spell could cause more problems because the pillow couldn´t be able to absorb all of the blast. Lily was agitated, by the looks of it, so her feelings of anger together with a blasting charm would only intensify the blast to become more destructive. And third, Kitty was standing way to close to the object.

"Wait," Remus said, but too late. Lily had already cast the spell which was flying towards the pillow. As in slow motion, Remus saw the spell make contact and explode with more force than even he had anticipated. The explosion knocked them all down, but Kitty was flung into the air, right over the lake. They all got to their feel only to see Kitty plunge into the lake.

"Kitty!" Lily yelled and tears had already started to spill from her eyes. James and Sirius ran to the edge of the lake as if they wanted to rush in to safe her, but hesitated.

"Maybe if we used a summoning charm?" Sirius suggested, but a cry from above and a wave of magic had them looking around in confusion.

"HARRY BUBBLE HEAD CHARM" They heard just before another body plummeted into the water.

"What the Hell does he think he´s doing?" James said with wide eyes, focusing on the water ripples. He moved forward to help who ever had just landed in the water with Kitty, but he seemed to be held back by something. Raising his hands he pressed at the invisible wall that seemed to be holding them back.

He turned to Remus. "Did you see who it was? I couldn't see from here."

The werewolf shook his head. "I wasn't paying attention, but someone is coming over so I guess we'll soon know."

With that all turned as they heard the running of footsteps coming their way. It was Ginny together with Madame Pomfrey that hurried towards them. Lily started to fill the nurse it about what happened as Ginny came to a halt next to James who was still resting his hands on the barrier.

"He's going to be alright," she whispered, a slight note of distress in her voice. Other than that it was confident. "He's been through worse. He's done something like this before and he was only fourteen then. Oh Harry you and your stupid Hero Complex. It is one thing to stick up for your family it is another for your friends."

Ginny sighed heavily and turned to James who had finally lowered his hands. She smiled weakly. "I've asked professor McGonagall to bring professor Dumbledore down as well. Maybe he could ask the merpeople for help in assisting Harry. It's a long shot but you never know. And he may be the only one to bring Harry's barrier down."

She smiled at the confusion on James' face and grabbed his hand. "He'll bring Kitty back, don't worry. I know Harry and he won't rest until he's found her."

Remus came to stand next to her. He sensed her distress, but there was a strange sort of calm in her as well. Like she didn't expect anything else but a good outcome. Ginny smiled at him too and grabbed his hand as she turned to look out onto the lake once more.

…

Harry was oblivious to all the worried thoughts and conversation that were being held on the shore. He had cast aside his thoughts about the Black Lake and his use of the Bubble Head Charm the moment he had started kicking his legs to the bottom. The idea of Cedric teaching him the charm after the second task, after they had rescued their hostages. Silent tears mixed themselves with the water, but he kept pushing on deeper.

Kitty had to be here somewhere. Harry had seen her fall right where he had jumped, but she must have dropped faster then Harry had estimated. The Grindylow hideout had to be close by and Harry couldn't imagine where the Giant Squid rested. Maybe he should cast a locator spell, but he also knew that most spells and charms had a different effect underwater.

Biting his lip he tried anyway. A soft light erupted with a lot of bubbles, but it seemed to have worked alright. The fading light directed him more north, but he was close. Kicking his legs as hard as he could, Harry quietly wishing for Gillyweed, continued on.

A slight panic spread through his chest. A human could not go to long without oxygen and he prayed on his lucky stars that Kitty hadn't drowned. Suddenly a strange sensation ran through his body. He could feel that he was close. So close that every time he spread his arms forwards he could feel his fingers tingling in anticipation.

Pushing past more weed Harry came to a sudden clearing, but he halted as he was unsure about the scene before him. In a big bubble Kitty hung, her eyes closed and her pale face showing no sign of consciousness. Behind her though was the Giant Squid.

Harry could feel his heart hammering inside his chest. What was he supposed to do now? He didn't know anything about the Giant Squid, except that it showed kindness to the students sometimes. Like when the Weasley twins and Lee used to tickle it or that time when Colin Creevey's brother Dennis had fallen in the lake and had been saved by the Giant Squid. But guessing it was friendly wasn't always a good idea.

So Harry gathered his Gryffindor courage and approached more closely. It was an amazing sight though. Its big tentacles seemed to curl all around the Squid, twisting itself in every direction. But there seemed to be nothing more for it then a few ruins and a cave behind it.

The closer Harry got the more it retreated, tough it kept a tentacle close to Kitty, where she was safely floating inside her bubble. Harry stretched himself to reach for her, but at that moment the Squid rushed all its tentacles forwards and made a protective ball around the bubble.

"Please," Harry begged only being able to mouth the words. "I want to take her to safety." He stretched his hand to touch the tentacles. As he touched it a strange sensation spread through him. It was like when Snape had tried to read his mind during his Occlumency lessons. Images of his school years and the war ran through his mind before a focus was made of the moment when Kitty had fallen into the lake and Harry had jumped after her.

The images abruptly stopped and a clear voice ran through his mind. "Take care, brave wizard." The Giant Squid retreated completely now and watched as Harry smiled to take Kitty back to the surface. Not wanting to waste anymore time, Harry pushed the bubble up, while he swam underneath it.

Suddenly, when Harry passed the weed once more, a swarm of Grindylow threw themselves on him. Struggling with all his might he pushed Kitty upwards, and gave a blast of bubbles to push it to the surface. The Grindylow, at the mean time, started to claw at his arms and legs, ripping and burning the flesh. Not at painful as the Cruciatus Harry almost cursed at the feeling of deja vu.

Reselling with the creatures Harry tried to reach for his wand, but there were too many of them. Finally he had reached his wand but one of the Grindylow was able to pierce his bubble. Water rushed against his head as he snapped his mouth shut. Still being able to shout "Relashio!" a spray of hot, bubbling water, much the same as last time, sprayed the Grindylow.

But as soon as they disappeared Harry could feel himself weakening. He had inhaled some water when he had cast the spell and his lounges were now screaming in protest. Trying to cough up the water without opening his mouth or letting water enter through his nose was not an option. A feeling of sheer panic gripped him as he tried to push himself towards the surface.

Feelings of giving up were mixed with tears. Ginny is waiting for me, Harry thought desperately. I can't leave her. I can't let her be stuck in this dimension. Even if it was with the Marauders. Mum, dad, Sirius, Remus. I'm so sorry. Take care of her.

And with that Harry felt his body give up. Death embraced him as water rushed into his mouth, nose and ears.

A/N: Finally an update and she puts in a cliffhanger! I'm so evil :P Hope you liked it, I'll try to update a bit quicker next time. Was recovering from an operation so you must forgive me for this last one. Love ya all, xx