Disappointment Chapter Fourteen

The next morning had all the girls wearing Harry's gifts to them. Ginny's sweater turned into a Gryffindor colored vest with the emblem on her breast pocket. It was silky smooth and it flattered her curves, or what she liked to think were her curves. It actually just added a little where it needed to be to make her look more grown up. She had many compliments from all the houses about it, wondering where she got it from. She just said it was from a friend and left it at that, so Harry wouldn't be hounded about getting others the same thing.

Hermione wore her bracelet and touched all the gems to see how to operate it correctly. She copied the conversations about Ginny's vest and played them back once they were all seated. Her napkin was in her hand to wipe off her finger prints every time she touched a stone. She even wrapped one of them around her wrist to keep from soiling it with her food. She hit Fred in the arm when he grabbed her arm to help her get seated and touched the bracelet.

Luna wore her necklace with the amulet and tried to keep it out of her plate while she ate. She could be seen with weird looks as she looked around at different people. Hermione asked what she was looking for and Luna just smiled and continued to eat, but was still looking around. Then she looked up to see Professor Dumbledore coming to see Harry. She nudged him in the arm to get his attention and to warn him. Harry looked up and saw him standing across from him.

"Mr. Potter, it is imperative that I see you before you got to class."

"Fine sir, what is it you need to see me about?"

"I can't tell you here. We need to go to my office."

"No sir, if you can't tell me here then I don't need to know what it is you want. What you tell me can be heard by my friends."

"It's impossible to say it out in the open and no one else needs to know. Please Mr. Potter, you need to know this."

"If I need to know it, then so do my friends so that they can help. Now please sir, I need to eat and build my strength." Albus cussed as he started to walk away, only to stop when he saw the necklace of Luna's.

"Miss Lovegood, where did you get that amulet?"

Luna picked it up to show him and said, "It is beautiful, isn't it, Professor?"

"Miss Lovegood, I need to know where you got it from. I know what it is and who it once belonged to."

Luna tilted her head at his statement and asked, " Why is it so important to you?"

"Has Harry got you all trained to ignore my questions? It was a simple enough question and needed no response other than the answer."

"Not if you are going to be rude about it. I also asked a simple question and you just went on with your questioning. Why should our answers be any different than your own, SIR?"

"The amulet belonged to one of our founders, Miss Lovegood and it is a part of a powerful artifact. Both pieces have been missing for ages and you wearing one of the pieces tells me the other must have been found as well?"

"I don't know about the missing piece and the one I am wearing was not lost. It was in safe keeping until the right person could be found to wear it. I didn't know what it was called or who originally owned it, but since it is brilliant, it must have been owned by Rowena Ravenclaw. If that is the case, then her lost Diadem must be the missing piece. What is the name of this and the missing piece? I told you what I knew, now it's your turn."

"Your piece is called the Minds Eye, and the Diadem, as you called it, is the Minds Light. Together they are the Minds Heart. I will not tell you what they can do when together."

"That's alright, as I don't really need to know what they can do. Thank you Professor for this bit of information."

"How could you have had it all this time, and not know what it is? I can't believe that."

"Sorry Professor, but I will not tell you how long I have had it, or where my family got it from."

The Professor walked off totally aggravated with Gryffindor House. He went to Professor McGonagall and told her of what just happened. "Were they rude in any way?" she asked

He didn't answer her and she dropped it at that with no action taken.

Harry and Hermione talked with Luna after the Professor left, but she didn't know what he was talking about. She did know that the amulet gave her something she felt in her mind, like it made a connection with it, but not completely. It was missing something. After the talk, she thought it was what the Professor said, the missing Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.

Harry's first class was Transfiguration and it had just got started when Minerva was interrupted by a floo call from Severus. She was there for a minute and then pulled out. She went to Harry and passed on the message from Severus that he would like to speak to him at 7PM that evening. Nothing serious, just a question and some small talk. Harry thought on it for a moment since he had been looking for the Professor to ask to talk to him since the start of his first year. He would make this meeting to see what he had to say. He knew the Professor knew his mother and had questions for him as well.

Minerva still had hopes that Harry could teach her his style of magic, but she couldn't control it. He showed her several times how simple it was, but he failed to see how it was for him, but very few others could do it over and over again. Hermione and Ron came the closest to doing it, with Ron being the best, for a brief period of time. Then he let it go to his head. Now he was back to being just Ron and still carried a grudge against Harry for some reason.

The day ended and after dropping off their books, Harry, Ginny and Luna made their way to dinner where they met up with Hermione, Fred and George. George went to sit by Luna, while Fred took the seat next to Hermione. Hermione turned to Harry and said, "Harry, Professor Snape wishes to see us both tonight at seven. Do you know what it's all about?"

"He wants you there also? That's the first I heard of it. He just asked for me."

"The only reason I knew he asked for you was because I was sitting close enough to hear him talk to McGonagall. Did we do something wrong, or did you do something wrong using my name?"

When Harry slapped his hand on the table, it made Hermione and those around him jump, "I have never, nor would I ever use someone else name to get him or her in trouble, especially if it's a friend. I don't have enough to scare away with something stupid. I may be Sirius' godson, but I didn't inherit his stupidity."

Hermione backed away from the irate Harry, "I'm sorry Harry but I have never been in trouble, and it rattles me when I don't know why something is happening to me."

Harry softened after this and apologized, "I'm sorry too, Hermione and everyone else. I didn't mean to react like that, but the idea of Sirius struck me and I didn't like the connection. All I know, Hermione, is he wanted to talk to me last year, but never did. Maybe he saw something in you that he has questions about?"

Hermione looked at her bracelet and thought she knew why she was included. It belonged to his mum and the Professor knew her in the past and made the connection. She said this to Harry and he agreed it could be what it was all about.

Harry and Hermione made their way to see Snape after they finished part of their homework. It would help once the meeting was finished. They got to the classroom door and walked in. Severus was sitting at the desk, waiting for them. "Good to see you are both prompt. Please be seated. May I offer you something to drink?" and they both took a cuppa.

"Thank you Professor. Now, what can we do for you?" Harry asked. Hermione just nodded her thanks.

"Well, first off, the bracelet Miss Granger is wearing belonged to your mum, did it not?"

"Yes sir. I gave it to her for her upcoming birthday. Is that a problem?"

"Please, I am not here to punish or embarrass either of you. You see, I helped your mother create that bracelet to help her with her friends. It was our first year and she had to make two copies of her notes so she could do her homework without being bothered by them. I was surprised to see Miss Granger wearing it, is all. It has also come to my attention that Miss Lovegood is also wearing something of interest. Could you tell me where you got these items from?"

"I'd rather not Professor. Nothing personal, I just want to keep my source safe. I can tell you that I came by them legally."

"I knew that Mr. Potter, because of your mother's bracelet. However, the amulet has been missing, along with it's other half for centuries. It is quite priceless and with it's other part, extremely powerful. It's exact power is unknown. You probably think I am asking this for Professor Dumbledore, but I am not. It is for her safety I ask, because it will put her in the way of someone trying to steal it from her."

"She is quite protected from that, sir, as it can not be taken from her without her permission and it protects her from someone trying to steal it, as long as she wears it. She knows what it is capable of and feels only she can control it's power. She hopes she can find it's other part to keep it from falling into the wrong hands."

"I hope she knows what she is doing. I don't wish to see her get hurt or fall into some false sense of security. Miss Granger, you can leave if you wish to, I have a few things to discuss with Mr. Potter on a personal level."

"Is it alright if I stay, Professor and Harry?"

Harry said, "It's alright with me, if it's alright with you Professor."

"It's fine, I just didn't want her to get bored. What do you remember about your mother?"

"I remember nothing, but I have been told different things from Sirius and Professor Lupin. How she was kind, gentle, understanding to a point, brilliant and honest."

"So no one mentioned how beautiful she was, or how thoughtful, or how sweet? How forgiving she was. No one told you how she saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life?"

Now both Harry and Hermione leaned forward to hear what he had to say next.

Severus smiled at their reaction, "Yes, she almost rung my neck to keep me from going to see Lord Voldemort at Lucius Malfoy's invitation. They wanted me to join the ranks of the Death Eaters after I finished my course of mastery of Potions. Your mother could have taken the course as well, but chose to let me be the only Potion Master. She also told me she would cut off my family jewels if she found out I visited with Voldemort. I had no doubt she would have followed up on it, too. She took the route of the ministry and a job with the Department of Mysteries. She even became your dad and Sirius' superior, in a way. If they had to work together, and they did on several occasions, she was always put in charge. Your father didn't mind it, but Sirius acted like a spoiled child, complaining about taking orders from a girl. Of course she saved their hide many times, but Sirius never considered that."

For another hour, Severus told Harry and Hermione stories of Lily and James Potter, but mostly Lily. Harry could see the love he had for his mother and wondered what happened between the two. "Professor, it sounds like you loved my mother. Is this true, and if it is, what happened between you and her?"

Severus hoped this would never come up, but he also promised Lily he would tell Harry everything he asked him, "It was our fifth year, during our OWLS. We had just finished one of our tests and I was relaxing under my favorite tree. It was getting dark and cooler out. Your father came to me and asked me to help him with Remus, who had gotten hurt and Sirius was detention. I didn't doubt any of what he said. He took me to the Whomping Willow and was about to have me touch the knot on the tree to stop it. He stopped me and told me to leave before something happened. Sirius came charging out from a small tunnel at the base of the tree, yelling at your father for spoiling the prank. A prank that could have got me hurt, or even killed. I think you know what I am talking about Mr. Potter."

Harry sighed, "Indeed I do Professor. Another reason for me to stay away from him."

"Mr. Potter, it was not my intention to drive a spike in the relationship between you and Black. This all happened years ago, and I have almost forgotten about it. Remus, Sirius and I are your main links to your parents and you need to keep them close. Yes, even me. As hard as it may seem, I enjoyed this little talk tonight, and hope we can have more in the future. Please allow us to show you how your parents enjoyed life and their friends. I was close to your mother, maybe even closer than your father."

Harry thought on it for a minute, while Hermione asked, "Professor, why did James and Sirius try to trick you into seeing what ever it was?"

"That Miss Granger, I shall keep to myself. Now, are there any other questions, If not, then you best be getting back to your dorm, before curfew in upon us." and Harry and Hermione made their way back to the dorm, while Remus came from behind the curtain, behind the desk, to talk with of Severus. "Well, do you think it went well, Remus?"

"Harry was still thinking about what you said when they left. Your talk put more fire under his lack of faith for Sirius, I'm afraid. Not your fault mind you, as Sirius has dug himself a deep hole with Harry and digs deeper every time he opens his mouth. Harry has to learn to trust adults, like he does his fellow students. It is going to take quite a lot of understanding on our part to help him with it."

"Why did you want to sit in on our talk, yet not have him see you?"

"I was hoping he would open up to you, since you aren't close to our family, yet knew Lily so well. I still can't understand why you let her go to James. I know you loved her."

"I did, and she loved me as well, but never as the man she wanted permanently in her life. I was like the brother she never had. I brought her into the worlds of magic, which she loved, so shared this love with me as well."

Their talk went on for a little while longer until it was time for them to get ready for bed.

Harry and Hermione were met at the door by everyone in the dorm, asking how bad the detention went. Harry had to assure them that it was not a detention, but just a question and answer session about different things. He did have a question about the bracelet he gave Hermione and that started the whole thing with the questions.

Everyone accepted the reason except for Luna. She had a vision brought on by her amulet and wondered about it. It showed her where Harry would have deeper concerns about Sirius Black. She never got to ask about it though, as Harry made his way to bed and Hermione refused to talk about it. Luna was proud of Hermione sticking to her conviction of keeping quiet.

The next morning, Harry met his friends in the common room, where Hermione, Luna and Ginny were sitting, admiring Ginny's new look, which was a skirt length sweater and an eagle flying across her front. It went with the blouse she wore which also has a small eagle on her pocket. The sweater was not restricted to being just a sweater. It also cleansed itself at night, smelling nice and fresh in the morning.

Luna sat in the middle of both girls and Hermione asked her, "Have you opened the locket yet, to see if there is any pictures in it, Luna?"

"No, it is not time to open it yet. It has told me when it is time, it will let me know."

"So, it talks to you now? When did it start doing that?"

"Hermione, you are much too critical about things you don't know about. It doesn't talk to me, per say. It rather gives off feelings that tell me I should or shouldn't do something. I tried to open it the first night that Harry gave it to me, just like you played with your bracelet to see what else it could do. When I tried to pry open the locket, I had a feeling it didn't want to be opened just yet. At least you and everyone else can hear your bracelet talk. Only I can feel my amulet share it's feelings with me."

Hermione listened to Luna and then she agreed with what she said, because of the things Harry gave out. Ginny's sweater was magic beyond what she has ever seen. Her bracelet was a work of pure genius and to find out it was done by two students while at school was unbelievable. What Luna said about her being too critical about magic was the truth. There was a lot she didn't understand about it. She apologized to Luna, who accepted it with a hug, like she always did.

Harry's visits to Severus became a weekly thing and he always took someone with him, but it was mostly Luna or Hermione. Then Draco found out about the visits and asked if he could go with him as well, because Severus was his godfather, preferred by his mother, not his father. Lucius wanted Parkinson or Runcorn as the godfather, but Narcissa wanted nothing to do with Death Eaters, including Lucius, but he joined them any way.

Severus had many tales for his visitors about the Marauders, Lily, Alice and Frank Longbottom, Selena Ascott (Lovegood), Lucius, Narcissa and even the professors from the school. They were always interesting and sometimes funny and sometimes very sad, like Marlene McKinnon and her family. It was the first time Peter Pettigrew joined in on a raid and he killed the mother of the family. He knew this because Lucius bragged about it to Narcissa who then told Severus. Harry wondered if Sirius knew about this? He wanted to kill Peter for betraying Lily and James, but if he knew Peter actually killed a member of the family of the woman he loved, it would cause him to lose any sense of control he had. Once again, Remus was behind the curtain listening to what went on, and when he heard this, he charged out from behind the curtain to confirm this with Severus. He knew Sirius needed to know about it, but Harry pointed this out to him.

Harry said to him, "Professor Lupin, Sirius can't know what happened, or we may lose him completely to revenge for his losses. And why were you hiding behind the curtain, and how often have you been there?"

Remus turned a bright red when asked this, "For everyone of your visits Harry. I was trying to find out what it would take for you and Sirius to come to turns with each other. I know you have feeling for him now, after your trying to protect him from himself. He is a Black, but he is trying to get past the name. However, the temper is still there from the family."

"Funny, all I have seen is the child in him. Why can't he act like the adult he is and not the kid he wants to be?"

Severus had the answer for this, "Because, Mr. Potter, the adults he was most familiar with were his parents and they weren't good role models. He saw what happened to his brother who wanted to be like his parents. Regulus and Sirius were close growing up, but once school started and they went to different houses, Regulus turned to Lord Voldemort and the death Eaters."

"What happened to him?" Harry wanted to find out the reason Sirius was like he was and if his brother was a part of his being like he is, then it was a start.

"During his seventh year he disappeared and was never heard from again. Many fear him dead. Lucius swore the Death Eaters had nothing to do with his disappearance. It was one of the few times I believed him." Harry and Luna had no more questions and Remus thought it best they return to their dorm before the curfew. Harry agreed and him and Luna left the two Professors to talk. However, Remus returned to his own room and thought about was was said this evening. He wanted so bad to tell Sirius about Marlene and her family, but was sure Harry was right about Sirius' response.

Harry and Luna were pulled to Harry's spot by his friends and was asked what went on. He explained what was said and the surprise visit of Remus.

The following morning saw Albus once more tried to talk to Harry in private, but Harry refused to leave his friends. Albus did the one thing Harry wasn't ready for. He took a seat next to Harry and filled a plate of food for himself. He then turned to Harry and started talking, "Mr. Potter, I have things to say to you that only you need to know. Why can't I get you to believe me?"

"What ever you have to say to me can be heard by my friends, Professor. Why can't you believe me?"

"You are as stubborn as your mother was, Mr. Potter. As loyal as she was also. Very well, since you refuse to see me alone, then I shall pass on to you what you should know. I know you and Professor Snape talked last evening and the subject of Regulus Black came up. You know he joined the Death Eaters, I presume?"

"Yes."

"And that he disappeared during his seventh year?"

"Yes."

"Well, did you know he approached me prior to his disappearing, asking me about a certain subject?"

"That I didn't know. I suppose you are going to tell me what the subject matter is all about?"

"This is why you must hear it alone. It is something that others shouldn't have knowledge of. It concerns life and death. It concerns Lord Voldemort and how he is able to always cheat death."

"Then it is all the more reason why my friends should know, Professor. To help them protect themselves from what ever it is that protects him. Don't you think we all wish to survive this threat from Lord Voldemort?"

"It's not the threat I wish to keep from your friends, but the reason for his longevity. Have you thought about the changes that have come about with him?"

"What changes? I have never met him except when I was an infant. To be quite honest, I don't think I was too interested in his face, seeing my mother lying on the floor. The flash of the green light is all I can remember about him."

"Then you must know that his features have become less lifelike and more animal like. He appears to be taking on the features of a snake. If he continues to evolve, he will lose all human emotions and restraints. He will become what he appears to be, a true snake. No feelings, no remorse or no caring, even for his own followers. That is what we are facing if he continues to return to us."

"Professor, why are you telling me all this if there is nothing I can do about it? I couldn't face him, even if I knew where he was. My training doesn't even begin to match what his is. I would also have to fight through his followers. And no, I will not ask any of my friends to go with me to fight, or even anyone else that wishes to fight. We would be facing odds that favor only Lord Voldemort and his followers. So what you tell me, is nothing I really wish to hear or understand. I will not put anyone in jeopardy in a fight we could not hope to win."

"That's the point, Mr. Potter. There is no fight right now. You have time to hear what I have to tell you and get you started in the right direction. There are many things you need to know in order to face him. Things I can only tell you, because for others to know could mean danger to you and those you care for."

"No Professor, if I am the only one to hear what you have to say, then I will not be hearing it. Like I said, I trust everyone around me and will not put any of them in situation where they have to fight themselves for control. Now if you will excuse us, we have a class to attend." and they stood together and left for their classes. Albus was once again shunned by Harry and it was getting old to him, in a bad way.

Harry's first class for the day was Transfiguration and Minerva asked to speak to him before class started. All she wanted was to ask to join in on Harry's and Severus' discussions. Harry could see where these meetings were becoming larger as they went on. Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Fred, George, Draco and Neville asked to join as well and once word got around, others would be asking too. However, nothing was said in these meetings that couldn't be heard by them so he saw no reason to refuse them all. Except if the numbers became to large for the classroom.

Next was Charms and Filius asked the same request. "Professor, how is it you all know what is going on in our meetings, or even that were are having meetings?"

"Is it a secret you are having these meetings, Mr. Potter?"

"It's not a secret sir, but we have told no one about them, so how do you know they are going on?"

"Because Professor Snape has told us much about you and your friends, that he couldn't learn in the class. Therefore, he must be getting the information in a different manner. It has also just started this year, so it must be from a recent source."

"Why are you and Professor McGonagall so interested in attending?"

"It is because all three of us shared a love for your mother. Professor Snape's love was different and deeper than ours though. Ours was more of a student Professor liking. Even though it is not a good practice, we all have our favorite students and Lily was the most liked person in school while she attended."

Luna made the mistake to ask, "Who is your favorite right now, Professor?"

Filius looked at her and straightened his glasses as he said, "I don't have one right now. There is one that we all share a caring for, but not above all others. And no Miss Lovegood I will not tell you any names." Luna just lowered her eyes so she would not show the tears that formed. She hoped it was between her and Hermione for the favorite of the Professors.

"I can tell you however, that you are the favorite of one of the professors, while there is another who favors another student. You did not hear that from me, though."

"But you just said you didn't favor any one right now?"

"Yes, I did. Do you question me on this., Miss Lovegood?" and Luna dropped the subject as he just said two professors favored two students, but didn't mention any names.

The very next meeting with Severus would be one to remember, since there would be four Professors and possibly eight students.