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Chapter Three: Something Difficult
Alan had said it before and he would say it again, Malfoy was going to be a problem. He had laughed at the proposition as though it was absurd, as if nothing would please him more than to do the complete opposite. Alan knew he felt otherwise but the white blond boy couldn't get past his barrier. This had to happen and Malfoy wanted it but he was afraid of something he wanted (which for him seemed impossible). Alan was stumped. He could not figure out how to make this happen.
The first problem was that the ferret-faced boy couldn't get past his family upbringing and his protective barrier. Second problem was that after the incident on the train Malfoy didn't trust Alan. And to make matters worse Crabbe and Goyle had gotten their muscles back a few weeks after the first day. That in itself would have been bad enough but She had looked outraged beyond the point of rational thought. Alan was sure that She wouldn't trust him anymore after that but he had to make this happen.
There was only one thing to do with Her and that was the same thing he had done to Harry. But he still had no idea what he would have to do to get a hold of Malfoy. Nothing he had tried worked and Malfoy was almost never alone. He was always with Crabbe and Goyle. And when not with them he was usually seen with Pansy Parkinson or staying to talk to Prof. Snape. This task seemed impossible.
That day in Hogsmead he had told them (separately) to meet him in a very secluded table in the back of the Three Broomsticks. When they both showed up at the same time they immediately became suspicious and sent their guard up. They both knew that neither party's parents would never accept what Alan had proposed to the two. Both families hated each other. And to make matters worse these two had spent most of their years at Hogwarts bullying and insulting one another. It seemed that nothing would get these two together.
Suddenly a thought came to him. Alan stood up from his now finished Herbology essay. He had been in the most secluded spot he could find. The back room of the library was almost never used and very few students knew about it. Madame Prince almost refused to let him use it but relented (although reluctantly) when he had given her a written permission from Dumbledore himself. He needed to see Prof. Snape again. He needed to ask him something. The problem was that he wasn't sure if Snape would be willing to talk about it with him. And now that the Potions Master knew what Alan was he would be hiding all of his innermost thoughts with his highly developed skill in Occlumency.
Alan moved the fake shelf out of the way so he could reenter the library proper and exited the back room. It was quite late and he knew that most of the students would be either asleep or studying in their common rooms. He was going to ask the Potions Master about his love life. This task seemed impossible.
((()))
Harry, and Hermione waited in the Gryffindor common room three weeks later, one day after Christmas break had started. They were waiting for Alan to show up so that Harry could finally find out what had upset Hermione. They were the only Gryffindors left in the castle seeing how the Weasley's were all at home, and everyone they knew was at home with their families.
Harry was really worried by know. Wild images chased themselves across his mind. "What ifs" clouded his thoughts. His worry must have shown in his face because he felt Hermione squeeze his hand reassuringly.
Alan finally trudged through the portrait hole after a few minutes of silence. He was just as anxious as the others but for different reasons. He sat in a chair across from the couch that Harry and Hermione were sitting on and began.
"Harry, you have the slip?" Alan took the paper that was offered and tested it. It was genuine. Alan looked at them both in turn silently making sure they were both ready. He got a nod of agreement from them both.
"Let us begin then," Alan still seemed anxious, "I would be hard pressed to be able to put into words what you want to know. So I will show you both want to know."
Harry saw Alan concentrate in the same way he had done nearly a month ago now, on the night he had shown Harry his own memories. But this time he didn't see Alan's memories he was staring at a thin beggar woman outside of the entrance to Knockturn Alley. She was on the stoop of Gringots Wizard Bank and was holding a small goblet out to Harry. No, wait Harry wasn't there he was seeing things from Hermione's point of view. He wasn't an outside observer like he had been in Alan's memories, which meant that Alan had connected Harry and Hermione's minds in order to show them this. The beggar woman shook the goblet and a few coins jingled from inside Harry felt Hermione's hand slid into her pocket and pull out a shiny newly acquired bronze knut.
Hermione was reliving the scene all over again. She had hid this from herself for God knows how long and couldn't bear to think what it might mean. The only difference was that she could feel Harry there with her. She knew he could feel everything she had at that time. Pity. Compassion. Selflessness. She knew what was coming and she was afraid. Thank God Harry couldn't feel that. She watched as again she put the coin in the goblet. Again she saw the old witch look up her eyes blank. Hermione watched on horrified of what would happen next.
Both Harry and Hermione heard what happened next. The beggar began to speak in a tone Harry had only heard Prof. Trelawny speak in and only once in person. This old beggar was a seer and she was making a prediction.
"Behold that The Compassionate One stands before the Seer of Truth. The Compassionate One will fall for the Savior and The Savior will need the Compassionate One in the Seventh Cycle. The Terror will attack the Savior and he will be Triumphant if the Compassionate One and the Savior are not as one. If the Savior and the Compassionate One reveal to each other the Eternal Seed of Love that each carries for the other then the Savior will be Victorious. The Seer of Truth has given her Warning. The Link of Souls must know also that This Event must be Shown through the Opening of the Closed Link." The beggar smiled and waved her thanks to Hermione and left with a pop.
((()))
The common room was silent as they came out of the Trance. Harry saw that Alan's eyes were now a milky white. Those eyes fluttered closed as Alan fell into a deep sleep in the middle of the day. Hermione was crying again and Harry pulled her close to comfort her. She cried for hours until finally she fell asleep.
Harry, stunned into silence waited for a few minutes before coming out of a daze. He looked around the room and realized that Alan had gone into a dead faint. Harry knew he couldn't take Hermione up to her Head Girl's dormitory and there was no way he would be able to carry them both to the Hospital wing so he headed out to find Professor McGonagall. Harry found her in the Staff Room and lead her to the common room where Alan and Hermione were both where he had left them.
First Professor McGonagall levitated Hermione into her room and then helped take Alan to the Hospital wing.
((()))
For the next three days Harry and Hermione stayed with Alan in the hospital wing during most of the day waiting for him to wake up. Madam Pomfrey had said that Alan had fainted from sheer exhaustion and that he would wake up within a week. However she had wondered out loud how he had gotten into this state by just sitting in the common room.
Alan awoke to sometime later lying in bed somewhere listening to voices. He couldn't open his eyes yet. He was still too tired for that. He heard someone come into his room. By the voices he could tell that they belonged to Harry, Hermione, and Dumbledore. He began to wonder where he was. But he decided to listen to what was being said instead of wondering about trivial things.
"Madam Pomfrey has assured me that Mr. Flyer will be quite alright if you wish to go back to your dormitories and have lunch." Dumbledore's voice held infinite wisdom. As he said this Alan could hear people shifting about in the room.
"No Professor Dumbledore sir," Alan heard Harry say, "We really need to be here when he wakes up. We need him to explain some things."
"Harry, I assure you that you will be informed the moment he is able to speak with you. Please, you and Ms. Granger must eat and rest. I promise you that all will be explained in due time."
"All right Professor," Hermione sounded reluctant to leave but Alan heard them leave anyway.
After the door had opened and shut once Alan heard Professor Dumbledore whisper so that only he could hear, "My young friend you are doing well. You have awakened the Seeds and opened the Link. Keep up the good work." Alan heard the door open again but before it shut he heard, "And Mr. Malfoy isn't as bad as he may seem." With this the door was shut and Alan drifted again into sleep.
Alan was asleep for what seemed an eternity but finally he was able to open his eyes and sit up in bed. He looked around and found he was in the clean, sterile, Hospital wing of the castle. He was dressed in the clothes he had passed out in. He found that he was in a small special room for patients who needed long rests.
Alan had gained much of his strength back but he was still weak. After calling for Madam Pomfrey he requested to speak with the Headmaster and his friends. She agreed reluctantly muttering about people always rushing things and walked out to call for the company he had requested.
Harry and Hermione rushed into the small room a few minutes later closely followed by Professor Dumbledore casually sauntering in. Harry and Hermione had many questions and Alan calmed and quieted them before beginning to explain.
"Before you ask me anything I have a question for you. How long have I been out?" Alan was mildly surprised when he found that he had been out for three weeks.
"You even beat my record," Harry said enthusiastically.
"So now that you know how long you slept, we want to know what happened and why." Hermione was never one to beat around the bush. She always got straight to the point.
Alan looked to the Headmaster and he nodded. "You see," Alan began, "I knew one of the people I met this year would have a hidden memory and that there would be a message for me in it. When Hermione heard that prophecy it was sealed so that only when the 'Link of Souls' came in contact with her would it be able to be restored." Alan looked at Harry and Hermione and saw their confusion. He looked from one to the other and then asked, "Do you two now know what I meant earlier in the year?"
Hermione and Harry looked at each other and then nodded in unison.
"And which one of you would most likely be the 'Savior'," he asked.
Harry looked up and said, "Me."
"Very good," Alan remarked, taking it slowly, "Now, who did the 'Seer of Truth' say that 'The Compassionate One' was?"
Hermione visibly paled as the impact of Alan's words hit her (Harry looked like one of the ghosts had become solid). She looked up and squeaked, "Me."
"Yes. Now you two must work things out. You have another week before the rest of the school returns. I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore alone."
((()))
Harry and Hermione walked silently back to the Gryffindor common room not noticing that they were holding hands. When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady they gave the password ("Snowprints") and entered the common room. They sat on the couch in front of the fire still holding hands, neither speaking. After a few moments silence, they both looked up at one another.
Something inside the both of them finally snapped. The doors that had been locked inside each of them that had been locked since birth sprang open and at that moment they shared their first kiss together. They both knew that this was right. Something that had been missing inside them forever was now right where it belonged.
((()))
Many miles away in a large underground castle the Dark Lord felt pain. He had not felt any pain in fifty-five years. Something had happened and he knew that it would not help him in any way. Something had happened in favor of Harry Potter. Voldemort fell in a heap. He was very relieved that he was alone at this moment. It was unacceptable to show pain and weakness to those who follow you. In fact it was a sin to show weakness at all. This did not bode well for the Dark Lord. For the first time in more than half a century Tom Marvolo Riddle was afraid.
((()))
Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin house table deep in thought. He had barely touched his breakfast and hadn't even insulted Potter since before Christmas. Draco couldn't figure it out. That new student couldn't have known that he had held feelings for someone he was supposed to hate. There was no way that weird Flyer kid to know that he held feelings for one of his muggle loving enemies. Draco scratched his shoulder while he thought of what this might mean. However it wasn't just that Flyer had humiliated him on the train or that he had the nerve to ask him that he shouldn't of known but what bothered him the most was that the girl in question was one of Potter's friends.
This did not add up. Draco was thankful that no one was paying attention to him this morning. Wait a second, did he just think what he though he thought? No he couldn't of thought that. Could he? He always enjoyed being the center of attention. He just could not understand this. What did it mean?
He searched the entire Great Hall with his eyes to find that Flyer was sitting with a group of Huffelpuf first years. The first years were talking loudly about who cared what. They giggled, laughed, and yelled. Flyer listened with an entirely blank face only his eyes betraying any emotion. And the only emotion showed there was a feint curiosity. Maybe Draco could trust this Alan Flyer. Maybe he should at least hear him out. Draco mentally slapped himself. What are you thinking?! But still, what if he could trust and confide in this outsider?
((()))
Severus Snape was grading the latest Potions assignment but when he came to essay that Flyer had tuned in he lost his concentration. Something about him was very intriguing, mysterious, and at the same time everyone seemed comfortable around him. Even Snape himself felt at ease near this outsider.
Professor Snape couldn't help but go over the words that Flyer had said on the first day of classes. 'Childish childhood grudges'. 'Unhealthy to hold them this long'. Then he thought of what he had said afterward, about his reasons for joining the Order. How he had felt the day she had been murdered. The only woman he had ever held any feelings for had died. She had died trying to protect the byproduct of her relationship with his greatest rival.
Professor Severus Snape snapped out of his revere, looked over Alan's essay and gave it a decent mark. He moved on with the rest of his grading and no longer dwelled on any of it. But in the back of his mind a nagging little voice kept telling him, "He was right.
((()))
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