Chapter Thirty Four

Harry felt like the world was closing in around him. He was the weapon that Voldemort was after, some how he had attacked Mr Weasley. Everyone had been around him lately, since Dumbledore

would no longer look at him, he thought they were for his protection, but they weren't, they were for everyone else.

That fact of reality smashed into him like a fist, the pain in his chest felt as though his lungs were being crushed.

"Harry?" Lily called, rushing over to him, "Harry what on earth is wrong?"

Harry forced his head up to give her a smile, "Nothing Mum. I'm fine." he wasn't about to get Fred and George in trouble for listening in.

"You look very ill dear. Are you sure you're all right?" Mrs Weasley asked.

Harry forced himself to smile and cheerfully reassure them, "I'm just tired, late night last night you know."

They popped back into the ward to say goodbye to Mr Weasley, who once again thanked Harry for saving him. It made Harry feel like crying, knowing now that there was a good chance he was responsible in the first place.

He tried to ignore the looks that Ron was giving him. Thankfully the others seemed to be focused on working out how Harry couldn't possibly have done this.

They arrived home and Lily told him to go to bed and lay down for a few hours before dinner. Harry smiled gratefully at the excuse not to be around people. Danica was sitting in the living room playing with Fleur and some stuffed animals.

Harry went upstairs and lay on his bed, trying to think things through. He couldn't turn into a snake, that was high level magic and Harry hadn't even tried. Plus this snake was more than big enough to be a python or anaconda but they aren't venomous, so it was a purely magical creature. It was a good job that Danica was so interested in reptiles that he was able to know all this.

Voldemort however, could be powerful enough to transform into such a creature. He could of possessed Harry and then transformed, but then how did Harry get out of Hogwarts? Let alone getting back again in less than a few seconds.

He sat up suddenly, if Voldemort could see inside Harry's head, he was seeing his house, where he was safe, where Danica was safe. He had to go back to Hogwarts for Christmas.

There was a knock on the door just as he was about to get up and start packing up his trunk again. He considered ignoring it but sighed and told them to come in.

"I've known you a fair while now, fifteen and a half years strangely, and I know that that's not your tired face. What's up?" Lily asked, walking over to his bed and patting the space next to her.

Harry sighed and sat down next to her, he didn't say anything.

"You heard what was said in the hospital?" Lily asked.

Harry didn't know how she knew, mother's intuition probably, but he was glad that she did and gave her a small nod.

She sighed, "Harry you can't take what we said at face value, it's part of a much larger conversation."

"It still boils down to the fact that Voldemort is possessing me." Harry said, louder than he meant to, "I'm dangerous to be around."

"I don't believe that." Lily told him firmly, "There are too many inconsistencies."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Well you remember what happened. People who have been possessed tend to have no memory of what they've done." Lilly told him, "I think… I'm sorry you had to find out that way, Dumbledore is worried that you are too young to know everything right now. We don't all feel the same way."

Harry looked at her, they were the near enough the same height now, he'd grown again since summer, it was a strange realisation for him, "Do you want to tell? Then why don't you?"

"Dumbledore knows more than any of us. He's the one who has all the pieces, it's always been that way. Voldemort is afraid of him and that way if something were to happen to any of us, to get caught, we wouldn't be able to tell them everything, even if we wanted to." Lily tried to explain.

Harry understood, but it still felt wrong to him, "And the more I know, the more Voldemort could get out of my head."

Lily nodded sadly, "Yes. But that's not your fault."

Harry forced a smile, "I was thinking I would go back to school, for Christmas. I don't… I can't put you all in danger. You, Nikka, Sirius, Danica."

"No." Lily said firmly, "I spent two Christmases away from you and I don't plan on missing any more. We are safe here."

"And what does Dumbledore say?" Harry spat, he could feel the rage building inside him again, only he didn't know if it was his anger at Dumbledore or Voldemort's.

Lily pulled him in for a hug, "He wants you to stay here as well. But that has nothing to do with me, as your mother, saying you are spending Christmas with us. I mean, do you want to tell Danica you're running away for Christmas?"

Harry let out a laugh, "Good point. She can be pretty scary."

"Exactly. Now try and get some sleep, or at least rest." Lily told him, kissing his forehead, "I'll send someone to get you when it's dinner time."

Harry was grateful to lie down again, his scar was prickling and he was very tired, he was afraid to sleep though, what if it triggered another attack? Lily had managed to reassure him for the most part, but there were still nagging doubts in his mind.

He closed his eyes and within a second he was sinking once more into shadows, like the vision had been sitting in his mind, just waiting to be allowed to begin.

Harry was walking down a long, empty, dark corridor, heading towards a plain black door, that he desperately needed to reach. He ignored everything but the door, there was a long staircase going down towards the left but it had no interest for Harry, just the door.

There was something behind that door, he knew it. Something that would make all his dreams come true, a prize beyond measure.

"Harry! Wakey wakey!" Danica called, shaking him awake.

Harry's eyes snapped open, disappointed he'd never reached the door.

"What were you dreaming 'bout?" Danica asked, climbing up onto his bed.

Harry shook his head, "Nothing."

"But you was muttering and your eyes were like this." She said, rolling her eyes around to show him.

Harry laughed at her impression, "I don't remember, sorry."

"Draco sent me a letter." Danica said, crossing her arms importantly over her chest, "He says you kissed a girl!"

Harry looked faked shocked at the revelation, "Why would he tell you that?"

"You did you did!" Danica squealed happily, "I knew it! It's gross."

"It is not 'gross'." Harry said, sticking his tongue out, "She's very pretty. I can't believe that Draco ratted me out to you."

"Pretty as me?" Danica asked.

Harry smiled and shook his head, "No. No one is as pretty as you."

Danica grinned and jumped off the bed, straightening her skirt, "Come on, we're going to be late."

Harry climbed out of bed and stretched before taking his little sister's hand and walking down the stairs to the crowded dinning room.

"Everything all right Harry?" Nikka asked, sitting down next to him.

Harry nodded, "Yeah I'm fine. I just woke up, feeling a bit sleepy."

"He was dreaming 'bout kissing a GIRL!" Danica teased, grinning madly.

"Oooo." went round the table and Harry blushed.

"Good on you Harry!" Sirius said, clapping him on the back.

"Sirius! Really!" Lily said, with mock outrage, "He's just a child."

Sirius waved his hand dismissively, "Well what's she like?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well she's a Quidditch player."

"Naturally." Sirius nodded, Nikka rolling her eyes.

"She's a Ravenclaw. Her name is Cho." Harry said, he couldn't stop grinning.

It was nice, being gently teased by his family and eating the large meal that Kreacher had made them. They weren't scared of him, and he honestly believed that his mother would tell him if she thought there was any chance of him hurting them.