D/C: Now if I'd actually owned anything, I'd be J.K Rowling…and if I were J.K Rowling, why would I be writing fanfic for free instead of frantically finishing Book 5 for a sickening load of dough?
CH. 21: Of Muggle Promenades and Baffling Dreams
The green and gold light encased the cavern, bleeding into the cracks that began to form in the rock ceiling. The cloaked figures screamed and backed away, most disapperating from the scene, but two remained, struggling over the shaky ground towards Lily and James. James had his wand out, pointing it at the Death Eaters who continued to press towards them.
"Stupify!" he cried out, before turning to wrap his arms around Lily. There was a shrill cry as one of them fell, just as the ceiling of rock came crashing down. The Potters clung to each other, Lily clasping the jade pendent between them until the ground at last ceased it's turbulence.
Eventually the dust settled to reveal Lily and James miraculously untouched by the rockslide, which now revealed what looked like a dungeon catacomb above. Shakily, Lily helped James to his feet, steadying him to prevent further damage to his already broken leg. In the pile of rock that had fallen, two bodies were visible, cloaked in ceremonial black robes.
"Who are they?" James asked quietly as blood seeped from the folds of the dark fabric.
Harry awoke with a start, finding that he had fallen asleep again in the common room, his face stuck to a few pages of The Magic of Magical History: 1500 to 1900. The St. Mungo's trip had come and passed, and now a couple of weeks later, Harry was trying to force his concentration on a more melancholy matter: O.W.Ls. Neville's father's words had stunned that little hospital room into silence, Hermione, Ron, Jade, and Neville staring at him with his face inches away from Mr. Longbottom's. The focus was quickly drawn back to the miraculous restoration of the Longbottom's sanity, as the doctor and a team of nurses poured back into the room, wands and history charts on hand. It was confirmed that they were indeed responsive, and growing more so by the minute, slowly fighting their way out of fog and skewed time. Neville's grandmother had apparated there as soon as news reached her, and she and Neville stayed by the Longbottom's bedside, as Harry and the others were ushered away. It wasn't until their return to Hogwarts later that day (with the exception of Neville who returned the day after), did Harry even remember the words that rung hauntingly from Mr. Longbottom's mouth.
James listen, they know, You-Know-Who knows. You tell Lily to get rid of it. Dear god, just get rid of it.
It was as if Frank Longbottom saw Harry and couldn't remember that James and Lily were already dead. Those words coupled with the new episode in his dreams had made something very clear to Harry. His parents went after that pendent, whatever it was, because Voldemort wanted it. At least, that was his suspicion, and even though he was sure Sirius would skirt the subject, Harry had written a letter to him inquiring about it, sending along a clipping of the Longbottom's recovery, and accounts of what had happened that day.
"Harry? What are you doing up so early?"
It was Neville, looking tousle haired and pale faced, but nevertheless genuinely happy.
"Just thought I'd catch up on studying," Harry replied indicating the book, and quickly wiping a spot of drool off the pages. "You came in late last night?"
"Yeah, Gran had a dinner planned in celebration of mum and dad's recovery. They're getting better every day, you know. They're starting to remember what happened…what happened to your parents…and they don't jibber or go into trances any more." For Neville, studying was temporarily forgotten as he had dedicated most of his free time during the past few weeks to spending evenings accompanying his grandmother to St. Mungo's. For the first time in his life, Harry realized forcing down the hint of jealousy, Neville had gotten a chance to meet his parents. The change was dramatic in him, as a cheerful smile and squared shoulders became characteristic of his appearance.
After breakfast, Harry and his fellow fifth year Gryffindors suffered through prolonged double-potions with Slytherin. Snape was attempting to bombard them with as much information as was available in his mental arsenal, and even the Slytherins looked with narrowed eyes at their favorite staff member and head of house. It seemed that anyone threatening to not pass the potions O.W.L would be personally insulting Snape—and that simply wouldn't be tolerated. He took points away from Gryffindor because Neville received the highest quiz score behind Hermione, but the injustice didn't stop there. He also took away points from Gryffindor when Jade answered his question without being called on (then took away five more as she began to argue that she wasn't even in Gryffindor), when Ron stomped on her foot to get her to shut up, when Seamus sneezed, and even a point from Slytherin when Malfoy let out a condescending laugh about the Gryffindors ill-fated second place in the House-Cup Championship. He also lowered Harry's marks several percentages because, well frankly…just because.
Harry managed to make it through the last Potions class before O.W.Ls without attacking Snape, and quickly retreated to Defense Against the Dark Arts in bitter resentment. So what if Snape were risking his greasy hair and hooked nose to fight in Dumbledore's clandestine Order? He didn't have to be a complete member of the living dead about everything.
Defense was mostly review, in which the two hours were spent going over nearly every dark creature and dangerous curse they were introduced to since their first year. Dumont wasn't there and Harry found that he was a little relieved by that. He hadn't been able to look at the strange professor straight in the eye since her irrational reaction to Jade's cut. Also, Percy's comment about Price's dedication to the mentally ill further supported the suspicion that Dumont was crazy. Hermione had thought the same thing, and attempted to get records of it while they were still at St. Mungos, but to no avail.
The class ended with a ten-minute (wooden) swordplay session, in which Lupin insisted they take out their anxieties of the O.W.Ls on each other as long as no eyes were poked out.
"I didn't even remember that banshees prefer areas near water," Hermione groaned flipping through her study guide as they exited the classroom.
"Banshees?" Jade asked with a look of fear in her eye. "What are banshees?" it seemed that the book Dumont had given her had done little to ease her anxieties about Defense, which besides Divinations, was giving her the hardest time. Her arms were filled with notes as she struggled to organize them.
"I can't do it, Harry," Ron said stuffing his book into his bag. "O.W.Ls—there's just no way." Before Harry could say anything, Hermione broke in.
"If you just did all the assignments in your study packets, you wouldn't be so worried now, would you?" Harry and Ron were both going to retort when they rounded a corner and ran straight into Professor Dumont, Jade receiving the full blow as she collided with the young woman. Their items were strewn across the floor.
"Clumsy me," Dumont gasped. "I believe I've missed Defense Against the Dark Arts." Jade didn't say a thing as she bent and quickly shoved her notes into her bag.
"Sorry about that," Dumont apologized. She straightened her glasses that had fallen askew, grabbed her books and materials, and hurried off without further exchange.
* * *
"It's nearly six," Neville announced the next evening in the common room. It was the first evening of several that he was not visiting his parents.
"Really?" Harry said bluntly trying desperately to cram as many exotic species of fungi into his brain. He had been whittling away at the pile of study guides for the past few weeks with Ron. Hermione, like always was generous with both her time and help, but there was only so much she could do for either of them short of taking both their exams.
"Bloody hell," Ron groaned. "We're getting measured for ruddy dress robes tonight."
"Suits, actually," Fred corrected with a grin having stumbled across their conversation. "Really flattering to my figure, they are."
"Why is it you can be so happy about certain doom?" Ron replied brusquely.
A few minutes later they were walking towards the Entrance Hall with the other fifth year Gryffindor boys.
"I ended up giving that morder's silk to my mum," Dean was saying to Seamus. "I mean I wasn't going to let them make it into a tux for me, it's pink!"
"What'd you do with your silk?" Harry asked Ron curiously.
"Gave it to Ginny," he replied. " 'spect she'd look nice in a gown made from it…given that its got a high neck and long sleeves and doesn't reveal any skin." Harry snorted but quickly shut up when Ron asked him what he had done with his silk.
"I…er…I gave it to Cho," he said quickly, imagining how pretty the creamy gold would look on her.
"Really? When? I didn't even notice," Ron replied, as it seemed they seldom didn't know what the other was up to.
"Actually," Harry half muttered in a rushed sort of way, "I mailed it to her."
"Harry," Ron said raising an eyebrow at him. "She lives in the same castle as you." Harry gave him a meaningful glare.
"I know…I just—I…I didn't think giving a girl a pretty colored sheet would be appropriate, but what was I going to do with it?"
"Good job, Harry," Ron said sniggering. "I reckon you're asking her to the ball by post too, am I right? Sending her an invitation?"
"You two have partners yet?" Seamus interrupted.
"Not exactly," Harry said trying to decide what was the latest possible moment he could ask Cho. "You?"
"I was thinking Parvati, she looked smashing last year. Or maybe even her sister. I'm pretty sure she knows who I am. She said 'hi' to me once."
"She called you Albert, Seamus."
They arrived to find the Entrance hall in a sort of controlled chaos. There were wizards and witches in a frenzy over measuring tape, creating what looked like a sort of gauntlet of fashion in which students lined up to enter. Most appeared excited, and no one looked as apprehensive as Harry felt. Dances, balls, promenades, anything of the like was just asking for trouble.
"Hello," Hermione said as she passed them on the stairs. Harry noticed dark circles under her eyes, and a slightly more aggressive bushiness to her hair. Jade was just behind her, looking equally awful. There was a tangle so massive and intricate in her hair that it could have easily been mistaken for the wiry brush of Hagrid's beard.
"How goes it?" Ron asked and after noticing their rather haggard appearances added, "Really, going up a dress size isn't the end of the world."
"Oh, real genteel, Ron," Hermione replied sarcastically.
"You've got some gall to lean on her last nerve before a series of exams," Jade said rather admirably.
"Come on, now, queue yerselves up!" An older witch was hollering, forcing Harry, Ron, and Seamus to move along. They quickly promised to meet up for dinner and pressed forward with the crowd of other fifth year boys, talking with Ernie McMillan and Justin Finch-Fletchy to pass the time.
"Next!"
Harry went to an especially old witch along the row of seamstresses and tailors, who was awaiting a fresh victim. Ron was hurried to an elderly tailor just to the left of him.
"Now what kind of formal wear can we do for you?" she cackled with a surprisingly toothy grin. "I know, how about something very renaissance? You fancy this?" With a flick of her wand an image of Harry floated before his eyes dressed in a silly ruff and leggings.
"NO!" he said quickly, brushing the image away. "Er…how about something more…up to date?" Looking a bit disappointed she grumbled and created another image of Harry in a classic black suit, which Harry thought, could be worse. So the measuring began, he looked over at Ron who was suddenly silent with contemplation.
"Who am I going to ask, Harry?" he said rather weakly. Harry rolled his eyes. Duh.
"What about Hermione?"
"I s'pose a ball wouldn't be half bad, going with someone you're bound to have fun with…I mean Fred and Angelina had a blast last Christmas…"
"Hermione's very witty—" Harry added.
"So who would I actually enjoy going with—,"
"She hasn't gotten a partner yet either."
"And who am I going to ask?"
"Ron, shut up. Ask Hermione." Ron glanced over at him and at last, a look of enlightenment dawned on his face.
"You don't think—I should ask Hermione, do you?"
::::cricket, cricket::::
Harry stared at him in silent disbelief.
"Yeh all done, lad," his seamstress cackled, laughing hoarsely as she smacked him smartly across the rump. Harry jumped forward with a horrified look on his face, as sniggers went round.
"Next!" the witch cried out. The only other person who looked as horror-struck as him was Justin who happened to be at the front of the queue.
"You think she'd say yes, Harry?" Ron asked after they escaped into the Great Hall. "Hermione, I mean…especially with what happened last year?"
"As long as you don't give her a reason to say no," Harry replied with a wry grin.
"Not funny."
They met up with Jade and Hermione at the Gryffindor table and ate dinner amidst a hubbub of excited conversations about the up-and-coming promenade. Hermione and Jade would hear none of it however, both focusing their attention with deadly accuracy on their studies and not on obtaining partners, which seemed to severely put Ron off. Harry tried to cue Ron on when he thought Hermione's mood offered a good opportunity, but it seemed Ron couldn't manage to get a grasp on his verbal skills. After being questioned about their peculiar behavior by Hermione, Harry gave up the cause and spent most of his time gazing towards the Ravenclaw table where Cho sat.
"You haven't asked her yet, have you?" Hermione said smiling at her friend. "Honestly, she can't keep turning down prospective dates for you."
"You haven't?" Jade exclaimed rather heatedly. "Dear god, Harry, she already said she'll go! Do you know what I went through to get you to talk to her?"
"I'm going to ask her, I will!" Harry said in defense. "Just…with the O.W.Ls, I've kind of put it off."
"Ask her tomorrow."
"Next week."
"Tomorrow."
"Monday."
"To-mor-row."
"Okay!"
Jade settled back into her seat looking slightly less agitated, but watching Harry with a look that read "it's death by spork (sort of muggle spoon-fork hybrid) if you don't".
They had just finished dinner and where making for the exits when Dumont stopped them.
"This is yours I believe," she said with a small smile handing Jade the battered Defense Against the Dark Arts guide. "I found it among my things the other night…probably been there since we collided." She let out a little laugh and excused herself.
"Fabulous," Jade muttered turning a bit green. "More studying."
"Er…Hermione?" Ron said out of the blue. "I was wondering…I've got to ask you something—,"
"What's with you?" she asked curiously. "Are you up to something?"
"No—"
"Honestly, if this is a ploy to deviate my intentions of studying tonight, it's not working."
"No, it's—,"
"Ron? Would you walk me to my common room?"
Mandy Brocklehurst had just sauntered towards them, hips swinging as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"Please?" she added. "I'd like to ask you something."
"Erm…er, sure," Ron stuttered, looking torn as Mandy linked arms with him and dragged him away. Harry cursed her impeccable timing, and turned to find Hermione looking after the two with an expression of hurt on her face.
"Hermione," he said trying to offer some sort of condolence. She looked up at him and forced a smile onto her face.
"What?" she said, adding quickly, "can't believe she finds interest in him." "I don't think its mutual," Jade inserted. Before Hermione could reply, Dean tapped her on the shoulder.
"Could I talk to you for a bit?" he asked timidly. Ignoring the attempts by Jade and Harry to get her to decline, Hermione smiled at Dean and allowed him to pull her aside.
"You don't think he's asking her to the ball, do you?" Harry mutter worriedly to Jade as they watched the two converse several yards away.
"Great!" they heard Dean exclaimed. "We'll have a blast at the promenade!"
"Yes, Harry," Jade replied. "I reckon so."
* * *
The tension that filled the next few days was so oppressive it threatened to break the backs of all those who faced the ugly standardized exams. Harry was thoroughly grateful that Angelina had postponed practice until after their exams as she and her fellow seventh years were preparing to tackle the N.E.W.Ts. It seemed anyone who wasn't taking them took extra care in avoiding the fifth and seventh years as it seemed they were suddenly prone to death threats and violent behavior. Even the Weasley twins' heads were buried in books, and it seemed the air was unusually clear of dung bombs and Filibuster fireworks. A week before the Promenade, Harry finally asked Cho to the ball (the alternative was a sporking courtesy of Jade). He had pulled her aside after dinner, her friends walking away not giggling as they did last year but whispering words Harry hoped never to hear. He knew they were talking about Cedric. However, feeling as if he couldn't live with himself if he didn't ask her, he sucked in a breath and took one for the team.
"Cho—do you still want to go with me to the promenade?"
"Of course," she replied.
"Oh well, I didn't think so—wait…yes?"
"I thought we planned this ages ago," she said grinning. "By the way, thank you for the silk, it's beautiful."
"Right, yeah, it's a pretty Cho—," horrified, he quickly spat out "—I mean a pretty gold, a pretty gold!" Harry would have given his kidney to melt right through the floor but to his relief she laughed, blushed furiously, but laughed never the less.
"Okay, well," she stuttered as she started away. "Me got to, I mean I've got to…see you."
With the Promenade only a day away, Harry stiffly got up and turned in the last of his O.W.L exams (Transfiguration) and as soon as he dropped the anti-cheating quill into the growing pile before Professor McGonagall the stress was wiped away. Frankly, he didn't care if he failed to pass all but one (in which case he would celebrate that he even did that well), he was done with one of the most hideous exams in his magical academia, and it would be another year until he had to worry about N.E.W.Ts. But the paramount of the week was yet to come…he was actually going to the Promenade with Cho.
Ron, on the other hand, was looking more nervous in the wake of the dance than he did before his exams. At dinner that night he fidgeted, throwing glances over at Hermione as she discussed the relief she felt when she saw that the charms O.W.L was nothing more than animating inanimate objects.
"Oh, Professor Vector," Hermione suddenly said getting up as she spotted her Arithmancy instructor making his way down from the high table. "I'll be right back, all right? I want to ask if he thought the exam was accurate."
"That's it," Ron exclaimed as she hurried off. "I've got to ask her tonight."
"Ask her what?" Jade said.
"What else? If she'd go to the Promenade with me," he looked at the pained faces of his friends in confusion. "What?"
"We were under the impression that Mandy asked you," Harry replied.
"She did, but I turned her down," Ron explained hastily wiping his mouth as he watched Hermione return. "She's a bit too high maintenance I think, 'spect she'd want me to wear cologne or practice some other act of civility." Harry and Jade cast each other uncomfortable looks.
"Ron, er," Jade stammered. He didn't even give her a chance.
"Hermione, you done?" Ron asked in a rushed sort of way just as she was getting ready to sit back down in her chair. "Could I talk to you…in the Entrance Hall for a bit?"
"I guess," she replied raising an eyebrow curiously. He grinned weakly at Harry and led Hermione out of the Great Hall. Harry could only stare after them in silence.
"Harry?" Jade finally managed.
"Yeah Jade?"
"Hermione's going with Dean."
"I know," he said, getting up and grabbing her arm. "Come on." They weaved there way out into the hall and approached their two friends just in time to hear Ron say…
"So will you go the Promenade with me?"
Hermione stared at him, looking a bit startled.
"What, Mandy turned you down?" she said a bit tartly as soon as she recovered. "Need me as a back up, is that it?"
"No!" Ron exclaimed looking rather shocked. "Listen, I know I wasn't real nice to you about this sort of thing last year—,"
"That's putting it lightly."
"—but I'd like you to go with me—"
"After you couldn't get a girl like Mandy, of course."
"NO!" Ron exclaimed angrily. "I could have gotten Mandy, but I want to go with you!" That shut her up. Hermione stared wide-eyed at him as he began to turn a brilliant magenta.
"So will you go with me or not?" he muttered. She cleared her throat, nervously twisted a bit of hair about her finger.
"I can't," she said quickly and began to climb the stairs. "I—I promised I'd go with Dean."
"What?!" Ron burst out heatedly
"So much for putting it to him gently," Harry muttered.
Ron and Hermione avoided exchanging any conversation that night in the common room as they played a round of Exploding Snap. Jade was off talking to Neville about the annual Herbology convention when Fred and George appeared in their circle.
"Bursting with happiness you lot are," Fred said sarcastically. "Who died?"
"Wish you would," Ron muttered.
"Come on now, you can't all be melancholy with the standardized exams done with and the Promenade merely a day away?" George insisted. Hermione half-heartedly tossed a card into the pile. As if answering him, it exploded. The twins exchanged stern glances with each other.
"It's decided, then," George announced. "You lot are coming along with us tonight."
"Coming along for what?" Harry asked curiously.
"Rule breaking, of course," Fred replied rubbing his hands together mischievously.
"We, my fellow oppressed pupils," George whispered dramatically, "are going to break into the locker rooms and play a little midnight quidditch. Where's Jade? She needs to be in on this too." The three of them stared at the twins. Harry grinned at the prospect of an illegal game, but both Ron and Hermione remained stoic.
"Come on!" Fred groaned. "You're not going to cheer? Protest? What's up with you two?" he looked to Harry for an explanation.
"I went out on a limb and got blown off," Ron explained rather bitterly. "I'm now date-less."
"Oh honestly," Hermione huffed, throwing her hand of cards onto the table. The pile exploded as she departed up to the girl's dormitory.
"What happened?" Fred asked curiously, brushing soot off Ron's shoulder.
"Never mind," Harry said deciding it time to change the subject. "You two got dates for tomorrow?"
"I do," Fred grinned. "Angelina. She says she's got a dress to die for."
"I'm working on it," George said suddenly examining every female in the common room.
"You don't have a date either?" Ron said perking up a bit.
"Now I didn't say that," he insisted. "Right then, I don't recall Jade being taken…"
"Jade!" Ron said standing up. "I could ask her, she'll be cool at a dance."
"Wrong again, little git," George said. "I'm asking her."
"Not if I get there first." Without warning Ron shot off, catapulting over chairs, sofas, and first years. George was on his heels, quickly catching up. He managed to get to Jade first but before he could utter a word, Ron leaped on top of him, sending them both crashing to the ground before her and Neville.
"Youwannagotothepromenadewime?" Ron gasped looking up at her.
"Er…okay," Jade said slowly.
"Bloody luck," George cursed pushing his brother off. "Oh well. Oy, Katie!"
When the last of the common room dwellers had at last departed after one that evening, Harry went up to retrieve his broom while Fred and George snuck into the girl's dormitory to drag Hermione out of bed. Surprisingly, she obliged and went along quietly, her prefect's badge missing from her robes. Harry smiled at her and he saw in the grin she flashed back that she couldn't wait to tarnish her record just a little. She and Ron still weren't speaking, and they spent most of the walk to the pitch making Jade relay their messages.
"Can we stop this little game of Telephone?" Harry said in exasperation.
"Tele-what?" Ron asked, looking rather confused.
The twins managed a series of difficult charms to unlock the quidditch supplies and broom shed. As they handed her a broom, Hermione commented on this and George replied, "Mum's going to drop dead when she's found out how many N.E.W.Ts we've got. Apparently we're quite brilliant when we apply ourselves."
It was perhaps one of the funniest games Harry had ever played. Less like Quidditch and more like tag on brooms, they went randomly after the quaffle, chased the snitch in groups, and dived after each other. Even Ron and Hermione loosened up during the game, Hermione suddenly growing more confident in that one illegal evening than she ever was during Flying Lessons.
"Duck!" Jade cried out batting a bludger towards Fred as she flew over Harry's head.
"It's mine!" Hermione laughed diving after the snitch as it passed mere inches from Jade's face.
"I'll get you back, Jade!" Fred said getting ready for another go at a bludger when Ron flew by and flipped his brother's robes over his head. Swinging blindly Fred still managed to send a speeding bludger towards his intended target.
"Look out!" Hermione cried out as the bludger collided with Jade. She toppled to the ground as the twins, Harry, Ron, and Hermione raced down towards her.
"Fred, look what you did!" Ron hissed as she let out a groan.
"What I did?" he hissed back. "You flipped my robes over my head!"
"Jade," Harry said, shaking her shoulder gently. "You okay?"
"I'm okay," she muttered from the ground.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" George asked brandishing three fingers before her.
"Three, Professor Dumbledore," she slurred.
"Er…not so much."
"We should get her to the hospital wing," Hermione said worriedly.
"Wait…" Harry said suddenly straightening, eyes narrowed. "Did you hear that?" They stood up and strained their ears. Ron was about to say something when Hermione shushed him. It sounded like a flutter of a cloak, several feet above them, barely audible yet growing more noticeable by the minute. Suddenly a dark figure on a broomstick darted over them, the tail end listing rather uncontrollably, it's rider looking as if he could barely hold on. The figure slumped over the broom as he passed the pitch, heading towards the lake, threatening to fall at any moment.
"We've got to do something," Harry insisted urgently, grabbing his broom and pushing off towards the struggling flyer, the twins, Hermione, and Ron on his tail.
"Come on," he urged his Firebolt as he began to gain distance on the stranger. They were over the Lake now. Slowly, as if it were all a movie in slow motion, the slumped figure slid from his broomstick.
"No!" Harry heard Hermione cry out as the body plummeted into the lake below. Heart pounding, he dove into the dark water after the stranger, broomstick and all, forgetting what an inept swimmer he was as he plunged deeper into the lake. He only remembered after he fastened his hand around a fistful of cloak and found himself being dragged down, lungs burning, into the depths. Suddenly arms reached down for him, pulling him and the stranger out of the water. Harry choked as his face broke the surface, clinging to Hermione's broomstick while trying to turn the man over. He succeeded with Fred's help but upon seeing the stranger's face, Harry felt like he was drowning again. It was Sirius.
"Get them out!" a woman who had joined them in the water instructed, and half flying, half swimming they made for the shore.
"What's going on?" Jade called out worriedly having recovered.
"It's Sirius!" George cried out.
"Well, I can see that it's serious, but what's going on?" She joined them in the shallow water to help. "Oh. It is Sirius."
"Quick, get the nurse!" the unknown woman said. "And Dumbledore. Oh god, you liar, Black." The twins didn't look back as they dashed towards the castle. Harry didn't even see them go, as he kneeled beside his godfather, a cold shiver running through the both of them.
In what was probably minutes, but felt more like hours, Dumbledore, led by the Weasley twins and followed by McGonagall rushed to their aid. Suspended on a hovering stretcher, Sirius was levitated into the hospital wing with as little noise as possible.
"We discovered they were moving," the unknown woman was saying breathlessly to Dumbledore as Madam Pomfrey swept out to meet them.
"What is going on?" her face turned bone white at the sight of her newest patient. Swallowing with some difficulty, she retrieved her wand and began to examine the moaning form, most likely pretending she had no questions to ask.
"What happened?" McGonagall breathed helping the nurse slip off Sirius's sodden cloak.
"They spotted us trailing them in Poland," the stranger answered. "Black got caught by several curses, but I didn't think they were serious…but then he hadn't been feeling well either. He told me he was fine." She glared hurtfully at Sirius before turning her head away to face Dumbledore, a look of urgency on her face.
"They were content near Bulgaria, had a menagerie of channels for information, supplies, everything. It took something important enough to make them move, and they're heading—,"
Dumbledore held up his hands to silence her, motioning towards Harry and the others clustered around Black's bed.
"Voldemort you mean," Harry spoke up from Sirius's side. "That's what you two were doing…not just tracking Death-Eaters, they're too many of them, but Voldemort and his circle." At his side, he felt Ron and Hermione flinch, but he didn't apologize.
"That's not what I said," the woman began.
"But that's what you mean," Harry replied. "You must be Arabella Figg."
"Honored to meet you Harry Potter," she said. "I've heard a lot about you…from Sirius and my grandmother."
"Your grandmother?" Harry asked.
"The cat lady of Privet Drive?" Figg explained. "Nearly skinned your cousin when he ran her over with his motorbike."
"Mrs. Figg?" Harry said disbelievingly. "She's a—?"
"No, she's not a witch, a peach, sure, but not a witch. My grandfather was a wizard…you know my grandmother really fancied you, listening politely to her cat stories and all." Suddenly, the ward door creaked open, sending everyone's head turning. A fat, ginger cat ambled its way in, leaping into Figg's arms.
"Crookshanks!" she cried out giving the cat a hug. "It's been ages, my furry friend. Gran and I have missed you! But I think you're being spoiled enough." With a happy meow, the cat purred in Hermione's direction.
"Bella," Lupin said having just stepped into the ward. "What are you doing here? I got news Sirius—," he paused to indicate the cat when his eyes fell on the shifting form of his friend. "How is he?"
"He's got a fever, seems horribly exhausted," Pomfry sighed. "But there's no doubt he'll live."
"Perhaps a more detailed discussion in my office, Arabella?" Dumbledore finally said, motioning towards the door. "As for everyone else, I pray it will not be too much to ask that this entire ordeal is kept under wraps. It was a good thing for Mr. Black that you all chose tonight to break the rules. If you would meet me as soon as everything is in order, Minerva." With a small smile, he led Figg out.
"Roaming the grounds at an ungodly hour will be overlooked…this time," she said firmly instating her authority before Dumbledore was out the door. "Perhaps Ms Granger, you can help Ms Cordonnier move her things out of the ward, I'll have Mr. Filch set up a bunk in your dormitory, given that'll it'll be a bit cramped, it'll have to do until…well, until the hospital ward is free of it's guest."
Silence fell around Harry as he sat beside his godfather, Lupin across from him, Pomfrey in her office in search of cold compresses and Ron helping Hermione and Jade. Everything was strangely clockwork, so much so that he didn't even notice when the Weasley twins excused themselves. He stared at Sirius wondering how many times he had nearly lost the only true family he had. That fear was only part of Harry's everyday life.
Sirius's brow was dotted with sweat as he murmured incoherent, garbled words. He was still much too thin, Harry thought wincing inwardly. Jade approached him and silently motioned for the book she had placed on the bedside table on Harry's right. He handed it to her, and she glanced at him worriedly as Sirius let out a groan. Harry stood and Jade placed a hand reassuringly on his shoulder, just as Sirius's eyes snapped open.
"Don't you touch him!" he snarled, an insane glint in his eye as he pushed her away, nearly diving at her as she fell to the ground. Jade gasped in alarm as Lupin threw his arms around Black. He tried to wriggle away, thrashing violently as Harry and Lupin fought to hold him back.
"You get away from him, damnit," Sirius spat, struggling furiously despite his fever.
"No, Sirius!" Harry cried out pulling his godfather's face towards him. "No, it's just Jade. Look! I'm fine. Look at me, I'm fine!" The face Harry met as he stared into his godfather's haunted, dark eyes was frightened, angry, much like the face of one fresh out of Azkaban. The struggle died down, and Sirius allowed Lupin and Harry to lower him back onto the bed, where his eyes rolled into his head and he slumped back into the pillows.
"What's going on?" Madam Pomfrey demanded racing from her office with cold compresses and washcloths in her hands. Ron and Hermione pulled Jade to her feet and didn't answer, just stared in shock at Sirius who was now peacefully still.
"It's nothing," Lupin said pushing the brown hair from his brow. "Just a fevered dream."
Harry ended up kipping in a chair beside his godfather's bed all night despite Pomfrey's protest. He dreamed once again of his parent's adventures, their happy memories after his birth, and was left with the image of the two dead Death Eaters as he awoke the next morning.
Sirius's fever had broken by dawn, and they spent the day catching up on news: the last quidditch match of the season, Arthur Weasley's secret campaign within the Ministry, the Promenade, the Longbottoms…Sirius seemed particularly interested in their nearly full recovery. He had said that he only hoped their sanity would keep when it was time they were interviewed about what happened the night they were tortured.
Sirius showed no sign of remembering what he had done the night before, and as this was fine by Harry, Jade was not brought up. Like Lupin had said, it was just a fevered dream.
"Sorry about not answering your last letter," Sirius said later that evening. "I was a bit preoccupied with trying to not get hexed to death."
"That's not funny," Harry replied. "You would of killed me if I cracked a joke like that." Sirius grinned at him and Harry laughed. It was nothing humorous really; it was just nice to be talking face to face to family again.
"My parents were after something, Sirius," Harry finally said regarding the letter he had sent a week before. "Mr. Longbottom knew; he wanted to warn my father about it, I'm sure of it." Sirius's grin faded from his face and he turned away from his godson.
"What was it?" Harry repeated.
"The Spirit of Vengeance," Sirius answered quietly. "The Guardian of Power. Voldemort wanted it, so the Potters were sent out to destroy it."
"I saw them on that mission," Harry murmured. "Their memories…"
"I know," he replied ignoring Harry's surprised look. "Dumbledore's told me."
"I just want to understand those dreams," Harry said with knitted brow. "Why do I see them?"
"Because something wants you to know."
Startled by the statement, Harry looked up into Sirius's eyes. There was something mingled in with that haunted stare…fear?
"What?"
"Nothing," Sirius said quickly. "I just mean to say that I don't think those dreams came to you by chance. I just want you to be wary." Again with the warning of being cautious, Harry thought, a bit annoyed.
"Wait a second," his godfather said in attempts to change the subject. "Aren't you s'pose to be getting all sweaty-palmed about some dance or another?"
"The Promenade's tonight—,"
"And I hear you've got quite the date." At that Harry turned a brilliant scarlet.
"But I was thinking I'd skive off, spend some time with you."
"No you're not!" Sirius exclaimed sounding on the verge of outrage. "No godson of mine is going to blow off a girl he fancies on the account of me! What would your father say?"
"Come on, I haven't seen you in ages. I'll keep you company."
"I'm quite capable of being alone, you know. Besides I expect Arabella and Moony will be here in no time to entertain me." Harry didn't look very convinced and Sirius reached over to ruffle his hair as he ducked away.
"Go," Sirius insisted again. "You can visit tomorrow, you know." Harry's face fell, realizing Sirius was not going to stay comfortable in the hospital wing, safe behind a charmed curtain for very long. Struggling to not look upset, he forced a grin onto his face.
"You promise?"
"Yes, now don't make me embarrass you in front of your date by dragging you there myself." Despite himself Harry's grin turned genuine.
"I'm glad Snuffles made you go," Ron said as they hurried down the spiral stairs to the common room. "I don't think I could survive another one of these hellish dances on my own."
"I'm sure Jade'll be sympathetic," Harry quipped with a grin, buttoning his black coat over his crisp dress-shirt and vest. The seamstresses and tailors had truly done an admirable job. Ron was thoroughly impressed by his black suit and dress shirt and tie in complementing shades of blue.
They passed Angelina and Fred who were demonstrating some dance move or another, that looked very dangerous, to Alicia and Lee. Spotting Seamus, Dean, and Neville, Harry directed Ron and himself towards them. Ron didn't seem keen on sitting anywhere near Dean, but he followed Harry anyway.
"You hear who Neville's date is?" Seamus announced as Harry and Ron sat down. "Susan Bones, that pretty brunette Hufflepuff." Neville turned beet red as Dean slapped him across the back, wishing him luck for the evening.
"It doesn't take that long to put on a ruddy dress," Ron groaned after waiting several minutes for Jade and Hermione.
"How would you know?" Jade asked approaching them from behind. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck, and the deep blue, empire-waist gown set off the jade piece at her throat.
"Apparently Ron's an expert in dress wearing," Hermione added from beside her. In a strapless gown of warm cranberry, she looked prettier than Harry ever gave her credit for. She tilted her head expectantly, her hair twisted back in a swirl of glossy curls.
"Wow," Harry breathed. "You two look…you two look very nice." Both girls grinned appreciatively at him.
"Hermione looks a real treat, doesn't she?" Dean muttered to Ron who was staring at her with mouth agape.
"You dropped your jaw," Jade said. Ron promptly shut his mouth and made for the portrait hole without a word.
"Is he all right?" Seamus asked Harry.
"Er…yeah," he replied quickly. "He's fine, just excited to get to the ball I s'pose."
"We should all get going," Hermione broke in clearing her throat. "Ready Dean?" She avoided Harry's eye as she linked arms with her partner and led the way out of the common room.
"I didn't think Ron would take it that bad," Jade muttered to Harry as they walked. "Maybe I should have listened to Parvati…"
"He'll turn," he said. Hopefully. He didn't want her to have as bad a time as Ron seemed to want to have.
They descended the stairs into the Entrance Hall to find most of the students peering into an empty and rather dim-lit Great Hall.
"Oy, Ron!" Jade called spotting the lanky redhead. "What's going on?" he made his way towards them, pushing past Danny Davies and Mandy Brocklehurst.
"Doesn't look like the Great Hall is decked out for a Promenade," he muttered. "If we're lucky its been cancelled." Suddenly, the massive front doors swung slowly open.
"Ah, just in time," Dumbledore said beaming at his students, dressed in an indigo, plush velvet suit. "All inquires will be answered at the end of the trail of fairy lights." And with that he stepped aside to reveal a path lit by cheery lanterns and twinkling lights.
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as a stream of students, arm in arm began to make their way onto the grounds. Hermione smiled weakly at Harry and Jade and made her way with Dean out through the doors.
"Well, let's go," Ron said flashing a grin, offering his arm to Jade. She took it appreciatively, and Harry was glad that he was going to at least attempt to have a good time.
"We'll have fun," Jade said to him as she led him out. "I've got a supply of Big Bottom Bon Bons in my pocket."
"Hi Harry!"
Harry turned to find Cho waving at him. He nearly passed out. Her ebony hair was twisted into a series of silky knots, and the creamy gold of her dress set off her lightly tanned skin. All he could do was goggle at her as she approached. Thank god Sirius made him go.
"You look good," she said brushing a bit of lint from his shoulder.
"You…you…" Harry stuttered. "You look really, really fabulous."
"Thanks," she said blushing furiously. "Er…shall we go?"
Grinning madly, Harry led her out the doors and along the path. At the end of the trail, they found themselves at the lake where a sight as magnificent as the Christmas snow globe awaited them. A large dance floor was laid out before the lake on which a floating platform for the performers was set to entertain them. Tables dotted the lakeside, everything warmly lit by floating lanterns, candles, and torches.
They joined a table already occupied by Hermione, Dean, Ron, and Jade.
"It's all lovely," Hermione sighed, turning to take in the view of the dark lake where the clear sky and quarter moon were mirrored in its surface.
"Welcome to the Spring Promenade," Dumbledore said, his voice ringing through the warm night. "First a feast to celebrate youth, and of course, the end of O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts!" McGongall cleared her throat and Dumbledore added quickly, "but let us not forget, of course, our end of term exams." With a beaming smile he took his seat, and dinner began.
Harry and Cho spoke of quidditch and Ron and Hermione manage to act civilly to each other; however, their clipped conversation was anything but warm. Eventually, the food was cleared and a musical troupe made its way onto the floating platform, receiving whispers of excitement from the crowd.
"I can't believe it!"
"It's Black Cauldron!"
"How did Dumbledore do it? I thought they were on tour!"
Harry could have cared less who the musicians were; it was the dancing he was worried about. The lead guitarist greeted everyone and began the set with a slow, mellow rock piece. Dumbledore, looking far too amused, stood and held out a hand to Professor Sprout who nearly fell over at the chance to open a ball.
"Well, Hermione?" Dean said with a grin. "You wanna dance?"
"Sure," she said and was led off to the dance floor.
"Come on, Jade," Ron said hastily, pulling Jade to her feet before she could cram another cream puff into her mouth.
"But I—,"
"Come on!"
Harry watched Ron give her one final tug in the direction of the dance floor. He turned to find Cho smiling at her now clean plate.
"Would you—?" he started.
"Love to."
Nervously, he got up, fumbled to help pull out her chair, and joined the other students on the floor. His heart was pounding, and the blood that was swimming into his head was making him dizzy, but he was there with Cho. Even with the gossip that erupted when word got out he had asked her to the promenade, she had gone with him more than willingly.
"Well," Cho said before they awkwardly attempted to put their hands where they belonged. It took several tries as neither of them seemed to be natural dancers.
"That's a silly dance if I ever saw one," Fred said with a grin as he dipped Angelina between them.
"Hi Harry, Hi Cho," Angelina laughed as she was swung around and danced in a different direction.
"Could you believe him?" Ron hissed as he suddenly appeared by Harry's side, jutting a thumb at Hermione and Dean nearby. "With his hand on her hip, and she letting him and all!"
"It's a slow dance, Ron," Jade replied evenly. "You better run for it now, Harry, before he gets you involved in a plan to take Dean out." Ron glared at her, and sighing, Jade took the lead and danced them away.
"Seems a bit bitter, doesn't he?" Cho said.
"A bit?" Harry returned earning a grin from her. They moved their feet as in time to the music as possible, and with only a bit of concentration, managed to avoid stepping on each other's feet.
"Can you believe him?" Harry heard Hermione complain to Dean, finding that they were now right next to him and Cho. "Just because I help him with his homework and make sure he doesn't kill himself in class, I automatically should know he was going to ask me to the Promenade. Honestly, Ron really needs a reality check if he thinks everyone runs on his clock." Dean nodded with what seemed like as much sympathy as he could muster. Obviously, Hermione had been going off about Ron for some time now.
"Dumbledore has really outdone himself," Cho said catching his attention. "With the band, and the lanterns…"
"I know," Harry replied. He wanted to say more, not about the lanterns of course, just more.
"Cho?"
"Yeah?"
"I just…you know? Just wanted to say thanks," Harry managed. She looked at him sideways.
"For what?"
"For coming with me, I know it couldn't have been easy—,"
"Ron, what are you doing!" Hermione hissed.
"Budge up, you're taking up the dance floor," Ron returned.
"What is your psychosis, Ron?" she snapped angrily. "The dance floor is huge!"
"Oh, so now I've got a 'psychosis', eh?"
"Ron," Jade sighed. "She means what's your problem."
"I know that!"
"Let's go this way," Harry said quickly leading Cho to another corner of the floor. She raised an eyebrow at him curiously, and he shrugged in response. The next song was faster, and cheers went round as George and Katie took center stage in a dance-off with Lee and Alicia. The crowd cheered louder, (with the exception of most of the Slytherins) as Hagrid was pushed out, and nervously began a silly jig. Harry whooped as the friendly giant danced by.
"It was hard," Cho said over the music. "Coming with you tonight…but I'm really glad I did." Harry faced her, and grinned enthusiastically. Maybe this Promenade would turn out all right after all…
The bodies began to disperse, and to Harry's surprise, he was beginning to have fun making up moves to the beat of the music. After a few more dances, he went in search of some drinks for Cho and himself.
"All right there, Harry?" Hagrid said as he approached the refreshments table.
"Couldn't be better," Harry replied picking out two chilled butterbeers. "How about yourself?"
"Same here," Hagrid sighed with a sort of sad smile on his face. "Olympe loves fairy lights." Harry grinned up at his friend. It seemed the affections of the games keeper for the giantess headmistress of Beauxbatons had failed to wan in their time apart.
"How's, yeh know," Hagrid whispered, leaning down to better converse with Harry. "How's old Padfoot doin'? He feelin' better today?"
"Loads," Harry replied as a bit of anxiety crept into his voice at the thought of his godfather. Sirius's relatively good health meant he was going to spend more time betting it on the roulette table. The toughest part was that Harry understood.
"Look now, here comes yer partner," Hagrid announced, nudging him a bit with his elbow, nearly knocking him into the punch bowl. Beaming, Hagrid winked and left to ask Professor McGonagall for a dance.
"Thanks," Cho said as Harry handed her a butterbeer. They moved towards a table under a lantern that looked like a dragonfly to finish their drinks where their conversation on Victor Krum's lightning-quick maneuvers was interrupted by Ron and Jade.
"The nerve of her, really," he muttered taking a seat beside them. "Acting as if she and Dean owned the place…I can't believe she wanted to go with that git."
"Dean's really nice," Jade said firmly, looking apologetically at Cho and Harry. "Let's go get drinks, Ron. I think they'd like to be alone."
"Gibberish," he replied looking off in Hermione and Dean's direction. "You don't mind, right Harry?"
"Actually—"
"See?"
Jade slapped her forehead in frustration.
"You like butterbeer, let's gets some—" she said, giving it one more go.
"Of all the people Hermione could have gone with—"
"It's not against the rules to cut in, you know," Harry said bluntly.
"And why would I want to do that?" Ron asked heatedly. Harry rolled his eyes, but when he looked off onto the dance floor, he noticed something. Hermione and Dean looked pretty miserable. Neither one was smiling or looking like they were having a very good time.
"Excuse me for a second, Cho," Harry said. "You don't mind loosing your partner, do you Jade?"
"I'll help loose him," she replied.
"Let's go, Ron."
"What are you doing?"
Protesting, he was dragged by Jade and Harry onto the dance floor towards Dean and Hermione.
"Sorry, Dean, do you think Ron could cut in for a bit?"
"No, he can't!" Hermione answered sharply.
"Absolutely," Dean said looking slightly relieved. He smiled warmly at Hermione and added, "Maybe now you'll have a better time."
"You're a real sport, Dean," Jade said. "Want to dance?" He readily agreed and followed her deeper into the crowd.
"What do you think you're doing, Harry?" Hermione insisted angrily, staring after Dean and Jade in bewilderment.
"I'm not dancing with her," Ron said flatly.
"Dance," Harry demanded.
"No," they replied in unison. He crossed his arms looking sternly at them, until crumbling under his stare, they made half-attempts at the sorriest excuse for dancing ever.
"There, you satisfied?" Ron grumbled. The song ended and a slow one began.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes." Glaring at Harry, they both obliged, and determined to not let any more of their bodies touch than necessary, kept an awkward distance.
"You trod on my foot!" Hermione snapped at Ron, her attention immediately drawn from Harry. "What is your problem anyway? You've been out to ruin my night since yesterday!"
"Me out to ruin your night?!" Ron returned. "What about the way Dean's been acting?"
"Like a gentleman, you mean? Are you even making an effort to be logical?!"
People were starting to stare and Harry began to wonder if this was such a good idea after all.
"Why'd you go with him anyway?"
"Because he asked me Ron, and I was his first choice! I'm not going to wait around to be your back up just because you didn't end up with a partner like Mandy!"
"How could you say that? There was no one else I wanted to go with! You weren't my first choice: you were my only choice! I turned down Mandy because I wanted to ask you, but it took me weeks to work up the nerve, and by that time, a good guy like Dean had already got to you first, satisfied? That's my problem! I missed out on going with you!"
Hermione was speechless. So was Harry, but that's not important. They had both stopped dancing, Hermione's face suddenly turning as deep cranberry as her dress. Ron was the only one who could top her.
"Really?" she said quietly.
"Yeah," Ron squeaked his voice unnaturally high. He cleared his throat and added, "That's pretty much it."
"You're not dancing," Harry noted pointing at their feet. Before they could reply he retreated, feeling smug about his idea. However, he wasn't even off the floor before he distinctly heard Hermione cry out, "OW! Ron, you're treading on my foot again!"
Oh well, Harry thought, baby steps.
He returned to Cho who was smiling. It seemed she had been watching the entire drama from her seat.
"Went well, I think," she said welcoming him back. "How'd Hermione's old partner take it?"
"Really well," Harry replied pointing out Dean and Jade. They watched the couples bemusedly for a bit until Cho spoke up.
"You want to dance?"
"Yeah, okay," Harry replied.
They got up and made for the dance floor passing a table of Hufflepuffs, who stared after them coldly, the sounds of their whispers catching in the light breeze.
"I can't believe he'd be so insensitive as to move in on Cho."
"I told you he wanted Cedric out of the picture."
Harry stopped cold, suddenly feeling an icy grip of guilt rack his lungs.
"Come on, Harry," Cho said looking him directly in the eyes. Without a glance in their direction, she pulled him onto the dance floor.
Harry found that it was suddenly hard to look at her. He could live with the fact that he was the butt of all this gossip, and that many blamed him for Cedric's death. But for the first time, he saw how much Cho must be suffering because he had asked her to the Promenade. He couldn't live with that.
"I'm so sorry," he stuttered in a rush of words. "I really shouldn't have asked you—,"
"No, don't," Cho said firmly. "They don't understand—"
"I shouldn't have asked you to deal with all this—that's really selfish of me. I'm sorry—"
"Harry, don't apologize—"
"I shouldn't do this to you, let's call it a night. I'm really tired any—"
She kissed him.
Needless to say, that shut him up good and quick.
Petrified, Harry stared at her with a sort of shocked expression plastered to his face. There was only one thing running through his mind: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Sirius!
"Well," Cho said a brilliant crimson blush appearing on her face. "Er, I've got to go pee…I mean go to the pee, er…toilet. I'll be back in a bit, all right? Yes…I'm—I'll be back."
"Yeah…pee…" Harry replied in a daze.
With an astonished grin, Harry finally managed to amble off of the dance floor. He couldn't believe what happened. Cho kissed him! It took all his will power to refrain from doing some sort of victory dance. Head finally clearing a little, he made his way to the refreshment table where Jade was standing partner-less, tapping a toe in time to the music. Upon spotting her, he remembered what had happened the night she blurted out that he fancied Cho, what she had done for him despite the fact that he had been a git to her because of it. And most of all he thought about the delightfully outcome that it all led up to.
"Jade," he said.
"The Weasley twins ought to have 'caution' tattooed to their foreheads," she said watching them dance exuberantly across the floor. "It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye."
"Thanks," Harry said.
"For the warning?"
"No, thanks for making me ask Cho."
"It went well then?" she asked turning to him excitedly. "I think you owe me a few galleons, Harry."
"How 'bout a dance instead?" he asked.
"Instead of Galleons?" she said in mock shock. Grinning, she allowed him to lead her to the dance floor where he told her every detail leading up to "the kiss".
"So if it wasn't for your big mouth," he said wryly. "It never would have happened."
"I'll take that as a complement," Jade replied. "We'll just say we're even now."
"What'd you mean by that?"
"I never thanked you for being such a good friend," she said. "You, Ron, and Hermione have made this entire…no memory thing, not as bad as it should've been. I still don't remember my past, but when I meet my parents in a few days, I'll have good memories to tell them about Hogwarts."
As they danced, Harry noticed Filch rushing up to Dumbledore in his moldy tailcoat. Whatever he had to say, it seemed particularly important, as the caretaker's face was twisted with anxiety. Dumbledore nodded and turned to follow Filch towards the front gates.
Wonder what Peeves has done, Harry thought. The song ended and Jade and Harry turned to see Cho in the distance, making her way amongst a group of friends back to the lakeside.
"Thanks again, Jade," Harry said. "I promise you a really incredible birthday gift this year."
"I won't hold my breath," she replied. With a grin she squeezed his hand and made to kiss him on the forehead.
It happened so quickly, as if the sky had suddenly exploded. As her lips brushed the tip of his scar a pain so agonizing cracked through his head, seeped down into his body. Harry was sent crashing to his knees, one hand covering his face, the other swinging out in a mad arch to push the source of pain away. His breath was caught in his lungs and the hurt coursed over his nerves. It was more excruciating then anything he had ever felt before. Every cell in his body radiated the white-hot heat; the agony forced his jaw to painfully clench so that he couldn't even scream. If this was living, he wanted to be dead. And in the never-ending ocean of pain that lapped over his head and body, he saw images of his parents rushing towards him; felt the image of the two dead Death Eaters burn into his eyes.
At last, Harry's jaw ripped apart as a scream burst from his lungs, taking with it everything he had and finally he was released into the blissful darkness.
A/N: EEK! A cliffhanger. Do you hate me? Do you really hate me?…YAY! anywho, I hope I got this chapter up sooner than expected; I practically crapped a brick it was such a pain to write as it is very long, and I was attempting to finish it during midterms week. Joy. Anyway, thank you so much for all your fabulous reviews and yes, I actually have reviewer thanks listed below! I'm sorry I don't always have time to do this, but I do want to let you all know how incredibly awesome you are for taking the time to read this AND letting me know your thoughts, criticism, guesses, etc.
Erin (Hpfan): You are a tard, and I love you for it! Thank you so much erin for editing, and being so gah damn helpful, seriously (black) you are the filter and gourmet beans to my Cathy Coffee. And that applies to being the most fantastic friend ever! *Note:"Tele-what?" was created in Erin's twisted half of our brain.
Blackmagic: Dude! I'm so happy you came back! Anywho, the Longbottoms have been out of it since the Potter's death and I figured they'd be pretty time-skewed about things…and yeah, basically what you said. I figured I didn't make that very clear so I added it into this chapter. Thanks for the review, you are fab :)
Fae: You are so fabtacular! I'm so happy you found ch.20 interesting.
Lbj, Lily Evans, Jaimie C JC (please excuse the clumping): Thank you all for reviewing!
Pete B.: Thanks for the email! Sorry to confuse you about the address change, I hope school is going well for you, didn't you say you're nearly finished?
Veronica Lupin: Congrats, you are the only person to catch Gilligan's Island. Thanks for being the best reviewer ever…hey, wait, what are you doing reading this? Aren't you supposed to be writing ch.9 or something? Wait as sec, what am I doing? Shouldn't I be off tackling my 20 page paper on Victorian poetry? Damn the luck.
JVSparkle: Well, I think it's safe to say Harry's going for Cho. I never intended for Jade to be his love interest, so you know, but they do have an interesting relationship…
Bloodmoon: Surprisingly, everything is plot driven, so everything that happens has something to do with the entire conflict of the fic. In other words…you're guess may very well be it…maybe. Anyway, thanks for stopping by again!
Nataly Ravenlock: Again, thank you thank you thank you for your tips on sword fighting. Those errors have been fixed…as for more combat stuff in this fic, you'll just have to wait and see….
Ginny Potter: As always, love your reviews, you're the best! Thanks a bunch for checking out my fan art, I'm so ecstatic that you like it! The big colored one was done for my best friend, erin's birthday…it was a real pineapple up the arse to do, took me forever. About your guesses on where this fic is going? We'll just have to wait and see :)
Eleanor Lyndon: Hey! You came back! Thanks for reviewing. On affirming your theory, I'm just going to say you'll have to wait and see. It's obvious that Jade has something to do with plot but what and why have yet to be touched (or even formulated…j/k). Hope you stick around, there may be some surprises.
SugarQuill: LOL, you're fabtacular! Thanks for reviewing, it was quite amusing.
Mistygurl: As always totally enjoy your reviews…especially when reading my fic causes undue embarrassment in English class. LOL, something that happens often to me when I check my reviews and/or mail in the University Library :) Damn Aussie Ben and his sick jokes….er…anywho, Good luck on your own midterms!
MagicalMischiefmaker: I'm so happy you thought so! Thank you once again!
*welp, that concludes this section, you all have been wonderful, everyone take care, and see you next chapter!
~Jess (agent 99)