"Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares"
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Chapter 7: In Lily's Arms
Harry found that, indeed, the year was going well. For his standards, that meant good quidditch, good food, and good times. Katie made a fantastic captain, and she pushed the team to new limits. Ginny fit in well as one of the new chasers, and still worked with Harry to take over as Seeker in her final year. The House Elves seemed to be reaching new heights when it came to preparing meals, and Harry never found something he disliked. He didn't even mind listening to Hermione gripe about elf rights- Ron balanced it out by mimicking his fellow prefect's every move. The Gryffindors were growing as a house- with every passing piece of bad news; Gryffindors knew their housemates were there to help them through it.
However, not everything was alright in Harry's world. Ron often became distracted, trailing off of what he was saying and staring in the distance, looking worried. Hermione's patience, or lack thereof, lessened with each passing day. What bothered Harry the most, though, was an odd sensation in the back of his mind. Something was happening, and he didn't know what it was. The almost daily appearance of the Golden Apple didn't help much.
It was with a slightly heavy heart that Harry plopped down in his seat that Halloween next to Ron, his mind racing. Ron and Hermione were snipping at each other, Neville was nervously asking Ginny advice on how to ask Luna to Hogsmeade ("Neville, HONESTLY, just DO it already!"), and Seamus was attempting to flirt with Lavender. He was relieved, then, when Eris, Remus's tawny owl, swooped down and landed next to his plate among the other owls. Harry removed the package, frowning, and flipped the letter open.
Dear Harry,
I am sorry to start your day off on a sad note, but I've never gotten to speak to you about this day before. Halloween cannot be an easy time for you. The package enclosed is a photo album, complied by myself and Sirius. We'd been working on this for a while before it happened. This album has a lot of memories that I know you will treasure. My favorite is the very first one: it is us on your parents wedding day. Your parents are standing in the middle; I am standing with my friend Kyree Seymour; and Sirius with his former fiancé, Harmony Clestial. Harmony died before Sirius's conviction, and I still correspond with Kyree.
I myself am miserable on this Halloween day. I hope that yours fares better.
Sincerely,
Remus
Harry stared at the letter for a few moments, trying to decipher what Remus meant. Then, it clicked.
It was Halloween.
Fifteen years ago, his parents had died on this day.
A horrible, lead-like weight settled in Harry's stomach. He looked at the table, and the sight of food made his head spin.
"Harry? Are you alright?"
Harry looked up into Hermione's concerned face. "Actually, I don't feel to well. I think I'm going to go lie down for a bit." He was surprised at how calm his voice sounded. Ron looked at him curiously, and Hermione's brow furrowed. "Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"
"No. I'm fine, really, I just didn't sleep that well. We only have Advanced Care of Magical Creatures and N.E.W.T. study hall today. I'll be fine."
Ron frowned. "Okay, then, if you're sure."
Harry nodded, and gathered his belongings. He stood up, and swiftly exited the Great Hall.
***
Harry wasn't sure how he made back to his (mercifully empty) dorm, but he didn't care. Sitting down on his bed, his hands automatically went through the motions of unwrapping the package. Harry tugged the simple, dark red album out of the packaging, and stared at it for a moment.
More memories that he wasn't a part of. More reminders of what could have been.
Flipping open the cover, Harry looked at the first picture- Remus's favorite. Remus himself was standing with a pretty, short, dark haired woman- Kyree, he reminded himself. Harry's eyes went to his parents. His mum was glowing, and his dad was beaming at the camera. James had his arms wrapped around Lily's waist, and, occasionally, his dad would say something and Lily would throw her head back, laughing. Harry smiled.
Inevitably, Harry's eyes moved to Sirius. Like another wedding picture that Harry owned, in it Sirius's face was handsome, full of laughter. He was holding the hand of a woman whose height nearly watched his. She had dark, almost black hair and intelligent brown eyes. They both looked very happy.
Harry stared at the picture, his mind swirling.
They look so happy...
An anger was bubbling up inside of him, one that he'd been able to keep in check so far...
They look so damn happy....
Harry snapped the album shut, and began pacing. A horrible ache was pounding through his body, one of utter misery and of longing.
He wanted to be happy...
He slammed his foot into his bedpost, welcoming the pain. He wouldn't cry. He refused to cry. He was shaking all over.
He fell to his knees as his mind took over, churning and swiveling...
His mum's face...his dad's hair....his mum's eyes....Lily's eyes...
The wedding day....handsome, full of laughter....
Shadowed eyes...Azkaban....
"Aaaah....did you love him, little baby Potter?".....
Sirius...Sirius laughing....Remus dragging Padfoot around....Sirius's eyes...
Mr. Weasley in the Hospital...Ginny's face...Ron's face...Hermione's face...
Harry wanted to cry out, to make the images stop...it wasn't his fault, he had tried to save him...the Weasley's were fine...he didn't attack Mr. Weasley...
Then, arms were around him, frail but somehow strong, just holding him. Harry stiffened, but the arms wouldn't let go, so he relaxed. A howl of misery finally escaped him, one that he had wanted to release so long ago, and the arms held him, motherly, comforting, until the tremors subsided.
Harry pulled away from the comforting grace, and swiped at his eyes. He looked up to see who had been comforting him...
And found himself to be alone.
He looked around, waiting to see somebody, anybody, to give him an explanation.
No one did.
***
James and Lily watched their son, worried, while Sirius hovered over their shoulders, watching as well. Harry kicked the bed post, and fell to his knees in agony.
Lily shook all over. "I can't take this, we have to help him!" Her words had taken on a panicked note.
James rubbed his hand over her arm. "Love, we can't do anything-"
Sirius sat silently, watching through slit eyes.
Lily looked almost hysterical. "Yes, there is!"
With that, Lily pushed her arms into the basin. James grabbed her around the waist, but she held fast. They peered at Harry, and saw that he had relaxed in Lily's arms. Sirius dropped his face in his hands at Harry's howl of misery.
A few minutes later, Lily withdrew her arms, shivering. James grabbed her in a hug. "Don't do that again, love."
She smiled, shaking. "It was worth it."
***
Author's Note: I'll be in Paradise Island from August 10-15. So, don't expect updates until after that! I'm going to Paradise Island! *dances*
I didn't much like how that chapter turned out.... x.X I don't think it was emotionally trying enough. Hey, you could always tell me your opinion in a REVIEW! Heeheehee....
Review Responses:
Slycat-blaze1- ^^ thank you. I try to update once a week, once every few days if I can manage it.
Facade1: This is a relatively new story, so I'm surprised you came across it at all! Thank you! I thought I wasn't writing this that well, and then a review like yours comes and tells me its one of the best! Thank you. Yes, Harry does have a bit of a thing for Ravenclaws....hmm, should we cure him of that? ^.~
Mella deRanged: Brethren of Ares means.....keep reading and you'll find out!
PhoenixPadfoot89: Like your penname! I wrote more! ^^
Sapphireskies: It's ok! Yes, I like the idea of Lily and James always being there for Harry, and now Sirius, too.
Hermione "DB" Granger: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Another fab review from the quirky Hermione "DB"! Yay. See, I "yay" too! Hey, maybe after I finish this series (which make take a while, there are two sequels), maybe we could co-write a Bill/OC romance! That would be fun...
Leaps: No, I'm not! I really like the thought of H/G. I've been an H/G shipper ever since Ginny squealed in the second book. There nothing wrong with a little age difference (and for them it's less than a year). My mom and dad are four years apart! And, some relationships do last. Do I need to cite examples? x.X I don't except bribes. Why don't you write a Ginny dies fic? I'd read it! However, please continue reading, even if you don't like the alive Ginny idea. Please?
Review? Keeps me going! Let's reach 100!