A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I hope this extra long chapter makes up for it. A lot happens in this chapter and it took me a while to sort out each scene and connect them together. Many of you were surprised to see that all four friends set out on the journey together, but I hope that it was a good surprise. It didn't feel right to have just any one of them go with Harry. Just so you know I have taken a little liberty with the following scene, but I feel that I have stayed true to canon with the limited detail JKR has provided us with.
Chapter 29- Misadventures
Sirius had only just received the owl with the life shattering news a half an hour ago and he was already on his way to Godric's Hollow. He had to see it with his own eyes… to know what Dumbledore had said was true… that Lily and James were really gone.
The letter came to him while he was checking in on Peter, who had gone into hiding in order to help keep the Potters safe. Oddly enough, Peter wasn't at his hiding place when Sirius arrived. There was no sign of a struggle at the safe house so Sirius had figured he had just left on his own. But something hadn't felt right about the whole situation, and it scared him. He was about to leave to check on the Potters when a large tawny owl came in bearing the Hogwarts crest on its chest. The shocking news that the bird of prey carried had nearly floored him. He quickly gathered some sense of composure and set out to find the truth for himself.
Flying his enchanted motorcycle high above the clouds, it would've been easy to assume that everything that just happened had been some kind of nightmare. Above the rest of the world with the stars overhead everything seemed so surreal.
This can't really be happening, he told him so over and over again.
A part of him was still in denial, and he felt dazed about the whole situation. But he could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest and the adrenaline coursing through his veins, both reminding him that he was very much alive and that this wasn't some kind of awful dream. He really was flying to the home of his best friends to see for himself what had really happened on this terrible night only moments earlier.
A small part of him secretly hoped that the headmaster was wrong about everything, or at the very least there was some small chance that he might still be able to save them. After all, Dumbledore had been notified by owl himself and had yet to confirm what he had said in person.
Knowing that he was nearing the house, he decelerated slowly and began to lower the motor bike through the clouds. He was truly unprepared for the sight he beheld once he looked at the scene below him.
In the sky above the Potters' property was the ominous Dark Mark that conjured fear in the hearts of every witch and wizard. The Dark Mark was a large green skull that contained a serpent protruding from its mouth, and the wispy shape eerily seemed to be watching the horror below. The symbol while somewhat gruesome wasn't dangerous in itself. The meaning behind its presence is what terrified them all. For it represented only one thing… death. Without a doubt Sirius knew that Voldemort and the Death Eaters had been here tonight.
Oh no, he thought. It really is true
He lowered his motorcycle even further and prepared to land. Sirius searched the ground below, dreading what he would find next. Where there once stood a quaint little white house, was now a pile of ruins. Amazingly some of the walls still stood erect, while others were damaged beyond repair. Fires had broken out from various places around the house, and smoke had begun to steadily rise from the ruins as the house continued to smolder. Sirius was mesmerized by the morbid scene below. He watched a second or two longer as the ominous flames tried to lick the dark clouds above, growing more and more monstrous as they swayed in the wind.
Staring at the pile of rubble, Sirius felt his heart catch in his throat. "No, this can't be happening!" he screamed into the night.
He wondered if anyone had notified Remus yet. There wasn't another full moon for another week or so. Where was he at a time like this? And where was Peter for that matter? And why wasn't he at the safe house? Surely Dumbledore would have also contacted the other two when he heard from Hagrid what had happened. Did Peter already know? Is that why he had left?
He quickly landed his bike in the street in front of the demolished home, and stood on shaky legs trying to understand what he was seeing. He took a few hesitant steps forward and saw that the once beloved possessions of James and Lily seemed to have been smashed into smithereens. Shards of wood, metal, and plastic littered the front lawn of their home like confetti left over from some party.
It was then that it hit him. What if James and Lily were still alive somehow and were buried under the rubble? The sudden realization of what that meant set him into action. He ran across the lawn like a crazed man, screaming into the night.
"JAMES! LILY! OH GODS… HARRY! WHERE ARE YOU!"
There seemed to be no easy way to gain access to the house with all the debris that was in the way. Some type of explosion must have caused the house to shatter in order for it to look like this. Desperate to find his friends he began throwing aside large pieces of wood and metal all the while screaming and begging for his friends to respond to him. As hard as he tried it seemed as if he wasn't making any progress.
After trying to lift a particularly heavy beam, Sirius's ears picked up on a very faint sound. A child's cry!
Turning in the direction of the crying Sirius saw a large man standing about 50 yards away with his back to him. He ran towards him, realizing that it could only be one person that had the same giant like frame. He hoped that little Harry was safe in his arms.
"Hagrid!"Sirius yelled as he approached his giant friend. "Is Harry okay? You've got help me find James and Lily!" He wasn't ready to accept what Dumbledore had told him in the letter.
Sirius walked in front of Hagrid and saw how distraught he was.
"They're gon'," moaned Hagrid, turning towards the dark haired man. "James an' Lily are gon'…"
Tears trickled down the giant's face and got caught in his scraggly beard. Sirius looked at him in horror, trying to process what he was saying. First Dumbledore… now Hagrid… don't they understand that there might still be a chance…
"What do you mean? We can still save them…" said Sirius. The baby's cry caught his attention, and for the first time Sirius realized that Hagrid was in fact holding little Harry in his arms. The poor child was beginning to cry again, wailing for his mother and father. In the darkness Sirius wasn't able to determine if Harry was injured or not, but he seem to be fine other than the oddly shaped trickle of blood that lined his forehead.
"Sirius… they're gon'…I was jus' going ter stop by fer a chat wi' me ol' friends when I saw the explosion. I found them all inside the ruins."
Hagrid stepped aside and revealed to Sirius what he had been blocking from his view. There on the ground, just a few yards away, were the bodies of James and Lily Potter lying side by side…deathly still. At first glance Sirius could have sworn that they were only sleeping. Looking more closely he saw that their clothes were now torn and filthy. James's glasses were missing and his hair seemed messier than usual. Lily's beautiful auburn hair was swirled beneath her head haphazardly and a few stray strands covered her face. It wasn't until Sirius got down on his hands and knees between his friends and saw their faces up close, did he truly believe they were dead. Both of their eyes were still open but all the sparkle and life that they once held were gone. Now their eyes were lifeless and dull, staring hauntingly into the face of death.
He reached out his arms and placed a hand gently on each of their chests and hung his head. Their bodies were cold and lifeless beneath his fingers. He could sense that the kindred spirits that had once resided in them had already left for the spirit world.
"Oh gods… no… not James and Lily… please no…" he moaned as began to process what had happened.
His heart felt like it was breaking in two. Here was one of his best friends in the whole world and his beautiful wife lying dead. So powerful was the grief that he felt like lying down beside them and ending it all. He didn't want to be in a world when a loving family like the Potters were so shamelessly killed for standing up for what was right.
Sobbing in agony, Sirius doubled over and gripped the lawn between his fingers trying to steady himself. His own shaky cries drowned the sound of little Harry's wail and Hagrid's poor attempt to calm the child. He cried for his friends… he cried for the injustice of it all… but mostly he cried for what he had lost in life…members of his true family. Long ago he had turned against the Black Family for their allegiance to the Dark Side, and had embraced his friends as his real family. Now James and Lily were gone. He begged the gods for it not to be true, but when he opened his eyes again they were just as they were before. He allowed himself for a few moments to mourn a little longer, but realized he needed to focus on what had happened now. There might still be danger.
In a last attempt to compose himself; he decided that he would spare them every last shred of dignity. He couldn't bear if anyone else saw the haunted look he had seen in their faces. He reached out with a shaky hand and closed James's eyelids. Never again would he see the laughter behind those blue eyes as they recounted the days of being Marauders. He then did the same for Lily, noticing that her pale eyes no longer resembled Harry's emerald green ones. It was just another chilling reminder that she was really gone. He gently brushed aside the few strands of hair that had been covering her face, and took a shaky breath. With their lifeless eyes now shielded from the world, Sirius could almost pretend once again that they were merely asleep.
He rose unsteadily to his feet and looked at the carnage around him again. The house was still smoldering and the darkness of the night seemed to have crept into his very heart. Sirius knew that he would never be the same again. Part of his real family was gone. All he had left was Remmy and Peter now. It would have to be enough. He hastily wiped away the falling tears, but to know avail. He couldn't seem to stop crying.
Suddenly Harry's cries pierced their way into his heart and he realized what the small child was saying.
"Ma…ma…." Harry cried, trying to reach his arms towards where Lily was lying. Hagrid had turned away so that he couldn't see his dead mother's body, but Harry knew she was there just the same. "Mmmamaaa..." When his mother didn't respond to his desperate plea, he tried to reach his father, "Dadeee…."
I'm crying that I've lost my best friends when I should really be more concerned that Harry's parents are dead, he thought to himself. I'm being selfish
"Hagrid… let me take him…" Sirius reached for the crying babe.
"No, I'm sor'ry. Professor Dumbledore sir's orders. I 'ave to take Harry 'ere away once I've gott'n the okay by the Aurors. The Ministry 'as finally gotten their act together an' sent them in."
Sirius looked around and saw that investigative Aurors had indeed begun to apparate in to assess the damage. A few began walking towards them.
"Please, Hagrid. I'm the boy's godfather. I'll look after him…" Sirius stroked Harry's face and tried to calm him, but the small boy wouldn't be comforted. He was hysterical and near hyperventilation as he squirmed in Hagrid's arms. He then got a better look at the boy's forehead and saw that the trickle of blood he saw earlier was in the shape of a lightning bolt. "He's hurt… that doesn't look natural!"
"I'm not sure what happened, but I think he'll be okay… I can't let you take 'im. I was told that the boy would go ter his aunt's an' uncle's house. Something abou' 'im being better protected there."
"What! You can't do that. Those Muggles are awful! I don't think Lily has even spoken to her sister since the wedding," Sirius argued.
"I don' know abou' any of that," Hagrid began, "but I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has his reasons. If you explained all of that ter 'im, he migh' reconsider. For now that is where little Harry will go. Sorry… I'm sure this'll all get sort'd out shortly," the large man said, wiping a few stray tears.
Sirius agreed reluctantly and wrapped his arms tightly around his chest. He was still shaking like a leaf, and the smoke was beginning to make him cough.
"I'm sor'ry Sirius… I know 'ow close you were to them…" Hagrid said as he placed a large hand on his shoulder. Sirius knew he was trying to comfort him, but it didn't seem like anything would ever take the pain away that he was feeling.
"You can take my flying motorbike to bring Harry to his relatives. I know you aren't supposed to use magic," Sirius offered.
"Oh, I can't do that…" Hagrid argued.
"Take it! I won't need it anymore," he said. In fact, that bike was one of the few joys he had in life. It pained him to see someone else on it, but if it meant Harry's safety then he didn't care. It felt wrong to take joy in something as mundane as a motorbike now that the Potters were gone. If he somehow could trade it in order to bring them back he would. To be honest he didn't really care if he ever saw the bike again.
Hagrid nodded gratefully and went back to calming Harry whose cries had by now become a dull whimper as he wore himself out.
Taking one last look as his friends' bodies, Sirius began to walk around the house in a daze trying to figure out what had happened on this Halloween night.
How had Voldemort known where the Potters were living? The Order had begun to suspect that there might be a spy among them, but they weren't able to point a finger at anyone yet. Even so it would be impossible to locate them while they were under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. Why just last week Sirius had asked his friends to change their Secret-Keeper to someone else to throw the Death Eaters off track? Peter had readily agreed, so how did they…. PETER!
"Harry…"
There would have been no way to locate them unless Peter had told the Death Eaters exactly where they were. He was the traitor!
Sirius suddenly realized what he had done. He had as good as killed Lily and James. He was the one to persuade them to use Peter as the Secret-Keeper instead of using him. If it weren't for him, James and Lily would still be here. Tears began streaming down his face and his chest constricted tightly as the guilt became overwhelming.
"Harry…" a voice called again.
He ran blindly away from the scene desperate to find the bastard that had betrayed him all. He should have known that Peter was working for Voldemort. He was always so skittish during the Order meetings, like he had something to hide. They had all assumed he was just nervous about the war; now it seemed Sirius had a true reason why.
With an audible crack, Sirius apparated away in search of Peter. He would search all night if he had to but nothing was going to stop him from hunting for his ex-friend. Deep down Sirius was scared to admit what he would do if he actually ever found him…
"Harry…"
Harry's brain was now in that place between dreaming and consciousness. In his mind, he was still reliving Sirius's actions as he searched for Peter. Just as he was about to confront him on the street, he heard his name called again. This time much more forcefully.
"Harry!"
He opened his eyes to a blinding light and found that the sun was now high overhead, blinding him. Turning away from the offending glare, he found Draco looking down at him worriedly.
"Are you okay, love? You were dreaming again, weren't you?" Draco asked gently wiping away the tears that had stained Harry's pale face.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ron and Hermione sitting beside one another further back in the small cave, waiting to see if he was alright.
The memory of what he had just dreamt came back with full force, and Harry felt sick to his stomach. He sat up immediately, recognizing what the wave of nausea meant. He quickly began to scurry down the rocky out cropping to the forest below; ignoring his friends worried calls. He nearly fell several times as small rocks loosened and cascaded down the steep hill below him, but he managed to scoot his way along as he suppressed what was rising in the back of his throat.
Finally reaching the soft ground, Harry found himself retching violently on his hands and knees. Unfortunately, he had not eaten much of anything in the last two days because he was too worried about Remus, the battle, and this mission. Now he was dry heaving uncontrollably, as his stomach struggled to empty that which was not there. Tears leaked out of the corner of his eyes once again as he tried to gain some control. He felt a hand on his back rubbing in small circles and soon began to feel better.
Ignoring the other's presence, he crawled over to a nearby tree and propped his back up against it. He brought up his knees and buried his head in his arms, willing the uneasiness to go away.
"Here, drink this…" said Draco, nudging a water canteen towards Harry, who shook his head vehemently. "C'mon, take it. It'll make you feel better."
Wiping away his tears in frustration, Harry took the canteen and took a sip of the cool water. It was rather refreshing. He took a few more careful sips and some of the nausea he had experienced earlier began to go away. He then spilled some of the water onto his hands and washed his reddened face of the tears, sweat, and bile. Feeling a bit better, he rested his head back against the tree and sighed deeply. Why did everything have to seem so overwhelming?
"Are you alright?" Draco asked, sitting beside him and taking Harry into his arms.
"No," he confessed truthfully. Not only did he feel like shit, but he was also embarrassed about being sick in front of his boyfriend.
Draco seemed to be choosing what he wanted to say next. "Do you feel like cutting?" he asked finally, seeing the way that Harry was still shaking.
Harry considered the question for a moment, but realized the answer right away. "No," he replied. In fact, he hadn't even though of it, which was a good sign. "You don't have to worry about that all the time…" he said in a frustrated tone.
"Sorry… I can't help it. I don't mean to sound like I don't trust you."
"I know."
Draco pressed his lips to his temple and pulled him closer. "Which memory was it this time?" he asked carefully. Harry looked up in amazement and saw in his blue-grey eyes a sense of understanding.
"The n-night… the night my p-parents died…The house was in ruins…fires everywhere… I saw their…their dead b-bodies on the ground. I could hear my baby self crying for them, but they wouldn't answer me. They were already gone…"
Draco swallowed deeply and rested his forehead against his. "Oh Harry… I'm sorry you had to see that…"
Afterwards, Draco held him for a long while and said nothing. Harry was eternally grateful. There really wasn't anything he could say right now to make him feel any better, but he did feel comforted in Draco's arms.
"I know deep down that it's not really my fault so why do I feel so guilty all the time…" he whispered aloud.
"I really don't know, Harry. Maybe it's just because you care about everyone so much. You're such a good person that you feel responsible for everyone's well being."
"I don't know. I guess you're right," said Harry, not really sure what to believe any more. "Hermione told me once that I had a hero complex. Do you think that's true?" Harry waited a long while for Draco's response. It seemed as if the blonde were choosing his words carefully.
"No… you just want to keep everyone you love safe. There isn't anything wrong with that… as long as you stay safe too…" Draco offered. Harry nodded; wanting to believe what he said was true.
After a while, Draco stood up and helped Harry up by the elbow. Pulling him close, he hugged him once more and ran his fingers through his messy hair to soothe him. Part of Harry wanted to reach up and kiss the blonde for being so loving, but figured that he would save him the horror of what his breath must smell like right now.
Pressed against Draco's chest, Harry noticed the others climbing down from the cave and coming towards them. They must have watched and waited until they felt it was appropriate to join them again. As they parted, Ron and Hermione came up beside them. Burdened with carrying all of their gear, they set it down quickly and ignored the dirty look Draco gave the couple for disturbing their private moment.
"Alright there Harry?" asked Ron. Harry was beginning to feel a weird sense of déjà vu every time his best friend said that, which was all too often.
"Alright," he replied. "Just a bad reaction to a dream I had, I guess. I'm feeling better now." He was telling them the truth for once; he did feel better, at least physically he did.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Hermione hopefully.
"Not really… if you don't mind…"
Harry could see the disappointment in Hermione's eyes as she quickly glanced at Draco. He knew that Ron and Hermione were sometimes jealous of his relationship with Draco, but they never said anything. For so long it was just the three of them that had shared everything. Many of their friends still called them the Golden Trio. The friendly branding was something of a mystery; nobody could remember who exactly had coined that term, but almost everyone had used the title at one point or another.
Things had changed slightly when Draco entered the picture, especially after what happened on New Years. Harry was still amazed the two boys were able to put aside their differences in order to do what was best for Harry, but the tension between them was still evident. It was still an adjustment for Ron and Hermione to realize that Harry would tell Draco private things that he didn't want to share with anyone else.
"That's fine Harry, but we'll always be here to listen when you need us," she replied.
"Thanks, 'Mione."
"No problem. I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling pretty restless," said Hermione. "Do you want to start flying again?"
"Yeah, but we probably shouldn't… There are too many Muggle tourists in this region and even flying under the disillusionment charm may cause attention. Plus there may be Death Eaters in this area that we don't know about. I would feel safer on the ground under the cover of the trees. I'm thinking we should wait until at least late afternoon before we are in the air again," said Harry. He checked his watch and confirmed what he had suspected earlier from the position of the sun, it was only noon time. They still had 12 hours left until he had to perform the spell, and the rest of their flight should only take them about four to five hours at the most.
"Well, why don't we take a walk? The scenery is certainly beautiful here," said Ron taking in the surroundings.
Draco looked somewhat relieved that they wouldn't be mounting their brooms so soon. "Sounds good to me," he said. He loved flying as much as anyone else but being on a thin piece of wood hundreds of feet in the air for endless hours was a little disconcerting.
After sitting on a broom all night and huddled together in the little cave, their legs were still feeling quite cramped. A good walk was just what they all needed. The small group gathered their things and set off, walking in a westerly direction deeper into the forest. They followed a small stream that flowed through the woods, hoping to find a nice place to rest and grab a bite to eat.
Draco led the way this time, picking his away along the bank as the stream widened into a larger river. Sunlight streamed through the dense trees softly illuminating their path. They were in a sheltered area deep in the woods, away from the tourists that flocked to this part of the coast. The trees were quite tall in this region and they stood over them like sentinels guarding a fortress. They talked quietly now and then, but mostly they listened to the natural setting.
Harry felt strangely at peace in this place, like they were traveling through some forgotten land on an adventure. Birds chattered to one another from high above, and a low hum could be heard in the brush below as insects flitted about beating their wings. Everything was covered in a thin layer of moisture, but by now the morning dew would have burned off as the temperature rose throughout the day. Harry figured that it must have drizzled during the night for everything to be still wet, but he didn't mind because it made the air strangely fragrant. There was sweet earthy smell heavy in the air that mixed subtly with the aroma of the pines acting like aromatherapy. Harry found the calmness that soon overcame him to be welcomed relief after his recent nightmare.
After twenty minutes or so of walking, Harry felt his stomach rumble loudly, but not because of his earlier sickness. He was quite hungry, especially after all the flying they done the night before.
"Hey, Dray… this exploring is fun and everything, but I'm getting a little hungry."
"Yeah, me too. I think I see some logs up ahead we can sit on. Let's…"
They suddenly heard a loud splash that was accompanied by a frantic shout from behind them. "Ron!" Hermione yelled as she jumped into the river after her boyfriend.
Ron came up sputtering in the shallow water, soaking wet from head to toe. "Get him!" he muttered, trying to cough out the brown river water from his mouth.
"What? Who?" asked the others in bewilderment, spinning their heads about looking for the danger.
"I don't know! Whatever tripped me and grabbed my pack!" Ron shouted.
"That way!" Hermione shouted as she pointed to a line of trees near the waters edge.
Ron's canvas knapsack could be seen dragging along the ground and through the bushes. Harry and Draco raced after it while Hermione made sure that Ron was okay.
They ran a short distance following the knapsack closely. Whatever was dragging the bag was small and quite fast. The creature darted this way and that trying to lose them. Jumping over a giant root Harry realized he had just lost sight of his prey.
"Where did it go?" he asked, as Draco jumped down beside him.
"I'm not sure… that way!" he shouted as he laid eyes on the runaway pack. He was now running back towards the direction they had come. The creature was apparently doubling his way back to the river in an attempt to try and lose them.
Leaping forward ahead of Draco, Harry caught sight of the creature's small frame and stunned him swiftly. "STUPEFY!" he shouted, almost out of breath.
"Did you get him?" asked Ron as he and Hermione caught up to them.
"Yeah, but what is it?" asked Harry, looking down at the motionless body. It was very tiny, almost humanlike with actual fingers on its hands and feet.
The creature was only about 8 inches tall and had large oversize ears, much like a house elf. It looked a lot like a pixie in appearance except for two things. It was flightless since it did not have any wings, and its skin was dark brown instead of the vibrant colors that were common to pixies. Its dark coloring seemed to serve as camouflage in its natural surroundings because it blended in well with the damp ground.
"An imp," said Ron matter-of-factly. "I should have known. Charlie had a bad experience once with these things when he went camping with some friends. He said that they stole all of their food and gear, but not before they had their way with them."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"Let's just say these things are the creature equivalent of Fred and George. I guess they are natural pranksters and have a sick sense of humor. Charlie said that they placed flobberworms in their sleeping bags, decorated the trees with his underwear, and canoed down the river in his friend's shoes. "
"I read in one of our Care of Magical Creatures textbooks that imps rarely live alone. So there is probably a small colony around here somewhere," said Hermione as she searched about looking for more.
"Then let's get out of here. I'm in no mood to chase these damn things around all day trying to get our stuff back," said Draco.
"But I'm still all wet!" complained Ron. "I can't travel like this."
"Honestly, are you a wizard or not?" asked Hermione, as she performed a drying spell on him. She then performed the same spell on her legs that were also soaking wet.
"Well, I can never remember that one!" he exclaimed as he reached down to grab his pack. He nudged the still stunned imp aside, making sure it wasn't waking up yet, and checked to see everything was still in order. "It's all here," he announced.
"Good, l say let's eat and then go!" said Draco.
"Sounds good," said Harry. "I'm still starving."
They picked their way a little farther down the river, where they felt that they may be safe from anymore imps. A few fallen longs near the stream provided the perfect setting for a picnic. Despite the incident with the imp, the trip so far had been a lot easier than Harry had anticipated. It was starting to feel more like a vacation than a rescue mission.
Each found a comfortable spot on the logs and began to enlarge the food that they had shrunken before packing. Dobby had prepared quite a feast, but they made sure to eat in moderation in case their mission was extended for some strange reason.
"So Harry," Hermione began, "you never told us what is actually going to happen when we reach the temple on Donn Island." She was staring at her sandwich instead of him trying to sound as casual as possible. Harry knew this conversation would come about sooner or later. This was their first real opportunity to talk on the entire trip.
Harry studied the faces of his friends and realized that they were risking their very lives in order to help save Sirius. The least he could do was explain what would happen when they got there.
"Well, I'm not sure how easy it will be able to enter the temple. I'm kind of under the impression that there might be some magical wards surrounding the place, but I couldn't find much information on them."
"Neither could we…" said Ron, through a mouthful of food. Hermione nudged him with her elbow as if to say "Shut up and let him talk!"
"It's alright 'Mione. I know you three did some research of your own. Once we're inside, I will need your help brewing a potion, but after that it will be all up to me."
"What do you mean?'' asked Draco.
"There is a spell… well, really an incantation I guess… that will help connect me to Sirius so that I can direct his soul through the veil and towards the stone basin, where the potion will be poured."
"That's it?" asked Draco in disbelief. Harry nodded. "It sounds too easy." He looked worriedly at Hermione and Ron and they shared some type of silent communication.
"We'll have to wait and see how it goes," he replied, knowing that the others didn't really believe him. They looked away in frustration, but didn't press him any further. Harry knew they were trying to keep everything as amiable as possible.
Harry decided that it was better not to divulge any more information about what would happen because his friends would never allow him to go through with it. For one, the spell was supposed to be quite energy draining and there was the risk that he may over exert himself and die. There was also the key ingredient that he had to add to the potion at just the right moment in order to reanimate Sirius. It wasn't something he was looking forward to doing, but he knew that he would be able to do it.
They finished lunch quickly and prepared themselves for flight. It wasn't quite late afternoon yet, but they were all eager to move on and felt it was worth the risk to keep moving. Harry checked his maps and his compass once more, and decided that they should keep moving in the same direction for the time being.
The weather had grown increasingly warm overnight so they shed their robes and jumpers. Now clad in just jeans and long sleeve shirts, they shrunk their belongings and stowed them in their bags. They also recast the disillusionment charm before they flew up into the air. Hopefully no one on the ground below would notice the distortion their near transparent bodies made as they flew across the sky.
Like before, the foursome resumed their diamond shaped configuration on their brooms. Draco offered to take the lead to give Harry a rest, but he had adamantly refused. This was his idea and he was going to see it through.
They flew west first, passing over the town of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. There they were sure to avoid to the shipping yards and the local airport, which were both high traffic areas for Muggles. Although they were near invisible they didn't want to take any chances of being seen. Harry had asked Hermione at one point if they could be detected on the airport's radar and she assured him that if they did appear on their radar, they would probably be dismissed as migrating birds.
They soon passed into the country of Ireland and veered south towards Sligo. This region was much more rural than where they had been previously. There weren't as many large towns, mainly small villages and field after field of farm crops.
Ireland was a beautiful country. It was truly an emerald jewel with its gently rolling hills and lush green trees. The landscape was by no means covered in dense forest but the woods that it did provide were peaceful and plentiful. Harry could sense the history of the earth here and knew that there were cosmic secrets lying within the numerous hills that no mortal man was meant to understand.
Flying during the daylight made Harry feel much more vulnerable than with the cover of darkness. He was constantly surveying their surroundings to make sure that they hadn't stumbled upon on any Death Eater camps. Although Ron and Percy had painstakingly researched where known Death Eaters were said to have been seen there was no real way of knowing what move they would make next. The battle in Dartmoor had certainly proven that.
After flying for nearly two hours, Harry spotted something very peculiar set against the wild landscape below.
"Hey, what's that down there?" shouted Harry to the others behind him.
"Not sure," Ron shouted back, squinting at the scenery below in order to determine what they were looking at. "I'm getting rather bored up here. Let's take a quick break and check it out."
Flying a little lower beneath the clouds, they could see that it was the remains of what was once a small village. It appeared to have been abandoned long ago for not a single soul could be found anywhere. Harry told the others to wait near the line of trees while he swooped down below to check things out. They looked at him with frustration, but reluctantly followed his orders. In the back of his mind he wondered if the place had truly been deserted. Maybe there was someone in distress that needed their help.
He skimmed his broom close to the ground and surveyed the area, trying to determine if there was any sign of life. Several buildings appeared to have been destroyed because there were piles of rubble everywhere. Unfortunately it was a painful reminder of what his own childhood home had looked like in his recent dream. A shiver went down his spine and he shook his head to rid any more thoughts about that nightmare.
Upon further inspection, Harry discovered that it was once a wizarding village because some of the little shops that still dotted the main street had names that indicated they once sold magical things. From the state of disrepair and overgrowth of weeds, Harry estimated that it had been abandoned some 15-20 years ago.
He finally shouted to the others to join him and he lifted the disillusionment charm on them. Soon the four friends were exploring the little town together searching for some answer for its strange existence. Still tired from their long journey, this curiosity was a welcome relief from their eventless flight. It was late now in the afternoon and they still had plenty of time until midnight to make the rest of the flight to Donn Island. They began walking down the main street silently looking at the depressing sight before them.
"It's quiet…" said Harry after a while.
"Too quiet…" Hermione responded. Realizing what she had said both she and Harry began chuckling quietly at the Muggle reference to scary movies.
"What?" asked Ron who hated to be left out of any inside joke.
"Nothing…you wouldn't understand anyway…" Hermione replied. Ron looked a little put out, but soon got over it.
They discovered that there were only seven buildings still left standing in the downtown area, and they varied from apothecaries to pubs to book stores. From the amount of debris that surrounded the place it appeared that more than half the town had been destroyed by some unknown force. Some buildings seemed to have simply collapsed in on themselves. Others had been apparently set on fire because all that was left were their charred remains. In some areas, black scorch marks marred the sides of a building or the street indicating a spell that had failed to hits its mark. The lonely looking lamp posts that lined the main street were tilted at various odd angles, and their poor state only added to the dismal scenery.
On the outskirts of town, houses were partially hidden amid the rolling hills of greenery. Like the down town area, many had been leveled to the ground, but most seemed to be still rather sturdy.
The four of them remained eerily quiet as they continued to explore. They let themselves into some of the buildings that were still standing to see what they could find. Most were completely bare inside, as though the residents had all decided to pack up and leave at the same instant. Other dwellings still contained some household items, but nothing of real value or importance. Just some broken plates, a lonely boot, half torn books, empty cupboards, spools of thread, a dead plant, and so on. Everything was covered in a thick layer of gray dust and numerous cobwebs. All in all, the place seemed to be a ghost town. Harry wondered if any Notice-Me-Not charms had been placed on the village to distract any Muggles that may have come upon it.
In the last abandoned shop the group came upon they discovered another magical creature. Apparently it had been hiding in the rafters of the building because it jumped down upon Draco's head and scurried into a dusty corner.
"Ahhh! What the hell was that?" he shouted. He slapped at his head and ran his fingers through his hair as if to decontaminate whatever vile vermin had the audacity to touch his lustrous blond locks.
"I'm not sure," said Harry laughing at Draco's antics. The peered into the corner and found a catlike creature watching them warily.
"Oh, it's a Kneazle," said Hermione. "I wonder what it's doing here?"
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well, they are mainly bred in captivity. You don't find many Kneazles in the wild anymore. I just think it's strange that it would be here in an abandoned village," she replied.
Ron added, "I'll bet that one if its ancestors was a pet of one of the wizards or witches that lived here. Maybe they were left behind and have started breeding on their own."
"Are they friendly?" asked Harry. He squatted down to get a closer look at the strange creature. Its fur was brown and flecked with bits of tan and black. A band of white fur began at the base of its neck and lined its stomach. All four paws were white as well, as if it were wearing tiny socks. The oversize ears and the lion-like tail were its most unique features. Otherwise it looked more or less like an ordinary house cat.
"They can be, but I've heard that they can be quite a handful as well," said Ron. "Mum tried to keep one as a pet once, but it didn't work out well. Damn Kneazle kept getting into everything no matter how many times she spelled the cupboard doors to stay shut."
Harry reached out a hand to pet the small creature, but it shied away from him. Seeing its ears now pressed against its head, he knew better than to try petting it again. All those years he spent with Mrs. Figg taught him to understand animal body language quite well.
"It looks pretty thin. Maybe it's hungry…" said Hermione. "Draco, Dobby packed you some ham sandwiches. Why don't you try giving it some meat?"
Draco looked mortified. "Why would I do that? The bloody thing attacked me!"
"Because it looks too thin. C'mon…." she pleaded.
"Fine…." He replied in an irritated tone.
Harry moved out of the way as Draco set his pack on the floor. He enlarged a sandwich, picked off the meat, and placed it on the floor in front of the Kneazle.
"Mrrarow…" it called to him as it sniffed at the food. Finding the scent pleasing, it took a few hesitant licks before deeming it suitable for digestion. Draco sat on his hind quarters watching the thing eat with distaste. Harry would bet any amount of money that the blonde was still holding a grudge about being jumped upon so unceremoniously.
"It certainly likes ham… how odd…" said Ron as it finished off the meat in a few quick bites.
"At this point the poor thing would probably eat anything," added Hermione.
"There are you happy now?" asked Draco as he began to stand up and brush the dust off of his clothing. To his dismay it wasn't coming off very easily so he began to beat as his clothing an irritated manner. He didn't even notice the affection he was receiving from his new furry friend he was so involved in his activity.
"Um…Draco…" said Harry.
"What?"
Harry merely pointed down towards the Kneazle, who was currently rubbing up against Draco and purring.
"Oh no… you stay away from me. Merlin knows where you have been…" he said harshly as he moved away from the creature. Unfortunately, the Kneazle merely followed him where ever he went.
"Mrrow…"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron each attempted to pet the poor thing, but it seemed to only have eyes for Draco. A few occasions it hissed at them while pursuing the tall blond. They gave up any attempt at being friendly with it when it took a swipe at Hermione and caused her hand to bleed.
"Gah! Why won't this thing leave me alone? I thought they were supposed to be intelligent? So why can't this one figure out that I want nothing to do with it!"
Draco pulled out his wand and looked like he was about to stun it when Harry stepped in. "No, don't! It's just trying to be friendly. Maybe it's lonely… Don't be so mean!"
"Then you deal with it!"
"I've tried. She doesn't seem to like me, but she certainly loves you. She's still very young. Maybe you could keep her as a pet?"
"I don't want a stupid pet, and how do you know that it's a girl anyway…" Harry tilted his head at Draco and raised his eyebrows knowingly. "Never mind… that was a stupid question…."
"We should be going," offered Ron, realizing how long they had spent there already.
"Yeah, at least then I can be rid of this thing," said Draco trying to step through the door of the shop while the little Kneazle ran back and forth through his legs, rubbing up against him.
Taking one last look around as they gathered once more in the middle of the cobblestone street, suddenly realizing again how quiet it was in this village. The four of them looked at one another hoping someone would break the eerie silence that had overcome them. Not even a bird's call could be heard. It was strangely unsettling. Ron spoke first looking rather uncomfortable about all the quietness.
"Do you think anyone still lives in any of those houses?" he asked, gesturing towards the outside of town.
"I doubt it…" Harry sadly replied. This place was making him feel more and more morose the longer they stayed. Since their arrival a mass of gray clouds had been steadily moving into the region. The sun's cheerful rays had by now been completely hidden.
"What do you suppose happened here?" asked Hermione curiously. Harry and Ron looked at her incredulously. "Well, I know that it must have been Death Eaters that destroyed these buildings, but when did it happen? And where did everyone go?"
Draco had been standing apart from them trying to get rid of the Kneazle who was still at his heels when he crossed his arms over his chest. His brow was furrowed in concentration like he was trying to remember something.
"I have no idea…" said Ron honestly. "I knew things were bad back when You-Know-Who first started causing trouble, but Mum would never go into any detail about what happened. Now I know why… Can you imagine the battle that took place here? And all the lives that were lost?"
Harry closed his eyes briefly and nodded. Unfortunately, he knew all to well from Remus how battles such as those went. He just hoped that when he faced Voldemort himself that he would be ready to witness such atrocities.
Ron also looked utterly sad and lost as he contemplated the horrors that had destroyed this once beautiful village. Hermione put her arms around Ron and hugged him tightly.
"What's up Dray?" asked Harry, who had now noticed his continued silence.
"I could be wrong, but I think this village used to be called Hazelden. It was attacked during the Dark Lord's first…"
"Don't use that term," said Harry harshly. "Only Death Eaters call him that!"
"Sorry… It was attacked during the first war against Vol…er… You-Know-Who," he replied.
"How do you know?" asked Ron sharply. The look that Draco gave him clearly communicated that he had learned about it from his father. "Oh…"
"It's so sad to see this village completely abandoned after the attack. Can you imagine if Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley were attacked like this? Do you think the people that live there would abandon their homes too?" asked Hermione tearfully. They were all quite attached to those two towns as they were the only wizarding communities that they had access to. If they were to fall, their people would begin to lead very disconnected lives.
"I don't know," replied Harry.
"But why abandon a perfectly good village? I know that there were a lot of buildings destroyed and many people were killed, but they could have rebuilt their community. Why didn't the residents come back once You-Know-Who was defeated?" asked Ron almost angrily. Like the rest of the Weasleys it pained the red head to see anything go to waste, especially a perfectly good building that was once a home.
"I don't know… but this place has a certain feel about it… you can feel the despair of the people that once lived here… can't you?" Harry asked, looking at the others. They nodded as they looked around at the scenery once more. It was as if death itself had left its fingerprint on this sad little village.
"Yeah, I can," replied Hermione. "It feels so gloomy here. Do you think that is why they stayed away?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe this place held too many bad memories." Harry often wondered if he would ever be able rebuild his parents' home or at least visit the location. He presumed that he must have inherited the land the house was built on, but the very thought of going back to the place where his parents were killed made him shudder. He could understand why these people felt they couldn't stay here any longer.
After another few moments the temperature of the air began to feel considerably colder and Harry noticed the others also gave a shiver at the sudden change. Every part of his body had begun to feel mind numbingly cold; all except his chest which was becoming increasingly warmer with each passing second. Reaching inside his shirt, Harry pulled out his dragon pendant. It was hot to the touch and the silver beast's emerald eyes glowed fiercely.
"SHIT!" Harry exclaimed as he retrieved his wand quickly. Turning in a circle he searched the perimeter looking for the haunting creature. Draco stared at him trying to figure out what Harry already knew. "Shit! Get on your brooms! We need to get out of here!"
They secured their bags on their backs and mounted their brooms, hovering just above the ground. Which way do we go? Harry thought desperately. The little Kneazle that had followed Draco was shaking in fear just below him. She looked like she wanted to bolt but couldn't bear to leave his side. Magical creatures must also be able to sense when danger was near.
"What? Why? What's going on?" asked Ron in alarm.
"Don't you feel it?" Harry asked in wonderment.
"Dementors," he whispered hoarsely.
"Yeah… but I'm not sure how many…" Harry was still searching their surroundings trying to determine which way they should go. No matter what they did the odds of escaping the Dementor was slim.
Draco began shouting frantically beside him. "Get off of me you mangy beast!" The little Kneazle had leapt straight off the ground and was clinging to the knapsack on Draco's back. He tried desperately to shake her off, but to no avail. She was just out of his reach.
"Don't worry about it Draco. Let's just go!" said Hermione.
"Fine," he shouted back. He growled in frustration at the little Kneazle and accelerated his broom quickly. The others followed as he led them through town and began to reach for higher altitudes.
A dark shape could be seen moving through the dark clouds ahead of them. Realizing what it must be, they skidded to a halt and began heading in the opposite direction. Just when Harry had begun to believe that they had out maneuvered the evil creature, the Dementor flew up beside them. Its tattered cloak that draped its frail body fluttered in the wind wildly as it flew faster and faster. On several occasions it tried to suck away their life energy, but each time they used evasive maneuvers to place themselves out of reach. Growing frustrated that it could not capture any one of them, it began darting back and forth just above their group. All four of them were screaming as it got nearer, feeling the dark coldness creeping into their hearts. At least a dozen times they tried to cast a patronus charm, but it was too difficult to cast while flying. The Dementor never stayed in any one place for very long.
Harry suddenly realized that they were making this too easy for the Dementor. Staying together meant that it could focus on all four of them at once, feeding off their energy. If they had any chance of escaping it they needed to separate. "Split up! It's the only way," Harry shouted.
Ron and Hermione looked back at him worriedly. Neither of them wanted to leave their friend especially since he was affected most by the Dementors. All of a sudden the Dementor flew just above them and began reaching toward Hermione, with its wretched hand. Having no other choice, the young couple dived in opposite directions in order to escape.
Ron zoomed out of sight, but Hermione wasn't as lucky. She was not a skilled flyer by any means of the word. Harry could see that Dementor had spotted her quickly and was hot on her trail in pursuit.
Fearing for her life, Harry chased after the Dementor with a burst of speed. Draco could see what he was attempting to do and followed after him quickly. "No!" screamed Draco. "Harry, don't! I'll save her… Just go take cover somewhere… you know what will happen to you!"
"I can't just leave her Draco!" Harry shouted back.
He caught up to them soon and hovered just above them. Hermione's screams pierced the air below and he set into action. He then began a spiral dive down towards the ground, encircling the Dementor and Hermione. "It's me you want! Come and get me!"
The Dementor swung its head around and screeched menacingly at Harry. Seeing how close he was to the creature, Harry flew downwards hoping to lure it away from Hermione. Glancing over his shoulder he realized that it was pursuing him, but closer than he expected. The Dementor was amazingly swift. This creature must be desperate for prey, thought Harry.
He accelerated faster towards a grove of trees hoping the others had made it to safety. He glanced back once more and felt the creature's hand grasping at his robes. Unfortunately, he didn't realize just how quickly he had reached the trees. Before he knew what was happening he was crashing through the branches at break neck speed, slowing his pace. When he could fly no further without injuring himself badly, he landed his broom and prepared to face the Dementor.
As quickly as he had drawn his wand, the Dementor was already upon him. It drew a long, slow, rattling breath and begun to suck his life energy from him. He had already begun to hear the desperate screams of his parents as he relived their last moments on earth. The intense cold that he had felt earlier became much more prominent, and he felt his breath catch in his chest. He fell upon his knees and struggled to remain conscious.
With every last bit of strength he tried to back away and cast a patronus. All that he was able to produce was just a wispy silvery cloud that did nothing to ward off the evil creature that was attacking him.
With each passing second, Harry fell deeper into the darkness as the Dementor sucked away his life force. At first he had only heard the voices of his parents, but then he began to hear the angry yells of his uncle. He could no longer tell what was reality and what was memory. Harry could feel him getting closer and closer, and he knew that by the sound of his voice that his uncle was in another drunken rage coming towards his cupboard.
"Get out here, you worthless freak! I'm going to beat the freakishness out of you if it's the last thing I do!"
"Please, Uncle… no…I'll be good…"
"That's right… you're going to be a good boy for Uncle Vernon… just like old times…"
"No… that's not what I meant…please don't…"
Somehow the voices began to twist until it was rather confusing. It was as if he were hearing two separate conversations at once. Harry desperately wanted it to all go away, but he was becoming more and more disoriented as the Dementor advanced upon him once again. He felt like he was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder.
"I'm going to kill you, you fucking traitor!"
"Please Uncle, stop…"
"Goddamn worthless freak! No one wants you!"
"Please, Sirius you don't understand what he is like. You would have done the same!"
"I would have died to protect James and Lily!"
"I'm going to make you wish you were never left on our doorstep!"
One conversation seemed to dominate over the other, until Harry could only focus on the stronger of the two. Suddenly, a younger version of Peter Pettigrew stood before him, darting his eyes desperately back and forth looking for an escape. Harry was accustomed to hearing things when he was attacked by a Dementor, but never before had he experienced a hallucination.
"I didn't know what to do, Sirius. He has powers like you wouldn't believe. He would have killed me if I hadn't given them up!" said Peter, groveling for forgiveness.
Several Muggle looking individuals began to appear from behind the trees, looking at the display in fear and awe. Harry vaguely wondered where they had come from. The nearby village had long been abandoned.
"You fucking traitor! Do you even realize what you have done? They were our friends! I'm going to kill you!"
The scenery before him began to morph from that of a wooded forest to a Muggle suburb, complete with houses and everything. Harry thought he was standing in the middle of what appeared to be a street. The Muggles that had appeared earlier had begun to creep closer, intrigued by the ensuing argument. Why was it that people loved a good fight, and were willing to risk their own safety to get a closer look? thought Harry. They had no idea how much danger they were really in.
"No Sirius, don't. Please be reasonable!"
Peter backed away slowly, looking like he was going to bolt. He then put his wand behind his back and muttered a series of spells under his breath. There was suddenly a loud explosion and the entire street was illuminated by the force of the spell. When the smoke cleared, there was a huge indentation cracked into the cement where the explosion had occurred. At least a dozen or more Muggles were lying on the ground, dead or badly injured. Peter Pettigrew was no where in sight. Sirius began to laugh manically as he realized what Peter had done. Harry wondered why he would have done such a thing. Maybe if he didn't start laughing at the irony of it all he would soon begin sobbing and never stop.
"NOOOOOO….." Harry shouted, trying to use what little he learned about Occlumency and controlling the mind. He finally pushed away all the horrifying thoughts and concentrated on trying to save himself. The suburb scene dissolved away, leaving him in the grove of trees once again.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" a voice yelled from just a few yards away.
The Dementor screamed in outrage and Harry felt himself fall sideways toward the ground. He was extremely weak after his experience and couldn't find the strength to lift himself up again. Harry opened his eyes to see the slivery apparition of a giant dragon charging at the offending Dementor. They flew around one another at dizzying speeds until the dragon finally won the battle and chased the Dementor away.
"Harry!" Draco shouted as he ran towards his boyfriend. He skidded to his side and gently stroked his face in worry. "Are you alright?"
"No…" he said truthfully. "So tired…"
"Harry, don't go to sleep. Not just yet. We need to get some chocolate in you and move to another location. There is no telling when that thing will be back."
Harry could only nod mutely. He still felt rather cold, and the depression that the Dementor had brought upon still had Harry firmly in its grasp. Between hearing his parents' screams, reliving the rape, and witnessing the scene that sent Sirius to Azkaban, he was in a right awful state.
"Over here!" Draco shouted. Harry heard the sounds of Ron and Hermione dismounting their brooms and run over to him. He had no energy to turn his head to face them.
"Oh Harry…He should have never had done that to save me. Is he okay?" said Hermione, brushing back the hair on his face.
"I'm not sure," said Draco. "Give me some chocolate."
Ron broke off a few pieces of chocolate and handed it to Draco, who placed a few bites in his mouth. He instantly began to feel warmer, and the affects of the Dementor began to wear away.
He suddenly felt something like sandpaper against his cheek. Out of the corner of his eye he could see that the little Kneazle, who had stuck by Draco, was licking him affectionately. He reached up and began to stroke her fur and she purred in response.
"It looks like she loves you. Maybe now she will leave me alone," commented Draco. As if understanding what he had said, the Kneazle jumped up into his arms and nuzzled his face to show she still cared for him. "Stupid kitty," he said in frustrated tone, but his actions spoke louder than his words. He reached up and petted her softly a few times before setting her aside.
Harry felt well enough to try and sit up now. Draco and Ron each took an arm and helped hoist him up to a seated position. His head began to swim with dizziness and Hermione placed another bit of chocolate in his mouth. He was grateful that the sweet stuff was working; he hated feeling that way.
After polishing off an entire bar of chocolate, Harry was already on his feet, grabbing for his broom. Although he was still rather shaky, he knew that they were in danger if they stayed any longer. The sense of urgency was strong in the group.
"What do you think you are doing?" asked Draco.
Harry looked at him puzzled. "You said it yourself; we need to get out of here…"
"Yes, but you're not well enough to fly alone."
"I'm fine."
"No you are not, and you know it." Draco came forward, and lifted his chin, looking into his upward turned eyes. "I don't know what happened to you with that Dementor, but I know it affected you greatly. You are going to fly on my broom with me and that is all there is to it."
"But…"
"No buts… let me take care of you, damn it!" Harry nodded and reached up and kissed Draco sweetly. The blond then took his face in his hands and kissed him back more deeply, expressing his love for him.
"Are you guys ready to move?" asked Ron, searching the skies above them.
"Yeah, let's go!" said Draco.
He mounted his broom and waited for Harry to join him. He hated doing it, but he had to use a shrinking charm on his broom. There was no other way to carry it safely. He just hoped that the spell didn't affect the broom's integrity in anyway. He began to stow it in his own pack when he had an idea. He stood behind Draco and began fiddling with the pack on his back.
"What are you doing?" The blond asked trying to see behind him.
"No room in my shoulder bag. Gotta put my broom in yours," he replied.
"Fine… hurry up!"
He opened the latch quickly and pushed everything inside around to make room. He then carefully reached down and picked up the little Kneazle without Draco noticing. He put a finger up to his mouth to indicate that she should be quiet, hoping that she would understand. He then sneaked her into his pack, allowing her head to stick just a little so that she could breathe. As much as Draco tried to convince the others that hated the poor thing, Harry knew she would be good for him. Draco, like Harry, had no real family anymore and needed a familiar to keep him company. Hedwig had always been a great source of comfort for Harry and he hoped the Kneazle would do the same for him.
"Why is your broom so bloody heavy?" asked Draco trying to shift the slightly heavier bag on his back to a more comfortable position.
"Oh quit complaining! Let's go!" Harry scooted up closer to Draco and wrapped his arms around his waist, the little Kneazle securely between them.
They took off quickly and reached higher and higher into the sky. Harry glanced back to cast the disillusionment charm on his friends and could see that they were trying to hide their laughter. Apparently they had seen Harry hide their stowaway in Draco's bag.
Laughter aside, they concentrated on getting out of there. They couldn't risk another run in with a Dementor and they were getting behind on time. They flew almost as fast as they did before to make up for the lost time, their hearts beating wildly with adrenaline.
They flew for many hours and thankfully the dark grey clouds held off their rain. Harry's strength did not return as quickly as he expected, so he remained seated behind Draco for a long while. It must have been an incredible strain on him to fly for so long with the extra weight, but he never once complained.
Harry was extremely grateful because as it turns out he was in worse condition to fly than he expected. The hallucinations had not gone away. All the while he was seated behind Draco he was hearing and seeing things from Sirius's life. Not complete memories; just words and images would pop up in front him like it was actually happening in reality instead of his mind. On a few occasions he started dramatically and almost threw himself off the broom. He held onto Draco even tighter and explained that it was just the turbulence. He was relieved that Ron and Hermione couldn't see his reactions because of the disillusionment charm. He didn't want to worry them anymore than necessary. Harry was starting to wonder if he would have ever survived this mission without his friends. He had needed them after all.
After a long journey, the group finally reached the western shore of Ireland. Using a Point-Me spell they discovered that they had navigated their mission almost expertly. Fortunately they were right on course. Now all they had to do was find Donn Island. They rested once again before daring to cross the sea.
Resting on the sandy beach Harry and the others took in the picturesque landscape. The dark clouds that had plagued them earlier had finally parted allowing the early evening sunlight to shine through. Although the coast was as green as the interior of the country, it was rocky as well. Cliffs jutted sharply out of the sea, and boulders that had once been a part of their steep walls dotted the sand and water where they had fallen.
The lull of the waves, gently slapping the shore at regular intervals lulled them back into a sense of peace once again. After their terrifying encounter with the Dementor it was nice to have their heart rates return to a normal pace.
It was during the small meal that Draco discovered the stowaway. "Did you have something to with this?" he asked Harry, pointing to the Kneazle as she crawled out.
"What if I did?" he replied. "You need something furry and cuddly to keep your temper in check."
"That's what I have you for," said Draco, messing up Harry's hair even more than it was before.
"And now you have the Kneazle."
"Whatever. Nobody said I have to be happy about it though." Draco grunted in frustration, but he threw his new pet another piece of meat without complaint. The little Kneazle ate it quickly and curled up in a little ball to rest peacefully beside him.
After a few moments of silence, Harry felt he finally had to admit what he had been dreading to his friends. "Hey guys, there is something I need to tell you…"
"What is it?" asked Ron.
"When the Dementor was attacking me... I…I…"
"Harry you don't have to tell us. We know you relive your worst memories," Ron replied knowingly.
"No… I mean… yes I do… but something else happened…"
"What?" asked Draco breathlessly. He was afraid to hear what other awful thing might have happened to his boyfriend.
"I started to relive memories of Sirius as well, but I know I wasn't dreaming. I also began to hallucinate. I saw what happened on that street when Peter framed Sirius… and I …I've been seeing and hearing things while we were flying…"
"What? Why didn't you tell me? Is that why you almost fell off of the broom three damn times!" Draco shouted. Ron and Hermione looked at him in alarm.
"Well, yes, but I didn't want to worry you. I think the combination of the Dementor and the veil thinning as it gets closer to Beltane is somehow strengthening the connection between me and Sirius. Do you see now how important it is to save him? I can't live like this anymore. I don't know what's real, imagined, or a memory anymore. He certainly can't exist like this either wherever he is."
"We get it Harry," said Hermione. "We always have. That's why we insisted on going with you."
"Promise me that whatever happens that you will let me do what I have to do," Harry pleaded.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Draco. "What's going to happen?"
"Just promise me…"
"I don't I know if I can… but I'll do my best."
They looked out over the sea in concentration. In only a matter of hours they would be bringing Sirius back from the hell he was currently in. Hermione, Ron and Draco were now each silently wondering; would Harry and Sirius survive?
A/N: Prisoner of Azkaban was a cool movie and it really helped me write the Dementor scene. I'm glad I waited, and I hoped you like it. Just so you know the Dementor move like they do in the movie not in the canon. I wanted some obstacles on their journey, but I was worried about using Death Eaters so I stuck to Dementors. I didn't want to prevent them from reaching the island before Harry would have to use the spell. Drae also helped me out on the magical creatures and the general landmarks that they followed. Would you believe she went so far as to email me a map with descriptions of the regions and little red line depicting the path we chose for them to take? She's amazing! I hope you all enjoyed this amazingly long chapter. Let me know if you have any ideas what to name the Kneazle. Please review!
Many thanks to all my reviewers and my incredible beta Drae!