Impossibilities
Chapter 13 - Fate's Meddlings
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter & Co etc. I make no money off my writing, and I have no plans for selling it on the black market.
A/N: hi! *waves* I know you are all very anxious to read my story (hopefully) so this will be brief... GO READ Of HIDDEN TRUTHS by JEVA! its really really good! READ HIDDEN BENEATH by ADAH while you're at it! that's my fav fic right now and i want everyone to give both those authors LOTS of encouragement so they update SOON!
yes, i know... i took a REALLY long time to update... i'm really SORRY!
Think of this as my christmas present to you....
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Two sets of footsteps echoed in the otherwise empty hallway.
"Ok... so let me get this straight."
An exasperated sigh blended with the sound of the wind whistling past a nearby window.
"We've been through it nine times!"
"I just want to get everything straight-"
"You've said that."
"I would like to completely understand the situation."
One set footsteps slowed to a halt and a second, louder, sigh escaped their owner's lips.
"What don't you get?"
The other set of footsteps stopped as well.
"The fact that James Potter is alive."
"And I am suppose to be able to explain?"
"Precisely."
The first footsteps started up with an irritated stomp, quickly followed by the second.
"Hermione, you don't seem to realize I have no more idea what's going on then you do!"
Harry glared at the girl who walked calmly beside him as he huffily thudded his way through the halls. They were nearly to the Gryffindor common room and they'd begun this conversation back at Dumbledore's office.
"I just think that there must be something you guys are missing," Hermione persisted with cool indifference. Despite Harry's best attempts to make her drop the whole thing, Hermione was convinced there was a logical explanation to James' return to life.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Hermione- this is Dumbledore you're talking about. Dumbledore. He's been through it a million times, do you really think you can explain something that Dumbledore can't?"
The two friends paused at the portrait leading to the Gryffindor tower. "Hello dears," exclaimed the Fat Lady, "Ready for another exciting year?"
"Hens Teeth," said Harry and Hermione distractedly, ignoring the Fat Lady's question in their absorption in the conversation. The Fat Lady muttered indignantly as her portrait swung open.
"I'm just asking you to go through it again. Dumbledore is a genius, but it's possible he missed something," Hermione said as they climbed into the Common Room.
"But Dumbledore?" Harry repeated, "Look, can't we discuss this later?"
"Discuss what later?" piped up a voice beside them. Harry and Hermione jumped and turned to face a now laughing Ron. "Where have you two been and what's to be discussed?" continued Ron, looking inquiringly from one face to the other.
"We had to speak with Professor Dumbledore" Harry said grateful for the interruption. He flung himself down in an armchair ran a hand through his messy hair.
Ron glanced at him and raised an eyebrow, "What could you possibly have to talk to Dumbledore about," he paused suddenly and raised both eyebrows as a thought occurred to him, "You haven't gotten in trouble already, have you?"
Harry laughed, "Of course not... we were just-" he cast around for a suitable excuse.
"-we were just discussing my schedule with the Headmaster," supplied Hermione, giving Harry a pointed look when Ron couldn't see, "I was going to go get it adjusted when Harry found me so he came along." She smiled innocently at Ron, "It just took a bit longer than we realized..."
Ron's eyes narrowed at the innocent tone of Hermione's voice. He glanced at Harry for conformation. Harry tried to smile convincingly and nodded his head, but Ron wasn't buying it. "What's really going on?" he asked slowly trying to make them both meet his eyes.
"Nothing Ron," said Hermione soothingly. Ron glanced at Harry who shrugged. Finally Ron gave up and flung himself down in a chair beside Harry.
Instead of sitting down as well, Hermione gathered up her books and told the boys she was going to go put her things away in the Girls Dormitory. "I'm really tired, I'll see you both tomorrow," she added on her way to the stairs.
Two sets of eyes followed her ascent up and out of sight. Then Ron turned to Harry and said, "Ok mate, spill."
Harry tried to feign ignorance but wilted under Ron's glare. "Fine, I'll tell you," Harry submitted, "but first I have to go down to the Hospital Wing, I promised Madame I'd come back for a check up."
Ron watched him curiously as Harry stood up and made his way out the door. Harry hadn't mentioned anything before about a checkup...
In fact, Harry had seemed perfectly normal all through dinner. It wasn't until after he sat down in the armchair that Ron had noticed a subtle change in his friend's demeanor.
Something had suddenly began to bother Harry, and Ron was going to find out what.
Once the Fat Lady had swung safely shut behind him Harry allowed himself sag against the wall across from the portrait. Rubbing his face with his hands he grimaced as his fingertips brushed against his forehead. Harry sighed and straightened up, hoping Madame Pomfrey would be able to help him.
He did not notice the portrait swing quietly open again as he continued down the hall, nor did he see the anxious red-topped head that peered out after him.
Harry's thoughts were definitely elsewhere. His breath caught as he paused once again to press one hand against his burning scar.
This was a different kind of pain than usual. It had started out distant and annoying while talking to Ron in the common room, but had been steadily growing in intensity. Never before had the process been gradual, sudden bouts of head-splitting pain were one thing, but this persistent throbbing was something else altogether.
Something was very wrong. Harry resolutely straightened again and strode purposefully in the direction of Dumbledore's office, the hospital wing would have to wait.
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Ron tiptoed down the dusky corridor behind his friend. It was growing relatively late, and the dimming charms on the torches which lined the halls were beginning to activate.
Suddenly Harry stopped mid-stride and Ron quickly ducked behind a stone outcropping. He felt silly hiding from his friend, but Harry didn't appear to be in the mood for company.
Ron cautiously peered around the corner and saw Harry lowering his hands away from his forehead. His face was white and pinched with pain, but his expression was resolute as he started walking again.
Curiosity and concern began to get the better of Ron and he slipped from his hiding place and ran down the hall towards the other boy.
"Harry!" Ron called after his friends receding figure.
Harry paused and turned. "Ron?" he asked in surprise, "what are y-" Harry broke off with a brief cry.
"Harry?" Ron repeated, panting to catch up with his friend, "Harry, are you all right?"
Harry eyes were closed tightly and both his hands were pressed against his forehead. He took a step and stumbled, blindly catching himself against a wall. Ron grabbed his elbow to steady him, pale face tight with worry. "Harry?" he asked uncertainly.
One hand still clutching his scar, Harry steadied himself with the other against Ron's shoulder. "I'm fine," he said in a raspy voice, visibly making an effort to control himself, "I'm fine..."
"Of course you are," Ron said a agreeably, "Now why don't you go be fine in the Hospital Wing-" he awkwardly tried to steer Harry in the direction of the infirmary.
"No, really," Harry protested, shaking off Ron's assistance and attempting to breathe calmly, "It's gone now- nothing to worry ab-" He cut himself off in surprise and Ron suddenly grabbed his wrist pulling him off balance. "What do you think you're doin-" he began, the retreating pain leaving him irritated.
Ron ignored his objections. "Harry," he began nervously, "Harry, look at your hands."
Dumbfoundedly Harry followed Ron's gaze. He took in his breath sharply at what he saw. Slowly he lowered the remaining hand from his forehead and stared in disbelief at both of them.
They were covered in bright, sticky, red liquid.
Blood.
"Ron-" Harry asked slowly, but didn't finish his sentence. Instead he cautiously ran two fingers over his scar. There was no mistaking it. The jagged lightning bolt had been split completely open. Suddenly Harry felt extremely lightheaded.
Ron watched his friend nervously. Something very bad was going on, obviously... but what was it and more importantly what should he do?
While Ron stared at Harry mentally kicking himself for not moving, Harry continued to gaze in abstract disbelief at his bloody fingertips.
Then the throbbing began again.
"Er- Ron," Harry said slowly, "I'm starting to feel dizzy." He took an unsteady step and had to catch himself yet but again against Ron's arm.
Ron shook himself out of his daze, "Right. Er- what should I do?" He stood there looking lost.
Harry rolled his eyes and grimaced at the effort, "Remind me never to get stuck with you in a crisis."
"Hey, I resent that," Ron muttered irritatedly. But although his voice was light hearted, his expression was still tense, "Umm- here, want to throw an arm over my shoulder and we'll get you to the hospital wing."
Harry grinned crookedly, "The mastermind has returned." Ron scowled at him, but Harry laughed, "I'm only joking- I think that's a good idea... I'm feeling kind of tipsy." As if to prove the point Harry suddenly lost his balance again and would have fallen if Ron hadn't grabbed his arm.
"You know," Ron said slyly, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were drunk." Harry half-heartedly attempted to punch his friend in the arm, but missed. Ron laughed again and slung the one of Harry's arms he was already supporting over his shoulders.
Harry sighed wistfully. "I'm too short to use you as a proper crutch," he said dejectedly.
Ron laughed, "Suck it up, princess."
Slowly the two friends made their way down the dim hallway. Harry paused every few yards to catch his breath, leaning against Ron whilst pressing against his still bleeding scar.
Ron patiently plodded along. It's not easy having Harry Potter as your best friend. Much as he denied it, Ron often felt twinges of jealousy during those times when Harry seemed to be hogging all of the limelight. But over the years Ron had improved. By now he knew better than anyone the things Harry had to put up with. He knew all the downsides and disadvantages that came with being famous.
Yet, for all that, Ron wasn't prepared to deal with the situation he was in right now. On the outside he appeared to be in control- grinning and laughing his way along, making jokes and keeping calm- but inside Ron was panicking.
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Pettigrew slowly felt himself drifting into consciousness. He groaned and immediately regretting moving as his sore limbs protested. Perhaps he wouldn't open his eyes just yet, better to lie here and be miserable.
It was dark.
And wet.
And cold.
And, damn, this floor was hard.
Pettigrew opened one eye and peered around him reviewing the room he inhabited a second time.
Alright so it wasn't precisely dark... pale moonlight filtered in from a grate in the ceiling.
But it was still wet.
And cold.
And uncomfortable.
Very, very uncomfortable, Pettigrew decided as he maneuvered to a hunched sitting position against one of the walls.
Yet all things considered, Pettigrew was in a relatively good mood. He may be hungrier, tireder, and in a whole lot more discomfort than he had been before he upset the Dark Lord, but he was still satisfied.
The echo of his own laughter rang in his ears, sweet and victorious.
What now though?
Voldemort wasn't going to leave him alone for long, Pettigrew was rather surprised that he was still alive even now. Well, one takes what one gets.
Pettigrew considered his chamber more closely. Perhaps if he stood up he could reach the grate in the ceiling... and if he changed into Wormtail...
Pettigrew struggled to stand up as he thought his way through his options. Tottering uncertainly on his feet, he reached for the ceiling. His fingertips just missed brushing against the iron bars.
Scowling Pettigrew examined the rest of the room. A rickety bit of furniture that at one point might have been considered a stool squatted in one corner of the room.
Pettigrew brought it over and set it directly under the grate. Cautiously adding his weight one bit at time, he teetered on top of the stool as he searched the window for some means of escape.
The moment he touched the bars, he hissed sharply and jerked his hand back so quickly he had to leap from the stool to keep from falling.
Swearing profusely under his breath, Pettigrew resisted the undignified urge to shake his fist at the iron bars. It would figure that they were enchanted.
Well there was no escape from that direction...
Pettigrew tilted his head to one side as he moved closer to the sturdy door, the only other means of exit in the room.
Tentatively, Pettigrew stretched on finger towards the door. He clenched his jaw and touched the dark wood. An instantaneous flash of light and a shock of pain erupted the second his finger connected.
Jerking his hand away angrily, Pettigrew turned and kicked the wooden stool in frustration. The weak wood splintered easily and a piece flew up and struck Pettigrew on the cheek.
Swearing furiously, Pettigrew turned away and in his aggravation slammed his hand palm first into the solid wall.
The result of his action took several minutes to sink itself into Pettigrew's agitated mind.
Slowly he removed his hand from the place it had struck and stared dumbly at the fist-sized hole left behind in the wall. Bits of dust and stone tumbled down to form a small pile at Pettigrew's feet while he stared at his hand.
Silver glittered in the moonlight.
Of course!
Pettigrew's lips curved up into a smile. Seems Voldemort's kindness was going to coming back in Pettigrew's advantage.
Eyes glittering with delight, Pettigrew flexed the gleaming silver hand experimentally before pulling it back and striking the wall just above the previous hole.
He felt no pain, but larger chunks of stone rained down upon the pile already at his feet.
A gleam that had been missing from his eyes since the last time the marauders went mischief making began to glint in the depth of Pettigrew's eyes.
Perhaps all was not lost after all.
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A/N: as always, this chapter is not as finished as i would like it to be, i was going to do a bit about sirius and cedric and lily, but that will have to wait until next chapter, as you can see this bit took a very long time for me to get around to writing... i'm very sorry for all the delays and such, but i am trying... and i hope you all understand...
i DO appreciate all your reviews A LOT!!!!!!!! i really hope my slow updating doesn't make any of you think i don't like getting reviews or that they aren't encouraging... if it weren't for you guys i would have given up on this fic ages ago...
SO PLEASE, KEEP REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!!
hardshoe: sorry, no sirius reaction, by the time i finished the part above i was wiped out, but next chapie no worries, there will be lots of sirius and lily and cedric and other such nonsense.... school is evil isn't it... THANKS SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING!
WealeyTwinsLover1112: i'm SOOOO glad you liked it, i hope i can get the next bit up faster than this time... thanks for your patience... please keep reviewing!
jessica: *bows modestly* i'm glad you liked it.
Alorra Spinnet: sorry no Sirius reaction yet... but fainting... well... you'll just have to see, sirius DOES tend to over react.. doesn't he... but he has james' coming back to prepare him... poor hermione... she hates it when things don't make perfect sense.
kat: cedric is a scaredy cat... but that's ok, love him anyways.... i decided not to write anymore for this chapter cuz i wanted to post soo thank you so much for sending back the edits so fast... you're the best... my dad got his c'boy boots for x-mas... great huh... thanks for the happy b-day... i appreciate it! and here is the thirteenth chapter just for stubby... even if you already have read most of it...
lyra: i try to go quickly but it never works out... a thousand apologies of patient one, thanks for reviewing! i'm so glad you like it
angie: *grin* glad you liked it... i'm sorry it took so long to update... i'm trying really, but i know that's hard to believe... i hope this will tied you over for a bit until i can get out the next bit with sirius reaction and all that....
Liza Potter: i'm glad you liked my hermione bit... now i just got to figure out how i'm going to introduce ron to the concept.. i'm glad you like it.... sorry that you have to keep waiting for sirius reaction.. but *heavy sigh* i'm a horrible updater and author, but hopefully it wont take too long... keep reviewing! *grin*
Hermione Ganger: my next chapie is done and i have e-mailed you.. i'm glad you liked it.
Arwena: i like your name! very nice... i'm glad you liked it, thanks so much for reviewing.. keep it up, i love it! sorry it took so long!
I am Ness A.K.A. Remy is MINE: you think i'm brilliant? i'm honored! thank you thank you thank you!!!! sorry it took to long!
Kait: first let me say thank you for the very nice LONG review... i loved it! you are the best! and second thank you for all your suggestions... i definitely like the idea of getting snape involved... you might just say that wormtails escapes not going to go entire according to plan.... *evil grin* and i agree with the whole james teaching harry to be an animagus... if anyone i'm going to have it be sirius teach him... but i haven't decided if i'm using that in this fic yet or not... also i'm trying to avoid the order of the phoenix because i haven't decided what i think it should be so i'm leaving that to other people's stories and just doing my own my own way. THANK AGAIN!
Golden Slumbers: yikes... i am scared, and i hope you aren't too angry that i took so long ( all though you have every right to be) and if you're not bad about that then i'm sure you are upset that i didn't put in any sirius and lily and james nonesense.... but never fear... i have nice plans for a marvelous family reunion (that is if you don't kill me off first.) *grin* thanks for reviewing!
Jeva: i posted more, hope you like it.. as always thank you for reviewing... you are the best! and i like your fic... (if you didn't notice i mentioned it at the top) i'm trying to encourage you to continue... is it working? hope so! stop poking me- see, i updated.. now you had better follow suit!
The Queen of Fire and Ice: i'm so glad you like my story! i'm trying to keep it interesting... i'll really try to update again soon!
TexasGurl: sorry, no sirus reaction.. but never fear it will come... hope you liked this chapter anyways... thanks SO much for reviewing! *grin*
Sabre Black: hmmm... i think you might be right about the magic carpets... but i couldn't remember so i made up my own bit.... but you're also right that gus probably doesn't care... thanks a million for reviewing!
CrazieBabieMeg: ACK! I'm sorry, you're still not it the fic yet... but you will be... i've just gotten distracked with where i want to go with this fic and i've forgotten all my plans for you guys... *sniff* don't kill me please! and i DO like your reviews so you'd better not stop leaving them.... *grin* ur on point? cool, me friend just started that a few years ago... fun stuff.... good luck...
Pixie the Fairy Who Loves Pixie Sticks: *grin* i love the name... sorry the chappie took so long... hope u like it.... thanks for reviewing!!!!!
Stawars9367: changed the story? ah... yes... the title.. i did change that... thanks for reviewing.... i started going back and fixing all of them, but i gave up....
pRoNgS2: *grin* i'm SSSSSSOOOOOOO glad you like it! thanks SSSSSOOO much for reviewing! hope you like this chapie too! i'm on your fav list? NO WAY! thank you thank you thank you!
CokeFreak: thanks for reviewing! i'm so glad you liked it!!!!
Myra: i'm honored! thank you for reviewing! i'm glad you like lily and cedric... seems like they get left out a lot... i'm trying to keep them included... but they disappeared in this chappie... ho humm...
Felion: THANK U SOOOOOO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! i'm so glad that you came back and reread this fic! i really appreciate it! you're the best! thank you thank you! So sorry that it took so long to update.. i'm trying to get faster!
Shei: of course i missed you! i always miss you, you are my inspiration! *grin* thank you SO much for reviewing.... in know it can be a pain... you are the best! and i'm glad you think it was funny, i try really hard to keep some humor sprinkled in... i really like it when people telling me exactly what parts they liked best! so keep it up!
Emeraldlily22: yes jkr is pregnant... i wonder when she's due... i really hope she puts the next book out soon... and book three is my favorite too! thanks so much for reviewing! no you are not an idiot you are an inspiration *grin* sorry, no sirius and lily yet... hope you liked the chappie anyways....
Sakura Blossom: i'm so glad you liked it! thank you for reviewing! i really really appreciate it!
kaydee: sheesh! i thought you had permanently disappeared! don't scare me like that ever again! but i do understand that whole overwhelmingly busy feeling! i suppose i'll let it slide that you didn't give me any ideas but... honestly you need to do something about this problem... not able to leave reviews? *gasp* the horror the horror! if you're still planning on killing math you really need to do history too... i HATE history... *pouts* thanks for reviewing anyways.... *grin*
leanne: i'm so glad you liked it! and your joke made me laugh! ( i'm not sure if thats a good thing or not *wink*) hope you like this chappie too! please review!
Kranberries: YOU SAW THAT SHAKESPEARE PLAY? wasn't it HILARIOUS! i'm so glad you liked it too! *grin* yea... glasses suck don't they... but *heavy sigh* what can i say... hope you like this bit...
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE.... A MILLION APOLOGIES TO ANYONE I FORGOT!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!