Chapter 5

HARRY'S PACKING LIST prepared by HERMIONE GRANGER

- Enough clothing for a week's stay (I would've been more specific, but I don't really know your particular dressing habits or anything, Harry.)

- Toothbrush

- Toothpaste

- Hairbrush

- SCHOOLWORK (Just because you're visiting me doesn't mean you should forget your studies. Ron forgot his books at home...I had to Floo over the get them. Honestly)

- Pillow (Crookshanks won't let us get anywhere near the ones in our house)

- Anything you might need for Hogwarts next year

- Hedwig, her cage and supplies

- Your broomstick

- Come to think of it, just bring everything. It's the last week after all. Don't forget- Not even your SCHOOLWORK.

Harry smiled. The letter was just like Hermione. Looking over the list, he thought he'd done her justice; there were neat checkmarks next to each item, or as neat as he could make them, and his trunk was repacked with everything he could think of; yes, even his schoolwork for the summer though, like Ron, he'd been tempted to leave his books behind.

A soft knock at the door woke him back to his senses. "You quite ready yet, Harry?"

"Nearly," Harry replied, staring at the list with a frown. "I'm getting the feeling that I've...forgotten something."

Lupin chuckled. "Don't we all? But, let's see- have you got your broom?"

Glancing at it, Harry nodded. The Firebolt was stowed away with all his other things, laid exactly between his trunk and Hedwig's perch.

He had thrown out the cage.

"All your clothes? And the dress robes that you bought last month."

Dress robes...Harry stopped at this, puzzled. The day was clear in his mind. He had gone to see Madam Malkin, yes, browsed through her selection, and had his measurements retaken...but where were the robes he would naturally have bought afterwards?

Across the room, Zacharias crossed his arms and noted the pause. Ever since that day when he'd found himself in Muggle London, the streetlights making the alleys seem greasy and the company greasier, he had been searching...searching for an answer, he supposed, to that missing afternoon. But there no sure solution, or question, for that matter. The only thing he could be certain of was that his memory had been altered. And so had Harry's, or so it seemed; Zacharias had watched him, looking on from a distance for a hint of what might have happened that afternoon.

Harry himself knew nothing, and Zacharias had no intention of telling him. "I...didn't like anything I saw there, I suppose," said Harry slowly. There was concentration in his eyes, looking inward. "I decided not to buy anything."

Lupin stood framed in the doorway. "It's not like you to care much about fashion, Harry," he said. "Not trying to impress anyone, are we?"

"What?" Harry looked up, eyes narrowed. He closed his trunk with a soft click. "Of course not. What gave you that idea? I swear, Rita Skeeter and her bloody lies were bad enough."

"Lies, were they?" mused Zacharias aloud. "And there I was, taking her word for divine truths." Lupin suppressed a laugh.

"Haha," said Harry thickly. "I can't believe you two."

"Thou shalt not steal," Zacharias intoned. "Thou shalt readeth of Harry Potter's love life and secret affairs with Hermione Granger."

"For the last time, Hermione is only my friend! Really, Ron has more of claim than I do, if anything." Harry flushed. "He probably wouldn't want me to tell you that."

Zacharias rubbed his hands together with apparent zeal. "Too late."

Lupin coughed loudly. "Err...right then, Harry, I suppose you could borrow a pair of my robes..."

Harry ignored him, eyes flashing and fixed on Zacharias. "I've had it with you! What is it? Are you mad at me? Do I annoy you?"

Zacharias eyed him mildly. "You get angry so easily, Harry. It's interesting to watch."

Harry fumed.

"You know what, Zacharias? You're nearly as bad as Malfoy!" he spat. Zacharias looked unaffected. "That's not a good thing!"

"Ah," said Zacharias, rooting a box of Every Flavor Beans out of his pocket and focusing his attentions towards it. "Yes, I know," he continued without looking at Harry. "If you've forgotten, you aren't the only one with qualms against him, Canary Potter."

"Of course I know! How can even talk like that, make it sound so- so...you don't even sound like you care at all!"

Zacharias looked up at this, putting down his sweets and tilting his head upwards towards him. There was an emotion there that made Harry uneasy just seeing it. Made him want to squirm under that gaze. He held out looking away only because he thought it could end- that Zacharias could begin to drawl and perhaps say predictable things and throw insults and...

'No,' Harry realized with a start. 'That would be Draco.'

And it was then that Zacharias blushed faintly and snarled, "I don't need to take this from you," throwing himself off the couch and out of the room. Harry didn't watch him leave, feeling somehow dazed.

He made to go after him. Lupin went suddenly into control, grabbing his arm.

"What! Are you on his side now, too?" said Harry angrily, wrenching his arm away.  

Lupin shook his head wearily. "There is no your side or his side, Harry." He eased the door closed soundly with a click. "Calm down, give him some time to himself."

"He can have it," Harry spat.

Hand still on the doorknob, Lupin peered closely at him. "When did you get like this, Harry? I wouldn't have expected this sort of behavior out of you. I thought at least you could understand."

Harry's face darkened. "He started it, bringing up those rumors."

"And you took it personally."

"So what if I did? I have to deal with that- that  crap enough as it is."

"Because that's your life, Harry." Lupin sighed, rubbing his temples. "You can't help it, but it is. And you have to deal with that."

"What if I don't want to?" Harry shouted suddenly, losing his temper. "What if I'm sick of all this murder and this-"

"You didn't try to stop their murder, did you?" came a voice from the door, opened again. Zacharias had returned, his eyes oddly red but dry and tearless. He spoke in a harsh whisper, though his face remained effortlessly expressionless, as always. "Bit selfish of you, really." Lupin looked worried.

"Not now, Zacharias. Go, get ready to leave."

"So it matters what I say, but not what he does," he sneered in return.

"Shut up!" Harry yelled. Lupin grabbed his arm again, and his grip was surprisingly firm- Harry could not break free, no matter how much he struggled. His fingers curled naturally into fists. "Shut the hell up!"

"Get ready to leave, Zacharias," said Lupin harshly. "Now."

"LET GO OF ME-"

"Stop it, Harry, are you mad-"

"Where," said Zacharias loudly. "-the bloody hell did you get the idea that I was coming with you?"

Lupin seemed startled but Harry, still incensed, continued to struggle.

"But, Zacharias- Harry, stop will you? - I thought...-where can you go?"

Zacharias laughed and tugged at his ear, as he had a habit of doing. "Why should you care? I can look after myself."

And then the door had closed behind him, the little gust it caused blowing softly in Harry's face.

Good morning, Father.

Yes, yes. What do you want? [Closes door quickly behind him. Draco sees something]

I- what, who...who is that?

[Curtly] Keep to your own business Draco.

I thought you said you were going to let them free, Father.

I decided I hadn't tired of the girl yet. What was it you wished to tell me?

[Hesitantly] I've got to go back home for awhile. A few days.

Is that so?

Yes.

Any reason?

I've got to...throw a party.

Charming, charming. Entertaining your housemates, I suppose?

I'll see you in a few days then- [Makes to leave]

Come back here, Draco. Open the drapes- yes, thank you. Sit down a moment, speak to me. Good, good- tell me, Draco- what do you think of when I say Harry Potter?

[Instantly, almost thoughtlessly] Madame Malkin's.

[Comfortably. He relaxes faintly] Hmm, where you first met him, is it? Very well. Run along then, enjoy your- party. Go on.

Goodbye Father.

Adieu.