Chapter dedicated to le'Ange de Mort, who gave me lotsa Jack Sparrow pictures! *grins*
In Every Darkness
Chapter Thirty: Secret Workings
10.9.1996(night)
"Why do we never get let in to these important meetings?" Ron grumbled, as his mother went to herd the children out of the room.
"Harry may stay, Molly," Dumbledore told her. The other children shot Harry jealous looks as the kitchen door closed on them, and a sound proofing charm was set on the room.
Harry sat down, surprised to have been singled out. Suddenly there was a scratch on the door. "It's Gryphon," Harry said, hearing the griffin's yells at Harry to let him in.
Molly sighed and opened the door. Grypis shot inside, bounding across floor and leaping onto Harry's lap. Harry made no sound as the griffins claws bit through the fabric of his robes and some of his flesh.
"Sorry," Grypis apologised. "I felt the nasty one from up there. It woke me up, so I came down."
"It's ok, hush now though. This is a meeting, I've been allowed to come to one before," Harry replied quickly.
"Ok," the griffin settled on his lap, almost ready to drift into sleep again.
Dumbledore stood up. "Now, most of you know about the task that I gave to Severus and Remus, to see if we could find a way to at least partially prevent death.
"Remus's death not long after was thought to be the end of those experiments, but Severus assures me this is not so. Please explain yourself, Severus," Dumbledore sat, and Snape stood up.
"Lupin," Harry immediately noticed that there was still anger in his voice when he used his former enemies last name, "and I were working on several potions and charms that would aide in partially preventing death. These charms were designed to bring the mind back, even after the body was long gone.
"Lupin was testing some potions the day before he died. He might have known what was to come, I don't know," Snape didn't sound in the least concerned about it.
"When he died I presumed that it hadn't worked, but there was a faint presence in the object that would trap the mind," here Snape took out what looked like a Muggle dream catcher with an expression of great distaste.
"The net helps to trap the mind before it can fully enter the Realms of the Dead. It seemed that Lupin had somehow managed to let himself get caught, but he'd mainly gone through to the Realms of the Dead."
Here Snape distastefully placed the dream catcher on the table. "But I could still sense a presence. I've been at Hogwarts for the last few days, as you know, and in that time I've been working on trying to bring him back, if you will.
"Today I finally succeeded. Remus Lupin's mind is held in this … thing," he pointed at the dream catcher, apparently unwilling to touch it again. "Lupin can now communicate with us, I'll leave him to explain how and why."
With that Snape left the room, robes billowing behind him and letting the door slam – loudly.
Well, this is interesting, Harry didn't cry out when Remus's voice murmured through his mind, having become at least a little used to it with Grypis.
He, however, was one of the few who was completely calm. Most of the Order cried out in amazement or alarm, two woman actually fainted. Harry rolled his eyes, and, since no one else was, addressed the dream catcher.
"I'm sure it is."
He heard laughter. You're here Harry? Oh yes, I can feel your presence now. I suppose you want to know how this was possible, don't you?
"If you don't mind telling us," Harry replied, as the rest of the Order seemed to regain their composure.
Of course not. It is, quite simply, because I'm a werewolf that this worked the way it did. Werewolf blood runs in my veins and werewolf blood has magical properties. That extra magic was what allowed me to latch onto the dream catcher before I was pulled completely into the Realms of the Dead.
"So Severus's potions worked?" Dumbledore asked.
Only just. For most of today we have been changing them. Severus will, I'm sure, give all of you samples of the potions to take, and we'll keep fine tuning them.
"Are you now stuck here?" Harry asked Remus suddenly. "Can you go back to the Realms of the Dead when you want to?"
I can, sort of. Sirius is probably wondering about me, and your parents also. But I am bound again to the Realms of the Living, though I dwell in those of the Dead … It's quite confusing, I suppose.
"Harry, could you please leave now?" Dumbledore's voice was soft and clear. Harry glanced at the headmaster of his school and nodded.
"You may speak of this to your friends, but be careful about who you choose to tell. This information can not be given into the wrong hands."
"You were a fool to trust him with it in the first place. As soon as you let him out of this room, he'll probably write a letter to the Daily Prophet and tell the world," a harsh voice said from behind them.
Snape was back.
Harry bit back his rage and nodded to Dumbledore. "I'll be careful, Professor," he replied, and walked quickly from the room.
"Harry! Snape came out of there before looking more sour than I've ever seen him…" his friends fluttered around, speaking all at once, asking questions, making assumptions.
"Ok guys, you can shut up now," Harry laughed, then laughed harder that the expressions on their faces. "Come on, lets go to my room, and I'll tell you all about it there."
With Grypis clinging to Harry's shoulder, watching everyone with interest, Harry led the way to his room, and got everyone settled down again.
Slowly he told them all that had transpired at the meeting, his friends laughed, gasped and smiled in all of the right places, as they always had before.
"Wow! Remus is back … kinda!" Ron said, grinning happily. "Do you think we'll get a chance to speak with him?"
"Who knows," Harry shrugged in response. "But I'm sure they'll tell us something about it soon enough!"
"Right," Hermione said. "I wonder how they did it though?"
"Why don't you guys go to bed," Harry said, smiling slightly. "Tatsu said he'd drop by for a training session tonight, and I have to take a shower before then."
"Ok, see you later Harry!" Everyone bid everyone else good night, and headed out to their own rooms, or, in Fred and George's case, back to their small 'home' above their shop in Diagon Alley.
Harry hopped into the bathroom and took the shower that he wanted, then used a few spells to heal some of the bruises he'd gained that morning, and changed into his Gi.
When he came out of the bathroom, Tatsu was lounging on his bed, petting Grypis absent-mindedly. "Ah! I see you're ready for another bout!" Harry's instructor bounced to his feet, fresh and happy.
"Yeah," Harry remarked dryly. "Let's have fun."
"Fun? You're having fun? You're not supposed to be! I'll just have to do something about that!"
Harry groaned and got ready for another long, hard training session.
When Tatsu finally decided that Harry had had enough, he showed his pupil some new moves. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon," he added, grinning brightly.
"Merlin, save me," Harry muttered in response, but he grinned at Tatsu.
"That's the spirit!" Tatsu headed out of the room.
"Are you alright?" Grypis asked him, not sounding all too concerned.
"Why does everyone think this is good for me?" Harry asked, not really addressing the question to anyone.
"Because it is," Grypis replied calmly. "Get some sleep. Sirius will want to know what happened to his friend."
"You're right. Good night," Harry said sleepily, lying down carefully to avoid agitating any of the various bruises. He didn't know enough healing charms to get rid all the bruises he'd gained.
"Hey Sirius!" he yelled happily, greeting his godfather. Sirius grinned back at him, though Harry could see worry etched on his godfathers face.
"Hey there Harry," Sirius's greeting was far less boisterous that usual.
"Still no word on Remus?" Harry asked, not needing to wait for Sirius to nod his head. "I know why."
"Why? Tell me!" Immediately Sirius bounced over to him, eager as a puppy on its first time out of doors.
Harry laughed at his godfather's eager face and took a seat, Sirius sitting impatiently beside him, waiting for him to speak.
Harry sat in silence for a short time, teasing his godfather, but soon began to explain, so that he wouldn't wake up partway through his explanation and leave Sirius not knowing what was going on.
When he finished, Sirius whistled. "That must have been what Remus wanted me to tell you to tell Snape," he remarked. "I guess I should have listened more carefully."
"You never found out in the first place?" Harry asked, smiling faintly.
"No. I disappeared as soon as he said the name 'Snape'," Sirius admitted, not in the least embarrassed.
"Right," Harry replied. "Wanna duel?"
He saw Grypis, out of the corner of his eye. The griffin was some distance away, watching them with interest. It seemed that the creature didn't want to cut into the small amount of time that Harry got to spend with his godfather.
"Perhaps I should teach you some Ancient Runes," Sirius replied instead. "I did take it as an elective, and now that I'm dead, I seem to know a lot more than I did before anyway. This way you can cut down the amount of time you have to spend with Snivellus."
"Thanks Sirius," Harry replied with a smile, more than happy to miss out on a nights duelling if it meant he didn't have to spend as much time with Snape.
"You know," Sirius remarked as they settled themselves for the lesson, "I think I might take a few days off torturing Snape – in thanks for helping Moony, I mean."
"How nice of you," Harry replied, laughing slightly, and the lesson began.
When Harry woke it was early morning. The main part of the storm had passed now, but it was still raining heavily. Grypis was a comfortable ball of warmth by Harry's side.
Harry stretched, and groaned. The bruises from the day before ached, and he wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and not move at all.
Refusing to allow himself to do that, Harry stood up, performing what small spells he could to rid himself of some of the pain. Once he could pretty much move without wincing, Harry and Grypis headed downstairs for breakfast.
"Good morning Dobby, Winky," he greeted them. The house elves were the only one's up this morning, it seemed.
"Good morning Master Harry!" both squeaked in response, both of them scampering through the kitchen, hurriedly getting food for Harry and Grypis ready for the two of them.
Harry smiled in thanks and looked up suddenly as the kitchen door opened. Dumbledore walked in, smiling at Harry gently.
"Hello Professor," Harry greeted calmly.
"Hello Harry," Dumbledore smiled back. "How are you? I hope last night didn't surprise you too much?"
"No, I'm fine," Harry assured him. He didn't say that he'd spoken with Sirius, who'd conveyed messages for Remus, more often than he was letting on.
"I'm glad to hear it," Dumbledore replied gravely. "Ah! Toast!" he added, as Dobby set a plate of the stuff under his nose, speaking as though he hadn't had toast in years, and was positively delighted to be offered some.
Snorting into a cup of pumpkin juice, Harry watched the expression of delight on Dobby's face. Dumbledore certainly knew how to make the house elves feel appreciated!
"How are you, Albus?" Harry asked, remembering that the Headmaster wanted Harry to call him by his first name.
"I am well, Harry, though I begin to feel old …"
Harry looked up, shocked by the admission.
Dumbledore smiled gently. "I am old, Harry. I will turn one hundred and fifty five this spring."
"But … how?" Harry asked, awe touching his voice. He'd never thought that anyone could be that old.
"Wizards have magic, Harry. It flows in our blood, messes with our minds. That magic keeps us alive when others would have died of old age long since. If you are not killed, or badly wounded, it is more than likely that you will live to close to two hundred years of age. The oldest wizard or witch in history lived, I believe, to be almost three hundred years old, but it has been centuries since anyone lived over two hundred now."
"Oh," Harry said, knowing that Hermione must have known this for years, and feeling somewhat stupid.
Dumbledore smiled at him, slightly. "But enough of me, Harry, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I ache all over from training with Tatsu, but otherwise I'm great," Harry replied easily.
"You have been faced with a great many deaths, child," Dumbledore told him. "A great many emotional mess-ups, and many of them within a very short period of time. Are you sure you are alright?"
Harry hesitated – should he tell Dumbledore of Sirius's secret? Then he decided. Not yet. Sirius was his secret for now, one that, for the moment, he did not want to share with those he didn't have to.
"I'm fine," he repeated. "Really, I am. I've made my peace with Sirius, the Dursley's and with Remus, though he is still around, in some senses."
Dumbledore sighed. "You hide things from me, Harry, but I will leave you to your own thoughts, and you will tell me what you must when you are ready to, of that I have no doubt."
"When the time is right," Harry replied, nodding his head. "For now … I would rather keep it to myself. I have not even told my friends."
Dumbledore smiled and raised a glass of pumpkin juice in a silent toast. Harry repeated the gesture and quickly finished his meal before leaving the breakfast room to wander around the house for a while, still marvelling that he actually owned the place.
Suddenly two owls swooped towards him, and he smiled, recognising them as Branch and Sapphire. Branch was the name that Ron's owl came to – Ginny had said that it looked like a branch (which it did) and now the creature would answer to nothing else. Ron didn't have much luck with naming owls, it seemed. Sapphire was Hermione's owl, named for its eyes, because Hermione couldn't think of anything else to call it.
It seemed that both of them were teaching their owls to find people. Harry sighed and took a two griffin feathers from where he'd tucked them behind his ear to give one to each of the owls. That way Ron and Hermione would know that they'd found Harry.
The owls hooted and soared away upstairs. Harry smiled slightly, watching them, and wasn't at all prepared when his feet were suddenly knocked from under him.
Before he could fall properly, Harry spun gracefully, his body poised and ready to fight.
***
Well, there's a nice place to leave off, no?
~WolfMoon~