XoX-PaDfOoTeSs-XoX – this story isn't on the site, yet. I'm thinking of editing the whole thing once its finished, and then putting it up. Still, anything could happen. Glad you like it!
Sorceress Jade – Woah! Lot of reviews! Don't worry, this story will finish. Sometime. I thought it was nearly done, and then the thing with Iris came up. Still, it will finish soon. Of course Re is perceptive! He's a werewolf!
Marauder no. 5 – no, you haven't.
Wintermoon2 – I'm still reading Blast, it's such a cool story! Thanks for the inside info. Harry isn't going back, I think one trip was enough! I love getting reviews from you; because you're such a good writer yourself, the praise means twice as much! (later: awies! Can't wait for the sequel. Please don't let them be dead!)
Hermione green – glad you're looking forward to the visit, I am too! But then, I know what will happen! Hehe!
Ekwy – woah! I had a headache that day, ok? And I'm never good at working out years. Thanks for the tip. Same for the spell, it was the time I had 3 sinus infections in a row, so gimme a break! Ever had a sinus infection? They're not pretty. The doc's thought there was something seriously wrong – I had to get my head x-rayed. So sorry if the spell sounded made up. I did intend to go back and change it, then exams started. I'm glad you decided to continue, tell me if I managed to change your opinion by this chapter, ok? And the Harry was at the end of this 4th year, the Marauders were in 6th or 7th, I never really decided. It's a kinda AU fic, seeing as I don't think Harry had a free week at the end of 4th year, but there you go.
Starwave – here's chapter 13! Thanks for the review!
Everyone who reviewed have a cookie, cos you're all great!
Harry woke up early the next morning. He was worried; would his visiting Iris make any difference? Still, it couldn't hurt to try, and anything was better than nothing. He wondered if Iris still had the pink streaks in her hair. The medi-wizards would probably have got rid of them though. Or they would have grown out by now.
He slipped out of the dorm without waking the others, and walked down to breakfast alone. Hermione was already there.
"Where's the thing?" she asked nervously.
"What thing?" Harry asked, yawning.
"The… snake thing."
"Oh, Topaz. She's in the dorm, still sleeping. Why?"
"I hate snakes."
"She's not an ordinary snake. She's magical."
"I don't care, she's still a snake!"
"How come you hate snakes so much?"
"I had a bad experience with snakes in my bed when I was little. I've hated them ever since."
"Topaz wouldn't do that. She's different, more intelligent. And she does what I ask, usually without question. If I ask her to stay away from you, she will."
"Really? How is she different."
"She can eat practically anything, survive in harsher conditions than most snakes, stuff like that. She's harmless. Well, she'd probably attack Malfoy if I asked her to, but other than that, she's harmless."
"Ok. Just… keep her away from me, ok?"
"Ok. Hey, could you tell the teachers that I'm with Dumbledore when they ask where I am today?"
"Ok. Why are you with Dumbledore?"
"I'm going to visit Iris."
"Oh. The Iris?"
"Yeah. She's in St. Mungo's. She was attacked a few days after I left, and had been in a coma ever since."
"Who attacked her?"
"Voldemort. Who else?"
They ate the rest of their breakfast in silence, and then Harry headed off along the winding corridors to Dumbledore's office.
***
St. Mungo's was… very white, Harry thought as he followed the headmaster along the corridors. Dumbledore seemed to know where he was going, and declined the assistance of the medi wizards politely. Iris was in a room on her own, lying on a bed. She was very pale, and a lot older than when Harry had seen her last. The pink had grown out of her hair, and she was wearing no make-up. It was strange to see her without glitter.
"Harry, do you mind if I go visit the Longbottoms? I'll be back in about half an hour."
"Um, ok," Harry said, actually rather pleased that the headmaster was leaving. If Iris did wake up, she might give away the fact that Harry had gone to the past, breaking about fifty Wizarding laws in the process, he suspected.
Dumbledore had left, so Harry decided to try and wake Iris up. "Um, hi, Iris. It's Harry. Sirius, James, Remus and Lily couldn't come, I'm afraid. You see, they've gone. Well, Sirius is in another country, and I don't know where Remus is. Lily and James were killed by Voldemort. Peter betrayed them, but Sirius got blamed. He was in Azkaban for a while. I went back to my own time, remember? And I asked Dumbledore about you. He told me what happened. I can't believe it. I can't believe he didn't tell me. I'm just wondering what else he hasn't told me.
"I don't know if talking to you is doing any good, but my voice was one of the last you heard, and it hasn't changed like the other's voices have. C'mon, Iris, wake up. I need you. I need another substitute family member. You'd be a great Aunt. You can replace Petunia, Lily's sister. Did you ever meet her? She's horrible. Nothing like Mum.
"Did James get a lot of credit for my win? Were the rest of the house proud of his flying skills? Was she proud of mine? Iris, these are questions only you can answer. You were closest to my Mum. Siri and Re can tell me about James, but they never tell me much about Lily. And I want to know more about her. Please, Iris, wake up. Or I'll set Topaz on you," Harry threatened, sniffing and wiping his eyes with his hand.
"Iris, please, please wake up," he whispered softly. A tear fell onto Iris' hand, and she shifted.
"Who's crying on me?" she muttered with her eyes closed. "Pete, if it's you I'm so wringing your neck. Siri or Re, if it's you, what's wrong baby? James, if that's you, go find Lily."
"It's Harry."
Iris opened her eyes. "Harry? Why are you here? And why are you crying?" she reached out her hand to touch him, when she saw her hand. "Holy shit! What happened to me?!"
"Um… You're about 20 years or so older," Harry informed her.
"Shit! That is not good. Am I wearing make-up?"
"No."
"Damn! Where am I?"
"St. Mungo's."
"What happened???"
"Voldemort," Harry said. Iris winced slightly. "You were in a coma."
"Well, bugger. What the hell am I going to do?"
"Huh?"
"I never finished school!"
"I'm sure Dumbledore will help you. Maybe even give you a job. What was your best subject?"
"Ancient Runes and Astornomey."
"I think the Runes teacher is leaving soon. You might be able to take his place. I remember Hermione going on about it a while ago."
"Look, what happened to James and Lily?"
"They died when I was one. Sirius was blamed and sent to Azkaban. It was Peter who betrayed them. Remus I met last year, he isn't doing too good, but he's ok."
"James and Lily died when you were one? Did Voldie kill them?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder you were so careful. And Pete betraying us! How dare he!"
"Never trust a rat, dogs are more faithful."
Just then, Dumbledore came back in. Harry had the unique privilege of seeing the normally calm and unflustered wizard do a double-take. However, the old wizard soon collected himself and beamed at the two.
"I see you are now awake, Iris. Will you be accompanying Mr Potter and myself back to the castle?"
"I believe I shall," Iris said calmly. "Can you tell me of my family?"
"You are the only survivor. The house is still standing and belongs to you."
Iris turned to Harry, smiling. "Hey, Harry, want to stay at my place this summer?" she asked.
"Sure."
The three wizards left the hospital and headed back to Hogwarts. Neither Harry nor Iris knew what the future held, but they knew that whatever it was, they would face it together.
Sorry for the cliché ending. Well, that is the end! I'm going to be fiddling with the story now, writing extra bits and so on. There will be no major plot changes, I hope. So if you see it updated, that's probably what it is. Once I've finished fiddling, the whole story will appear on www.darkside.freeuk.com , it you want to check it out there.
Thankyou to all my reviews who've stuck with me through the story, and sorry for the long waits!
Peace, jaffa cakes and purple knee high stripy socks to everyone!