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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
His eyes were glowing emerald fire; dangerous, powerful and threatening. I grinned despite myself, thinking about the trouble Granger had just unknowingly landed herself.
I couldn't look away as Harry slowly rose from his chair, his dark ebony locks moving like caught in a wind.
He was magnificent, I thought.
And I, like him, was neither willing nor ready to give him up.
...
HARRY'S POV
I consciously fought to make myself inhale slowly and deliberately. I couldn't lose control.
"Harry! ..." Hermione screamed. Stay calm - I chanted in my mind, something that was becoming increasingly difficult. I clenched my eyes shut, expending all of my effort on controlling my volatile temper and seething magic.
"...Would you look at me when I'm speaking to you?!" Hermione screeched.
That's it.
My eyes snapped open and I focused my entire attention on my best friend.
"Hermione, shut ... up." My voice was quiet, nearly a whisper, but the menace within it was obvious.
At least I thought it was.
Hermione gasped in furious outrage. Her chest heaved in fury at not getting her answers.
"How dare you!" Hermione shrieked, absolutely livid.
I glared at her fiercely, beyond words.
The glass cabinet behind me shattered as some of my enraged magic escaped the tight bounds I had tried to control it with.
I could feel Sirius grabbing my arm in silent warning but I just shook him off.
Hermione had no right to ask those questions of me! She wasn't my keeper and I did not have to explain my actions to her!
"For Merlin's sake Hermione, can you hear yourself?" I spat at her venom dripping from my words. "You are acting like a complete brat that doesn't get her way!" My glare intensified when she opened her mouth to retort and I took a violent step towards her, "Nobody in this world needs to explain their actions to you least of all me. You seen to have this trumped up impression of yourself, one where you are the moral voice of ethics and everyone else is just a lost cause. For all that is holy Hermione! You - are - sixteen," By this time I was yelling loudly at her astonished face, as if she couldn't believe someone was saying these things to her, " ... the same age as me. You possess no divine insight into life. You have no authority in which to demand explanations from those around you for their actions. You have NO right to throw a tantrum because somebody didn't tell you exactly what you wanted to know." I said in a furious voice.
"Don't command me to do anything." I hissed at her through clenched teeth.
Hermione's mouth was opening and closing repeatedly, unable to find the words.
A soft snort of amusement echoed around the silent kitchen and Hermione's stunned gaze turned to pierce Lizzy's figure glaring with indignation. Her head was bent and her shoulders shaking in restrained laughter while periodic sniggers escaped her restraint.
Hermione's glare intensified and she was staring daggers at Lizzy.
"What's so funny Edwards?" she snapped.
I glared at her in warning; I would not allow Lizzy to be hurt.
"Your face..." Lizzy gasped for breath between her laughs "so many people...have wanted to say...what Harry just did to you...for as long as I can...remember." She seemed to be trying to control her delight, "It's just that, I don't think that I would have missed seeing Harry say that to you for the world. It's about time someone said that to you, your higher than thou attitude is just so...obnoxious."
I shook my head and felt a small smile stretch across my lips as Lizzy looked at Hermione innocently, as if she were simply stating a fact not insulting her.
She was such a Slytherin, I thought fondly.
I couldn't help but sense how my magic had relaxed and almost purred in satisfaction at the sound of her voice, as well as how her own magic had subconsciously caressed mine in an effort to calm me.
"What the hell are you doing here Edwards? Shouldn't you be off kissing the feet of your master?" Hermione fumed.
Power blazed to life in Lizzy's ice cold eyes showing the depth of her arctic rage.
"Hermione!" Remus barked in passionate warning. No doubt concerned by the wind that was whipping through the room caused by the protective ire of my magic.
But she ignored him.
My blood started to simmer in anger. What the hell was she thinking?! She had been with us when we found out about Lizzy's parents.
A picture of Lizzy curled up in a ball; gasping for breath as water trailed down her cheeks relentlessly, flashed across my mind's eye. I clenched my fists tightly.
"I can only say, at least now we don't have to worry about your father. Although it is a pity that your mother got away and you weren't there, isn't it? Oh well, can't win them all." Hermione sneered cruelly.
My magic roared in anger pushing out from me, smashing plates, cups and glass in its fury.
"Stupefy!" A voice yelled and I watched in malicious satisfaction as Hermione's head hit the corner of the table first before falling limply to the ground.
Moony's wand was pointed directly at the place that Hermione had just been standing his face contorted in a look of extreme frustration.
"Ha ha ha ... way to go Moony! Didn't know you had it in you. Then again..." Sirius shot Hermione's body a disgusted look, "...I would have added some painful hexes as well for good measure."
I ignored my godfather and quickly crossed the floor so I could wrap my arms around Lizzy's waist in silent support. Her furious eyes were still locked on Hermione so I reached out with my fingers to gently turn her face to mine. Her eyes held the same haunted look they had last night along with rage and almost tangible power, her magic crackling like lightning in her eyes.
We stared at each other, paying no attention to the other occupants of the room and I watched as her anger cooled and felt her body slowly relax.
"I'm fine," she sighed.
A smile touched my lips, "I know. That wasn't what I was worried about," liar, I crowed mentally. "I was concerned that you just might commit murder though." I grinned.
"Funny" she drawled sarcastically.
"I know." I laughed while I pulled her closer to me.
Somebody cleared their throat behind me and I rolled my eyes already knowing it was Sirius, probably staring at us wearing his inane grin.
I turned slowly keeping my arms around Lizzy to answer Sirius's unspoken interruption.
"Yes Sirius?" I said calmly, as if holding the beautiful ice-queen of Slytherin in my arms was a common thing and entirely normal behaviour for Gryffindor's Golden Boy.
"I just wanted to say that unless you want the entire Order, including the Weasley family and Dumbledore to see you basically snogging Miss Edwards here, you might want to break it up because they just came through the front door." Sirius said happily while Remus rolled his eyes at his friend's characteristic behaviour.
I stumbled as Lizzy quickly pushed me off of her and made my way to the table mumbling about how we weren't almost snogging while glowering at my godfather who looked like the cat who had just discovered the cream.
I was still grumbling unintelligibly when Order members began to drift into the room. Ron, Hermione-I thought with a sneer- and I had all been allowed to come to the Order meetings following the Department of Mysteries debacle last year, when it became apparent that I was, really, the centre of this war. But Mrs Weasley's loud protests ensured that we did not become members, for which, I have to admit, I am really thankful for because I don't think I could have taken orders from anyone.
"Hermione?! Oh my goodness, what happened here?!" The sound of Mrs Weasley's screech reverberated around the room and I winced at the painfully loud volume.
"Hermione? What's wrong with her?" Ron's voice could be heard over the crowd shouting in worry.
I watched, amused, as about twenty different people crowded around her still form until one intelligent person thought to use the enerviate spell and then all hell broke loose.
"Professor Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione called frantically.
"Hermione, my dear what happened? Are you alright?" Mrs Weasely was as, usual worrying incessantly.
"Mione! What were you doing on the floor? And why didn't you guys help her?!" With Ron's accusatory words directed towards us, where we were sitting calmly around the dining table, the entire Order of the Phoenix quietened to hear our excuses. Unfortunately, Hermione had just spotted Dumbledore in the crowd and used the unusual silence to start talking, or rather yelling.
"Professor Dumbledore! I was attacked! And Edwards can not be here, she can't be trusted" she shot a venomous glare at Lizzy who returned it with a smug grin which only served to infuriate Hermione further.
"Miss Granger calm down. I'm sure whatever happened to you was an accident. As you know, within the heat of the moment, emotions are unstable and judgement can be impaired. Therefore I'm sure you will agree that we can just forget this little incident like mature adults?" Dumbledore spoke looking directly at Hermione over his half moon spectacles with an expectant look on his wrinkled face.
Hermione flushed in embarrassment, as the Headmaster turned her words around making her look like a petulant child if she didn't agree. When she reluctantly nodded her consent I had to stifle a chortle by coughing, but based on the raised eyebrow and knowing look which Lizzy shot at me I don't think I fooled anyone.
"Now, concerning Miss Edwards's presence here Miss Granger, you were there when Mr Potter extended his gracious invitation to her to stay here during the Winter break." Dumbledore continued with an innocent tone of voice.
"I think Albus. That Miss Granger was asking why Miss Edwards was here at an Order Meeting." Mad Eye Moody rasped from his corner, his magical eye fixed on Lizzy. I shifted in my chair uncomfortable with Moody's fixation on Lizzy so I cleared my throat to gain everybody's attention.
"Lizzy, as Dumbledore has just said is here by my and Sirius's invitation," I looked at Sirius pointedly and he quickly grasped what I was after as he nodded his head as if wholly unsurprised by Lizzy's presence in his house. "Her parents were attacked yesterday and her father is upstairs now being treated," feeling Lizzy's body tense next to me at my words I automatically reached to grasp her hand in mine under the table in silent support. Belatedly, I remembered that Moody could see through solid objects and sure enough, when I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, his gaze was focused on the table. Feeling my intense stare he looked up and I raised an eyebrow in an unspoken challenge. Instead his ruined face twisted to give me a wolfish grin and he turned his attention back to the crowd who were still murmuring at my last words.
"But I thought the Edwards's were supporters of You-know-who?" A brave voice questioned curiousity obvious in their voice.
All eyes looked at Lizzy in expectation.
"Preposterous! The Edwards's are a known Dark family, the same ilk as the Malfoys," Mrs Weasley cried in indignation. "For all we know they staged the attack to get a spy in the Order so that they could find out what we know and get to Harry."
Lizzy was practically spitting fire and I wasn't much better.
"Staged the attack?!" Lizzy hissed viciously, "My father is upstairs fighting for his life after being tortured by those monsters and you think this is a set up?"
"Well you're not hurt are you? And you have managed to gain access to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix." Mrs Weasley retorted just fiercely.
"I was at school!" Lizzy shouted throwing her arms up in frustration.
Mrs Weasley opened her mouth again prepared for a shouting match when Dumbledore interrupted her.
"Molly please, Miss Edwards is a victim in this circumstance and deserves our sympathy..." Lizzy glowered at him angrily not wanting, as she put it, any sympathy from a bunch of idiotic Gryffindor turkeys.
"...Harry has told me that she can be trusted to not reveal our secrets so let us stop interrogating Miss Edwards and focus on why we are here." Dumbledore placated.
The meeting went on much as it always does; sightings of Death Eater activity, recruitment objectives, ministry policy. It was very repetitive.
"Now, I have a proposal to make to our youngest here," I sharpened my focus when Dumbledore's words registered in my mind and straightened my slumped position in the chair. "Over the next two weeks of Winter break, I would like you all to undergo an intensive combat course. Mr Potter naturally, but also Mr Weasely, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and now also...Miss Edwards" Shock. That's all I felt. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had all gained smug smiles and sat up straighter at the news but when Lizzy's name was mentioned their jaws dropped open and they stared at Dumbledore in astonishment.
"You have got to be joking Headmaster!" Ron shouted in self righteous anger, "She's a bloody snake. You can't arm the enemy!"
"It's alright Weasley, there isn't enough training in the world which you could get to beat me." Lizzy smirked cruelly.
I could hear Sirius's muffled laughter behind me as Dumbledore focused on trying to calm down my friends.
"Did you have to do that?" I sighed quietly so only she could hear me.
"Of course! Did you see the way the baboon's head started to blow up, just a few moments after hearing about the combat training? Somebody needed to give him a reality check and what better way than a severe knock to his enormous ego." Lizzy whispered to me heatedly looking quite happy with the strife she had caused in the room full of order members.
When I just continued to stare at her she huffed in exasperation and leaned her head in closer so that nobody but me could hear her.
"Oh come on Harry! He was getting on my nerves with his prejudiced spew and his thoughts were loud and clear. He actually believed that he would have been able to beat me in a duel after the holidays. You can't tell me that it wasn't the thought of Slytherin's humiliation he had on his mind, can you?" At her expectant look I conceded.
"No I can't. But you know Ron couldn't have beaten you. He doesn't have the power or the skill or frankly the brain power to do that, so you didn't have to bait him." I was trying to be reasonable and not let my amusement at the situation or Ron's face show. If any of us were going to survive the next two weeks in each other's company we needed some compromise.
Lizzy was looking at me as if I had lost my mind.
"I didn't have to bait him?! Of course I did! What are you? A mediator? Your friends may know you as the Golden boy Potter but I know you enjoyed the idiot's humiliation just as much as I did." Lizzy whispered heatedly at me.
A strand of her long hair caught my attention and smiling I reached up to tuck it behind her ear.
"You're such a romantic Lizzy." I murmured sarcastically, laughing at her affronted yet smug look.
"...Bist" Still laughing quietly, I looked over my shoulder in question.
"You two lovebirds may want to pay attention." Sirius practically sang as we both shot him deadly looking glares that just caused his grin to widen.
Ignoring the annoying mutt I turned my attention back to the speaking Dumbledore.
"This training will be intense and will begin tomorrow. Severus, Remus, Alastor and Sirius shall all be teaching you in these weeks. You shall be learning new offensive and defensive spells to incorportate into the vigorus dueling practise you shall all undertake along with some physical exercise and survival techniques that Alastor will personally supervise. It will be hard but I know you can handle it." I rolled my eyes as my friends basked in the confidence of the Headmaster, looking like complete fools.
The rest of the meeting passed in a blur and soon nearly everyone was drifting out of the room to jobs, families or other responsibilities. Mrs Weasely after glaring angrily at Lizzy, moved to the stove to cook breakfast for everyone who stayed behind.
A painful poke in the back caught my attention and when I swivelled around in my chair I was met with the excited and mischievous face of Sirius Black and the resigned yet curious one of Remus Lupin.
"Come on Harry follow us. You've got some explaining to do, and bring your lovely spitfire of a girlfriend with you." Sirius whispered while he pulled us out of our chairs and out of the crowded kitchen.
Silently the four of us walked down the hallway with Sirius glancing back at Lizzy and I occasionally only to grin widely, wink and turn around again. After the third time this happened I sighed in annoyance and I heard Lizzy's teeth clenching together beside me, thoroughly irritated by my big bad criminal godfather, Sirius Black.
Entering a large lounge room, at Sirius's insistence we both took a seat on the couch opposite Remus and Padfoot.
I shifted uncomfortably when the silence in the room dragged out awkwardly while the two middle aged men opposite me just sat there grinning stupidly.
"Oh for Merlin's sake! Would you stop smiling like that? It's creeping me out! What do you want anyway?" I finally snapped.
Remus's grin slowly transformed into a predator's smirk and I could feel apprehension beginning to rise in me as I saw Sirius's expression mirrored Moony's.
"Okay guys, what's this about?" I chuckled nervously, suddenly reminded that these two men were half of the infamous Marauders.
"Oh nothing Harry, we just want to know exactly what is going on between you two." I turned to look at Lizzy in horror and only to see the same emotion reflected back at me on her face.
In a silent conversation we quickly worked out our battle plan.
And I could also tell you that plan in one word: RUN!
We both jumped up off the couch at the same time cursing the room for being so big and sprinted to the still partly open door and freedom.
I stretched out my hand to grasp the door knob in triumph when, BANG!
It wouldn't move!
I twisted and turned the stupid doorknob in frustration and not a little terror: You were not in threat of facing the two men I was about to.
"Just a simple locking charm, you know we wouldn't want you two escaping now would we?" Sirius cackled sadistically.
I turned to face them bravely, grasping Lizzy's hand in my own.
She leaned towards me her wide blue eyes darting between the two men I considered surrogate father's.
"Now I know why you turned out as you did. If I had to be in the same space as these two for extended periods of time, I too would most likely turn out neurotic. They are INSANE!" Lizzy angrily hissed in my left ear. Furious about the situation she was in.
I shot her a narrow eyed glare that conveyed just how unnecessary I thought her comment was, and growled in frustration when all she did was throw a pointed glare between the two men opposite us, and me.
I rolled my eyes heaven ward grumbling about the stupid logic of women and how men seem to always be in the wrong. I mean COME ON! Men can not be responsible for every - little - thing! We're only half the population! And the other half are most definitely NOT angels, I thought sourly, glaring at Lizzy.
With a deep breath I focused my attention back on the frightening situation I was currently in and away from thoughts of the infuriating woman who was clutching my arm in anxiety.
Evil. Was all I thought taking in the relaxed, triumph and sadistically gleeful men in front of me.
I recognised what this was...
I could feel the bead of sweat slowly rolling down my back in answer to my panic and cleared my throat awkwardly.
...An interrogation.
...
HEY EVERYONE!
BUT JUST A HEADS UP ON THE NEXT CHAPTER I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALL NOTICED THEY ARE MUCH MORE SURE AND COMFORTABLE AROUND EACH OTHER NOW BUT NEXT CHAPTER I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT LIZZY'S ALLIANCE REALLY MEANS TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR GROWING FEELINGS FOR THE OTHER, IS IT LOVE? AND IF IT IS CAN THEY ADMIT IT? SO THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM IS ABOUT TO HEAT UP AGAIN.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TRAINING? ANYONE SENSING TENSION HERE!?
I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME IDEAS IF ANYBODY HAD ANY ABOUT WHAT HARRY'S AND LIZZY'S ANIMAGUS FORMS SHOULD BE. I REALLY CAN'T DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS!
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