Chapter 36
Breakfast was a loud and cheerful affair, with everyone in good spirits. Halfway through his second stack of pancakes Harry remembered to ask Remus. "How's Snape?"
"He'll be okay." Remus said thoughtfully. "It's going to be a lot different for him."
"How so?" Harry thought he knew but waited for Remus to confirm it.
"It won't be safe for Severus to leave Hogwarts, except perhaps to come here by floo powder or port key." Lupin said.
Harry nodded. "I wondered about that."
Lupin gazed at Harry. "I think you finally impressed him, Harry. Severus did not think he would ever leave that cell."
"I didn't do it to impress him or anyone. I just wanted you back." Harry said a little irritated by all the stares. "Okay, I didn't want Snape left with Voldemort either." He added.
"Well, in any case, he is grateful to be out of Voldemort's reach." Remus said. "And so am I." He grinned.
"Here, here!" Fred lifted a glass of pumpkin juice. Everyone did the same then they all clinked glasses. Harry couldn't help smiling to himself as he drank his pumpkin juice. Three times this year alone he had bested Voldemort's plans. Four if he counted the brief period Voldemort had possessed him and tried to kill Ron. The numbers may not mean much to some but to Harry, he felt stronger and more confident of himself with these small victories. Maybe he would be able to defeat Voldemort in the end, Harry thought as he finished his sausage not really taking in the conversation around him.
His thoughts took him to the books his mother had put in her trunk. What did he need to learn from them? He hadn't so much as read a page since opening the chest. Nor had he questioned Hermione about the Slytherin book. And then there was the Runespoor shield, when and where would he use it? His darker thoughts must have reflected in his expression because Mrs. Weasley put a hand on his back.
"Are you all right Harry, dear?" She gazed intently at him. "Perhaps you would like to sleep a bit more before…" Mrs. Weasley gazed over to her husband then at Lupin.
"I get my gift?" Harry grinned. He had seen all the furtive looks going back and forth. "I'm ready when you are." He pushed back his plate. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Granger rose.
"Let us make one finally test then you can come to the drawing room." Mr. Weasley eyed Lupin significantly.
"Ah, yes. I'll be sure he brings them Arthur." Remus nodded. Tonks face turned stern.
"You are not climbing those stairs again. I'll see he brings whatever you need." Tonks told him. She motioned for Harry to come with her. "We'll need to get something from your room." Was all that she would tell him until they climbed the steps.
"Okay, what do I need to bring?" Harry said as they stepped inside of his bedroom.
"Something that Remus saw in your mum's trunk." Tonks started to say then. "Damn, I don't know what to call them."
"That leaves it pretty open then." Harry hadn't really been worried about Remus telling people what was in his trunk but evidently he had said something.
"I'll know it when I see it. Remus said they were right on top." Tonks still frowned searching for the words.
Everything seemed to click in place for Harry. "Do you mean the video tapes?"
"That's it!" Tonks cried. "Exactly. He said your mom left you a move camera and tapes."
"That's a camcorder." Harry corrected opening his school trunk. "But I thought your dad was a muggle, didn't he show you any of this stuff?"
"No, he was quite content with magical stuff over muggle." Tonks watched as Harry set out three video tapes and the camera. "Is that all of them?" Harry nodded. "Let's head back to the drawing room. Everything should be ready."
When Harry and Tonks arrived outside the closed doors to the drawing room, he heard a lot of noise coming from within. He looked curiously at Tonks who grinned and knocked.
"We're ready. Come in!" Mr. Weasley's voice answered. The doors opened and Harry gave a small gasp. In the large room, seats were arranged around a television and a video recorder. The seats were empty with the Weasley, Hermione and Mrs. Granger standing around the wall. Giving him a small push Tonks pointed to a settee up front where Lupin sat.
"You sit up there Harry, beside Remus." Tonks tugged the video tapes and camera from his hands. "We'll need these." She walked to the front and handed them to Mr. Granger.
"Harry, with the combined efforts of Arthur, Robert, Tonks and myself, we have a working ..ah?" He looked to Mr. Granger for the right words.
"Video tape player and television." Mr. Granger supplied.
"Great!" Harry grinned and then his smile disappeared. As he sat down, Harry gave a glance at all the eager faces watching him. The prospect of seeing his parents on tape could have an emotional reaction Harry didn't know if he wanted to share with so many. He swallowed hard. How could he deny anyone the opportunity to watch with him? Putting on a brave face Harry nodded to Remus. "I'm ready."
"Harry, we've all discussed this and if you want to watch the tapes alone, we all will understand." Remus made Harry look at him. "I know we have it set up for everyone to watch but don't feel pressured if you want to go it alone first." Harry nodded, grateful they had thought about it. Slowly Harry gazed at the people around him and found the faces comfortingly familiar; each one returned a look of understanding and reassurance. These people aren't strangers Harry thought and smiled back at them. He turned to Remus.
"I guess the best way to watch my family videos is with my family." Harry gestured to the people around him. He was immediately smothered in a hug by Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and Ginny. Ron thumped him on the back.
"I think Dad would have cried if you'd said no Harry." Ron laughed in his ear then sat down behind the settee, patting the chair beside him for Hermione to come sit down next to him. Ginny sat down beside Harry and hooked her arm around his. Tonks squeezed in on the other side of Remus and grinned. When everyone had settled into a chair Remus gave the go ahead to Mr. Granger.
"Since none of the tapes are labeled I guess it doesn't make much difference which one we play first." Mr. Granger took the top one and slipped it into the player. "Harry you want to do the honors?" He handed Harry a remote. Taking a deep breath Harry gazed at it a moment then hit play.
For a long moment nothing but static ran across the screen. Harry heard Mrs. Weasley whisper to Mrs. Granger if this was what all the fuss was about. Then she gasped as a large hand appeared in on the television screen.
"Lily! Get that damn thing out of my face!" A scowling James Potter came into frame when the camera holder backed away.
"Oh get a grip James. It isn't going to hurt you." Lily Potter's voice laughed from behind the camera. His mother's voice made Harry's heart do a strange flip.
"I know I just don't
like it." James continued to look
irritated at the camera. "I told you to
quit buying all that muggle stuff."
"So you're my boss now?" Lily began to
sound irritated. James ran a hand through his hair. "And stop roughing up your hair. It stands up enough as it is. I only hope poor little Harry doesn't have
that cowlick of yours."
"What happened to love, honor and obey?" James glared at the camera.
"I do love you." A sweet silky voice made James smile.
"Oh my, Harry you do have his smile." Ginny whispered.
"I suppose that's supposed to placate me?" James said growled in obvious pretence of being angry.
"Oh I suppose I honor you too. And obey on occasion." Lily giggled. "When I think you might be right."
"Oh that's comforting to know." James grinned shaking his head. "So why are you using that thing on me?"
"I want some practice with the video camera before Harry's first birthday." Lily must have used the zoom because the screen now had a very large picture of James's nose.
"I like your nose better." Ginny whispered. Harry suppressed the urge to laugh.
"So do you have to hold the thing all the time?" James asked. Harry had the strange feeling his father was up to something, just from the look in his eyes.
"No, not always. I thought I'd sit it on the sideboard and let it tape Harry's birthday party." Lily shifted the camera. "It is quite heavy after holding it a bit. I think I'll put a charm on it to make it lighter."
"Will it tape both of us together?" James asked and the camera nodded up and down. "Then set it opposite the couch and let it take both of us." He suggested. The camera jostled and was moved around until Lily was satisfied the aim was right. Then an auburn hair woman hurried around to sit beside her husband on the couch.
James grinned and put an arm around her. "Now what do we do?"
"Some people make tapes of their thoughts for their children to play later in life." Lily suggested then nudged her husband in the ribs when he rolled his eyes at her idea. "Then what would you tell Harry if he could understand you right now?" She challenged him.
"He already understands every word his old dad says." James bragged.
"Oh please. Save it for Sirius and Remus." It was Lily's turn to roll her eyes.
"I have an idea!" James eyes became bright. And Harry had a feeling his father had been planning whatever it was from the moment his mother had set the camera down.
"What?" Lily turned smiling to her husband. The next moment James had pushed her down on the couch and was kissing her passionately. "James! What are you doing?" She gasped as she came up for breath.
"We could recreate Harry's moment of conception." James growled as he nibbled her neck. "For posterity."
"You can't put that on a video tape." Lily struggled against her husband but was laughing too much. James raised his head.
"I'm sure you can. Sirius told me about some…well…tape things where they showed everything." James shifted so he was on top pinning his wife's legs with his own.
"Uh, Remus." Whispered Harry, feeling his face flush. He really didn't want to see his parents doing anything more than kissing.
"If I remember correctly, I don't think they get very far." Remus whispered back.
As James was kissing his way down his wife's neck a loud roar made the video camera shake. They pair looked over the back of the couch at the door down the hall. The roaring thundered for a moment longer than stopped. The next moment the door swung open and Sirius and Remus entered.
"Not interrupting anything important are we?" Sirius leaned on the couch and grinned.
"Looks like they might have been starting to work on a little brother or sister for Harry." Remus gazed down at the couple.
"Don't you two every knock?" James glared at them as he sat up.
"Never did before. Why start now?" Sirius gave his bark like laugh. Harry felt a pang of loss from that simple sound. He glanced at Remus and saw the man blinking hard.
"Now look what you've done!" Lily sprang up from the couch. "Harry's woke up with the noise of that machine of yours Sirius." She disappeared off the right side of the screen.
"Sorry Lily." Sirius sat down taking Lily's place on the couch. He stared at the camera and frowned. "What's that?" He nudged James.
"Some muggle thing that takes pictures." James shrugged. "Lily bought it."
"You let her?" Sirius gave his friend an eye roll.
"Sure I let her. I don't care about that muggle stuff." James gave another indifferent shrug. "I put up a fuss so she doesn't drag everything home."
"Good psychology." Remus snorted. "Ah there's my boy!" He put out his hands to take Harry from Lily. The mop of black hair was flat on one side. Sleepy eyes peered out from behind his fringe. Cheeks streaked with drying tears smiled and the baby reached out to Remus.
There were squeals around the room. "Harry you're so cute." Ginny hugged his arm.
"Hey, I'm his godfather. I should get to hold him first." Sirius argued.
"Uncle Remus called dibs." Remus smiled and hugged Harry to him. Suddenly his smile faded and he looked down in dismay. "Uh, Lily….I think he sprung a leak."
There was a howl of laughter around the room. "Harry peed on Remus!" The twins chanted until they were hushed by their mother.
"Just marking his territory Remus." Sirius laughed as Lily handed Remus a towel and took Harry from him.
Harry stared at the image of his father chatting with Sirius and Remus on the television. This was his father. Not the Hogwarts student, not a Marauder, not Prongs, this was his dad. Harry felt a tightening in his throat and a tear rolled down his cheeks. He went to wipe them off but Ginny still claimed his arm. Her hand entwined his and gave him a squeeze.
Tape went to static again. "I guess that's all on that tape." Mr. Granger said after they let it play for a while. Harry was just about to stop the tape when a room appeared then his mother walked into view and sat down in a rocking chair with baby Harry in her arms. A single candle lit the room. Behind the rocking chair, Harry could see a shimmer from a mobile of broomsticks and golden snitches hanging above a crib. Baby Harry was fussy and his mother rocked and cooed to her son. She put a bottle to his lips and his cries ceased.
"She looks so sad." Ginny said softly. As if agreeing a single tear ran down Lily's cheek. The auburn haired woman closed her eyes and swallowed. With obvious effort she put on a smile for the baby in her arms.
When the bottle was gone Lily continued to rock her son. A soft lullaby rose from her as she gazed at her baby. A shiver ran down Harry's spine and without knowing it he mouthed the words to the song along with his mother.
"Lily?" James' voice came from off screen. "Everything alright?"
"Yes, go back to sleep." Lily nodded giving a glance to where her husband's voice originated.
"I love watching you rock him." James came into view and he knelt beside the rocker. "You okay?"
"Why did he have to tell us now?" Lily said softly. "Why couldn't he have waited until after his birthday?"
"Dumbledore must have his reasons." James shrugged. "But don't worry about it. It's probably the Longbottom boy anyway. Frank and Alice have very powerful magical abilities no doubt they'll pass it on to Neville."
Lily remained silent for a long moment. "I know it is Harry." She met her husband's eyes. James' face went ashen and he swallowed, without a word he touched his baby's head. He seemed to have accepted his wife's word as fact with no argument.
"He'll be powerful too Lily." James finally spoke, glancing at Lily for confirmation.
"Yes," Lily finally smiled. "Very powerful."
A strange silence filled the room as the picture on the television faltered and went to static again. The whole room seemed to sigh as one.
"It looked like the battery on the camera went dead." Mr. Granger said quietly. Harry nodded and pressed the stop button on the remote. Mr. Granger ejected the tape and glanced to Harry. "Do you want to see another one?"
Wiping his cheeks Harry nodded. "Go ahead." He said hoarsely. Mr. Granger put a second tape in the player and pressed the play button.
The television screen showed a room decorated for a party. Streamers and a banner with 'Happy Birthday' floated and squirmed in the air. A lavish table with candles and a layout of food had a cake at each end. One with 'Happy 1st Birthday Harry' and the other 'Happy 1st Birthday Neville' written in red and gold icing and both had a single candle in the middle of it.
James came into the picture carrying Harry in his arms. The twins laughed. "Harry's wearing a ducky on his jumper." Fred pointed. A quack came from George before his mother could hush them again. Once again Harry was grateful for the twins' humor. He had just started feeling sorry for himself when they had lightened his mood with just that simple quip. Nobody remembered their first birthday even with their parents still living.
The camera was set down and adjusted to capture the day. Sirius and Remus were the first to arrive. Each carried in a gift for the birthday boys. After placing the packages on a table Sirius turned to James who still held Harry.
"So what's this amazing thing Harry can do now?" Sirius sat down in an overstuffed chair next to the couch. "Has he walked on water yet?"
"Oh he can't walk on water." James shook his head. "But he did swim across the channel yesterday."
Remus sniffed and looked at the bottom of his shabby shoe. "It's getting deep in here."
"I'll say. Just show us how smart Harry is before everyone gets here and he becomes shy boy again." Sirius reached out and tickled Harry in the ribs. The little boy squealed and laughed.
"Don't get him going Sirius. Harry? Look at Daddy." James turned his son's attention back to him. "Harry? What does Padfoot say?" James pointed to Sirius.
Little Harry promptly said. "Arf arf!" Laughs and ahs rippled through the watchers.
"Harry? What does Moony say?" James pointed to Remus.
The little boy kicked his feet and leaned his head back and "Aoooooh." Little Harry howled. Everyone in the room watching burst out laughing.
Harry felt Hermione's hands squeeze his shoulders. "You're just too cute."
"Harry?" Sirius pointed at James. "What does Prongs say?" The boy looked confused and stared at his dad.
"What does Daddy say Harry?" Lily had just come into the camera's view. Harry's eyes brightened and he made the snorting noise of a pig. Sirius and Remus collapsed laughing.
"Who taught him that?" James gazed at his wife, who didn't meet his eyes.
"No idea." She took little Harry from him. "Where's Peter?" Lily asked.
"He said he had something to pick up before he came." Remus said. "He'll be here."
"Probably the last one to come. He always is late." A knock came at the door. Sirius got up. "I'll get it. I'll be the doorman for you."
"Thanks you Sirius." Lily smiled. "Oh good it's the Longbottoms."
Many unfamiliar faces drifted in and out of the television screen, until a couple holding a baby sat down on the couch. Harry recognized them as Frank and Alice Longbottom and the baby could only be Neville. Lily and Alice put their sons on the floor and immediately the two little boys took turns giving each other any object within their reach.
"You two would do that until someone stopped you." Remus said softly. "I'd forgotten."
"Neville should see this." Harry said in a husky voice. "He's never seen his parents like this."
The house filled with people all wishing the two little boys on the floor 'Happy Birthday'. Suddenly a loud explosive sound shook around the house. Every wizard and witch in the camera's view pulled their wands out in alarm.
"Hang on. It's only Hagrid sneezing." Sirius stepped back to let a the huge man squeeze through the doorway then another small blast shook the house again.
"Hagrid if you have a cold you shouldn't be around the children." Neville's Grandmother's voice admonished from off camera.
"Not a cold." Hagrid sneezed again. Everybody darted out of the way and some droplets flecked the lens of the camera. From the pocket of his moleskin coat Hagrid pulled a small squirming black and white cat. "Here somebody take it."
Lily took the cat from the large hand. "Hagrid why did you bring a cat if they make you sneeze so?"
"I found it wandering around. I couldn't just leave her." Hagrid sniffed and rubbed his nose as if he was going to sneeze again.
"She is pretty." Lily set the cat down by the two boys playing on the floor.
Ginny gasped. "It's Cleo!"
"It can't be." Harry said leaning forward with her to look closer.
"I'm sure of it. Oh she's gone under the chair. Now we'll never know." Ginny sat back.
"Yes we can." Harry grabbed the remote and before anyone could stop him he hit the rewind button.
"Wait. Don't!" Mr. Granger cried. "Oh dear." The picture went askew and then the television and player seemed to lose power.
"What happened?" Harry asked feeling guilty.
"It's one thing we hadn't gotten working properly yet, the reverse." Mr. Weasley said. He hurried to the front to help fix the machine.
"I'm sorry." Harry said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, don't worry, we'll get it fixed." Mr. Weasley assured him. "It may take a day or two. Making a magical substitute for eleckticklty is a bit tricky."
"And Remus needs to rest." Tonks kept Lupin from jumping up and helping.
"So that's it for today?" Fred asked then added. "Good show." He reached over and pinched Harry's cheek. "You are just too cute." Harry swatted his hand away.
"I wonder if there could be a magical equivalent to that?" George questioned pointing at the television.
"I was pondering the same thing." Fred nodded.
"Definitely has possibilities." George considered.
"And profit." Fred said. "We'll have to look into this."
"Definitely." George grinned.
Harry smiled as the twins left the drawing room. "We've got to find out if that's Cleo." Ginny pulled at Harry's arm. "Remus don't you remember that kitten?"
"Not really." Lupin shook his head trying to remember. "All I remember is trying to get away from Hagrid's sneezes. Have you ever been hit by one of them? Not something you want to experience twice."
"Who would remember?" Ginny asked then answered her own question. "Neville's grandmother! Harry could we send her Hedwig with a picture of Cleo to her?"
"Sure." Harry got up turned to Remus, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Granger and Tonks. "This was the best present. I can't begin to tell you what it means to me. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome Harry." Mr. Weasley grinned. "You know me and muggle stuff. It was the first time I had Molly's permission to mess with it."
"What can I say Harry. You gave my family their very lives this Christmas." Mr. Granger said gruffly. "If there is anything I can ever do for you all you need to do is ask."
"It was a selfish gift Harry. I knew what might be on those tapes. I wanted to see them too." Remus stiffly got to his feet. "I think I will go lie down a bit." Tonks took his arm before Harry could. "I'm well looked after Harry." A slight blush rose on the man's cheeks but Harry saw he was quite content with Tonks fussing over him.
"Take it easy." Harry said as Tonks led him out of the drawing room. Ginny pulled on his arm again. "What? Oh, right, the letter. Let's go find a picture." Ginny wrote a letter to Neville explaining the picture and the question about her cat's origin. They would have to wait until night before sending Hedwig off so not to be to conspicuous with an owl flying off in broad daylight.
The rest of Christmas Harry spent playing games with Ron, Hermione and Ginny and occasionally Fred, George, Bill and Charlie. Percy appeared quietly to watch but never joined in any of the games. At first Harry thought it was his normal standoffish way but after Percy took several nasty tricks from Fred and George without saying a word Harry knew something was up with him.
But Harry was too worried about Remus to pay much attention to Percy. When he caught Remus off guard Harry could tell the man didn't feel very well. Harry quietly mentioned to Mr. Weasley if Remus shouldn't have stayed in the hospital wing. Mr. Weasley gazed at Lupin for a moment now talking to Fred and George and answered softly. "Sometimes family is the best medicine. Even Madam Pomfrey knows this. He would have felt worse to have missed Christmas with you."
Later after Harry climbed into bed the images and sounds of his parents swirled in his mind as sleep crept into his body. In the middle of a wide yawn a painful jolt from his scar drove away the all the peacefulness and contentment and replaced it with a wariness and immediately he braced himself for any intrusion. To his surprise Voldemort was quite, calm for having been bested.
"Happy to have your werewolf back?" The Dark Lord sneered.
"He's my friend, not my werewolf." Harry answered simply.
"Of course. Friends are important." Voldemort mocked.
"True friends yes." Harry didn't like the sound of the dark wizard's voice.
"Other people aren't as valuable to you are they?" Voldemort considered.
"What do you mean?" Harry listened closely despite the searing pain on his forehead.
"I mean I can see I've been going about this all wrong." Voldemort had a superior tone that made Harry shiver.
"I hope you aren't going to take all night to explain this." Harry hoped he could cause an angry response that might reveal more than Voldemort really wanted to.
"You do realize if your friends didn't die others would in their place." Voldemort's was stone cold now. "And it really doesn't matter who does it? As long it isn't a friend of yours I have no worries."
"Why?" Harry gasped as the pain became excruciating.
"Why? Because I have to show you I can." Voldemort said simply then without another word a wall seemed to go up between their thought and Harry neither heard his thoughts nor felt any pain.
He sat up so quickly he felt dizzy but ignoring that Harry got out of bed and ran to the door. At first he headed for Lupin's bedroom but stopped. Remus couldn't do anything. Turning in place in the dark hall Harry wondered who to tell. Bill and Charlie were out to a party and wouldn't be home that night. With a glance up Harry headed for Fred and George's room. They always seemed to know what to do he thought.
"Fred? George? I need to talk to you?" Harry rapped lightly on the door. It swung open and George was standing there.
"What's up Harry?" George pulled him in and shut the door. A tiny little creature with many legs ran up Harry's leg. At first Harry thought it was a spider but when George grabbed it with a gloved hand he could see it wasn't. "Great! I got it Fred!"
"What is that?" Harry stared at the strange thing.
"It's a drowser. We've been experimenting with it." George held the wispy legged thing to Fred who kept his distance as he opened a box for his twin to drop it into. "A little risky but what's the fun if there isn't a bit of risk."
"So Harry have you seen Dad and Mom snogging again and had a bad dream?" Fred still kept the box the at arm lengths from him. Harry shook his head.
In a short time Harry told the twins of his talk with Voldemort. The twins nodded. "Dumbledore mentioned Voldemort was likely to retaliate with a vengeance." Fred said soberly. Harry slumped down in the desk chair.
"So all I did was trade someone else's life for Remus's." Harry rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"It's not your fault Harry." George pulled Harry to his feet and hoisted him over his shoulder then dumped him into a bed. "When you're dealing with a mad lunatic like you-know-who, people are going to die." He pushed Harry down on the pillow. "There's nothing you can do and it's not your fault."
"Maybe." Harry said sleepily, he could barely keep his eyes open. Once more he tried to form a coherent thought but it came out as a mumble. The last thing his brain registered was a 'sweet dreams' from Fred and a chuckle from George.
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Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews!
Don't be too worried if I don't update as frequently. I do intend to finish this fic. I even know what the last line of the story is going to be…I just have to figure how to get there from here.
My thoughts on Harry's animagi abilities; Yes it took Sirius, James and the rat three years to figure out how to do it, which they finally accomplished in their fifth year. Harry is in his 6th year so I figure he knows a bit more magic than when the Marauders started the procedure and Harry has the help of McGonagall. So I feel his progression is within his talents.