Chapter 16: Friends
Ron entered Harry's room just in time to see his friend pulling a t-shirt over his head. "Hey Harry, I saw Madam Pomfrey leave. She was really going on about someth…wait a tick, your shoulder's not supposed to be healed for another couple days."
Harry shot his friend a boyish smile. "Yeah, that's what I thought too, but when Madam Pomfrey checked it today she said my shoulder was all healed." He looked over towards the bandages still on his bed. "Gave her a bit of shock actually."
"Did she say how? I know you're quick healer and all, but that seems a bit unnatural if you know what I mean."
Harry looked over the open bedroom door, "I think my healing so quickly has something to do with those visions that are causing my eyes to turn black." He said quietly.
"That's useful." Ron leaned in to speak quietly as well, "If whatever it is that's causing your eyes to turn black is also the reason you healed up so fast than that sort of puts a kink in the idea that…V-Voldemort is causing it."
Harry's jaw dropped when he heard someone from the Weasley family speak Voldemort's name. "Ron, did you just say Voldemort?" His friend only offered a guilty look. "That's the first time I've ever heard you say it."
Ron looked away, not wanting to reveal his struggle with having spoken the forbidden word, "It is the first time I've said it." Ron glanced over to see Harry smiling at him like a proud father, "What? Well, I can't go around acting like I'm going to help you fight him if I don't have the stones to speak his name."
"Vol-de-mort." Harry hissed in a teasing manner.
Ron winced reflexively, "Damn it Harry! Let's not make a bloody contest of it if it's all the same to you?"
Harry laughed. "It's a start." He said and turned back to his dresser to gather the rest of his clothing for the day. "So what is it that you wanted to talk to me about this morning?" Harry paused as he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "Is it bad?"
Ron was taken aback at the unexpected comment. "I don't know." He said unsure. "I think so," Ron took a deep breath, "Did something happen last night – something bad?"
Harry felt the blood rush from his face and it was obvious from the change in Ron's expression that his friend had noticed.
"Something did happen. Something with You-Know…Voldemort, he did something to you last night didn't he?" Ron said quickly.
Harry didn't want to answer, instead he looked down at the black t-shirt he was wearing and remembered the huge round hole that was burned into his chest in his dream. His mind wavered on what to say and in his doubt he just stood there staring; hoping that by some miracle Ron would just let it go.
"You weren't going to tell anyone were you?" Ron said accusingly.
"No, I was going to talk to someone…eventually." Harry knew his response wasn't entirely true.
Ron reflexively started rubbing his new tattoo. "I think you're lying!" When he saw no response from his friend he stormed towards Harry and began to shout, "How many secrets are you planning to keep Harry? I'm starting to think that maybe Hermione is right!"
Harry cringed. "You don't understand…what Dumbledore said in my dream…I have to find some answers on my own."
Ron looked incredulously at Harry. "You mean what Voldemort said." He spoke the Dark Lord's name without faltering.
"That's what I said." Harry replied a little taken back by Ron's sudden abrasiveness.
"No, you said Dumbledore."
Harry replayed his words through his mind. A look of shock came over his face as he realized his error and instantly he panicked. "It was just a slip, I swear!" Harry spurted.
"What did he say to you?" Ron demanded.
"It was nothing…I'm not fully awake is all." Harry replied meekly.
"What did he say!" Ron ordered.
"Damn it Ron! I'm not ready to talk about this yet!" Harry fired back, "I don't need this right now, especially not from you!" I just want to get through a day without having to worry about someone trying to pry information from me about my life. I have to deal with all of this regardless of who I tell about it!" Harry took a deep breath and huffed it out, "You're my best friend, we talk about Quiddich and sneak around under my invisibility cloak – I need that more than anything else. Just let it go for now and I promise eventually I will tell you…and Hermione everything. I just need time to figure some of this out on my own."
Ron almost staggered under the burden of emotions he felt from Harry. Is that what it's like for him all the time? Ron wondered. "You know I won't let this go Harry. I don't care what you think of me or what it does to our friendship, eventually you're going to have to tell me." Ron said.
Harry knew all he needed to from the look on Ron's face. "I know Ron, and I wouldn't expect you to. You don't have to worry." Harry lied.
"I want it to be easy too." Ron said.
Harry looked over his shoulder in the direction of his tattoo, "This is going to take some getting used to. Our…connection, that's why you didn't agree with Hermione this morning when she was going on about my eyes."
"I guess so, I could just tell how important it was to you that no one find out." Ron said dismissively. "But you have to come clean soon Harry; it's pretty obvious that you're not handling this that well on your own." Ron said plainly. "Though I'm sure Hermione could tell you that better than me."
Harry suddenly recalled how Hermione had left the kitchen so abruptly at breakfast. "Is she mad at me?"
"Well, I don't think she's too happy about the situation you put her in this morning." Ron said.
"What situation did I put her in? She's the one who walked into my room uninvited and she's the one that always feels the need to run off and snitch everything to Dumbledore!" Harry said angrily.
"Relax mate, I'm not passing judgment. But you know how Hermione is. If she doesn't know all the answers then she drives everyone else nutters until she finds them." Ron said with a goofy smile on his face.
"Well maybe she's going to have to be the one left in the dark for awhile." Harry said plainly. Ron looked befuddled from Harry's comment. "Oh come on Ron, how many times has Hermione given us that look like she's figured something out and then run off to the library without a word as to what she's playing at?"
"Oh, well I just think you might want to talk to her. She was really miffed after we left your room this morning and she didn't say more than a few words throughout all of breakfast." Ron argued.
Harry looked conspicuously at his friend. "Why are you all of a sudden so concerned about Hermione's feelings?"
Ron gaped at Harry like he didn't know what he was talking about. "What? I just think you might have been a little hard on her is all." He took a moment, "We do have to be here for almost another month together. I just think things might go better if we didn't start off fighting."
Harry eyed Ron for a second before turning back to his dresser. "I'll talk to her when I head back downstairs." he replied dismissively.
"Just don't go calling her your 'little blue angel'." Ron whispered under his breath.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
"Nothing, I was just saying that you might want to check in on your cousin too. I think I saw him looking for you earlier."
Harry shot Ron a discerning look. "Was Dudley really looking for me?"
"Well, I saw him wondering about this morning, but he ran back into his room once he saw me – Skittish like a garden gnome that one." Ron said, relieved that Harry's question wasn't worded so he'd have to lie.
Harry wasn't convinced, but when Ron looked over at the pensieve on the nightstand he decided that whatever else there was to say wasn't worth the risk. "Come on, I'm going to head downstairs and see what my cousin wants." Harry started walking to the door.
"I thought I might stay up here and look through the Marauder's trunk for a bit, see what other kind of stuff is in there that we can use." Ron said as he turned his look away from the pensieve. "Besides, I don't think your cousin really wants any more of us wizard folk around when he talks to you."
Harry really wasn't comfortable leaving Ron behind in his room with Sirius' pensieve so accessible. He thought about putting it somewhere out of sight, but figured that his intentions would be too obvious. The last thing he wanted was to add another item to the long list of things he was not sharing with his friends. Without another choice, Harry nodded and left the room praying that Ron was better at keeping his nose out of a pensieve than he himself was.
It didn't take too long for Harry to find Dudley. The stocky young man was standing at the base of the stairs staring nervously into the living room. Harry assumed his cousin was ogling at Hermione, but when the room came into view he saw no one there. "Hey Duds, what are you doing out here?"
Dudley looked like he found water in a desert when he saw Harry. "Harry, I thought I would come and see what was happening with the training equipment. It's really boring without a television or anything else to do and I can only listen to mum and dad go on about all the things they're planning for the new house for so long." Dudley continued to look nervously around as he spoke to Harry.
"So your mums finally talking then?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, she came around sometime yesterday. After I told them that your government was going to replace our house, they both chippered up. Do you know how long it's going to take?"
Harry could see the "Dursley" in his cousin creeping to the surface. He had no idea how long it took to get a house, but he knew that the sooner it was the better. The less time he left for Vernon and Petunia to dream about their new home, the less it was going to cost him in money and effort. "I'm not sure exactly," Harry answered, "but I imagine someone will contact me within the next few days." That would be a certain ex-professor and Marauder, and hopefully much sooner than a couple of days.
Dudley finally took notice that Harry wasn't bandaged up. "Is your shoulder healed already? Wow, that m-magic stuff must come in handy now and again."
Harry stared at his cousin like he was an idiot. "Imagine that Dudders, you'd think they have a school or something for it."
Dudley missed the fact that he was being made fun of. "So what's the word on the equipment is it going to take a while to transport it all here?"
Harry shook his head, mostly at himself for not expecting his cousin to be so dense. "Dobby" he called out. Almost instantly the elf appeared in front of him which sent Dudley lurching backwards to fall clumsily onto the steps. Dobby looked at the muggle as if he pitied him. "Master Harry Potter sir…" Dobby stopped his formal greeting when he noticed that Harry's shoulder was no longer bandaged. "Oh master's shoulder is healing already! Dobby is most excited; he was very concerned for not punishing himself."
"Why would you have punished yourself Dobby" Harry said ignoring his cousin's stifled whimpers.
"Dobby was very ashamed that he did not come sooner. Dobby should have prevented those bad wizards from hurting Harry Potter. He was sure that master would agree this was a punishable offense, but master is saying that Dobby cannot punish himself any longer." Dobby looked guiltily at his feet. "It was a most difficult situation sir."
"Dobby you saved my life, if for no other reason than that you should never punish yourself again." Harry kneeled down and gazed at the brooding elf. "You are my friend, and friends don't punish themselves for things like that." Harry knew the hypocrisy of his words before they left his mouth.
Like a switch, Dobby's sad face turned to glee, "Did Harry Potter like his gifts from Winky and Dobby, Winky is thinking master would look very pretty in his new dress!"
Apparently Harry had a similar switch in him as well. His face turned a bright shade of red and his stomach reeled as he realized that his cousin had just heard what the elf said. "Yeah their great Dobby." he whispered quietly hoping that only the elf could hear his response. Harry then stood up and stated in an overly confident tone, "Dobby I need you to go to Privet Drive and bring back all of the items in the basement here to Grimmauld Place. Dudley will show you how and where they should be arranged."
Harry turned to his cousin who was still lying on the stairs and red in the face from holding in laughter. "Not a word out of you Dudley, or I'll have Dobby give you elephant ears." That managed to straighten the boy up. "There are plenty of unoccupied rooms here, find one that will do and show Dobby how you want everything arranged." Harry started to head off into the living room and then turned back to Dudley. "Let me know when you get everything settled in, I want to test my new gloves at knocking that smirk off your face."
He didn't wait for Dudley's response, but the incoherent yell that drowned out as he entered the kitchen sounded like some sort of threat about an interschool boxing champion.
Like the living room the kitchen was unoccupied. Harry quickly made his way through it and descended the stairs to the cellar. Just as Sirius had said a large wine rack resided against the far wall of the dark cellar. Though it was hard to see as the only light in the cellar came from what little amount was seeping down the stairway connecting back to the kitchen.
He walked carefully through the cellar struggling to make his way in the increasingly dark environment. Under his breath Harry cursed himself for leaving his wand upstairs, an oversight that resulted from being too preoccupied with Ron having access to Sirius' pensieve.
It seemed like an eternity but Harry reached the wine rack in only a few seconds. His heart skipped a beat when a bottle of wine he touched clattered loudly against another. He didn't know why, but he felt like he was sneaking around doing something wrong. Harry mocked himself for the silliness of that thought as he took two steps away from the wine rack, "My mother's a raving drunk". Two hollow clunks echoed beneath the floor followed by a very girlish scream as the trap door Harry was standing on dropped open.
Harry couldn't see a thing as he fell rapidly through the dark, twisting tunnel beneath the floor. But after a few moments of free fall, a small white light appeared ahead of him. The sight did little to suppress Harry's continued screams which echoed behind him as he continued down the tunnel. The sound came to a pitch when he shot out of the opening and landed with a thud on a large plush chair.
Mouth dry and throat sore from screaming, the frazzled wizard looked around at the settings of the corridor he and Sirius had trained so often in. He recognized that the chair he fell into was located behind the platform where Sirius always stood. Harry shot a quick glance over his shoulder to look at the hole in the wall he had fallen from, but it wasn't there. Instead he saw a door underneath where the hole had been.
Harry slowly made his way through the training corridor. It struck him that this was the first time he'd actually been in the chamber, but that he already had so many memories of the place. Though he knew it was impossible he swore he could still smell the form identifying potion he and Sirius had brewed just that morning in the pensieve. He shook it off as some weird association his mind was creating with his senses, and deliberately turned his attention away from the potions table to look at the dueling platform. Sirius never did tell me how to get the maze working on that thing. He thought.
By the time he was done taking in all the familiar sights he found himself standing in front of six or seven rows of bookshelves. Seeing all of the old, and most likely rare, books reminded Harry that his other best friend was still somewhere in the house fretting over their earlier conversation. Harry smiled and walked between the two bookcases in front of him. He quickly skimmed over the titles and appearances of the books until he found one suitable for placating the angry witch. It was a large brown book, bound in soft leather with gold writing along it's spine that read, "A Complete History of the Evolution of Ancient Runes". A chuckle escaped Harry's lips as he pulled the book down. It was definitely the most uninteresting and oldest looking book he could find, and most likely one that would have Hermione bouncing off the walls with glee.
Harry made his way back through the corridor with the intention of returning upstairs. But as he passed the potions table again, the smell of the form identifying potion returned and inspired another surprise he could offer to cheer Hermione up. He headed to the supply cabinet to make sure that everything was there he needed. Though he found that the items were not as fresh as in the interactive memory, they were more than good enough to brew the potion.
It only took an hour to complete, and Harry was happy to see that the potion looked and smelled identical to the one Sirius helped him with earlier. The only problem was that he had no idea how much of it he needed, but with a large cauldron full he was sure there was more than enough. After filling two large vials with the potion, Harry gathered up the book and made his way towards the door he assumed exited the chamber.
The effect of gravity has a funny way of being overlooked most of the time, it's usually not until it is working against you for a longer period of time than you would like, that you really take notice. Harry thought about this as he made his way up the dark and seemingly endless stairway back to the cellar. The young wizard had long ago decided that his idea to bring both a heavy book and two large vials of potion to Hermione was not worth whatever gleeful look she'd react with. A thought that was further confirmed when he got to the top of the stairway and had to find the doorknob in the dark with his hands full.
Through an act of acrobatic balancing, Harry finally got the door open and realized that it was actually the back side of the wine rack that he was pushing at. As soon as he was clear of the rack, it shut abruptly on its own, causing the bottles to clank loudly together.
"Well that's going to be a lot of fun after hours of training."
He made his way back through the kitchen and living room, which were still unoccupied, and lugged his peace offerings up the stairway hoping that Hermione was in her room; a trip that seemed to be more tedious than he remembered. When he arrived at Hermione's room he knocked and waited but no answer came.
Frustrated at not finding Hermione, Harry walked back to his bedroom and was shocked to see Ron still there, now sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by scattered papers and notebooks. The redhead was so enraptured in whatever he was reading that he hadn't even heard Harry come in. Just as Harry opened his mouth to say something he heard a door shut down the hallway. Apparently the boy was completely oblivious to the noise as Ron only reached up to scratch his nose and turn another page in a notebook. Harry thought that he should get some physical evidence of Ron like this because no one would ever believe the story.
In the hallway Harry saw Hermione walking towards her room with a couple of books already in her hands. He jogged lightly down the corridor until he caught up with the bushy haired girl.
"Hermione, hold on a second."
She turned sharply to face Harry and gave him a look that was less than inviting. Harry could tell straight away that bringing the potions in addition to the book was definitely a good idea.
"Hey Hermione, where have you been, I was looking all over for you." Harry said casually.
"It seems that you've been up to more than just looking for me." Hermione said curtly and turned her stare at the items Harry was holding.
Suddenly it seemed possible that both the book and the potions weren't going to be enough. "Well yeah, I have but…" Harry faltered under Hermione's sharp gaze. "Oh come on Hermione, I got this stuff for you anyways. So maybe I exaggerated when I said I was looking all over."
Hermione opened her bedroom door and turned away from Harry as she walked into her room. "Well are you coming in or no?" She said over her shoulder.
It was a question Harry had to think about and suddenly the image of Hermione changing out of her towel flashed in his mind. "Er…"
"Oh honestly Harry, this is your house after all, it's not like I'm inviting you into my dorm room." she said after seeing the anxious look on Harry's face. "You and Ron both, like we're still in our first year at Hogwarts."
Harry looked both directions down the hallway before he finally took a step into the room. Hermione was already situating the books she was carrying on the small desk at the far end of the room.
"You know this might be easier if you actually walked all the way into the room rather than standing in the doorway." Hermione said before she directed her gaze at the items Harry had in his hands. "So what is it you got there?" There was a tinge of impatience in her voice.
It took a second for Harry's nervous mind to catch up with Hermione's question. "Oh right…right, I know that I was a little short with you this morning."
Hermione huffed as though remarking that that was an understatement.
"I thought that this might help to smooth things over a bit." Harry walked across the room and handed Hermione the large text.
Hermione's jaw dropped as she took the text and examined it.
"It's not really a gift or anything like that, just something I picked up from a particular library here. I saw it and thought that you might like to read something like that."
Hermione's eyes grew even wider as she opened the book and read the first few pages. "Harry, do you have any idea how old this book is? This is an original copy, there's probably only three or four of these in the world!" she turned and set the book down onto her desk delicately. "Where did you find this?"
Harry smiled when he noticed that Hermione's tone no longer carried that impatient tinge to it. "I found in the same place where I got the ingredients to brew this potion." Harry set the two large vials on the desk next to the text.
Hermione reflexively shifted the rare text away from the potions, as if just the proximity of the liquid would somehow damage it. "What exactly is that?"
"It's the form identifying potion that we use to begin our training in the animagus transformation." Harry said with pride evident in his voice.
Hermione gaped at the brown liquid for a moment before she narrowed her stare at Harry. "Where did you get that from Harry? You know that playing some sort of prank on me is not the best way to get back in my graces."
The response wasn't entirely unexpected. Harry knew that she would too easily figure out that he shouldn't know how to brew that potion. "What are you trying to say Hermione?" Harry said innocently.
"How could that be form identifying potion? Not only have you never brewed it before, but I've had the animagus notes with me all day today." Hermione said and pursed her lips in the best McGonagall impression she could muster.
"Well there are other resources where I got that book for you and one of them showed me how to brew the potion." It wasn't a complete lie, just a misdirection of the truth.
The girl stared at him for a second and then looked back at the old and rare book on her desk. "Well then where did you get the ingredients? From what I've read in the Marauder's note, some of the items needed for that potion aren't the sort of things you find lying around the house." She said sure Harry would be caught in his lie.
"Now that's the question I've been waiting for you to ask. I have something else to show you, but I think we should go get Ron first." Harry said and then paused. "Hermione, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier."
Hermione took in a breath and opened her mouth to say something but stopped. She stared at Harry for a second and then took another breath. "I'm not mad at you for yelling at me. If anything I've kind of gotten used to it over the past year." She picked up a vial of potion off the desk and looked back up at Harry, "I'm just worried about you is all. Even before I saw you…saw your eyes this morning…I've noticed that you're changing Harry, and I don't just mean your eyes."
Harry watched as Hermione paused for his reaction. Apparently she was waiting for him to say something but he couldn't think of a possible response. He stared back with a dumb look on his face hoping that Hermoine would be the one to break the silence – preferably about going to get Ron.
"I know what happened to us…to you last year would change things, and I told myself that I would be ready for them. But I didn't expect you to push everyone away like you have." Hermione looked down, not wanting to see Harry's reaction. "I just don't want you to push me away too. You have been…I mean you and Ron have been my only true friends…ever. I-I can't lose you."
All of sudden Harry was getting that nervous feeling he had back at Hogsmade with Cho Chang. He looked at Hermione and could tell that she was on the verge of tears, and the image didn't do anything to ease his awkwardness. Harry had no idea what to do, this was Hermione, the only girl that he was sure he had even the semblance of an understanding of. And now he was standing in her bedroom no less, feeling just as lost and confused as he had with Cho. "Her-Hermione, it's not you…" Harry caught himself knowing that what he was going to say probably wouldn't help. "I'm sorry."
Hermione looked back up at Harry doing her best to force back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Just tell me that you won't push me away." She hated having to tell Harry what she wanted to hear from him, but she knew her friend well enough to understand that he wouldn't figure it out by himself. "Only if you mean it though" she added.
Harry felt a wave of relief once he was told what the girl was looking for. "I won't." He said assuredly. "Where would I be without you…and Ron? You two are my only friends as well." Harry felt like he should say more, but never got the chance as Hermione wrapped him in a tight hug. He could feel the moisture of her tears starting to soak through his t-shirt and as Hermione maintained her embrace, he was reminded of what he felt when the girl's blue glow had touched him earlier. It felt good – like the burdens of his life were somehow lessened.
When Hermione finally released Harry she looked back up to the young man and realized that he was looking at her with that same admiring look he held that morning. It was awkward, but it was decidedly better than seeing the hardened stare he had given her when she was arguing with him earlier. In fact she was almost certain that the way he was looking at her now was better than any other look Harry had given her before.
The silent moment after the hug had been too long, and Harry knew that he had to say something before that nervous feeling started making his stomach turn in knots. "Ron – why don't we go and get Ron." Hermione looked at Harry like he had just stuck his foot in his mouth. "So I can show you both where I got the ingredients for the potion." Harry said trying to qualify the intelligence of his prior statement.
Hermione wiped the tears from under her eyes. "Why don't you go ahead, I want to straighten up these books first, just come back and get me once you've found him."
"He's only just down the hall in my room" Harry said, "it's only going to take a second. You can put those books away later, it's not like anyone is going to disturb them." Harry said, anxious to show his friends their new training area.
"I'll only be a second, besides it will probably take you a moment to get Ron away from whatever he's doing." Hermione said quickly, hoping that Harry would relent and give her a moment alone to compose herself.
"Okay, but I'm sure Ron and I will be back in just a second." He turned away from Hermione shaking his head and walked out of the room.
When Harry arrived in his bedroom he saw Ron and Neville both surrounded by stacks of paper that were once in the Marauder's trunk. If it weren't for the fact that Neville looked like he was about to get scolded by his Grans, Harry would have been upset.
"Hey Harry," Neville said nervously, "I was just bringing by your Shimmering Scybiscus in case you wanted to have it here when you sleep." The worried young man looked down at the pile of papers surrounding him. "Um…Ron was here with all these notes when I got here. I thought something was wrong with him because he didn't notice I was in the room until after I called out his name." Neville looked to Ron as if the red head was going to bail him out.
Ron didn't need to say anything to know that Harry wasn't happy about the situation. "Er, hey Harry. Where have you been?" Harry didn't answer him. "I thought that Neville here was you when he came in the room. Imagine my surprise."
Harry continued to stare at the two boys and watched as they slowly degraded in appearance from worried to outwardly frightened. The corner of his right eye twitched a couple of times, and then the corner of his mouth followed. After fighting it for a few more seconds Harry burst into laughter.
"I think Hermione might have cursed him or something." Ron said to Neville as their raven-haired friend turned red in the face with laughter.
Neville wasn't worried about Ron's reaction though. He was still worried that he had looked at Harry's things against his wishes. "Harry I'm really sorry, I just wasn't thinking. I understand if you want me to leave your house and go back to Grans."
Slowly the laughter faded from Harry and he was able to gather his breath. By this time Hermione had popped her head around Harry to find out what was so amusing, and was staring daggers at Ron for his obvious lack of responsibility. Harry saw Neville cower even further from Hermione's malevolent glare and quickly spoke up to calm the boy. "It's not a big deal Neville, after all you did last year at the Department of Mysteries and with that gift you gave me, I think the least I can do is let you in on the treasures of the Marauder's trunk."
Both Ron and Hermione grew wide-eyed at Harry's acceptance of the situation. "What?" Harry said. "You act like I'm Scrooge or something." A comment that only Hermione seemed to understand.
"What's a Scrooge?" Ron asked.
Hermione shook her head, and Harry gave another final chuckle before he presented to Ron and Neville the vials of brown liquid in his hands. "So has Ron told you about the gem of our trunk yet Neville?" Harry asked.
A confused look met Harry's question, though he wasn't sure what part Neville hadn't caught on to yet. "The animagus notes." Harry stated as he walked past a still blank faced Neville to retrieve his wand from the nightstand.
"What's in the vials Harry?" Ron asked.
"Harry he wouldn't know about the Animagus notes, I've had them with me all day." Hermione walked into the room and handed the notebook to Neville. "I also found some other books in the library here about seeing auras Harry." Hermione turned and showed the books to him, "That was what I was doing while you were looking all over for me." She said with a teasing smile.
Harry examined the books in Hermione's hands. "Well, I think it's time I show you all another gift Sirius arranged while he was here last year."
Ron shot to his feet scattering the papers that were all over his lap onto the mess around him. "WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?" he shouted.
The three others turned their gazes up to the red faced boy and then Hermione and Harry turned to look at each other. A smile came over both their faces. "So shall we go then." Hermione asked.
"I think we shall," Harry replied "are you coming Neville?" Harry turned and offered his arm to escort Hermione as he walked out of the room.
Neville smiled as he realized that they were ignoring Ron on purpose and followed Harry and Hermione out of the room leaving Ron there on his own. Ron stood there before he finally ran out of the room realizing that his friends weren't coming back.
Harry, Neville and Hermione waited at the entrance at the back of the kitchen for Ron to finally catch up. The irritated young man made a grand entrance when he threw the kitchen door open violently. "Well this ought to be fun." Harry said seeing that Ron was still miffed.
Harry pulled out his wand and cast a lumos spell as he led the three Gryffindors down the stairs to the dark cellar below. As soon as he got to the wine rack he looked back at Ron, "Why don't I let you have first honors mate, being as we were so rude to you upstairs."
The Weasley boy eyed Harry curiously. "So you're talking to me now I see." He looked around and then at the wine rack. "First honors at what?"
Harry reached over for Ron and positioned him over the trap door. "For this," he said and stepped away from his friend. "My mother's a raving drunk!"
Everyone eyed Harry like he'd gone mad until they heard the two clunking sounds beneath the floor. The next thing that was heard was Ron's high-pitched scream as he suddenly fell through the floor. Harry almost fell on the floor laughing as he heard his friend's scream fade into the tunnel below. "Well, we'll see you down there." He said and then jumped into the hole after his friend.
Hermione and Neville eyed each other with concern as they watched Harry disappear. "I guess we're supposed to follow him." Neville said.
Hermione only rolled her eyes. "Boys, honestly I swear." She then walked over the hole and sat down so she could slide gently into the tunnel below. Neville waited a few seconds and then heard a few more clunks, which prompted him to jump into the hole before the trap door shut behind him.
Harry landed on the plush chair in the training chamber thankful that Ron had the sense to vacate the location before he arrived. He thought Ron would still be a little angry but he was too caught up in looking at the room to be upset.
Another thump indicated that Hermione had arrived and Neville followed her shortly. The three teenagers all looked around the room with amazement before they finally turned their attention back to Harry.
"This is a training chamber, Sirius apparently used his extra time last summer to put all this together. And we were all worried he would be bored." Harry saw Hermione's eyes light up when she saw the book cases across the room. "You can go check them out Hermione, that's what they are there for."
Hermione bounded across the corridor, spinning now and again as she took in everything. Harry looked at his two other friends who were also wearing big smiles. "Suddenly being allowed to use our wands seems like a much bigger deal huh?" Harry let them explore the room as he headed over to the potions table and set down the two vials of form identifying potion he carried.
The four students spent the next few hours lost in play and practice down in the training corridor. Ron continued his affinity for all things sharp by gravitating to the swords adorning the walls and armor suits. While Neville and Harry practiced dueling and spell casting on the dueling platform. Every now and again Hermione would disappear into the bookshelves for a period of time, only to come back with a replenished stock of books for her perusal.
It wasn't until the quartet heard the familiar sound of someone sliding down the tunnel that they were broke from their distractions. Remus Lupin shot out of the hole in the wall and landed in the chair with a boyish grin on his face. "You got to give it to Padfoot, even prison couldn't rid him of his inner child."
Harry and Neville were the first to greet Remus as he still sat in his chair. "Hey Remus, I wasn't expecting anybody to find us down here." Harry said.
"I can't say that I was expecting to see you down here so soon" Remus paused and looked at Harry's healed shoulder, "but I guess since you seem to be all healed up I shouldn't have put it past you." Lupin looked around at the group, "Have any of you an idea what time it is? Molly has been going out of her mind upstairs trying to find you lot. You'd be wise to keep in mind how long you're lost down here, if you intend on keeping this place secret."
"You didn't tell anyone did you?" Harry said worriedly.
"Of course not, I know why Sirius made this room. I'm just happy to see that you've let a few others in on it as well. It would be a shame to see Padfoot's work not get the proper appreciation it deserves." He turned his attention back to the rest of the group, "Now I suggest you all get up stairs as quickly and discretely as possible before Molly notifies the Ministry of your abduction."
"Hold on guys," Harry gave Remus a guilty look, "You might want to plug your ears or something Remus."
Remus shot Harry a scolding look, "How about I practice selective listening?"
Harry addressed the group, "The vials that I brought down with me are Form Identifying Potion. It's used to show us what our animal form is for the animagus transformation." Ron and Neville looked at each other amazed. "The thing is we have to take it on an empty stomach. That is, if we're going to get started on learning how to do the transformation."
The three students looked to each other wondering if someone was going to object. "Well, you all can think about it. But I'm planning on skipping dinner and breakfast so I can take the potion tomorrow. I don't know how long it keeps so I would suggest you all do the same if you're going to join me." This comment earned a groan from Ron.
"If you're done putting me in a really compromising position Harry, I think everyone should get going." Remus interrupted. "Hermione why don't you go first, maybe you can find a way to distract Molly and Ginny from the kitchen so that the rest of the fellows can sneak in as well."
Hermione turned to head back to the table where her books where. "They will still be there tomorrow Hermione." Remus said before the young witch got too far. Hermione looked like she was being asked to cut off a limb as she walked away from the books and through the door exiting the chamber.
"Remus do you mind if you and I go up last? I need to talk with you." Harry asked.
"Very well, Ron, Neville you two can head up together now. Just make sure the coast is clear before you get into the kitchen." Remus warned.
After the boys left, Remus conjured up a chair and settled into it. "What's on your mind Harry?"
Harry sat in the chair that broke his fall from the tunnel slide. "I was wondering when we might be going to Diagon Alley."
The question earned Harry a raised eyebrow from Lupin. "If I've been informed correctly you haven't even submitted your new course list yet, and I will remind you that you are running behind on doing so, but still, why would you need to go to Diagon Alley?" Remus had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to make Harry say it.
"Well it's just that I don't think the Dursleys can stay at Grimmauld Place anymore." Harry watched Remus look at him in confusion. "Well I was talking with Dudley, and I realized that my forcing them here against their will, even if it was so that they could be safe, was just like what Dumbledore did to me when I was a baby." Remus' expression continued to express confusion. "The Headmaster decided that I was going to be raised by the Dursleys despite all the consequences, he only thought about my safety and never about my happiness or all the things I'd lose." Harry voice relayed a tinge of anger. "When Dudley was telling me how his parents felt trapped here it made me realize that I was forcing the same type of decision on them." Harry stared coldly at Remus, "I won't try to control their lives like that!"
What Remus heard was about as far from what he was expecting Harry to say as was possible. "Well that's very noble of you Harry, I can't say I was anticipating such a decision from you. Though I'm a little concerned as to why you came to this decision. Do you mind me asking why it seems you resent Dumbledore so much lately?"
Harry thought about the question for a second, "Not to be rude, but I actually do mind." It was the second time Harry had seen Remus' face carry a look of shock.
The man sat quietly for a moment. "I find it interesting that while I'm intentionally overlooking the fact that you and your friends are studying to become animagus, you're unwilling to share your thoughts with me." Harry opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by Remus' opened palm. "I trust that you will tell me when the time is right," the look he gave Harry relayed that it was more of a demand then a request, "but you might want to consider something about yourself and Albus Dumbledore."
"What's that?" Harry asked
"When both of you were faced with a situation to help those you cared about, you both made the same decision to choose safety over comfort." Remus saw Harry's face light up as if he were going to argue, "I'm not justifying anything Harry, you just may want to consider these things as you search for answers." Remus leaned back in his chair, "So, what does the Dursley's moving have to do with you going to Diagon Alley?" He said in a tone that indicated that there would be no debate.
Harry didn't look up when he spoke, "I need to make arrangements for the purchase of a new home for them." Had he been looking he would have seen Remus almost choke on the information.
"And here I was thinking you wanted to check out how much money and new toys you had inherited from Padfoot!" Remus replied. "You're just full of surprises this summer Harry." This caused the young man to look up at Remus. "You are an interesting blend of your parents Harry, interesting indeed."
Harry remembered how Sirius told him things like that in the pensieve. "I also want to get things started on the gift Sirius left for Hermione." He said.
Lupin saw that Harry wasn't cheering up at all from their earlier conversation. "We'll go as soon as possible Harry, probably sometime next week." He stood up from his chair, "Is that soon enough for you?" Lupin took out his wand and started walking towards the dueling platform.
Harry leaned forward to get out of his seat when he saw Remus rise, but waited once he realized that the man wasn't heading for the exit. "What are you doing Remus?" He called out.
Remus didn't look back, "I'm not the one who makes bad jokes to cheer you up, that was Padfoot's job. But that doesn't mean I can't curse a bad mood out of you." Remus turned and gave Harry a challenging glare.
Harry shot out of his seat once he understood that Remus was challenging him to a duel. "Has he always used that Serious joke?" he asked as he bounded over to the dueling platform.
Remus rolled his eyes, "It never ended Harry, it may be the worst joke your father and I ever had to put up with."
AN: Another chapter down, (turned the 100k word mark with this one – wooohooo!) one or two more till we're back at Hogwarts. Responses to your reviews are posted in the review section, and also at the Yahoo Group for those who don't like sifting through the other reviews to find the response posting. There will also be a cookie (preview) of chapter 17 up (at the group site) within a day or two, if anyone wants a first glance at the next chapter. It's also a good way to tell me what you don't like about a chapter before I actually post it. If anyone is interested in posing suggestions for Ron and Hermione's animagus forms, I'm willing to listen (sorry Harry and Neville are set).
Thank you all for reading, and special thanks for the reviews!
~Omagic