Chapter 6
Dudley and his parents walked back to their rooms in silence. Once they were inside, Vernon turned to Dudley, sneering in disgust. Dudley stood there, silent tears streaming down his face. Dudley sorrowfully gazed at his father and asked him "What, so you're just going to hate me? You'll hate me for something I cannot even control?" Vernon punched him across the jaw. Dudley fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
"You worthless freak. To think that I loved you and clothed you and this is the thanks I get? You're no better than your worthless cousin." Vernon spat in loathing. Petunia stood there, wracked with indecision. Who did she choose; her husband or her son? As Vernon pulled his arm back to strike her son again, she made her choice.
"Get your hands off my son!" she yelled, coming between the two. "I should have done this years ago, instead of being too frightened and jealous to stand up for my beliefs. Dudley cannot help that he has magic, and neither can my nephew. It isn't their fault that they are the way they are. You are not to harm them again." With a bellow of rage, Vernon slammed her against the wall. She slid to the floor, dazed.
Dudley lay on the floor, semiconscious. He barely noticed his mother land across the room from him, or Vernon advance and kick him in the ribs again and again. "You worthless freak. You're no better than your cousin" kept swirling in his mind, drawing him closer, closer, closer to the truth. He could almost grasp it. There. Something clicked into place, and he slumped forward, unconscious.
Four year old Dudley sat in his room, playing war zone with his toy soldiers. He could hear Daddy beating Harry again, that special beating that happened when Mommy wasn't there. Mommy didn't know, and Daddy didn't know that Dudley knew it was happening. I don't want that to happen to me, he thought anxiously. That's why Daddy can't know that I can make my toys dance, or pretty fires start.
Dudley sat there on his floor, directing his troops. If I play hard enough, I can pretend not to hear Harry's screams he thought miserably. He pointed a finger, and his tanks rolled across the carpet, crushing the other side of the battle. The soldiers marched after the tanks, shooting anything that moved. Dudley didn't notice that the screams had turned to barely audible sobs, or that his father's heavy tread could be heard clearly coming up the stairs. He didn't see his father open the door and come into the room.
"You worthless freak." Dudley jumped, and turned around fearfully. His father loomed over him, face purple.
"You worthless freak." he repeated. "You're worthless, just like your cousin. Do you know what I do to freaks like you? Freaks that don't deserve to live?" Dudley slowly nodded, terrified.
Vernon slammed his meaty hand across Dudley's face. The small boy flew backwards across the room. Vernon strode over to where his son had landed. Dudley whimpered.
"Pwease, Daddy, don't huwt me! Don't huwt me wike you huwt Hawwy. Pwease, I'ww nevew do it again, pwease!" Vernon kicked his ribs savagely, then reached down to grab Dudley's throat.
"NOOO!" shrieked Dudley at the top of his lungs. "MUMMY!!!" He threw his hand out at Vernon. The huge man flew through the air, hitting his head against the door jam and crashing through it. He skidded to the ground and lay there, unconscious. Dudley felt his shattered ribs heal, and the pain in his jaw vanished.
"I'm not a fweak. I don't wanna do magic. I want Daddy to wove me again, and not hate me wike Hawwy. I WANT DADDY TO FOWGET! I WANNA FOWGET!" Dudley felt a brick wall slam down over part of his mind, and he slumped back, unconscious.
Dudley lay on the stone floor in the common room in shock. He had made himself forget all those years ago, and he could see why. My father's a child molester??? Tears leaked from his clenched eyes. Suddenly, a wave of power swept through him. It's back, my magic's back he thought in hysterical relief. He concentrated and energy crackled around him. Vernon and Petunia stared at him in shock.
It's back. He's broken through whatever made him forget. He remembers everything, and from the looks of it, it was really bad,Petunia thought, as she scooted back, suddenly afraid.
Dudley slowly levitated into midair, and floated to an upright position. The whole room crackled with electricity. His eyes glowed red, and he drew back his arm, energy writhing around his fist. He shot his arm towards Vernon. "You sick bastard. This is for Harry," He growled low in his throat, "and for me."
Vernon flew backwards and landed, pinned against the bookshelf across the room. He lay plastered against the books, stunned. Dudley raised his spread hand high into the air, and Vernon rose four feet from the ground, mimicking Dudley's movements. His legs kicked and pumped uselessly as Dudley clenched his fist, and effectively cut off his air supply.
"Dudley, sweetie, put your father down." Petunia cautiously placed her hands on Dudley's shoulders.
"He - isn't - my - son. I - have - no - son." Vernon wheezed, his face an alarming shade of purplish blue. Petunia's face turned stony. Dudley turned to his mother.
"Mum, do you know exactly what he did to Harry?" Dudley asked conversationally, while tightening his already viselike grip on Vernon's massive neck. Vernon wheezed, and renewed his kicking efforts, to no avail.
"Duddy, I was there. Once or twice, I even participated. Yes, we beat the shit out of him."
"No, Mum, he did so much worse than that. And, he tried to do it to me. Mum, he - he touched him. He touched him all the time until Harry started attending Hogwarts, and, after that, he was too scared that Harry'd blow him up or something. It was so bad, and I was so scared, that I made both of us forget I could do magic. Why else do you think I hated Harry? It was safer."
Petunia stared at her son in shock, unable to comprehend what her son was trying to tell her. VERNON'S A CHILD MOLESTER?????? She sat on the armrest of the couch, shaking her head. Wait just a damn minute, Lily tried to tell me something. She sat there, lost in memories.
"Hey, sis, I know you don't want me butting into your life and all after you told me to leave and never come back, but you need to see this." Petunia looked up, shocked and furious. HOW DARE that - that - that WITCH come here! She's always ruining my life! Why can't she tell she's not wanted! Lily flinched, but continued bravely.
"I found this in the library archives while following up on some research I did for a school project." She held up a ten year old copy of the Lancaster Herald. The front page headline screamed, in bold print, 'Babysitter sentenced to 7 years for child molestation charges'. Petunia sneered at her.
"And how, may I ask, does this pertain to me?"
"Look, Petunia, I found this while researching on Muggle persecution of Magic kind. I found the first article in the Daily Prophet, but I found corresponding articles in the Lancaster Herald, the Surrey Times, and five other Muggle newspapers. They all say the same thing, except the Daily Prophet has quotes from the child molester himself."
She started reading the article. "Fourteen year old Vernon Dursley was sentenced to seven years in a maximum security juvenile facility as well as receiving much needed psychiatric care for sixteen counts of child molestation, and physical abuse. According to his parents, Regina and Garth Dursley, Vernon gained access to these ten boys and six girls through various babysitting jobs. His parents have no idea what possessed him to choose these children, and not the other forty children he has babysat. However, in the courtroom, Dursley announced that those children were 'evil, worthless freaks who did not deserve to live' while on the stand. When asked what had prompted him to believe that, he stated 'They could make things float, and fly, and light on fire, and make floods happen. They were evil and needed to be punished." Lily looked up from the article. Petunia glared at her, disbelieving.
"Petunia, listen to me. Vernon Dursley, your fiancée, is a child molester. You have the genetics to carry a magical child. In fact, you WILL have a wizard son, just as I will. We are descended from one of the most powerful wizards in history." Petunia covered her ears, refusing to hear her. "PETUNIA! LISTEN! If any children you bear have magical abilities, he will hurt them like he hurt those children. EVERY newspaper I read said the same thing. HE MOLESTS MAGICAL CHILDREN!" Petunia cut her off angrily.
"I don't believe you! What right do you have, coming in here, telling me that I'll have abnormal children, and that my fiancée will abuse and molest any children we have??" She exploded, infuriated beyond reason. "I LOVE HIM! He is a GOOD man! WHY must you make up LIES, LILY??? Why can't you accept that I am HAPPY??? Why are you doing this to me?" Petunia broke down into tears. "Just go away" she sobbed. "I don't believe you. I don't believe you."
Oh my God, she was telling the truth. All this time I hated her for what I thought was her just trying to ruin my happiness. She was just trying to protect me, like all big sisters protect their little sisters she thought numbly. And, I yelled at her, and called her a liar. Dumbledore must have known, why did he send Harry here? He knew what Vernon was, and still is. Why did he entrust Harry to us? She turned to her husband, voice dripping in sarcastic sugary sweetness. "Vernon, love, what did you do to my son?"
Vernon looked confusedly back and forth between Petunia and Dudley. "Whaa--?" he croaked, his lips turning blue. Dudley sighed, and ran a hand through the air. Vernon's confusion vanished, and he stared at his son in shock and hatred before passing out.
"He didn't remember before, but he remembers now." Dudley dropped the dead weight to the floor with a crash.
Petunia stared at the crumpled form on the floor and felt only a seething hatred and revulsion. To think I let that trash touch me for eighteen years... "Are you positive he's been molesting Harry?" she asked, finally coming to a decision.
"I heard him, but I never saw it happen. Why? What are you planning to do?"
"Did he touch you?" Petunia cringed, terrified of what she might hear. If he did that to my Duddy, I swear I'll cut his dick off myself with a dull, plastic knife...
"He punched and kicked me, but I threw him against the wall before he could do any worse. He was going to try, though. He promised to hurt me like he hurt Harry." Dudley's energy slowly dropped and he gradually settled back down on the ground. Petunia wrapped her arms around her son.
"Oh God, Duddy, I'm so sorry" she sobbed. Dudley was about to speak, but she steamrolled right over him, desperate to get the guilt out of her and into the open. "Lily told me almost twenty years ago, right before we got married, that bastard and I. She gave me news articles, proving that he had done time for molesting magical children, children that could make things fly, or move, or light on fire, and all that other stuff you can do. He hurt them badly and went to juvenile hall for seven years. I didn't believe her, and called her a liar. She was only trying to protect me and any children I might have, and I told her to leave and never come back." She gasped for breath, and Dudley tried to comfort her.
"Mum, I'm all right, I swear. He can't hurt anyone ever again. Mum, you didn't know, honestly you didn't." Petunia tried to interrupt him, but he put a finger against her lips. "Hear me out. Mum, he went to great lengths to hide it from you. You never saw it, or you would have stopped it. He made sure you never saw it. You thought Aunt Lily was lying, because you had no reason to believe her, and you and she were always fighting. Yes, she was telling the truth, but you loved him and really didn't know. It's not your fault. I don't blame you, and I don't think Harry blames you either. Please, Mum, stop crying. We have to do something with him." He gestured to the stirring Vernon.
Petunia broke from her son's grasp and walked over to him. She savagely kicked the enormous man in the ribs. Vernon groaned and opened his eyes blearily. "Now listen, slime, I'm only going to say this once. I want a divorce. You will give it to me, and you are never to come near me again." She strode angrily over to the Floo and threw a handful of the green dust in.
"Dumbledore's office!" His head appeared in the fireplace.
"Yes, Mrs. Dursley?" She shuddered slightly at the name.
"Actually, Petunia is fine. Could we switch rooms, if you wouldn't mind?" She put on her best angelic expression.
"I'll be there in two minutes." Dumbledore promised and closed the connection. She walked quickly into the bathroom, reappearing less than a minute later with her and Dudley's toiletries. She threw them into her already full suitcase and slammed it shut with a bang. Dudley grabbed his unopened suitcase, and they left without a backwards glance.
Dumbledore met them right outside the painting. "May I ask what is wrong with these rooms?" He took in stoically Petunia's stony expression and the energy crackling around Dudley.
"Is my nephew busy?" Petunia inquired politely, evading the question. I really don't want to talk about this right now she thought tiredly. "I have something I need to discuss with him as soon as possible. It is a matter of utmost importance."
"I believe that he is with Draco Malfoy, Alanna, and Xander, searching for elusive Potions Master, Professor Snape. If I see him, I will tell him that you need to speak with him." Dumbledore led the two of them down the hall and down one flight of stairs. They stopped in front of another painting, this one of a maiden and a unicorn. The maiden curtsied to Dumbledore, and froze when she saw Petunia and Dudley.
"Really, Albus" she trilled softly, "what is a Muggle doing inside Hogwarts?"
"This is Harry Potter's family. Please protect them." he said, inclining into a half bow.
"Of course, anything for Harry! He is such a dear, polite boy, and so handsome." The painting swung open, revealing a suit of rooms even more elaborate than the first. Large embroidered tapestries adorned the walls, and a thick, plush carpet covered the floor. Three maroon, velvet couches were arranged in a semicircle around a stone fireplace. A roaring fire heated the rooms comfortably. Dudley ran inside to check it out.
At the entrance, Petunia turned to Dumbledore. "Now that Vernon has been warded, can he leave? He isn't happy here, and wants to go home."
"Of course. I'll arrange for the wards on Privet Drive to be strengthened, and you could leave for home tomorrow at the latest." Why on earth did she want a room change, then? And, where is Vernon Dursley?
"Oh no, just Vernon. Dudley finally broke through the block he had on his magic, and he needs to train his powers. I really don't want to leave him, considering that everything has changed so quickly for him. I'm the only constant he has right now." She carefully peered through the opening. Dudley was nowhere in sight. She lowered her voice considerably and moved closer to Dumbledore. "Why did you place Harry in our care? I know that you knew about Vernon's conviction. Why did you put him in a situation that could have led to him being hurt so badly?"
Dumbledore stared at her for a long time. "What conviction?" he asked finally.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Thirty years ago, he was arrested and convicted of molesting sixteen magical Muggleborn children!" she hissed angrily. "It's only because I refused to believe my sister, may she rest in peace, when she confronted me with the proof, that I still married him. You put Harry in the home of a child molester!" she hissed angrily.
Dumbledore absently stroked his beard. "I thought it was a calculated risk we had to take. Harry had to live with a blood relative for the protection spells to work, and you and Dudley are his only living blood relatives. Besides, Vernon went through psychiatric care and was deemed cured. Harry was in no danger."
"Are you sure about that? My son says differently, and that is why he repressed his own powers. It was not 'safe' for magical people to be in the same vicinity as my soon to be ex-husband." Petunia acidly replied, loathing evident in her voice, and swept angrily into the rooms. The painting swung shut behind her. Dumbledore stood there for a long time, staring thoughtfully at the painting. He finally turned and strode in the opposite direction.
After searching several hours fruitlessly for the elusive Professor Snape, Harry, Alanna, Draco, and Xander were forced to admit defeat. Alanna and Xander went downstairs to get something to eat. Harry and Draco went in the opposite direction, up to the library to meet up with Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione had given up hours ago, and had wandered off to the library to do their summer assignments. Harry was willing to bet they were in a broom closet somewhere along the way, snogging.
Oh, bad mental image. I did NOT need to picture Granger and Weaseley swapping spit. Draco winced and rubbed his temples.
You know, your only reason for insulting Hermione just disappeared. She is my cousin, and the descendant of Merlin. Can't you be a little nicer to her? I know you and Ron will hate each other until the days you die from the family feud and all, but she really is ok.
They rounded the corner and entered the library. Harry stopped, amused. Ron and Hermione were, in fact, doing their assignments. At least, Hermione was. Ron was leaning back in his chair, staring off into space. He carefully balanced a quill on his nose.
Oh my god, even I noticed the sparks between those two, and I'm the densest person in the world when it comes to who is attracted to who. Harry laughed to himself as he sat down across the table from Ron. Draco smirked at Harry as he sat down across from Hermione.
You finally admitted you're dense, Potter. I'm so proud of you.
Quit being a smartass. It's the damn truth. I never notice these things, but I noticed this one right away. They've been after each other since fourth year. It's so obvious it's scary.
Well, now, I have something else to hold against her. She has horrible taste in men.
You know, you can't help who you fall for, dork. My aunt fell for Vernon, and look where that got her.
"Hey, no luck?" Ron asked Harry, ignoring Draco completely.
"Nope, we searched all over the castle. He isn't here." A loud rustling noise from behind a nearby bookshelf caught his attention. He heard a muffled curse, and the four of them watched, amused, as the bookshelf closest to them toppled and fell, revealing an incredibly annoyed and embarrassed Professor Snape hiding amongst the books.
Harry and Draco looked at each other with undisguised glee. Snape scowled at them and tried to extricate himself from the enormous pile of tomes with little success. Oh, the possibilities Harry thought mischievously.
What should we do to my beloved Godfather? Draco drawled mentally, grinning.
Snape's on the hot seat! Snape's on the hot seat! Harry chanted in a singsong voice.
Hmmmm. Turn him in or hide as well? Alanna really wanted to explain bonding to him. Draco pretended to contemplate the choices. Snape blanched and groaned, shaking his head.
"I swear, you two will have detention until the day I DIE..."
"Professor" Draco began eagerly, smirking evilly.
"We have made our decision" Harry continued, not missing a beat. Snape, Hermione, and Ron stared at them in amazement. The only people they had ever seen finish each others sentences like that had been the Weaseley twins.
The two grinned and glanced furtively over their shoulders, checking to see if the demigods had come up behind them. Not seeing anyone, they continued in unison. "Can we hide with you, please? Please?" They put on their best angelic expressions.
Snape snorted. "Sure, why not? I daresay you'll be more entertaining than listening to Ms. Granger browbeat Mr. Weaseley into studying, although he needs it sorely."
Hermione preened, looking extremely pleased with herself. Ron sulked next to her. "You know, Ron, you do need to finish your Potions and Transfiguration assignments. If you get them done now, you don't have to worry about them for the rest of the summer, and scramble to finish them right before school starts." Ron mocked her behind her back. Harry did the same, rolling his eyes. Professor Snape's mouth twitched, and Draco smothered his guffaw in a coughing fit.
"RONALD WEASELEY!!!! STOP MOCKING ME!!!!" Harry jumped and turned, transfixed, as Hermione screeched at Ron, tears in her eyes. They gravitated closer together until their noses were only inches apart. Ron's face reddened until it perfectly matched his hair. Snape and Draco backed up, worried that he might just spontaneously combust.
"Quit BUGGING me!" Ron started to yell as well. "I'LL DO MY BLOODY FUCKING HOMEWORK WHEN I BLOODY FUCKING WANT TO!!!
"DON'T SWEAR AT ME, YOU INCOMPETANT ASS!! YOU'LL PROCRASTINATE UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE IT'S DUE THEN YOU'LL BEG ME TO WRITE IT!!!!!" Snape's eyebrows rose at the language and accusation. He was about to speak but Draco shushed him and wished for popcorn. He could see why Harry liked hanging out with these two. It was so entertaining. He wondered vaguely if Harry would get upset if he scheduled screaming matches and charged admission...
Don't even try.
Spoilsport! Come on, Harry, it'll be so much fun, and so profitable...
NO!
FINE!
Ron, recovered from his shock at being accused of cheating enough to begin screaming again, yelled back with renewed vigor. "I HAVE NEVER ASKED YOU TO WRITE MY HOMEWORK!!!" He screeched at the top of his lungs.
"BOLLOCKS! EVERY ASSIGNMENT IT'S THE SAME THING!!! I'M SO FUCKING BLOODY SICK OF IT!!!!! DO YOUR OWN GOD DAMN FUCKING HOMEWORK AND DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!" she roared at the top of her lungs. Snape and Draco quickly overturned a table and ducked behind it, certain that hexes were about to fly. Ron's eyes bugged out. Harry still sat across from them, staring in awe and disbelief.
Isn't there a law of physics or something that says that someone's eyes can only bulge out of their sockets so far before popping out? he asked in a detached, scientific manner.
Harry, get out of there! You're in the direct line of fire! You could be killed! Come over here where it's safe! Draco pleaded, convinced he was about to feel his soul mate die or worse.
Don't worry about me. This happens this time every year since first year. No one has died yet.
"NO!!!!" Ron roared right back at her. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!"
This has gone far enough. "Will you two stop the theatrics and just kiss already? You both know you want to." Harry sat there and examined his nails, bored. Really, it was getting so old he yawned. They turned as one and stared at him, incredulous.
I wash my hands of you, Potter. You are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I wouldn't get between them if you paid me. I'll send flowers to your funeral, Draco commented dryly.
"Harry, butt out" Hermione nearly growled.
"Yeah mate, don't get involved. This time, we're gonna have this out." They turned back to each other, each preparing to continue the screaming match.
Oh, I'm gonna regret this later, but I can't pass up the priceless opportunity. Harry, don't say anything and don't stop me. Remember me fondly. Draco darted forward from behind his overturned table. He came up behind the two arguing Gryffindors and pressed their lips together. "KISS ALREADY AND SHUT UP!!!!!" he bellowed.
They did, and did, and did some more. After about five minutes of uninterrupted snogging, Harry, Draco, and Snape looked at each other in amusement and disbelief. As one, they rose from their respective places and strode from the library. "Now we have to find another hiding place" commented Snape ruefully.
"The Forbidden Forest?" Harry suggested with a grin.
"Are you nuts? There're werewolves and worse in there!" Draco hissed, shivering.
"Are you a demigod or not??? Nothing in there can hurt you!!!"
"I'm going to regret this. Potter, Draco, follow me. We are going to my quarters, and, Potter, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll flunk you." Snape led them down into the dungeons. They walked past the Potions classroom, turned a corner, and stopped short, shocked. Alanna stood right in front of them, smirking. "Oh, good, we found you."
Xander placed his hand on Draco's shoulder, making him jump about a foot in the air. "And, you have our brothers with you. Let's talk." His tone bore no room for argument.
Groaning, Snape led them to his quarters and they trudged inside. Alanna quickly claimed Snape's comfortable, expensive leather couch. She and Xander curled up together at one end.
"Oh, sure, make yourself right at home" Snape snapped sardonically.
"Thank you, don't mind if we do." Alanna waved her hand and absently conjured a thirty ounce mug of steaming cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream on top. "Anyone want a cocoa?" she asked. Xander and Harry agreed eagerly. "Draco, Severus, do either of you want anything?"
"Butterbeer, please" requested Draco politely.
"Firewhiskey, make it a double. I'm gonna need it" Snape growled, turning and reaching into a compartment behind several thick tomes on his bookshelf. He pulled out a full bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey. He turned back around and stared cross-eyed at the double shot floating in front of his nose. He snatched the glass and downed the contents, immediately pouring himself another.
Damn thought Draco to Harry. You'd think with the sexaphobic way he's acting, he's still a virgin.
Maybe not, Harry replied after careful consideration. Maybe he had a really traumatizing experience. Either that or he has never been laid.
Like you have. Draco shot at him.
No, just been - damn, don't even think it, he thought bitterly. Draco's eyes widened, as did Snape's, Alanna's, and Xander's. Neither of the boys noticed the concerned and livid glances the three adults were passing back and forth.
I'm so sorry, Harry, please forgive me. I didn't think about what I was saying. You're right, that isn't sex, it's horrible and I don't know what to say.
Draco, stop babbling. It's alright. I'm fine. Besides, it hasn't happened in almost six years. The last time was one month before my acceptance letter. Really, I am ok.
Alanna and Xander held an extremely private conversation. Lana, you thinking what I'm thinking?
I'm thinking that I'm protecting a child molester, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it without Harry finding out that we have guessed what happened to him. Snape's eyes hardened. He knew of several things that could be done without Harry finding out, especially while Vernon Dursley was still at Hogwarts.
How the hell can he still be so cheerful, unless the last six years have been completely an act? If that's the case, how did he not wind up in my house? he thought without anyone else hearing him.
It was time, Snape decided, for a change in conversation. "I can't believe that I'm about to get the sex talk from someone young enough to be my daughter," he groused, sinking into an overstuffed leather armchair.
Harry and Draco snickered, relieved that the conversation could distract them with ordinary problems, like Snape's squeamishness about sex. The two teens claimed the matching ottoman footstools that sat in front of the couch. They lounged, cross-legged, and sipped their drinks.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Alanna asked with an evil grin. "We aren't young enough to be your children, by any stretch of the imagination."
"You look to be barely twenty. I turned forty one last month. You do the math." Snape buried his head in his hands, and sipped his second double whiskey. If I get plastered, he thought a little too loudly, then can I forget this conversation ever took place?
"Oh, please, just relax for once in your life. You are not going to get the sex talk."
Harry and Draco laughed, Harry laughing so hard he fell off the ottoman. Snape was relieved to feel nothing but mirth and happiness rolling from the boy. Wait, he hadn't been thinking out loud...
"How many of you just heard my thoughts?" He asked suspiciously, his eyes darting back and forth between his rather unwanted guests.
"All of us" Harry and Draco spoke in unison. "You'll get used to it after a while" Draco quietly told him. "You'll be able to project your thoughts first, and then receive them from others."
Duh, he thought quietly to himself.
Alanna shot him a funny look, and leaned forward. "That's what I wanted to talk to all of you about. Harry and Draco's bond isn't proceeding normally because they are not physically involved, and Severus, your soul mate is not here, so you have not bonded in any way shape or form. Basically, what to normally expect is, that as your physical relationship grows, so does your mental bond. Because you two," she nodded to the two teenagers, "are not attracted to each other, your bond is the same as that of sharing thoughts with anyone else. You can hear each other the same as you would hear anyone else's thoughts. You have to concentrate a little bit to hear each other, and only hear what the other person sends you, am I right?" The two boys nodded and looked slightly confused.
"A bonded couple should have a constant connection to each other, and should be able to hear each other's thoughts as well as feel each others emotions pretty much all the time, shielding thoughts or not. You don't have that." Draco refrained from telling her about sharing the memories. Some things were too private.
"Severus, you will go through the same thing that they have gone through, but alone. Your soul mate, for some reason isn't here, and we can't find her." Severus opened then shut his mouth, confused.
"What do you mean, you cannot find her? You are demigods, aren't you?"
"We know when one of our kin is in our realm and in danger or in trouble. We don't know outside of our realm. So, we know she is not here. But, other than that, we cannot find her. What we do know is that she should have been here two years ago. That was when she had found you mentally, and alerted us to the fact that she knew who her soul mate was and where he was. When we didn't hear from her after that, we knew something was wrong. We assumed mortal form and came looking for her. She hasn't died, or she would have been able to contact us. Our guess is that she is in trouble." Alanna took a fortifying gulp of cocoa. "I'm positive that Clautius has her."
"So, when do we rescue her?" he asked, mind whirling with possibilities. Alanna had been raped and tortured... no, don't think that way, he chided himself.
"Not until you have been trained to take on an immensely powerful demigod. If she is where I think she is, then it will take all of us to get her back. Speaking of training, Severus, we would like to start as soon as possible."
Harry and Draco looked at each other. "Would right now be a problem?" they asked.
"Well, it will be hard seeing that Sev isn't on the same page yet." Snape cut her off arrogantly.
Excuse me, he sent, lowering his carefully constructed shields. Of course I'm not on the same page. I'm way ahead of you. This information you have chosen to enlighten me with is thirty years too late. I've been successfully shielding my thoughts since my Hogwarts Acceptance letter. I was just surprised you could hear my thoughts, that's all. My shields slipping haven't happened to me since I was thirteen.
Alanna smiled in genuine admiration. "You figured out how to shield on your own without the stabilizing benefits of a soul mate? Most impressive."
Xander spoke up. "May I ask how you learned? Shielding is something especially hard for us, as it is something completely unnecessary for us in spirit form. In fact, the only way we communicate is telepathy. It was the hardest transition for us coming into mortal form."
"What he means to say is that until Clautius entrapped me within my own mind, rendering me helpless, we didn't even know what shielding was or why it was necessary. I was the first demigoddess to actually learn shielding, and it was only after I had learned that I was able to escape from his realm." Alanna quietly spoke, face a stony mask.
"It was a necessity. By the time I was nine, I could hear the thoughts of everyone within a five mile radius. It was driving me insane, and I forced myself to learn how to block them out, or else I would have killed myself" Snape commented dryly.
"What element do you find easiest to do?" inquired Xander to the three.
Harry though for a moment. "I found manipulating earth, like earthquakes, making that glass disappear, that sort of is easiest, and the most fun to do."
"I remember making whirlwinds in my room when I was little. It was much easier and more fun than the other stuff." Draco smiled a little at the memory.
"Telepathy. I cheated on all my tests with it when I was younger." Snape stated simply, with a straight face. Draco snickered. "What? Slytherin rule number one: Always use what gifts you have, especially if they give you an advantage."
"So, now that we know that Uncle Sev can talk to us, can we start training? Please?" Draco pouted, giving Alanna his best pleading basset hound look. Harry snorted with laughter. Alanna and Xander exchanged amused glances.
"Ok, so we have an earth elemental, an air elemental, and a mind elemental. Right. Let's move this back to the Room of Requirement, because I don't think Severus would appreciate us rearranging and redecorating his furniture." Snape winced at the thought.
My leather couches and chairs would never be the same. He cringed at the destruction three untrained demigods could wreak on his rooms. Alanna snickered, and the five of them found themselves back in the Room of Requirement.
"Hey, how do you keep doing that? I thought Hogwarts was warded against apparating!" Draco exclaimed, confused.
"It's so simple, really." Xander smirked at his younger brother. Draco glared back at him. "Sucks when the patented smirk is turned on you, doesn't it. Anyway, the beauty of the wards is that they guard against apparating in and out, but not inside the ward from place to place. Also, since our descendants created these wards, they recognize us and let us through. That's how we apparated into Hogwarts in the first place."
"Now, to get started." Alanna walked briskly to the center of the room and extended her hand. "Wands, please." Their wands appeared in the center of her palm. "You are too powerful to ever need to pick up a wand, and they will only hinder your progress." She quickly pocketed them. "All right, here's the plan for the time until school starts. First, all those spells you have learned? You are going to learn them again, but without a wand. Second, you will learn how to direct your thoughts and do will magic. Third, you'll learn how to shield your thoughts from attack. Now, let's get started."
The next three weeks passed quickly. Mrs. Weaseley, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George left the first day. Remus went back to Grimmauld place a few days after that. Vernon left with him, back to Privet Drive and work. He still had bruises from where Dudley had throttled him, and for some reason, which he was not telling, his pants hung very oddly in the front. Professor Snape had seen him off, and Vernon had run, screaming, into the Floo. Dudley and Petunia stayed, and kept to themselves. Harry only saw them at meals. For some reason, Petunia had walked up to him, crying, that first day after training. She had hugged him, hard, and begged for his forgiveness. He had accepted her apology warily, with the distinct feeling that, somehow, she knew about Vernon's abuse.
Ron and Hermione came back a week later, determined to stay with Harry and protect him from the "evil Slytherins." However, they spent the whole time pretty much ignoring his existence. He would see them in the halls, and say hello, but they were too wrapped up in their budding relationship to notice him. Pretty soon, Harry only saw them when he returned to Gryffindor Tower to go to sleep, or if he stumbled on them in some odd corner of the castle, making out. Harry missed them terribly, but was soon spending too much time training and hanging out with Draco and Professor Snape to really have time to notice their absence.
Harry, Draco, and Snape spent two hours a day formally training with Alanna and Xander. They quickly relearned all the spells they had mastered, and learned several more, having picked Professor Snape's brain for more knowledge on several occasions. Snape had finally relaxed his shields to the point that the five of them no longer felt the need to converse with each other verbally. Anyone who had watched their sessions would have been amazed at the speed and ability of the three students.
Harry by far was absorbing new information the quickest of the three, something that bothered Draco and Snape to distraction. He only had to see something once for the knowledge of how to perform that skill to be permanently imprinted in his memory. However, he passed on the knowledge telepathically of how to do the skill to the other two as soon as he learned it, making the sessions move much quicker than Alanna and Xander had ever imagined. By the end of the third week, they had mastered all the spells they knew, had learned to direct their thoughts for will magic, and had just finished learning shields. Harry only had to feel how Snape raised his shields for him to create his own, and show Draco how to form them.
"Well, that's incredible shielding," said Alanna in amazement as she was forcibly ejected from Harry and Draco's minds. You know, Xander, she thought privately to her soul mate, They are much closer than we thought. Are you sure nothing is going on there?
Lana, you wouldn't let me touch you for almost three hundred years after Clautius hurt you like that. I'm pretty sure nothing is happening between them. Xander stared, concerned at his newest brother. He seems so calm and happy. I wonder how the hell he has coped with this happening to him. At least that bastard left over two weeks ago. He can't hurt him now.
"Ok, let's start something fun. Since you have mastered the basic skills in less time than anyone ever has, we can start animal transformations and apparation."
"Cool!" Harry and Draco exclaimed. Snape yawned.
"I can already apparate, and..." He trailed off, then transformed. An enormous raven flew around the room and settled on Draco's shoulder. Hello, Draco he sent to his amazed Godson.
"Hey, so that's how you kept getting into the Manor without anyone spotting you! Father used to have a fit..." he trailed off, saddened, and Harry rubbed his back comfortingly.
"I can't ever go home, can I?" he buried his head in Harry's shoulder. "I wish I could remember. It can't be that bad, can it?" Snape transformed back and hugged his Godson, hard.
"Draco, you are better off not remembering. I was there the whole time, unable to stop it from happening" Snape murmured into Draco's hair. He and Harry exchanged glances over the smaller boy's head. Professor, what can I tell him? What can you tell him? He's going crazy not knowing exactly what happened. It's eating him up inside. I honestly think he would be better off if his subconscious would let him remember.
Potter, I don't know. I just don't know anymore. They were interrupted by the feeling of someone walking down the hallway, and stopping at the Room of Requirement. They broke apart as Dumbledore appeared at the door.
"Um, Severus, could I steal you for a couple of hours? I have something I need to discuss with you." He stood in the doorway, and leaned on the door jam.
"Headmaster, could you give me a half an hour? We are almost done for the day, and it's an especially difficult concept." Snape stated, looking as if he were in intense concentration.
"All right, meet me in my office in exactly thirty minutes." He turned and left.
You know, we are finished for the day, Alanna thought. You can leave, if you want.
I really don't want to go to that meeting. Snape sighed and stretched.
So, where do you have to go?
Order meetings are called every day. That is where I go every other afternoon. It seems that they have taken your criticism to heart. They actually have plans made that do not involve 'Give Harry Potter to Voldemort so they can kill each other and run like hell'. he dourly replied.
Alanna turned to Harry, shocked. And you have no say in these meetings? Why the hell not? You are their champion, their ultimate weapon. Why don't you attend these meetings also?
Because I'm just a dumb kid. I'm supposed to take orders, be a model student, and not question those who are older and know better than me, he mocked.
So you have no say in decisions that could potentially affect whether you live or die, she stated bluntly.
Basically, yes. I'm too young to be a member or the Order, and, until almost two months ago, I didn't even know why Voldemort even wanted to kill me. Turns out that prophesy didn't even have to be about me. Neville could have been the one he attacked, because he fit the criteria as well.
Could we have the whole prophesy? Xander asked. The wording in these makes all the difference, sometimes.
Sure. It's 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And, either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.' Weird, isn't it?
Xander sat in the corner of the room, mulling over the possible meanings.
Alanna continued to question Harry. Haven't you ever acted against that?
Yep, every year. Except, this year, he had my father thrown in jail. Draco wittily replied. Harry glared at him.
Still gonna kill me, Malfoy? You did promise, after all. Draco snarled at him, completely pissed.
Enough! yelled Snape. You two have already put aside your differences. Stop fighting! Draco snickered.
Malfoy, shut your asshole! Harry snarled. How would you like it if you were responsible for Severus Snape's death???? I have to live with that feeling every fucking day. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR SIRIUS'S DEATH! You wonder why I keep trying to kill myself???? Harry walked over to the window and stared outside, tears streaming down his face.
May I ask how he died? Alanna asked quietly, coming up behind him to hold him. He stiffened at her touch, and she retreated, troubled.
Harry whimpered, a lost, far away look coming over his eyes. For a minute, while he projected his memories of the events leading up to Sirius's death and the aftermath, his eyes went flat, dead. Draco, without any hesitation, wrapped his arms tightly around Harry. Harry, surprisingly, didn't shy away from his touch but leaned into it, allowing Draco to comfort him. He even buried his face into Draco's shoulder.
Impressive thought Severus, behind his strongest shields. There were only six of them, they took on well over four times their number and none of them died. They even managed to incapacitate well over eighteen Death Eaters and capture four. True, only Harry and Luna escaped without any injury, but the other four were not seriously hurt. He watched, shocked, as Bellatrix Lestrange sent her own cousin through the Veil, and Harry attempting to cast Crucio on her. That coldhearted BITCH, he thought vehemently.
Oddly enough, even after a horrible loss, Potter is still a good enough person, and still cares enough about others that he cannot cast a spell that is meant to cause another person horrible pain. Severus felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. And, I have treated him horribly. I've always thought of him as a pampered, spoiled brat, but he is one of the most caring, unselfish people I have ever met. He is so much like Lily, it hurts. And, I thought he was exactly like James. James wouldn't have flown five hours on a broom to rescue his best friend, let alone his worst enemy. And, Harry did just that. Lily would be so ashamed of my actions.
Alanna looked pensive as soon as the barrage of pain and loss had ended. I need to see this Veil for myself. she finally thought in reply. If it is what I think it is, then Sirius didn't die, but was given a fate far worse than death.
WHAT!!!!! bellowed Harry. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH????????
I recognize the Veil, but I am not sure it is the same one that I saw before. If it is, then it is the only existing portal into Clautius's realm and we will have to go through it and rescue Sirius as well.
Through the Veil?? Harry asked, incredulously. Abruptly, his tone changed. Is Sirius actually dead or is he alive?? TELL ME, PLEASE!
Harry, and finally Draco and Snape alternating begged, pleaded and threatened Alanna for more information, but she would not say anything else on the matter and dismissed them for the day.
Snape went to Dumbledore's office, and the other two headed outside. Harry sat down on the edge of the lake, still crying softly. Draco left, calling over his shoulder I'm going to get our brooms. Harry sat, cross legged, and pulled out a small pocketknife from the back pocket of his black jeans. He pulled up the sleeve of his dark blue shirt, and stared at his wrist. Thin scars covered the entire area. Sure, they look old and faded. Who would believe that every one of them was made within the last month and a half? He thoughtfully pressed the blade to a patch of unmarred skin further up his arm and cut. He watched, fascinated, as his blood beaded and welled out of the thin slice. It always amazes me how pretty this is, he thought absently as he sliced his arm lightly several more times, then, on a whim, slashed his arm with some force.
Grimacing from the sting of pain, he pressed the blade harder, cutting deeper into his flesh. Across the arm, to the hospital. Down the arm, to the morgue. I really wish I could, but then who would kill Voldemort? Supposedly, I'm the best they've got. Wow, come here, Voldemort, look at this! Potter is going to make your job that much easier by offing himself. Nope, don't think so.
He continued cutting until he had another half a dozen lines running across his forearm and the blood dripped steadily from his fingertips. Hey, he thought in slight alarm as several minutes went by and nothing happened, why aren't I healing? Usually, by now, I would have scabbed over and more scars would have formed. This feels funny. Draco, Draco? DRACO!! He stared, a little dizzy, at his still bleeding arm.
A/N: Hey, sorry about the delay. I am alerting you all that my computer is having a midlife crisis and has decided to shut down, not save things to disk or CD, and all kinds of other crazy stuff. I'm gonna try to type this stuff at school, but its gonna be a slow and painful process. The chapters are not going to be posted on a regular basis. Again, my apologies, and don't kill me.
Dudley and his parents walked back to their rooms in silence. Once they were inside, Vernon turned to Dudley, sneering in disgust. Dudley stood there, silent tears streaming down his face. Dudley sorrowfully gazed at his father and asked him "What, so you're just going to hate me? You'll hate me for something I cannot even control?" Vernon punched him across the jaw. Dudley fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
"You worthless freak. To think that I loved you and clothed you and this is the thanks I get? You're no better than your worthless cousin." Vernon spat in loathing. Petunia stood there, wracked with indecision. Who did she choose; her husband or her son? As Vernon pulled his arm back to strike her son again, she made her choice.
"Get your hands off my son!" she yelled, coming between the two. "I should have done this years ago, instead of being too frightened and jealous to stand up for my beliefs. Dudley cannot help that he has magic, and neither can my nephew. It isn't their fault that they are the way they are. You are not to harm them again." With a bellow of rage, Vernon slammed her against the wall. She slid to the floor, dazed.
Dudley lay on the floor, semiconscious. He barely noticed his mother land across the room from him, or Vernon advance and kick him in the ribs again and again. "You worthless freak. You're no better than your cousin" kept swirling in his mind, drawing him closer, closer, closer to the truth. He could almost grasp it. There. Something clicked into place, and he slumped forward, unconscious.
Four year old Dudley sat in his room, playing war zone with his toy soldiers. He could hear Daddy beating Harry again, that special beating that happened when Mommy wasn't there. Mommy didn't know, and Daddy didn't know that Dudley knew it was happening. I don't want that to happen to me, he thought anxiously. That's why Daddy can't know that I can make my toys dance, or pretty fires start.
Dudley sat there on his floor, directing his troops. If I play hard enough, I can pretend not to hear Harry's screams he thought miserably. He pointed a finger, and his tanks rolled across the carpet, crushing the other side of the battle. The soldiers marched after the tanks, shooting anything that moved. Dudley didn't notice that the screams had turned to barely audible sobs, or that his father's heavy tread could be heard clearly coming up the stairs. He didn't see his father open the door and come into the room.
"You worthless freak." Dudley jumped, and turned around fearfully. His father loomed over him, face purple.
"You worthless freak." he repeated. "You're worthless, just like your cousin. Do you know what I do to freaks like you? Freaks that don't deserve to live?" Dudley slowly nodded, terrified.
Vernon slammed his meaty hand across Dudley's face. The small boy flew backwards across the room. Vernon strode over to where his son had landed. Dudley whimpered.
"Pwease, Daddy, don't huwt me! Don't huwt me wike you huwt Hawwy. Pwease, I'ww nevew do it again, pwease!" Vernon kicked his ribs savagely, then reached down to grab Dudley's throat.
"NOOO!" shrieked Dudley at the top of his lungs. "MUMMY!!!" He threw his hand out at Vernon. The huge man flew through the air, hitting his head against the door jam and crashing through it. He skidded to the ground and lay there, unconscious. Dudley felt his shattered ribs heal, and the pain in his jaw vanished.
"I'm not a fweak. I don't wanna do magic. I want Daddy to wove me again, and not hate me wike Hawwy. I WANT DADDY TO FOWGET! I WANNA FOWGET!" Dudley felt a brick wall slam down over part of his mind, and he slumped back, unconscious.
Dudley lay on the stone floor in the common room in shock. He had made himself forget all those years ago, and he could see why. My father's a child molester??? Tears leaked from his clenched eyes. Suddenly, a wave of power swept through him. It's back, my magic's back he thought in hysterical relief. He concentrated and energy crackled around him. Vernon and Petunia stared at him in shock.
It's back. He's broken through whatever made him forget. He remembers everything, and from the looks of it, it was really bad,Petunia thought, as she scooted back, suddenly afraid.
Dudley slowly levitated into midair, and floated to an upright position. The whole room crackled with electricity. His eyes glowed red, and he drew back his arm, energy writhing around his fist. He shot his arm towards Vernon. "You sick bastard. This is for Harry," He growled low in his throat, "and for me."
Vernon flew backwards and landed, pinned against the bookshelf across the room. He lay plastered against the books, stunned. Dudley raised his spread hand high into the air, and Vernon rose four feet from the ground, mimicking Dudley's movements. His legs kicked and pumped uselessly as Dudley clenched his fist, and effectively cut off his air supply.
"Dudley, sweetie, put your father down." Petunia cautiously placed her hands on Dudley's shoulders.
"He - isn't - my - son. I - have - no - son." Vernon wheezed, his face an alarming shade of purplish blue. Petunia's face turned stony. Dudley turned to his mother.
"Mum, do you know exactly what he did to Harry?" Dudley asked conversationally, while tightening his already viselike grip on Vernon's massive neck. Vernon wheezed, and renewed his kicking efforts, to no avail.
"Duddy, I was there. Once or twice, I even participated. Yes, we beat the shit out of him."
"No, Mum, he did so much worse than that. And, he tried to do it to me. Mum, he - he touched him. He touched him all the time until Harry started attending Hogwarts, and, after that, he was too scared that Harry'd blow him up or something. It was so bad, and I was so scared, that I made both of us forget I could do magic. Why else do you think I hated Harry? It was safer."
Petunia stared at her son in shock, unable to comprehend what her son was trying to tell her. VERNON'S A CHILD MOLESTER?????? She sat on the armrest of the couch, shaking her head. Wait just a damn minute, Lily tried to tell me something. She sat there, lost in memories.
"Hey, sis, I know you don't want me butting into your life and all after you told me to leave and never come back, but you need to see this." Petunia looked up, shocked and furious. HOW DARE that - that - that WITCH come here! She's always ruining my life! Why can't she tell she's not wanted! Lily flinched, but continued bravely.
"I found this in the library archives while following up on some research I did for a school project." She held up a ten year old copy of the Lancaster Herald. The front page headline screamed, in bold print, 'Babysitter sentenced to 7 years for child molestation charges'. Petunia sneered at her.
"And how, may I ask, does this pertain to me?"
"Look, Petunia, I found this while researching on Muggle persecution of Magic kind. I found the first article in the Daily Prophet, but I found corresponding articles in the Lancaster Herald, the Surrey Times, and five other Muggle newspapers. They all say the same thing, except the Daily Prophet has quotes from the child molester himself."
She started reading the article. "Fourteen year old Vernon Dursley was sentenced to seven years in a maximum security juvenile facility as well as receiving much needed psychiatric care for sixteen counts of child molestation, and physical abuse. According to his parents, Regina and Garth Dursley, Vernon gained access to these ten boys and six girls through various babysitting jobs. His parents have no idea what possessed him to choose these children, and not the other forty children he has babysat. However, in the courtroom, Dursley announced that those children were 'evil, worthless freaks who did not deserve to live' while on the stand. When asked what had prompted him to believe that, he stated 'They could make things float, and fly, and light on fire, and make floods happen. They were evil and needed to be punished." Lily looked up from the article. Petunia glared at her, disbelieving.
"Petunia, listen to me. Vernon Dursley, your fiancée, is a child molester. You have the genetics to carry a magical child. In fact, you WILL have a wizard son, just as I will. We are descended from one of the most powerful wizards in history." Petunia covered her ears, refusing to hear her. "PETUNIA! LISTEN! If any children you bear have magical abilities, he will hurt them like he hurt those children. EVERY newspaper I read said the same thing. HE MOLESTS MAGICAL CHILDREN!" Petunia cut her off angrily.
"I don't believe you! What right do you have, coming in here, telling me that I'll have abnormal children, and that my fiancée will abuse and molest any children we have??" She exploded, infuriated beyond reason. "I LOVE HIM! He is a GOOD man! WHY must you make up LIES, LILY??? Why can't you accept that I am HAPPY??? Why are you doing this to me?" Petunia broke down into tears. "Just go away" she sobbed. "I don't believe you. I don't believe you."
Oh my God, she was telling the truth. All this time I hated her for what I thought was her just trying to ruin my happiness. She was just trying to protect me, like all big sisters protect their little sisters she thought numbly. And, I yelled at her, and called her a liar. Dumbledore must have known, why did he send Harry here? He knew what Vernon was, and still is. Why did he entrust Harry to us? She turned to her husband, voice dripping in sarcastic sugary sweetness. "Vernon, love, what did you do to my son?"
Vernon looked confusedly back and forth between Petunia and Dudley. "Whaa--?" he croaked, his lips turning blue. Dudley sighed, and ran a hand through the air. Vernon's confusion vanished, and he stared at his son in shock and hatred before passing out.
"He didn't remember before, but he remembers now." Dudley dropped the dead weight to the floor with a crash.
Petunia stared at the crumpled form on the floor and felt only a seething hatred and revulsion. To think I let that trash touch me for eighteen years... "Are you positive he's been molesting Harry?" she asked, finally coming to a decision.
"I heard him, but I never saw it happen. Why? What are you planning to do?"
"Did he touch you?" Petunia cringed, terrified of what she might hear. If he did that to my Duddy, I swear I'll cut his dick off myself with a dull, plastic knife...
"He punched and kicked me, but I threw him against the wall before he could do any worse. He was going to try, though. He promised to hurt me like he hurt Harry." Dudley's energy slowly dropped and he gradually settled back down on the ground. Petunia wrapped her arms around her son.
"Oh God, Duddy, I'm so sorry" she sobbed. Dudley was about to speak, but she steamrolled right over him, desperate to get the guilt out of her and into the open. "Lily told me almost twenty years ago, right before we got married, that bastard and I. She gave me news articles, proving that he had done time for molesting magical children, children that could make things fly, or move, or light on fire, and all that other stuff you can do. He hurt them badly and went to juvenile hall for seven years. I didn't believe her, and called her a liar. She was only trying to protect me and any children I might have, and I told her to leave and never come back." She gasped for breath, and Dudley tried to comfort her.
"Mum, I'm all right, I swear. He can't hurt anyone ever again. Mum, you didn't know, honestly you didn't." Petunia tried to interrupt him, but he put a finger against her lips. "Hear me out. Mum, he went to great lengths to hide it from you. You never saw it, or you would have stopped it. He made sure you never saw it. You thought Aunt Lily was lying, because you had no reason to believe her, and you and she were always fighting. Yes, she was telling the truth, but you loved him and really didn't know. It's not your fault. I don't blame you, and I don't think Harry blames you either. Please, Mum, stop crying. We have to do something with him." He gestured to the stirring Vernon.
Petunia broke from her son's grasp and walked over to him. She savagely kicked the enormous man in the ribs. Vernon groaned and opened his eyes blearily. "Now listen, slime, I'm only going to say this once. I want a divorce. You will give it to me, and you are never to come near me again." She strode angrily over to the Floo and threw a handful of the green dust in.
"Dumbledore's office!" His head appeared in the fireplace.
"Yes, Mrs. Dursley?" She shuddered slightly at the name.
"Actually, Petunia is fine. Could we switch rooms, if you wouldn't mind?" She put on her best angelic expression.
"I'll be there in two minutes." Dumbledore promised and closed the connection. She walked quickly into the bathroom, reappearing less than a minute later with her and Dudley's toiletries. She threw them into her already full suitcase and slammed it shut with a bang. Dudley grabbed his unopened suitcase, and they left without a backwards glance.
Dumbledore met them right outside the painting. "May I ask what is wrong with these rooms?" He took in stoically Petunia's stony expression and the energy crackling around Dudley.
"Is my nephew busy?" Petunia inquired politely, evading the question. I really don't want to talk about this right now she thought tiredly. "I have something I need to discuss with him as soon as possible. It is a matter of utmost importance."
"I believe that he is with Draco Malfoy, Alanna, and Xander, searching for elusive Potions Master, Professor Snape. If I see him, I will tell him that you need to speak with him." Dumbledore led the two of them down the hall and down one flight of stairs. They stopped in front of another painting, this one of a maiden and a unicorn. The maiden curtsied to Dumbledore, and froze when she saw Petunia and Dudley.
"Really, Albus" she trilled softly, "what is a Muggle doing inside Hogwarts?"
"This is Harry Potter's family. Please protect them." he said, inclining into a half bow.
"Of course, anything for Harry! He is such a dear, polite boy, and so handsome." The painting swung open, revealing a suit of rooms even more elaborate than the first. Large embroidered tapestries adorned the walls, and a thick, plush carpet covered the floor. Three maroon, velvet couches were arranged in a semicircle around a stone fireplace. A roaring fire heated the rooms comfortably. Dudley ran inside to check it out.
At the entrance, Petunia turned to Dumbledore. "Now that Vernon has been warded, can he leave? He isn't happy here, and wants to go home."
"Of course. I'll arrange for the wards on Privet Drive to be strengthened, and you could leave for home tomorrow at the latest." Why on earth did she want a room change, then? And, where is Vernon Dursley?
"Oh no, just Vernon. Dudley finally broke through the block he had on his magic, and he needs to train his powers. I really don't want to leave him, considering that everything has changed so quickly for him. I'm the only constant he has right now." She carefully peered through the opening. Dudley was nowhere in sight. She lowered her voice considerably and moved closer to Dumbledore. "Why did you place Harry in our care? I know that you knew about Vernon's conviction. Why did you put him in a situation that could have led to him being hurt so badly?"
Dumbledore stared at her for a long time. "What conviction?" he asked finally.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Thirty years ago, he was arrested and convicted of molesting sixteen magical Muggleborn children!" she hissed angrily. "It's only because I refused to believe my sister, may she rest in peace, when she confronted me with the proof, that I still married him. You put Harry in the home of a child molester!" she hissed angrily.
Dumbledore absently stroked his beard. "I thought it was a calculated risk we had to take. Harry had to live with a blood relative for the protection spells to work, and you and Dudley are his only living blood relatives. Besides, Vernon went through psychiatric care and was deemed cured. Harry was in no danger."
"Are you sure about that? My son says differently, and that is why he repressed his own powers. It was not 'safe' for magical people to be in the same vicinity as my soon to be ex-husband." Petunia acidly replied, loathing evident in her voice, and swept angrily into the rooms. The painting swung shut behind her. Dumbledore stood there for a long time, staring thoughtfully at the painting. He finally turned and strode in the opposite direction.
After searching several hours fruitlessly for the elusive Professor Snape, Harry, Alanna, Draco, and Xander were forced to admit defeat. Alanna and Xander went downstairs to get something to eat. Harry and Draco went in the opposite direction, up to the library to meet up with Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione had given up hours ago, and had wandered off to the library to do their summer assignments. Harry was willing to bet they were in a broom closet somewhere along the way, snogging.
Oh, bad mental image. I did NOT need to picture Granger and Weaseley swapping spit. Draco winced and rubbed his temples.
You know, your only reason for insulting Hermione just disappeared. She is my cousin, and the descendant of Merlin. Can't you be a little nicer to her? I know you and Ron will hate each other until the days you die from the family feud and all, but she really is ok.
They rounded the corner and entered the library. Harry stopped, amused. Ron and Hermione were, in fact, doing their assignments. At least, Hermione was. Ron was leaning back in his chair, staring off into space. He carefully balanced a quill on his nose.
Oh my god, even I noticed the sparks between those two, and I'm the densest person in the world when it comes to who is attracted to who. Harry laughed to himself as he sat down across the table from Ron. Draco smirked at Harry as he sat down across from Hermione.
You finally admitted you're dense, Potter. I'm so proud of you.
Quit being a smartass. It's the damn truth. I never notice these things, but I noticed this one right away. They've been after each other since fourth year. It's so obvious it's scary.
Well, now, I have something else to hold against her. She has horrible taste in men.
You know, you can't help who you fall for, dork. My aunt fell for Vernon, and look where that got her.
"Hey, no luck?" Ron asked Harry, ignoring Draco completely.
"Nope, we searched all over the castle. He isn't here." A loud rustling noise from behind a nearby bookshelf caught his attention. He heard a muffled curse, and the four of them watched, amused, as the bookshelf closest to them toppled and fell, revealing an incredibly annoyed and embarrassed Professor Snape hiding amongst the books.
Harry and Draco looked at each other with undisguised glee. Snape scowled at them and tried to extricate himself from the enormous pile of tomes with little success. Oh, the possibilities Harry thought mischievously.
What should we do to my beloved Godfather? Draco drawled mentally, grinning.
Snape's on the hot seat! Snape's on the hot seat! Harry chanted in a singsong voice.
Hmmmm. Turn him in or hide as well? Alanna really wanted to explain bonding to him. Draco pretended to contemplate the choices. Snape blanched and groaned, shaking his head.
"I swear, you two will have detention until the day I DIE..."
"Professor" Draco began eagerly, smirking evilly.
"We have made our decision" Harry continued, not missing a beat. Snape, Hermione, and Ron stared at them in amazement. The only people they had ever seen finish each others sentences like that had been the Weaseley twins.
The two grinned and glanced furtively over their shoulders, checking to see if the demigods had come up behind them. Not seeing anyone, they continued in unison. "Can we hide with you, please? Please?" They put on their best angelic expressions.
Snape snorted. "Sure, why not? I daresay you'll be more entertaining than listening to Ms. Granger browbeat Mr. Weaseley into studying, although he needs it sorely."
Hermione preened, looking extremely pleased with herself. Ron sulked next to her. "You know, Ron, you do need to finish your Potions and Transfiguration assignments. If you get them done now, you don't have to worry about them for the rest of the summer, and scramble to finish them right before school starts." Ron mocked her behind her back. Harry did the same, rolling his eyes. Professor Snape's mouth twitched, and Draco smothered his guffaw in a coughing fit.
"RONALD WEASELEY!!!! STOP MOCKING ME!!!!" Harry jumped and turned, transfixed, as Hermione screeched at Ron, tears in her eyes. They gravitated closer together until their noses were only inches apart. Ron's face reddened until it perfectly matched his hair. Snape and Draco backed up, worried that he might just spontaneously combust.
"Quit BUGGING me!" Ron started to yell as well. "I'LL DO MY BLOODY FUCKING HOMEWORK WHEN I BLOODY FUCKING WANT TO!!!
"DON'T SWEAR AT ME, YOU INCOMPETANT ASS!! YOU'LL PROCRASTINATE UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE IT'S DUE THEN YOU'LL BEG ME TO WRITE IT!!!!!" Snape's eyebrows rose at the language and accusation. He was about to speak but Draco shushed him and wished for popcorn. He could see why Harry liked hanging out with these two. It was so entertaining. He wondered vaguely if Harry would get upset if he scheduled screaming matches and charged admission...
Don't even try.
Spoilsport! Come on, Harry, it'll be so much fun, and so profitable...
NO!
FINE!
Ron, recovered from his shock at being accused of cheating enough to begin screaming again, yelled back with renewed vigor. "I HAVE NEVER ASKED YOU TO WRITE MY HOMEWORK!!!" He screeched at the top of his lungs.
"BOLLOCKS! EVERY ASSIGNMENT IT'S THE SAME THING!!! I'M SO FUCKING BLOODY SICK OF IT!!!!! DO YOUR OWN GOD DAMN FUCKING HOMEWORK AND DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!" she roared at the top of her lungs. Snape and Draco quickly overturned a table and ducked behind it, certain that hexes were about to fly. Ron's eyes bugged out. Harry still sat across from them, staring in awe and disbelief.
Isn't there a law of physics or something that says that someone's eyes can only bulge out of their sockets so far before popping out? he asked in a detached, scientific manner.
Harry, get out of there! You're in the direct line of fire! You could be killed! Come over here where it's safe! Draco pleaded, convinced he was about to feel his soul mate die or worse.
Don't worry about me. This happens this time every year since first year. No one has died yet.
"NO!!!!" Ron roared right back at her. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!"
This has gone far enough. "Will you two stop the theatrics and just kiss already? You both know you want to." Harry sat there and examined his nails, bored. Really, it was getting so old he yawned. They turned as one and stared at him, incredulous.
I wash my hands of you, Potter. You are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I wouldn't get between them if you paid me. I'll send flowers to your funeral, Draco commented dryly.
"Harry, butt out" Hermione nearly growled.
"Yeah mate, don't get involved. This time, we're gonna have this out." They turned back to each other, each preparing to continue the screaming match.
Oh, I'm gonna regret this later, but I can't pass up the priceless opportunity. Harry, don't say anything and don't stop me. Remember me fondly. Draco darted forward from behind his overturned table. He came up behind the two arguing Gryffindors and pressed their lips together. "KISS ALREADY AND SHUT UP!!!!!" he bellowed.
They did, and did, and did some more. After about five minutes of uninterrupted snogging, Harry, Draco, and Snape looked at each other in amusement and disbelief. As one, they rose from their respective places and strode from the library. "Now we have to find another hiding place" commented Snape ruefully.
"The Forbidden Forest?" Harry suggested with a grin.
"Are you nuts? There're werewolves and worse in there!" Draco hissed, shivering.
"Are you a demigod or not??? Nothing in there can hurt you!!!"
"I'm going to regret this. Potter, Draco, follow me. We are going to my quarters, and, Potter, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll flunk you." Snape led them down into the dungeons. They walked past the Potions classroom, turned a corner, and stopped short, shocked. Alanna stood right in front of them, smirking. "Oh, good, we found you."
Xander placed his hand on Draco's shoulder, making him jump about a foot in the air. "And, you have our brothers with you. Let's talk." His tone bore no room for argument.
Groaning, Snape led them to his quarters and they trudged inside. Alanna quickly claimed Snape's comfortable, expensive leather couch. She and Xander curled up together at one end.
"Oh, sure, make yourself right at home" Snape snapped sardonically.
"Thank you, don't mind if we do." Alanna waved her hand and absently conjured a thirty ounce mug of steaming cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream on top. "Anyone want a cocoa?" she asked. Xander and Harry agreed eagerly. "Draco, Severus, do either of you want anything?"
"Butterbeer, please" requested Draco politely.
"Firewhiskey, make it a double. I'm gonna need it" Snape growled, turning and reaching into a compartment behind several thick tomes on his bookshelf. He pulled out a full bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey. He turned back around and stared cross-eyed at the double shot floating in front of his nose. He snatched the glass and downed the contents, immediately pouring himself another.
Damn thought Draco to Harry. You'd think with the sexaphobic way he's acting, he's still a virgin.
Maybe not, Harry replied after careful consideration. Maybe he had a really traumatizing experience. Either that or he has never been laid.
Like you have. Draco shot at him.
No, just been - damn, don't even think it, he thought bitterly. Draco's eyes widened, as did Snape's, Alanna's, and Xander's. Neither of the boys noticed the concerned and livid glances the three adults were passing back and forth.
I'm so sorry, Harry, please forgive me. I didn't think about what I was saying. You're right, that isn't sex, it's horrible and I don't know what to say.
Draco, stop babbling. It's alright. I'm fine. Besides, it hasn't happened in almost six years. The last time was one month before my acceptance letter. Really, I am ok.
Alanna and Xander held an extremely private conversation. Lana, you thinking what I'm thinking?
I'm thinking that I'm protecting a child molester, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it without Harry finding out that we have guessed what happened to him. Snape's eyes hardened. He knew of several things that could be done without Harry finding out, especially while Vernon Dursley was still at Hogwarts.
How the hell can he still be so cheerful, unless the last six years have been completely an act? If that's the case, how did he not wind up in my house? he thought without anyone else hearing him.
It was time, Snape decided, for a change in conversation. "I can't believe that I'm about to get the sex talk from someone young enough to be my daughter," he groused, sinking into an overstuffed leather armchair.
Harry and Draco snickered, relieved that the conversation could distract them with ordinary problems, like Snape's squeamishness about sex. The two teens claimed the matching ottoman footstools that sat in front of the couch. They lounged, cross-legged, and sipped their drinks.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Alanna asked with an evil grin. "We aren't young enough to be your children, by any stretch of the imagination."
"You look to be barely twenty. I turned forty one last month. You do the math." Snape buried his head in his hands, and sipped his second double whiskey. If I get plastered, he thought a little too loudly, then can I forget this conversation ever took place?
"Oh, please, just relax for once in your life. You are not going to get the sex talk."
Harry and Draco laughed, Harry laughing so hard he fell off the ottoman. Snape was relieved to feel nothing but mirth and happiness rolling from the boy. Wait, he hadn't been thinking out loud...
"How many of you just heard my thoughts?" He asked suspiciously, his eyes darting back and forth between his rather unwanted guests.
"All of us" Harry and Draco spoke in unison. "You'll get used to it after a while" Draco quietly told him. "You'll be able to project your thoughts first, and then receive them from others."
Duh, he thought quietly to himself.
Alanna shot him a funny look, and leaned forward. "That's what I wanted to talk to all of you about. Harry and Draco's bond isn't proceeding normally because they are not physically involved, and Severus, your soul mate is not here, so you have not bonded in any way shape or form. Basically, what to normally expect is, that as your physical relationship grows, so does your mental bond. Because you two," she nodded to the two teenagers, "are not attracted to each other, your bond is the same as that of sharing thoughts with anyone else. You can hear each other the same as you would hear anyone else's thoughts. You have to concentrate a little bit to hear each other, and only hear what the other person sends you, am I right?" The two boys nodded and looked slightly confused.
"A bonded couple should have a constant connection to each other, and should be able to hear each other's thoughts as well as feel each others emotions pretty much all the time, shielding thoughts or not. You don't have that." Draco refrained from telling her about sharing the memories. Some things were too private.
"Severus, you will go through the same thing that they have gone through, but alone. Your soul mate, for some reason isn't here, and we can't find her." Severus opened then shut his mouth, confused.
"What do you mean, you cannot find her? You are demigods, aren't you?"
"We know when one of our kin is in our realm and in danger or in trouble. We don't know outside of our realm. So, we know she is not here. But, other than that, we cannot find her. What we do know is that she should have been here two years ago. That was when she had found you mentally, and alerted us to the fact that she knew who her soul mate was and where he was. When we didn't hear from her after that, we knew something was wrong. We assumed mortal form and came looking for her. She hasn't died, or she would have been able to contact us. Our guess is that she is in trouble." Alanna took a fortifying gulp of cocoa. "I'm positive that Clautius has her."
"So, when do we rescue her?" he asked, mind whirling with possibilities. Alanna had been raped and tortured... no, don't think that way, he chided himself.
"Not until you have been trained to take on an immensely powerful demigod. If she is where I think she is, then it will take all of us to get her back. Speaking of training, Severus, we would like to start as soon as possible."
Harry and Draco looked at each other. "Would right now be a problem?" they asked.
"Well, it will be hard seeing that Sev isn't on the same page yet." Snape cut her off arrogantly.
Excuse me, he sent, lowering his carefully constructed shields. Of course I'm not on the same page. I'm way ahead of you. This information you have chosen to enlighten me with is thirty years too late. I've been successfully shielding my thoughts since my Hogwarts Acceptance letter. I was just surprised you could hear my thoughts, that's all. My shields slipping haven't happened to me since I was thirteen.
Alanna smiled in genuine admiration. "You figured out how to shield on your own without the stabilizing benefits of a soul mate? Most impressive."
Xander spoke up. "May I ask how you learned? Shielding is something especially hard for us, as it is something completely unnecessary for us in spirit form. In fact, the only way we communicate is telepathy. It was the hardest transition for us coming into mortal form."
"What he means to say is that until Clautius entrapped me within my own mind, rendering me helpless, we didn't even know what shielding was or why it was necessary. I was the first demigoddess to actually learn shielding, and it was only after I had learned that I was able to escape from his realm." Alanna quietly spoke, face a stony mask.
"It was a necessity. By the time I was nine, I could hear the thoughts of everyone within a five mile radius. It was driving me insane, and I forced myself to learn how to block them out, or else I would have killed myself" Snape commented dryly.
"What element do you find easiest to do?" inquired Xander to the three.
Harry though for a moment. "I found manipulating earth, like earthquakes, making that glass disappear, that sort of is easiest, and the most fun to do."
"I remember making whirlwinds in my room when I was little. It was much easier and more fun than the other stuff." Draco smiled a little at the memory.
"Telepathy. I cheated on all my tests with it when I was younger." Snape stated simply, with a straight face. Draco snickered. "What? Slytherin rule number one: Always use what gifts you have, especially if they give you an advantage."
"So, now that we know that Uncle Sev can talk to us, can we start training? Please?" Draco pouted, giving Alanna his best pleading basset hound look. Harry snorted with laughter. Alanna and Xander exchanged amused glances.
"Ok, so we have an earth elemental, an air elemental, and a mind elemental. Right. Let's move this back to the Room of Requirement, because I don't think Severus would appreciate us rearranging and redecorating his furniture." Snape winced at the thought.
My leather couches and chairs would never be the same. He cringed at the destruction three untrained demigods could wreak on his rooms. Alanna snickered, and the five of them found themselves back in the Room of Requirement.
"Hey, how do you keep doing that? I thought Hogwarts was warded against apparating!" Draco exclaimed, confused.
"It's so simple, really." Xander smirked at his younger brother. Draco glared back at him. "Sucks when the patented smirk is turned on you, doesn't it. Anyway, the beauty of the wards is that they guard against apparating in and out, but not inside the ward from place to place. Also, since our descendants created these wards, they recognize us and let us through. That's how we apparated into Hogwarts in the first place."
"Now, to get started." Alanna walked briskly to the center of the room and extended her hand. "Wands, please." Their wands appeared in the center of her palm. "You are too powerful to ever need to pick up a wand, and they will only hinder your progress." She quickly pocketed them. "All right, here's the plan for the time until school starts. First, all those spells you have learned? You are going to learn them again, but without a wand. Second, you will learn how to direct your thoughts and do will magic. Third, you'll learn how to shield your thoughts from attack. Now, let's get started."
The next three weeks passed quickly. Mrs. Weaseley, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George left the first day. Remus went back to Grimmauld place a few days after that. Vernon left with him, back to Privet Drive and work. He still had bruises from where Dudley had throttled him, and for some reason, which he was not telling, his pants hung very oddly in the front. Professor Snape had seen him off, and Vernon had run, screaming, into the Floo. Dudley and Petunia stayed, and kept to themselves. Harry only saw them at meals. For some reason, Petunia had walked up to him, crying, that first day after training. She had hugged him, hard, and begged for his forgiveness. He had accepted her apology warily, with the distinct feeling that, somehow, she knew about Vernon's abuse.
Ron and Hermione came back a week later, determined to stay with Harry and protect him from the "evil Slytherins." However, they spent the whole time pretty much ignoring his existence. He would see them in the halls, and say hello, but they were too wrapped up in their budding relationship to notice him. Pretty soon, Harry only saw them when he returned to Gryffindor Tower to go to sleep, or if he stumbled on them in some odd corner of the castle, making out. Harry missed them terribly, but was soon spending too much time training and hanging out with Draco and Professor Snape to really have time to notice their absence.
Harry, Draco, and Snape spent two hours a day formally training with Alanna and Xander. They quickly relearned all the spells they had mastered, and learned several more, having picked Professor Snape's brain for more knowledge on several occasions. Snape had finally relaxed his shields to the point that the five of them no longer felt the need to converse with each other verbally. Anyone who had watched their sessions would have been amazed at the speed and ability of the three students.
Harry by far was absorbing new information the quickest of the three, something that bothered Draco and Snape to distraction. He only had to see something once for the knowledge of how to perform that skill to be permanently imprinted in his memory. However, he passed on the knowledge telepathically of how to do the skill to the other two as soon as he learned it, making the sessions move much quicker than Alanna and Xander had ever imagined. By the end of the third week, they had mastered all the spells they knew, had learned to direct their thoughts for will magic, and had just finished learning shields. Harry only had to feel how Snape raised his shields for him to create his own, and show Draco how to form them.
"Well, that's incredible shielding," said Alanna in amazement as she was forcibly ejected from Harry and Draco's minds. You know, Xander, she thought privately to her soul mate, They are much closer than we thought. Are you sure nothing is going on there?
Lana, you wouldn't let me touch you for almost three hundred years after Clautius hurt you like that. I'm pretty sure nothing is happening between them. Xander stared, concerned at his newest brother. He seems so calm and happy. I wonder how the hell he has coped with this happening to him. At least that bastard left over two weeks ago. He can't hurt him now.
"Ok, let's start something fun. Since you have mastered the basic skills in less time than anyone ever has, we can start animal transformations and apparation."
"Cool!" Harry and Draco exclaimed. Snape yawned.
"I can already apparate, and..." He trailed off, then transformed. An enormous raven flew around the room and settled on Draco's shoulder. Hello, Draco he sent to his amazed Godson.
"Hey, so that's how you kept getting into the Manor without anyone spotting you! Father used to have a fit..." he trailed off, saddened, and Harry rubbed his back comfortingly.
"I can't ever go home, can I?" he buried his head in Harry's shoulder. "I wish I could remember. It can't be that bad, can it?" Snape transformed back and hugged his Godson, hard.
"Draco, you are better off not remembering. I was there the whole time, unable to stop it from happening" Snape murmured into Draco's hair. He and Harry exchanged glances over the smaller boy's head. Professor, what can I tell him? What can you tell him? He's going crazy not knowing exactly what happened. It's eating him up inside. I honestly think he would be better off if his subconscious would let him remember.
Potter, I don't know. I just don't know anymore. They were interrupted by the feeling of someone walking down the hallway, and stopping at the Room of Requirement. They broke apart as Dumbledore appeared at the door.
"Um, Severus, could I steal you for a couple of hours? I have something I need to discuss with you." He stood in the doorway, and leaned on the door jam.
"Headmaster, could you give me a half an hour? We are almost done for the day, and it's an especially difficult concept." Snape stated, looking as if he were in intense concentration.
"All right, meet me in my office in exactly thirty minutes." He turned and left.
You know, we are finished for the day, Alanna thought. You can leave, if you want.
I really don't want to go to that meeting. Snape sighed and stretched.
So, where do you have to go?
Order meetings are called every day. That is where I go every other afternoon. It seems that they have taken your criticism to heart. They actually have plans made that do not involve 'Give Harry Potter to Voldemort so they can kill each other and run like hell'. he dourly replied.
Alanna turned to Harry, shocked. And you have no say in these meetings? Why the hell not? You are their champion, their ultimate weapon. Why don't you attend these meetings also?
Because I'm just a dumb kid. I'm supposed to take orders, be a model student, and not question those who are older and know better than me, he mocked.
So you have no say in decisions that could potentially affect whether you live or die, she stated bluntly.
Basically, yes. I'm too young to be a member or the Order, and, until almost two months ago, I didn't even know why Voldemort even wanted to kill me. Turns out that prophesy didn't even have to be about me. Neville could have been the one he attacked, because he fit the criteria as well.
Could we have the whole prophesy? Xander asked. The wording in these makes all the difference, sometimes.
Sure. It's 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And, either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.' Weird, isn't it?
Xander sat in the corner of the room, mulling over the possible meanings.
Alanna continued to question Harry. Haven't you ever acted against that?
Yep, every year. Except, this year, he had my father thrown in jail. Draco wittily replied. Harry glared at him.
Still gonna kill me, Malfoy? You did promise, after all. Draco snarled at him, completely pissed.
Enough! yelled Snape. You two have already put aside your differences. Stop fighting! Draco snickered.
Malfoy, shut your asshole! Harry snarled. How would you like it if you were responsible for Severus Snape's death???? I have to live with that feeling every fucking day. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR SIRIUS'S DEATH! You wonder why I keep trying to kill myself???? Harry walked over to the window and stared outside, tears streaming down his face.
May I ask how he died? Alanna asked quietly, coming up behind him to hold him. He stiffened at her touch, and she retreated, troubled.
Harry whimpered, a lost, far away look coming over his eyes. For a minute, while he projected his memories of the events leading up to Sirius's death and the aftermath, his eyes went flat, dead. Draco, without any hesitation, wrapped his arms tightly around Harry. Harry, surprisingly, didn't shy away from his touch but leaned into it, allowing Draco to comfort him. He even buried his face into Draco's shoulder.
Impressive thought Severus, behind his strongest shields. There were only six of them, they took on well over four times their number and none of them died. They even managed to incapacitate well over eighteen Death Eaters and capture four. True, only Harry and Luna escaped without any injury, but the other four were not seriously hurt. He watched, shocked, as Bellatrix Lestrange sent her own cousin through the Veil, and Harry attempting to cast Crucio on her. That coldhearted BITCH, he thought vehemently.
Oddly enough, even after a horrible loss, Potter is still a good enough person, and still cares enough about others that he cannot cast a spell that is meant to cause another person horrible pain. Severus felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. And, I have treated him horribly. I've always thought of him as a pampered, spoiled brat, but he is one of the most caring, unselfish people I have ever met. He is so much like Lily, it hurts. And, I thought he was exactly like James. James wouldn't have flown five hours on a broom to rescue his best friend, let alone his worst enemy. And, Harry did just that. Lily would be so ashamed of my actions.
Alanna looked pensive as soon as the barrage of pain and loss had ended. I need to see this Veil for myself. she finally thought in reply. If it is what I think it is, then Sirius didn't die, but was given a fate far worse than death.
WHAT!!!!! bellowed Harry. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH????????
I recognize the Veil, but I am not sure it is the same one that I saw before. If it is, then it is the only existing portal into Clautius's realm and we will have to go through it and rescue Sirius as well.
Through the Veil?? Harry asked, incredulously. Abruptly, his tone changed. Is Sirius actually dead or is he alive?? TELL ME, PLEASE!
Harry, and finally Draco and Snape alternating begged, pleaded and threatened Alanna for more information, but she would not say anything else on the matter and dismissed them for the day.
Snape went to Dumbledore's office, and the other two headed outside. Harry sat down on the edge of the lake, still crying softly. Draco left, calling over his shoulder I'm going to get our brooms. Harry sat, cross legged, and pulled out a small pocketknife from the back pocket of his black jeans. He pulled up the sleeve of his dark blue shirt, and stared at his wrist. Thin scars covered the entire area. Sure, they look old and faded. Who would believe that every one of them was made within the last month and a half? He thoughtfully pressed the blade to a patch of unmarred skin further up his arm and cut. He watched, fascinated, as his blood beaded and welled out of the thin slice. It always amazes me how pretty this is, he thought absently as he sliced his arm lightly several more times, then, on a whim, slashed his arm with some force.
Grimacing from the sting of pain, he pressed the blade harder, cutting deeper into his flesh. Across the arm, to the hospital. Down the arm, to the morgue. I really wish I could, but then who would kill Voldemort? Supposedly, I'm the best they've got. Wow, come here, Voldemort, look at this! Potter is going to make your job that much easier by offing himself. Nope, don't think so.
He continued cutting until he had another half a dozen lines running across his forearm and the blood dripped steadily from his fingertips. Hey, he thought in slight alarm as several minutes went by and nothing happened, why aren't I healing? Usually, by now, I would have scabbed over and more scars would have formed. This feels funny. Draco, Draco? DRACO!! He stared, a little dizzy, at his still bleeding arm.
A/N: Hey, sorry about the delay. I am alerting you all that my computer is having a midlife crisis and has decided to shut down, not save things to disk or CD, and all kinds of other crazy stuff. I'm gonna try to type this stuff at school, but its gonna be a slow and painful process. The chapters are not going to be posted on a regular basis. Again, my apologies, and don't kill me.