Chapter Thirty-One
Only Nineteen
Seri opened her eyes wide.
Roughly she pushed away from Sirius with the end effect of pushing him back on the bed.
She was breathing quickly and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Seri was so pressed against the wall you'd think she was trying to become it.
"Angel. what's wrong?" Sirius asked sincerely, sitting up and staring at her.
"I'm not." Seri bit back words. "I not your Angel. I'm Angelica Malfoy." She said plainly.
"Oh." Sirius said, scratching the back of his head. "You just look so much like my Angel. Angel Potter that is."
Seri look at him, tears watering in her eyes. She hugged her arms to her.
"Well, just don't tell my Angel will ya?" He said smiling dashingly.
Seri pressed her lips together and shook her head. a tear rained down her cheek.
"Wait did you say your surrey name was Malfoy?" Sirius said.
"Err. yeah. I'm a cousin of Lucas's." She said softly.
"Well, you're too sweet and pretty to be a Malfoy." He said, grinning again.
Sirius then turned toward the door. And that's when Harry noticed.
"JAMES!" Sirius cried, making his way toward Harry. At this point Seri had sunk to the floor, fully bust into to tears.
"Err.." Harry said as Sirius collected him in a hug.
"How's it going Prongs?" He said excited letting go of Harry.
"Ok. Padfoot." Harry said uneasily.
"You look so young James!" Sirius said punching Harry in the shoulder. "You look sixteen!" He chuckled
"Errr. do I?" Harry said, more confused at this point then he ever had been. Was Sirius trying to be funny?
"Man, where am I?" Sirius said looking around.
"Your parents' house." Remus said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"MY PARENTS!" Sirius said, now horror struck. "I thought I got away from this place three years ago!"
"How old are you!?!" Harry screamed before he actually thought about his words.
"Nineteen." Sirius answered dumbly.
There was silence.
"What?" Sirius whined, shrugging.
"Sirius," Remus said softly. "You've been in an accident and well, you're not doing to well. Now please just lie down and get some rest."
"Moony?" Sirius said, rubbing his eyes. "You're looking old my friend."
Sirius smiled.
And there it was.
Sirius's eyes danced. They smiled and laughed. It was surprising really. the picture that Harry had seen of Sirius was now standing in front of him. Sirius was exactly the way his dad had known him.
"It was a very bad accident. please Padfoot, just lie down and get some rest." Remus slowly guided Sirius back to the bed and helped him lie down
"Okay, okay." Sirius moaned, yawning.
Harry went to Seri and helped her up. She had molded to his shoulder. crying. Slowly the crowd backed away to the door.
"Stay cool James!" Sirius piped and Harry raised a hand for recognition.
Remus was about to shut the door.
"Yo, Moony," Sirius bellowed. "Where is my Angel?" Remus hung his head and shut the door with out answering.
"Remus what's wrong with him?" Seri moaning.
"Seri." Charlie said from behind them. She only sniffed louder.
"Let's go to the kitchen." Author said uneasily.
"Okay," Ron said taking charge.
"Not you young man. you either, Mark, Ginny, Hermione." Mrs. Weasley barked.
"But mum.." Ginny whined.
"This doesn't concern you!" Author said firmly, "Now go back up stairs."
"But."
"Now!" Mrs. Weasley screamed.
Hermione and Ron shot Harry a cold death look before going upstairs but that the least of Harry's worries at the moment.
They entered the kitchen and Harry slowly helped Seri into a chair.
"Okay, Fred, George, Bill, Author. let's leaves them alone." Mrs. Weasley said after setting down tea cups and a steaming pot of tea on the table.
"But mum!" Fred cried.
"What about Charlie?" George whined.
"I'm older!" Bill demanded.
"Molly sweet heart." Author said softly.
"No. this is between them, it had nothing to do with us. now out!"
"Fine." and they left.
After the door snapped shut there was silence. It was just Harry, Tonks, Remus, Charlie and Seri, who was now curled up under Charlie's arm.
"Remus. what's wrong with him?" Tonks asked.
"He doesn't remember us." Remus said plainly, staring into his mug of tea.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
He didn't answer.
Seri gave a loud sniff.
"The. the veil." She said softly straighten up.
"The veil?" Charlie said.
"Yeah, the veil. I'm not completely stupid Weasley." Seri barked, "How dumb do you think I am. I studied the veil before I went in it."
"What did you find?" Harry said quickly.
Seri turned her eyes to him and they began to water again. "Harry. do you remember what you saw behind the veil?"
Of course Harry remembered. how could he forget the faces they stepped into his dreams every night. how he could forget the family he so dearly wanted.
"Sure," He said softly, absorbed in their faces coming up in his mind.
"Well, when you saw them, you were seeing a memory. that's why some floated and others didn't." Seri said, whipping her eyes on her sleeve.
"But then."
"The veil is a place where your memory goes when you die." Remus said.
"Exactly, and when the living go through the veil than we see the memories of the dead walking and talking around us." Seri said nodding. "My dad was in there so long he was living in his memories."
"My guess is that he is living in his fondest memory." Remus added.
Harry nodded and for some reason his brain was beating hard. It was like there was one piece of the puzzle that won't fit. something he felt like he was forgetting. but what could it be?
And then as though someone turned a light bulb on in his brain. "Oh my God!" Harry said, jolting up.
"What. what is it Harry?" Charlie said quickly.
"You said this would happen Seri. you said so."
"When." Seri said, looking at him.
"When you were having a trance. You said someone how lives amounts the dead is not really dead and can be brought back by someone who really loves him."
"I know you told me that Harry." Seri said, slouching again.
"But there was another part. the dog of the night will not remember past his happiest time!" Harry said loudly.
Seri's and Remus's eyes got big.
"I don't believe it. I just don't believe it!" Tonks said shaking her head.
"His happiest time was when we got back together after we graduated. we had been fighting." Remus said mistily.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Your parents broke up right before term was out because they didn't believe it would work out. well Sirius and Angel kinda blew them off for being dumb and Peter and I took sides." Remus sighed. "About a year later Sirius turns up on James's door step drench to the bone and shaking. and they just laughed. hadn't spoken in a year and they just laughed as though no time at all had passed."
"They had a fight?" Seri said dropping her hands.
"Yeah. about a year later Angel and Sirius were going out. maybe that where he is now in his mind."
"Do you think that was the happiest time of his life?" Seri said smoothly.
"I don't know. but it's a pretty good guess." Remus shrugged.
Harry heaved a sigh and looked around the room at the people next to him. None of them spoke.
"Harry.." Seri said softly, taking his hand in hers, "Have you told any of this to Hermione or Ron?"
"No,"
"You should," Seri said softly, tears slowly trailing down her face. "You'll need them one day. they deserve to know everything. and I mean everything."
Harry nodded and looked at Remus who also nodded.
He stood nosily and walked from the room.
It wasn't hard to find Ron and Hermione, they were sitting in a third drawing room.
"Harry!" Ron squealed, when Harry opened the door and shut it.
"Hi," Harry said tonelessly. "I have to tell you all something. actually a lot of things."
"Okay Harry, we're listening."
Harry looked at them and took a deep breath. "Sixteen year ago Professor Trawnley made a prediction about me. well about Voldemort. It said a boy born on July 31st to members of the Order would have the power he doesn't know of and will alone be able to stop him. That we can't live while the other survives and such." Harry said quickly.
"Whoa!" Ron said, leaning back. "No wonder you haven't told us!"
"Were Neville's parents in the Order?" Hermione said.
Harry should have known she would catch on quickly. "Yes, but it couldn't be Neville. or at least not now. it says that the Dark Lord will mark the boy as his equal." Harry lifted his bangs up.
"'Why couldn't it be Neville?' I get it Harry!" Hermione said. "Oh Harry I'm so sorry!" Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him.
"Let him breath Hermione!" Ron sighed and Hermione let go, slowly leaning back to her own space.
Harry went on to tell them about Seri and all she told him, the animagius lessons, the divination lessons, being part of the Order, the Dark Order and even the small part about what he saw behind the veil. And just like a perfect audience, Hermione and Ron cheered, gasped and even cried at exactly the right moments.
"And what about Sirius?" Ron said solemnly.
"The veil is where our memories go when we die and since Sirius was around them for so long he." Harry cut off. He messed with his hair.
"He what Harry?" Hermione asked sweetly
"He thinks he's nineteen. he's mentally living in his happiness memory."
Hermione gasped.
"Harry, mate, look.. I'm sorry." Ron said.
"I should have told you sooner." Harry said shrugging. "I just didn't really think you need or deserved to know."
Ron nodded, "I don't think I did either."
"Oh, but Harry now we can help you!" Hermione said. "You don't have to hide anymore. we know!"
And just like that and friendship was renewed. Hermione, Ron and Harry were all of the sudden on the same page and Harry was relived. He needed them again.
Seri opened her eyes wide.
Roughly she pushed away from Sirius with the end effect of pushing him back on the bed.
She was breathing quickly and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Seri was so pressed against the wall you'd think she was trying to become it.
"Angel. what's wrong?" Sirius asked sincerely, sitting up and staring at her.
"I'm not." Seri bit back words. "I not your Angel. I'm Angelica Malfoy." She said plainly.
"Oh." Sirius said, scratching the back of his head. "You just look so much like my Angel. Angel Potter that is."
Seri look at him, tears watering in her eyes. She hugged her arms to her.
"Well, just don't tell my Angel will ya?" He said smiling dashingly.
Seri pressed her lips together and shook her head. a tear rained down her cheek.
"Wait did you say your surrey name was Malfoy?" Sirius said.
"Err. yeah. I'm a cousin of Lucas's." She said softly.
"Well, you're too sweet and pretty to be a Malfoy." He said, grinning again.
Sirius then turned toward the door. And that's when Harry noticed.
"JAMES!" Sirius cried, making his way toward Harry. At this point Seri had sunk to the floor, fully bust into to tears.
"Err.." Harry said as Sirius collected him in a hug.
"How's it going Prongs?" He said excited letting go of Harry.
"Ok. Padfoot." Harry said uneasily.
"You look so young James!" Sirius said punching Harry in the shoulder. "You look sixteen!" He chuckled
"Errr. do I?" Harry said, more confused at this point then he ever had been. Was Sirius trying to be funny?
"Man, where am I?" Sirius said looking around.
"Your parents' house." Remus said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"MY PARENTS!" Sirius said, now horror struck. "I thought I got away from this place three years ago!"
"How old are you!?!" Harry screamed before he actually thought about his words.
"Nineteen." Sirius answered dumbly.
There was silence.
"What?" Sirius whined, shrugging.
"Sirius," Remus said softly. "You've been in an accident and well, you're not doing to well. Now please just lie down and get some rest."
"Moony?" Sirius said, rubbing his eyes. "You're looking old my friend."
Sirius smiled.
And there it was.
Sirius's eyes danced. They smiled and laughed. It was surprising really. the picture that Harry had seen of Sirius was now standing in front of him. Sirius was exactly the way his dad had known him.
"It was a very bad accident. please Padfoot, just lie down and get some rest." Remus slowly guided Sirius back to the bed and helped him lie down
"Okay, okay." Sirius moaned, yawning.
Harry went to Seri and helped her up. She had molded to his shoulder. crying. Slowly the crowd backed away to the door.
"Stay cool James!" Sirius piped and Harry raised a hand for recognition.
Remus was about to shut the door.
"Yo, Moony," Sirius bellowed. "Where is my Angel?" Remus hung his head and shut the door with out answering.
"Remus what's wrong with him?" Seri moaning.
"Seri." Charlie said from behind them. She only sniffed louder.
"Let's go to the kitchen." Author said uneasily.
"Okay," Ron said taking charge.
"Not you young man. you either, Mark, Ginny, Hermione." Mrs. Weasley barked.
"But mum.." Ginny whined.
"This doesn't concern you!" Author said firmly, "Now go back up stairs."
"But."
"Now!" Mrs. Weasley screamed.
Hermione and Ron shot Harry a cold death look before going upstairs but that the least of Harry's worries at the moment.
They entered the kitchen and Harry slowly helped Seri into a chair.
"Okay, Fred, George, Bill, Author. let's leaves them alone." Mrs. Weasley said after setting down tea cups and a steaming pot of tea on the table.
"But mum!" Fred cried.
"What about Charlie?" George whined.
"I'm older!" Bill demanded.
"Molly sweet heart." Author said softly.
"No. this is between them, it had nothing to do with us. now out!"
"Fine." and they left.
After the door snapped shut there was silence. It was just Harry, Tonks, Remus, Charlie and Seri, who was now curled up under Charlie's arm.
"Remus. what's wrong with him?" Tonks asked.
"He doesn't remember us." Remus said plainly, staring into his mug of tea.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
He didn't answer.
Seri gave a loud sniff.
"The. the veil." She said softly straighten up.
"The veil?" Charlie said.
"Yeah, the veil. I'm not completely stupid Weasley." Seri barked, "How dumb do you think I am. I studied the veil before I went in it."
"What did you find?" Harry said quickly.
Seri turned her eyes to him and they began to water again. "Harry. do you remember what you saw behind the veil?"
Of course Harry remembered. how could he forget the faces they stepped into his dreams every night. how he could forget the family he so dearly wanted.
"Sure," He said softly, absorbed in their faces coming up in his mind.
"Well, when you saw them, you were seeing a memory. that's why some floated and others didn't." Seri said, whipping her eyes on her sleeve.
"But then."
"The veil is a place where your memory goes when you die." Remus said.
"Exactly, and when the living go through the veil than we see the memories of the dead walking and talking around us." Seri said nodding. "My dad was in there so long he was living in his memories."
"My guess is that he is living in his fondest memory." Remus added.
Harry nodded and for some reason his brain was beating hard. It was like there was one piece of the puzzle that won't fit. something he felt like he was forgetting. but what could it be?
And then as though someone turned a light bulb on in his brain. "Oh my God!" Harry said, jolting up.
"What. what is it Harry?" Charlie said quickly.
"You said this would happen Seri. you said so."
"When." Seri said, looking at him.
"When you were having a trance. You said someone how lives amounts the dead is not really dead and can be brought back by someone who really loves him."
"I know you told me that Harry." Seri said, slouching again.
"But there was another part. the dog of the night will not remember past his happiest time!" Harry said loudly.
Seri's and Remus's eyes got big.
"I don't believe it. I just don't believe it!" Tonks said shaking her head.
"His happiest time was when we got back together after we graduated. we had been fighting." Remus said mistily.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Your parents broke up right before term was out because they didn't believe it would work out. well Sirius and Angel kinda blew them off for being dumb and Peter and I took sides." Remus sighed. "About a year later Sirius turns up on James's door step drench to the bone and shaking. and they just laughed. hadn't spoken in a year and they just laughed as though no time at all had passed."
"They had a fight?" Seri said dropping her hands.
"Yeah. about a year later Angel and Sirius were going out. maybe that where he is now in his mind."
"Do you think that was the happiest time of his life?" Seri said smoothly.
"I don't know. but it's a pretty good guess." Remus shrugged.
Harry heaved a sigh and looked around the room at the people next to him. None of them spoke.
"Harry.." Seri said softly, taking his hand in hers, "Have you told any of this to Hermione or Ron?"
"No,"
"You should," Seri said softly, tears slowly trailing down her face. "You'll need them one day. they deserve to know everything. and I mean everything."
Harry nodded and looked at Remus who also nodded.
He stood nosily and walked from the room.
It wasn't hard to find Ron and Hermione, they were sitting in a third drawing room.
"Harry!" Ron squealed, when Harry opened the door and shut it.
"Hi," Harry said tonelessly. "I have to tell you all something. actually a lot of things."
"Okay Harry, we're listening."
Harry looked at them and took a deep breath. "Sixteen year ago Professor Trawnley made a prediction about me. well about Voldemort. It said a boy born on July 31st to members of the Order would have the power he doesn't know of and will alone be able to stop him. That we can't live while the other survives and such." Harry said quickly.
"Whoa!" Ron said, leaning back. "No wonder you haven't told us!"
"Were Neville's parents in the Order?" Hermione said.
Harry should have known she would catch on quickly. "Yes, but it couldn't be Neville. or at least not now. it says that the Dark Lord will mark the boy as his equal." Harry lifted his bangs up.
"'Why couldn't it be Neville?' I get it Harry!" Hermione said. "Oh Harry I'm so sorry!" Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him.
"Let him breath Hermione!" Ron sighed and Hermione let go, slowly leaning back to her own space.
Harry went on to tell them about Seri and all she told him, the animagius lessons, the divination lessons, being part of the Order, the Dark Order and even the small part about what he saw behind the veil. And just like a perfect audience, Hermione and Ron cheered, gasped and even cried at exactly the right moments.
"And what about Sirius?" Ron said solemnly.
"The veil is where our memories go when we die and since Sirius was around them for so long he." Harry cut off. He messed with his hair.
"He what Harry?" Hermione asked sweetly
"He thinks he's nineteen. he's mentally living in his happiness memory."
Hermione gasped.
"Harry, mate, look.. I'm sorry." Ron said.
"I should have told you sooner." Harry said shrugging. "I just didn't really think you need or deserved to know."
Ron nodded, "I don't think I did either."
"Oh, but Harry now we can help you!" Hermione said. "You don't have to hide anymore. we know!"
And just like that and friendship was renewed. Hermione, Ron and Harry were all of the sudden on the same page and Harry was relived. He needed them again.