Disclaimer: I do not own Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, or anyone else you recognize from any Harry Potter book written by J.K. Rowling. Anything that you have not read about in a book or another fan fiction is mine. If I took something from your fic and don't realize it pleas email me and I'll change it right away.
Chapter Two: Trust and Love
Alan Flyer lay in his private room at the top of Gryffindor tower the morning after his late night excursion. He had been to the secret Chapel of Hogwarts castle. He had received his instructions and he was troubled.
Alan had always been tall for his age, and lay nearly the entire length of his large four poster bed. Almost six feet, six and a half inches he measured. His light brown hair was always short cropped just the way he liked it. His eyes though were most distinct as they changed lighter or darker depending on his mood.
The instructions he received involved some complex social maneuvering and so he would need the deepest level of trust. He needed nearly all of the Gryffindor seventh years and several other people from other houses to trust him also. The people in Ravenclaw and Huffelpuf would be easy enough but he would be hard pressed to gain the deep level of trust that he needed from those who knew what he was and the Slyterins would be hard to trust anyone not in their own house or country for that matter.
What Alan was sure of however was that only six people knew what he was; Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Snape, and Dumbledore. His mentor needed the first three to feel a certain way towards certain people. The plan involved a few inter house relationships (one that would be looked upon with great distaste by nearly everyone including those involved). The plan also included certain people knew certain things.
Alan stood to dress looking himself in the mirror as he did so. His eyes were showing a fairly mild shade of blue as he thought. His face was neither round nor square, but was rather more slanted and archaically elven. The elves, he mused, not the mousy and playful house elves that lived in the castles here in Britain but the powerful forgotten race, creators of the world. Being so long lived they died completely out leaving traces of their heritage in the lines of wizards and muggles alike. Alan himself looked almost exactly like one of his ancient counterparts except his ears were normal instead of pointed.
Alan thought as he dressed about how he could gain the trust of those involved in the plans. The Slytherins would be easier than the Golden Trio. All he had to tell them was the truth; that he was wealthy and near completely pureblood. He had no siblings for his ancient line was always a single unbroken line of heirs. Alan had been born into the time frame in which his mentor would need to have things arranged to be successful in the fight against the Ultimate Terror.
To gain the trust of the Gryffindors he need only be friendly and honest. However to gain access to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny he would need to show them a bit more. Alan racked his whole of an education on life, magic, and values to find the answer to that problem. The only one he could find would be very difficult and very personal especially for him.
He climbed down into the common room early and sat on the nearest piece of furniture to the hearth. He could hear the first of the Gryffindors rising to get ready for that day. It was a Saturday so everyone would be either wandering around the grounds or studying for their classes and doing homework. When Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all in the common room he gathered them and asked them what their decision was. He was relieved to hear that they would still have him around as a friend. Now all he had to do was convince them and the others to trust in his judgment. Alan bid them farewell and went to begin the tasks that had been set before him.
°°°
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were studying in the library that morning. That is to say Hermione was studying and Harry and Ron were doing other things. Ron was merely goofing off but Harry was worried. Whatever Alan had seen in Hermione's head, one of her memories had made her very upset and He wasn't sure if she would pull through. She seemed alright now but the look of pure agony on her face the night before had scared him senseless and all he could remember doing was having Parvati Patil take her to her room once he had finished comforting and calming her. He didn't know what it was that Alan had made Hermione remember but he was determined to find out. Harry would follow Alan to his room tonight and ask him what he had seen.
After they had finished studying and doing homework they went to lunch and found Alan sitting with the Slytherins talking to one of their number that Harry had never met. And so all during that lunch period he had gone between the Slytherin, Huffelpuf and Ravenclaw tables talking to many other students. Soon he was sitting between Dean Thomas and Lavender Brown talking in hushed voices to both of them. When half way through lunch he sat near to Harry he thought he could see him itching his chest. Alan had soon found the cause of his problem and pulled it out of his robes. Harry could clearly see it was a pendant inscribed with many ancient looking runes. The pendant was made of a strange metal that gleamed brightly in the afternoon sun. As Harry watched Alan read his pendant a strange looking bird flew into the hall and dropped a package in Alan's lap.
All attention of the Great Hall was on Alan at his package. The box was hardly larger than a fist and was wrapped in brown paper and twine. Alan pocketed the box an walked unconcerned out of the Great Hall, tucking his pendant back into his robes.
°°°
That night Harry waited in the common room for Alan to return to his room. But he didn't show up until near eleven o'clock. Harry who was starting to drift off into sleep almost didn't notice him but followed him into his room just as he had promised himself he would.
Alan nearly jumped three feet into the air when Harry cleared his throat to let Alan know he was there. "Hey Harry. What can I help you with?"
Harry's face went dead serious as he said, "First what were you doing talking to all those people today and what was in the package you got at lunch."
"I wont lie to you Harry," Alan replied as though he had been expecting this, "I was talking to all those students on orders from my mentor. But I can not tell you what those orders are or what I received today."
Harry's brow furrowed with thought. "Alright then, since you can't talk about those, what did you tell Hermione last night that made her so upset."
Alan's eyes darkened and the corners of his mouth tugged into an almost imperceptible frown. "Harry, for that you must either convince Hermione to tell you herself or obtain her permission for me to tell you." Harry looked frustrated at this and Alan, looking thought full spoke again. "I see you are beginning to mistrust me so I will have to do something I find unpleasant but it is the only way I see to gain your trust." His brow furrowed and Harry felt his scar begin to tingle but it wasn't like when Voldemort was emotional. This felt as though something was being passed to him. Then he saw what was happening, Alan was sharing his own thoughts with Harry.
Harry began seeing memories. Knowing that he was born to all wizard families and still going to muggle primary school. Taking the punch for a much weaker student during school. Taking the worst hexes for those who didn't deserve them. Standing up for what was right even though it had gotten him many detentions and horrible punishments. Keeping secrets that others had either told him or he had accidentally found out with his gift. Giving up fun and enjoyment to perform unfathomable tasks set by this mentor who Harry still didn't know who was. Losing many friends by telling them of his gift. But most noble and horrible sacrifice of all. Comforting everyone and keeping the knowledge of other peoples worst memories so that they could continue their lives.
How horrible it must be to see all the fears and events and keep them secret for not just his allies but his enemies and other neutrals as well. Harry looked at Alan with newfound respect and deep trust. Harry nodded and turned to leave but before he could he felt Alan's hand on his shoulder. Harry turned and Alan held out a small, evenly cut slip of paper.
"Take it, it is charmed with an anti-forgery spell and anyone who signs it may only write the truth on it. Also it will only respond to Hermione so if she wont tell you herself bring this to me with her written permission and I will tell you what upset her last night. Harry took the charmed permission slip and shuffled down to his own dorm to get ready for bed.
As Harry drifted off to sleep he was already thinking of what he had seen and what he would do the next day.
°°°
It was the weekend of the first Hogsmead visit of the year at Halloween. Harry still hadn't asked Hermione about the memory because he was afraid she would become depressed again. Today however he would ask her while in Hogsmead if he could get her alone. Harry got his cloak and walked down to the only all magic settlement in Britain with Ron and Hermione as he always did.
Harry got his chance when Ron sprinted off to Zonko's telling them to meet him in the Three Broomsticks later. Harry silently thanked his best friend's impulsiveness. He pulled Hermione into a short alleyway and asked, "Hermione I want to know what Alan said to upset you that night." He waved her to be quiet until he finished, "You don't have to tell me yourself you can sign your permission for him to tell me," he gave her the blank slip of paper and continued, "I want you to think it over and give me and answer sometime soon. I'll wait for you and Ron in the Three Broomsticks," and with this he walked away.
°°°
Hermione watched Harry walk away toward the bar and after he was out of sight she stared at the blank paper he had given her. He was obviously worried about her and she was glad that he cared but was afraid of that memory and what it might mean. She stowed the slip in a pocket, put on a smile to mask her feelings over the situation, and strolled down the street to Dervish and Bang's to restock on school supplies and think about her reply to Harry's request.
She ran over what Alan had said that night in her mind. Being saved by Harry all those times and always being there when Harry needed her. Then she remembered that Alan had said that she cared for one of her friends more than she thought and she had been confused when he wouldn't tell her who that was and what he meant by it. But the last thing he had said, the thing she had almost completely forgotten. She had been trying to banish that memory from her mind for six long years. She was afraid of what her feelings toward this unknown friend and the almost forgotten memory could mean if they were any connection between the two.
Nearly an hour later she joined Harry and Ron in the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer resigned to her decision. She would sign the slip. But she would be there when Harry was told. She couldn't bring herself to repeat what Alan had said, not to anyone. She joined both of her friends at their table and began to look around at the other students in the crowded bar. After a few moments of searching she found Alan sitting with a small group of Huffelpuf students talking very fast. She even thought she saw some of them, both male and female; blush furiously as he sped through the conversation.
Hermione couldn't help but notice that all of them walked away in boy-girl pairs and holding hands. Alan did this with several groups, all the students he talked with in either sixth or seventh year. Some of the groups were quite large while others in pairs. The groups almost always from the same house and never had any Slytherins but the pairs were always one boy one girl and nearly all in opposite houses. She couldn't help but notice that many Slytherins were being paired with people from other houses that they despised but oddly none of them protested and always came away happy with what had happened. One of the pairs was waiting at a secluded table in the corner hidden from almost all angles. Hermione only caught a glimpse of these two but she couldn't have seen what she had thought she had because it would be impossible so she shrugged it aside and went about watching the bar and listening to Ron ramble.
When they all left to return to the castle Hermione silently slid the signed permission slip into Harry's pocket and when he silently acknowledged she also slipped a small scribbled note in as well. They would find out what this meant over Christmas break because Ron would be spending his time at home with the family since Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George were all visiting.
°°°
During the weeks leading up to Christmas break everyone studied hard and endured their classes as best as they could. Ron, though excited about his entire family visiting the Burrow for Christmas couldn't help noticing all the romance in the air most of which Hermione had seen formed by Alan during the Hogsmead visit. Ron however didn't know this but he did notice his little sister acting quite strange for some reason. When he asked her about it she only told him he worried too much and shooed him away.
He was deep in thought about Ginny's recent behavior so he didn't notice Alan walk up behind him that sunny Friday afternoon by the lake. He was quite startled by Alan's hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the blank face of his mind reading friend and asked what he wanted.
"Ron, I'd like you to follow me," he said and lead Ron to a small courtyard where it seemed that Parvati Patil had been waiting. "Ron, Parvati you both know what I am and you both have no idea what I brought you here for." They both looked up at him and he plowed on ignoring their confused looks, "I have seen certain memories in each of you and felt the emotions that went with them, I have gone over everything I have seen with and without my gift and have decided that I should help you two into something both of you don't realize you want. You two would make a perfect couple."
Alan said this so fast that neither Ron nor Parvati understood for a few moments. When understanding did find them Ron went an indescribable shade of crimson and Parvati only a few shades lighter. Alan waved away all of their protests before they could even begin to give them. Parvati told him that she would have to think about it and rushed off to find her friends. Ron had just thought of something that he needed to ask Alan even more than if he was daft. He asked Alan why his sister had been acting so strange lately.
Alan smiled a knowing smile and only said "Spring Fever" and left leaving Ron even more confused than before. You couldn't have spring fever in the middle of autumn could you?
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Authors Note: Please be honest in your reviews. Tell me what you think of the pairings and plot. Suggestions are welcome. Also please explain the "summary slang" that I keep running into like "slash" and "fluff".
Second chapter – First fan Fic.
