Time Changes Everything
A fan fiction by Pottergirl
EXTREMELY long and IMPORTANT author's note:-
Hello! Firstly, I think I owe all my reviewers a big apology for being so late in putting up this chapter. I have had no time in the past weeks really. I've been trying to approach the computer without being pulled back by tests, revision, commitments, school trips, relatives calling…etc.!! But I remembered I promised "Lakhena Im" who emailed me, that I'd upload within a week and I think it's time I put aside studies and all other such things to write!!!
I was late in uploading because of another reason too. I didn't want to hurry as you may have seen in chapter 14 that has no title (originally chapter 13, please read next paragraph) everything seems rushed and squashed. You won't be getting a good fic if I hurry. Please don't mind!
AND…
There's another important notice! I have to apologize double for this! You can see I have titled this chapter 15. But this does not mean I have uploaded two chapters. My last upload, if you remember, was chapter 13. Actually…I missed out on a chapter in the beginning…I apologize profusely!!! I am only thankful it did not have any plot thingies or anything. It was a bit of fluff…and was titled "The Ultimate R/H Topped With Fred and George". As you see, it was just how Ron and Hermione got together. Some of you may have noticed how I skipped to Ron and Hermione holding hands from being shy with each other from chapter 2 to chapter 3. Now chapter 3 is "The Ultimate R/H Topped With Fred and George", Have fun reading it! I apologize again…I don't know how many times I've already apologized!
I promise nothing like this will ever happen again.
And, now, the story!
Chapter 15: Puzzling Happenings
If it was to be said frankly – Harry as in love. And since he had never really been in love before (Cho Chang had been a silly crush), he didn't really know what to do with his feelings. Suddenly, he was staring at Ginny at meals, finding excuses to talk to her or trying to include her in his, Ron and Hermione's games and talks. It all became easier now that both Ron and Hermione knew about his feelings for Ginny. It was a relief, Harry thought many times, that they knew but other times…well, you could say Ron, Fred or George didn't show much mercy.
Weeks were now passing quickly and soon it was past mid-January, three weeks since Christmas holidays had ended. Suddenly, the proximity of the O.W.L.s the fifth years were taking later that year was palpable. The teachers piled up so much homework for the fifth years that many students began to panic. Their revision timetables were being neglected because of the homework and the Commonroom remained quite full into the night, people trying to get their studying done.
Thus, Harry as not able to do anything about his "feelings". He'd only glance at Ginny several times while he was studying in the Commonroom or in the corridors when she passed by him. Hermione was adamant – she'd never let anything disturb her schedule – even Ron, who gave her meaningful looks but when she had her revision timetable out before her, nothing much could distract her. And so, everyday after sunset, Harry found himself in the Commonroom with Ron and Hermione, poring over books and revising their syllabus.
But homework seemed easier compared to what Harry had been going through for most part of January. His scar ached on and off, repeatedly, at different times throughout the day. It was unnerving and distracting…Harry found it difficult to concentrate on Uric the Oddball in History when his scar was twinging. But thankfully, he hadn't had any nightmares and that relieved him of some of his tensions.
One rainy day in late January, Harry found himself in Potions, wishing his scar would stop hurting – or that it would not get worse. He didn't dare think what Voldemort was doing now that he was gaining power. He ground his pestle into the table, turning the beetle eyes to black powder as his scar throbbed. Professor Snape was being unbearable than ever as he barked nasty comments at the Gryffindors.
'If you've got anything in the idiotic brain of yours, Longbottom, you'd realize the consequences of mixing Ashwinder eggs and Doporous ash! Fifteen points off Gryffindor for showing terrible Potions skills!' he barked at Neville. Harry looked at Snape stonily – Snape was doing nothing to improve his mood that day.
'Stupid, barking git!' Harry heard Ron mutter under his breath. Hermione shook her head slightly and continued adding Ashwinder eggs, one by one, into her cauldron. Harry's scar gave a sharp twinge and he paused in mid-grinding for a moment.
'What's wrong?' Ron asked, sensing trouble.
'Nothing,' muttered Harry, getting frustrated, 'except the usual.'
Ron glanced at Harry worriedly. Harry had not told him much about his scar pains but Ron had seen Harry rubbing his scar or clutching his head. What Harry needed, Ron had realized, was a distraction when he was experiencing slight scar pains. It kept Harry from getting worked up and moody.
'So, Quidditch practice tonight?' Ron asked, making sure Snape wasn't close.
'Yeah, we haven't had any practice for three days…the match against Hufflepuff is two weeks away,' said Harry, empting his bowl of crushed beetle eyes into his cauldron.
Ron hoped he could do better in distracting Harry.
'So when do we have practice? Oh and I forgot to tell you, Fred was saying something about this advertisement he'd seen in the Daily…'
Harry strained to hear Ron's voice but it felt as if someone was slowly lowering the volume. He knew what was causing that…Harry's scar now throbbed more painfully than it had several moments ago. Harry put the empty bowl of crushed Beetle eyes on the table, trying to concentrate on Ron's voice. But his scar now throbbed savagely and suddenly, the pain was more than unbearable for him. He staggered a bit but Ron didn't notice as he tipped his cup of Armadillo blue into his cauldron, talking in a low voice so that Snape wouldn't hear him. Harry tried to say something but before even a word could escape him, everything became a blur before him and he fell to the cold floor of the dungeon, losing consciousness altogether.
~*~
Harry blinked several times before he was able to open one of his eyelids. The room was quite dark and candlelight lit the curtains that separated him from the rest of the room. He moved his head a little but immediately stopped. His head hurt badly and he tried to remember what had happened. Everything came back to him…the dungeons…Potions…
He gingerly touched his temple…there was a large bandage wrapped around his head, covering his forehead and temples. Harry slowly sat up in bed, wincing as his head hurt. For the first time, he realized the presence of another being in the partitioned area. Harry gasped. A large black dog lay curled asleep on a large mat beside him on the floor.
As Harry was registering the fact that Sirius was there, the black dog lifted one eyelid sleepily. A pale yellow eye stared back up at him and the next instant the dog had gone. Sirius raised himself from the floor and enveloped Harry in a hug. None of them spoke for a few moments; Sirius moved back to look at Harry, tears lining his eyes.
'What are you doing up in bed?' he demanded. Harry's grin widened as his green eyes sparkled.
'I'm fine but how come you're here?' Harry asked, the word rushing out of him. Sirius sat down on the edge of the bed beside Harry.
'I came over to visit you today but I never knew you I'd find you here!' said Sirius, a worried edge evident in his tone. 'What happened, Harry?' he asked quickly, the last of his smile slowly evaporating. Harry touched his bandage slightly.
'My scar hurt in Potions…' said Harry, recalling the episode, 'and then I fainted.'
Harry looked up, quite surprised himself. It looked stupid…"I fainted." Snape frowned.
'Your scar hurt? Does it always hurt as bad as this?'
Harry shook his head and winced slightly at the pain he experienced.
'No,' he said quickly. 'It has rarely hurt so bad…I don't faint like this every time my scar hurts! I don't know what was happening…'
Harry tried to suppress a shudder at the thought of what Voldemort had been doing at the time when his scar had hurt so badly he had fainted. Sirius laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
'Has anything unusual been going on?' he asked quickly. Harry thought for a moment…back to how Ginny had strangely lost consciousness during the holidays. But he didn't think that had any relation to how he had fainted that day. After all, today's incident had been a cause of the scar pains.
'No,' said Harry thoughtfully. But then he looked up; a question had been nagging at him for several months now.
'Sirius, has anything…been going on…outside, I mean…' he asked, fearing the worst. His scar rarely hurt so badly and it had hurt twice in as many months. Sirius looked back at Harry with a statement of puzzlement and Harry was slightly surprised.
'That's what I don't understand, Harry,' said Sirius, his eyebrows knitting slightly. 'According to Professor Dumbledore, your scar hurts you when Voldemort is engaged in any of his devastating activities or when he's having particularly vicious intentions…'
Harry nodded slightly.
'But,' said Sirius, puzzled, 'There haven't been many reports of his activities for months and in fact, for the past two or tree months, everything has been very calm. All of us in the Order are aware that Voldemort has been gaining strength…but it is very strange that there have been no reports of any activities…from the Death Eaters or Voldemort.'
'But my scar hurt,' said Harry, puzzled by Sirius's revelations. For about two months now, Harry had feared bad news – that Voldemort must be rampaging throughout the country. But this news, that there had been no reports of dark activity anywhere was not relieving but alarming.
Sirius nodded and stood up.
'Could there have been any other reason for your scar to hurt?'
Harry thought for a moment and then said, 'No.' There was no other reason why his scar should hurt him – and so badly that he fainted.
Both Sirius and Harry were quiet for a moment.
'What about Fudge? Has he believed Voldemort has returned?' Harry asked quickly, as the question popped into his mind. Sirius smiled dryly.
'We thought we'd be able to prove that once there were sightings of the Death Eaters or Voldemort himself…but I told you, it hasn't happened so far. There were one or two isolated incidents where a few Muggles were killed but nothing after that. I think those happened back in August.'
Harry nodded gravely.
'This means there's something going on,' he said, out of the blue, surprising Sirius slightly. 'My scar rarely hurt this bad…and it's only when Voldemort is feeling murderous or…he's doing something. There's something going on somewhere…'
Harry fell back on his pillows slowly, trying to block out any thought that strayed across his mind. He was reminded of Cedric…the rebirth of Voldemort…Wormtail…
He felt a gentle hand on his shoulders.
'Harry, you can't go on blaming yourself forever,' said Sirius softly but with firmness. 'This isn't your fault at all. Whatever is going on, I…we…everyone in the Order are doing our best to stop Voldemort.'
Harry nodded slightly. Sirius stood up.
'Don't go yet,' said Harry, feeling his spirits drop further seeing that Sirius was preparing to go. Sirius smiled.
'I have to, Harry. I can't stay for long…I have to go to Professor Dumbledore and I'll tell him about you. Anyway, anyone may come along and it won't do good right now to have a sighting of a mass murderer in Hogwarts.' There was a flicker of an emotion on Sirius's face and then it was gone. Harry smiled up at him.
'Just tell me about anything…any scar pains, okay?' said Sirius. Harry grinned.
'Yes, Godfather.'
Sirius flinched.
'James always use to tease me with that…but I don't mind it much now.'
He gazed at his feet thoughtfully for a moment and then smiled at Harry.
'Take care of yourself, Godson.'
Harry grinned. Sirius took out his wand.
Just then, there was the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor towards them. Sirius grinned at Harry.
'In time,' he whispered quickly and the next second, the large black dog was back, gazing at Harry with twinkling, yellow eyes. The curtains were pulled back and Madam Pomfrey stepped in. She reclined slightly at the sight of Sirius, and slowly skirted around his dog form to Harry's bed. She glanced at Harry who was still grinning and smiled.
'Well, that dog did do you good. Professor Dumbledore was right…as always,' she said, as she said, warmly. Sirius quickly left through the gap in the curtains.
'Now, how are you feeling? That was a bad knock on your head, young man!'
Harry nodded slightly. 'I'm feeling okay and I'd feel better if you let me out…'
Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips.
'Well…Professor Dumbledore did allow you but…'
'Please?' Harry begged. If it was one thing he truly hated, other than Malfoy, was staying in the Hospital Wing when he could think and talk sanely.
Ron's head poked through the curtain slowly just then.
'Harry!' Ron exclaimed and was immediately reprimanded by Madam Pomfrey with a 'Sssh!'
Ron grinned and stepped inside, followed by an anxious Hermione.
'Harry, how're you?!' Ron asked quickly, settling down by Harry's side. Madam Pomfrey tutted and picked up her medicine tray.
'You can go in a few minutes, Potter,' she said and walked away briskly.
'I'm fine now…' Harry said, sighing slightly. Hermione sat down on his other side.
'But what happened Harry? How did you faint suddenly?'
Harry could see worry and panic in Hermione's voice. He smiled.
'I'm okay, really, I don't know myself what's happening…'
'We just met Sir – I mean Snuffles in the corridor,' said Ron meaningfully.
Harry nodded and told them everything he and Sirius had talked about. Ron's reaction was just as he had expected.
'But…Voldemort…what's he up to? And Snuffles has no idea?'
Harry shook his head. Hermione frowned.
'This is so bad…I can't believe what's been happening,' said Hermione sadly.
Someone, a red head, slowly stepped into the partitioned area. Harry looked up.
'Ginny!' he said. Ginny smiled slightly at him and stepped closer. She was looking at him closely all the time and sat down on a chair by his side, silently.
'Are you okay?' she asked in a timid tone. Harry was surprised at her tone but he nodded.
'I'm okay, really…'
Harry glanced at Hermione who was now looking at Ginny and smiling slightly. Harry felt himself smile slightly too as he looked back at Ginny. She looked up at him and Harry noticed her chocolate brown eyes were unusually wide and there were strange streaks on her face.
'Ginny? You haven't been crying, have you?' Harry asked quickly, surprised, his smile vanishing. Ginny looked away, her eyes glistening slightly. Without a second thought, Harry reached for her hand.
'Hey, it's okay. I'm all right,' he said quickly. Ginny nodded and quickly wiped her tears with back of her hand.
'I'm sorry,' said Ginny. 'I was so shocked and everything…'
Harry squeezed her hand slightly, not being able to look away from her. She did not meet his eye yet and Harry was surprised to feel her hand tugging…away. He let go of it and it fell back in her lap. She tucked a coppery strand of her hair behind her ear.
Harry pulled his hand back and glanced at Hermione, puzzled. She looked a little surprised herself.
'I…' said Harry but Ginny suddenly got up.
'Ginny…' said Harry quickly. Ginny gave him one quick, fleeting glance.
'I have to go. Bye,' was all she said and disappeared around the curtains.
It was a moment before Harry looked back at Ron and Hermione.
'Er…'
'That was strange…' Hermione commented softly under her breath but Harry caught it.
'Perhaps we should leave now?' Ron said awkwardly, getting up. Harry smiled only slightly.
'I have no more intention of staying here than you do, Ron,' he said and got out of bed slowly. He didn't feel too comfortable with what had just happened because from his point of view, he had made some mistake he himself wasn't aware of.
Yayy! I finished with chapter fifteen! And I am pleased with the way it sounds…it's a bit short I suppose, but it's got all what I wanted to include in this chapter. I will add the next chapter as soon as I write it down, which will hopefully be in the near future!
Meanwhile, do read chapter 3, the one I just updated. (For more information, see author's note at the top. I told you it was important)
Also, I have uploaded "My True Valentine" (including the Epilogue) to my profile. It's a story I wrote for the Gryffindortower Library Contest.
Any questions regarding this story can be sent to me ameerak86@hotmail.com. I guarantee a reply within 72 hours! :)
Thank you for reading!!!
Love,
Pottergirl ameerak86@hotmail.com priori_incantato@hotmail.com