The World's Gone Crazy . . .
Chapter 50
By: Allanasha Ke Kiri

"How?" James asked.

Luna glanced up from her book. "How what?"

"How will I be going back?" he asked as he sat across from her.

Luna shrugged. "You don't deny it?"

"How can I?" he asked. "If you know, then you know. It would be pointless to."

"Are you going to fight it, James?"

"Can I?"

She tilted her head. "I don't know," she paused. "Will you?"

"I don't want to go back," he said, looking straight into her eyes.

"I know, but you don't belong here," she said. "It was a mistake, a fluke. Your being here has changed what we were to do." Her eyes closed and she got a dreamy look on her face. "It's all in chaos now, trying to re-establish itself. Yet, it doesn't want you to leave. If it could, it would switch you."

"The other wouldn't survive."

" . . . No, he wouldn't, He's not like you."

"If I cannot fight it . . . is there a way back, when I finish?"

When Luna's eyes opened, they were sad. "I do not know," she said.

James slumped down in his seat, bowing his head.

"However . . ."

James glanced back up.

" , , , Don't give up."

"What?"

"That's all I can tell you, it's . . . confusing."

James sighed. "It's alright. Thanks." He stood.

"James-"

He glanced back at the white haired girl.

"Back there, are we friends?"

James nodded slightly. "I think we are."

She smiled. "Good. Are we . . . alike?"

"Very much so," he said with a fond smile.

Luna tilted her head to the side. "Has she chosen you?"

"Chosen me?" James asked. "For wh- that?"

Luna nodded.

"No."

"I see."

"Thanks, Luna," James said as he walked away once more.

Luna sent him a dreamy smile, even though he could not see it, and turned back to her book. This world would sorely miss James, but he was needed elsewhere.


"A maze doesn't sound that hard," Draco said as they gazed at the growning shrubs.

"You'd be surprised," James answered. "They can hide any number of things in there, and they probably will."

"How are you coming on preparations?" Goyle asked.

James shrugged. "Eh, I don't think it's going to be a problem."

"You shouldn't treat it so flippantly," Hermione said. "After all, just because you're in the lead, doesn't mean you're going to win. This last task doesn't give points."

"I know, 'Mione," James laughed. "I just meant, that I'm ready."

Hermione nodded. "Alright."

Nataniel pocked his head out of his robes, then and lazily glanced around. They had talked a few times about what it would be like once they got back to his world, because there was no way he was leaving Nataniel. He wasn't exactly sure that the snake understood, but he would soon enough.


"Your break is very peculiar," Snape said at their next meeting, a small frown etched into his features.

Harry blinked. "It is? How so?"

Snape raised in an eyebrow. "Usually, if someone has a break in their shield, it is because of an overall lack of strength in the shields themselves, yours, however . . . are not weak. And neither does your break change at all. It's in the same place, in the same shape. If I wish to break through, all I have to do is return to where I know it is, and I am in."

"I take it, most . . . change?"

Snape waved a hand in a dismissive manner. "In a manner of speaking. As I said before, if ones shields are weak, there are bound to be breaks. It's almost as if . . . something is . . . preventing you from closing it."

Harry frowned, glancing down a moment before his eyes snapped up to meet with Tom's.

"Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"It could be, though how, with your distance . . ."

"But it's the only thing I can think of."

"I take it you have an idea of why this is?" Snape drawled, interupting them.

Harry cleared his throat. "Er . . . yeah, sorry, Professor."

"Well?"

"You said that the break doesn't change shape?"

"Yes."

"What shape is it?"

"Much like the scar I see in your memories."

"Then it has to be Voldemort," Harry said, voice firm. "I have a connection with him because of his attempt."

Snape's tongue clicked. "Perhaps, you would like to explain?"

Harry and Tom shared another glance before Harry quickly launched into an abrieviated version of his life; specifically what made him the Boy-Who-Lived. Snape's eyebrow was nearly in his hair-line when he finished. Then, his eyes turned thoughtful.

"So you basically have a continuous prescence in head then?"

"Something like that, yes. There have also been times when we . . . share thoughts or . . . dreams."

Snape's eyebrow rose higher. "I see." He leaned back in his chair, silently gazing at Harry.

Harry did his best not to squirm, feeling as if he were a specimen under a microscope.

"I now understand why only one material would work for you. It would have been helpful to have known this in the beginning as it would have saved much time."

"Can you stop it?" Harry asked, leaning forward.

"No."

Harry slumped into his chair.

"However, I can teach you to dull it and to stop him from entering your mind without your knowing, and your from entering his unwillingly."

Harry brightened conciderable.

"It will, however, take a massive amount of control and strength on your part, and it will take time."

"Time we might not have," Harry grumbled, rising to his feet and beginning to pace.

"Impatient," Snape drawled. "Obviously one of your Gryffindor qualities."

Harry sighed. "I did not say I was not willing to try. If I can get the basics before I leave, I should be able to build on it there until I am able to."

Snape nodded. "Then we will start next time. Tonight, however, I want you to attempt to throw me from your mind."

Harry blinked at Snape. "What?"

"I am going to attack you, throw me out."

"Oh."

"Legillimens."

Harry immediately felt him against his shields and strengthened them accordingly. Then, as he felt Snape heading for his break he threw out a section of his shield and it around him. Snape was quick to try and avoid him, but the thing about water, was that it was very fast. Even so, Snape had almost reached the break before Harry had him caught. With another thought, Harry threw him from his mind. He slipped to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Well enough, for your first try, however, all i would have to do is attack again and I would be in."

Harry grunted his acknowledgement.

"Next time, do not chase me. Lay a trap and wait for me to come to you, It will tire you less that way."

Harry nodded. "Yes sir."

"I think that's enough for tonight. Harry, make sure you get some rest."

Another nod. "Goodnight Tom, Professor."


Well, here's the next chapter, late. Sorry about that. Life kind of got in the way. I'm going to be moving again in 10 days, so please don't expect an update until after that. I'm going to be busy enough without trying to get my muse to co-operate.

I have not forgotten this, I have not abandoned it. I promise you all that that is not the case.

Until next time,

Allanasha Ke Kiri