Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter

By: Alex Lyons3


Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.


Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.


Chapter 37: That's Life


Jess sat next to Brian's bed, looking at him with contempt.

"I know you're awake. Don't pretend you aren't!" She said.

"Wouldn't dream of it, doll." He said cracking open an eye, "So, what happened?"

Jess looked at him angrily, "You've almost blown our cover! That's what happened! I didn't know Harry could speak Parsel Tongue! Did you?"

Brian shot up into a sitting position in bed. "NO!"

"Well, he can and you could have spilt it, if Severus hadn't stunned you who knows what would have come out of your mouth!" Jess snarled.

"Yes, I understand completely, Lil. Don't think for an instant that I don't." Brian said as he got out of bed, his legs draped over the side for an instant.

"What did you call me?" Jess asked, incredulously.

"What do you think?" Brian asked as he walked over to the wardrobe on the left wall.

"You called me 'Lil'. You mustn't... It mustn't..." Jess stammered out.

"I'm tired, Jessica! I'm tired of sitting back and watching...I–I want what I had back then!" Brian choked.

"It's killing you! You can't keep up the ruse any longer!" Jess said accusingly.

"It is easier for you, Jessica! You got to watch him grow, while I was stuck inside this shell of a body for the last fifteen years!" Brian snarled, angrily.

"You think it's been easy? A real walk in the park? Please! You have no idea how hard it has been..." Jess screamed at Brian.

KNOCK!KNOCK!KNOCK!

"Come in!" Brian said angrily.

McGonagall walked through the door. "What in the world is going on? We can all hear you all the way to Severus' office. He thought you were killing each other!" Minerva said, truly worried about her younger colleagues.

"A disagreement." Brian said simply as he rummaged through a chest-of-drawers. "Nothing that can't be fixed with a good cup of tea and a cozy spot by the fire."


Mcgonagall sighed, "Well, next time, use a silencing charm, will you?"

Both young mages nodded and McGonagall left with out a further word.

"You know I'm right." Jess spoke up.

"Yes, but it doesn't make me like it any better." Brian said bitterly.

Jess got up and went to him. She wrapped her arms around him, "When Voldemort is dead, then we can tell him. Until that day, however, all we can do is sit and wait."

Brian nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I know. I'm sorry, I know it has been just as rough on you, it just seems so unfair." He sighed, "I'm going to take a bath."

Jess nodded. "You definitely need one." She said wrinkling her nose.

Brian snorted, "So do you!" He grinned mischievously, "In fact, why don't you take your's first, that way I can..."

"Oh no you don't mister! Keep your thoughts to yourself. I can't right now anyway, I have a class to teach." Jess grinned triumphantly.

Brian pouted, "That's almost as unfair as me not seeing H...him grow up." He then added wistfully, "Later perhaps?"

"Later," she affirmed, "when neither of us is too busy."

"That'll be..." He began counting on his fingers, "eh...never." He sighed, disheartened for a moment.

"Tomorrow, neither of us has classes." She said, trying to brighten his spirits.

"I know, but I have to work out how to find Remus." Brian said in a reproachful voice. "I'm worried about him. He can take care of himself and all, but how much is left of the Remus we all knew and loved to save? How much has that stinking bastard Voldemort "killed" of his soul?"

Jess nodded, "We need to make finding Remus a top priority. I'll help you all I can. I promise, love." She said as she put her hand on his cheek.

"I know." He sighed. He caught her hand before it could slip away and kissed the heel of it. "You need to go. You have a class to teach...third years I believe. They'll worry if you don't show."

Jess grinned slightly, "Indeed. They might think that you've turned me into something horrible, like a toad."

"Good heavens! Blach!" He said and made a face of disgust, "I wouldn't dream of it! Now, go on, I'll be fine."

"I know you will." She said and kissed him on the cheek before she left their rooms to go teach her class.


Remus sat in his room and for the first time since his capture he wept. He knew, after he'd transformed back into a man, that he'd killed a muggle family. He'd known too that the muggle family in question was Hermione's. He drew his legs close to himself and buried his head in his hand and wept for this horrible predicament he'd gotten into, for the people he had ruthlessly murdered and for their families, especially for Hermione, who he could see no inconceivable way she could ever forgive him.

He heard foot steps coming towards his room. Remus pulled himself together as the door opened and in walked the most feared wizard in all the world...Voldemort. Remus stood, his eyes never leaving the older wizards face, anger burned in those eyes.

Voldemort smiled his cruel smile, "Well, Mister Lupin, it seems that you are giving Malfoy a bit of trouble. You're refusing to believe what he tells you is the right path for you. You stubbornly believe that the old fool Dumbledore will come to rescue you." Voldemort snarled, "Why would he worry himself over a pitiful werewolf? You're nothing to him. Nothing!"

"LIAR!" Remus snarled, "I know how high Dumbledore holds me! I'm not nothing to him! He'll find me or I'll escape. Either way, you lose."

Voldemort laughed. "Why would Dumbledore concern himself over a pathetic werewolf? There is nothing about you that makes you particularly special!"

"I am against you. I will do what ever it takes to protect Harry. That's why he'll come. That's why he'll rescue me. There is nothing you have that I want." Remus said in a deadly calm voice. He turned to the window while giving his hand a little wave, as if shooing an annoying fly away. As if telling Voldemort that he really wasn't as important as he thought he was.

Voldemort snarled, but could not speak because quite suddenly an apocalyptic storm, unlike anything he'd ever seen forced him down to his knees and raged at him. The force of which would have probably killed him had Remus wanted it to. It died almost as quickly as it had spun itself out of thin air.

Remus spoke calmly, watching Voldemort through eyes that raged with bitterness and pity. "I could have killed you, you know, but I didn't because I will not let you turn me down that path. I will not let you kill what's left of my soul. Now, I believe you were leaving?"

Voldemort got up off of his hand and knees and glared at Remus as he left the room. Angrily cursing the werewolf who had shown him that he wasn't as powerful as he thought he was.


Brian and Jess poured over the copies of The Daily Prophet, for any signs of where Voldemort might strike with Remus next. Jess, however, received an owl from Mrs. Figg.

"Hmm." Jess said as she opened it.

Brian popped his head out from behind the latest edition of The Prophet. He noticed that Jess was turning paler and paler by the minute.

"What's wrong, Jess?" Brian asked, getting up and sending the paper he'd been looking over flying.

"It's from Arabella. She says that...that the Dursley's were murdered!" Jess sobbed out.

"What?!" Brian yelped as he read intently over her shoulder.

"My God!" Brian said, gulping. "When...when did they do it? Surely, we would have heard something...right?" Brian said, his mind sagging with the knowledge.

"It says that a neighbor had gone to check on them after not seeing any of the Dursley's leave the house for several days. When no one answered, it was assumed by many that they'd gone out...until someone looked in through the window." Jess said.

Brian looked stunned. "They found them all dead. Torn to pieces by a large dog or something of the sort." He said in awe that was closely related to fear.

"Oh, Brian, where will Harry go now?" Jess wailed.

"I...I don't know. Maybe...we need to see Dumbledore." He said, getting his mind unlocked from the paralysis it had gone into.

Jess nodded and they both ran to Dumbledore.


They reached the stone gargoyle that hid the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Fizzing Whizzbee's!" They both shouted at it and then after the gargoyle hopped away, charged up the stairs and into Dumbledore's office with out so much as a knock.

Sitting in the chair opposite the Headmaster was Harry, his eyes looked lost and frightened.

"I would imagine that both of you are here for the very same reason Harry is." Dumbledore said calmly, "Am I right in assuming that you receive an owl from Arabella?"

* * *

To wowsergirl: *sigh* I know. It took me awhile because of school, now that I'm out for Christmas I've got more time. Whoohoo!! Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.


To Stoned Sherrie/Chapter Two: It says that, but no one seemed to notice him at the Quidditch world cup. Also, the children from both schools that come for the Tri-wizard Tournament don't seem as impressed with him as the British children. The magical community of America know of Harry Potter, but they don't see him as significant like the Brits do. Another thing...Brooks has been out of it...for a really, and we're talking a really long time.


To Alanpatty07: -_- I've had this problem with many of the fans. They want it longer, but they want me to update sooner...and then they complain when I have no choice but to stop writing for a bit...*sigh*. I'm out on Christmas Break, now and I can update sooner.