Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of J.K. Rowling's characters, places, or items.
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Chapter 28 – Like a Rainbow
Harry groaned as he was awakened by someone shaking him.
"Go away!" he snapped.
"Harry, it's breakfast time," Ron answered, "Mum's going to kill you if you don't come down – you didn't eat lunch or dinner yesterday."
"So what?" he snarled.
"Just come on," Ron answered, leaving the room.
Harry grimly put on his glasses and got dressed. Silver hadn't so much as looked at him since Fred and George's little "game". In fact, except for when he had seen her run out of the room for lunch, he hadn't seen her at all. Snape had brought her dinner in Sirius' room, and had also given him several nasty looks. Harry wondered what was so bad about telling someone that you loved them. He stalked downstairs, ready to let out his bad temper on everyone in the room, and froze when he walked through the kitchen door. After surveying the table numerous times, he finally came to the conclusion that Silver was not there – which was a relief. There was scattered chatter along the table, but nobody spoke much. Harry stared down at his plate intently and played with the food, trying to make shapes with it. Suddenly the door creaked open. Everybody looked up, surprised. Silver was standing at the entrance, looking pointedly at him. Ages seemed to pass as they looked into each other's eyes. Unconsciously, Harry stood up and pushed his chair in.
"Harry," she said quietly, "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not," he answered, feeling as if he were going to choke over his own words, "I love you."
She looked at him for only a moment before bursting into tears.
"H...Harry...h...how...can...y...you...l...l...love...me?" she sobbed.
He shrugged, feeling the eyes of everyone upon him. "I just do," he answered.
She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck.
"I...l...love...y...you...too," she cried.
It took Harry a moment to process what she had just said.
"You do?" he finally asked.
"Yes," she sobbed, "I...t...think...s...s...so."
Harry felt as if he had just woken up from the worst nightmare he had ever had. She loves me, he thought, feeling extremely lightheaded, Or at least she thinks she does.
"Okay," he said slowly, "Well, um, don't cry then..."
She only cried harder. Feeling a bit numb, but mostly self-conscious, he led her from the room and into the living room. She cried the entire way. He sat on the couch, and she on his lap, and for a few minutes she simply cried. He had no idea why she was crying – he felt so happy that he could run laps around the whole house fifty times, yelling with joy. He suddenly noticed that Charisma was watching from the floor. He hadn't even noticed the animal was in the room. Finally, her sobs quieted. He waited until she was fully done crying to loosen his hold on her. She pulled back and looked at him.
"I love you, Harry," she whispered, but she looked frightened. She looked as if she were expecting him to be outraged, to tell her that he didn't love her – but nothing could be further from the truth.
He felt a grin spreading across his face. "I love you, too," he replied.
She began to show hints of a smile. "Do you – really?" she asked.
He couldn't have stopped smiling if he wanted to. "Of course I do," he answered.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Promise," he confirmed.
She allowed a smile to cross over her face. "Oh, Harry," she murmured as she hugged him.
She drew back, still smiling, and then kissed him. The world fell away as he pulled her closer, and she him.
"Now, now, children, let's break it up," Lupin's voice said cheerily.
They both flatly ignored him and continued to kiss.
"Come on, kids!" Tonks echoed.
She began to draw away, but Harry only tightened his hold on her.
"POTTER!" Snape roared, "If you don't let go of her I'll hex you so badly you won't be able to kiss ever again!"
Harry reluctantly loosened his hold on her and allowed her lips to leave his. She gazed down at him lovingly and toyed with his hair. He grinned at her and she began to lean forward to kiss him again.
"Silver!" Snape said in a warning tone.
She disappointedly pulled back. They both looked at each other for a long moment before announcing in unison, "I'm hungry!"
"You know where the kitchen is," Lupin answered, smiling.
The two of them were soon sitting alone in the kitchen eating a rather large breakfast, seeing as neither of them had had anything to eat except for breakfast the previous morning. Charisma was being treated to the leftover scraps of bacon and sausage.
"So," Harry said suddenly, "Why did you cry?"
She looked at him, puzzled.
"This morning, when I told you that I loved you. Why did you cry?" he asked.
"Well...because I was happy," she answered, as if people usually burst into tears when they were happy.
"Ah," he said confusedly, "Right."
She smiled and shook her head.
"I'm sorry for not realizing it sooner," she said quietly, "But you just...you just took me by surprise. Apart from...well, I've only had one other person tell me that they loved me, and they weren't exactly using it in the same context."
"Who?" Harry asked.
She looked up at him, as if debating on whether to tell him or not. "I shouldn't say," she said finally.
Harry nodded. He knew it was Snape, anyhow, he was just seeing if she would tell him. The two finished their meals and looked up at each other.
"How long have you loved me?" she asked finally.
"Well..." he paused, "I think it was since I first saw you."
She smiled. "I remember," she answered.
"How long have you loved me?" he ventured.
"Not as long as you have me," she replied, eyes sparkling.
He felt a bit disappointed. She loves you now, he reminded himself, So it doesn't matter.
"Since you introduced yourself," she continued, and then mimicked, "I'm Potter. I mean Harry. Potter Harry. No, Harry Potter."
He grinned. "Well then, definitely not as long as I've loved you," he said, as if he were confirming his worst fear.
"I don't know how, though, Harry," she said, her smile fading, "I just don't know how. I've never trusted anybody so quickly before. And I never thought...I never thought you would say that to me."
"Why not?" he asked.
"Well, because...I'm just not...loveable," she said, as if this were something everyone knew.
"Not loveable?" he repeated in disbelief, "You most certainly are."
She looked up at him not with happiness, or with a smile in her eye, as he would have expected, but with pain.
"Harry," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears, "My own mother doesn't love me. Nobody ever loved me."
"But you weren't around normal people," he said, "I mean, they're called Death Eaters, for heaven's sake."
She didn't look convinced. He reached over and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled up to him immediately. Harry stroked her hair, wondering how somebody so affectionate could deem themself unloveable.
"You're perfectly loveable," he told her, "And do you know how I know that?"
She shook her head.
"Because I love you," he replied, "And that's not all. Snape loves you. Snape is the most unloveable person anyone has ever met – but he loves you. And it takes somebody extremely loveable to earn Snape's love."
She didn't answer. "Harry?" she asked finally.
"Hmm?" he replied.
"Will you ever stop loving me?" she asked. Her question was sincere and fearful.
"No," he answered firmly, "And don't even ask what I no you're going to ask. The answer is no. Never. I will not stop loving you, no matter what you do. I promise."
"I promise, too, Harry," she said quietly, "I won't stop loving you, either."
His heart ached with the sincerity of her words. She was so wholly honest that it hurt. He hugged her fiercely, squeezing his eyes shut. He vowed to hurt the Death Eaters who had given her such a false opinion of herself. Especially her mother. He decided that it was time to lighten the subject.
"We've got some catching up to do," he informed her.
"Do we, now?" she replied amusedly.
"Yep. Lots," he answered, "I mean, we haven't seen each other since lunch yesterday."
She giggled, and he watched with a pleased smile. Everything seemed a million times better now that he knew that she loved him. It was like a rainbow had come out after a storm. Mrs. Weasley poked her head in the door.
"Oh, good, you're done," she said, "It's time to go."
They obliged her, and Harry noted Charisma once more.
"Um, are you taking her to school?" he asked, looking down at the silver creature.
Silver smiled. "Of course I am," she replied, bending down and petting a very pleased-looking Charisma.
"Have you asked Dumbledore?" he asked skeptically.
"Dumbledore doesn't need to know," she replied, "Not yet, anyway."
Harry grinned. "Well, aren't you a sneaky little thing?" he asked playfully.
She looked up at him mischievously. "You've just noticed?" she teased.
They met up with the others at the curb – Harry assumed they were going to be taking the Knight Bus to the Platform. Fred and George looked especially apprehensive.
"Harry, mate," Fred began.
"You're not still mad at us, are you?" George asked.
"Nah," Harry replied casually.
They both looked immensely relieved.
"Good," they said together.
They smiled at Harry, and he smiled back. He suddenly noticed that Silver had left his side. He looked around and saw her with her arms around a slightly annoyed looking Snape.
"I'll miss you," she was saying.
"Nonsense," he replied curtly.
Harry grinned. Snape was so...Snape-ish. But Silver loved him anyway. Snape suddenly caught Harry's eye. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Snape neither sneered nor smiled, and Harry stared back with equal blankness. Then Snape looked down at Silver, and said something quietly. Silver looked back at him and then up at Snape, her arms still around him. Snape nodded and stepped back out of her embrace. She came to stand next to Harry once more.
"What was all that about?" he inquired.
"Oh, nothing," she replied.
He didn't get to answer her, because at that moment Mrs. Weasley swept him up in a bone-crushing hug, much to Silver's amusement. Then, Mrs. Weasley turned to Silver, who quickly proceeded lose all amusement and develop a sudden fear. She looked around for Snape.
"Silver," Harry said, "She just wants to hug you – go ahead."
Silver looked at Mrs. Weasley for a moment and then stepped forward hesitantly. Mrs. Weasley looked as if all her dreams had come true. She reached for Silver, and as she settled her arms around her, Silver flinched. Mrs. Weasley hugged her tenderly, and Harry saw something akin to shock in her eyes. Mrs. Weasley stepped back and Silver nearly bolted backwards, not looking apologetic in the least. Harry and the others watched with interest. After the rest of the goodbyes had been said (Silver had no problem hugging Mr. Weasley), they boarded the train. As they sat down, Ron was looking at Silver strangely.
"Why don't you like my mum?" he asked finally.
Silver looked surprised. "It's not that I don't like your mom, Ron," she said, "It's just that she's...well, she's a...a girl."
"What's that got to do with it?" Ron asked.
Hermione elbowed him sharply, perhaps more so than she had meant to, for she lost her balance when the bus took off.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed.
"Ron, you are so thick!" Hermione exclaimed, "She doesn't like women!"
"Why not?" Ron asked.
Hermione gave an impatient sigh and rolled her eyes. "She hasn't had the best experiences with them," she said pointedly.
"Oh," Ron said, as realization dawned in his eyes.
Silver avoided eye contact with everyone, until Harry put his hand under her chin and turned her to face him.
"It's okay, you know," he told her.
She shook her head. "But Harry, it's not," she protested, "I am so...so..."
"Beautiful? Amazing? Loveable?" Harry provided. "It's not a bad thing to make people earn your trust, you know," he told her.
"I suppose," she replied doubtfully, "But I have no reason not to trust Mrs. Weasley..."
"And no reason to trust her," Harry reminded her. "Just because you're more observant than others, doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you."
"I suppose," she said again.
They didn't get a chance to continue their conversation because the bus turned a nasty corner. Esperanza screeched loudly, and Charisma began to squeal as she slid down along the aisle towards the stairs.
"Charisma!" Silver exclaimed.
Charisma began to beat her wings frantically, and while she didn't get an inch off the ground, it gave her a sort of propeller to help her reach Silver's outstretched arms. Silver quickly scooped her up off the ground and held the frightened animal.
Harry reached out and petted it, too, and Silver was surprised.
"Wow, Harry," she said quietly, "She trusts you."
"Guess I'm a trustable guy," he replied.
She smiled. "Guess so," she agreed.
"So, how do you understand them?" Harry asked, looking at Esperanza and Charisma, "Can you read their thoughts?"
"Yes, something like that," Silver answered, "And they can pretty much do the same with me."
"Doesn't that ever scare you?" he asked. He wouldn't like it if somebody knew his thoughts all the time.
"Not really," she answered, "It's not like they're going to tell anybody."
"But, I mean...what if...an animal hurt you?" Harry asked.
"Oh, they won't hurt me," Silver replied assuredly, "It's against their law to touch humans that speak their language. If they do, they risk the punishment of the others."
"Oh," Harry said dumbly, "Animals have laws?"
"Well, only a very few common ones," Silver replied, "Because not all animals are capable of understanding the same things. Fish, for example, can only understand extremely simple things. Tigers and wolves – and owls, like Esperanza, can understand most things. Magical creatures, like Charisma, are born with an innate wisdom, and are capable of understanding everything we can, sometimes more."
"That's weird," Harry said, looking at Charisma, "So she's not...well, she's not really a baby?"
"Not in the same sense we see babies," Silver answered intelligently, "She is young and inexperienced, but she has her own feelings, thoughts, and opinions, unlike babies of our kind."
Harry felt that the whole thing was way over his head. He almost wished he hadn't asked.
"It's hard to understand," he said finally, "But anyway, why aren't they allowed to hurt you?"
"Well, it goes way back," Silver replied, "You see, only wizards and witches that are pureblood at least one generation back are capable of being what the animals call an Understander. I know I'm considered a half- blood because my father was born from a muggle-family, but really I should be called...a quarter-blood, I guess. Anyway, it all started with one wizard who was born with the gift. He created a bond with every animal he met, and was always kind to them, and helped them. His children were the same, as were their children, and so on. Since no Understander had ever done anything harmful to the animals, and had, in fact, protected them, it became a common law among animals never to touch one."
Harry was glad that he could at least understand that. "So they automatically know if you are one?" he asked.
"Well, yes, if you happen to be thinking at the time," Silver said, "As it is very likely that you will be, to them, it sounds as if you are speaking out loud, or at least muttering. They tell me that when they look at me, they see a white light glowing all around me, and that is what tells them that I am an Understander."
Harry nodded. "That's kind of weird...and kind of cool," he said.
Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had been listening to the conversation as well, and nodded in agreement with Harry.
"So, can you still become an Animagus? Even though you can talk to animals?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Silver replied, "In fact, it is supposed to be easier for me, although I have never attempted it. I have done some extra studies on it, though, and I would like to learn to be one someday."
Hermione nodded. "It would be interesting to see what form you take," she said.
Silver smiled. "That's partly why I'm tempted to do it," she admitted.
She looked down at Charisma. "Charisma thinks I would be a bird of some sort," she informed them.
"Why does she think that?" Ginny asked interestedly.
Silver looked questioningly down at Charisma, who squeaked a reply.
"She says I have a free spirit," Silver replied.
Nobody replied, for the bus lurched to a stop and Stan called, "Platform Nine an' Three Quarters!"
They grabbed their things and stepped off of the bus. Then they all looked at each other.
"You first," they all said at once.
"I'll go," Silver volunteered.
Harry felt a sudden feeling of foreboding.
"Right," he said, trying to shake it off.
"Is something the matter, Harry?" she asked.
The feeling of urgency intensified.
"Go!" he exclaimed, frightening her, "Now!"
"What-"she began.
"Hurry!" he exclaimed.
Obediently she turned and ran towards the barrier, Charisma bounding after her.
"Go!" Harry yelled, without knowing why.
She disappeared behind the barrier, and just as Harry was beginning to feel relieved, his scar seemed to ignite. He gave a yelp of pain and clapped his hands to his head.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, "What happ-"
"Barrier! NOW!" he roared, one hand on his scar, the other pointing at the barrier.
"Ginny, go," Hermione said.
Ginny looked as if she were about to protest, but she went anyway.
Suddenly Harry heard a familiar laughter.
"Aw, well if it isn't widdle Hawy Potter," Lestrange cooed, "Whassamatter, does your widdle scar huwt?"
Harry spun around, wand pointed at her. Ron and Hermione grabbed a hold of him and forced him back.
"Let...me...go," he roared, trying to somehow point his wand at Lestrange while his arm was twisted backwards.
"Harry, not here!" Hermione replied, "Can't you see what she's doing? She wants you to attack her, so that she can beat you and Voldemort to will get you!"
"What do you want?" Harry spat at Lestrange, completely ignoring Hermione.
"Not you, sweetie," Lestrange replied in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Not you. Now you just go to school like a good widdle boy."
Harry fought against Ron and Hermione, who were having a hard time restraining him.
"Let me go!" he roared, "She wants S-"
Something burned in his pocket. It was the torch – he had gotten so used to carrying it with him that he had forgotten about it. It was trying to tell him something...he realized that he was about to give away the fact that he knew Silver.
"Somebody," he finished lamely.
Lestrange may have been annoying, but she wasn't stupid.
"Somebody, is it?" she asked, scrutinizing him carefully, "Are you sure that's what you were going to say?"
"Oh, no, of course not," he answered sarcastically, "I always forget what I'm going to say, so I'm never sure if I meant to say something or not."
Lestrange looked as if she wasn't quite sure whether to believe him or not. Ron and Hermione dragged him backwards.
"Harry," Ron said, "If we let go of you, do you promise to take your trolley and go through the barrier?"
Harry nodded. They let go of him and he turned away from Lestrange, his pocket still warm from the heat of the torch. He remembered what had happened last time he had been mad at Lestrange and the torch had been with him, and that was enough to keep his temper under control for the moment. He walked through the barrier, where Silver was waiting for him.
"Harry?" she asked, "What happened?"
"Let's get a compartment?" he answered.
She nodded. Thankfully, they found an empty compartment. Harry noted suddenly that Ginny was gone.
"Where's Ginny?" he asked.
"Um, some boy asked her to sit with them, so she went," she replied.
Harry nodded. Ginny sure had a lot of boyfriends these days – he knew Ron was going to have a fit when he found out. He looked at Silver to see her waiting expectantly. He withdrew the torch, and fingered it as he explained to her what had happened. By the time he had finished, she was completely pale.
"L...L...Lestrange?" she stammered, "Oh, Harry!"
She flew into his arms, surprising him. He found that she was shaking.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't like her," Silver replied, "I don't like her at all."
Harry didn't push the matter, seeing as the mention of her made Silver shake even more.
"It's okay," he soothed, "She's not here any more. You're safe with me."
She eventually stopped, and looked up at him reverently.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Harry," she said.
He smiled. "Course I am," he reassured her.
He gently massaged her back, trying to calm her, and within a matter of minutes she was asleep. He moved into a laying-down position on his back, with his head propped up against the wall behind him. It was a bit uncomfortable, but he wasn't complaining – he had her in his arms, right where she needed to be. After a while, he, too, fell asleep, his arms unconsciously tightening around her as he did so.
"Harry? Harry? The train stopped," somebody was saying.
Harry felt Silver stir and suddenly whipped out his wand and opened his eyes, somehow thinking it was Malfoy. He found instead a very frightened- looking Neville.
"Oh, sorry Neville," Harry apologized as he realized that Malfoy would certainly not be waking him up in such a pleasant manner.
He pocketed his wand once more and turned his attention to Silver, who was still sleeping peacefully on him.
"Silver, the train stopped," he said softly, rubbing her back.
"Hmm?" she asked sleepily.
"The train stopped. We're at Hogwarts," he told her.
"But I'm warm," she protested weakly as she got up.
He grinned. "I was too," he assured her.
She suddenly saw Neville and blushed, although not as much as Neville was. Stammering something about finding Luna, he quickly left the compartment. Silver looked a bit flustered, but said nothing as she gathered her things. Harry grinned.
"What is it?" he asked, "You got all embarrassed when you saw Neville."
"Well, it's just that...well, if I had really said what was on my mind..." she trailed off, blushing.
"And what was that?" he asked, barring the exit with his arm.
"Harry," she protested, attempting to squeeze past him and not succeeding.
"Tell me," he prompted.
She gazed at him defiantly, although she was still blushing, and he reluctantly stepped out of her way.
"I know it had to be good if you won't tell me," he quipped as they walked towards the exit.
"Well then you can just imagine all sorts of wonderful things," she replied.
Charisma made a clucking noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
They stepped off the train and looked up at the Hogwarts castle, which looked particularly beautiful. Silver leaned into his arms and sighed contentedly.
"I love you," he reminded her, in case she had forgotten.
"I...I love you, too," she replied.
Although she sounded hesitant, Harry knew that it was very hard for her to say it in the first place, and that she would not have said it unless she meant it. And that was enough for him.