Chapter 26: Maps
A/N: Some of you will have experiences problems when trying to review 'A Very Different Burrow' – that's because I finally deleted the 'Return of the Mirror' chapter (if you who don't know why I did that then you obviously didn't go back and read the A/N I told you to read) and it seems that has messed up the reviewing system a bit. Sorry about that. The chapter numbers from 4 – 24 will be wrong now too so I'll have to go back and fix them all. *grin*Please review people!
Harry slept for a very long time that night – or at least it seemed incredibly long, considering he was the last one up in the morning. A look at the clock however, revealed that the time was in fact only 8am. He had decided against sleeping in Percy's room and had stayed with Ron – who fell asleep shortly before himself, although Harry couldn't know whether he had remained that way.
He ran into Ginny half way down the stairs and she asked him into her room again. He'd been in several times yesterday, more often on his own accord, as he knew she desperately needed someone to comfort her. "Harry," she asked timidly, "When Sirius – did you forget sometimes that you were supposed to be sad? Because I – I have to keep reminding myself that George is – that's he's-" but she was unable to finished her sentence when she bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Harry enclosed her in his own warm cuddle and kissed her forehead. He didn't mind comforting Ginny when she cried. Somehow ... it was different than it was with Cho.
But she wasn't crying this time, she was trying for all she was worth not to. As her head came to rest on his chest, Harry gently stroked her back. "I know what you mean," he assured her. "Sometimes I'd expect to get a letter from him – because I'd forget. Don't worry about not feeling sad, Ginny, it's just something that happens. I don't know why – I think it has something to do with denial, maybe. That your brain tries to think they're not gone, or your mind is so used to them always being their, ready for you, that it can't comprehend what's happened." Ginny hugged him tighter, squeaking slightly as she suppressed her tears. "It's ok, baby – really. Please, don't feel bad. I did the same. For whole blocks of time I would be oblivious to the fact that Sirius was dead, and then when I remembered I felt awful for it."
Ginny nodded and squeaked again. It hurt Harry to see her like that – pained him to watch her struggling not to cry. He continued stroking her, waiting for her to say or do something – and in the mean time simply holding her carefully.
After a while she drew a long breath and said something. "But that's not worse of it," her voice rose higher and she paused, trying to regain control. "I – I don't mean to but I ..." her sentence was cut in half by a hiccup and she hid herself in Harry's arms again, "I blame Fred! I don't mean to but I blame Fred!" she sobbed, no longer able to stop herself from weeping. "I'm so mean! It's not his fault but I blame him – and – and I'm so cruel I – I can't believe – I think that about him!"
"Oh Ginny! Ginny, baby don't say that! You're not mean, you're not cruel! It's ok! God, it's ok to blame people! It's normal – please don't feel bad for it. Don't feel bad it's normal, ok?"
"But it's not his fault!"
"I know that, you know that, but it's ok to be angry at him!"
"No it isn't!" she cried.
"Ginny, listen to me-" he held her out at arms length, looking right into her shiny, wet eyes with his own. "I blamed anyone I could think of. Dumbledore, Snape, Kreacher ... he couldn't just die without it being someone's fault! It had to be someone's fault and it wasn't Sirius'. I still do blame some of the people I used to – but Ginny, it's ok to be mad at people when you're like this. Alright?"
Ginny sniffled and nodded, wiping her eyes on Harry's shoulder. "Why couldn't he have saved him? Wasn't he paying attention?" she whispered, ginger eyebrows frowning. "Couldn't he have b-blocked it from him or – or something?"
"No," Harry answered, shaking head to confirm it. "No-one can block Avada Kedavra. Not unless they know it's coming beforehand."
"You did."
"That was because of our wands. It was different. Nothing could have saved George. Not even if Fred had been more alert."
She bit her lip as more tears fell out of eyes and hovering on her cheeks. Her chin quivered as she looked up at him, tears hanging off her eyelashes, "I love you, Harry."
His heart did a somersault and suddenly his entire body felt like wood. The L word. Ginny said the L word, to me. She said she loves me. Harry managed to smile at her and gently kiss her on her lips, licking away the tears balanced around them.
"I love you too, honey."
She smiled back at him and linked her fingers with Harry's own, relaxing her weight onto his body and sniffing every now and again.
Neither Harry not Hermione wanted to leave that afternoon but they had promised Dumbledore, plus the Order had gone to great lengths to set up an illegal port-key (claiming that their were still some parents wishing to collect children) and so the two of them were now standing in the Burrow's hallway with the rest of the Weasley family gathered around them. Ron and Ginny were staying with their family, another reason which made both Harry and Hermione want to stay.
"Ok, the Port-Key should be in action in exactly one and half minutes," Arthur said.
"Good-bye Harry, dear," Molly said, hugging him heartily and giving the same treatment to Hermione. Ron kissed Hermione gently on the forehead and she entwined her fingers in his own. Ginny smiled and shrugged at Harry who kissed her softly on her cheek.
"Thank You for everything, Harry," she whispered.
"You're welcome," he smiled, using his remaining minute to admire her beautiful eyes.
"40 seconds."
Hermione picked up her bag with her other hand and Charlie called out from the back of the crowd, "See you, you two. Say 'hi' to Hogwarts for me." Hermione grinned and nodded at him. Harry grabbed his bag too and waved goodbye to Charlie. Then much to everyone's surprise Fred walked into the hall, with Hermes under his arm and a slip of parchment in his hand. He opened his mouth to explain the letter but stopped when he saw the scene in front of him.
"Oh, they're going are they?"
Molly nodded.
"Oh. Um – well. Bye then," he said, avoiding their gaze, "Er – take care."
Hermione beamed. "You two. Stay safe all of you."
"Yea," Harry agreed, "We love you all." He was rewarded with a lot of appreciative smiles and a quick kiss from his girlfriend.
"10 seconds."
Hermione let go of Ron and posed next to the Port-key with Harry. "Bye, everyone," Harry said tentatively. There was a mumbled reply and Arthur coughed. "5 – 4 – ," he said slowly. Fred looked down at the parchment and his eyes flicked over what appeared to be a single sentence. "– 3 –"
"Mum, Dad," Fred interrupted.
"– 2 – "
"Percy says he's coming to visit."
"– 1!"
Hermione's eyes darted up to Harry's in obvious shock as the both of them reluctantly grabbed the object and immediately disappeared from the Weasley home.
*
Lupin leant back in the rocking chair and looked around the empty staffroom. It was Friday afternoon and most of the teachers had lessons to teach, but Remus had a free session, considering there were no DADA lessons scheduled for the next 45 minutes. This turned out particularly useful today, as around about now was the time Dumbledore had said Hermione and Harry's Port Key would return them to Hogwarts. Albus had set it up so they would be delivered to the staffroom, which was a good idea considering that Dumbledore, Lupin and Talia all wished to know which Weasley had been killed. Talia too, did not have to teach a class right now and as Lupin swung backwards, admiring some of the portraits decorating the room, she swept in through the door and sat down opposite him.
"Hey, Remus," she smiled, looking at him warmly, although avoiding contact with his eyes.
He smiled tiredly back at her. "Hello Talia. Feeling ok?"
She nodded. "Yes. I think it'll be easier once we know who's gone. There won't be any more of this awkward waiting and wondering." Remus agreed. "I'm just hoping Harry and Hermione are alright."
"I think they will be. They're both amazingly brave – I know they're in Gryffindor but really – the two of them are very different and find their bravery in completely different areas, but both of them are strong. They'll be shocked I'm sure, but they'll survive."
Talia smiled. "I suppose you're right. You know them far better than I do after all." She paused and then added, "You're so fond of Harry."
Lupin's eyes flew up as she said this and he only just turned his head away just in time.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed leaning forward and touching his hand. "I'm so sorry, I wish I didn't – I wish I could control it."
He shook his head and looked at her lowered eyelids. "No it's ok, Talia. Really – it's not your fault. I – I just forgot for a second there. I'm the one who should be sorry."
Talia sighed and smiled apologetically. "I wish I could look at people normally," she said quietly, drawing her hands together in her lap. If Remus could have looked into her eyes, now, he would have seen them clouded with sudden sadness.
He felt an odd tension build in his stomach. "I'm sorry," he said, and he really meant it. He hadn't really thought of how her ability could affect her, or how much it could take away from her life.
Talia smiled softly, "Thank You," she opened her eyes slowly, to give Remus the time to look away. She opened her mouth to say something more when suddenly the clock behind them let out two short chimes, announcing that it was 2 o'clock.
Remus turned his head to the large open space in middle of the staff-room and right on time, two figures spiralled into view and the both of them collapsed onto the floor.
When Hermione opened her eyes she found, to her surprise, Professor Lupin bending over her. "Hello again Miss Granger," he said, extending his arm to help her to her feet. Harry was already on his, and was straightening his shirt. He looked across at Remus, considering briefly whether he would want to hear the news. He was saved wondering much longer when Remus raised his eyebrows at him.
"George," Harry answered.
"Ah," Remus nodded rubbing his temple and sighed. "Molly and Arthur -" He shook his head, "It's terrible. And this is only the beginning of the deaths. You have no idea what it was like before. Voldemort tore families apart – death and disarray – panic and hysterics everywhere you looked," he sighed. "Talia, you remember, don't you?"
She nodded behind him.
"Harry," she said. "We have to start our lessons tomorrow. You know what I'm talking about?"
He nodded, "Yea ok. What time?"
"Meet me in the spare transfiguration room on the 5th floor, after dinner."
"Oh and Harry?" Remus interrupted. "I need to talk to you too. I think now would be easiest. Hermione, you wouldn't mind heading off to Gryffindor would you?"
Harry and Remus were alone in the staffroom now, and Remus had brought in two mugs of steaming cocoa. Placing one on the edge of the table closest to Harry, he leaned back into the easy chair and sipped at his own.
"When Fred and George were asked to join the Order we wanted them to create some weapons we could use, like their fireworks or something," he said. "But I also found that they could help me with a project I'm working on. Dumbledore has asked me to create 3 maps – similar to the Marauder's Map so we can be forewarned of any attacks. I was supposed to make one for Diagon Alley, one for the Ministry and one for Hogsmeade. I doubt, that Fred will be in the state to help me any time soon – and I was wondering if you'd like to assist instead?"
Harry held his mug halfway between his lap and his mouth and barely paused before replying enthusiastically. Remus appeared relieved and took another sip of his hot drink before continuing, "You're going to have an awful lot to do, Harry. Your school work and Talia's Legilimency lessons and then this too – are you sure?"
Harry nodded eagerly.
"Alright then, here, why don't you have a look at what I've done so far?" Remus pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at a cupboard on the other side of the room. "Alohomora! Accio Maps!" At his command, 4 pieces of parchment (one considerably older than the others) flew through the air and landed on Remus' lap. Spreading them out in front of him Remus tapped the oldest looking and said "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The map introduced Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs and then the spidery lines of ink spanned the page, forming a perfect Map of every aspect of the castle. Smiling slightly, Remus touched the next one with the tip of his wand, said "I would rather eat cockroach clusters," and immediately the parchment drew a rather flourished pattern, decorating the ornately written words, 'Pheonix - Diagon' in the centre. The ink faded and was replaced by an accurate map of Diagon Alley although Harry noticed there were no moving dots to be seen.
"I don't remember how to teach the map to recognise people. James did that," he explained. "And I know there's a way to get it to change the lines if certain areas are – altered – but I can't remember that either. We used it for the moving staircases and everything ... and obviously it would be useful for this map considering a large amount of these shops are no longer in these places."
Harry nodded in agreement and Lupin turned his attention to the third, opening it with another password. This map ruled several straight lines across itself and in very neat print in the exact centre it printed 'Pheonix – Ministry." Lupin seemed to have made even less progress with this one as once the introductory page vanished there was nothing drawn, except a rough square and a phone box in the corner. "I need a Map of the Ministry for this one. And lastly – this one's Hogsmeade, which I sketched out pretty well but I need to fine tune some of the alleys and fences and add in some shops I forgot.
Remus put his wand on the arm of the chair and took another long sip from his mug. "You won't be going into Hogsmeade anymore naturally but-"
"What?" Harry snapped, his eyes flicking up from the maps before him.
"Sorry?" Remus prompted raising his eyebrows.
"You said I wouldn't go to Hogsmeade – who said that?"
Remus sighed and closed his eyes briefly. "I did, Harry. Look you can't tell me you honestly think going there would be a good idea? Not with what happened to Diagon Alley. Voldemort stops at nothing, Harry. Nothing. You should know that."
Harry slumped back into his seat and nodded.
"I'm sorry," Lupin apologised stroking his greying hair behind his ear and continuing, "But if Hermione goes, ask her to go into the Information Cabin and see if they still have maps of the place for sale. I've been so busy, I haven't even gone there yet. Do you mind passing on the message?" Harry shook his head.
"Right, and don't tell her what it's for either." Harry frowned in question. "I trust her, but the Order's secrets must be kept as tightly knit as possible. I would also like you Harry, to take the Marauder's Map back to your dormitory and see what you can find out. Don't worry if you can't get anything useful. I tried briefly before but my heart wasn't in it – I was preoccupied. So your help would be useful, Harry, thank you."
Harry nodded and Lupin began tapping the maps, reciting different locking passwords. Harry pocketed the Marauder's Map and gave Remus a weak smile.
"Thanks a lot, Harry," Remus said ruffling the top of his head affectionately. Harry tried hard not to grin as he said goodbye to Remus. He had reached the door, and was about to exit when Lupin called, "Oh and Harry – don't worry about what Padfoot says, Sirius was a bit rude in his younger days."