"Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares"
By: Merusa
Rating: PG-13 for some violence, crude humor, and language.
Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim to own Harry Potter or associated press. This is a fanworking, and therefore not an attempt at money-making. I receive no profit from the tale. References to other fanfiction are not always coincidental: Jelsemium's "A Harry Situation" is paraphrased in this chapter. The song sand is "Black Balloon" by the Goo Goo Dolls.
Chapter 17: An Honest Solution
"......she's actually doin' quite well, 'Arry. Better tha' I 'spected, anyhow. Twon' be able ta fly, though, I'm afraid." Hagrid stroked Hedwig's snow white plumage, and smiled at Harry, laugh lines crinkling around the corners of his eyes. "She'll be able ta hover', though."
Harry forced a smile for his much larger friend as he scooped his snowy owl into his arms. "Thanks for taking care of her, Hagrid."
Hagrid's eyes and mouth crinkled into a smile. "'Arry, you're wha's been takin' ca' of 'er."
Harry shrugged and plopped down in his allotted seat. Hagrid chuckled at sat across from the young man, reaching to take a swig from his large mug of tea.
Harry stroked Hedwig's feathers pensively. "Hagrid...."
A few soft knocks at the door interrupted Harry's sentence. "C'min." Hagrid grunted.
Harry suppressed a groan as the one person he least wanted to see stepped in, looking nervous. Hermione, who had also entered, poked him in the shoulder. Ron swallowed. "Hey, mates..."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione pushed Ron into the seat next to Harry, and sat herself in between Hagrid and the queasy redhead.
"Alright, you two. Hagrid and I decided that this nonsense has gone on long enough." She huffed, tossing her thick hair off her shoulder. "Really, I don't even see the point of your argument anymore. Would you two just talk it through?"
Harry glared angrily at the floor as if it was the source of his problems. He muttered something incoherent.
"What was that, Harry?"
Harry scowled at Hermione. "I said, unless Ron wants to switch lives and see for himself how wonderful my life is, I don't see how this will get fixed."
Hedwig hooted at Harry, visibly annoyed. Harry frowned down at her. "What? You're mad as well?"
She ruffled her feathers and turned up her beak at him.
Ron snorted. Hermione snickered. Hagrid laughed.
Harry thought it was good that there were so many ways to express amusement.
Ron looked down at the floor. "Look, Harry..."
Harry waited. He wasn't as forgiving as he was two years ago.
An image of Ginny, seething in anger, flashed into his mind.
"Potter, if you ever, even for a second, take your head out of the clouds and wonder why I stopped loving you, remember this: the fourteen-year-old man I saw leave Hogwarts two years ago was replaced by the self-pitying little boy I'm speaking to right now."
Harry's head snapped up. "Ron, it's...ok."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, Ron, it-"
"HONESTLY! If you two don't make up, I'll hex you and Hagrid'll set Grawp on you!"
The two boys jumped. "Yes, Hermione!"
***
"Well, Potter, I don't expect this to be a repeat of last year. I expect nothing but respect towards me, as I am taking time out of my schedule to help protect your sorry arse. I don't give a damn if you tell Professor Dumbledore that I'm swearing- I'm not your teacher anymore."
Harry knew better than to nod at his slightly crazed, former Potions professor.
"Well, boy, stand up."
Harry stood and faced Snape. He shut his eyes tightly.
He sensed rather than heard the older man's spell as he felt his memories begin to run wild. He immediately began to resist. Snape was pushing to the deepest recesses of his mind.
Hogsmeade with Padma...No, thought Harry, you're NOT seeing that. He pushed the memory towards the back of his consciousness.
He was at the Burrow, helping Fred and George play tricks on Ron.....Hermione and Ron were running up to him after the Third Task, Hermione with nail marks all over her face...Ginny was laying in the Chamber of Secrets, cold as death....Sirius....NO!
Harry's eyes snapped open and he ducked, his strong, wand-less stunner ricocheting against the wall over Snape's (who had ducked as well) head and dissipating. He stood up immediately, and waited for an assessment.
Snape sneered at him. "Relax, Potter! I don't talk about the ruddy dog, you don't need to take my head off!"
Harry glared at him. "You said you weren't my professor anymore. Am I allowed to curse you off without points being taken?"
Snape's wand hand twitched, as if he was itching the place its tip right on Harry's scar. "I'll personally ensure that you will never play a game of Quidditch again if you do such a thing."
Their eyes locked, each dying to curse the other.
Snape broke the eye contact, visibly shaking himself.
"Now, Potter, empty your mind."
Harry closed his eyes, mentally promising himself that he would make the rest of the lesson a living hell.
"Legilimens!"
***
He was so tired...the chair was soft and comfortable.....he sank into the cushions, and was asleep within seconds...
*Harry's Dream*
A figure, swathed in shadows, darted across a grassy hill, in swift pursuit of a slightly shorter form. Harry jogged forward to see the couple better. The taller figure- a man- caught the smaller- a woman- around the waist. The two fell to the ground, laughing. Harry had come to stand right next to them, but they did not see him. The man had dark, messy hair, and glasses- was he seeing his dad, or was he seeing himself? The man's eyes closed before he caught a glimpse of their colour. He saw that it was his dad when the fiery red hair of the woman became clear.
Harry growled in frustration as the scenery swirled, and changed. He found himself in a very familiar corridor....his eyes widened as he recognized the door from the Department of Mysteries; the entrance that had haunted his dreams the year before. Pushing to a sprint, he punched the door open....
...and found himself in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
To Be Continued.....
***
Review Responses:
Apinda: Hmm....I thought baritone was lower? I'm unsure. I sing, to....I'm a metzo soprano, though, which means I can go from alto to first soprano.
Time is of the Essence: I'll look up your story soon! Well, not soon, but eventually, I promise. Just repeatedly remind me, and I will!
Wowsergirl: YEY! ^^
Kim13: *looks at the sarcastic singing rebellious bish/hott/smecksay Harry.....pulls Orlando Bloom out of nowhere, and makes them stand next to each other* heehee ^^
Malfoy11717: I'm glad I didn't forget ^^;
Bluetiger94: Nicole....huh?
Orangebanana: Yup, Miss Congeniality. Do you mean telepathy?
Iniysa: Feel free to drool over your character of choice. The girls prefer The Harry. I don't know who the boys prefer. This is a very odd group....
Booka: What Ginny meant was that she loved Harry when he was fourteen, and she stopped when he came back in fifth year. Sorry, that was confusing!
Slycat-blaze1: YEY! Welcome back!
HAZZAGRIFF: Wow, my first homicidal reviewer.....I feel the fame coming on!
Energeezer: Muggle-ness ish gud.
Updates ain't gonna be as often, folks.....sorry! Life is getting in the way!
~Merusa