Disclaimer: all characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
a/n Story dedicated to Moppet Poppet, Cheating Death's 500th reviewer!
prepare for a super long author's note at the end. This is the final closing chapter, not including the 2 epilogues at the end. Those don't really count as part of the story line though, just something done for fun. Thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed WS!!
Of Western Stars By neutral
Chapter thirty-two - of creation and invention
//\\
On May 29th, an article that stretched over the entire front page of the Daily Prophet triggered an uproar in the wizarding community. Barn owls, tan owls, snowy owls dotted the open night skies, leaving muggle environmentalists to speculate habitat destruction was increasing owl activity. Dark cloaked people gathered in small corners, whispering, disputing, then outright shouting as they held the newspaper with shaking hands. The reaction came close to matching that of Halloween, five years ago.
It wasn't that the news was as shocking as the downfall of the greatest Dark Lord in the history of the wizarding world. The news, compared to that, was quite ordinary. It was simply narrating the details of the trial between Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, quoted and supported with pictures.
But after five years of unbroken peace, people had come to view any news relating to the Dark Lord was a sort of evil omen. And Sirius Black was certainly one.
The people were horrified. Some were still in denial. Others were outraged. A select few smiled, claiming that they knew it all along. And a few more were simply confused.
But compared to the second story, the first lost every significance.
The Boy Who Lived was adopted. Adopted by the alleged murderer of his parents and thirteen others, and soon to be given a home by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Many were unsure of what to think. They had idealized Harry Potter so long that they never considered his family life. He was an idol, elevated to the position of someone untouchable, despite his age, and they never stopped to think that he was only a six and a half year old boy who needed a family, needed a bed, needed to sleep, eat, and play like any other normal boy.
Some were doubtful. They questioned Sirius Black's trustworthiness, his innocence, and his ability to take care of any human being, much less a child. And the very few people who actually knew about Remus Lupin's condition were nothing short of horrified. All in all, only three people were truly happy for them, Arabella Figg, Minerva McGonagall, and Albus Dumbledore.
\\//
It was like claws were holding him down.
He remembered hearing a familiar voice calling, but no matter how he fought against them, he couldn't move. He heard the person scream and shout, heard pounding above him that sent ripples through the air, urging him to struggle and tear away from the light. But he was so tired, and it was so difficult…
After a while, the voice was gone, and he was alone in the blinding whiteness. The silence grew deafening, and Harry began to feel the flickers of panic. He had fallen to that silence countless times before: after Dudley had pushed him down the stairs, after he tipped Uncle Vernon's coffee over his suit, after the beating that sent him into Sirius' care. He used to relish that peace, but now, it frightened him beyond anything he remembered.
Then, without warning, a searing heat on his arm burned into his skin, sinking like water seeping into a sponge into his flesh. As if the cloud dissipated around his body, the white water drowned into a pitch black at the blink of an eye, whipping around Harry ripping at the comforting numbness the light had offered him before. Harry gasped as a wave of biting pain assaulted his chest, clenching his lungs in an icy grip.
Harry rasped dryly into his hand, an attempt to silence the raking coughs. His body was stiff, his throat on fire, and there was a sinking heaviness in his limbs that made his blood feel like lead in his veins. Harry trembled despite the warm weight that engulfed him, unable to ignore the sinking desperation that something horrible had just happened.
Harry forced open his eyes in a desperate effort, blinking rapidly as cold air bit into his lids. He could barely make out the curve of a whitewashed ceiling overhead, grey in the dark room, and the soft covers tucked snugly around him. Harry frowned, struggling to recall how he came to be there, but the pervious dreams of the hollow brightness was slipping away like wisps of smoke.
Memories returned to him in a suffocating wave of images. Of the rat morphing into a short, beady eyed man. Of Sirius, bleeding and dying, but struggling to stand. Then a icy fire rippling across his throat, and dry water drowning his lungs.
Harry's heart leaped into his throat.
Something happened to Sirius, Harry remembered with a sinking stomach. Harry knew, but didn't understand what happened. He knew that man that Sirius hated, and Peter tried to hurt him. But that wasn't on the surface of his mind. All of those confusions were overshadowed by a sinking fear in his stomach. Did Sirius leave? Did he die?
Harry struggled to sit, straining his eyes through the surrounding darkness. His bed creaked as he moved, the white frame shimmering in the dark night.
Sirius couldn't die, could he?
Harry drew a shuddering breath, feeling a heavy weight wrap around his chest. Even the shock of drowning, suffocating, and choking faded at that fear. Sirius couldn't be gone like his parents, he couldn't be gone too! He was the only person that Harry felt at ease with, the only person who he trusted without reserve.
Please, please, don't let Padfoot die! He'd go back to Uncle Vernon, if it just meant that Sirius was alive. Please…?
Choking for breath, feeling his neck prickle and sting, Harry hauled his unresponsive body across the bed. He tried to drag his legs over the edge, but the surface beneath him felt unevenly swaying. He half stumbled over the edge and barely caught the wall for balance. The linoleum floor was slippery under his feet. With a muffled cry, Harry fell in a helpless heap on the ground.
No, no, no, no, please…
A sound aroused him earlier than usual that morning, but after the years, Sirius had always been a light sleeper. When he struggled awake in the springy hospital bed, he was groggily confused to the room still dark, candlelight flickering off the walls. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he startled when he noticed Harry's bed completely empty, the blanket thrown haphazardly in a corner. Sirius jerked into a sitting position, searching the room desperately. A soft moan caught his attention. He nearly fell out of bed when he caught sight of a small form curled up on the floor, huddled on the linoleum in defensive ball.
"Harry?" Sirius whispered incredulously. He scrambled to his feet, the surprise of Harry finally awakening overshadowed by concern.
Harry moaned again, shivering. He was lying in just a thin set of hospital clothes; it must be flimsy in the chilly castle. His emerald eyes were glazed and unfocused, but clouded with a frantic glint. The dimly lit room was too dark for the child's poor vision; he held out his hands as if frenziedly searching.
"Harry," Sirius breathed tightly, falling to his knees beside the child and catching a small hand. "What are you doing out of bed? It's freezing."
Harry jolted at the touch, a shudder raking through his slight frame. He turned his face in Sirius' direction, opening his mouth soundlessly, but couldn't seem to find the words to speak. Harry's expression so muddled that Sirius couldn't even understand.
Carefully, Sirius lifted the child, inwardly wincing when he felt how cold he was. He wrapped a thin sheet around him, hugging the child close for warmth. Sirius flipped back the warm covers of his bed to slip the child comfortably under snug blankets. Harry was still silent, but his emerald eyes never wavered from his godfather's face. But as Sirius began to draw away, Harry's hand reached out and grasped Sirius' sleeve firmly.
The raw desperation in the child's eyes stayed Sirius in his place. Somewhere along the timeline of two weeks ago, Harry transformed from James son, to his godson, to a child, his child, who desperately needed his protection. It happened so quickly, or perhaps so subtly that he didn't notice until it completely sneaked up on him. Sirius lightly loosened Harry's hand and enfolded it gently in his own.
"What's wrong? Saying something, Harry," he whispered almost pleadingly, moving to sit beside Harry on the thickly padded infirmary bed. There was a blankness in the child's emerald eyes that unnerved him, and Sirius wondered if Peter's actions was the final straw that cracked him beyond repair.
Harry didn't stir, still gazing at Sirius as if he was the only person in an empty world. But when Sirius tentatively touched his cheek, the child's expression crumbled. Small arms latched around his neck, and a mass of dark hair blinded him.
"You're still here. You're still here," Harry whispered, voice strained with a sort of desperation.
Sirius hesitated at the six year old's abrupt gesture, and for a moment, stared mutely at the trembling child. Watching his godfather stabbed and almost killed was probably a painful blow, and the trauma of having his throat slit with a jagged piece of glass only fueled it. Sirius drew Harry in a loose hug; silently wishing he would hide him there forever. Harry had been through so much, too much for his young age.
"Yes, I am. And I'm not going to go anywhere," Sirius finally said, running his hand through Harry's untamed hair in an action that seemed to comfort them both.
Harry just shook his head, arms tightening around his neck. Sirius wondered what exactly he meant by such a simple action.
Sirius swallowed uneasily, soothingly patting the trembling child's shoulders. "I'm sorry I scared you."
Harry fell still, leaning stiffly his godfather with his face hidden in his shirt. He didn't make a sound for what seemed like hours; Sirius thought the child had sunk back into slumber. But when his breathing became raspy and erratic, his shoulders tensing with discomfort, Sirius became concerned.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Sirius asked, gently prying his arms from his neck. He brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead, but Harry turned from the touch, burying his face against his shirt.
The child's shoulders trembled again.
"Are you hurt?" Sirius asked worriedly. "Do you feel ill? What is it?"
Gently, he tilted Harry's chin up, and stilled, unsure of what to say. The child's emerald eyes were glazed with unshed tears; Harry seemed to desperately holding them back. Sirius' throat constricted at the sight. Harry never cried no matter how much he was hurt or how frightened he was; for him to be crying now must be like ripping away the frame that, for years, held together shattered glass.
"It's alright," Sirius said as soothing as he could. He had no idea what was wrong, but didn't know what else to say.
Those words of assurance seemed to have the opposite effect. The bundle in his arms shuddered violently, and tears cascaded down Harry's cheeks without restrain. But even then, he was silent and enduring, making no sound even as the tears streaked his face and stained Sirius' hand. Feebly, he tried to turn his face away.
Sirius drew the child in a protective embrace, running his fingers through the windblown hair. But every attempt at comfort just made Harry cry harder. Soon, he was caught in a fit of full fledged sobbing, gasping his shirt sleeve distraughtly. His shoulders wretched and strained from the effort, and he coughed and hiccupped in between tears. Sirius whispered words of comfort, gently rocking the small child back and forth.
"Please, don't leave… don't go anywhere," Harry rasped out between sobs.
"I won't," Sirius whispered softly. "I promise this time."
"Sirius?"
Remus peeked from behind the door, a bit bewildered at the tense silence in the room.
"Speak softly. He's asleep," Sirius whispered, not looking up.
Those words must have make no sense to Remus, seeing that Harry had been asleep all week, but he didn't pursue it. Soundlessly, he moved into the room, sliding the portrait shut behind them. He smiled when he caught sight of his friend leaning against the headboard, with his godson resting peacefully against the crook of his arm. The bed wasn't wide enough to accommodate a six year old stretched horizontally across, and the blankets hung over the edge where his legs rested over the frame.
"Did Harry wake up?" Remus asked softly, drawing a chair beside the two.
Sirius nodded, still patting the child's back rhythmically in a calming lull. "He cried," he added, almost as an afterthought. "Harry never cried, no matter how much he got hurt. He never cries…" he trailed off, sinking back into a thoughtful silence. "He was afraid of being left alone."
Remus countenance fell into a mixture of understanding, sympathy, and sadness. He couldn't hold his gaze on his friend's face without feeling a flicker of regret; dropping his head, he tentatively rearranged the blankets more around snugly the boy.
"He's been alone for too long," Remus said finally. "But Harry has a family and a person who cares about him more than anything else in the world. He's going to be happy."
Sirius nodded distractedly, still rocking the child gently back and forth. His hand tightening around the child's thin arm was the only sign that he heard at all.
Abruptly, Remus smiled, leaning an elbow on the bed and resting his head on a hand thoughtfully. "It's his seventh birthday in two months. We should celebrate, make up for all those years we missed…"
Rather than looking delighted, Sirius mood depressed even more. He sighed resignedly, twisting a corner of the blanket between his fingers.
"What is it?" Remus asked, a bit caught off guard by Sirius' grim expression.
"I was hoping we could celebrate his second birthday or something," Sirius mumbled. "He's growing up too fast. I wish we could spend more time with him before he grows up. Five years is too short, we should have at least ten."
Remus paused; he understood the message behind his words. Sirius was still bitter about his five year imprisonment, and although he never mentioned it out loud, Remus knew that he always wished he escaped Azkaban earlier.
"You shouldn't hang on to 'what if's,' Sirius. Think about now, the future, but don't linger on things that you can't change," Remus said quietly.
Sirius lowered his head slightly, shoulders slumping. "I know, but…" He trailed off into silence.
"What are you planning to do for Harry's birthday?" Remus asked with a rather forced smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Sirius shrugged, looking a bit sheepish at having never considered it before. "I… I don't know. Probably take him to Diagon Alley. I was too preoccupied with the idea of moving back into Black Manor."
Remus' grin widened, "When are you planning to move? The reporters are all desperate to know."
Sirius didn't reply for several minutes, gently rocking the sleeping child. Slowly, an answering smile spread over his face, a bit sad and rueful, but a smile nonetheless. "I'll hex them if they try ask Harry anything," he grumbled. "As soon as that power grubbing woman lets us. We're going to hide out in the estate. Want to join us, Moony?"
Remus sighed, grinning at the same time. The Black Estate was moderately sized, as moderately sized as magical residences were, buried deep away from civilization.
Five years ago, the idea of Sirius locking himself up in the European wilderness as some sort of hermit would have been a laugh. But after being convicted, even with a crime he didn't commit, people would be suspicious no matter what the history books said, or how many times he proved himself. Sirius probably would never live a normal life until decades after his sentence.
Harry would be completely bewildered by his celebrity and hero status. The child had suffered from almost an entire lifetime of neglect. With the media chasing him left and right, an incompetent minister out to use him as a stepping stone, people who almost hero worship him, Harry would be ripped apart the moment he stepped into the public. Harry couldn't live with that. He was far too young, far too innocent, far too timid.
They couldn't be apart of either societies, magical or muggle. But Remus doubted that Sirius cared. His world consisted of only his godson and his friend, nothing else mattered in his mind. Sirius and Harry were in a world of their own creation, a haven that veiled them from the demons of the past. And to know that he was welcome in that sanctuary as well gave Remus a comfortable feeling of warmth that made the past five years seem like a distant dream.
"Of course," Remus leaned back in his chair, pointedly glaring at Sirius. "Who else will keep the you in line? You'll spoil Harry rotten."
//\\
On May 30th, a picture that spanned over half the front page of the Daily Prophet baffled, alleviated, and angered many.
It was a picture centered on two people, clad in bleached clothes of the hospital white, looking flustered and cornered, having just left the Hogwarts infirmary. Sirius Black, pale and thin from his five year imprisonment and two weeks of emotional strain, knelt on the smooth brick floor. Despite the weariness in his countenance, he still had the gleam that betrayed his young age, and clear blue eyes of flaming intensity. He glared out from the picture as if trying to bore holes through the reporter's head, protectively clutching against his shirt a small bundle drowned in oversized clothes. Once in a while, the slight form would tremble, and burrow deeper in his shoulder, revealing tendrils of untamed black hair.
Sirius turned from his glaring, eyes softening as he watched the child, shifting so that he veiled him completely from prying eyes of the cameras. His mouth formed words that must have been soothing reassurances, because the dark haired boy relaxed and lifted his head timidly. Harry, far from the image of a boy of perfections, looked four instead of six, and had the gaunt appearance of someone recently recovering from a deathly illness. He so pale that the blended in with Sirius' white shirt on the poorly printed newspaper. His large emerald eyes darted between his godfather, and the swarming crowd, and abruptly latched onto Sirius' neck again. A sleeve of his large shirt pulled away, exposing an unhealthily thin arm that spoke of years of mistreatment in his relatives' care.
More cameras flashed.
Sirius turned his back completely to the obtrusive reporters, lifting Harry with ease. He rubbed the small child's back comfortingly, at the same time, slapped aside a hand of a reporter that came too close. A lanky figure with gray eyes, and light brown hair shoved his way into the picture with difficulty. Remus stopped beside them and spoke mutely to Sirius with concern. Taking off his cloak, he draped it over them both, and escorted Sirius by the elbow against the impeding crowd. Pushing the desperate people back with unnatural strength for someone so emaciated, Remus led them both from the picture frame.
People were unsure what to think. Those who still had doubts of Sirius Black's innocence were alleviated, while others claimed that it was a purposeful display of deceit. And with the young boy so obviously attached to his godfather, people questioned whether it was wise to leave him in the influence of someone like Black. Even if he was innocent, he still had five years of Azkaban overshadowing him.
But whatever the response against the three people were, they didn't know and didn't care.
On May 31st, exactly five years and seven months after Voldemort's downfall, Harry Potter went home.
\\//
*
The end
I am going to refrain from ranting; that'll destroy the mood. *grins* But it felt like I was eating cheese when I reread it.
I just destroyed the chessily fluffy mood. Anyway… Originally, I had the last chapter planned for Vernon torture, but then changed my mind. It would be weird, after chapters of Sirius, Harry, and Remus to suddenly turn to something as insignificant as the Dursleys… they're insignificant! They should be ant food! Ahem… anyway… they're not actually that bad in the books. It's just in WS, as an AU, the Dursleys' evilness was sort of cranked up a notch. Okay, fine… several notches. In the book, they weren't that bad… (wait, I take that back). Although, in book 2, they did go out of their way to starve Harry. It's hard to say, there are so many contradictions in the Hp books. Humm… I'm going off topic.
Hopefully the development of the godfather and godson relationship made sense. From when Sirius took Harry out of the Dursleys care to the time Remus found them, Harry had to advance from being afraid and distrustful of every adult to completely attached to his godfather. It took a lot of crawling slow chapters, but I really wanted to establish something substantial. Did it make sense? Was it believable? Did it seem jerky and fragmented? 'cause those chapters were suppose to be the foundation of this entire story, and if I screwed that up, WS is basically… umm… the leaning tower of pisa.
Remus isn't Remus-ish, but hey, he is about seven years younger, and that makes a huge difference. He's not quite as cool and composed as in PoA. Plus, he just came really close to losing everything all over again, so that cracked some shells. He was never that composed in WS to begin with, considering what happened with the soccer / football practice in which he was ready to strangle some little kids. PoA's Remus would have been smiling the entire time, but WS' Remus was wringing his instructions book to death. But ack… hopefully, it's still believable.
Epilogue, I only have 2 chapters planned, but stuffed so many details in the last one that it feels like an undersized burrito with too much filling. Well…
Ack. Now I'm hungry.
Considering how desperately I want to get into the sequel, I might combine epilogues. They're already really long individually though, so it might be about 15 pages long.
So much for attempting to bring the story around full circle. *sigh* This only ties up in a circle with a tail. The birthday reference, remember Harry's dream in chapter… umm… 20ish? He dreams about Sirius leading him through the streets in Diagon Alley and asking him what he wants to his birthday. That was actually a reflection of the future.
I hope you all enjoyed it despite those flaws…
As promised, a long rant of WS *kaydee gave me permission!* Only now, I forgot what I was going to say. Urg. The 2nd chapter of PoM was undoubtedly the worst chapter, and as for the best, donnuo, I suppose I could rate them on which one was the most fun to write. That would probably be chapter 3. The middle had a few repetitive scenes since I tried to tell it through a more dynamic point of view by writing a scene from both Sirius and Harry's point of view. It was more for practice than anything, but I went a bit overboard 'cause they all got crammed into the story. Through the middle, I almost added Snape to it, who would undoubtedly drive little Harry against the wall and Sirius to punch him, but I have a lot of trouble balancing a large cast. *sigh* it's a stupid habit. The ending of WS was almost going to be a remake of the Sorcerer's stone, only set in the Chamber of Secrets (it's complicated, I don't know what I was thinking then), but it didn't fit. *sigh*
It's so tempting to add a sequel that takes place in school year with the new, more powerful, creepily disturbing Harry through school, but there it really doesn't go with my style… All my stories have a compressed time frame no more than one month long, so it'll be hard… not to mention torture for all of us. As a result, Clawtrack of a Star doesn't actually take place during his school year, but the months prior. And, once again, the time frame is very compact. This story has a violent and bitter edge to it, it's very fast paced and has more of a plot than PoM and WS. But humm… I should probably drop some clues. So anyway, I'll give you keywords: Sirius, Harry, Remus (obviously), Voldemort, Death Eaters, betrayal, death, regret, guilt (*sigh* it's a reoccurring theme), Peter, and James.
It was sort of tempting to write a fic where Sirius raises Harry from birth, but I sort of wanted to establish a kind of trust between them. Harry, after all his experiences, would be a lot more attached to his godfather. To have a child knowing nothing but torture and hell for the few years of his life, and suddenly be rescued from it by someone who loves him more than even himself, he would naturally be very attached. Plus, he'll be the closest to the Harry now, selfless and foolishly brave, but with a bitter and angry edge (a bit of a Gryffindor and Slytherin). As hateful as the Dursleys are, they are still very important in shaping Harry's character. Plus, Remus was fun to manipulate. *cackle* Also, it's only fair for Sirius to earn the trust… in other words, Sirius torture, which is always really fun. But… *ahem* moving right along…
Once again, I hope you all enjoyed WS despite how slowly crawly the plot was, or how creepy Harry was, or how evil Wormtail was, or how many times the poor kid passed out. *grins*
BabyGirl76705 - Sirius does seem a bit different from the books, but he seems better this way. He can't really treat a 6 year old Harry like the 13 year old Harry. In Clawtracts of a Star, Harry is ten, I'm not quite sure if he should be 9 or 10, though. Ack... still debating. I'm glad you like all three stories, thank you so much for taking your time to review!
kaydee - Ack, this author's note is about two pages long. you're going to kill me at the extent I bashed, but you gave me permission!! It's not fair… well, I didn't bash too badly, I forgot what I was going to say for most of it. *sigh* look what you did! First, you gave me the ranting virius, and now... *sighs again* humm... escape plans from a trex? Wait, you made escape plans from a trex? It could come in handy though, if you were ever under attack from something like... an elephant or a kangaroo. You know, I got pounched on the constrictor snake in science once, it was this three foot long albino who was on steriods or something. Either that or really hungry... *sigh* but snakes a fascinating creatures. Am I ranting again? *bangs head against table* humm... now that you mention it, Hermione's domestic life is really down played. Perhaps JKR is saving something shocking about her, like... maybe she's distantly related to Riddle! Her worst fears were never revealed though. That would have been interesting. I read your review in PoM, and humm... kaydee = accident prone... eek! Running headlong into a brick wall sounds painful. Did you kill the bee for revenge in the end? I have never broken or sprained any bones, but I keep catching weird diseases. Which is strange 'cause all my stories have someone spilling their guts out with lots of pain descriptions... *sigh* its hypocrisy, isn't it?
stormyfire - really? yay, that's great to know! but i shouldn't be cheering when someone's crying... ack! *offers tissues*
Lily of the Valley - I have been meaning to check out your story! I will as soon as I finish up WS, which should be sometime before the end of this week. Ack, that's a stupid habit of mine, when I write, I can't read, or else I start absorbing the stuff I read like sponge and leak it in my writing. I know what you mean by writing in bursts though! I do that too, and when the burst begins to fade, I go back and reedit. Its amazing how you don't need drafts though! I usually do several, but that's being paraniod. Sometimes, I write out of instinct and its great, other times, it's junk. Like there was about two chapters in PoM that got completely deleted because of that. I hope you enjoyed WS though!
Anoriel - nope, there're 2 more epilogue chapters coming soon!
oceansun - thank you!!
wellduh... - I will! Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as much as WS!
Japangirlcarley24 - I'm sure there are a lot of other great stories that are better than this one, but its great that you enjoyed WS so much. Thank you! I'm very flattered!
Lost Book - ack, sorry! My chapters are beginning to get longer though, and the sequel has longer chapters.
Kate Potter - yeah, they will be very happy with each other, especially after what happened. Sometimes, I almost wish Harry would stay 6 years old for life... *sigh*
Kim - there're 3 versions of the chapter? really? I didn't know that. What happened?
Kit Cloudkicker - well, there are 2 epilogue chapters about the time Harry moves into his new home, and a month afterwards. The sequel will be really fun to write!
FatnSassyQuattaHoss - very neat pen name! yeah, Harry's been through a lot! But he's going to be happy.
Super saya-jin Gotan - it actually takes place before Hogwarts, during the winter. But yes, some Weasleys will be there, not sure about Hermione though.
Sarasi - thank you! I hope you'll enjoy the sequel too!
Jrizx - thank you so much!! I'm flattered!
illustrious sorrow - umm... CD sorta died, didn't it? Which is sad 'cause I have the ending all written out. Urg, don't worry, it will be finished. As for PoM, well, hopefully, that will be finished. It's wavering. Don't be angry!
Phoenix - thank you!!
smile7499 - *grins* that's great you're enjoying it! Harry and Sirius deserve a happy ending.
Mayleesa - yeah, everyone did really hate me for chapter 28 *grins* very misleading at the events that occurred. Evil, wasn't it? Especially since ffNET died too...
Fustrated - of course you won't die! Of course, if you did, that wouldn't be my fault... right?
Eclectic Angel - it shows very obviously in the sequel, but the phoenix feather in Harry's arm does a lot of things for him that wouldn't normally be possible.
YouDontEvenWantToKnow - very interesting pen name! Is this considered as a fast update?
Kaylin - that sounds fun! Where did you go?
Donja - was it? I thought it was Omi from WK 'cause he lost his memory when he got kidnapped. I can't remember, ack...
Chad-Pendragon - thank you!! I hope you enjoy PoM and CD just as much as WS. WS is by far the most descriptive of the three though, and thank you for reviewing so many chapters and the guestbook! *offers a... box of cookies?* Wow, your cat's name is lucifer? And your penname is catsmeat? umm... you're not... eating your cats, are you?
Indiana Jones - oh, ouch. No computer? How do you live? Well, I'm posting quickly so you'll have a chance to read the sequel by Sunday! I'll see if I can squeeze everything in...
maraudermoony - thank you! happy endings are always so fun... of course, evil endings are even more fun but they seem so cruel.
PViptertooth - thank you so much!!
Puddles - eh? Harry tried to eat Peter? When? Where? Why? Ack!
Ruse - everyone wants more PoM, but that fic is like a sink hole with spikes for me! *sigh* I have up to chapter 13 written, but it's horrible! They're all being reedited, and for now, WS' sequel is my focus. *sigh* people are going to kill me when I put PoM back on hiatus. *hides*
Rainbow - you're working on a fic? What'll it be about? Tell me when you post it and I'll be sure to check it out! A career in writing... that'll be really neat! But I'm such a horrible essay writer, it's not even funny.
serena cherry - wow, thank you! I'm glad you liked WS so much!
Padfoot, Moony, Prongs 4ever - I will! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Sandrine Black - well, there's this, which is techniquely the end, but there are 2 more epilogues on the way. Thank you for signing my guestbook!
The Unicorn Whisper - wow, I'm flattered! I've been reading your stories too and enjoyed them immensely, except I have a really bad habit of not reviewing... *hides* It was a great surprise to see that you've been reading my stories. I'm glad you like the way Sirius was protrayed! He seems really different from the books though, but he was really underplayed. *sigh* JKR needs to give us more Sirius. humm... the sequel. Well, the plot for the sequel can actually stand alone without WS, but it borrows the character relationships. Beyond that, they have very little in common, but I hope you'll enjoy that too!
Otaku freak - thank you!! yeah, Harry will be very happy, and so will Sirius and Remus. It was a big turn from what happened in the beginning, wasn't it?
Nicky - humm... I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that passage in PoM. I guess it could be because Remus was so preoccupied by the thought of Harry spending his last year in the orphanage rather than his experience with Voldemort. Voldemort seems very much ignored, isn't he? humm... ack, a horrible mistake. In PoM, Remus is harsher though. With what happened when Harry disappeared, he was affected to. He responded by shutting himself off emotionally, whereas Sirius sort of locked himself away. Urg... should have addressed that in the fic though. As for the sequel, well, it is sort of a Sirius and Harry story, but... umm... it's hard to describe without giving away the plot. You'll see by WS's sequel chapter 5.
Lady Foxfire - he will, see? Everything worked out great for them both. *sigh* I wish JKR let Sirius out of Azkaban earlier...
a/n Story dedicated to Moppet Poppet, Cheating Death's 500th reviewer!
prepare for a super long author's note at the end. This is the final closing chapter, not including the 2 epilogues at the end. Those don't really count as part of the story line though, just something done for fun. Thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed WS!!
Of Western Stars By neutral
Chapter thirty-two - of creation and invention
//\\
On May 29th, an article that stretched over the entire front page of the Daily Prophet triggered an uproar in the wizarding community. Barn owls, tan owls, snowy owls dotted the open night skies, leaving muggle environmentalists to speculate habitat destruction was increasing owl activity. Dark cloaked people gathered in small corners, whispering, disputing, then outright shouting as they held the newspaper with shaking hands. The reaction came close to matching that of Halloween, five years ago.
It wasn't that the news was as shocking as the downfall of the greatest Dark Lord in the history of the wizarding world. The news, compared to that, was quite ordinary. It was simply narrating the details of the trial between Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, quoted and supported with pictures.
But after five years of unbroken peace, people had come to view any news relating to the Dark Lord was a sort of evil omen. And Sirius Black was certainly one.
The people were horrified. Some were still in denial. Others were outraged. A select few smiled, claiming that they knew it all along. And a few more were simply confused.
But compared to the second story, the first lost every significance.
The Boy Who Lived was adopted. Adopted by the alleged murderer of his parents and thirteen others, and soon to be given a home by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Many were unsure of what to think. They had idealized Harry Potter so long that they never considered his family life. He was an idol, elevated to the position of someone untouchable, despite his age, and they never stopped to think that he was only a six and a half year old boy who needed a family, needed a bed, needed to sleep, eat, and play like any other normal boy.
Some were doubtful. They questioned Sirius Black's trustworthiness, his innocence, and his ability to take care of any human being, much less a child. And the very few people who actually knew about Remus Lupin's condition were nothing short of horrified. All in all, only three people were truly happy for them, Arabella Figg, Minerva McGonagall, and Albus Dumbledore.
\\//
It was like claws were holding him down.
He remembered hearing a familiar voice calling, but no matter how he fought against them, he couldn't move. He heard the person scream and shout, heard pounding above him that sent ripples through the air, urging him to struggle and tear away from the light. But he was so tired, and it was so difficult…
After a while, the voice was gone, and he was alone in the blinding whiteness. The silence grew deafening, and Harry began to feel the flickers of panic. He had fallen to that silence countless times before: after Dudley had pushed him down the stairs, after he tipped Uncle Vernon's coffee over his suit, after the beating that sent him into Sirius' care. He used to relish that peace, but now, it frightened him beyond anything he remembered.
Then, without warning, a searing heat on his arm burned into his skin, sinking like water seeping into a sponge into his flesh. As if the cloud dissipated around his body, the white water drowned into a pitch black at the blink of an eye, whipping around Harry ripping at the comforting numbness the light had offered him before. Harry gasped as a wave of biting pain assaulted his chest, clenching his lungs in an icy grip.
Harry rasped dryly into his hand, an attempt to silence the raking coughs. His body was stiff, his throat on fire, and there was a sinking heaviness in his limbs that made his blood feel like lead in his veins. Harry trembled despite the warm weight that engulfed him, unable to ignore the sinking desperation that something horrible had just happened.
Harry forced open his eyes in a desperate effort, blinking rapidly as cold air bit into his lids. He could barely make out the curve of a whitewashed ceiling overhead, grey in the dark room, and the soft covers tucked snugly around him. Harry frowned, struggling to recall how he came to be there, but the pervious dreams of the hollow brightness was slipping away like wisps of smoke.
Memories returned to him in a suffocating wave of images. Of the rat morphing into a short, beady eyed man. Of Sirius, bleeding and dying, but struggling to stand. Then a icy fire rippling across his throat, and dry water drowning his lungs.
Harry's heart leaped into his throat.
Something happened to Sirius, Harry remembered with a sinking stomach. Harry knew, but didn't understand what happened. He knew that man that Sirius hated, and Peter tried to hurt him. But that wasn't on the surface of his mind. All of those confusions were overshadowed by a sinking fear in his stomach. Did Sirius leave? Did he die?
Harry struggled to sit, straining his eyes through the surrounding darkness. His bed creaked as he moved, the white frame shimmering in the dark night.
Sirius couldn't die, could he?
Harry drew a shuddering breath, feeling a heavy weight wrap around his chest. Even the shock of drowning, suffocating, and choking faded at that fear. Sirius couldn't be gone like his parents, he couldn't be gone too! He was the only person that Harry felt at ease with, the only person who he trusted without reserve.
Please, please, don't let Padfoot die! He'd go back to Uncle Vernon, if it just meant that Sirius was alive. Please…?
Choking for breath, feeling his neck prickle and sting, Harry hauled his unresponsive body across the bed. He tried to drag his legs over the edge, but the surface beneath him felt unevenly swaying. He half stumbled over the edge and barely caught the wall for balance. The linoleum floor was slippery under his feet. With a muffled cry, Harry fell in a helpless heap on the ground.
No, no, no, no, please…
A sound aroused him earlier than usual that morning, but after the years, Sirius had always been a light sleeper. When he struggled awake in the springy hospital bed, he was groggily confused to the room still dark, candlelight flickering off the walls. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he startled when he noticed Harry's bed completely empty, the blanket thrown haphazardly in a corner. Sirius jerked into a sitting position, searching the room desperately. A soft moan caught his attention. He nearly fell out of bed when he caught sight of a small form curled up on the floor, huddled on the linoleum in defensive ball.
"Harry?" Sirius whispered incredulously. He scrambled to his feet, the surprise of Harry finally awakening overshadowed by concern.
Harry moaned again, shivering. He was lying in just a thin set of hospital clothes; it must be flimsy in the chilly castle. His emerald eyes were glazed and unfocused, but clouded with a frantic glint. The dimly lit room was too dark for the child's poor vision; he held out his hands as if frenziedly searching.
"Harry," Sirius breathed tightly, falling to his knees beside the child and catching a small hand. "What are you doing out of bed? It's freezing."
Harry jolted at the touch, a shudder raking through his slight frame. He turned his face in Sirius' direction, opening his mouth soundlessly, but couldn't seem to find the words to speak. Harry's expression so muddled that Sirius couldn't even understand.
Carefully, Sirius lifted the child, inwardly wincing when he felt how cold he was. He wrapped a thin sheet around him, hugging the child close for warmth. Sirius flipped back the warm covers of his bed to slip the child comfortably under snug blankets. Harry was still silent, but his emerald eyes never wavered from his godfather's face. But as Sirius began to draw away, Harry's hand reached out and grasped Sirius' sleeve firmly.
The raw desperation in the child's eyes stayed Sirius in his place. Somewhere along the timeline of two weeks ago, Harry transformed from James son, to his godson, to a child, his child, who desperately needed his protection. It happened so quickly, or perhaps so subtly that he didn't notice until it completely sneaked up on him. Sirius lightly loosened Harry's hand and enfolded it gently in his own.
"What's wrong? Saying something, Harry," he whispered almost pleadingly, moving to sit beside Harry on the thickly padded infirmary bed. There was a blankness in the child's emerald eyes that unnerved him, and Sirius wondered if Peter's actions was the final straw that cracked him beyond repair.
Harry didn't stir, still gazing at Sirius as if he was the only person in an empty world. But when Sirius tentatively touched his cheek, the child's expression crumbled. Small arms latched around his neck, and a mass of dark hair blinded him.
"You're still here. You're still here," Harry whispered, voice strained with a sort of desperation.
Sirius hesitated at the six year old's abrupt gesture, and for a moment, stared mutely at the trembling child. Watching his godfather stabbed and almost killed was probably a painful blow, and the trauma of having his throat slit with a jagged piece of glass only fueled it. Sirius drew Harry in a loose hug; silently wishing he would hide him there forever. Harry had been through so much, too much for his young age.
"Yes, I am. And I'm not going to go anywhere," Sirius finally said, running his hand through Harry's untamed hair in an action that seemed to comfort them both.
Harry just shook his head, arms tightening around his neck. Sirius wondered what exactly he meant by such a simple action.
Sirius swallowed uneasily, soothingly patting the trembling child's shoulders. "I'm sorry I scared you."
Harry fell still, leaning stiffly his godfather with his face hidden in his shirt. He didn't make a sound for what seemed like hours; Sirius thought the child had sunk back into slumber. But when his breathing became raspy and erratic, his shoulders tensing with discomfort, Sirius became concerned.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Sirius asked, gently prying his arms from his neck. He brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead, but Harry turned from the touch, burying his face against his shirt.
The child's shoulders trembled again.
"Are you hurt?" Sirius asked worriedly. "Do you feel ill? What is it?"
Gently, he tilted Harry's chin up, and stilled, unsure of what to say. The child's emerald eyes were glazed with unshed tears; Harry seemed to desperately holding them back. Sirius' throat constricted at the sight. Harry never cried no matter how much he was hurt or how frightened he was; for him to be crying now must be like ripping away the frame that, for years, held together shattered glass.
"It's alright," Sirius said as soothing as he could. He had no idea what was wrong, but didn't know what else to say.
Those words of assurance seemed to have the opposite effect. The bundle in his arms shuddered violently, and tears cascaded down Harry's cheeks without restrain. But even then, he was silent and enduring, making no sound even as the tears streaked his face and stained Sirius' hand. Feebly, he tried to turn his face away.
Sirius drew the child in a protective embrace, running his fingers through the windblown hair. But every attempt at comfort just made Harry cry harder. Soon, he was caught in a fit of full fledged sobbing, gasping his shirt sleeve distraughtly. His shoulders wretched and strained from the effort, and he coughed and hiccupped in between tears. Sirius whispered words of comfort, gently rocking the small child back and forth.
"Please, don't leave… don't go anywhere," Harry rasped out between sobs.
"I won't," Sirius whispered softly. "I promise this time."
"Sirius?"
Remus peeked from behind the door, a bit bewildered at the tense silence in the room.
"Speak softly. He's asleep," Sirius whispered, not looking up.
Those words must have make no sense to Remus, seeing that Harry had been asleep all week, but he didn't pursue it. Soundlessly, he moved into the room, sliding the portrait shut behind them. He smiled when he caught sight of his friend leaning against the headboard, with his godson resting peacefully against the crook of his arm. The bed wasn't wide enough to accommodate a six year old stretched horizontally across, and the blankets hung over the edge where his legs rested over the frame.
"Did Harry wake up?" Remus asked softly, drawing a chair beside the two.
Sirius nodded, still patting the child's back rhythmically in a calming lull. "He cried," he added, almost as an afterthought. "Harry never cried, no matter how much he got hurt. He never cries…" he trailed off, sinking back into a thoughtful silence. "He was afraid of being left alone."
Remus countenance fell into a mixture of understanding, sympathy, and sadness. He couldn't hold his gaze on his friend's face without feeling a flicker of regret; dropping his head, he tentatively rearranged the blankets more around snugly the boy.
"He's been alone for too long," Remus said finally. "But Harry has a family and a person who cares about him more than anything else in the world. He's going to be happy."
Sirius nodded distractedly, still rocking the child gently back and forth. His hand tightening around the child's thin arm was the only sign that he heard at all.
Abruptly, Remus smiled, leaning an elbow on the bed and resting his head on a hand thoughtfully. "It's his seventh birthday in two months. We should celebrate, make up for all those years we missed…"
Rather than looking delighted, Sirius mood depressed even more. He sighed resignedly, twisting a corner of the blanket between his fingers.
"What is it?" Remus asked, a bit caught off guard by Sirius' grim expression.
"I was hoping we could celebrate his second birthday or something," Sirius mumbled. "He's growing up too fast. I wish we could spend more time with him before he grows up. Five years is too short, we should have at least ten."
Remus paused; he understood the message behind his words. Sirius was still bitter about his five year imprisonment, and although he never mentioned it out loud, Remus knew that he always wished he escaped Azkaban earlier.
"You shouldn't hang on to 'what if's,' Sirius. Think about now, the future, but don't linger on things that you can't change," Remus said quietly.
Sirius lowered his head slightly, shoulders slumping. "I know, but…" He trailed off into silence.
"What are you planning to do for Harry's birthday?" Remus asked with a rather forced smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Sirius shrugged, looking a bit sheepish at having never considered it before. "I… I don't know. Probably take him to Diagon Alley. I was too preoccupied with the idea of moving back into Black Manor."
Remus' grin widened, "When are you planning to move? The reporters are all desperate to know."
Sirius didn't reply for several minutes, gently rocking the sleeping child. Slowly, an answering smile spread over his face, a bit sad and rueful, but a smile nonetheless. "I'll hex them if they try ask Harry anything," he grumbled. "As soon as that power grubbing woman lets us. We're going to hide out in the estate. Want to join us, Moony?"
Remus sighed, grinning at the same time. The Black Estate was moderately sized, as moderately sized as magical residences were, buried deep away from civilization.
Five years ago, the idea of Sirius locking himself up in the European wilderness as some sort of hermit would have been a laugh. But after being convicted, even with a crime he didn't commit, people would be suspicious no matter what the history books said, or how many times he proved himself. Sirius probably would never live a normal life until decades after his sentence.
Harry would be completely bewildered by his celebrity and hero status. The child had suffered from almost an entire lifetime of neglect. With the media chasing him left and right, an incompetent minister out to use him as a stepping stone, people who almost hero worship him, Harry would be ripped apart the moment he stepped into the public. Harry couldn't live with that. He was far too young, far too innocent, far too timid.
They couldn't be apart of either societies, magical or muggle. But Remus doubted that Sirius cared. His world consisted of only his godson and his friend, nothing else mattered in his mind. Sirius and Harry were in a world of their own creation, a haven that veiled them from the demons of the past. And to know that he was welcome in that sanctuary as well gave Remus a comfortable feeling of warmth that made the past five years seem like a distant dream.
"Of course," Remus leaned back in his chair, pointedly glaring at Sirius. "Who else will keep the you in line? You'll spoil Harry rotten."
//\\
On May 30th, a picture that spanned over half the front page of the Daily Prophet baffled, alleviated, and angered many.
It was a picture centered on two people, clad in bleached clothes of the hospital white, looking flustered and cornered, having just left the Hogwarts infirmary. Sirius Black, pale and thin from his five year imprisonment and two weeks of emotional strain, knelt on the smooth brick floor. Despite the weariness in his countenance, he still had the gleam that betrayed his young age, and clear blue eyes of flaming intensity. He glared out from the picture as if trying to bore holes through the reporter's head, protectively clutching against his shirt a small bundle drowned in oversized clothes. Once in a while, the slight form would tremble, and burrow deeper in his shoulder, revealing tendrils of untamed black hair.
Sirius turned from his glaring, eyes softening as he watched the child, shifting so that he veiled him completely from prying eyes of the cameras. His mouth formed words that must have been soothing reassurances, because the dark haired boy relaxed and lifted his head timidly. Harry, far from the image of a boy of perfections, looked four instead of six, and had the gaunt appearance of someone recently recovering from a deathly illness. He so pale that the blended in with Sirius' white shirt on the poorly printed newspaper. His large emerald eyes darted between his godfather, and the swarming crowd, and abruptly latched onto Sirius' neck again. A sleeve of his large shirt pulled away, exposing an unhealthily thin arm that spoke of years of mistreatment in his relatives' care.
More cameras flashed.
Sirius turned his back completely to the obtrusive reporters, lifting Harry with ease. He rubbed the small child's back comfortingly, at the same time, slapped aside a hand of a reporter that came too close. A lanky figure with gray eyes, and light brown hair shoved his way into the picture with difficulty. Remus stopped beside them and spoke mutely to Sirius with concern. Taking off his cloak, he draped it over them both, and escorted Sirius by the elbow against the impeding crowd. Pushing the desperate people back with unnatural strength for someone so emaciated, Remus led them both from the picture frame.
People were unsure what to think. Those who still had doubts of Sirius Black's innocence were alleviated, while others claimed that it was a purposeful display of deceit. And with the young boy so obviously attached to his godfather, people questioned whether it was wise to leave him in the influence of someone like Black. Even if he was innocent, he still had five years of Azkaban overshadowing him.
But whatever the response against the three people were, they didn't know and didn't care.
On May 31st, exactly five years and seven months after Voldemort's downfall, Harry Potter went home.
\\//
*
The end
I am going to refrain from ranting; that'll destroy the mood. *grins* But it felt like I was eating cheese when I reread it.
I just destroyed the chessily fluffy mood. Anyway… Originally, I had the last chapter planned for Vernon torture, but then changed my mind. It would be weird, after chapters of Sirius, Harry, and Remus to suddenly turn to something as insignificant as the Dursleys… they're insignificant! They should be ant food! Ahem… anyway… they're not actually that bad in the books. It's just in WS, as an AU, the Dursleys' evilness was sort of cranked up a notch. Okay, fine… several notches. In the book, they weren't that bad… (wait, I take that back). Although, in book 2, they did go out of their way to starve Harry. It's hard to say, there are so many contradictions in the Hp books. Humm… I'm going off topic.
Hopefully the development of the godfather and godson relationship made sense. From when Sirius took Harry out of the Dursleys care to the time Remus found them, Harry had to advance from being afraid and distrustful of every adult to completely attached to his godfather. It took a lot of crawling slow chapters, but I really wanted to establish something substantial. Did it make sense? Was it believable? Did it seem jerky and fragmented? 'cause those chapters were suppose to be the foundation of this entire story, and if I screwed that up, WS is basically… umm… the leaning tower of pisa.
Remus isn't Remus-ish, but hey, he is about seven years younger, and that makes a huge difference. He's not quite as cool and composed as in PoA. Plus, he just came really close to losing everything all over again, so that cracked some shells. He was never that composed in WS to begin with, considering what happened with the soccer / football practice in which he was ready to strangle some little kids. PoA's Remus would have been smiling the entire time, but WS' Remus was wringing his instructions book to death. But ack… hopefully, it's still believable.
Epilogue, I only have 2 chapters planned, but stuffed so many details in the last one that it feels like an undersized burrito with too much filling. Well…
Ack. Now I'm hungry.
Considering how desperately I want to get into the sequel, I might combine epilogues. They're already really long individually though, so it might be about 15 pages long.
So much for attempting to bring the story around full circle. *sigh* This only ties up in a circle with a tail. The birthday reference, remember Harry's dream in chapter… umm… 20ish? He dreams about Sirius leading him through the streets in Diagon Alley and asking him what he wants to his birthday. That was actually a reflection of the future.
I hope you all enjoyed it despite those flaws…
As promised, a long rant of WS *kaydee gave me permission!* Only now, I forgot what I was going to say. Urg. The 2nd chapter of PoM was undoubtedly the worst chapter, and as for the best, donnuo, I suppose I could rate them on which one was the most fun to write. That would probably be chapter 3. The middle had a few repetitive scenes since I tried to tell it through a more dynamic point of view by writing a scene from both Sirius and Harry's point of view. It was more for practice than anything, but I went a bit overboard 'cause they all got crammed into the story. Through the middle, I almost added Snape to it, who would undoubtedly drive little Harry against the wall and Sirius to punch him, but I have a lot of trouble balancing a large cast. *sigh* it's a stupid habit. The ending of WS was almost going to be a remake of the Sorcerer's stone, only set in the Chamber of Secrets (it's complicated, I don't know what I was thinking then), but it didn't fit. *sigh*
It's so tempting to add a sequel that takes place in school year with the new, more powerful, creepily disturbing Harry through school, but there it really doesn't go with my style… All my stories have a compressed time frame no more than one month long, so it'll be hard… not to mention torture for all of us. As a result, Clawtrack of a Star doesn't actually take place during his school year, but the months prior. And, once again, the time frame is very compact. This story has a violent and bitter edge to it, it's very fast paced and has more of a plot than PoM and WS. But humm… I should probably drop some clues. So anyway, I'll give you keywords: Sirius, Harry, Remus (obviously), Voldemort, Death Eaters, betrayal, death, regret, guilt (*sigh* it's a reoccurring theme), Peter, and James.
It was sort of tempting to write a fic where Sirius raises Harry from birth, but I sort of wanted to establish a kind of trust between them. Harry, after all his experiences, would be a lot more attached to his godfather. To have a child knowing nothing but torture and hell for the few years of his life, and suddenly be rescued from it by someone who loves him more than even himself, he would naturally be very attached. Plus, he'll be the closest to the Harry now, selfless and foolishly brave, but with a bitter and angry edge (a bit of a Gryffindor and Slytherin). As hateful as the Dursleys are, they are still very important in shaping Harry's character. Plus, Remus was fun to manipulate. *cackle* Also, it's only fair for Sirius to earn the trust… in other words, Sirius torture, which is always really fun. But… *ahem* moving right along…
Once again, I hope you all enjoyed WS despite how slowly crawly the plot was, or how creepy Harry was, or how evil Wormtail was, or how many times the poor kid passed out. *grins*
BabyGirl76705 - Sirius does seem a bit different from the books, but he seems better this way. He can't really treat a 6 year old Harry like the 13 year old Harry. In Clawtracts of a Star, Harry is ten, I'm not quite sure if he should be 9 or 10, though. Ack... still debating. I'm glad you like all three stories, thank you so much for taking your time to review!
kaydee - Ack, this author's note is about two pages long. you're going to kill me at the extent I bashed, but you gave me permission!! It's not fair… well, I didn't bash too badly, I forgot what I was going to say for most of it. *sigh* look what you did! First, you gave me the ranting virius, and now... *sighs again* humm... escape plans from a trex? Wait, you made escape plans from a trex? It could come in handy though, if you were ever under attack from something like... an elephant or a kangaroo. You know, I got pounched on the constrictor snake in science once, it was this three foot long albino who was on steriods or something. Either that or really hungry... *sigh* but snakes a fascinating creatures. Am I ranting again? *bangs head against table* humm... now that you mention it, Hermione's domestic life is really down played. Perhaps JKR is saving something shocking about her, like... maybe she's distantly related to Riddle! Her worst fears were never revealed though. That would have been interesting. I read your review in PoM, and humm... kaydee = accident prone... eek! Running headlong into a brick wall sounds painful. Did you kill the bee for revenge in the end? I have never broken or sprained any bones, but I keep catching weird diseases. Which is strange 'cause all my stories have someone spilling their guts out with lots of pain descriptions... *sigh* its hypocrisy, isn't it?
stormyfire - really? yay, that's great to know! but i shouldn't be cheering when someone's crying... ack! *offers tissues*
Lily of the Valley - I have been meaning to check out your story! I will as soon as I finish up WS, which should be sometime before the end of this week. Ack, that's a stupid habit of mine, when I write, I can't read, or else I start absorbing the stuff I read like sponge and leak it in my writing. I know what you mean by writing in bursts though! I do that too, and when the burst begins to fade, I go back and reedit. Its amazing how you don't need drafts though! I usually do several, but that's being paraniod. Sometimes, I write out of instinct and its great, other times, it's junk. Like there was about two chapters in PoM that got completely deleted because of that. I hope you enjoyed WS though!
Anoriel - nope, there're 2 more epilogue chapters coming soon!
oceansun - thank you!!
wellduh... - I will! Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as much as WS!
Japangirlcarley24 - I'm sure there are a lot of other great stories that are better than this one, but its great that you enjoyed WS so much. Thank you! I'm very flattered!
Lost Book - ack, sorry! My chapters are beginning to get longer though, and the sequel has longer chapters.
Kate Potter - yeah, they will be very happy with each other, especially after what happened. Sometimes, I almost wish Harry would stay 6 years old for life... *sigh*
Kim - there're 3 versions of the chapter? really? I didn't know that. What happened?
Kit Cloudkicker - well, there are 2 epilogue chapters about the time Harry moves into his new home, and a month afterwards. The sequel will be really fun to write!
FatnSassyQuattaHoss - very neat pen name! yeah, Harry's been through a lot! But he's going to be happy.
Super saya-jin Gotan - it actually takes place before Hogwarts, during the winter. But yes, some Weasleys will be there, not sure about Hermione though.
Sarasi - thank you! I hope you'll enjoy the sequel too!
Jrizx - thank you so much!! I'm flattered!
illustrious sorrow - umm... CD sorta died, didn't it? Which is sad 'cause I have the ending all written out. Urg, don't worry, it will be finished. As for PoM, well, hopefully, that will be finished. It's wavering. Don't be angry!
Phoenix - thank you!!
smile7499 - *grins* that's great you're enjoying it! Harry and Sirius deserve a happy ending.
Mayleesa - yeah, everyone did really hate me for chapter 28 *grins* very misleading at the events that occurred. Evil, wasn't it? Especially since ffNET died too...
Fustrated - of course you won't die! Of course, if you did, that wouldn't be my fault... right?
Eclectic Angel - it shows very obviously in the sequel, but the phoenix feather in Harry's arm does a lot of things for him that wouldn't normally be possible.
YouDontEvenWantToKnow - very interesting pen name! Is this considered as a fast update?
Kaylin - that sounds fun! Where did you go?
Donja - was it? I thought it was Omi from WK 'cause he lost his memory when he got kidnapped. I can't remember, ack...
Chad-Pendragon - thank you!! I hope you enjoy PoM and CD just as much as WS. WS is by far the most descriptive of the three though, and thank you for reviewing so many chapters and the guestbook! *offers a... box of cookies?* Wow, your cat's name is lucifer? And your penname is catsmeat? umm... you're not... eating your cats, are you?
Indiana Jones - oh, ouch. No computer? How do you live? Well, I'm posting quickly so you'll have a chance to read the sequel by Sunday! I'll see if I can squeeze everything in...
maraudermoony - thank you! happy endings are always so fun... of course, evil endings are even more fun but they seem so cruel.
PViptertooth - thank you so much!!
Puddles - eh? Harry tried to eat Peter? When? Where? Why? Ack!
Ruse - everyone wants more PoM, but that fic is like a sink hole with spikes for me! *sigh* I have up to chapter 13 written, but it's horrible! They're all being reedited, and for now, WS' sequel is my focus. *sigh* people are going to kill me when I put PoM back on hiatus. *hides*
Rainbow - you're working on a fic? What'll it be about? Tell me when you post it and I'll be sure to check it out! A career in writing... that'll be really neat! But I'm such a horrible essay writer, it's not even funny.
serena cherry - wow, thank you! I'm glad you liked WS so much!
Padfoot, Moony, Prongs 4ever - I will! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Sandrine Black - well, there's this, which is techniquely the end, but there are 2 more epilogues on the way. Thank you for signing my guestbook!
The Unicorn Whisper - wow, I'm flattered! I've been reading your stories too and enjoyed them immensely, except I have a really bad habit of not reviewing... *hides* It was a great surprise to see that you've been reading my stories. I'm glad you like the way Sirius was protrayed! He seems really different from the books though, but he was really underplayed. *sigh* JKR needs to give us more Sirius. humm... the sequel. Well, the plot for the sequel can actually stand alone without WS, but it borrows the character relationships. Beyond that, they have very little in common, but I hope you'll enjoy that too!
Otaku freak - thank you!! yeah, Harry will be very happy, and so will Sirius and Remus. It was a big turn from what happened in the beginning, wasn't it?
Nicky - humm... I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that passage in PoM. I guess it could be because Remus was so preoccupied by the thought of Harry spending his last year in the orphanage rather than his experience with Voldemort. Voldemort seems very much ignored, isn't he? humm... ack, a horrible mistake. In PoM, Remus is harsher though. With what happened when Harry disappeared, he was affected to. He responded by shutting himself off emotionally, whereas Sirius sort of locked himself away. Urg... should have addressed that in the fic though. As for the sequel, well, it is sort of a Sirius and Harry story, but... umm... it's hard to describe without giving away the plot. You'll see by WS's sequel chapter 5.
Lady Foxfire - he will, see? Everything worked out great for them both. *sigh* I wish JKR let Sirius out of Azkaban earlier...