The next few days were abuzz with rumors of how Black got into the castle, A Hufflepuff girl named Hannah Abbit claimed that he turned into a Flowering Scrub while other kids claimed that he Apperated inside the school or flew in.
Although Hermione had quickly killed the Apparate theories by saying that no one could teleport inside walls due to the many charms and enchantment spells placed on the wall, Ness's stomach flip-flopped when he heard that since Apprating sounded a lot like teleporting.
The Fat Lady had swiftly been replaced by a knight by the name of Sir Cadogan who changed the password practically three times a week, none of the Gryffindor's minus Ness who liked his senseless challenges for duels and his war stories, like Sir Cadogan and a couple had asked why they couldn't get someone else to do the job.
Ness already knew why though, any sane painting would had stayed far, far away from Gryffindor tower after hearing what Black did to the Fat Lady. From what he had heard Black had more or less turned the Fat Lady into a shredded mess.
"It's amazing how one small action can cause so much panic." Luna mused as the members of Boundless sat huddled on their rooftop, watching the sunset as classes ended and their break before dinner started. Selvis glared at Luna in disbelief and said, "You do realize that small action was caused by a madman who destroyed the Fat Lady's face?"
"Yes, but no one was in the common room so it was pointless since Harry was in the dining hall." Luna dreamily retorted, Ginny frowned and glanced at Ness, who was deep in thought, wondering what those omens he had seen meant, "Ness, you didn't show up to dinner, right?"
"Huh?" Ness sat up and blinked before saying, "Yea, I missed dinner and ended up waking up just as Black attacked the Fat Lady."
"You heard him?" Selvis gasped sounding amazed by Ness's luck, "Did he say why he was there?" Luna asked. Ness shook his head no, "He left right after she screamed, I tried to chase after him but all I saw was this big black creature jumping out of a classroom window."
"Hold on, you chased after him?" Ginny questioned, "Tried to." Ness corrected, "It took me a while to figure how to leave the common room since the opening was locked, so he got pretty far."
"So the door was locked, and yet you managed to get outside and then back inside before anyone noticed." Selvis said, seeing the gaping holes in Ness's story, "You're lying." Sevlis declared after a brief pause, "What really happened that night?"
"I teleported out into the hall, chased after him, missed him and went back to my room to fall back asleep." Ness said.
"Teleport? You can't teleport inside Hogwarts." Luna reminded him then she frowned and shrugged, "Well, that's Granger's been saying to everyone."
Ness shrugged and looked up at the cloudy sky, "I know, but it's so weird! I didn't have any trouble using Teleport and I even used it to go back in."
"So PSI counters magic charms." Selvis grumbled, "Peachy."
"Well, now we know another reason why PSI users were banned. Think of all the things they could do without breaking the rules." Ginny pointed out. They briefly thought about this before Selvis groaned and flopped onto his back, "Let's forget PSI for a moment, it's an annoying headache."
"Then what should we talk about?" Luna asked, "I mean, it's not like we have anything interesting besides the four horned Wigwam that let Black in."
"Speaking of Black, how did he get in the first place?" Ness asked as Selvis sat up and glared at Luna for the Wigwam comment, "I mean, Hogwarts has the best security out there, yet Black still got in."
"Here's another question, if Black is a deranged serial killer then why not kill Potter at the banquet?" Selvis asked. They gave him a look as Ginny sighed and said, "Because then he would be caught and killed."
"Yes, but would this be before or after Potter dies?" Selvis countered, "After all, if he got in before dinner he could have found a good hiding spot in the shadows to blast Potter with a killing curse before anyone could react."
"But why? That seems sort of dumb." Ness said, Luna nodded in agreement, "I'd rather run and live to see another day then perform a suicide mission." Luna mused.
"Well, isn't this just that?" Selvis said with an annoyed frown, "After all, everyone knows that he's going after Potter, why bother hiding when his target is right in front of him? The very same target who killed his master, You-Know-Who?"
"Black was a Death Eater?" Ginny asked sounding horrified, Selvis shook his head no and sat up completely, "No, but the Black family line served You-Know-Who faithfully until he was killed by Potter. Or, that's what the rumors say."
"What do you mean, 'that's what the rumors say?'" Ness questioned, "They were seen killing muggles right? Faithful or not that's going to get them in trouble."
"Yes, but a lot of his followers claimed to be forced to work for him." Ginny explained, "There are still a lot of Death Eaters who may or may not be full members or just unlucky people who proved to be useful for You-Know-Who."
"Wow, Voldemort doesn't mess around." Ness whistled, "Even in death you still have to look over your shoulder."
"Speaking of looking over your shoulder." Selvis said with a sneer, "Have you seen how the teachers are treating Potter? There trailing after him like lost puppies!"
"Percy's doing it too." Ginny said with an annoyed sigh, "I caught him following Harry to a couple classes." Luna sighed and played with her hair, "Why does everything have to be so secretive? Everything would be much easier if no one had a reason to hide a secret."
"If no one had a reason to hide a secret, life would be boring." Selvis retorted, Ness grinned and teased, "So does this make you the secret finder?"
"I suppose so." Selvis said with a small smile of pride.
"Speaking of secrets, maybe we should tell Harry." Ginny suggested.
"Why on earth are we telling Perfect Potter anything?" Selvis asked.
"Well, since he's the one whose being hunted down then I think he has the right to know that he may or may not have a protector." Ginny retorted. Ness felt his heart do a quick somersault as he pictured himself looking out for Harry, trying to find the omens the stars had predicted.
"She has a point." Luna said. Selvis scowled and folded his arms, "And what if this is just what Dumbledore wants! A protector to guide his hero in his quest of something or other!"
Ness bit his lip before he sighed and stood up, "Alright, I'll tell Harry about me being his possible protector." Selvis gawked at him and tried to say something when Ness cut him off, "I mean, for now going along with Dumbledore is the better option since we have no real clue of what's going on."
"He has a point." Luna said once again, "It's like that saying, 'Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Ginny halfheartedly nodded in agreement, "And we don't have a lot to on with the Dumbledore conspiracy. I mean, he's still the school's beloved principal." Selvis threw his hands up and grumbled, "I'm surrounded by idiots." Before marching toward the tower door, "See ya later!" Ness yelled as Selvis slammed the tower door.
"I don't think we'll be seeing him for a while." Luna mused, "Well, that's one less headache to worry about." Ginny muttered, she glanced at the sinking sun and grabbed her bag, "Come on, it's nearly time for dinner."
"I wonder if they'll have steak this time." Ness mused, Ginny sighed while Luna followed them toward the Great Hall, which was abuzz with the upcoming Qudditch game. Ness tried to listen since his housemates were talking about a Gryffindor vs Slytherin match and Colin was going on and on about how Harry would beat the robes off of the opposing team.
Ness payed little attention to Colin and focused on eating his steak and potatoes. Half way through dinner though, he felt someone watching him, possible inspecting him. But every time he looked up he saw no one abruptly looking away or breaking eye contact.
"Something wrong Ness?" Ness glanced at Colin who was studying him intently, "Nah, nothing's wrong." Ness lied, "Just trying to see where Ginny went."
"Oh! I think she's at the far end of the table." Colin replied pointing to Ginny's spot down the far end of the table. Ness nodded and resumed dinner.
The next week proved to be against Ness with the first Qudditch match looming closer and closer, sending the Gryffindor team captain, Wood something-Ness didn't remember- in a frenzy as they discovered they were going up against Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin, Selvis seemed perfectly okay with this especially when Ness accidentally mentioned how Harry seemed to always be with Wood or had something on his mind concerning the game.
And the omens he had seen in the stars seemed to be eating away at his mind since every time he spotted the faint glow of Mars or Mercury through the worsening weather his prediction would appear and taunt him. He would have gone to Professor Kale but the bad weather had canceled Astronomy classes for a good week. And he wasn't sure where Professor Kale's indoor office was.
"This. Is lame." Ness declared as he fruitlessly struggled with his potions essay while Ginny worked on her three-page Werewolf essay for Professor Snape who had become the substitute teacher after Lupin had mysteriously became ill. "I know." Ginny said with a brief glance outside which revealed nothing but gloomy darkness, "But once the game's over you can talk to Harry. Or you could just talk to Ron and Hermione, they could relay the message."
"I'd rather tell Harry upfront." Ness said, "that way I only have to answer one set of questions." Ginny frowned and nodded in agreement, "Hermione would probably bombard you with questions of how you knew and other things while Ron would get defensive and ask how you knew."
"I wonder if Mars and Mercury also mean bad luck." Ness grumbled changing the subject, Ginny perked up slightly and closed her book on defensive charms, "What do you mean?"
"Well, after I lost Black I spotted Mars and Mercury and got an omen stating a reunion and an escape of a traitor." Ness explained, "I've been meaning to tell Professor Kale but…"
Ginny nodded in understanding and looked around the common room which was full of other kids, even though it was a Saturday the bleary weather and pitch black corridors were enough to convince everyone to stay inside and huddle around the cozy fireplace.
"We could go looking for him." Ginny suggested, "Maybe he's hanging out at the Division tower."
"And where is that exactly?" Ness asked, rolling up his half-finished essay and sticking it in the side pocket of his backpack.
"I think Ron said it was around the East Tower."
"Shouldn't be too hard to find." Ness deiced already making his way to the portrait hole. Ginny followed him and ignored Sir Cadogan's challenge of a duel and the following ye old British insults they received for ignoring him.
"Wow…" Ness wheezed as they looked up at a old trapdoor which lead to the Division tower, "This Professor must really like a clear view of the skies." Ginny nodded in agreement and said, "I think this is Professor Trelawney's classroom."
"Ron also mentioned her?"
"Complained is more like it." Ginny muttered as she climbed up the ladder and knocked on the trap door, "One moment!" an dreamy voice yelled. The door swung open and a woman with thick owl eye glasses and wearing a shawl peered down at them, "Have the spirits summoned you?" the woman, Professor Trelawney presumably, asked.
"Not really." Ness said, "We were trying to find Professor Kale's inside office."
"Did someone call me?" Professor Kale joined Trelawney's side and smiled at Ness and Ginny, "Tired of the gloomy weather I presume?"
"That, and I predicted something, an omen of some sort." Ness explained, the two teachers exchanged looks before Professor Trelawney beckoned them up, "Explain everything over a soothing cup of tea." She ordered, although it sounded more like a suggestion from how little force she put in her voice.
Ness mentally gagged at the thought of having tea but entered the classroom, which was decorated like a casual hangout with comfy pillows, colorful drapes and an army of burning incense. Ness and Ginny seated themselves at a small oak table and politely took a cup of tea which had floating leaves in the center of the amber brown liquid.
"Now, did this omen come to you in the form of a dream or a vision?" Professor Trelawney asked, "Uh… none." Ness admitted, "I say it in the stars."
"Praise the stars!" Professor Kale exclaimed earning a slightly annoyed look from Professor Trelawney, "Right, as I was saying I saw Mercury and Mars on the day Black attacked and interpreted it as a reunion and the escape of a traitor."
"Interesting." Kale mused while Professor Trelawney took a long sip of her tea before speaking, "Black is clearly the traitor so that foretells his escape, but I can't see who would be reunited."
Ness nodded in agreement and took a careful sip of his tea, "Maybe… Maybe the rumors were true?" Professor Kale slowly said, "I heard that Black killed Harry's parents by betraying them to You-Know-Who."
"How would that be a reunion?" Ness questioned, "Well, some said that Black were the Potters' best friend until he switched sides." Professor Kale reasoned, "He might have seen Harry before stabbing them in the back."
"Yes…" Trelawney mused, "That seems to be the only reason one can make. Did you see anything else Ness?" Ness hesitated slightly before he lied, "Well, I had a dream where a black creature was chasing after Harry."
"Like a dog?" she asked leaning forward, her eyes wide with interest.
"I guess? It was shrouded in darkness." They jumped as Professor Trelawney jumped up and screamed, "The Grim! The omen of death trails after Harry!"
"Grim—you mean that dumb dog omen?" Ness asked, Professor Trelawney ignored him and fainted, narrowly missing the floor as Professor Kale caught her, "Well, she's gone." He muttered as he laid her head on a pillow, "So, any other questions?"
"Yes," Ginny said, "Why do my tea leaves look so… odd?" Ness glanced at Ginny's empty cup to see the leaves for himself, they were in the shape of a rat in motion as if it was fleeing from something.
Professor Kale studied it before he managed a conclusive, "Seems like the sign of a traitor who flees with the rats."
"Looks more like Ron's pet rat to me." Ness admitted, "That's what I was thinking." Ginny said.
"Could be that too." Professor Kale said, "After all, I work best with the stars, not tea leaves and crystal balls." He spitefully glared at a crystal ball on Professor Trelawney's desk and grumbled, "So many headaches from one measly mineral."
"At least it's pretty to look at." Ness offered, "No, no it is not." Professor Kale sullenly argued, "Especially after you've stared at it for hours on end."
Ginny warily looked at the crystal ball while Ness stood up and stretched, "Well, thanks for the help."
"No problem, it's nice to hear something about the stars instead of Harry's gruesome death." Professor Kale said he glanced at Trelawney who was still knocked out and muttered, "Honestly, I'd would have predicated something cheerful for once."
Ginny and Ness glanced at Trelawney before they headed back to their Common room, Ginny sighed and flicked her pigtail over her shoulder, "Well that was a waste of time." Ness nodded in agreement and sidestepped to avoid a Ravenclaw student from crashing into him, "At least we found her classroom, although…"
"Although what?" Ginny asked as they entered the stairwell.
"Well, Harry mentioned seeing a 'Grim' before he left for school, then I see a black creature which Trelawney proclaims as a Grim and now we see something about a rat after I predicted the reunion and escape of a traitor."
"You think they have something in common?"
"The rat? No, the dog and black creature who is seemingly appearing everywhere? Maybe. Not sure."
Ginny pursed her lips for a moment before she said, "Collywog." To Sir Caldogen, "Right-o!" he declared, swinging open to allow them entry.
"Meh, this is giving me a headache." Ness groaned, "And the upcoming Qudditch match isn't helping."
"Oh come on!" Ginny said with a bright smile, "It'll be fun! Like that Baseball thing you keep mentioning." Ness shot her a slightly irritated glare before he resumed his homework.
The next morning was even more grueling than yesterday as he, Ginny, Luna and Selvis who was 'trailing' behind them slowly made their way to the Qudditch field, they would have sprinted for the poorly covered stadium but the strong winds and the rain slapping them in the face made it impossible for anyone to run without slamming into something, or worse yet, some Slytherin.
"Wooo!" Ness cheered, his voice dripping with weariness and annoyance, "This is the best day ever for a Qudditch game,!" Selvis flinched as the wind slammed into them in an attempt to kill their poorly built umbrellas causing Selvis to mutter, "Thank god Slytherin isn't playing. I would actually start to hate them for making me show team spirit in this horrid weather."
Luna numbly nodded in agreement her robes drenched from standing out in the rain in an attempt to find a Gillyard, "It's going to be awful." Was all she could manage before she filled into the Ravenclaw rows as the storm deiced to add loud cracks of thunder into the dreary mix.
"So let me get this straight." Ness yelled as he and Ginny found some seats near the bottom of the stadium, "People are going to fly around. On broomsticks. In this hurricane weather!?"
"Yup!" Ginny replied, lighting a flame inside a glass jar and closing it to keep them warm, "Hopefully it will be a short game! I don't think anyone could stay out here for too long!"
"Short game?" Ness questioned, "How many innings are there?" Ginny gave him a blank look, forcing him to grumpily correct himself, "How many rounds until the game ends?"
"OH! Well, the game keeps going until the Golden Snitch is caught." Ginny explained, "I've heard that one game went on for nearly a week before someone caught the snitch!" Ness looked onto the field as the teams stepped out, staggering from the strong winds and shielding their eyes from the heavy rains.
"BEST. GAME. EVER." Ness angrily declared before he huddled inside his sweaters, now wishing that he had dragged along his winter coat to survive the weather. He had gone to baseball games before and usually wore two-three sweaters with a large jacket but his outfit wasn't suited for rain. Just the angry winds of night weather and the occasional cold snap.
A loud clap of thunder drowned out the cheers as the two teams kicked off and flew into the sky, the winds threatening to slam them back into the ground as they struggled to play. It was promptly five minutes later as Madam Hooch blew her whistle signaling a time out for the Gryffindor team.
"I wonder what's going on." Ginny mused, "Maybe someone had the brains to postpone the game." Ness grumbled.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed." Ginny noted.
"Ginny, I've been to Baseball games ever since I was six." Ness deadpanned, "But never before was I forced to sit outside, in hurricane weather just to watch my favorite team attempt to duke it out in HURRICANE WEATHER."
"It's not that bad." Ginny said.
"This isn't bad?!"
"Oh! Looks like the game's resuming!" Ginny hurriedly said, forcing Ness to look back at the middle of the field as Gryffindor flew back into the sky and attempted to play once more. Thankfully, the people chasing the Snitch had the bright idea to hurry it up since he could spot two people darting around the field in a frenzy.
One of them spotted something and took off, a moment later the other Snitch catcher chased after him, racing for the small glint of gold but just as one of them was about to catch it Ness felt a wave of cold and the sudden hush as everything became dead quiet.
Ness looked around trying to figure out what was going on as he recognized the familiar cold biting into his skin, threatening to freeze him from the inside out, "Dementors." He wheezed as the cold started to fill his lungs with dry ice "Harry!" Ness realized he looked back at the field and felt his heart stop as he saw a large group of Dementors the field.
Practically waiting for their prey as Harry toppled off his broom and fell toward the muddy ground with hungry guys, but before they could celebrate at their free meal Dumbledore flew onto the fields his robes angrily snapping against the harsh winds as the Headmaster waved his wand. Firing sliver strands at the Dementors to break the group apart and flee as Harry landed on the ground with a muddy thud.
The crowd erupted in screams of surprise and terror as the cold faded from their limbs and allowed them to move freely, "Hey… Ginny." Ness stammered as the two teams landed, one of them, the Seeker for team Hufflepuff looking toward Harry in shock, then at the golden snitch in his hands.
"Y-yes?" Ginny stammered, more out of fear than the cold, "Do you think… Black can control Dementors?"
"Let's hope not."
They watched as Dumbledore magically placed Harry onto a stretcher and marched toward the Hospital wing, the Gryffindor Team accompanied by Ron and Hermione trailing closely behind him.
"We should go." Ginny decided, Ness numbly nodded in agreement and followed her toward the exit, as they passed the Slytherin section which was slowly moving toward the exits in groups they overheard someone jeer, "Did you see Potter? He fainted! Right off his broomstick what a pathetic excuse for a seeker!" Ginny angrily glared at the speaker who had pale blonde hair, the boy noticed her angry look and sneered, "What's the matter Weasly? Off the comfort your coward of a boyfriend?"
The boy's comment earned muffled hoots and snickers as Ginny flushed in embarrassment but managed a strong retort of, "At least he didn't hide behind his 'broken' arm!"
"It's not my fault that brute of a Griffin attacked me." The boy sniffed, a girl with the world's ugliest hairstyle nodded in agreement and leaned on his good arm, stroking him like a cat Ginny scowled and opened her mouth to say something when the girl glared at Ginny and said, "Haven't you caused enough trouble? Ms. Chamber of Secrets?"
Ness stiffened as he felt Ginny tightened her grip around Ness's arm, "You know, if your arm is still damaged to the point of not being able to play." Ness said struggling to keep his tone neutral as he recalled the many rumors surrounding Hufflepuff Vs. Gryffindor, "Then maybe you should lie down. After all, this much excitement is bound to make people faint."
The boy narrowed his eyes in anger and a smug smirk crept onto his lips, "And maybe you should return to that backward country you can America."
"Ness, we should leave." Ginny muttered, her bravery fading as quickly as it appeared, Ness stepped forward and returned the boy's smirk with a genuine smile, "Well, at least my backwards country has a game that makes sense and doesn't make people faint from the cold I don't understand how anyone could sit out in this weather!"
"Faint from the cold? What are you-," before he could finish, his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed earning startled yelps from the onlookers, Ness abruptly took a step back, "Whoa! Those rumors of Europe's rain being slightly harmful were true!"
"Our water is perfectly fine Ness." Ginny shakily muttered, "Really? Must have fainted from all the excitement." Ness concluded, "Should I get a teacher or something?" the Slytherin girl who was now struggling under the boy's weight glared at him.
"I'll take that as a no." Ness guessed, "Well, hopes he doesn't catch cold!" Ginny sent Ness a look and dragged him away, "Why did you do that?!" Ginny demanded once they were far, far away from the gawking crowd who quickly switched over to laughing at the boy's fainting spell.
"Do what?" Ness questioned, careful to keep his voice low as some gossiping Ravenclaws passed by, he caught bits and pieces of Malfoy, the boy Ness had been talking to being like Harry, only with a late reaction to the Demontors.
"You used, that thing." Ginny hissed, "Like you did on Selvis!" Ness frowned for a moment before it dawned on him what Ginny meant, "No I didn't, I was just giving him advice so he would leave you alone, although, I reeaaaally wish that the lighting flashed so we could look strange." Ginny sent him a disapproving look as they stumbled into an empty classroom, "So you didn't use Hypnosis on Malfoy?"
"Didn't even cross my mind." Ness replied, "I just wanted him to shut up." He frowned and bit his lip, "Unless I accidentally used Psi from all the shock…"
"And you didn't notice?"
"Maybe? Remember, me no wizard so normal wizardy things leave me feeling weird."
Ginny sighed and rubbed her shoulders, "Well, at least we'll have a chance to tell Harry."
"Yea, once he's done being swarmed by everyone." Ness muttered.
"Oh! I should make him a get well card!" Ginny realized, "Be right back!" Ness watched her go before he sighed and walked back into the corridor wondering where he should go next, it wasn't too long before he felt people looking at him and deiced to head back to the common room to write some letters for his friends and family back home.
To say that Harry was having a good month would be an understatement, he felt lower than low after learning that Gryffindor had lost the game and his beloved Nimbus Two-Thousand had been brutally destroyed by the Whomping Willow into mere shards of wood.
But the best part was the haunting image of that Black dog which he swore he had spotted moments before the Dementors attacked and the upcoming before Christmas Break Hogsmeade notice, "Don't worry Harry." Hermione reassured him when they spotted the announcement, "We'll be sure to bring some Christmas treats."
"Thanks." Harry said, his voice hollow and empty, Hermione winched and tried a different tactic when Ron spotted a second announcement, "Wait, there might a chance you can come! Look!" Harry briefly scanned it a small smile forming as he re-read the warnings of Dementors patrolling Hogsmeade during the evening to tighten security.
"You could use your Father's cloak and come with us!" Ron quietly exclaimed a huge grin on his face, "But first I'll need to find a discreet way out of Hogwarts." Harry muttered, the idea already forming.
"No!" Hermione scolded snapping her fingers in front of the two boys' to return them to reality, "It's too dangerous Harry! After all, you saw that dumb black dog twice! Before and after Black attacked you!"
"I thought you didn't believe in omens." Harry recalled, Hermione flushed and snapped, "Omens or not! You should stay here where its safe!"
"What if we brought him along." Ron suggested, "After all, Professor McGonagall did say that Dumbledore enrolled a special student to look after Harry, in case Black did come after him." Harry mentally face-palmed for forgetting that crucial detail and glanced at Ness Earthbound who was chatting with Ginny about something.
"She also said that no one else was supposed to know." Hermione reminded them with an angry glare
"So? He and Harry hide under the cloak and if he senses danger then he blasts the bad guy" Ron said, "I don't see the problem."
"And risk getting himself expelled!" Hermione questioned, "After all, he's a powerful wizard who probably already completed school!"
"Another good reason why he should come along." Harry muttered, stepping away from the bulletin board and picking up his school bag, "Harry, you're staying here and that's final." Hermione said, ending the conversation once and for all.
And it resumed that way up until Hogsmeade weekend rolled around, Ron had suggested talking to Ness once he was alone and away from his friends to try and convince him to go to Hogsmeade with them but Harry found that impossible to do, since Ness always seemed to disappear on the weekends with Ginny, and he wasn't sure who else was close to Ness to ask about his whereabouts.
"This is peachy." He grumbled, glaring down at a Charms essay in an attempt to work on it. His attempt failed, causing him to pack up and head back to the mostly empty Gryffindor common room to warm up. He was wrenched out of thoughts by a hasty, "Harry!" and look around, trying to figure out who was calling him, after all, everyone he knew was out at Hogsmeade, having fun and enjoying warm Butter Beers, so who was—"Over here Harry!" the voice called, Harry looked around again and spotted Fred and George waving him inside an empty classroom.
Harry warily followed them inside and leaned back when the twins offered him a blank piece of parchment, "Early merry Christmas Harry!" Fred chirped with a crooked grin, "We decided that you needed a pep in your step with this lovely little tool!" George announced, with an equally crooked grin.
"With note paper?" Harry questioned carefully taking it in case it might have been a prank, "Thanks…?" Fred and George exchanged pained looks and shook their heads, "Harry, this isn't any piece of plain parchment." Fred explained, George nodded in agreement, "It's the best invention ever!" Fred turned to George and said, "Explain my good twin!"
"Of course!" George said with a mock bow before he launched into their thrilling tale, "You see, when we were still Firsts years—young, innocent and the best students around—" Harry muffled a laugh at that, he doubted that the twins were ever innocent of anything that didn't disrupt classes. George sensed this and quickly corrected himself with a smirk, "—well, more innocent than we are now—we got into a bit of trouble with Flich, apparently he didn't enjoy our wonderful present of setting off a Dungbomb in the corridor and dragged us to his office—threatened a bunch of horrible things like detention, disembowelment you know, the usual. When we spot this drawer marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous—"
"Don't tell me-" Harry started a grin forming as he imaged them stealing the invention of greatness right from under Flich's nose.
"Well what would you've done?" Fred questioned, picking from where George left off, "So George created a distraction with another Dungbomb and I nicked this!"
"We don't reckon Flich ever figured out how to use it though." George said, "If he did then he would have abused it for much more 'proper' uses."
"So you know what it does?" Harry questioned, "Of course!" The twins chirped, "After all, this little beaut has taught us more than the teachers have!"
Harry looked at them for a full minute before he shook his head, "Now I know you're just winding me up!"
"Are not." George argued, Fred nodded in agreement and placed his wand on the parchment, "Behold! The great and minute Marauder's Map!" he cleared his thoart and recited, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." And showed it to Harry as thin lines appeared, forming a spider web then words which proudly said, "Messrs, Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, Purveyors of Kids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present the Marauder's Map."
Harry gasped in amazement as the words faded and a map of Hogwarts, inside and out appeared in full detail, tiny ink dots were moving around with labels one of them being named Mrs. Norris who was prowling around the second floor and Peeves who was bouncing around the trophy room.
As he scanned the map he noticed passageways he'd never seen before, some of them leading right outside the school grounds which lead—
"Right into Hogsmeade." Fred said tracing one of the paths with his finger, "There are seven in all—Flich only knows about four of theses-," pointing out the four paths that Flitch knew and guarded, "—but we're pretty sure that were the only one who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the fourth floor mirror, we used it up until last winter, but then it caved in—completely blocked. And we doubt anyone uses theses either since the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance—but this one here, we've used it loads of times-," Fred pointed to a statue right outside the classroom.
Harry recognized it as the hump backed witch who seemed to glare at everyone as they walked past it, "It leads right to the Honeydukes cellar, easy access, easy escape!"
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs," George sighed, "We owe them so much!"
"Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers." Fred said with a solemn tone, George nodded in agreement before he handed Harry the map briskly saying, "Don't forget to wipe it after you used it, if you don't then anyone can use it."
"Just tap it again and sat 'Mischief managed!' And it'll go blank." Fred explained, he winked and said, "See you in Honeydukes." Before they left with a satisfied smirk. Harry stood there, gawking at the map in awe as a surge of excitement appeared.
If would have been even better if the words of Mr. Weasly from the train platform hadn't floated into his mind whispering, "Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps its brain." This was probably one of those dangerous magical objects Mr. Weasly had warned him about, but…
Harry bit his lip as he thought "I'm only going to use it to get to Honeydukes, then I'm coming straight back." And when the guilt filled bubble didn't go away he mentally added, "I'll get Ness's advice on this, after all, he's supposed to protect me so if he comes along then I can't possibly be in danger from this map."
That made the bubble pop completely and allow Harry to scan the map for Ness, who was up on the West Tower with Luna Lovegood, Ginny and a boy named Selvis Karma. He quickly made his way to the Tower, careful to avoid anyone who might question where he was going.
After all, the West Tower wasn't used for classes, just tests and the occasional star gazing which had been canceled with the chilly December weather coming. "I wonder why Ness likes to hang out here?" Harry wondered as he went to open the door, before he could push it open however, the door flung open and a flustered Ginny slammed into him. Causing them to tumble down the stairs.
"Oh dear." Luna mused as Harry tried to blink the destroyed remains of his broom out his line of vision, "Really Ginny," A haughty voice sneered, "I knew that you had a crush on Potter, I didn't know you were head over heels for him."
"Oh shut up…" Ginny groaned as she rolled off of Harry, "Anyone break any bones?" Ness questioned.
"I don't think so." Ginny said, "Harry, you okay?" Harry managed a weak, "Peachy." Before he sat up and shoved the map into his pocket, "What was that?" a robeless boy, Selvis, Harry presumed asked his eyes glinting with curiosity, "A piece of parchment." Harry lied as he stood up and faced Ness.
"Ness, could I talk to you about something?" Harry asked, Ness grinned and adjusted his baseball cap, "Sure! What's up?" Selvis rolled his eyes and jabbed Ness in the ribs, "I think he means alone you moron."
"Really?" the boy looked at Harry who nodded, "Yes, it's very important."
"What's so important?" Luna questioned. Airily playing with her hair, Harry hesitated when Ginny grabbed her friends' arms, "Come on, we have a paper to study on, remember?" Ness frowned as Selvis caught on and shoved Ness forward, "We'll meet you at the library Ness." Selvis said, already walking down the staircase with the girls in tow.
"Thank you Ginny." Harry thought as the trio disappeared, "Soooo…" Ness started, all of a sudden looking awkward as he played with something in his pocket, "What was that important thing you had to talk about with me?"
"Well um…" Harry's mind drew a blank, how was he supposed to tell Ness that he believed that he was an all-powerful wizard sent here to protect him from Black.
"You have no way how to phrase your question." Ness guessed as Harry trailed off, "No." Harry admitted, "That's okay," Ness said with a grin, "Since I have something to tell you!"
"Really? What is it?"
"I'm here to protect you or something." Ness bluntly explained, Harry blinked in surprise, "You know?"
"Yes and no, I overheard Mr. and Mrs Weasly arguing about it in the inn. So I'm here for some reason."
"You were there too?" Harry asked in surprise, he thought he was the only person listening that day, Ness seemed as surprise as he did since he tilted his head, "Yea, I left my baseball cap on the table and overheard them arguing, where were you?"
"Hiding in the hallway! Ron asked me to get his rat tonic for Scabbers."
"Wow… And here I thought this would be super hard to say." Ness said with a whistle, "So you know about my 'powers'?"
"Of course! Professor McGonagall explained everything to me after the first attack. About how you were a powerful wizard from America or something." Harry said, Ness flinched at the term 'wizard' but didn't deny it instead he nodded and grinned, "Yup, that's me apparently, the all-powerful wizard." Before he changed the subject, "So why are you still at the castle Harry? I thought you would be out at Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione."
Harry felt the bubble of guilt reappear as he explained why he wasn't allowed out and the gift Marauder's Map the twins had given him as an early Christmas gift. Ness's eyes widen then softened with pity when he heard about the Dursleys and how he had ended up in Diagon Ally.
"So I was hoping that you would come with me to appease Hermione." Harry finished, Ness hesitated before he straightened and gave Harry a serious look, "Alright, I'll come, but on one condition."
"Of course! What is it?"
"Have you seen anything odd? Like a black dog hanging around Hogwarts lately?"
Harry nodded, "I saw one sitting in the stands on the Gryffindor Vs Hufflepuff game, although, it might have just been my imagination since when I looked again it was gone."
"Are you sure?" Ness questioned, "I mean, it was hurricane weather that day."
"It wasn't that bad." Harry said with a frown. Ness opened his mouth then closed it, "Never mind, let's just go to Hogsmeade." Ness said.
"Right!" Harry opened up the map, "Meet me by the hump back witch, I need to get something from my trunk."
"Okaay?" Ness said, watching Harry hurry back to the Common room. After all, he couldn't sneak into Hogsmeade without his Invisibility cloak, while most people wouldn't bat and eye at Harry being there they would be sure to notice Ness, since he was the only second year who wore a baseball cap to almost all of his classes and had pitch black eyes.
When he returned to the humpback crone Ness was waiting for him, absently tossing a foam ball up into the air and catching it, "Back." Harry said, sounding a little breathless as he pulled out the map and checked it to make sure that no one was there.
"Heeey, that's the parchment you were trying to hide from Selvis." Ness realized as Harry frowned and watched his black dot walk up to the witch, tap it with his wand and say, "Dissendium."
"Hm? Oh, right, it's called the Marauder's map." Harry explained pulling out his wand and repeating the steps ink Harry had done, "Most be an important map." Ness noted as the hump slid open and revealed a dirt covered passage way.
"I'm starting to think so too." Harry said as he handed Ness his cloak, "Here, put this on, it'll make you invisible."
"Really?" Ness gingerly accepted it and disappeared underneath it, "I don't feel invisible. I just feel itchy."
"Don't worry." Harry said, climbing into the passage way, "You look invisible."
"So does this mean I'm the ghost of broken rules?" Ness joked as Harry whispered, "Lumios." And lit up the passage way.
"I suppose so." Harry replied with a small smile as he walked down the earthy path.
Ness wasn't sure what to expect as he and Harry crawled out of the dirt tunnel after what felt like an hour of walking, stumbling and for some reason itchy kept that traveled up and down his spine as the cloak fluttered against him. But he wasn't expecting a bustle of activity, a crowd of students or the smell of sugar floating around the crowded store.
Ness practically glued himself to Harry's side to avoid bumping into people as he looked around the store in awe, studying every barrel fool of oddly colored sweets and prank candy. He was tempted to get some Pepper Imps to prank Jeff with but realized he couldn't since he let his money back in his dorm room.
"Over here." Harry muttered, regaining Ness's attention as they entered an aisle called (Unusual Treats) Hermione and Ron were looking at a tray of blood-flavored lollipops an item that made Ness's stomach twist into a small knot in slight horror, "Ugh, no way would Harry want one of these, they're for vampires." Hermione was saying.
"Vampires? Well, at least I'll have a reason to hang garlic around the house." Ness thought as Ron picked up a jar labeled Cockroach Cluster, "How about these?" he asked.
"Definitely not." Harry said appearing beside the two with a small frown of disgust. Ron nearly dropped the jar in surprise while Hermione squealed, "Harry! What are you doing here? How—how did you-?" although it sounded less cheerful than Ron's exclaim of, "Wow! You've learned to Apparate."
"Course we haven't." Harry said, dropping his voice to a whisper as he explained about the Map, he was about to mention that Ness was with him when Ron said in outrage, "How come Fred and George never gave it to me! I'm their bloody brother!" Ness bit a laugh which quickly died down when Hermione rounded on Harry, "You aren't going to keep that, are you?" sounding like the idea of having a map that showed where everyone was at all times was ludicos, "You're going to hand that in to Professor McGonagall, aren't you Harry?"
Before Harry could argue Ness spoke up, "Are you implying that we give a map that shows everyone and thing at all times including Black be given to a teacher?" Hermione and Ron jumped and looked around, "Who said that?" Ron asked.
"The great and powerful ghost of rule breaking." Ness teased, "Here to ensure that Black doesn't murder anyone."
"Is that Ness?" Ron said in amazement, "Yup! This place is amazing by the way." Ness said with a huge grin, which quickly faltered when he felt his arms itch,
"You dragged him along as well!?" Hermione questioned, "Of course! I'm not suicidal Hermione." Harry replied sounding exasperated.
"Alright, so Ness is here as well. But what if Black used that passage way to break into Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, Ness rolled his eyes and wandered toward some hard candy labeled Sugar Teeth as Harry defended his method of getting here.
"Wizards have weird candy." Ness muttered as he glanced at a jar labeled Irritated Eyeballs which angrily darted around the store with narrowed… eyes…
"Yup, completely weird." Ness said, "Although… I wonder how they taste." He rejoined the trio as Hermione and Ron were paying for their candy and stepped outside, it had started to snow and the wind had picked up a bit. Making Ness wish that he had grabbed a coat to wear underneath Harry's cloak which was slowly making him feel like he had chicken pops.
Was the magic reacting to his Psi powers and making him feel like this? Ness could only wonder as Hermione and Ron dragged Harry around the little village before suggesting that they head to a pub called the Three Broomsticks. "There better be hot coco." Ness said as he followed them inside the tiny rustic inn that was full of heat, noise and the smell of smoke. Ness stopped a curvy woman who was serving a bunch of rowdy cloaked men, he barely heard Ron say that he was going to get drinks as he clumsily followed Harry and Hermione toward a table at the back of the room.
"Is Hogsmeade always this busy?" Ness asked in amazement, "Pretty much." Hermione said, rubbing her hands together for warmth, "It's a popular hangout for students and travelers."
"Cool!" Ness chirped, Harry nodded in agreement as Ron returned with four mugs of foaming buttery liquid, "Merry Christmas." Ron said with a grin, Ness returned it and took a sip. He gasped as he felt his body overflow with warm soothing heat that had been stolen by the cold.
"Awesome." Was all Ness could manage as Harry smiled in gratitude. "So, you guys have any Christmas plans?" Ness asked taking a another sip to savor the buttery goodness for a couple more moments, "We're staying here." Harry explained, "I'm not exactly welcomed back home for holidays while Ron and Hermione want to get in some extra studying."
"What about you?" Ron asked,
"Heading home for the holidays." Ness said with a warm smile, "I can't imagine not being back to bury my sister in the snow before Santa comes."
Hermione frowned and opened her mouth to say something when the door opened, Ness peered around Harry and frowned when he spotted a couple of the Teachers from Hogwarts and a man he didn't know, but he seemed important with his pinstriped cloak, "Quick! Under the cloak!" Hermione ordered shoving Harry under the table and pointing her wand at a tree, whispering a spell to make it move a couple inches.
Ness grabbed his and Harry's mug and joined him, throwing the itchy cloak over Harry the best he could with his free hand, "What are the teachers doing here?" Ness asked, his question was greatly ignored as sparkly turquoise heels approached the teachers' table rattling off a list of drinks.
Ness stiffen when the last drink, went to someone called 'the Minister' wasn't this the official person who banned PSI? If he and Harry were found, then it would be something much worse than a month of scrubbing the school clean.
He wanted to suggest to Harry that they head back to the castle before they were found but the bar tender, Rosmerta came back saying, "A rare visit from the great Minister himself, hopefully for a cheerful reason."
The Minister looked around, as if looking for eavesdroppers before he said in a voice as quiet as a mouse, "I wish, surely you've heard about the attack at Hogwarts this Halloween?"
The bar tender hesitantly admitted, "I did hear a rumor." And shuffle uncomfortably as if the subject made her antsy, "Did you tell the whole pub Hadrig?" Professor McGonagall asked sounding exasperated with the giant teacher beside her, as if this wasn't the first time important news reached the small village. Luckily, before she could lecture Hadrig, Rosmerta whispered, "Do you think Black's still in the area?"
"Sure of it." The Minister said sounding slightly bitter about this, perhaps his own search had come up empty, Rosmerta confirmed this thought saying, "You know the Dementors have searched the entire village twice?" sounding slightly annoyed by this fact, "It scared away my customers away… It's very bad for business, Minister."
"Rosemerta, m'dear, I don't like them anymore than you do," the Minister said, sounding more unnerved by the problem then annoyed, this struck Ness as odd since he figured that the Minister had a good handle on those monsters, "But there a necessary precaution sadly… I've just met some of them—their robes tied into knots about not being let inside the Castle grounds."
Professor McGonagall huffed in anger, sharply saying, "And that better stay that way, how are we supposed to teach with those robed horrors lurking about?"
A squeaky voice, Professor Flitwick, Ness realized said, "Hear, hear!"
"All the same, there here to protect you all from something much, much worse." The Minister said, Ness felt his heart stop momentarily and Harry stiffen beside him as the man finished, "We know what's Black's capable of…"
"I still have trouble believing it." Rosmerta admitted, sounding thoughtful, "Of all the people to go over to the Dark side-," Ness had to bite his tongue as he remembered the 'Join the dark side! We have cookies!' videos he and Jeff had stumbled upon a couple times on the internet.
"-Sirius black was the last I'd had thought… I mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me what he would turn into, I would have said you had to much mead." The other teachers nodded in agreement while the Minsiter gruffly said, "You don't know the half of it, the worst he did isn't widely known."
"Could of fooled me." Ness thought as he remembered how creditable Selvis had sounded as he talked about the rumors surrounding Black.
"The worst? What can be worse than murdering all those poor people?" Rosmerta asked sounding curious.
"You say that you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta." Professor McGonagall started, "Do you remember who his best friend was?"
Rosmerta laughed as if everyone knew the answer to that, "Of course—you couldn't see one without the other back then, every Hogsmeade weekend they come in with huge grins at some prank they had performed, James Potter and Sirius Black, the double trouble duo."
Ness nearly dropped their mugs in shock as Harry drew in a sharp breath, earning a kick from Ron.
"Precisely." Professor McGonagall said, "Black and Potter, ring leaders of their little gang. Both very bright of course—yet the worst pair of troublemakers the school has ever seen."
Hadrig chuckled at the memory, "I dunno, Fred and George could give em' run fer their money."
"You'd you have thought that Black and Potter were brothers!" Professor Flitwick chimed, "Inseparable!"
"Of course they were." The Minister said, "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was James's best man when he married Lily, and even become Harry's Godfather. The poor boy has no idea of course-it would tear him apart" Another sharp gasp from Harry as Ness resisted the urge to kick the Minister. After all, telling Harry that his Godfather was a murdering psychopath who had killed his parents seemed like an important thing to tell someone who was being hunted down.
"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" Rosmerta whispered.
"Worse than that, M'dear." The Minister said, "Not many people were aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore worked tirelessly against You-Know-Who of course, but he had a number of useful spies at his disposal. One of who tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."
"How does that work?" Rosmerta asked, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick loudly cleared his throat for attention and explained, "An immensely complex spell, involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find. Unless of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to tell the secret." Ness felt his stomach drop as he pieced together what happened.
Sirius, James's best friend ratted them out, breaking the spell and allowing You-Know-Who to murder Harry's parents, but why? Why rat out the person who had been at your side for who knows how long to Lord Voldemort? Was Black threatened into telling? Or was he really just evil and worked for the Dark Lord?
Ness pondered over these thoughts trying to find a logical answer for a simple answer, he hated to believe that a person turned evil because they felt like it. Every action had a reason and—he was abruptly pulled out his thoughts as McGonagall mentioned Dumbledore's name and how he tried to persuade James into changing Secret-Keepers.
While this seemed sensible Ness couldn't help but wonder if it was a personal reason that Dumbledore tried to persuade the Potters' come to think of it, why was Voldemort gunning for Harry to the point that even after his death his followers tried to murder the boy. It didn't make sense, was Harry part of a bigger picture? Like him and his friends during Giygais's attack?
"Filthily, stinkin' turncoat!" Hadrig practically roared snapping Ness back to reality and silencing half the pub, "Shush!" Professor McGonagall ordered but Hadrig barely heard her growling, "I met him! I musta bin he last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me that rescued Harry from Lily an' James's house after they were killed! Jus' got him outta the ruins with a great big slash across his forehead when he shows up on that flyin' motorbike. Thought he just' heard the news o' You-Know-Who's attack an' come ter see what he could do. White an' shakin' he was. An' the know what I did?" Ness winched as Hadrig finished his statement with a roar, "I COMFORTED THE MURDERING' TRATOR!"
"Hadrig please!" Professor McGonagall urged, "Keep your voice down!" as Hadrig angrily continued, "How was I ter know that he wasn' upset about Lily an' Jame? It was You-Know-Who he was worried about! An' to make matters worse he says 'Give Harry ter me Hadrig, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him—' Ha! Good thing I was acting on me orders from Dumbledore, I told him no and that Harry was supposed to go to his Aunt and Uncle's place, he argued but gave in after a bit, giving me his flying motorbike to make the journey faster, even saying that he wouldn't need anymore. I shoulda hav' known something was fishy goin' on then, he loved that bike to pieces! Fact was, it was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew he'd bin the Potters' Secret Keeper. Black knew he was goin' to have ter run for it that night, it was only a matter o' hours before the Ministry was after him."
Hardrig paused to catch his breath finishing his story with, "I bet if I'd given Harry to him he would have pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His Bes' friends' son! But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side there's nothing and no one that matters to 'em anymore…"
A long silence followed, only interrupted by the jolly laughter bouncing around the pub. The thick silence was broken by Rosmerta who tried to lighten the mood by proudly saying, "But Black didn't disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up him the next day!"
"Alas, if only we had." The Minister sighed, "It wasn't us who found him, but Peter Pettigew, one of Potters' close friends. Maddden by grief no doubt and knowing that Black had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper he went after him himself."
"Peter Petigrew…" Rosmerta murmered before she remembered him, "Oh! He was that fat little boy who was always trailing behind James and Black during Hogwarts, right?"
"He worshiped those two until the end of time back then." Professor McGonagall said with a slight chuckle, "He wasn't as talented as they were, and I was often quite strict with him…" Professor McGonagal cut herself off, muffling a sniffle.
The Minster scotted closer to her chair, probably to place a comforting hand on the poor teacher while saying, "There, there, Minerva, Pettigrew died a hero's death. Some eyewitness—Muggles, of course, wiped their memories right after questioning them—told us how Pettigrew cornered Black, sobbing, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' and then he reached for his wand. Well, Black was quicker of course and blew the poor man to smithereens."
"Ow…" was all Ness could think as his stomach did looping loops, and people said that PSI was dangerous! At least he didn't blow people up!
Professor McGonagal who had been quietly crying blew her nose and said in a thick voice "Stupid boy… foolish boy… He was always hopeless at dueling… should have left it to the professionals."
"I tell yeh," Hadrig growled, "If I'd got to Black before little Pettigew did, I wouldn't've have messed with wands—I''ve ripped him limb—from-limb."
"Annnd more murderous people. Starting to think that PSI people are a lot cleaner when it comes to killing. Then again I have yet to see someone killed by PSI."
"You don't know what you're talking about Hadrig," the Minster sharply chided, 'Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magic Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I—I will never forget it-I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street so deep that it cracked the sewer below, bodies strewn everyone like building blocks Muggles screaming in terror and Black, just standing there, laughing like a madman with Pettigrew's bloodstained robes and a few—a few fragments." The Minister was abruptly interrupted by a strangled gasp of pain and fear at the old memory.
The teachers didn't say anything, blowing their noses and wiping away tears at the horrific memories of Peter's death, "Well, there you have it Rosmerta." The Minister said, his voice thick with pain, "Black was taken away by 20 members of the MLES and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which was a comfort to his poor mother. Black's been in Azkaban ever since."
"Harry. I'm gonna…" Ness started, his voice fading as he saw Harry trembling, in shock, horror and disgust, "Come on, we're leaving." Ness stated, grabbing Harry's arm and slowly pulling him from out the table with the cloak safely covering them. "But…" Harry feebly protested as Rosmerta asked if Black was truly made, "No, buts." Ness replied darting out the door the moment it opened and into the cold winter weather, which seemed even colder than before.
"We've heard enough, and if we missed anything important then Ron and Hermione can fill us in." Ness stated marching Harry back to the candy store, "He killed them." Harry wheezed, his voice choked with pain, "He bloody killed them."
Ness hesitated, wishing he could agree with Harry but after seeing the real reason why Giygas attacked earth he couldn't help but wonder if Black truly did murder the Potters' to appease Voldemort. He finally managed to say, "He'll get what's coming to him, don't worry." Although his words felt hollow as more questions began to pop up.
Harry numbly nodded as they entered Honeydukes, "You wanna treat? I'll pretend to buy." Ness joked trying to lighten the somber mood, "I'm good." Harry mumbled.
"Sooo no bloody lollipops?" Harry gave Ness a bewildered look, "What? We could face candy loving vampires at some point." He asid with a cocky smile and a shrug of his shoulders. "Har-har." Harry said dryly, although there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
It stayed there for a moment as they traced their steps down the dirt tunnel, while they walked Harry asked, "Why didn't they tell me. Why?" although he seemed to be asking himself and not Ness, despite this Ness tried his best to answer the question, "Because they believe that leaving everyone in the dark solves everyone."
Harry nodded and shakily muttered, "Agreed."
And after what felt like three weeks Chapter Five is here! Hooray! Probably would have updated sooner but of course, the Gods of writing were against me. Also, I had waaayyy to much fun making Ness scream Hurricane weather. :3 That will probably be my catch phrase for a bit.
