Title: Harry Potter and the Keeper of the Phoenix
Author: Elizabeth Kelly
Rating: PG -13 (T)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, its plot and characters, belong to J.K. Rowling.
Summary: HPGW, RWHG, RLNT & JPLE The one thing he needs, is the one thing he could never have… until now. (Post HBP – Contains Spoilers) WIP
Chapter Twenty-One
"He collapsed, in the middle of the classroom Dumbledore! I have seen the Cruciatus curse, and Mr James was certainly under its influence." Caradoc Dearborn's voice carried through the heavy door to Professor Dumbledore's office. Harry stood on the other side, his fist poised and ready to knock on the door. When he heard his name, he stopped and leaned in closer, trying to hear their conversation better.
"I do not doubt your story Caradoc. In fact, I know it to be true." Dumbledore's voice was as clam as ever, and Harry pictured him relaxing in his chair, watching Professor Dearborn pace in front of his desk.
"Then why won't you tell me what is going on? I am part of the order am I not?" Harry gasped, Dumbledore had formed the Order.
"Of course you are," Dumbledore replied.
"This isn't the first time that I have come to you with concerns about this kid. I stood here in this office a couple of months ago and I told you that this seventeen year old boy knew too much about the Dark Arts, now he is collapsing in my classroom after being under the Cruciatus curse? Are you positive that he is not working for the Dark Lord."
"Caradoc, I remember that conversation and I also remember you telling me that when you confronted Mr James he informed you that he was not a Death Eater."
"Yes, but,"
"In fact," Dumbledore interrupted him. "He said that he was trying to protect himself from the Dark Lord."
"Yes, but,"
"And you in fact saw evidence of this, when he was attacked in your classroom, did you not?"
"Yes, but,"
"Professor Dearborn, I know that as an auror, you find it difficult to place trust in people. I have seen more than enough evidence to prove that Harry is not a spy for the Dark Lord. If anything he may be our saviour. So I ask that even if you cannot trust him, please trust me."
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," Professor Dearborn replied.
"Thank you Caradoc. Now, I ask that you remain on alert. I believe that I may have some developments that I need to discuss with the order."
"Yes, sir," Professor Dearborn said.
Harry barely managed to jump out of the way, when the door opened and there stood his Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The teacher looked almost guiltily at him, before moving passed him in a hurry.
"Professor?" Harry called out for him. There was no use in pretending that he hadn't been listening at the door, when it was obvious to all. Professor Dearborn stopped halfway down the first curve of the stairs. "I just wanted you to know that I would have been suspicious of me if I was in your shoes. I am not offended, you are just doing your job."
"I want to trust you, but I just need some explanations," he said facing Harry.
"I know, and I want to give them too you, but I just need to know if I can trust you." Professor Dearborn smiled at him.
"Then we are in quite the conundrum, are we not?"
"I believe we are," Harry replied.
"I will prove myself to you, sometime soon."
"I have no doubt that you will, Professor. As will I," Harry replied, watching his teacher continue on his way down the stairs. When the sounds of the Professor's shoes could no longer be heard on the flagstone floors, Harry turned and entered Dumbledore's office.
"Focus Harry, I want you to visualise your mind as a room. There are five doors leading off of this room. Can you see it?" Dumbledore asked, walking around his office as Harry stood in the middle, his eyes closed a look of pure concentration on his face. Harry nodded his head. "Good, excellent. Now, I want you to visualise closing each door. Slowly now, not too fast."
The last couple of weeks had flown by thanks to a full schedule of Occlumency lessons, NEWTs homework, Quidditch practice and teaching the DA, not to mention finding time to sneak off to the room of requirement for alone time with Ginny. In all his life, Harry had never felt so complete. He had the girl of his dreams, his father and mother, not to mention his god father, uncle and mentor. The only things missing were Hermione, Ron and the Weasley's and then his life would be perfect. Well, as perfect as it could be with the ever present threat looming over his head. But thanks to the Occlumency lessons, Harry's sleep was no longer disturbed by Voldemort's atrocities.
This development both pleased and troubled him. While he was ecstatic that he was no longer collapsing in class and waking up screaming, he could no longer forewarn Dumbledore about the impending attacks. When he had voiced his concerns to Dumbledore, the aging wizard assured him that he had a new spy network set up that was almost as good as Harry's warnings. Though this comforted Harry somewhat, the word 'almost' did play on his mind.
Voldemort's attacks had increased in both number and ferocity in the last couple of weeks. Several muggle villages had been completely destroyed, as well as a couple of wizarding ones. Despite the obvious signs of an impending war, the Ministry was still issuing statements via the Daily Prophet, reassuring the magical community that the Dark Lord was close to being apprehended. When Harry had read this part out loud, Ginny snorted remarking that 'each time they say that they become less credible'.
"That's it Harry!" Dumbledore said, ceasing his attempts to penetrate Harry's mind. It was Harry's last Occlumency lesson before the holidays. He had made a large amount of progress, to which Harry attributed to a teacher who actually cared about him. Dumbledore stepped forward and clasped Harry's shoulder with his thin, bony hand.
"I am very proud of you Harry," he said, the twinkle shining in his eye. "You truly are a remarkable young wizard." Reaching inside his robes, he withdrew a large block of Honeyduke's finest chocolate from one of his many pockets and proceeded to break a piece off and held it out to Harry.
"Care for some chocolate Harry?" he asked. "It will help return your strength."
"Yes please," Harry said, taking the offered chocolate and biting into it, savouring the warmth that seemed to fill his body. "Thanks."
"I hear that you are travelling to Mr Potter's parents house for the holidays."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied, taking a seat in the overstuffed armchair in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"That will be a wondrous experience for you Harry. Mr and Mrs Potter are both wonderful people and good friends of mine." Harry smiled, taking another bite of the piece of chocolate in his hand. "I advise you not to inform them of you true parentage, though I imagine that your appearance will have them quite perplexed."
"Sir?" Harry spoke up, needing to ask the question that had been plaguing his mind.
"Yes, my boy," Dumbledore answered.
"What happens if people find out? I mean Dad already knows... and I have a feeling that Remus and Mum have their suspicions. Sirius is completely oblivious, but once the others find out he won't be in the dark too much longer." Dumbledore looked thoughtful.
"I too, have held the same concern. However, I do not think it is wise for you to worry. I have no doubt that my future self would have found a way to alleviate this problem, otherwise he would not have sent you back." Seeing the look of doubtfulness on his face, Dumbledore chuckled. "Have faith Harry, I may look like an old codger, but I am quite intelligent." Harry smiled at the comment, coming from anyone else it would have seemed arrogant, but for Dumbledore it was a simple truth. He was intelligent. "That said, I still ask that you keep this as quiet as possible. The fewer who know the better."
"Of course sir."
Harry remembered all of the times that he had been mad at Dumbledore and those times that he had felt betrayed. Despite those concerns, he knew that Dumbledore had always had his best interests at heart, and he always knew that Dumbledore would come through for him. Even in death, he proved that to be true. Harry stood up, and brushed the dust off of his trousers.
"Sir, I want you to remember something," he said, looking at the old wizard in front of him. "In spite of everything that has happened and will happen, I want you to know that I always have faith in you." Dumbledore eyes glistened, and a smile lit up his face.
"Thank you my boy," the wizard replied. "You have no idea what that means to me."
"I think I do," Harry replied, and the old wizard looked at him curiously. "You've always had faith in me too." It took saying it out loud for Harry to know it to be true.
For the first time he felt that he had a fighting chance in this battle. If the greatest wizard of all time had the faith that he could complete his destined mission, then who was Harry to argue with him. A smile lit up Harry's face as the adrenaline began to course through his veins. "Thank you," Harry said, as he bounded out of the office, the sound of Dumbledore chuckling at his antics echoing down the stairs matched his own as he ran towards the Gryffindor common room.
Ginny was packing her trunk, for the trip to the Potters when she heard Harry's laughter and jumped in fright. As she looked around the room in alarm, she wondered how on earth he had managed to get past the alarms on the girls staircase. When she was sure that Harry wasn't in the room with her, she ran down the stairs to the common room.
"Lily? Have you seen Harry?" she asked, and the red-head seemed startled at her sudden arrival.
"Not since dinner, why? Didn't he have that meeting with Professor McGonagall?" It had been their cover for the Occlumency lessons. While James, Remus, Sirius and Lily knew the truth, they needed an excuse for Harry to be away so often. Professor McGonagall had offered her services as his cover, saying that she was tutoring Harry in Transfiguration. Surprisingly many people bought the excuse, while Harry was nowhere near the level of his father, he was far from useless thanks to McGonagall's lessons over the summer.
"Yes, but I could have sworn I heard his voice, up in the dormitory."
"Ginny, Harry wouldn't have been up there, the sensors would have gone off," Lily said, smiling at the younger girl. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I know that." Lily looked around the common room.
"Remus?" she called out, and the werewolf looked up from the book he had his nose buried in. "Have you seen Harry?" He shook his head.
"I could have sworn..." Ginny trailed off as the portrait swung open and in climbed an exuberant Harry.
"Gin?" he called out, scanning the room for her. "Ginny!" he ran over to her and gathered her up in a hug and swung her around in a circle.
"Harry!" she called out, giggling at his excitement.
"I can do it Ginny, I know I can!" she didn't have to ask what he meant.
Thousands of scenarios were running through his mind and all of them ended with Harry standing while Voldemort was nothing more than a pile of ashes. She started to laugh, Harry's excitement was infectious. She felt the constant fear that had occupied her heart since she had first learnt of Harry's battle with Voldemort in his first year, disappear. Harry could do this, there was nothing stopping him.
They had started to make a spectacle of themselves, and when Ginny warned Harry of this, he shrugged it off. Soon James and Sirius had returned from their respective detentions and they too joined in the celebration, though neither of them knew what they were celebrating. For James and Sirius never needed a reason to celebrate.
The tension between the two best friends had eased somewhat over the past couple of weeks. James had made Sirius confess to Remus what he had done. Remus was visibly upset with Sirius's actions and for the first time in living memory they saw Remus mad. For Harry it seemed eerily familiar to the dressing down he got from adult Remus when he was caught wandering the halls with the Marauder's Map. Sirius seemed so thoroughly remorseful that Remus forgave him. However, James wasn't so quick to forgive and forget.
It was only when Lily mentioned that she needed to go pack for the train tomorrow that the celebrations died down. James and Sirius hadn't even started to pack, so they quickly disappeared up the stairs followed by Remus. Lily too bid Harry and Ginny goodnight and disappeared up the girl's staircase.
"Harry, can I talk to you?" Ginny asked, remembering the laughter that she had heard earlier.
"Sure," Harry replied, a frown forming on his face. Ginny took his hand and lead him out of the portrait and into the nearest empty classroom.
"I heard you laughing," she said looking up into his eyes. "In my head, while I was in my dorm packing."
"It's getting stronger?" he asked, referring to the mental connection that they seem to have.
"I think so," Ginny replied. "Every time you touch me, I can hear your thoughts now. It used to just be little bits and pieces, but now it's all of the time."
"Are you scared?" he asked. She felt a flood of warmth run through her at Harry's protectiveness. He knew that she had heard voices in her head before and the last time it had been Voldemort.
"Surprisingly, no. I feel safer with your voice in my head. I feel whole." Harry smiled and leaned in and kissed her. Ginny's heart burst with joy as it always did when he kissed her. She loved him so much, that it physically hurt her when he wasn't with her. Harry suddenly pulled back, and to say that she was more than startled would be an understatement. She was about to protest when she saw the wide grin cross his face.
"I love you too, Gin Gin," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her again.
"You can hear me?" Harry nodded.
"Only when I am touching you."
"So it's two ways?" Ginny asked rhetorically. The concept was still a little new. She hadn't known anyone who could communicate telepathically before. Then again Harry was a unique wizard, it really should not have surprised her.
"Ginny!" he whined and she giggled.
"Sorry Harry, I am not used to having someone in my head."
"This is crazy," he said, pulling her in for a kiss. 'And amazing' he thought. "Should we tell someone?" Ginny contemplated it for a few seconds. She didn't want to share it yet. She wanted to see where it would go first.
"Not yet," she said, drawing him in for one last kiss. "Let's just keep it between us for the moment."
"Ok," Harry agreed.
"I have to go finish packing," Ginny said, and Harry grumbled that he hadn't even started. Taking Harry's hand, Ginny led him back to the common room. "Well, then you have no time to waste. You can't meet your Grandparents with no clothes to wear!"
The following day dawned bright and clear. A soft, white layer of snow blanketed the ground and the halls of Hogwarts were crowded with hundreds of students trying to make their way down to the carriages. Harry and Ginny, with their trunks beside them sat at the end of the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall waiting for James, Sirius, Remus and Lily to meet them. The castle had been decorated immaculately, and Harry felt it strange that no one would be here to see it. Everyone was going home for the holidays.
Ginny sat silently beside him, just holding his hand. He liked the fact that they didn't need to talk, despite the fact that she could hear every thought that ran through his mind and he would get snippets of hers. Even when their minds were silent, neither Harry nor Ginny seemed to feel the need to fill it with useless conversation. They watched student after student pass by the doors of the Great Hall, and Harry was beginning to wonder what was taking the Marauders and Lily so long when a loud noise interrupted the steady din.
Harry looked at Ginny who just rolled her eyes and, with their trunks in tow, they both went out to inspect the commotion in the entrance way. Standing at the top of the staircase was a choir made out of ten suits of armour, five ghosts and two very cheery maurauders, belting out their version of Jingle Bells. It was horrendous and offensive to the ears of people everywhere. Remus and Lily stood off to the side with their hands over their ears, laughing at James and Sirius' attempts at singing while wearing robes that had been transfigured to look like Father Christmas' outfit, and had even gone to the lengths of growing long white beards.
When the commotion was over, there was fervent applause from the crowd, though Harry suspected that it had more to do with them being glad it was over, than from them liking the performance. With a number of bows and 'thank yous', the boys reversed the charm on the suits of armour and sent the back to their locations and wished the ghosts a 'Happy Christmas', before joining Ginny and Harry at the bottom of the stairs.
"Well?" James asked, a large grin plastered on his face. "What did you think?"
"I thought it was appalling!" The smile on James and Sirius faces fell and Ginny continued. "You butchered one of my favourite Christmas songs! It was dreadful! I am going to have to clean my ears out with Bulbotuber Pus to get the sound out of my head." Harry, Lily and Remus chuckled silently as Ginny continued in much the same manner all the way to the carriages.
"Blimey Ginny, you could have just said you didn't like it," Sirius said, climbing into the waiting carriage and holding out a hand to Ginny, who wore a cheeky grin on her face.
"I could have, but where would the fun have been in that?"
The rest of the carriage ride was spent discussing the upcoming holidays. Remus was going home for a day or two before heading to the Potter's for Christmas, but Lily was spending the holidays with her family. Her sister, Petunia, had made the trip home from university for the holidays, with her new boyfriend, and Lily looked forward to meeting him. Harry fought himself from making a face at the mention of his Aunt. Ginny apparently had a lot to say on the subject of his upbringing, but thankfully she managed to stop herself from saying anything outloud. Though, Harry had to stop himself from laughing at the image of Aunt Petunia covered in Bat Bogeys.
The train ride home was mostly uneventful. James and Lily periodically patrolled the corridor, only needing to stop one small fight between first years. Otherwise the students were in a pretty good mood, the excitement of the holidays lifted everyone's spirits after a dark couple of months. Harry, Ginny, Remus and Sirius played exploding snap and wizard's chess, which Harry was still abysmal at even with Ginny's silent help.
About an hour from London, Ginny fell asleep with her head on Harry's shoulder. The Maurauders had taken off to find the seventh-year Ravenclaw, Georgiana Isis, to settle a bet between James and Sirius. Harry wasn't quite sure of the details, but knew it involved Sirius, Georgiana and the lake monster. To be perfectly honest, he wasn't sure that he wanted to know any more. With the boys gone it was just Harry, Lily and Ginny in the compartment.
"You really love her don't you?" Lily asked him.
"More than anything," Harry whispered. Lily smiled, but it didn't quite seem right.
"She's lucky to have you."
"No," Harry said, running his fingers through Ginny's long hair. "I'm the lucky one." Lily sighed and looked away, Harry swore he saw tears in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked his mother. She turned back to face him and Harry saw the tears that ran down her face.
"You look at her like she is a priceless treasure, and you treat her like a princess. You make her feel safe, she relaxes when you walk into a room," she paused to compose herself and wiped some tears away. "I am jealous of her. I know James likes me, but I just don't know if I am more to him than just a conquest."
Harry considered her words for a moment before responding.
"Ginny and I have been to hell and back together. We've faced death together on more than one occasion. Our lives have been intertwined with each others for so long that she feels like a part of me." Harry turned his eyes from the girl in his arms to his mother. "Lily, James loves you more than anything in the world. You have to see it from his point of view. He has spent the better part of seven years chasing after you. Now that he finally has you, he is terrified that you will leave him, so he holds back. If you just show him that you are in this for the long haul, then he will shower you with affection."
"Really?" Somewhere in the back of his mind, Harry thought that it was hilarious that he was giving his mother advice on her love life with his father.
"I know, without a doubt, that you are more than just a conquest to James. If he could, he would marry you tomorrow."
Lily was about to respond, when the door to the compartment burst open and in walked the boys laughing at something Sirius had apparently done, and she sank back into the cushions of the seat a small smile gracing her face.
"Who won?" Harry asked, turning his attention away from his blushing mother.
"James," Sirius muttered, collapsing on the seat next to Ginny, jolting her from her sleep.
"Watch it!" Harry said, as Ginny sat up rubbing her eyes.
"Sorry," Sirius mumbled.
"Aw, common Sirius, don't be a grumble bum. She didn't say she never would, just that you would have to be the last person on the planet." Sirius made a face and James just laughed harder.
"I'm sorry Sirius," Lily said, patting his knee gently. "If you want my honest opinion, she is a stuck up snob who is far below your standards." Sirius stared at Lily.
"That is the nicest thing that you have ever said to me." Lily pulled away and sat back in her seat.
"Yes, well don't get used to it." James kissed her cheek and Sirius guffawed.
"I knew you liked me!" he cheered, jumping up and down in his seat until Ginny, who was tired and frustrated, grabbed a hold of his shirt collar and forced him to take a seat.
"Sit still or I will curse you until you can't remember your name."
"Merlin's beard Ginny, I was just having fun!" he exclaimed.
"Sirius, you don't ever wake a sleeping Ginny," Harry said, amused at his godfather's predicament. If looks could kill Sirius would be dead five times over.
In a lucky break for Sirius, the train began to slow, signalling their arrival at King's Cross. Harry felt his stomach flutter. He was about to meet his grandparents for the first time. Nervously, he began to flatten his hair. Ginny just giggled beside him.
"It will never work," she warned and Harry just rolled his eyes at her.
"You'll be fine," James whispered, when he was sure no one was paying attention. "They are your grandparents, they have to love you."
"Yeah, but they don't know that!" One look at James' face and Harry knew otherwise.
"James!" he yelled, attracting the attention of the others.
"What? They're persuasive. I couldn't help it." James held his arms up in surrender. Harry glared at him, and wondered if he would even have a future to go back to.
"What's going on?" Remus asked.
"Nothing, James is just being his usual frustrating self," Harry replied, as they made their way out of the compartment and into the corridor.
"You love me," James replied slinging his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Only because I have to," Harry mumbled, ignoring James' chortling laughter and was grateful when he moved ahead to catch up to Lily. Ginny slipped her hand into his and immediately he felt himself calm down. He squeezed her hand in a silent sign of thanks.
As they stepped out onto the platform, Harry's breath caught in his throat. The resemblance was almost uncanny. There standing before him was his heart's desire. The vision that he saw in the Mirror of Erised, had never disappeared from his mind. It was the one thing that he had wanted more than anything in the world: to be surrounded by his family.
He let his gaze travel from James to what must be his parents. James was the spitting image of his father, who was immaculately dressed in a dark suit complete with bowler hat. Mrs Potter's soft red hair, fell in waves past her shoulders, her face was round and friendly. The dark grey dress and matching jacket she wore allowed her to blend in with the muggles around her. Harry felt a little jealous as they greeted James, Sirius and Remus with big hugs.
Next to them were the Evans'. Mr Evan's was tall, but had the same lanky build as Harry, his face lit up with joy as he watched his daughter tell him about her semester. Mrs Evans looked like an older Lily only with dark brown hair, her piercing green eyes trained on James, as Lily pulled him over to meet her parents.
Harry was brought out of his observation, when he felt Lily take his arm.
"Mum, Dad, this is Harry and Ginny," she said beaming at them. "They're the new friends that I was telling you about."
"It's nice to finally meet you Harry and you too Ginny," Mrs Evans said embracing them both in a hug. "I feel like I know you already, Lily writes about you all the time!" Lily's cheeks inflamed red.
"Yes, I too am pleased to meet you both," Mr Evans said, settling for a handshake.
"It's lovely to meet you both, Mr and Mrs Evans," Ginny said elbowing Harry in the side.
"Yes, it's brilliant," Harry added, lamely.
"We too have heard much about both of you," Mrs Potter spoke up, and looked almost in tears as she pulled both Harry and Ginny in for a hug. "And of course, it is wonderful to meet you Lily. I must say it is about time you said yes. If James had to spend another holiday period talking about you, I think I would have gone insane." Lily blushed and accepted Mrs Potter's hug with a huge smile on her face.
"It is wonderful to meet you all," Mr Potter said, smiling at them affectionately.
"I must say, Harry. You bear a striking resemblance to young Mr Potter, are you at all related." James flung his arm around Harry and laughed.
"No, Mr and Mrs Evans, I'm afraid not. You always hear that everyone has a doppelganger, but you never expect to meet them. I guess we are both just lucky," he said, ruffling Harry's hair. Harry was sure by the looks on their faces that they didn't believe him, but he was thankful when they didn't press it any further.
"Well we best be off. Petunia and Vernon are due to arrive at four so we can't be late," Mr Evans said, picking up Lily's trunk. "Best to say goodbye to your friends, Lily." Lily hugged each of them in turn, and kissed James goodbye.
"I'll miss you," James said, resting his forehead against hers.
"We'll only be separated a couple of weeks," she laughed.
"I know, but it is entirely too long." Lily leaned up and kissed him again.
"I will see what I can do," she said with a wink and after one more wave, she disappeared.
Harry watched as James' shoulders hunched. Sirius slipped his arm around James' shoulders.
"Don't worry about it mate. She'll be back before you know it."
"But two whole weeks!" James cried.
"You survived six and a half years before that, you'll be fine. Besides, I have something planned that is going to keep you occupied for the whole two weeks," James just looked warily at him.
"What?" he asked, looking at Remus who just shrugged his shoulders.
"If I tell you now it won't be a surprise," Sirius said. James looked into his eyes and laughed.
"You haven't thought of anything yet have you," James surmised laughing.
"I have too!" Sirius replied indignantly.
"Come on everyone, gather your things. We must be going," Mr Potter said, chuckling at James and Sirius' bickering.
"You have not!" James replied, picking up his trunk and following his father out towards the exit.
"I have too, I'm just not telling you!" Remus rolled his eyes and whispered to Ginny and Harry.
"It is going to be an interesting two weeks." Harry nodded in agreement, chuckling as James and Sirius continued bickering all the way to the car.