A/N Wow, I'm getting these out fast, I hope you enjoy them! Hugs go to
Hyper Princess and Bob for reviewing again, I like people who stick with
me! And thanks to Kerry and wapi too! I would like to assure you that wapi
isn't mad, she knows me from school so if she sounds a bit wacky, its most
likely because its some sort of a personal joke (or she could be insane, I
haven't quite worked which out yet- no offence to wapi)Before I continue
the story I have to answer a question.
Bob- Damn you for being so bloody intelligent. You weren't supposed to realise that I'd skimmed that bit rolls eyes, some people really! Well, let's see…can I tell you anything without really giving the plot away? Umm…well the guardian is there to see that no one violates the Order. And yes, I know that's precisely what Voldemort is doing. That's the point and I can't tell you how yet. If you really want to know, you'll have to continue reading until that part gets revealed in the plot. Sorry…
Btw, this constant shifting of POV will probably stop within a chapter or so, so enjoy it while you can
So, on with the story…
Harry winced as the bright light burst into his senses confusing and disorientating him. After a moment or two, his vision began to swim back into focus: he saw the anxious expressions on two people who were bending over him.
"Harry. Harry, are you all right?" The voice was deep and meant to be soft, but even the smallest sound caused his mind to reel and begin to shut down. He made an incomprehensible groan and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the noise and the light.
Instantly, the light dimmed and he was grateful for it, but the voice persisted cruelly.
"No Harry, not yet. Don't fall asleep yet."
Harry tried to ignore it but it was hard when the owner of the voice shook him, even if it was shaking him gently. His brain rattled inside his skull and the pain opened his eyes wide. Abruptly, everything snapped back into focus and his thoughts rearranged themselves in the right order.
Harry sat up so suddenly that both the figures jumped slightly. He cast his eyes briefly over the surroundings and then locked gazes with the man on his right. His head still throbbed painfully but at least he knew what was happening now…except for one thing.
He raised a hand to his head and kneaded his temples before speaking. "Umm…Professor? Why am I here?"
Harry was surprised when he saw the immense look of relief mixed with joy that crossed Dumbledore's face.
* * *
Sirius leaned back in the dark cell and breathed heavily. It was almost dawn and he was glad for it. Somehow, the tortures he had endured that night would seem less real with the coming of the new day. He winced and tried to move into a more comfortable position but he found that he was too weak. The rigours of the night had left him drained and aching all over. He could finally appreciate what Harry had been through last year; the cruciatus curse shouldn't be allowed to exist.
He looked at the moon outside which, although it was still visible, seemed watery. Looking at the moon made him think of his dog form. He frowned. He had tried many times during the night to transform into a dog to run away but his ability seemed to have been severed. How had Voldemort done it?
He jumped violently as the door slid open. In the entrance stood a figure robed in black and wearing a mask. Sirius groaned, not again! But the figure made no move towards him: instead it stood for several minutes and watched him. Finally, it walked slowly into the cell. It spoke softly.
"I think that it is time we learn to trust one another." The figure reached up and pulled off the mask. Sirius couldn't stop himself from gasping. It was none other than Professor Severus Snape…
* * *
Professor Dumbledore couldn't conceal the delight that crossed his face as Harry suddenly spoke. He had been so afraid that Harry might have forgotten who he was or…other…things. After all, who knew what Voldemort was capable of with some sort of a link with Harry? He halted his thoughts in order to answer the boy.
"Hmm…Harry this could be hard to explain. Let's see…"
Dumbledore explained to Harry what he believed had happened during the night and what it meant. He told Harry of the Order and, luckily, the boy seemed to grasp it fairly quickly or at any rate, faster than Poppy had.
"So this…this Order supposedly protects me from Voldemort…and you said that Fawkes is the guardian, but if Fawkes is there to make sure nothing goes wrong, how come Voldemort can do that?"
Dumbledore frowned. He had been thinking much the same thing himself. The guardian was supposed to uphold the Order, so why had Fawkes let it become like this? It didn't make sense except…maybe there was an explanation.
"I do not know the truth Harry but I suspect that Voldemort has tricked Fawkes, deceived him, or is somehow controlling him."
Harry thought about this. He didn't think that Fawkes was being controlled. If he was, Harry was sure that he wouldn't have been able to help Harry when he had been trapped with nowhere to go. But how was Voldemort deceiving Fawkes then? To the best of his knowledge, powerful magic creatures could not be tricked or deceived except by a very old and powerful magic that no one had possessed for over a thousand years. And even then, that magic was hereditary and didn't come from the same bloodlines as parseltongue. So how was Voldemort fooling Fawkes? It didn't add up. And he told Professor Dumbledore as much.
Dumbledore frowned and, minutes later, Harry found himself telling Dumbledore everything: the prediction, the dream, the timely arrival of Fawkes…. After Harry had finished, Dumbledore nodded briefly to Harry. He glanced at his watch.
"It is almost time for the school to wake up. I suggest that you rest here for today and, if you are feeling up to it, return tomorrow. Madame Pomfrey will most likely be checking up on you to make sure that you did not suffer any more damage." He allowed himself a small smile. "If you will excuse me, I must talk to someone. I think it is high time that he returned to Hogwarts." And with that, he swept out of the room leaving Harry feeling slightly surrealistic.
Madame Pomfrey, who had vacated the premises during the long-winded explanation of the Order, returned carrying with her a large bottle of vile- looking medicine.
* * *
Professor Dumbledore quietly shut the door behind him and left Harry to the mercies of Poppy. He chuckled at the thought of all the medicines that would most likely be poured down the unfortunate victim's throat within the hour…
Dumbledore made his tired way back up to his office. The morning bell sounded for the students to get up and he suddenly realised what little sleep he had had. He continued upwards towards his office, occasionally berating the odd rebel stair-case.
Finally, he reached his office and was surprised to see that the door was wide open. He had obviously left it in a hurry and neglected to close the door. Once inside his office he paced the floor anxiously. Fawkes opened a single eye to regard him with disapproval. Dumbledore sighed and stroked the bird gently. "What is going on with you, hmm?" But of course, the magnificent bird did not answer.
He sighed and took a pinch of powder from an intricate bowl on the mantle- piece. He threw the powder into the fire and waited until it burnt a lustrous purple before saying loudly and clearly: "Remus, I need to speak with you."
Slowly, the head of Remus Lupin came into vision, formed by the flames of the fire. "Yes?" he asked calmly.
"It's about the Order of the Phoenix. I think you need to return to Hogwarts, and soon."
Lupin's face fell as he heard these words. "Ah, right. I'm on my way…" The head vanished from the fire and Dumbledore was left staring at the fire. *Well, that was easier than I expected*
* * *
Harry grimaced as Madame Pomfrey left, another large bottle clutched under her arm. That one had been worse than any of them, and that was saying something. He surreptitiously worked his mouth to try and rid it of the potion. He hadn't tasted anything this nasty since the skele-grow potion he had been given during his second year when the bones in his arm had been accidentally removed.
And so he was immensely relieved when, after the eighth or ninth try of potion, Hermione and Ron walked through the door. He was vaguely surprised: he didn't think the time had gone that quickly but by no means was he complaining, especially if they saved him from the next potion in line.
They hurried over. Hermione looked worried but, for some reason, excited too. With a glance, Harry could see that Ron was excited too (his friend had never been very good at masking his emotions). Harry sat up in bed and fumbled his glasses back onto his nose.
"You missed the most AMAZING Defence lesson. It was so cool." Hermione was nodding her head in agreement.
"Professor Figg knows loads. And she's really good at explaining too." Harry listened quietly whilst his friends told him what had happened in the lesson. From what they said, it had certainly been interesting, and he had missed it! He'd have to wait till next week to have a lesson with her.
"So, um…how are you?" asked Ron quietly.
Harry grimaced. "Apart from being intoxicated with these potions, I'm fine!"
Ron laughed. "Don't complain, or Hagrid might turn up with stoat sandwiches to try and cheer you up."
Harry couldn't keep himself from laughing.
"You know, you really scared me last night. I was virtually pissing my pants!" Ron was suddenly sombre. Harry remained silent.
Hermione pulled up a chair and sat down. "What happened?"
So Harry found himself, explaining for the second time, what had happened to him and then he told them what Dumbledore had said. After he had finished, they all remained silent for a while none of them knowing quite what to say. Eventually Madame Pomfrey came bustling over and chivvied Ron and Hermione out. They left, promising to come back as soon as they could.
Madame Pomfrey turned to him and advanced meaningfully with a large brown bottle underneath her arm.
* * *
Sirius stared unbelievingly at Severus Snape. He gaped openly. So this was the errand Dumbledore had sent him on: to re-establish himself as a Death Eater, and then spy on them for Dumbledore.
Severus smirked. "Catching flies are we? I would have thought that, in your condition, you'd be more likely to catch fleas. But then, you've already got those haven't you mongrel?"
Sirius glared and the old hatred came rushing back. "What do you want snot- face?"
Severus' expressions soured and Sirius cringed: he was hardly in the position to taunt the other. The answer, however, took him completely off- guard.
"To help you. As I said before, I think it is time that we learn to trust one another?"
"And why would we want to do that?"
"Well, you're not exactly in peak physical condition are you? And I need to get back to Dumbledore to inform him of something so we may as well go together. Of course, if you would prefer to rot in this cell and be tortured day and night…" he grinned, "I am sure it can be arranged." He turned to leave.
"No wait…please help me." Sirius swallowed his pride to say those words. Much as he hated that slimy hook-nosed git, he was the nearest thing Sirius had to a ticket out of here.
Severus allowed a tiny smile to flash across his features before turning to face Sirius. "Ah we have changed out tune haven't we?" Sirius said nothing. Severus gave a vexed sigh and bent to release Sirius from his bonds.
Sirius flexed his sore wrists and tried to massage the life back into his feet. "Can we apparate from here?"
Severus slowly shook his head. "This place has wards to stop anyone from apparating out of here. Anyone can apparate in but they'll find it harder to get out again. The place is riddled with wards. If we try to use magic they'll be on us within minutes."
Sirius' eyes narrowed in sudden determination. "So we have to get out of there the muggle way then." He stood and, after a moment of unsteady swaying, made his way across to Severus. "Lead the way." Severus looked as if he could decapitate Sirius but he instead whirled around and left. Sirius followed him, fear starting to raise the hackles on the back of his neck…
A/N So there you have it, another chapter and a minor cliff hanger (heehee).Things are starting to heat up now away from Hogwarts, whilst in Hogwarts things are cooling down for a while at least. Snape and Lupin are back too.(yay!)
There's going to be a bit of quidditch again soon and should be a cool DADA Firenze and the Ford Anglia(such an unbelievingly cool car) will appear in a few chapters too.
As always I'll email anyone who wants to know when I update, just let me know.
And I've got a question to ask. Is there a knack to updating these or something cos whenever I update is seems to get shoved to number 300 or some such ridiculous number and no one looks there! Please give me advice, whether there's like a time I should update it at or something cos I'm real lost here. Thanx I would really appreciate it.
Let me know what you think! So REVIEW!!!!!
Luv baasheep
Xx
Bob- Damn you for being so bloody intelligent. You weren't supposed to realise that I'd skimmed that bit rolls eyes, some people really! Well, let's see…can I tell you anything without really giving the plot away? Umm…well the guardian is there to see that no one violates the Order. And yes, I know that's precisely what Voldemort is doing. That's the point and I can't tell you how yet. If you really want to know, you'll have to continue reading until that part gets revealed in the plot. Sorry…
Btw, this constant shifting of POV will probably stop within a chapter or so, so enjoy it while you can
So, on with the story…
Harry winced as the bright light burst into his senses confusing and disorientating him. After a moment or two, his vision began to swim back into focus: he saw the anxious expressions on two people who were bending over him.
"Harry. Harry, are you all right?" The voice was deep and meant to be soft, but even the smallest sound caused his mind to reel and begin to shut down. He made an incomprehensible groan and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the noise and the light.
Instantly, the light dimmed and he was grateful for it, but the voice persisted cruelly.
"No Harry, not yet. Don't fall asleep yet."
Harry tried to ignore it but it was hard when the owner of the voice shook him, even if it was shaking him gently. His brain rattled inside his skull and the pain opened his eyes wide. Abruptly, everything snapped back into focus and his thoughts rearranged themselves in the right order.
Harry sat up so suddenly that both the figures jumped slightly. He cast his eyes briefly over the surroundings and then locked gazes with the man on his right. His head still throbbed painfully but at least he knew what was happening now…except for one thing.
He raised a hand to his head and kneaded his temples before speaking. "Umm…Professor? Why am I here?"
Harry was surprised when he saw the immense look of relief mixed with joy that crossed Dumbledore's face.
* * *
Sirius leaned back in the dark cell and breathed heavily. It was almost dawn and he was glad for it. Somehow, the tortures he had endured that night would seem less real with the coming of the new day. He winced and tried to move into a more comfortable position but he found that he was too weak. The rigours of the night had left him drained and aching all over. He could finally appreciate what Harry had been through last year; the cruciatus curse shouldn't be allowed to exist.
He looked at the moon outside which, although it was still visible, seemed watery. Looking at the moon made him think of his dog form. He frowned. He had tried many times during the night to transform into a dog to run away but his ability seemed to have been severed. How had Voldemort done it?
He jumped violently as the door slid open. In the entrance stood a figure robed in black and wearing a mask. Sirius groaned, not again! But the figure made no move towards him: instead it stood for several minutes and watched him. Finally, it walked slowly into the cell. It spoke softly.
"I think that it is time we learn to trust one another." The figure reached up and pulled off the mask. Sirius couldn't stop himself from gasping. It was none other than Professor Severus Snape…
* * *
Professor Dumbledore couldn't conceal the delight that crossed his face as Harry suddenly spoke. He had been so afraid that Harry might have forgotten who he was or…other…things. After all, who knew what Voldemort was capable of with some sort of a link with Harry? He halted his thoughts in order to answer the boy.
"Hmm…Harry this could be hard to explain. Let's see…"
Dumbledore explained to Harry what he believed had happened during the night and what it meant. He told Harry of the Order and, luckily, the boy seemed to grasp it fairly quickly or at any rate, faster than Poppy had.
"So this…this Order supposedly protects me from Voldemort…and you said that Fawkes is the guardian, but if Fawkes is there to make sure nothing goes wrong, how come Voldemort can do that?"
Dumbledore frowned. He had been thinking much the same thing himself. The guardian was supposed to uphold the Order, so why had Fawkes let it become like this? It didn't make sense except…maybe there was an explanation.
"I do not know the truth Harry but I suspect that Voldemort has tricked Fawkes, deceived him, or is somehow controlling him."
Harry thought about this. He didn't think that Fawkes was being controlled. If he was, Harry was sure that he wouldn't have been able to help Harry when he had been trapped with nowhere to go. But how was Voldemort deceiving Fawkes then? To the best of his knowledge, powerful magic creatures could not be tricked or deceived except by a very old and powerful magic that no one had possessed for over a thousand years. And even then, that magic was hereditary and didn't come from the same bloodlines as parseltongue. So how was Voldemort fooling Fawkes? It didn't add up. And he told Professor Dumbledore as much.
Dumbledore frowned and, minutes later, Harry found himself telling Dumbledore everything: the prediction, the dream, the timely arrival of Fawkes…. After Harry had finished, Dumbledore nodded briefly to Harry. He glanced at his watch.
"It is almost time for the school to wake up. I suggest that you rest here for today and, if you are feeling up to it, return tomorrow. Madame Pomfrey will most likely be checking up on you to make sure that you did not suffer any more damage." He allowed himself a small smile. "If you will excuse me, I must talk to someone. I think it is high time that he returned to Hogwarts." And with that, he swept out of the room leaving Harry feeling slightly surrealistic.
Madame Pomfrey, who had vacated the premises during the long-winded explanation of the Order, returned carrying with her a large bottle of vile- looking medicine.
* * *
Professor Dumbledore quietly shut the door behind him and left Harry to the mercies of Poppy. He chuckled at the thought of all the medicines that would most likely be poured down the unfortunate victim's throat within the hour…
Dumbledore made his tired way back up to his office. The morning bell sounded for the students to get up and he suddenly realised what little sleep he had had. He continued upwards towards his office, occasionally berating the odd rebel stair-case.
Finally, he reached his office and was surprised to see that the door was wide open. He had obviously left it in a hurry and neglected to close the door. Once inside his office he paced the floor anxiously. Fawkes opened a single eye to regard him with disapproval. Dumbledore sighed and stroked the bird gently. "What is going on with you, hmm?" But of course, the magnificent bird did not answer.
He sighed and took a pinch of powder from an intricate bowl on the mantle- piece. He threw the powder into the fire and waited until it burnt a lustrous purple before saying loudly and clearly: "Remus, I need to speak with you."
Slowly, the head of Remus Lupin came into vision, formed by the flames of the fire. "Yes?" he asked calmly.
"It's about the Order of the Phoenix. I think you need to return to Hogwarts, and soon."
Lupin's face fell as he heard these words. "Ah, right. I'm on my way…" The head vanished from the fire and Dumbledore was left staring at the fire. *Well, that was easier than I expected*
* * *
Harry grimaced as Madame Pomfrey left, another large bottle clutched under her arm. That one had been worse than any of them, and that was saying something. He surreptitiously worked his mouth to try and rid it of the potion. He hadn't tasted anything this nasty since the skele-grow potion he had been given during his second year when the bones in his arm had been accidentally removed.
And so he was immensely relieved when, after the eighth or ninth try of potion, Hermione and Ron walked through the door. He was vaguely surprised: he didn't think the time had gone that quickly but by no means was he complaining, especially if they saved him from the next potion in line.
They hurried over. Hermione looked worried but, for some reason, excited too. With a glance, Harry could see that Ron was excited too (his friend had never been very good at masking his emotions). Harry sat up in bed and fumbled his glasses back onto his nose.
"You missed the most AMAZING Defence lesson. It was so cool." Hermione was nodding her head in agreement.
"Professor Figg knows loads. And she's really good at explaining too." Harry listened quietly whilst his friends told him what had happened in the lesson. From what they said, it had certainly been interesting, and he had missed it! He'd have to wait till next week to have a lesson with her.
"So, um…how are you?" asked Ron quietly.
Harry grimaced. "Apart from being intoxicated with these potions, I'm fine!"
Ron laughed. "Don't complain, or Hagrid might turn up with stoat sandwiches to try and cheer you up."
Harry couldn't keep himself from laughing.
"You know, you really scared me last night. I was virtually pissing my pants!" Ron was suddenly sombre. Harry remained silent.
Hermione pulled up a chair and sat down. "What happened?"
So Harry found himself, explaining for the second time, what had happened to him and then he told them what Dumbledore had said. After he had finished, they all remained silent for a while none of them knowing quite what to say. Eventually Madame Pomfrey came bustling over and chivvied Ron and Hermione out. They left, promising to come back as soon as they could.
Madame Pomfrey turned to him and advanced meaningfully with a large brown bottle underneath her arm.
* * *
Sirius stared unbelievingly at Severus Snape. He gaped openly. So this was the errand Dumbledore had sent him on: to re-establish himself as a Death Eater, and then spy on them for Dumbledore.
Severus smirked. "Catching flies are we? I would have thought that, in your condition, you'd be more likely to catch fleas. But then, you've already got those haven't you mongrel?"
Sirius glared and the old hatred came rushing back. "What do you want snot- face?"
Severus' expressions soured and Sirius cringed: he was hardly in the position to taunt the other. The answer, however, took him completely off- guard.
"To help you. As I said before, I think it is time that we learn to trust one another?"
"And why would we want to do that?"
"Well, you're not exactly in peak physical condition are you? And I need to get back to Dumbledore to inform him of something so we may as well go together. Of course, if you would prefer to rot in this cell and be tortured day and night…" he grinned, "I am sure it can be arranged." He turned to leave.
"No wait…please help me." Sirius swallowed his pride to say those words. Much as he hated that slimy hook-nosed git, he was the nearest thing Sirius had to a ticket out of here.
Severus allowed a tiny smile to flash across his features before turning to face Sirius. "Ah we have changed out tune haven't we?" Sirius said nothing. Severus gave a vexed sigh and bent to release Sirius from his bonds.
Sirius flexed his sore wrists and tried to massage the life back into his feet. "Can we apparate from here?"
Severus slowly shook his head. "This place has wards to stop anyone from apparating out of here. Anyone can apparate in but they'll find it harder to get out again. The place is riddled with wards. If we try to use magic they'll be on us within minutes."
Sirius' eyes narrowed in sudden determination. "So we have to get out of there the muggle way then." He stood and, after a moment of unsteady swaying, made his way across to Severus. "Lead the way." Severus looked as if he could decapitate Sirius but he instead whirled around and left. Sirius followed him, fear starting to raise the hackles on the back of his neck…
A/N So there you have it, another chapter and a minor cliff hanger (heehee).Things are starting to heat up now away from Hogwarts, whilst in Hogwarts things are cooling down for a while at least. Snape and Lupin are back too.(yay!)
There's going to be a bit of quidditch again soon and should be a cool DADA Firenze and the Ford Anglia(such an unbelievingly cool car) will appear in a few chapters too.
As always I'll email anyone who wants to know when I update, just let me know.
And I've got a question to ask. Is there a knack to updating these or something cos whenever I update is seems to get shoved to number 300 or some such ridiculous number and no one looks there! Please give me advice, whether there's like a time I should update it at or something cos I'm real lost here. Thanx I would really appreciate it.
Let me know what you think! So REVIEW!!!!!
Luv baasheep
Xx