Impossibilities
Chapter 11- Mysteries and More
Disclaimer: err...*checks files* ...nope, not mine... *double checks* ...damn... still not mine... *wishfully looks once more* HOLY COW! it IS mine... no wait *re-reads* never mind, s'not mine after all *heavy sigh*
Dedication: For Kaydee... for her birthday (SEE! i remembered!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYDEE! (even though its rather late)
A/N: *grins and waves* i'm baaaaack. *ignores groans from audience* according to my random poll Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the most popular book closely followed by Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire... guess what... those are my favorite's two too... ok moving on... I need to go figure out what the hell this chapie's gonna be about.
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Ron Weasley was most unpleasantly awaken the following morning by the shrill screeches of what he first identified as the ghoul that usually occupied the attic by his room.
He sat up blinking blearily and was surprised to not immediately be assaulted by the familiar glowing orange posters that adorned the walls around his bed.
It took Ron several moments to sort out the fact that he was not in the Burrow and it was not a ghoul making the horrible racket. Instead, he was sitting in one of the unpleasantly stiff and anesthetic-smelling beds in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts and the screeching belonged to an extremely indignant Madame Pomfrey.
The Hogwarts Matron was at the moment quite put out to discover that Harry awaken had deemed it necessary to leave his bed and go walking around the school at all hours. She refused point blank to listen to Professor Dumbledore's calm explanations, and, by the time Ron had identified the situation, the Headmaster had completely given up on reason and was patiently letting Madame Pomfrey's ranting wash over him.
Ron's brain slowly kicked into gear. Wincing as his ears protested against the high pitched sounds they were enduring, Ron turned to look at the bed Harry had occupied the evening before. It was empty.
Feeling decidedly anxious, and more than a little confused, he glanced over to the bed directly next to him. George, at least, was still there: asleep and apparently completely oblivious to the mayhem around him. Ron was startled from his debate on how best to wake his brother by an abrupt abate of the deafening noise.
He looked up to find Professor Dumbledore striding over to him wearing a very peculiar smile.
"Ahh, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said cheerfully, "I see you have awaken. And you are no worse for your rather unpleasant adventure yesterday afternoon?"
Suddenly reminded, Ron gingerly reached up to feel his injured nose. To his delight he found it completely healed. "Where's Harry?" Ron asked abruptly, dropping his hands back to his lap.
"Mr. Potter, I believe, is on his way to the Great Hall to have some breakfast before the other students arrive." Seeing Ron's confused look, Dumbledore continued, "You remember, of course, that today is the first day of the new term."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as Ron suppressed a groan.
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Feeling slightly nervous, Ron poked his head into the Great Hall. At first glance the room appeared totally empty, but the echoed clink of a fork upon a plate allowed his to spot the solitary diner. Even from the back Ron could recognize that familiar tangle of black hair.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, his voice magnified by the vast emptiness of the Great Hall.
The dark head turned and Harry gave Ron a huge grin, gesturing to the place setting across from him.
Making his way over, Ron was relieved to note the definite improvement in his friend's complexion. Instead of looking 99 percent dead, Harry's face was healthily flushed and his green eyes bright. If it weren't for the white bandage that covered the scar on his forehead, Ron never would have guessed he was looking at a recent survivor of Avada Kedavra.
Noticing where Ron's eyes had halted, Harry ran his fingers briefly across the bandage, "I'm going to ask Madame Pomfrey if I can take this off after breakfast."
Ron nodded, settled down and began to fill his plate. The massive expanse of empty space around them felt odd and Ron continuously found himself glancing up and down the empty rows of benches, as though expecting to find that his classmates had suddenly appeared.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked suddenly.
"Dumbledore said she and Ginny slept up in the Girls' Dormitory, they must not be up yet," Harry responded. Ron nodded and went back to glancing timidly about the gigantic room.
Soon, however, the excellent food made Ron relax and both he and Harry were chatting amiably.
"So Harry," Ron began after several minutes of random conversation, "I've been debating whether or not I should tell you just what sort of an idiotic prat you were last night-"
Harry rolled his eyes, and grinned sheepishly. Subtle Ron, real subtle.
"But," Ron continued with a wink, "you seem to have been properly punished already," his face softened momentarily with a concern that made Harry feel uncomfortable. It was short lived, however, and Ron soon brightened and continued his previous thought, "I would like to know, however, where you went last night."
Harry gave him an innocently confused look and Ron elaborated, "Madame Pomfrey was telling Professor Dumbledore off rather soundly when I woke up."
Harry grinned guiltily, "Why am I not surprised..."
"I'm surprised that that lady didn't permanently locked you inside the infirmary ages ago," Ron said, eyes dancing, "but seriously, where did you go?"
Harry sighed and set his plate aside, propping his chin up with his elbows resting on the table. "I went to see Professor Dumbledore," Harry stated flatly, his eyes darkening at the memory of the dream that had awoken him the night before.
Ron nodded understandingly, instantly wishing he hadn't brought up the subject. Harry roughly shoved aside all thoughts of his dream as another thought caused his expression to brighten substantially.
"What?" Ron asked, bewildered by the sudden shift in demeanor.
Previous to this moment, Harry hadn't actually considered when or how he planned to tell other people about the latter events of his meeting with Dumbledore. He supposed now was as good a time as any.
Harry leaned forward confidentially. "Ok, look. Ron, last night-" Harry paused unsure how to say this and Ron moved his plate to the side to he could lean across the table as well, "-last night, Dumbledore had me meet someone- well... reintroduced, you could say."
Harry leaned back rocking the bench as he did so and feeling oddly uncomfortable. He could already picture the on coming reaction. What he was about to say would no doubt confirm Ron's growing fears that Harry was no longer quite right in the head.
Ron was nodding impatiently, "You met someone..." he waved his hands expectantly.
Harry sighed and leaned forward again, shoving Ron's arms out of the way. "I am going to tell you," he said with mild irritation, "but first I'm deciding what to do once you've decided I'm crazy."
Ron glared back at him disdainfully. "Harry," he stated with impossible seriousness, "I have long sense determined you to be clinically insane. But-" he continued raising a hand to stop Harry's indignant response, "have I ever held that against you?" He grinned ruefully, "wait, don't answer that. But really, just tell me." Ron attempted a soulfully beseeching look.
Harry laughed, "Alright alright. It's just I hardly can believe it myself." He glanced apprehensively at his friend who rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.
"I bet you're getting me all worked up over nothing," Ron sniffed.
Harry held up his hands defensively, "Right then, I'll tell you. Dumbledore helped to explain it to me as best he could, but it's still rather confu-"
Harry was cut off by a loud boom as the Great Hall doors were sent swinging open and into the stone walls on either side. Fred and George Weasley strode purposefully into the room wearing identical grins.
"Morning kids!" Fred rang out cheerfully. He plopped down noisily next to Harry and George seated himself on the other side of the table beside Ron. Both twins immediately picked up eating utensils and proceeded to dig in, distracted only by flinging the occasional odd article of food at the other.
Harry and Ron exchanged looks, eyebrows raised. Rarely were the twins this cheerful unless something (or someone) had recently fallen prey to some new form of dangerous, disruptive, upsetting, or just down right illegal activity.
"Feeling better mate?" George asked Harry once he'd slowed down his eating enough to carry on a conversation.
The genuine concern written on the redhead's face made Harry feel guilty. Blushing faintly he muttered, "I'm fine. And er-" Harry grinned crookedly, "er- thanks. For coming after me... you shouldn't have, but thanks."
"What are you thanking me for?" George asked in bewilderment, "I'm the one who owes you!"
Harry shook his head and started to protest before he was cut off by Fred who had turned from his discussion with Ron to join the conversation
"My dear brother," Fred said giving George a disapproving look, "You are already greatly indebted to young Mr. Potter here. What did you insist upon doing to increase these dues?"
Ron gave the twins an inquiring look, "Why are you indebted to Harry?" When the twins seemed to ignore him Ron turned his attention to his friend across the table. "What are they talking about Harry?" Harry had suddenly become very interested in his plate. He didn't want George feeling like he owed him something just because he-
Harry was startled into glancing up when Fred abruptly set down his knife and fork and fixed Harry with a wide-eyed stare, "Wait a minute. Let me get this strait- you took an Avada Kedavra meant for George?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat and didn't answer. Fred gaped at him.
"You did that Harry?" Ron asked in amazement, "Cor mate, why didn't you tell me." Harry sunk even farther down into his seat and muttered incoherently.
"It most definitely was not nothing," George exclaimed, being the only one who heard Harry's quiet remark, "Harry, do you have any idea how I could ever repay you for this?"
"Look George," Harry said suddenly. He sat up straighter before continuing, "Just let it go, OK. You don't owe me. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have been in danger in the first place. It was my fault, not yours."
George stared at him, "Harry-"
"George?" Harry answered meeting him squarely in the eye.
George gave in with a sigh, "Very well, I'll shut up. But there's no way I'm going to forget what you did for me."
Ron and Fred, who had wisely kept quiet throughout the whole exchange immediately busied themselves eating as George and Harry's attention returned to the world around them.
There were several moments of uncomfortable silence before Ron ventured a comment, "Er, guys... what do you think I should do about the Herbology essay I forgot?"
Harry grinned, "You're royally screwed mate." Ron glared at him, and turned hopefully towards his two older brothers.
George made a dramatic display of thinking deeply. Fred merely grinned. "We'll help you out after breakfast Ronnikins," he announced striking a noble pose, "won't we George?"
George stood up beside his brother with a determined look in his eye, "Of course, easy as cake! And cakes pretty easy... unless you're talking multiple layers, then it gets kind of tricky."
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes.
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The rest of the day was spent in idleness. Harry returned to the Infirmary to face the wrath of Madame Pomfrey and Ron went with the twins to the Gryffindor Common Room to finish his dratted homework assignment. Hermione and Ginny joined them later after Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had returned to the Burrow.
James, for his part, was bored.
No that was a lie, he was beyond bored. Saying that James was merely bored was like saying Voldemort was just a misunderstood man with some less than honorable inclinations.
He hadn't had anything to do all day. The novelty of coming back from the dead was definitely starting to wear off. All the excitement had happened at once. James had convinced Sirius and Remus, gone to Hogwarts, spoken to Dumbledore, been introduced to Harry...
Harry.
The thought made James smile without realizing it. Meeting Harry had been amazing.
Well, perhaps not at first. After the initial meeting it had taken quite a while to convince Harry that this was really happening. That was understandable- it was much easier for Harry to believe that it was all some delusional dream associated with being struck with the Killing curse, than to accept that his father had come back from the dead.
However, with the combined efforts of Dumbledore, Remus, and Sirius Harry was eventually convinced. After that Harry had fallen into an exhausted sleep in one of the huge red chairs in Dumbledore's office.
James had talked long into the night with Dumbledore forming, considering, questioning, testing, and then throwing out hundreds of theories as to what the hell was going on. Their success had been somewhat less than satisfying.
It was either very late at night or rather early in the morning, depending upon how you look at it, when James had finally gone to bed. When he had awoken, Harry had already left and a house elf had placed a breakfast tray for him on the bedside table with a note from Dumbledore saying he'd be back in the evening.
Well it was evening and there was still no sign of the esteemed Headmaster. Unable to sit still any longer, James set out to explore the castle. Figuring if he stayed to the back hallways and hidden passages he could remain undetected, James put his long-idle Marauding talents to use.
Feeling rather childish, James poked his head out into the blessedly empty hall directly outside Professor Dumbledore's office. James was glad he could not see himself as he ducked and dashed his way around corners, down stairways and through various hidden doors. Had he been able to watch his own antics, he probably would have given himself away by his laughter.
Despite the ridiculousness of his situation, James was enjoying himself immensely. It only took him seven minutes and a four wrong turns to make his way to the corridor outside the Great Hall.
The Sorting Ceremony and Opening Banquet were already ended, and students filed their ways through the huge doors of the Great Hall and began to make their ways to their respected dormitories.
James hid himself in the shadows near an ancient suit of armor to watch them past. He smiled to himself as he saw Harry pass a few yards away flanked by a tall red headed boy and laughing girl with a bushy brown ponytail. James was glad to note the bandage on Harry's forehead had been removed; now one could hardly have guessed that this was the recent survivor of Avada Kedavra. James shivered at the thought; Harry had been through far too much for someone so young.
The stream of people was beginning to thin out now, James shifted restlessly from one foot to the other. He really wanted to leave this hiding spot and maybe head for the kitchens to get some more food. A crack of laughter brought his attention to the stairways at his right.
A tall girl with dark blonde hair and dancing blue eyes was talking animatedly with a small group of girls. A grinning redhead tossed her mass of curls to the side as she laughed once again at something the first blonde girl had said.
"That was brilliant, Jeva!" the redhead exclaimed as the group proceeded up the stairs.
"The look on her face..." another girl managed to gasp out through her laughter. Her dark hair fell over her face as she clutched the banister to keep from laughing, "I can't believe you pulled that off."
The girl addressed as Jeva bowed comically, her smile widening, "Yes well, it was partly Shei's idea too." She indicated the redhead who waved her away dismissively.
The rest of the students were gone from the halls now, and James leaned his way out from his hiding spot trying to hear more of the conversation. It sounded like a prank had been played... and a good one. Ever the Marauder, James was eager for some new ideas.
Unfortunately the girls were by now out of hearing distance. James sighed quietly and glanced quickly up and down the now empty corridor before stepping out from behind the suit of armor and walking in the direction of the kitchens.
Suddenly, James heard a footstep behind him. He glanced around wildly for a place to hide, he saw none.
"Harry?" a girl's voice asked in a puzzled tone.
James froze, unwilling to turn around and unable to get away.
"What on earth are you doing here?" the girl continued. James heard her coming closer. This was bad, this was very, very bad. Dead men aren't suppose to go walking around school hallways. "Weren't you just with Ron?"
James refused to answer. Squeezing his eyes shut and desperately wishing he had his wand James silently begged the girl to just turn around and walk away.
"Harry, what are you doing?" The girl was starting to sound annoyed, "Turn around."
James stayed where he was. Go away, he thought as hard as he could, please just go away.
No such luck.
James heard the girl's huffy footsteps approaching, echoing against the stone floor like doom wearing Mary Janes. Reluctantly he opened his eyes. He was going to have to face this, whether he wanted to or not.
Slowly James turned around. A few feet away stood the girl he had seen walking near Harry a few minutes ago. She had been laughing then, but she wasn't laughing now.
She stared at him opened mouthed for several moments before composing herself. The girl's face rapidly shifted from astonishment to indignant irritation. Folding her hands purposefully in front of her, she looked James squarely in the eye.
"What is going on?"
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a/n: SORRY THAT TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATE! blame cassandra claire, she finally updated and i noticed when i was going to go upload this, and I HAD TO READ HERS before i could post, and as you may know.... her chapters are REALLY long, so it took a while.... SORRY!
ok, this chapie was a little shorter than normal, not terrible interesting either... i think.... but i HOPE you like it! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS and THANK YOU KAT FOR EDITING!
NEXT CHAPTER: i know this chapter was a bit of a let down, so i PROMISE next one will be more interesting... at least i'm going to try really hard... and i'm going to get lily back in the picture, and cedric, and wormtail, and old voldie, and gus, and yea...
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
due to the success of my last random review... i'm putting in another one... once again, this is of course entirely optional... i wont mind a bit if you just wanna review normally ( you DO wanna review.... right? *grin*)
1. favorite fanfic on this website... or author (aside from mine, of course *wink* narrator: ur modesty is overwhelming tempie, dear.)
2. lucky number
3. random fact of somewhat interesting nature (example: 3 out of every 4 people make up 75% of the population... *crickets*... *cough* ahem...)
Dammit, i REALLY don't have time to respond to all of your reviews, but just to tell you I LOVED THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i ADORE THEM! they keep me happy and writing (little as you might believe it) and i really WAS interested in all the responses to the random poll.... especially the book 5 info! thank you! thank you! thank you! (ESPECIALLY SHEI FOR HER AWESOME RANDOM NEWS AND SUPER COOL PICTURES.... ginny is not that bad... sheesh.)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm a horrible person for not reviewing individually feel free to pout, you've every right.... BUT I REALLY HOPE YOU AL STILL REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JEVA, KAYDEE, SHEI, MEG: can you please write down exactly what you want to look like and what you want your last names to be again.... you changed a few times and i can't remember if i have it all correct... thanks