Wow! A big response to chapter 15! Let me get all of these thank yous out-
you know that I adore you and thank you all so much for your wonderful
reviews, because trhey really do keep me inspired to type up more of my
stuff.
Thank you to athenakitty- wow, lots of questions, and I can't give you all the answers! I hope that you keep reading so you'll be able to find out what happens; katzy- you'll see, my dear!; artful dodger- wow, your reviews are so wonderfully in-depth. It's a joy to read them in my inbox every day. Thank you so much!; atari420; xirleb70; slythgrl18, enahma, lady lightning, lei Dumbledore, fnxmoon, charma1219, calani, taryn and Jordan, singing- bluebird, creamy mimi, and kateydidnt.
To artful dodger, I believe it was you who asked whether I planned all this out or it just came off the top of my head- it came off the top of my head. I never knew what was coming next. Hope that answers your question!
Harry Potter does not belong to me.
Enjoy!!
~~***~~~
Finally, the remainder of the Weasleys noticed Harry's presence.
"Albus," said Mrs. Weasley, a touch of awe in her voice, "Who is your young friend?"
The tone was so reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley after a run-in with Gilderoy Lockhart that Fred and George doubled over in laughter. Their mother was taken with him!
"Whadd'ya think he is, George? A seventh year?" Fred whispered.
"Looks older than us," answered George.
"This," said Dumbledore, clearing his throat, "is.. er.. Mikel. He's from Beauxbatons, considering staying at Hogwarts as a transfer this coming year."
Dumbledore smiled up at Harry. "Mikel, these are the Weasleys. May I introduce Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Charlie, Percy, Arthur and Molly Weasley?"
"It iz a pleasure to meet you all," said Harry. His face flushed red once more. God, he couldn't believe that he was lying to all of his friends!
"Mikel, is it?" Ron asked suspiciously.
Harry nodded.
"What year are you, mate?"
"I'll be in 'eventh year," answered Harry. Dumbledore looked at him strangely, but quickly hid it with a smile.
"Oy! Same year as us!" shouted Fred.
Harry smiled.
"Well, we best be going. We need to buy a few books before we head back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.
There was a rush of red hair as all of the Weasleys tried to shake Professor Dumbledore's hand.
Fred and George shook Harry's hand and wished him well, saying that they would see him at the start of term, and Ron just casually turned away. It was odd behavior for Ron.
"Professor? Could I join you and Mikel? I need to get a few books as well."
Dumbledore was startled by Ron's request. "Erm.. sure, Ron, why not?"
"Excellent."
Ron obediently tromped beside Harry as the three wizards walked to the bookstore. This was one of Harry's favorite places, but the experience was somewhat ruined by Ron's presence. It was going to be hard to keep up appearances.
"Here, Mikel, I'll let you and Mr. Weasley go get your school things. I'll be back here when you're done."
Harry gave his headmaster a nervous nod and walked with Ron to the back of the store.
Once Dumbledore was out of sight, Ron turned to Harry and grinned.
"That was the best impression of Fleur that I've ever seen! How did you manage it, Harry?"
Harry's jaw dropped as his mind whirled frantically for a response. How was he supposed to answer that? His appearance was supposed to be a secret!
"Oh, come off it, Harry, I know it's you. What are you using, a polyjuice potion? You look an awful lot like Snape."
Harry gagged. "Do I really look that much like Snape?" he whispered.
"Yeah. Only a lot."
"Mm. That wasn't the intent."
"Why are you hiding, Harry? What's with the appearance charms?" asked Ron.
"It's dangerous to be out looking like myself. There could be death eaters," Harry said quickly.
Ron nodded and laughed. "It's weird to have to look up to you. You're the short one, remember?"
Harry grinned, and then immediately sobered. "Snape's been taken prisoner by Voldemort. They found out that he was a spy."
Ron gasped. "Are you serious?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm serious. You think I would joke about something like this?"
"Sorry."
"That's alright. I'm kind of snappish as of late, and I do apologize. Voldemort keeps putting Snape under the Cruciatus curse. I don't get much sleep anymore."
Ron was sympathetic, even though he didn't have any idea what Harry was talking about. He figured that since Harry was connected to Voldemort, he got to see Snape be tortured. Which, usually, would make him happy..
"Why do you care? I would be ecstatic if I got to see Snape tortured!" said Ron.
Harry glared menacingly at his best friend. "Just because I dislike him, I'm not going to take pleasure in his suffering. He's been a spy for years, Ron. He's one of the bravest people I've ever met, and his spying had been crucial to everything. We're going to save him. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Remus, and I. Soon."
Ron was wide-eyed and trembling ever so slightly. "I'm.. sorry, Harry."
Harry shook his head, frustrated with himself. He didn't mean to blow up at Ron. "I know, Ron. I'm sorry, too."
"That's okay, Harry."
"Mm."
"So you're going to save Snape? How? Isn't he all locked up with You-Know- Who? You'll never be able to get him out of there!" asked Ron, changing the subject.
"Ron, may I stress to you that you are sworn to utmost secrecy? None of this- NONE OF IT- can be repeated to anybody. Do you understand?"
Ron nodded.
"Good. So, how we're going to save Snape." He raised an eyebrow at his friend.
Ron nodded again.
"Well, here it is in a nutshell. I'm going to go to Malfoy Manor, get caught, get dragged to Voldemort, and then rescue Snape."
Ron was dumbstruck. "You're joking."
"No, Ron, I am not joking."
"You're going to get killed!" Ron cried.
"SSH!! Come on, Ron, utmost secrecy?"
"But, Harry, you CAN'T do this! You-Know-Who will kill you! What you're plotting is SUICIDE!"
"I can handle it. I have a few tricks up my sleeve." Harry grinned roguishly.
At that moment, Dumbledore decided to intrude. "Mikel? Did you get everything? We probably need to get back. I'm sure that Remus is going crazy."
"I only need one more thing. I'll meet you in the front in a moment," said Harry.
Dumbledore nodded and left the two friends alone.
"I have to go, Ron."
"I know. Take care of yourself. Please. Don't get hurt, Harry."
Harry smiled and embraced his friend. "Thank you, Ron. I'll try."
With one last look at Harry, Ron turned and left. Harry was left alone.
***
The Boy-Who-Lived crefully snuck into the back of the bookstore, where the Dark Books were kept. The kind of books that one can usually only find in Knockturn Alley. Only the grimiest wizards went back there, mostly for terrible spells and potions.
That's why Harry was there. He needed a book on dark charms. There was no way in the world that any normal charms books would have what he was looking for. No light wizard could possibly want to do what Harry was plotting.
He was getting rid of him, once and for all. Harry was going to destroy Voldemort's soul.
Thank you to athenakitty- wow, lots of questions, and I can't give you all the answers! I hope that you keep reading so you'll be able to find out what happens; katzy- you'll see, my dear!; artful dodger- wow, your reviews are so wonderfully in-depth. It's a joy to read them in my inbox every day. Thank you so much!; atari420; xirleb70; slythgrl18, enahma, lady lightning, lei Dumbledore, fnxmoon, charma1219, calani, taryn and Jordan, singing- bluebird, creamy mimi, and kateydidnt.
To artful dodger, I believe it was you who asked whether I planned all this out or it just came off the top of my head- it came off the top of my head. I never knew what was coming next. Hope that answers your question!
Harry Potter does not belong to me.
Enjoy!!
~~***~~~
Finally, the remainder of the Weasleys noticed Harry's presence.
"Albus," said Mrs. Weasley, a touch of awe in her voice, "Who is your young friend?"
The tone was so reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley after a run-in with Gilderoy Lockhart that Fred and George doubled over in laughter. Their mother was taken with him!
"Whadd'ya think he is, George? A seventh year?" Fred whispered.
"Looks older than us," answered George.
"This," said Dumbledore, clearing his throat, "is.. er.. Mikel. He's from Beauxbatons, considering staying at Hogwarts as a transfer this coming year."
Dumbledore smiled up at Harry. "Mikel, these are the Weasleys. May I introduce Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Charlie, Percy, Arthur and Molly Weasley?"
"It iz a pleasure to meet you all," said Harry. His face flushed red once more. God, he couldn't believe that he was lying to all of his friends!
"Mikel, is it?" Ron asked suspiciously.
Harry nodded.
"What year are you, mate?"
"I'll be in 'eventh year," answered Harry. Dumbledore looked at him strangely, but quickly hid it with a smile.
"Oy! Same year as us!" shouted Fred.
Harry smiled.
"Well, we best be going. We need to buy a few books before we head back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.
There was a rush of red hair as all of the Weasleys tried to shake Professor Dumbledore's hand.
Fred and George shook Harry's hand and wished him well, saying that they would see him at the start of term, and Ron just casually turned away. It was odd behavior for Ron.
"Professor? Could I join you and Mikel? I need to get a few books as well."
Dumbledore was startled by Ron's request. "Erm.. sure, Ron, why not?"
"Excellent."
Ron obediently tromped beside Harry as the three wizards walked to the bookstore. This was one of Harry's favorite places, but the experience was somewhat ruined by Ron's presence. It was going to be hard to keep up appearances.
"Here, Mikel, I'll let you and Mr. Weasley go get your school things. I'll be back here when you're done."
Harry gave his headmaster a nervous nod and walked with Ron to the back of the store.
Once Dumbledore was out of sight, Ron turned to Harry and grinned.
"That was the best impression of Fleur that I've ever seen! How did you manage it, Harry?"
Harry's jaw dropped as his mind whirled frantically for a response. How was he supposed to answer that? His appearance was supposed to be a secret!
"Oh, come off it, Harry, I know it's you. What are you using, a polyjuice potion? You look an awful lot like Snape."
Harry gagged. "Do I really look that much like Snape?" he whispered.
"Yeah. Only a lot."
"Mm. That wasn't the intent."
"Why are you hiding, Harry? What's with the appearance charms?" asked Ron.
"It's dangerous to be out looking like myself. There could be death eaters," Harry said quickly.
Ron nodded and laughed. "It's weird to have to look up to you. You're the short one, remember?"
Harry grinned, and then immediately sobered. "Snape's been taken prisoner by Voldemort. They found out that he was a spy."
Ron gasped. "Are you serious?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm serious. You think I would joke about something like this?"
"Sorry."
"That's alright. I'm kind of snappish as of late, and I do apologize. Voldemort keeps putting Snape under the Cruciatus curse. I don't get much sleep anymore."
Ron was sympathetic, even though he didn't have any idea what Harry was talking about. He figured that since Harry was connected to Voldemort, he got to see Snape be tortured. Which, usually, would make him happy..
"Why do you care? I would be ecstatic if I got to see Snape tortured!" said Ron.
Harry glared menacingly at his best friend. "Just because I dislike him, I'm not going to take pleasure in his suffering. He's been a spy for years, Ron. He's one of the bravest people I've ever met, and his spying had been crucial to everything. We're going to save him. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Remus, and I. Soon."
Ron was wide-eyed and trembling ever so slightly. "I'm.. sorry, Harry."
Harry shook his head, frustrated with himself. He didn't mean to blow up at Ron. "I know, Ron. I'm sorry, too."
"That's okay, Harry."
"Mm."
"So you're going to save Snape? How? Isn't he all locked up with You-Know- Who? You'll never be able to get him out of there!" asked Ron, changing the subject.
"Ron, may I stress to you that you are sworn to utmost secrecy? None of this- NONE OF IT- can be repeated to anybody. Do you understand?"
Ron nodded.
"Good. So, how we're going to save Snape." He raised an eyebrow at his friend.
Ron nodded again.
"Well, here it is in a nutshell. I'm going to go to Malfoy Manor, get caught, get dragged to Voldemort, and then rescue Snape."
Ron was dumbstruck. "You're joking."
"No, Ron, I am not joking."
"You're going to get killed!" Ron cried.
"SSH!! Come on, Ron, utmost secrecy?"
"But, Harry, you CAN'T do this! You-Know-Who will kill you! What you're plotting is SUICIDE!"
"I can handle it. I have a few tricks up my sleeve." Harry grinned roguishly.
At that moment, Dumbledore decided to intrude. "Mikel? Did you get everything? We probably need to get back. I'm sure that Remus is going crazy."
"I only need one more thing. I'll meet you in the front in a moment," said Harry.
Dumbledore nodded and left the two friends alone.
"I have to go, Ron."
"I know. Take care of yourself. Please. Don't get hurt, Harry."
Harry smiled and embraced his friend. "Thank you, Ron. I'll try."
With one last look at Harry, Ron turned and left. Harry was left alone.
***
The Boy-Who-Lived crefully snuck into the back of the bookstore, where the Dark Books were kept. The kind of books that one can usually only find in Knockturn Alley. Only the grimiest wizards went back there, mostly for terrible spells and potions.
That's why Harry was there. He needed a book on dark charms. There was no way in the world that any normal charms books would have what he was looking for. No light wizard could possibly want to do what Harry was plotting.
He was getting rid of him, once and for all. Harry was going to destroy Voldemort's soul.
