Part Five
Part Five

"How did he do that?" Asked Remus staring at Harry's unconscious figure.

"What's going on?" Demanded Poppy Pomfrey sleepily from the doorway.

She was almost knocked over when Snape pushed past her pale faced, his dark eyes wide as he saw the wand in Harry's hand.

"Who gave him a wand?!" Demanded Snape angrily.

"He s-summoned it, himself, from across the room." Stuttered Remus in reply.

"Hey! That's my wand." Exclaimed Madame Pomfrey edging nearer.

"He stunned himself with it." Said Dumbledore holding Snape back as he tried to get closer.

"That's all." He added glancing at Harry.

"Thank Merlin." Gasped Snape before sitting down and sinking into the hard chair.

"Perhaps not everything is as bleak as it seemed." Said Dumbledore quietly.

"What do you mean Albus? What's been going on?" Asked Lupin still feeling quite shocked.

"We were worried Harry would try and commit suicide. He's not been very stable since he arrived." Replied Dumbledore.

"Harry? But… He wouldn't… Not Harry." Insisted Lupin staring at Harry's small pale face.

"He almost tried it earlier. But I interrupted him." Admitted Snape from his chair.

"I suppose you talked with him then Severus." Said Dumbledore with the hint of a smile playing in his eyes.

"It seems I may have had some effect." Said Snape pulling Madame Pomfrey's wand from Harry's hand and handing it to the matron who was standing quietly next to them looking slightly appalled.

"What made him stun himself?" Asked Poppy Pomfrey suddenly.

"He seemed to be in some sort of trance… He was… talking to himself, almost as if he'd gone completely crazy. That was why I summoned you Albus." Reported Lupin frowning with anxiety.

Dumbledore frowned in thought. But then he smiled grimly and said.

"I think he'll be alright for a while. But perhaps you should stay here Remus. He might be more coherent when he wakes."

With that, everyone left except Remus who returned to Harry's side and resumed his vigil feeling steadily more uneasy as the time passed.

~~~

Dumbledore's frown returned as he went back into his office. Fawkes' note of greeting went unrecognised as he paced the room.

Something wasn't quite right about Harry's behaviour, there was something that didn't add up. It had been a shock to imagine that Harry would lose his way so drastically in the first place… Perhaps that was it… Perhaps they had overlooked something that might have provoked such a sudden transformation. Then Dumbledore realised what had been nagging at him. He quickly scanned the shelves behind his desk before taking his pensieve and the school sorting hat down and putting them on the desk.

~~~

McGonagall entered the Hospital Wing carrying two mugs of butterbeer. Handing one to Lupin she drew up a chair.

"You should go home and get some rest Remus. You don't need to be here." She said gently.

Remus shook his head. "I don't think I'd get any rest, besides, I do have to be here. I have to be here for Harry… He's… He's all I have left."
Lupin grabbed Harry's hand and used the other to squeeze his burning eyes.

McGonagall put a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be okay Remus. He's always been a determined kid. He wont let you down." She said trying not to let the words catch in her throat.

"You're tired. Go home. We'll let you know right away when he wakes up." She insisted forcefully.

Nodding conciliatorily Remus stood up and slowly made his way out of the room.

McGonagall watched him leave and then looked down at Harry sadly.

"You see Harry. You're still needed. You're still wanted. No-one blames you. Please trust us."

~~~

Remus returned to his run-down home feeling lower than ever. There was a dim light coming from the front window and he realised that he'd left the fire burning when he'd left in such a hurry earlier.

Cussing his forgetfulness Remus stumbled through the door only to be met with the shock of his life.

There was someone else there with him.

~~~

Dumbledore was pleased to see that Minerva had managed to persuade Remus to go home.

"Why have you brought the sorting hat Albus?" Asked McGonagall.

"I need it to talk to Harry."

"What? I don't understand." Said McGonagall frowning.

"The hat does more than sort people Minerva." Dumbledore reminded her quickly whilst taking out his wand.

"Are you going to wake him up?" Asked Minerva suddenly.

"Yes. The hat can hardly talk to him whilst he's unconscious!"

"It's just that I promised Remus we'd tell him when Harry woke up." Explained McGonagall.

"This really shouldn't wait Minerva. Besides I might be wrong, and if I am I wouldn't want to explain it to Remus."

McGonagall nodded and Dumbledore pointed his wand at Harry.

"Enervate!"

Harry's eyelids flickered open and he tensed up slightly regarding the two professors worriedly.

Dumbledore put the hat on his own head.

Albus! It isn't time for the sorting yet is it? My song isn't finished.

'No no, I've got a job for you. I need you to talk to Harry Potter.'

Why? What has he done?

'I need you to find out what's been affecting him recently.'

Alright then.

Dumbledore took off the hat and replaced his own.

"Harry I want you to put on the hat now." Said Dumbledore gently.

~~~

Harry reached up and took the hat in his shaking hands. Was he being re-sorted? Did Dumbledore think he was unworthy of Gryffindor? Was he going to be moved to Slytherin? Harry slid the hat onto his head with great trepidation slightly surprised that it no longer slid right down over his eyes.

Hello Harry

.

'Um… Hello.'

Just wait a minute.

'Uh… Okay.'

Oh my! Now I see what Albus was talking about. You're racked with guilt aren't you? And confused. Gryffindor alive your mind's a mess!

'I guess it is.'

Well, why don't you let them help you? I know you're scared but they sure want to help you.

'Maybe.'

Okay well you can take me off now Harry.

Harry slid the hat off and almost smiled before the guilt forced the frown back onto his face.

Dumbledore put the hat back onto his head and his face betrayed that his suspicions, whatever they had been, were being confirmed by the tattered old hat.

~~~

Remus almost fainted straight away. He could hardly breathe as he realised what he was seeing.

"Oh God." He said grabbing the kitchen counter to steady himself.

"Remus…? Thank Merlin! Please help me!" Gasped Sirius from the floor.

"You're alive!" Exclaimed Lupin dropping to his hands and knees and almost unbelieving the feeling of Sirius' shoulder beneath his hand.

"Barely." Said Sirius hoarsely with a strained grin.

"But… How?" Demanded Lupin urgently ignoring the joke.

Sirius frowned with incomprehension before he passed out.

Remus caught him before he hit his head on the floor and realised that he'd better help the friend he'd thought was dead before it became a reality.

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~

A/N

Mwuhahahaha!

I am the queen at cliffhangers! I swear it just comes naturally to me.

I'm sorry. This was going to be the last part, but then I decided to spring that one on you before the end and have a modest six part story.

So yeah, the next part is the last part!

Love Yas!

Jona

xxx