Harry looked up at the Burrow and felt his stomach turn violently. He really didn't want to see them.
He'd let them down. They'd treated him as one of their own, and he'd abandoned them.
He felt a wet nose nudge the hand that hung limply at his side and looked down at Padfoot's face.
"Okay, I'm moving."
He said soflty scratching behind one floppy black ear and he ignored the way the animagus rolled his eyes.
He sighed and with his last shred of determination he strode forward.
He had only taken a few paces however before the front door of the house opened and in a blur of fiery hair and four people barrelled out of the ramshackle house towards him. Namely Ginny, Ron, Fred and George Weasley.
It was Ron who reached him first.
"Harry!" He bellowed almost crashing into The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"Where have you been? What happened? Are you alright? Why didn't you write?!" Yelled his best friend all in one breath.
Harry could do nothing but stare back at him, struck dumb by a sense of panic and blinding terror that left him choking for breath.
He felt himself being pulled by the hand and noticed with some surprise that it was Ginny that was leading him towards the house.
"He can tell us all about it when we get inside, but Mum and Dad will want to hear as well." Said the youngest Weasley determinedly as her brothers continued to barrage Harry with questions.
He vaguely noticed that Padfoot was still beside him as he was barrelled into the Weasleys' home.
Mrs Weasley didn't look too pleased when she noticed this.
"What is that dog doing in my kitchen?"
Ron's eyes widened in realisation on recognising Sirius' animagus form and he stepped in.
"Mum, it's Harry's dog. He's very well-behaved, fully trained."
Molly seemed to relax considerably after that and soon there was nothing to distract attention from the hunched figure at the head of the table.
Harry Potter.
"So Harry, are you going to tell us what's been going on?"
Asked Fred shifting his chair closer to the table.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
"I owe you all an explanation, but I really must ask that you please hear me out."
***
Snape was stirring the potion rather more vigorously than was strictly required. He was also frowning so deeply that his vision was impaired by his eyebrows.
Eventually he conceded to the inevitable.
Not even potions were going to lighten his mood today, and his back had begun to ache from bending over the cauldron for too long.
That could only mean one thing...
Straightening up and massaging the knots out of his back he sighed.
"I need a drink."
He stated to himself in an assured but humourless voice.
"A strong drink."
He had just made it to the cabinet where he kept his Firewhisky when he was disturbed by the unmistakable noise of a Floo-arrival. And seeing as anyone with access to his Floo-grate was important enough to merit some form of greeting Severus dragged himself half-heartedly across the hall to the dining room.
He was rewarded with a modest "Hello Severus." In greeting from Remus Lupin.
"What in bloody hell are you doing in my house Lupin."
Severus growled his fists clenching at his sides.
Remus blinked once and ran a hand through his hair.
"I apologise for the intrusion Severus, but I had rather hoped to see Harry."
Snape was effectively placated.
"Dumbledore." He cursed under his breath.
"Well, I'm afraid that neither Potter nor the dog are here right now. They're paying a visit to those Weasleys I believe." He growled, scowling at the reminder of his present fate.
Remus' face fell.
"I hope they're alright. They've just got to understand."
Snape just snorted and fingered the bottle of firewhiskey impatiently.
The werewolf noticed this and eyed the bottle curiously.
"Drowning your sorrows Severus?"
Snape glared at him and narrowed his eyes.
"Whether or not Harry's friends accept him is none of my concern Lupin. Now leave me in peace."
Remus was startled by Snape's unintentional admission that he was worried about Harry. Ignoring the Potion Master's request for his departure he reached for the bottle of Firewhiskey.
Snape could only watch in astonishment as the werewolf uncapped the bottle and took a whiff.
"Severus! Great Merlin… You can't drink this!" Lupin yelled pinching at his nose in obvious discomfort and holding the bottle at arms-stretch.
"What are you talking about Lupin. I'll drink what I bloody well please."
Growled the potions professor lunging for the bottle.
"No, no! You don't understand! It's been spiked, I'd have thought a potions master like you would recognise The Draught of the Living Dead!"
Remus moaned still holding his nose.
"Like I said you stupid, ignorant, werewolf… I will drink what I please. Kindly return the bottle."
Severus snapped, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
But Remus simply frowned and shook his head surreptitiously replacing the bottles cap as he sidled towards the fireplace.
"Look, stop right there!"
Growled Snape lunging forward and grabbing the sleeve of Remus' robes.
"I'm obviously going to have to give you a lesson in potions."
Remus glanced at the bottle before catching Snape's gaze and returning it with a suspicious glare.
"When combined with alcohol, The Draught of the Living Dead is sufficiently tempered so as to function as a relatively potent calming potion with the added bonus of inebriation."
Said Snape, his face crawling into a parody of a smile.
"I'm not so despondent yet as to put myself into a coma Lupin, despite the best attempts of my houseguests."
Remus had no reply, he simply mutely nodded and handed the bottle back to Snape.
Just as Severus was sure that the werewolf would go he was proven wrong again.
"I don't suppose you'd allow me to join you."
Lupin mumbled his eyes firmly fixed on the bottle.
Snape was about to make a trademark snipe in response but he noticed the worry and stress that were clinging to Lupin's face.
"I suppose that exceptions can be made."
Snape said before pouring out 2 glasses and handing one to Lupin who stared at him in surprise.
***
There was an almost eerie silence in the Weasleys' kitchen,
The only thing that Harry could hear was his own laboured breathing.
He'd done it. He'd told them.
The pale faces that stared back at him displayed the sort of horror and shock that Harry had so badly feared to unleash.
He wanted to tell them how sorry he was, he wanted to do something, anything to make them see how badly he felt.
The silence stretched.
Once again Ginny surprised him by being the first to speak.
"How awful… Oh Harry!"
Tears were running down her pale cheeks and Harry felt like his heart was breaking.
He bowed his head… They were all disgusted by him. They would reject him.
He felt his strength beginning to fail him and he almost slid out of his seat.
But he was held up by the sudden support of two strong arms which held him tightly.
Blinking in confusion he looked up and saw that Mrs Weasley was embracing him, much as she had at the end of his fourth year.
Looking around the room he saw that Fred and George had their heads bowed, Mr Weasley was gently hugging Ginny who sobbed into his chest and Ron was staring at him…
Ron spoke.
"I can't believe this."
He said, his voice sounding strangely crackly and strained.
"Harry. I can't believe this happened."
Harry searched his best friends eyes still feeling overwhelmed and confused by the reactions he was seeing.
"I wish it hadn't"
Whispered Harry feeling something massive well up in his chest.
The intensity of this raw feeling was frightening and suddenly words were pouring forth from his mouth that he'd managed to avoid dealing with for weeks now, words which had eaten away at him were now being released in a torrent of cries which rocked Harry deeply.
"I wish none of it had happened. I can't stand it anymore. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I'm dirty now, tarnished, I don't know how I can live with it."
Harry cried.
"I've been ripped apart and put back together, but there are pieces missing that I don't know if I can live without. I've been branded, I'm the very thing I hate most."
He fought his way out of Mrs Weasley's arms pulling at his hair. Suddenly he couldn't stand it any longer,
his fingers clawed at the sleeve of his robe hastily drawing it away to reveal the Dark Mark.
He clawed desperately at the branded skin.
Tears streaming from his eyes fell onto his arm, mingling with the blood that he drew.
The Weasley's watched him, once more frozen with shock.
Sirius whined desperately at Harry, but the boy didn't seem to notice.
Padfoot tugged at Harry's arm but still the boy tore at his skin with his fingernails.
In the end it was too much for Sirius, unable to bear watching his Godson in such distress he transformed into human form and grabbed Harry's arm.
He pulled the violently shaking boy into his arms and rocked him a single desperate tear making it's way down Sirius' cheek.
Ron stumbled in shock as Harry seemed to crack.
Then he watched on in fascinated horror as the Dark Mark was revealed on his best friend's pale forearm.
He felt sick, he couldn't move, he couldn't think.
But when Harry started to try and scratch away the symbol of darkness Ron knew that he understood.
Voldemort may not have intended the outcome, but it seemed that the Dark Lord had finally found a way of destroying Harry Potter, and Ron knew that he had to do something to help Harry overcome this, or else the light side was going to lose The-Boy-Who-Lived.
He was distracted from his realisation by the sudden appearance of a 'human' Sirius Black appearing in the kitchen.
Moments after the supposed-murderer grabbed hold of Harry Arthur Weasley had his wand drawn and pointed at the man.
"Don't move Sirius Black!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
Okay, so crucify me! I'm a horrible person and I deserve it! I don't make you wait a long time for chapters on purpose…
I don't suppose that waiting for them for ages means that you enjoy them more when the eventually arrive…?
*ducks the flying vegetables*
I'll take that as a no then.
Thanks to…
the-twins-of-terror – Hehehe, okay, thank you for your sugar-influenced and enthusiastic review!
Ady – I like roller-coasters… Apart from the nasty bit at the start where you get taken up REALLY high… I cant' stand that bit! But yeah, thanks, I love shocking/ surprising people with my fics! xxx
Thorgood – Wow, was it really that long ago that I posted the last chapter! sheesh! I really am sorry!
Kit Cloudkicker – I suppose that the shock of seeing Harry who'd been ''missing'' for ages turn up next to a grim-like beast would be enough to shock anyone!
Lamina Court – Yep! Sirius alright! Lucius used certain 'mind-control' magic on Harry, not specifically the Imperius as Harry can fight that off, something more subtle.
Amanda – I'm glad, thankyou.
Danielle – I'm sorry if I made you wait! thankyou.
Elucreh - *grins* I'm glad you like it! This chapter was more depressing/angsty, but I don't reckon we could have expected anything else right!!!
Alyssa - *blushes* Thankyou very much! That is very high praise.
Love u all!
jona
xxx
