Part 4 of 7

Chapter One

The next six nights that Harry had to endure at Mirabel Day's house weren't as bad as Harry had imagined. They did have foods that Harry would never have even thought of eating (like veal and escargots), and he had to say that he couldn't wait until he and Severus would return home to Sirius and Nathaniel, since Nathaniel had said he would stay with Sirius until Harry had returned.

The one thing that Harry was thankful about while staying at Mirabel's was that, since her house was so big, he barely had to spend time with her or Davy. He usually spent his time in their library and Severus had often—or most of the time, actually—joined him.

"It was such a wonderful week, having you and Harry here," Mirabel said as Severus and Harry stood in front of the fireplace. "I won't be seeing you next month either, will I? Well, until next summer then."

Severus didn't look too excited about that as he said a rather emotionless, "Indeed."

"Goodbye Harry," Mirabel said as Harry stepped into the fireplace with the Floo Powder in his hand. "Quick now, before Roberta passes by."

"Thank you, Mirabel."

The flames engulfed Harry, and he was gone.

"Severus," Mirabel said curtly as Severus was next. "Take care of the boy. I'll see you when I see you."

Severus jerked his head in a brief nod. "Good day."

-

"'Thank you, Mirabel,'" Severus mocked to Harry as he stepped out of the fireplace back in the manor. "How polite."

Harry scowled. "I had to say something, Dad. She would've thought that I didn't have any manners if I hadn't."

"You were at your politest this past week," Severus commented. "I have never heard you say 'ma'am' that much in my life. Or thank you—every other word you uttered had to be thank you."

Harry gave Severus a look. "So you would rather me be disrespectful?"

"Not to people in general," Severus said. "I wouldn't mind… say… perhaps only to Mirabel."

"Then she wouldn't like me," Harry said with a frown. "You can dislike Mirabel all you want, Dad, and can make her as angry as you want because I know you'd like to see Mirabel go ten different shades of red… but leave me out of it."

Severus sighed. "Very well, very well."

"Welcome home!" Sirius and Nathaniel had said simultaneously as they jumped out, startling Harry.

"So, tell me, was it absolutely horrible?" Nathaniel asked Harry. "Should I cringe all the while you're explaining your week to me?"

"It was… fine," Harry answered slowly. "I wasn't too fond of the food, though."

"Just be thankful that it's over," said Severus. "I know I am." He gave Nathaniel and Sirius suspicious looks. "And you two did what while we were away?"

Nathaniel and Sirius exchanged glances.

"There wasn't much to do," Sirius replied. "But, I found muggle money left over from my trips—"

"—and my mother gave me some just in case," Nathaniel butted in.

"Right! So… we went to the pictures," Sirius finished.

"The pictures," Harry slowly repeated.

Sirius nodded. "I forgot the movie we saw—"

"—You weren't paying attention to it in the first place," Nathaniel interrupted.

Sirius ignored him. "It was fun though."

"For you!" Nathaniel shook his head, pointing at Sirius. "This one here… during the entire movie he kept throwing popcorn at peoples' head!"

Sirius shrugged. "They didn't know it was me."

Nathaniel snorted. "You kept laughing—loudly, might I add—every time you did it. Oh—oh, I can't believe I forgot this part—"

Sirius flushed, giving Nathaniel a warning glare, but kept silent.

"While Sirius was throwing popcorn at heads," Nathaniel started, "he wasn't paying attention and gracefully knocked over his drink on some blokes' lap, who was not too happy."

Harry laughed out loud. "Well it sounds like you two had fun."

Nathaniel gave him a sympathetic look. "Just be thankful that you don't have to endure any more of the torture Mirabel Day made you go through. Put the past behind you, my friend. Er… she did torture you, right?"

Harry grinned. "You exaggerate."

-

Eight days later, Harry shot up in bed, shaking. His scar was in excruciating pain; it was throbbing. Harry wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and let out a breath. That was some nightmare he had—but what was it about? All Harry remembered was the pain…

His scar only hurt when Voldemort—but no, it couldn't… Harry frowned. Could he have been dreaming about Voldemort? Harry racked his brain, trying to remember what his dream was.

Startled, Harry looked up as his bedroom door opened.

"That loud?" Harry guessed as looked at Severus.

"If it was just a bit louder," Severus started as he came into the room, "I would say with full certainty that you've woken the Jackson's up as well."

"Sorry," Harry mumbled. "Bad dream."

"Tell me about it."

Harry gave his shoulders a small shrug. "That's the thing… I don't remember any of it."

Severus raised his eyebrows and Harry gave him a look.

"I mean it!" Harry insisted. "I'm not lying, honestly. The only thing I remember is that when I woke up, my scar was hurting. It's… it's okay now, but it still stings a little."

Severus frowned as he came forward, looking concerned. "The only time your scar hurts—"

"I know," Harry interrupted softly. "Dad, you have to promise me something."

Severus looked at Harry curiously, but remained quiet, saying nothing. That was all Harry needed to continue on.

"If the Dark Lord does… y'know… come back, and he calls for his Death Eaters, well—I don't want you to go," Harry said. "He already knows that you're a traitor, and if you go then he'll just hurt you—badly. I don't think I could handle it if I lost you."

Harry stared at Severus for the longest time; at least, it seemed like the longest time to Harry. Harry suddenly became uncomfortable under Severus's gaze. Why wasn't Severus saying anything?

"I won't go," Severus finally said, causing Harry's heart to flutter in triumph.

"You won't?" Harry let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Dad. You promise?" Harry then shook his head as an afterthought. "I shouldn't promise anything with you… you aren't known for keeping your promises…"

Severus scowled. "Certain ones, yes."

"Fine. Certain ones," Harry repeated. "But Dad… you really, really mean it when you say you won't go to the Death Eater meetings if you're called?"

Severus sighed, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed. Harry was surprised when Severus began to tuck him in, but he wasn't complaining.

"I mean it," Severus said. He gave Harry a stern look. "Now go back to sleep, and if your scar begins to hurt then you'll call me."

It wasn't a question, Harry thought as he nodded. "I will."

Severus stood up as he made his way back to the doorway. "Goodnight Harry."

"'Night Dad. I love you," Harry added, waiting to hear the same in return. When he did, and when Severus shut the door, Harry lay on his back and stared blankly at the ceiling. He only hoped that Severus was telling the truth when he told Harry that he wouldn't go to any of the meetings. Harry did believe him, though—he could hear the honesty in Severus's voice when he said that.

Harry just hoped that there wouldn't be any meetings called. If there was, then that would mean that they would have a plan for something…

-

The Quidditch World Cup was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. He sat with Severus, Sirius, Nicholas Isabelle and Hermione; Harry was holding Nathaniel (or Slyther, at the moment. He insisted to come along). Of course, it wasn't his finest moment when the Veela had appeared. Harry wasn't sure whether Sirius, Nicholas or even Severus had done anything when she came forth, but he didn't want to ask.

Harry was transfixed with the game in front of him. It was so… gripping. He put the omnioculars that he had purchased up to his glasses. What team was he going for? Oh yes, Ireland. But Krum … Harry was amazed at how Krum (from the Bulgarian team) flew his broom. Harry had begun to wish that he was able to fly like that.

Especially when Krum had gone into that dive, and just at exactly the right time had pulled out of it. Although, Lynch from the opposite team had crashed onto the ground, and Krum had the snitch grasped in his hand.

His nose looks painful, Slyther commented, talking about Krum's bloody nose. Don't you think?"Yes," Harry agreed distractedly. Although Krum had got the Snitch, Ireland still won: One Hundred and sixty points to one hundred and seventy.

Harry stood up with the rest of the crowd, applauding.

"That was brilliant," Nicholas said loudly to Harry over the clapping, his eyes shining in excitement. "Really!"

"I know." Harry grinned. "It's just too bad it's over."

-

Harry woke up to loud noises; screaming. He wondered if he was having another one of his dreams, but he quickly realized that he wasn't.

Harry shoved his glasses on, sitting up.

"What's going on?" Harry asked Severus, who didn't answer, but merely commanded him to put on a jacket and go outside.

Harry did just that, along with Hermione. The first thing Harry saw when he exited were a group of wizards cloaked wizards, their faces hidden by a mask with wands out and raised.

Floating above them were four people, struggling to get down. He frowned as he turned to Hermione.

"D'you see Nicholas or Isabelle?" He asked.

Hermione shook her head, taking another look around. "No, I don't."

Still looking around for the two and waiting for Severus and Sirius, Harry made sure that he still had his wand just in case. Severus then appeared, beckoning them on.

Harry was too worried about Nicholas and Isabelle as he followed Severus and Sirius that he didn't notice when his eyes flew right past them.

"Harry!"

Harry felt greatly relieved as the two came toward them.

Nicholas opened his mouth to say something, but in the process became wider as his eyes grew larger.

Harry turned around to see what Nicholas was gaping at: There, in the sky, was a huge skull with a snake protruding from its mouth—a snake…

Harry cried out Nathaniel's name, digging through his pockets. Finally, Harry pulled Slyther out in relief.

Thought you forgot me, hm? Slyther didn't sound very happy. Typical. Completely forgetting that you picked me up through the chaos… I'm hurt, really…Harry, however, wasn't listening as he kept frantically rummaging through his pockets.

With horrified eyes, Harry stared at Severus.

"I've lost my wand!"

"What?" Severus's eyes snapped down on him.

"I can't find it," Harry said in a hollow voice. "M—my wand, I can't—"

Harry, without another word, ran back; his eyes desperately searched the ground as he went. Where could it be? How could he have been so careless as to lose it?

Harry suddenly stopped in his place as he stared ahead. There were wizards around an unconscious House Elf—but the House Elf had a wand in its hand.

Harry stared. Could it have been his wand?

He stepped closer to get a better look, and sure enough, the wand that the House Elf had in its hand was Harry's wand; he recognized it.

"That's my wand," Harry blurted out. Eyes immediately swerved in his direction.

"So you conjured the Dark Mark?" A man who Harry didn't recognize demanded.

Harry shook his head. "No, I dropped my wand and that House Elf has it." He stiffened as he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and looked up to see that it was only Severus. Sirius and the rest of the group were behind them.

Harry watched silently as one of the wizards used their wand to wake the House Elf up. Nobody spoke as a wizard—who Harry learned was Mr Diggory—began to interrogate the House Elf, which was curled up and rocking back and forth, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

The House Elf began insisting that it wasn't her who conjured the Dark Mark. Harry didn't make a sound as Mr Diggory used his wand to see what the last spell that was used was; he still felt Severus's hand placed firmly on his shoulder, which made him feel calm. Safe.

As Mr Diggory, pointing his own wand at Harry's wand, yelled "Prior Incantato!", Harry saw the same mark that was in the sky appear right where the two wands met, although it looked much more smokier.

It soon disappeared when Mr Diggory had said, "Deletrius!" The House Elf was now trembling, her eyes brimming with terror. Harry didn't know what happened next, because Severus had coldly asked for Harry's wand back and they were now walking back through the woods.

As Hermione was going on to Nicholas and Isabelle about the way they were treating the House Elf, Harry said to Severus in a low voice, "What happened, Dad?"

Severus merely shook his head, keeping his eyes forward. "Not right now, Harry."

Harry hesitated before keeping quiet. He felt Sirius's arm draped over his shoulder, and Sirius gave him a gentle grin as Harry glanced over.

Harry felt the same safe feeling he had felt with Severus—but he still wondered how that Elf had had his wand, and what happened that night. He hoped that Severus—or even Sirius—would be able to tell him later.

-

A/N: To the person who questioned if I'm dead, my answer is: No. I just have a LOT going on which results in VERY late chapters. Sorry!