A/N - Yep, this is it. The final part.. Boo hoo.. Anyway, This story has been in production since about last July/August - I can't believe it's taken me this long to write it... Sorry to those who have been reading it since the beginning..:-) Anyway, I may write an Epilogue, about what happens in the future, but I don't know - keep an eye out anyway!! I have worked really hard on this last part, which is why it's a bit late - I've re-written it about 10 times. I hope you enjoy it! If some parts seem a bit odd - it's the medication, I've had flu, and I don't know what the hell it was that the doctor gave me, but I'm sure it had some strange side-effects. Thanks to Rede, who wrote part of the story in the middle, it tells you which bit in the story.. Anyway, enjoy this last part!
P.S - Don't you find it a bit spooky that there's 13 parts? ooooooohhhhhhhhh......
Rufus
And When The Dawn Begins
Chapter 13 - Unlucky for Some
Tom Riddle's eyes glinted maliciously as he watched his followers move forward. There was nothing left to save them now. The three prisoners looked on, their faces set like stone, betraying nothing that they felt inside. Harry, still chained to the wall in his panther form, struggled to break free, straining against the metal binding him, but, metal being metal, it did very little to help him escape.
The Death Eaters advanced on the prisoners, wands held out in front of them, time standing still as they started to mouth the same, deadly, curse. Sirius Black kept his eyes forward, determined to stand to the last, determined not to show any outward signs of the fear he felt inside. His eyes darted to his friend, Moony, and he realised, with sadness in his heart, that this marked the end of the marauders - a group of friends marked by tragedy and death, but remembered mostly for the fun and laughter.
He turned his head forward once more, and stared forward at the oncoming threat. As the green light formed at the tip of every wand, Black remembered with sorrow the godson he had failed, leaving him behind without help. The light spread out from the wands, and shot forward, heading straight for the three wizards, all of whom faced the encircling doom with brave faces. The light grew to an amazing brightness, finally coming to a culmination as it spread around the three in a haze. Black felt his body lighten, and began slowly to drift away, giving in to the darkness..
"POTTER!"
Sirius Black opened his eyes, marveling at the fact that he still could. Remus Lupin shakily looked around him.
"You okay, Padfoot?"
"Yeah, Moony, I'm fine."
The two glanced at Albus Dumbledore, who was watching the scene unfolding in front of them with a slight grin.
Voldemort was having something of, well, a fit.
"POTTER," he screeched, "I KNOW IT WAS YOU - SHOW YOURSELF!"
Harry-or panther-Harry, grinned, knowing full well it was he who had put a shield around his friends. How he'd done it was quite another question - but one which could be answered later.
Voldemort sent group after group of Death Eaters out searching for Potter, or Lucius Malfoy, whomever they found first. Harry glanced up and saw the fairies still hovering around his head. They tied a small vial around his neck, making sure it was tied tightly, and then flew off to remove the ropes tying Lupin, Black and Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin looked around them in amazement at the gathering chaos. Minutes ago, they had been facing certain death, now, due to some inexplicable force, they had a chance. They watched as the large room was scoured from end to end - all supposedly in the search for Harry.
"They lost him?!" Lupin asked , amazed. "Voldemort has been after Harry for 15 years, and then he misplaces him?!"
Sirius grinned. "I think it's more likely that Harry lost himself. And I think we have him to thank for this," he said, nodding to the search.
"Can you free your hands, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
"Nope - I already tried, pretty securely attat-"
He stopped short, shaking his head in disbelief as he lifted his arms free.
"Er- Yes, I can, actually."
**
Harry watched as the three prisoners found themselves free, he smiled inside, thankful for the thousandth time that he had found three friends in this place. He frowned as he watched the death eaters search the room, knowing that he was bound to be discovered eventually. He had to get out of here. Harry thought carefully about the strange magic of his that seemed to appear at times. It had only ever appeared when something happened, like blowing up Aunt Marge, or throwing Voldemort back against the wall. That's it!, he realised with a jolt. Straining his memory, he repeated to himself all the things said to him that made his blood boil. Comments about his mother, his father, friends, clunk.
Harry span around and found himself free, the chains lying in a pile on the floor. He ran quickly and silently away from the throne, and towards Voldemort himself, as if offering his help. He sat down on the floor, stood regally by his 'masters' side, looking disdainfully at all that was going on. Riddle looked down at him, staring at him with slightly narrowed eyes, before walking away. Harry suddenly had a brain wave, and sprinted after him. Running up behind him, he grabbed the Dark Lord's wand between his teeth and backed away.
Silence fell across the room as everyone's attention turned towards Harry.
Voldemort smirked.
"I thought you were familiar," he said, glancing at the three prisoners in the centre of the room, who were looking confused. "But did you really think I need a wand to do magic?"
Harry blinked calmly. Riddle might not need his wand to do magic, but a wand was still the source of a wizard's magic. He paused, and then, making a quick decision, brought his teeth down on the wand. He felt the wood splinter in his mouth, and finally, when it was in two pieces, he dropped them to the floor, carefully watching Voldemort's reaction.
The Dark Lord screeched slightly, as a black mist drifted out of the pieces, and dissipated into the air. His face lost some of what little colour it had, and he seemed to grow visibly weaker in front of Harry. Stumbling slightly, the Dark Lord fell to his knees and reached out for the pieces which lay on the stone floor. Harry, seeing this, grabbed one half in his mouth, and sprinted off back towards Sirius, and the fairies - who were waving him over in a hurried manner, his wand held tightly in their grasp. The three adults were stood, trying to apparate out, but struggling against the weakening wards. Adelina, Ellie and Eugina waited impatiently for Harry to arrive before helping them all to leave. As he ran up, Sirius, and Remus stepped back slightly, unsure what to make of the strange creature before them, whilst Dumbledore observed the panther carefully, considering something, but no time was wasted as the three sisters waved their arms, and the group vanished from the room.
**
They reappeared on the Quidditch pitch, coincidentally, as the Gryffindor house team was practicing. There was a shocked silence, in which Fred Weasley made a sharp movement upwards to avoid colliding with the schools headmaster, and Lupin and Black made quick movements away from the clawed animal at their side. Then, all at once, the team flew to the ground, and spectators from the stands came running forward, questions being thrown in all directions.
"Hello, Professor!"
"Hello Mr Lupin, Sir,"
"Wow, is it really Sirius Black?"
"You're innocent now- aren't you?"
"Where've you been?"
"I didn't think you could apparate onto Hogwarts grounds, it says in Hogwarts a-"
"Herm, shut up, we know!"
The group of Gryffindors seemed then to notice, for the first time, the unusual animal with the adults, which was laid down on the floor, swishing its tail lazily, regarding them with tired eyes. As the headmaster led the group towards the school, the team followed, making sure to keep far enough ahead of the panther, deciding that even though it looked a little worse for wear, it was better to stay well out of the way of those teeth.
As they entered the school building, the students headed for the common room, whilst the adults set off for the Headmasters office. Harry paused as the two groups split up, and then ran after his friends, hoping one of them would recognise him, and find a way to change him back.
**
"Is it still there, Ron?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Ron replied testily, "I don't want to turn around."
George looked over his shoulder.
"Yep, still there - though it isn't coming very fast - it's limping."
The group turned around to watch the panther, which was following them slowly and carefully.
"It looks sweet really," Ginny said. "Not at all vicious."
"I don't think you'd be vicious either, if you couldn't walk properly," Alicia commented.
They continued on, picking up their pace slightly, but always found it to be following them.
"Maybe if we go in circles, we can lose it," Katie suggested. "Go quicker."
They sped up, practically running from corridor to corridor, room to room. Finally, they turned around and the animal was missing.
"Phew," George said.
"And we thought Ginny was hard to get rid of."
"HEY!"
They set off again, laughing all the way, as Ginny proceeded to lecture her brothers about all the times she had helped them, and how she wasn't in the least bit annoying. They turned down the corridor to the common room, and groaned collectively.
"How did it know the way here?"
"And how did it know we were coming here?"
"Look," Hermione said sharply, "It's obviously not going to leave us alone. We might as well accept that."
"Besides," Ron added, "It's not like it's doing anything wrong."
"And it's cute!" Ginny piped up.
"Fine then," Katie said. "But it needs a name, we can't keep calling it, well, it, or everything will get very confusing."
"Okay, Blackie?"
"Too obvious." Alicia said, grinning.
"Sooty?"
"The same."
"Erm, snowball?"
"Where the hell did that one come from Fred?"
"Well you said you didn't want something obvious!"
"Yes, but not something completely stupid either."
"Well, how about Fluffy?"
"Oh honestly, fine. Fluffy it is." Katie snapped, "But don't blame me if 'Fluffy' mauls the first person to call it by it's name."
"Who wants to try first then?" Fred asked.
"Ginny - she thought it was cute."
"Fine. I don't see what the problem is, really," Ginny said lightly. She walked off a small distance, and then turned around.
"Here Fluffy, come here!"
The group watched as Fluffy dragged himself up. Ron thought he must have been seeing things, but he could have sworn he saw it roll it's eyes in irritation. Nevertheless, Fluffy walked forwards to Ginny, and sat itself back down at her feet.
"See!" Ginny exclaimed. "It's cute, and obedient."
**
Harry followed his friends into the common room, still slightly annoyed with them for christening him 'Fluffy'. He winced suddenly as a sharp pain shot through his leg. The poison was still working. He was completely mystified, to be perfectly honest, as to how nobody had recognised him yet. He kept conveniently appearing in front of them, shaking his forehead so the lightning-shaped patch of white fur was clearly visible, but still, no reaction. They had to notice soon, he thought, looking at the vial tied around his neck - before it was too late.
(A/N - Just so you don't get too confused, when the panther is referred to as 'Fluffy', it is someone else's view of Harry as the panther. OK? When the panther is referred to as Harry, it is Harry thinking to himself..)
**
"Albus, we have to go back again - why did you make us leave without him?"
"Sirius, it wasn't me," the Headmaster replied calmly. "It was those young fairies again - and I'm sure they knew what they were doing."
"Albus, what fairies? I've never seen any, yet you repeatedly insist that they're there!"
This made Lupin glance up, "Sirius, a very small number of people can see fairies, Albus being one of them."
"Fine, but we still shouldn't have left without Harry - we should go back!"
"We can't go back, Sirius - there's nothing to go back to!"
"Remus is right, with Voldemort's wand snapped, he will have been temporarily immobilised, the spells holding the walls of his castle together will be failing."
"But Harry-"
"Will be fine, Sirius - he can look after himself," Lupin finished
"But what if he can't get out?" asked Black frantically. "What if he's trapped?"
"Sirius," Dumbledore said calmly, "We will wait for either Harry or the fairies to return to us. There is no use in going to search for Harry, when we couldn't find him the last time."
**
"You know, I've kind of gotten used to Fluffy now." Ron said, "I guess you can get used to anything after 2 weeks of having it follow you around."
"Yeah."
"Herm?" Ron asked, noticing his friends unusual lapse of concentration. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing much, it's silly really."
"What."
"Well, don't laugh," she warned, "but I'm sure I've seen Fluffy before somewhere, there's something familiar about her."
Ron laughed.
"Ron!" Hermione whined, "I said don't laugh, It's not funny!"
She glared as he continued in his mirth, and then huffed, turning her back on him.
Ron calmed down slightly and glanced down at the panther, which, as ever, was sat regarding them with a strange calmness. He wasn't sure what Hermione was getting at really. He had never seen a panther before, and he was pretty sure Hermione hadn't - how could she be familiarized with one?
"Come on, Herm, Potions."
The two left the common room with reluctance, heading towards the basements. As they walked, they noticed Fluffy following them as ever, but now lacking the grace he had once possessed, and travelling at a much slower pace.
"He doesn't look very well, really, does he?" Ron said.
"No," Hermione said, "She doesn't. Do you think we ought to take Fluffy to see Hagrid or Madame Pomfrey?"
"Leave it a day or two - he might get better."
"I suppose you're right. We still don't know it is a he though, Fluffy could be female."
"Yeah, well, I don't fancy trying to find out. We were practically mauled the last time we tried that one."
"I suppose we can live without knowing." Hermione said as she heaved at the heavy wooden door, leading to the potions classroom.
They walked in, making sure not to shut the door on their feline friend, and sat on the Gryffindor side of the classroom, watching as Fluffy sat himself down with a thud on the floor. Slowly, as the lesson drew closer, the Slytherin side of the classroom started to fill. Snape himself eventually walked in, right as the bell rang. He looked at the Gryffindors with disdain, and then frowned. He stopped moving as he looked down at the animal sprawled out on the floor, slowly swatting at pieces of dust with it's paws.
"What," Snape snarled, "Is that thing doing here. I thought I told you it was not to be brought to this lesson again."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances.
"Erm, well, it won't stop following us." Ron said tentatively.
"And we didn't like to argue with it, Fluffy has very sharp claws."
"Fluffy?" Snape sneered.
"We named him."
Snape rolled his eyes, whilst the Slytherins snickered. He raised his wand, and a rope appeared around the animals neck. He then proceed to drag the animal from the room, and slammed the door behind it. Returning to the front of the room, he glared at the two Gryffindors.
"Well, that wasn't difficult, was it? Now, to return to the lesson, open your books at page two hund-"
The classes attention was removed from Snape, as the door clicked, and the handle turned. The class watched, mouths agape, as the panther strolled calmly in, past Snape, and sat itself back down. The Gryffindors hid behind their hands, trying to disguise their laughter. Snape was furious, understandably even more so when this process had been repeated 3 times, and the animal still stared at him from the floor of the classroom.
The class dragged on eventually, after the professor had given up on the idea of removing the animal, and left it alone. Gryffindor lost large numbers of points, for completely ridiculous reasons, which led the class to believe it was mostly the fact that Snape was infuriated at having being proven wrong. When they finally left the room, it was in a very hurried manner, as all concerned, hungry for dinner, rushed off to the great hall.
Ron and Hermione watched as Fluffy went to sit by the head table, as he always did at meals, and proceeded to try to grab Sirius Black's attention. Sirius seemed to be avoiding looking at the animal, and so Fluffy turned his attention to Dumbledore, or basically, anyone that didn't shy away as soon as he came towards them. Eventually, Fluffy figured out that the only person who would pay him any attention was Hagrid. The two friends sat at the Gryffindor table grinned as they watched the gentle giant play with the feline like it was a kitten, throwing it titbits of food, and tickling behind its ears. However, as he did every day, when Hermione and Ron stood to leave, Fluffy bounded after them, vainly trying to grab their attention.
**
Harry was beginning to grow very tired of this. If, no, when he was human again, he was quite sure he would never hear the end of this. Being tickled by Hagrid, following Ron and Hermione, acting, all in all, like a house pet. He was sure that Sirius would have spotted him by now, or even Professor Dumbledore. But no, nobody seemed to notice anything different. Yes, Harry was beginning to grow very tired of this indeed.
**
Ron sat down on one of the large sofas in the Gryffindor common room, in front of the blazing fire. Hermione had declared, to no-one's surprise, that she was going to the library for a little while, to look up some work for transfiguration. Ron was currently sat brooding about Harry. It had been a while since Sirius had seen him. People were beginning to lose hope again.
Fred and George, currently looking at a list of inventory for their joke business, seemed to sense their brothers dark mood, and looked up.
"You alright, Ron?"
"Yeah, fine."
Fluffy watched the group carefully, and then jumped up onto the sofa next to Ron, who absent-mindedly began stroking him. He stopped as he noticed something on his forehead.
"Isn't that odd," Ron said.
"What?" Fred asked from the floor, turning around to look at his brother.
"Fluffy has a little patch of white fur...shaped like lightening. And green eyes too," Ron observed. "Isn't that kind of unusual in Panthers?"
"I guess - ask Hermione."
"Oh - Okay."
**
Harry groaned. A lightening shaped patch on his forehead - and they still didn't guess. Trust Hermione to be missing when it was finally noticed. They were all so unbelievably stupid.
**
"I'm back!" Herm said cheerfully as she entered through the portrait hole.
"Is that another book?" Ron teased, "You mean you've found one you haven't read?"
"Oh, ha ha, very funny. Actually," she said, sitting down next to Ron. "It's a book on Animagi transformations, I'm doing some research for McGonagall."
"Oh, right."
"Aahhhhhhh - Ron, HELP!"
Ron span around to face Hermione, and found her in a pulling match with Fluffy, who, it seemed, was quite determined to have that book. He watched as Hermione fought for the book, not wanting any kind of book to be damaged - to her, it would be a downright act of sacrilege!
"Ron - Help!"
Ron snapped out of his thoughts and pulled on Hermione's arms, only to look down at what he was pulling against.
"Herm," he said cautiously, "Look at what you're fighting with."
She looked. "What?"
"Right, now look at it's teeth, and its claws."
Hermione finally seemed to catch his drift, and, screaming slightly, let go of the book. They, Fred, George, and the rest of the group which was sat round the fire, as it usually was, watched as the panther stalked off with the book, before sitting itself down on the floor.
"What's Fluffy doing?" Ron asked.
"Er - reading a book?" Fred replied, knowing his own sentence made no sense whatsoever.
The group stared on in amazement as Fluffy proceeded to flip the book open to the index at the back of the book. Sliding one claw down the page, and finally stopping at one entry, he turned the page and started scanning it carefully with his emerald eyes.
**
Harry read through the pages excitedly. The title at the top of the paper read "Non-potion transformations."
"Sounds about right," Harry thought to himself. He continued to read it, searching for the words that would change him human again. Finally, he found it.
"YES!" He screamed to himself, shouting the words out in his mind.
The familiar smoke spread once again.
**
"What?" Fred coughed. "Where's all the smoke coming from?"
"From over there," George replied.
"Can somebody do something to clear it?" Katie asked.
"How 'bout a window, Ron?"
George laughed as he listened to his brother stumble across the room with a serious lack of visibility. It took several grunts of pain, and a few unmentionable curse words, before Ron declared that the window was open. As the smoke lifted, the group tentatively edged towards the spot still covered. They stepped back slightly as somebody started to emerge, coughing.
"Bloody hell, there isn't going to be this sort of effect every time this happens is there?"
Out of the smoke, the figure emerged, in a dishevelled state, with strangely streaky brown robes on, and a strange bottle tied around his neck.
The group shouted in unison. "HARRY?!"
"I have one word to say to you lot. FLUFFY?!"
"But - but - how?" Hermione stuttered.
Harry sighed in frustration. "And how long was I following you about for? Honestly. And Ron - a lightning bolt, green eyes! How much more obvious could it be?"
He swatted at something at his head. "Yes, Ok! I'm going to the infirmary."
Ron and Hermione remained silent, unsure of what to say, shocked into silence.
"You sure this is the antidote?" Harry said, After a short pause, he tore the bottle off from around his neck, and swallowed its contents. Sighing slightly, he returned his attention to his bemused friends.
"Thanks for the book, Herm," He said gently. Suddenly he rose a few inches off the ground, three spikes of his hair standing at right angles.
"YES!" He cried, arms flapping, " I'm going, quit it - that hurts!"
Back on the ground once more, he walked over to the portrait hole, and climbed slowly out, letting it swing shut behind him.
A strange silence remained hanging in the common room. Its habitants glanced at each other simultaneously, and then sprang for the door themselves, chasing after their friend.
**
(Most of the following is by Rede)
Harry pushed past the portrait hole and proceeded down the darkening hall. Most of the picture hangings were turning in for the night, and low murmurings were coming from other parts of the castle. It was a warm evening. Everything was normal.
'Then why do I still feel so weird?' Harry thought to himself as he slowly made his way to the infirmary.
He didn't only feel weird, he felt basically wrong, like there was a part of him missing. He was out of danger, Voldemort's plans had again been delayed at least for the moment, and he was back with his friends. Then what was the reason for that annoying lump in his stomach and the constant aching in his head? Sure, he had felt bad like this before; last summer when Cedric died, or the first time he had met Voldemort, but it was never this strong.
Sinking slowly to the floor with a thud, he thought over everything that had happened to him in the last few weeks. He remembered it all. He had to, it wouldn't leave him alone - the snake bite, along with other injuries were already fading, but were leaving behind the memories to scar his mind. He remembered the torture - the terrible torture, when time never ceased and his body was numb all over. He still felt the pain of the knives and whips and everything else that had ripped at his already scrawny form. It hurt to think now. It was just another tragedy that he would have to get over and bury. It wouldn't be easy, he knew, but he had to do it.
A normal boy may have cried, screamed, or gone into fits, but the famous Harry Potter couldn't afford to do that. He still had too much responsibility, like the entire universe's freedom for instance. And that's what hurt him the most. He would never be able to just let it out, to scream and cry, because he couldn't. He knew that he was the world's only hope and he was going to be damned if he let this little episode phase him.
"Harry! Hey, Harry!"
Harry was pulled back into the real world as he heard Ron yell from the Gryffindor entryway. Turning around, Harry looked numbly and unemotionally at the large crowd that was now storming towards him. Good. At least he knew that people still thought he was alive, because how he felt right now made him think differently.
"Harry! We thought you were dead! What happened? Where were you? How...WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING BEFORE?! I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY MIND!!!"
They watched their friend, concern spreading across their faces as they took in his hunched form. Harry looked up at them, and Ron gasped quietly as he glanced into eyes that were once a dazzling emerald, and had now dulled to a pale green.
"Harry," Hermione said, as Ron stood and turned towards a window, "what happened?"
"I just had a small....meeting, with Volde-er,sorry, you-know-who again. Nothing that hasn't happened before,"
'If they only knew the half of it!' His mind screamed. Sure, he had to lie, he couldn't possibly tell them truth. Let them have their comfort.
"What do you mean, nothing?" Ron asked
"Nothing, just basic torture, that's all." He replied, hands twisting in front of him as his gaze returned to the floor. "I really don't want to talk about it."
He looked up, and found the entire groups eyes regarding him silently.
'What? Do I still have a cat nose or something?' Harry thought to himself. He looked at all the faces and in each one there was a hint of fear. Even in the Weasley twins. He couldn't stand it anymore.
"What? Why are you all staring at me like I'm the Bloody Baron?"
Ron stepped a little closer to his best friend and put a hand on his shoulder. He was genuinely worried.
"Harry, I think you'd better go to Madame Pomfrey. You aren't looking too good." He said.
'Of course I'm not looking too good! Where the hell you think I've been all this time?' Harry's mind shouted once again. He sighed inwardly and brushed off Ron's arm. He was getting a little fed up.
"I was just going there." He looked again at the faces of his house. They were fidgeting and didn't seem like they knew what was going on. Hermione stepped in, finally spotting Harry's discomfort at all the attention.
"Yeah...we'll go with you okay?" She turned around to face the crowd, "We'll tell you all what happened later. Take them back will you, guys?" She asked Fred and George. Both shook themselves out of a stupor and nodded.
"Okay ladies and germs, show's over! Let's go, Move it on out!"
(Back to me again, sorry..)
Hermione, whilst the twins escorted everyone back to the common room, was looking at the robes Harry was wearing, and, touching them with one hand, she drew back, feeling moisture. Looking down at her hands, she saw a red liquid glistening on her fingertips.
"Harry?" She asked. "What's this?"
"Er, blood, I'm afraid."
"Whose?" Hermione said, somewhat dreading the answer.
"Mine," he said slowly, "why do you think I was going to the infirmary?"
"I dunno," Ron said, "Cos you've lost your sanity?"
Harry groaned. "Not this again." He looked up. "This is all your fault, everyone thinks I'm nuts, it's not like it wasn't bad enough before."
"No, not thinks," Adelina grinned. "Knows."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Fine, laugh, but when I'm in a mental asylum for talking to fairies that nobody else can see, you'll have to put up with me. And I thought you wanted me to go to the infirmary anyway? And while we're on the subject - why didn't you just go to Dumbledore? I thought you said he could see you."
"Er - oops?"
"OOPS?!"
Ron and Hermione watched this scene with growing wonder.
"Do you think he really is mad?" Ron whispered.
"Maybe, a very small number of people can see fairies though. One in 2,500,406."
Fred and George grinned from down the corridor as they heard Hermione spouting off numbers, and Ron moaning, as usual, before ducking into the common room once more. Meanwhile, Harry, helped by his two friends, began to continue walking slowly towards the infirmary.
"Right then, guys, I know you can't see them, but this is Ellie, Eugina, and Adelina, who, incidentally, was the one who turned me into a panther." He looked up again. "I haven't told you how stupid that was recently, have I? Pause "Yes, I know it helped me escape, and save the others, and snap Voldemort's wand, oh-"
Harry searched around in the multiple pockets of his robes, and eventually fished out a wooden stick, black and charred.
"Is that-" Hermione's asked, eyes wide.
"Yes," said Harry curtly. "Now stand back."
He held the broken half at arms reach, in the bandaged hand, and stared at it. Drawing to mind once again all that had happened to him whilst captive, he directed all the anger he felt inside towards that stick. Hermione and Ron gasped as the wand burst into flames in his hand, green sparks occasionally appearing. Harry watched it for a few seconds, a slight ghostly grin forming on his face. Finally, he closed his fist and extinguished the flames, leaving only a small pile of ashes, which he unceremoniously dumped on the floor. After watching him wobble slightly whilst standing, Ron and Hermione grabbed their short friend by the arms once more, and slowly started to walk with him towards the infirmary.
As they opened the door to the infirmary, they called out to the nurse.
"Madame Pomfrey," Ron called, "we've brought you back your favourite customer!"
They walked in.
"Potter!" She cried "What on earth has happened!?" She bustled about the boy, who gave up and let himself be examined. "When did you get back?"
"Just now," Harry said. "Somebody should go and tell Sirius or Dumbledore," he added.
"Yes, somebody go," Pomfrey snapped impatiently. "Now all of you - outside and wait."
Harry watched as the short woman forced the two students out of the room, and then turned on Harry.
"Now, what have you done to yourself this time, Harry?"
Harry sighed. His legs gave up and he clumsily sank into a chair. "How much time have you got?"
**
"Professors, Sirius," Hermione gushed. "You have to come to the infirmary, quickly!"
"Why, what's happened?" Dumbledore asked with a note of urgency.
"We can't tell you," Ron said, "It's too exciting -you'll have to come see for yourselves, if Madame Pomfrey will let you in, that is."
Dumbledore, Lupin and Black all exchanged glances, and followed the over excited students down to the infirmary.
**
"You can come in for a bit, he's asleep though," Madame Pomfrey warned.
"Who is?" Sirius asked.
Madame Pomfrey glanced behind the men to see the children shaking their heads and grinning.
"Come in and find out," she said.
Sirius walked in cautiously, glancing at empty bed after empty bed. Finally his eyes rested on one occupied bed, and his heart gave a small leap of joy. He glanced at the children stood in the doorway, who nodded and smiled, before shouting complaints as they were shut out.
Sirius ran over to his godson's bed and ran a hand through his hair gently.
"How is he?"
"Not good," Madame Pomfrey said, "I don't know what's been done to him, but see those robes over there?" She pointed to the side. Sirius nodded. "They were white to start with." Black's face paled, as the ordeal Harry had been through became apparent.
"Have you spoken to him about what happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not really, he was in no state to be talking really. I gave him a sleeping potion as soon as I had him sat on a bed. I haven't even had a chance to start healing anything yet. Just one disruption after another."
Remus Lupin watched his friend carefully. He wasn't saying anything, but glancing up and down at Harry, trying to see what had been done to him.
"You couldn't have done anything, Sirius."
"I could have though - I should have helped him escape."
"Sirius, nothing you could have done would have got him out of there, it would only have got yourself killed."
Sirius Black listened half-heartedly to his friends reassurances, whilst watching the nurse bustle round Harry, examining the damage done. He tried to block out the various gasps that came from her direction, as more injuries were uncovered - failing miserably. He grimaced as scars were uncovered, trembling slightly as he saw the nurse undo the mucky bandage covering his godson's hand to reveal a wound which went straight through his hand. As the nurse healed the wounds, tutting all the while, Harry's eyes flickered, and slowly opened. A hand went straight to his side to search for his glasses, which Sirius eventually handed to him. Sirius felt lighter than he had in a while when Harry turned and sadly smiled his thanks.
"Ah, Harry." Dumbledore said with a smile, "You are awake, I see. How do you feel?"
"Slightly better, thanks," he said, testing his body by trying to sit up, only to be firmly pushed down once more by the nurse. "Especially after taking that antidote," he added.
Madame Pomfrey looked up.
"What antidote -I've given you nothing to take!"
"Oh, no," Harry said cheerfully, "The fairies found it for me!"
Madam Pomfrey hurried over and stood next to Harry, taking his temperature in a concerned manner.
"Obviously delusional," she sighed, "Not enough sleep."
"No, Poppy," Dumbledore smiled, "I see them too." He turned to Harry. "What was the antidote for, Harry?"
"For snake venom - they stole it from Voldemort, as well as my wand." Harry looked up. "By the way guys, where is that?" He grinned as a wand appeared in the air, and dropped into his hand. He turned to glance at Madame Pomfrey.
"See?"
The nurse's mouth opened and closed in disbelief. She watched as Harry looked up once again.
"What do you want?" Pause. "Paper?" The onlookers saw Harry focus on his hand, and then jumped as there was a small pop, and a piece of parchment appeared, as well as a quill. Sirius seemed to be staring on in pure amazement, whilst Lupin was shaking his head in disbelief. Harry, meanwhile was watching the quill move of it's own will, and pointing it out to Madame Pomfrey.
"See?" He said, laughing as he saw Adelina had written 'Boo!'
"Fine, I believe you. Now, you will be here for a while," Madame Pomfrey said with a slight smile, "So, how about you go back to sleep for now," at this, she glanced at Dumbledore, "And you can tell us all what happened later."
"Yeah, if that's OK?" Harry said, looking at the headmaster. Receiving a nod, he swallowed some more of the sleeping potion, and slowly started to drift to sleep. "I can't wait to see your faces," he said drowsily, "when I tell you I've been following you about as a panther for 2 weeks," and with that, he fell asleep.
Sirius looked at Remus.
"What?!"
**
Needless to say, it was quite a while before Sirius and Remus completely understood what had happened, especially when trying to understand the fairies scribbled writing, but when they did, they too saw the funny side of it.
"To think, you were terrified of it, and it was Harry all along!"
"Yeah, well, at least he found a way to escape, and I didn't see you making fast friends with him either!"
"Lucky he found these three really," Remus said., trying in vain to spot the creatures, which were supposedly hovering around somewhere. He grinned as they pulled Sirius' hair to make themselves known.
"When's Poppy letting him out of the infirmary?"
"Dunno, can't be much longer though, he's been in there for about 2 weeks. He just seems bored now."
"She probably wants to get rid of him more than anything."
Remus laughed, sure that it was perfectly true.
"Is Voldemort really gone then?" Sirius asked.
"No, just weakened temporarily without his wand." Remus frowned. " He'll recover, after a while - you can't replace a wand easily."
"Don't I know it." Sirius groaned.
"Hey - you've got one! You're proven innocent now, Fudge even admitted it!"
"I know, but it's not the same," he replied, "It's like a second choice or something."
Remus grinned. "Better than no choice."
"True. Did you know all the prisoners were freed from the castle?"
"Really? Good, I felt terrible leaving them there."
"Mmm, Harry was pleased - seems he made friends with a few of them, he was happy they got out anyway."
There was a pause, as both friends thought of what to say.
"You know the reporters are after Harry already?"
"Really?" Remus asked, surprised. "How did it get out?"
"Don't know, I thought we were keeping it a secret. Harry really hates any kind of attention."
"Bit of a shame really, when he's the most famous wizard at this moment."
"Yeah, he's going to have to speak to them at some point in his life though, he can't avoid it forever."
"Not right now though."
"Well," Sirius grinned, "He's certainly received plenty of gifts in these past few days. I know, I've eaten quite a few of them."
**
"See you, and thanks, Madam Pomfrey!" Harry yelled as he left the infirmary. Once free of the door and down the corridor a large enough distance, he grinned, and ran the rest of the way, pleased simply to be able to. Remembering the words from the textbook, he quickly transformed into a panther, testing this new ability. Thankfully, there was a general lack of smoke this time. He sprinted down the corridor, and changed back with another pop. He grinned, thinking how useful this would be in the future, and then clambered through the portrait hole, entering back into the bustle that was life at Hogwarts. The pain of his weeks spent in capture was gone, but the memories were not. The memories would stay with him always, but with the prospect of returning to normal life, he pushed them aside.
"Harry!" Ron called across the room, "You're out!"
"Yep -and glad of it. What are you all doing?"
"Revising."
"You're kidding me! When are the exams?"
"Next week." Hermione said with a worried face.
Harry stared, pale faced, and slumped in a chair.
"What's the date?" he asked.
"The 12th of March." Fred said from under the table. Harry didn't even bother to ask what he was doing under there.
"Oh - but the exams aren't until July!"
"Yeah, but we had you going for a bit!"
Harry's eyes gleamed happily, as he laughed along with his friends, glad that some state of normality had returned.
**
"Uggghhhhh, lessons?" Harry moaned. "Already?"
"How can you say that?" Hermione asked, "You've missed loads already"
"I can. And I will. What have we got anyway?"
"History of Magic," Ron said, a smile playing at his lips. "We're starting a new topic today, just wait 'til you see what we're studying."
"What?"
"You'll see."
**
"Modern day defeats of the Dark Arts?" Harry said, "what's so great about that?" He looked around, "and why are there so many people in here today?"
Hermione laughed, "Oh, you'll see. Just open the book to the right chapters."
The two waited with bated breath as Harry turned the pages, struggling to keep back the laughter. The silence held for a few more minutes..
"WHAT?!"
Hermione and Ron burst out laughing, the rest of the class turning round, (Professor Binns had yet to arrive.)
"There is no way I am sitting in a lesson , learning about my own life!"
"Yes there is, Mr Potter," Professor Binns spoke firmly as he entered the classroom. "And the rest of you should be honoured that you get to learn about this, from the horse's mouth, so to speak."
"I am not speaking to the rest of the cla-"
"Yes, you are, Mr Potter. Now, come to the front."
"No!"
"The front, Mr Potter, now."
Harry pulled himself slowly to his feet, glaring daggers at Ron and Hermione, who were trying to stifle laughter behind their hands, and failing miserably. He finally reached the ghost stood at the front of the classroom, his face still creased in a childish frown.
"Now then, in the interests of learning, you may ask Mr Potter here questions, which he will answer."
Harry rolled his eyes and muttered something which sounded remarkably like 'clucking hell,' but Hermione was pretty sure that wasn't what had been said. Harry could see some of his more usual classmates grin slightly wickedly, as they thought of the many questions that could be asked.
"Of course," Professor Binns continued, "the questions will be related to your course."
The grins were gone. Harry didn't want to know what they had been thinking of. Instead he prepared himself for humiliation.
"Yes, Dean," the professor said.
"Did you really blow up your Aunt, Harry?"
Harry grinned widely. "Yes."
"Did Hagrid really give your cousin a pig tail?"
"Yes," Harry said, smiling again.
Ron shouted from the back of the classroom, "Scarred for life too - anytime he sees a wizard, he runs from the room, hand over his bottom."
The class laughed loudly.
"How many Defence against the Dark Arts Professors have actually tried to kill you?"
"Er, two." Harry replied.
"Do you think you could expand your answers a little?" Professor Binns said stonily.
"Oh. Quirrel, obviously, is number one. Lockhart almost got me killed - but not intentionally, he was just a stupid git who blew the Chamber of Secrets up." Glancing at Binns, Harry hurried on. "Lupin didn't do anything to me, and the Moody impersonator handed me over to Voldemort," he finished, as the class shuddered.
"Is Sirius Black really your godfather?"
"Yep."
Receiving a sharp glance from the old ghost once more, Harry continued.
"Oh, right expanding answers. Er - he wasn't my parent's Secret Keeper, Pettigrew was. Incidentally, Pettigrew is dead now too."
"Do you have any scars?"
"You mean apart from this one?" Harry asked, pointing at his forehead. "Er, yes, there's one on my arm from last year, and this one on my hand," he said, holding up his palm. "From a few weeks ago."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
**
"Harry? Can I speak with you for a moment please?"
"YES!" Harry said, rather too quickly, before walking, or near sprinting out of the History of Magic classroom, much to the amusement of his classmates.
Sirius smiled at his Godson, and led him down the corridor.
"I never liked that lesson much either, but don't make it too obvious."
"It's not that - we were studying modern day defeats of the Dark Arts. He made me talk at the front - it was very embarrassing."
"Oh -well I suppose it would be," he said stifling a laugh. "Anyway, I wanted to ask, I'm free now - and everybody knows that. It's official from the Ministry of Magic and everything. So, I was wondering, If you wanted-"
"Sirius, spit it out."
"Oh, sorry, well I wondered, the offer still stands - you can live with me, if you want-"
"Of course I do!" Harry grinned, "I'd love to - do you really mean it?"
"Yes! Dumbledore said it was Ok - he spoke to you, didn't he?"
"About being related to him?" Harry smiled slightly, "Yes. I was surprised, to say the least. It's nice to know I have some family left anyway."
"He didn't think it best you stayed with him though - he said I should ask you and then-"
"Sirius, I would love to stay with you, you're more my family than anyone that actually was my family ever was."
Black grinned at the boy and pulled him into a rough hug, before laughing as he forced Harry back into the History of Magic Classroom. He was pleased, more than anything, that Harry was back where it was safe, at least for now.
**
Ron and Hermione followed their friend out onto the lawns, smiling as he breathed deeply, seemingly enjoying the fresh air, which he had been deprived of not long ago.
"How about a walk around the lake," Hermione asked.
"Sure," Ron replied, heading in that direction, Harry following behind. They skirted the edge of the lake, warily eyeing the forest as they went past, chatting idly about recent events.
"HARRY!"
The trio paused as the scream rang all around them. Harry's head span around quickly, searching for the owner of the somehow familiar voice. Ron watched, realising too late that his raven-haired friend was running into the forest, unmindful of the dangers present there.
Harry ran through the trees, jumping over and ducking branches, narrowly avoiding them. He finally entered a clearing, and stared in disbelief at the small figure in the centre of it.
"Elise?"
The aforementioned girl looked up, tears in her eyes, and ran towards Harry, throwing her arms around his legs.
"Oh, Harry it was horrid - the - the others were all picking on me, and I remember wishing as hard as I could that I could be wherever you were, cos you were the only one who was ever nice to me."
Harry bent down as Elise continued speaking, attempting to wipe her cheeks, which were flooded with tears. He listened to her explanations which slight mystification. There was only one way she could have got here - but Elise was a Muggle! Unless..
"Come on," Harry said, lifting Elise up as she put her tiny hands around his neck, and her legs around his chest, clinging on for dear life.
"Stop crying, Elise, It's ok now!" When she did nothing of the sort, Harry resorted to bribery. "How 'bout a lolly then? Ok?"
As they emerged from the forest heading for Harry's two very worried looking friends, he waved his hand, and a small lollipop appeared, which he presented to the girl sobbing onto his shoulder. She took it with a smile, and immediately stopped crying. Harry looked up at his two bemused friends, and, trying to shift Elise's weight a little so he could talk, said,
"I don't know how she got here - Herm, do you remember Elise?"
Hermione's mouth opened in surprise as she remembered the small girl from the orphanage, and then directed Harry to take her to Dumbledore.
"What did you think I was going to do? Hide her in the common room?"
**
Albus Dumbledore smiled gently at the small girl sat in front of him.
"And how old are you, Elise?"
"Four and three-quarters," she announced proudly. "How old are you?"
"Too old to remember, dear, now, do you have a surname?"
"No."
Dumbledore stood slowly, and walked over to a long parchment stood on a small table in the corner. This was the scroll which recorded the birth of every magical child - and here she was, Elise Douglas - Elise was a fairly uncommon name, so the surname seemed of no matter. He looked at the small girl, and then at Harry, whose robes she had refused to let go of, and was still clinging to tightly.
She looked up at him with wide eyes.
"Please don't make me go back - they were mean."
Dumbledore sighed.
"I don't know where you could go, child."
"Er - she could," Sirius interrupted nervously, as though unsure of his decision, "She could come with me and Harry. There's more than enough space."
"Really?!" Elise looked at Harry, flinging her arms around his neck once more, "I can come with you?"
"Are you sure, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked.
"Certain, I think," he said in reply.
"Well then." Albus said, "Why don't you go with Sirius for now Elise, until Harry finishes school?" He watched, a smile forming as her eyes watered, and she tightened her grip on Harry, who was beginning to look visibly uncomfortable.
"You don't want to leave Harry?" he asked kindly.
She shook her head, hard.
Dumbledore looked at Harry, who shrugged.
"How about, you stay with Harry then, with the other students, for now." Elise grinned as he spoke, "On a trial. If everything goes well, you can stay until the end of year."
"Thank you!" she screeched. "Come on, Harry, I want to see everything."
Harry rolled his eyes and groaned, sure that it would be a while before he sat again, as he was dragged out of the room by the over excited child. As the door shut behind him, Sirius and Remus both burst out laughing.
"So, Sirius," Dumbledore said, "Quite a large family to look after now."
"Yes, I suppose you'll be quite the parent in a few months time," Remus grinned, "A teenager and a four year old. What a great mix!"
"Mmmm, well it's certainly different to my previous life, anyway."
"Yes, a new dawn in the life of the marauders, wouldn't you say?"
The End
A/N - The end. *Sob* And what a sickeningly happy ending - eh? I know the Elise thing was a bit pointless, but I just couldn't leave her in the orphanage - sorry!! Anyway - I hope everyone has enjoyed this series, and that you don't hate the ending. There may be an epilogue - I've not decided yet. A big thanks to Coqui, who has beta read for the later half of my stories, and has always done a fantastic job - make sure you read her story. She especially a fab job with this part - as it's so long!! Thanks to those who have emailed me, namely; Suzanne, Lizzy/Tygrestick, N.Kurmarhome, and Rede.
Again, thanks to Rede for the inspiration for some parts of the story, and for the wonderful part in the middle!
Thanks very much to those who have reviewed throughout the series, and especially those who have made the effort to review each part! Thanks to those who have reviewed since the last update:-
Lizzy/Tygrestick - Thanks, and I know it was a while, but I hope it was worth it!
The Hairy One - I've given up trying to decide which romance i should include - If i used H/G, R/H - my preference now, all the H/H people would be out tog get me, etc, etc..so I've decided it's simpler to not really include any!
someone2 - Thanks, and again, sorry it's a bit late..
Muggle Genius - I know, it was a slightly evil vliffhanger, but I think that a chapter shouldn't end without one! Thanks, anyways.
person - Thanks! And it is continued!
Padfoots Gal - Thanks!
() - Thanks!
Hazel - You don't have to stop reading!! They're not dead!! Yay!! Joy to the World!! (Like I was ever going to kill them, come on peoples.)
Coqui - Ah, well, you people don't want to see the state my story would be in if this girl didn't see ti first...although she did take ages this time ......kidding, Coqui. And I did use your edits - I just uploaded them wrong..
Mimi - er, slightly longer than 2 weeks, hope you survived Ok.. Thanks.
Zybenkizzashanta - Look - I haven't died!! I hope I didn't worry you! Thank you!
Stark Raving Loony - thanks for the fantastic review!! I hope Author Alert works - It hasn't been recently for me.
Sarah - glad you liked it, hope this one met any expectations.
Angel Face - Glad you liked it, I hope Katy isn't too bad.
Eugina - I don't really know why I picked a panther - I guess cos of the black fur/black hair match up, and the fact that they seem fierce, but quiet - Kinda like Harry, who is fierce when he needs to be, but gentle the rest of the time - or maybe I just like panthers ^_^ And I'm glad you though it was original - that's what I strive for with my stories.
Demon Child - Thanks!
Adelina - thanks - I'm sure you are glad Harry turned himself back - aren't you? Naughty fairy.
Quirky, Insane, Flakey - thanks! It is finished!
Phoenix - To get a story posted, you need to get an account, by clicking on the 'authors' tab at the top of all the pages, and then clicking on 'I don't have a password,' or something similar, or click 'register' at the top as well.. Thanks!
pantalaimon - Don't hate me cos I'm blonde!! Do you have any idea how annoying it is? He didn't need to be able to speak aloud - otherwise, how would the normal Animagi transformations work?
Jenn - I don't think there will be a sequel, an epilogue maybe, showing glimpses of the future, but not a sequel.
Crystal Music - Finished! Finished!
Shadow - Thanks!
Tonallan - I don't think I'm that good, but thanks anyway!
Katie Marie - They didn't die!!
Fringe Element - I agree..
Cassy - I prefer it now as well, these later parts are better that the earlier ones!
Orca Potter - I love the new Timothy series, It's really good! How many parts to this one? Another trilogy?
Sirius' Gal - They are saved!
Another long list...sorry to anyone who is annoyed by this, but I fell it has to be done!
Anyway, I may be doing an epilogue, but I'm not sure about a sequel. If I have an idea - maybe, you never know.
Until next time.
Keep watching the skies.
(what TV show is that from - I think I saw it on the Simpsons once - but i think it was a spoof of another show.)
Rufus ^_^
Please Reveiw?? Come on - It's the Last Part!! Don't Be mean!!