Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch
By: mountaineer779
Chapter Two: What Has Happened
Harry spun around, wondering which member of the Order was stalking him this time. It was Remus, of course it was Remus. Who else would find kicking his teacher amusing? Well, there was Siri- No, he told himself, don't think about him.
"Hello, Remus." Harry said glumly with a smile as fake as Barbie. As he spoke he heard a faint pop and realized Professor McGonagall was behind him.
"Hey, Harry. How are you?" His former professor said, his happy expression fading from his face, morphing into an expression not unlike that of a father worried about his only son.
"Just fine, thanks."
"Potter, I wouldn't recommend lying again, heaven forbid your nose grow to be several feet long." McGonagall added giving Harry one of her famous 'I-really-don't-like-what-you're-doing-and-you-had-best-stop-unless-you-want-a terribly-long-detention-with-Professor-Snape'.
Remus chuckled a bit and said, "Why don't we go to Mrs. Figg's house and have a little chat?" Remus began to walk down the street motioning for the rest of the group to follow.
After a deadly silent walk down the street, the group reached the house of the elderly Mrs. Figg. McGonagall knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a reply. They found Mrs. Figg standing at the kitchen counter stirring some sort of chocolaty substance in a mixing bowl.
"Hello Remus and Minerva," she said, not bothering to look over her shoulder. Apparently Remus and McGonagall were going to pick him up. "Oh! Harry I didn't realize you'd be coming, hello to you too."
"Hi Mrs. Figg."
"I'm making chocolate cake if you'd like to stay for a while."
"No thank you, Bella," Remus said politely. "We just thought we'd come by and say hello before we take off."
She looked slightly disappointed, but continued to participate of the small talk that followed.
"Remus, you ought to take Harry to collect his things-we can Floo to Grimmauld when you get back."
"All right, come on Harry."
A sullen Harry and a concerned Remus left the house and began the silent walk to the Number 4, Privet Drive. The air was a little…smoky. Almost as if someone was having a barbeque that had gone awry. Harry felt as though something was wrong in the air. It seemed as though Remus had noticed this too, because Harry now had to quicken his pace to keep up with Remus.
As they turned onto Privet Drive, Harry gasped audibly. A small fire was rapidly consuming a yard in front of a house four houses down. It was the Dursley's house.
Springing into action, Remus yanked out his wand and began shooting extinguishing spells. It didn't take long to put the fire out, and closer inspection revealed the exterior walls of the house to just be charred a bit.
"You all right there, Harry? You look a bit pale," A slightly paler Remus asked him.
"I'm fine," Harry said, "just shocked and confused. Why didn't any of the neighbors notice the smoke and - oh my god." Harry had looked down at the yard, and there, etched in the smoking turf was a Dark Mark.
Remus turned even whiter than he was to begin with and his quaking voice replied, "Harry, there's only one thing to do in situations like these."
"And what's that?"
"Run. Run like your life depended on it, well, your life just might depend on it."
And so they ran. Harry felt as though his legs were on fire, but he ran. Ran straight into Mrs. Figg's house. Remus shoved a packet of Floo powder into his hand. Harry quickly threw some on the fire and gasped out 'Grimmauld Place' as he stepped into the fire.
Harry stumbled out of the fire, crashing onto the dining room floor and he quickly scrambled out of the way to avoid a dog pile in front of the fireplace. Remus was the next to appear, closely followed by McGonagall and Mrs. Figg.
"What was that all about?" McGonagall said, looking very rattled.
"Death Eater attack on Privet Drive." Remus answered sullenly.
"Well that explains a lot." Mrs. Figg said as she settled down in a chair, breathing heavily.
They sat for a moment until Harry broke the silence, "Why did we have to get away so fast?"
"Order protocol," came Remus' fast reply. "There were probably a lot of Death Eaters that had been there or were still there and seeing as there were only two of us, we had to get out as fast as possible."
"But what about the Dursleys? And my things?"
"We'll go back later, with the others. But for now, I think we should just spend the night here."
"I'll make dinner," Mrs. Figg offered and moved into the kitchen.
"And I ought to go contact Dumbledore." And with that the Transfiguration teacher left the room.
Remus sighed, surveying Harry in a manner not unlike that of Professor Dumbledore.
"I need to talk to you, Harry. About Sirius and now seems as good a time as any. I know you probably don't want to talk, so just listen. Harry, Sirius loved you. He died protecting you, and there is not one thing you can do about it. He's gone and I miss him and you miss him and Arbella, that's Mrs. Figg to you, misses him and everyone who ever knew him misses him. I think, very deep down, even Snape misses him in his own way."
Harry scoffed at this, but either Remus didn't hear him or he didn't want to. "I know you're upset, we all are. But moping around isn't going to bring him back. The only thing we can do is remember him as he would want to be remembered, a happy, loving, care-free, wonderful man."
"You don't understand, Remus! I caused his death, I'm responsible! You see, if I had worked harder at Occulmancy then I wouldn't have gotten that vision of Sirius in the Department of Mysteries. And if I didn't get that vision then I wouldn't have gone to the Department of Mysteries. And if I wasn't at the Department of Mysteries, risking my neck then Sirius wouldn't have come to the Department of Mysteries and so he would still be alive today!"
At this point Harry was on his feet, practically yelling.
"You don't think I feel responsible?" Remus demanded, his temper flaring. "I knew what he was going through and you know what I did about it? Nothing! I sat idly by and watched him deteriorate. But Harry, I've accepted that what's happened has happened and not amount of brooding is going to change that. And you have to realize this too. I know telling you this probably won't change a thing for you, things like this take time and you're more than welcome to talk all the time you need. Now, why don't I take you up to your room?"
"I know where it is. I slept there last summer with Ron, don't you remember?"
"Of course I do," the former professor said with a sad smile, "but seeing as you are Sirius's only heir, I'm more than sure that he would have wanted you to have his room."
"I….I don't think I can stay there yet." Harry said, all anger of a few minutes before forgotten. "But I am going to go upstairs, I need to think things through."
"OK, let me know if you need anything. Oh and Harry," Remus added, "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you Remus."
A few hours and a nap later, Harry awoke from his stupor and decided to go downstairs and see if anything else had occurred during the day. He found Mrs. Figg and Professor McGonagall in the kitchen, chatting quietly. They greeted him and offered him food, but Harry just declined, he didn't feel much like eating.
"Where did Remus go?" He asked the two women.
"He went to get the evening paper," the professor replied gently.
"He should be back any minute now."
And as if in reply the three heard the door close and rather angry steps in the entry hall.
"You sure you're a Squib, Bella? Because you seem an awful lot like a psychic."
Remus stormed into the kitchen and slammed the evening edition of the London Post onto the kitchen table.
"I'm afraid I have really bad news."
Harry glimpsed the headline, and Remus was right. The news was really bad.
Disclaimer: I own my spoon. That's it. Nothing more. I swear!
A/N: Sorry this took so long. And that it's short. And a cliffhanger. Wow that's a lot of apologies to elaborate on. So let's just say that I groveled at your feet for several hours begging forgiveness. ;-) I PROMISE that chapter three will be up by Saturday of next week. But if you want it by… oh …how about …Wednesday, reviews are very important. Anywho thanks to all of you who DID review:
Aku Soku Zan87
A.M.bookworm247
ears91
PRINCE Ali
I-love-sirus73
EclipseKlutz
Thanks to you all! And I sure would love to add several names to that list *wink wink*. But I suppose if you don't want to review you don't have to. I'll be ok. :'( Just kidding! Well, I'll stop ranting and go to bed now. Goodnight! Or 'Good Morning!' should you be reading this in the earlier hours of the day. Or 'Good Afternoon!' should you be reading this, as the phrase implies, after noon. Well whatever it is, good bye!
By: mountaineer779
Chapter Two: What Has Happened
Harry spun around, wondering which member of the Order was stalking him this time. It was Remus, of course it was Remus. Who else would find kicking his teacher amusing? Well, there was Siri- No, he told himself, don't think about him.
"Hello, Remus." Harry said glumly with a smile as fake as Barbie. As he spoke he heard a faint pop and realized Professor McGonagall was behind him.
"Hey, Harry. How are you?" His former professor said, his happy expression fading from his face, morphing into an expression not unlike that of a father worried about his only son.
"Just fine, thanks."
"Potter, I wouldn't recommend lying again, heaven forbid your nose grow to be several feet long." McGonagall added giving Harry one of her famous 'I-really-don't-like-what-you're-doing-and-you-had-best-stop-unless-you-want-a terribly-long-detention-with-Professor-Snape'.
Remus chuckled a bit and said, "Why don't we go to Mrs. Figg's house and have a little chat?" Remus began to walk down the street motioning for the rest of the group to follow.
After a deadly silent walk down the street, the group reached the house of the elderly Mrs. Figg. McGonagall knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a reply. They found Mrs. Figg standing at the kitchen counter stirring some sort of chocolaty substance in a mixing bowl.
"Hello Remus and Minerva," she said, not bothering to look over her shoulder. Apparently Remus and McGonagall were going to pick him up. "Oh! Harry I didn't realize you'd be coming, hello to you too."
"Hi Mrs. Figg."
"I'm making chocolate cake if you'd like to stay for a while."
"No thank you, Bella," Remus said politely. "We just thought we'd come by and say hello before we take off."
She looked slightly disappointed, but continued to participate of the small talk that followed.
"Remus, you ought to take Harry to collect his things-we can Floo to Grimmauld when you get back."
"All right, come on Harry."
A sullen Harry and a concerned Remus left the house and began the silent walk to the Number 4, Privet Drive. The air was a little…smoky. Almost as if someone was having a barbeque that had gone awry. Harry felt as though something was wrong in the air. It seemed as though Remus had noticed this too, because Harry now had to quicken his pace to keep up with Remus.
As they turned onto Privet Drive, Harry gasped audibly. A small fire was rapidly consuming a yard in front of a house four houses down. It was the Dursley's house.
Springing into action, Remus yanked out his wand and began shooting extinguishing spells. It didn't take long to put the fire out, and closer inspection revealed the exterior walls of the house to just be charred a bit.
"You all right there, Harry? You look a bit pale," A slightly paler Remus asked him.
"I'm fine," Harry said, "just shocked and confused. Why didn't any of the neighbors notice the smoke and - oh my god." Harry had looked down at the yard, and there, etched in the smoking turf was a Dark Mark.
Remus turned even whiter than he was to begin with and his quaking voice replied, "Harry, there's only one thing to do in situations like these."
"And what's that?"
"Run. Run like your life depended on it, well, your life just might depend on it."
And so they ran. Harry felt as though his legs were on fire, but he ran. Ran straight into Mrs. Figg's house. Remus shoved a packet of Floo powder into his hand. Harry quickly threw some on the fire and gasped out 'Grimmauld Place' as he stepped into the fire.
Harry stumbled out of the fire, crashing onto the dining room floor and he quickly scrambled out of the way to avoid a dog pile in front of the fireplace. Remus was the next to appear, closely followed by McGonagall and Mrs. Figg.
"What was that all about?" McGonagall said, looking very rattled.
"Death Eater attack on Privet Drive." Remus answered sullenly.
"Well that explains a lot." Mrs. Figg said as she settled down in a chair, breathing heavily.
They sat for a moment until Harry broke the silence, "Why did we have to get away so fast?"
"Order protocol," came Remus' fast reply. "There were probably a lot of Death Eaters that had been there or were still there and seeing as there were only two of us, we had to get out as fast as possible."
"But what about the Dursleys? And my things?"
"We'll go back later, with the others. But for now, I think we should just spend the night here."
"I'll make dinner," Mrs. Figg offered and moved into the kitchen.
"And I ought to go contact Dumbledore." And with that the Transfiguration teacher left the room.
Remus sighed, surveying Harry in a manner not unlike that of Professor Dumbledore.
"I need to talk to you, Harry. About Sirius and now seems as good a time as any. I know you probably don't want to talk, so just listen. Harry, Sirius loved you. He died protecting you, and there is not one thing you can do about it. He's gone and I miss him and you miss him and Arbella, that's Mrs. Figg to you, misses him and everyone who ever knew him misses him. I think, very deep down, even Snape misses him in his own way."
Harry scoffed at this, but either Remus didn't hear him or he didn't want to. "I know you're upset, we all are. But moping around isn't going to bring him back. The only thing we can do is remember him as he would want to be remembered, a happy, loving, care-free, wonderful man."
"You don't understand, Remus! I caused his death, I'm responsible! You see, if I had worked harder at Occulmancy then I wouldn't have gotten that vision of Sirius in the Department of Mysteries. And if I didn't get that vision then I wouldn't have gone to the Department of Mysteries. And if I wasn't at the Department of Mysteries, risking my neck then Sirius wouldn't have come to the Department of Mysteries and so he would still be alive today!"
At this point Harry was on his feet, practically yelling.
"You don't think I feel responsible?" Remus demanded, his temper flaring. "I knew what he was going through and you know what I did about it? Nothing! I sat idly by and watched him deteriorate. But Harry, I've accepted that what's happened has happened and not amount of brooding is going to change that. And you have to realize this too. I know telling you this probably won't change a thing for you, things like this take time and you're more than welcome to talk all the time you need. Now, why don't I take you up to your room?"
"I know where it is. I slept there last summer with Ron, don't you remember?"
"Of course I do," the former professor said with a sad smile, "but seeing as you are Sirius's only heir, I'm more than sure that he would have wanted you to have his room."
"I….I don't think I can stay there yet." Harry said, all anger of a few minutes before forgotten. "But I am going to go upstairs, I need to think things through."
"OK, let me know if you need anything. Oh and Harry," Remus added, "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you Remus."
A few hours and a nap later, Harry awoke from his stupor and decided to go downstairs and see if anything else had occurred during the day. He found Mrs. Figg and Professor McGonagall in the kitchen, chatting quietly. They greeted him and offered him food, but Harry just declined, he didn't feel much like eating.
"Where did Remus go?" He asked the two women.
"He went to get the evening paper," the professor replied gently.
"He should be back any minute now."
And as if in reply the three heard the door close and rather angry steps in the entry hall.
"You sure you're a Squib, Bella? Because you seem an awful lot like a psychic."
Remus stormed into the kitchen and slammed the evening edition of the London Post onto the kitchen table.
"I'm afraid I have really bad news."
Harry glimpsed the headline, and Remus was right. The news was really bad.
Disclaimer: I own my spoon. That's it. Nothing more. I swear!
A/N: Sorry this took so long. And that it's short. And a cliffhanger. Wow that's a lot of apologies to elaborate on. So let's just say that I groveled at your feet for several hours begging forgiveness. ;-) I PROMISE that chapter three will be up by Saturday of next week. But if you want it by… oh …how about …Wednesday, reviews are very important. Anywho thanks to all of you who DID review:
Aku Soku Zan87
A.M.bookworm247
ears91
PRINCE Ali
I-love-sirus73
EclipseKlutz
Thanks to you all! And I sure would love to add several names to that list *wink wink*. But I suppose if you don't want to review you don't have to. I'll be ok. :'( Just kidding! Well, I'll stop ranting and go to bed now. Goodnight! Or 'Good Morning!' should you be reading this in the earlier hours of the day. Or 'Good Afternoon!' should you be reading this, as the phrase implies, after noon. Well whatever it is, good bye!