It's my fifteenth birthday and how do I celebrate it? By giving you lot a double update on both of my stories, how else!? *laughs* so, that really works out that I'm giving you guys presents on my birthday … Oh well! Read, enjoy, and review!
In Every Darkness
Chapter Seventy Two: Halloween
30.10.1996
Harry was sitting still in the centre of the Room of Requirement, his eyes closed, his mind lurking in the Centre that allowed him to have control over everything.
"Open your eyes," Tatsu's voice murmured. Harry did so without question. Tatsu he could trust.
Ron and Hermione were in the room as well, but Harry wasn't paying any attention to them at present. "Look at Hermione's wand," Tatsu ordered.
Harry turned his head obediently and gasped. He hadn't heard Hermione murmur 'lumos' but the effects of the spell were easy enough to see.
Her wand glowed with white stands of light, each shining like a thousand suns. "Change them to blue," Tatsu told Harry. Harry smiled. This was like flying – he didn't need to be told how to do this, he could just do it.
Reaching out with his mind, he manipulated the tiny threads that made up each strand of light. One by one they changed to blue. Harry blinked, left his centre and smiled.
Now Hermione's wand was giving off a faint blue light, as opposed to white. "Well done," Tatsu smiled. "I thought you mightn't need to be shown how to do things."
"So some Modifiers do need to be shown?" Harry asked.
"Yes. But most don't," Tatsu replied. "Your talent for this is not strong. Look how worn out you are by just that simple change? But no matter – I think that in the end, just having the slight ability will be enough."
"Enough for what?" Harry asked, curious.
"What must be done," Tatsu replied.
"Which is…?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
"Can't you give a straight answer?" Harry demanded waspishly, but he smiled at the same time.
"Not when I don't know what it is. It's just a feeling I have," Tatsu replied.
Harry nodded his head, accepting that there was nothing else he could get out of the man. Absently he twisted a ring around his finger.
It was nice ring, silver, covered in a twisting pattern that didn't seem to start or end. At intervals a gem was studded into the pattern, one for each of the seven colours of the rainbow, and one that was black.
This was the ring that his mother had left for him. In his pocket was the note she'd written, with water and dirt repelling charms on it, so that he could keep it as a lasting reminder of her.
The diary was tucked very deep into his trunk, so that no one would find it easily. He'd read some of it, and felt nothing but sympathy when his mother, at eleven years old, wrote about her sister Petunia's scathing comments.
He'd laughed when she got half way through first year, spending almost every entry telling something about James Potter and how much she hated him.
She was falling for him already, Harry could sense it, somehow. Not having much experience with girls (not really wanting it, after Cho rejecting him, then Lily turning out to be forbidden to him), he wasn't sure how he knew this – he just did.
"Well, since that will render you too tired to do much else in the magical department," Tatsu grinned, "I guess we'd better get started on your physical training!"
Harry sighed. "Ron, Hermione, you may stay, if you like," Tatsu told Harry's friends. "You haven't seen Harry and I fighting before, have you?"
Harry's two friends shook their heads wordlessly. Harry smiled. "You'll be in for quite an experience, I'm sure."
"And you needn't think that I'll go easy on you just because your friends are watching," Tatsu warned.
"Don't worry – I know you. I wasn't expecting it," Harry assured Tatsu.
Suddenly Tatsu threw a kick at Harry's head. Harry didn't even register Hermione's fearful gasp. He sank into his Centre so fast he didn't even really notice the transition.
He let himself sway lightly backwards, before throwing himself forwards, punching towards Tatsu's stomach.
Tatsu blocked him, and lashed out with the intention of tripping Harry, who leapt upwards swiftly, twisting the side and feinting a left punch to Tatsu's shoulder, then quickly driving his right hand towards Tatsu's hip.
Tatsu somehow managed to avoid both and suddenly he and Harry were apart and circling one another, watching for some form of weakness.
Harry suddenly bounded forwards, feinting the right, then another feint to the left before kicking at Tatsu's right leg. The kick landed, but Tatsu ignored it.
Harry let a soft hiss escape his lips as Tatsu drove a hard punch into Harry's abdominal area, driving the air out of his lungs in a pained gasp.
Putting this out of his mind, Harry circled backwards doing his best to regain his breath. Tatsu followed swiftly, battering at Harry's defences at every given opportunity.
As usual, Tatsu won the bout and Harry grinned up at Ron and Hermione from his position, lying flat on his back on the floor, completely out of breath and a bruise started to form on his cheek. "Betcha never seen something like that before, eh?" he muttered, grinning despite his injuries.
"Oh my god," was all Hermione seemed able to say.
"Wow," Ron said, in perfect agreement.
Harry levered himself off the ground, wincing slightly at every movement he made. Hermione shook her head slightly, as if clearing it, and quickly took out her wand, performing several healing charms before Harry was properly aware of what was going on.
"Thanks," he muttered, moving freely now.
"You're getting better," Tatsu remarked coolly. "But you may as well go and hang out with your friends now."
Harry nodded. "We've got Quidditch practice, the game's on the sixteenth of November, not quite three weeks away. We have to practice as much as we can."
Tatsu smiled. "I'll come by and watch the game," he promised. "I haven't seen a Quidditch match in many years now … not since he left the country."
"You'll come? Cool! Well, we'd better get training – can't lose with you watching," Harry grinned at Tatsu and sped away with Ron and Hermione following. Hermione was coming to watch the practice, as she often did.
The next day was Halloween, and Harry was looking forward to the Hogsmeade trip that would take place before the feast in the evening. He had not been to Hogsmeade in some time, and he was thinking of going up to the cave where Sirius had hidden two years before.
Hermione hadn't been sure that this would be a good idea, not knowing what Harry felt about his godfathers death anymore, but Harry had been firm.
Ron, Hermione and Lily would come with him, for which he was glad – he wouldn't have wanted to go up there alone.
The older Slytherins all gave Harry very dirty looks whenever they saw him these days – everyone knew that Malfoy was in the Hospital Wing, unconscious, after something Harry had done.
Harry didn't care. He didn't pay any attention to their taunts and sneers any more. After all, why should he when the younger people in their house liked him for who he was?
Today, Pansy Parkinson was trying to tease him about his former fear of Dementors. She was recounting the incident on the train when Harry had come to school for his third year to the 'Slytherin' Durmstrang students.
Harry ignored it calmly. He was no longer in the least bit afraid of Dementors, or what they could do. Lily turned to Harry and asked, just as loudly as Pansy Parkinson was speaking, "Harry, didn't you get attacked by Dementors last summer? I remember reading something about you getting in trouble for something…"
Harry smiled faintly. "Yeah, I used a Patronus to get them away before they hurt me or my cousin … But since it was over the summer and we aren't supposed to be allowed to use magic over the summer, I got in trouble for it."
The Durmstrang students had been listening to this, though Harry hadn't taken the trouble to speak loudly – he didn't think there was a reason … They'd hear him if they were interested, which they obviously were.
"You summoned a Patronus?" one of the Durmstrang students asked.
"He summoned a corporeal Patronus," a female voice said softly, and Harry turned to see Susan Bones walking towards him. "A relation of mine was over seeing the trial, she told me all about it!"
Pansy Parkinson looked furious – her attempt at getting at Harry wasn't getting anywhere. In fact, the Durmstrang students had looks of respect for the feat of magic Potter had been able to use.
She ground her teeth and set to trying to think of something to use to get back at Harry, that he wouldn't be able to say anything back.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lily made their way through Hogsmeade, stopping often to speak with the students that they ran into, showing Lily the sights. Visiting Honeydukes was a great experience for all of them, and they all stocked up on sweets.
Soon enough they were done in Hogsmeade, and the feast was still two hours away. "Come on, let's go to the cave," he said softly. As yet, he hadn't told Lily about Sirius, but he was planning to do so very soon – hadn't she entrusted him with a secret just as important?
He would tell her tonight, while they worked on the Love-Me-Not potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, he thought.
All Lily knew about today was that it was something very important to Harry, and that he'd promised to tell her everything as soon as possible.
Making their way up to the cave was a little difficult, as it was very overgrown, but they did it eventually, and Harry looked around the place.
It had been just under two years since Sirius had last been here, but there was very little to show his presence. There were still newspapers, mostly decomposed now, scattered over the ground, and a few hippogriff feathers.
Harry stood for a long time in the entrance of the cave, then walked inside. Ron, Hermione and Lily remained outside, letting Harry walk around the cave on his own.
"This was a place that he met up with a close friend on occasion," Hermione explained to Lily. "The friend died awhile ago, and Harry hasn't completely gotten over his death yet … He'd getting better though, from what we can see. He has been since the holidays, but it's a blow to lose someone you care about."
Lily nodded, and the three of them waiting patiently as Harry walked around for a little longer. Then he came outside again. There was a slightly grieved look on his face, but at the same time he seemed happier than Lily remembered him being.
"Come on, let's get back to the castle," he said with a smile. "It wouldn't do to miss the feast, would it now?"
In companionable silence the four friends made their way back down the hillside and walked back to Hogwarts amid the steady stream of other students hurrying back in time for the feast.
The Halloween feast was enjoyable, from Lily's point of view, but Harry seemed somewhat distracted for most of it, and she couldn't help thinking it had something to do with the person who'd stayed in the cave.
When the feasting was over, Harry slipped out with Lily and together they made their way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to work on their potion.
"I want to tell you about something," Harry said softly.
"Is it about the person who once lived in the cave?" Lily wanted to know.
"Yes," Harry replied. "Did you hear of Sirius Black?"
"Umm … Didn't he escape from Azkaban a few years back?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, that's time," Harry replied. "He was given a life sentence there without a trial, suspected of being a Death Eater and selling my parents to Lord Voldemort."
"How awful," Lily said. "I'm not sure who to feel sorry for. You, for your loss, or Sirius for not even getting a trial."
"As it turns out," Harry remarked coolly, "not giving him a trial was the worst thing the Ministry could have done. Sirius was convicted for the murder of the one who'd actually betrayed my parents. He was innocent of all charges."
"Wow … But, how do you know that?" then realisation dawned. "He was the man in the cave, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Harry said bitterly. "He was my godfather. He was killed by Death Eaters at the end of last year, when it was revealed that Voldemort had come back."
"Your godfather? That's harsh," Lily said, but, to Harry's surprise, she didn't seemed shocked, or disbelieving, of what he was telling her.
"I only knew him for two short years, and I hardly ever saw him, but he seemed to be one of the most important people in my life," Harry said softly. "At first, I hated him, then I met him and found out the truth. We were going to prove that he was innocent and I'd be able to live with him instead of the Dursley's … Then he died and everything went to pieces on me."
"I know how that feels," Lily said. "Does the Ministry know?"
"Of course not. The Minister isn't likely to believe me anyway. One day he'll realise the truth, or I'll find proof of it. I will prove the world that my godfather was innocent," Harry said fiercely.
"I don't doubt that for a second," Lily assured him. "If there is anyone who could do something like that, it's you."
"So you believe me?" Harry said, smiling.
"Of course," Lily replied. "I know you wouldn't lie to me."
Harry smiled his thanks and together they bent back over the potion. Lily was now one of the very few people in Hogwarts who knew that Sirius had been innocent … also one of the few that knew he was not at large with Voldemorts army, but dead.
"Thank you for trusting me," she added softly.
"You trusted me first."
***
There, that'll do for an end to the chapter! Next chapter: the first Quidditch game!
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Thanks:
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To Evil Anti-Patriotic Elf Named Cin, and All Titles Which Do Apply,
We thank thee for thy good wishes, and would assure Our friend that We have had a wonderful time. Indeed, how could we not, as we are now the proud owner of a 17" LCD monitor, a pocket knife, a book which should have cost Us $53 (if We had bought it in Our own country) and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (DVD) the two of which were ordered in from America for Us by Our Father! We are happy that thee enjoyed Our last chapter, and trust that thee will enjoy these next two.
We liked thy picture! We thought it to be very good indeed!
Sincerely,
WolfMoon,
Lady Death,
Queen of Tenebralia,
Goddess of Darkness and Evilness.
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~WolfMoon~