*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 13: Luck: Good and
Bad
DISCLAIMER: I have not ever, nor will I ever, own any Harry Potter or Tamora Pierce characters. Please don't make me give you all ten dollars of my money!
AN: I am SO sorry I haven't updated for MONTHS! I've had MAJOR writers block (Not to mention a bunch of very difficult classes in school, which I am now past! Halleluiah!) , but I think I've gotten past it and the end of the story is in sight! Well, at least I have it planned out.
AN2: I really luv this chapter. One of my favorites. I surprise myself sometimes. *pats herself on the back*
AN3: And if you get bored while waiting for the next chapters, please feel free to check out my other stories. *grins*
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As they approached Discipline, Sirius noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione pacing and gesturing furiously but, again, they were saying nothing aloud.
'But what if- Harry, Ron, anything could happen to him,' Hermione thought.
'Hermione, he's fully capable of taking care of himself- he's an adult after all!' Harry thought.
'Shut up, you idiots,' thought Draco, 'As much as I hate to say it, Potter is right, so STOP IT! If you really want to fret, talk out loud so I don't have to hear you!'
'He has Briar with him, too,' thought Ron.
Just at that moment Harry's body raced across the yard and into Discipline's cottage.
'Right,' thought Harry, 'Well, now he DOESN'T have Briar with him, does he?'
'SHUT UP,' Draco thought as loudly as he could.
'Fine,' thought Hermione as she turned to go into Discipline, 'let's go inside and ask Briar-'
Then Hermione gave a cry of surprise, for Remus Lupin had turned the corner with Sirius right behind him. They were both looking quite lost. Racing across to him, Hermione enveloped him in a tight hug.
"Professor Lupin! How did you get here?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face.
"Er- switched bodies?" Remus clarified, looking at Sirius, who nodded, "Who are you, now?" He directed at Tris' body.
"Hermione!" Hermione sobbed.
Harry walked up to Sirius, crossed his arms and said, "What on EARTH did you do?"
"Harry, I don't think we're on Earth anymore," Sirius pointed out, playfully. When Harry narrowed his gray-green eyes menacingly Sirius added, "Niko directed me to Dedicate Windwear, who knows these kind of spells," he gestured at Remus, who was now attempting to pry Hermione off without success (she was quite hysterical and not listening to anything being said).
"So, you reckon Remus will be able to help?" asked Harry.
"I sure hope so," replied Sirius.
"What have you people been doing to this poor girl?" Remus asked as Hermione fell to the ground in a dead faint.
"Oops," said Sirius, "Should've thought of that."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Remus was sitting next to Hermione's bed, ready to comfort her when she woke up. The shock of seeing Remus again had undoubtedly taken it's toll on her. She had been out cold for two hours. Briar, Harry, and Ron were playing a game that Daja had taught them called 'Tracking the Kaqs.' At the other side of the room, Tris, Sandry, and Daja were trying to explain the social classes to Draco, who seemed particularly interested, and kept asking what a "kaq" was.
Just when Ron had gained the lead and let out a whoop of triumph, Briar fell out of his chair, his hand pressed against his forehead, a look of fear and pain pasted on his face.
"Gah," Briar said, "Your head keeps hurting!"
Harry stood up, concerned, "How often has it done that?"
"Only twice, but it HURTS. This time is even worse than the first time!"
"Death Eaters," said Harry, standing up, "I'll go see if I can find them. C'mon, Ron."
"Won't you be seen?" Asked Draco, smugly.
"Do you care?" Asked Ron.
"Not really," Draco replied, "But you might get Sandry and Briar killed."
Briar made a choking noise.
"Don't worry, Briar," said Harry, "the Death Eaters won't recognize us- and we'll be careful."
A loud groan came from Hermione's bed. Everyone looked at her, "Death Eaters?" she said, thickly, "Aren't we in another dimension or something?"
"Yes, I believe so," said Remus, "but it's quite possible they got here the same way we did."
"Okay," said Hermione slowly, sinking back onto her bed.
"What's 'oh kay' mean?" Tris wondered aloud.
"It means 'alright,'" Sirius replied, walking in the room, "Remus, were you lecturing them? They aren't at school, they don't have to learn anything now."
"No, Hermione woke up and asked m-" Remus was interrupted by Sirius.
"No, you probably just THOUGHT she asked you, because you want to demonstrate your great knowledge," Sirius teased.
"This is serious, Sirius!" Remus said.
"Ha ha ha," Sirius said dryly.
"Really," snapped Remus, "Harry suspects there are Death Eaters out there."
Sirius sobered immediately, "Why do you think that?"
"Because my head hurt," said Harry, pointing at Briar.
"Oh, I see."
"And Ron and I are going to check it out," Harry continued.
"Okay," said Sirius, his face unreadable, "I'll go with you."
Harry looked at Remus, who shrugged. Harry, Ron, and Sirius started for the door.
"Wait," said Draco.
"What?" Harry snapped, whirling around.
"I'm gonna come too. I wanna see if my father got out of Azkaban yet."
"You can't-" Harry started.
"I'm going," Draco stated stubbornly, crossing his arms.
"Fine, but you better not do ANYTHING but look!" Harry growled irritably.
Without another word, Harry, Ron, Sirius, and Draco walked out of the room.
'Keep me posted,' Hermione thought, feebly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They found nothing out of the ordinary as they searched the area closest to the house of healing, but as they drew farther from their starting point, Harry began to look more worried.
'I can sense them- we're getting closer,' Harry thought.
'How on Earth can you sense them?!' Draco thought scornfully.
'No idea- must come with being visitors in this dimension. Or maybe it's something they do here regularly. Or maybe Briar has made a hobby of –'
'Shut up! Okay I get it, fine, just shut up! Sorry I asked,' Draco interrupted.
'Found anything yet?' Hermione's voiced asked suddenly.
Draco jumped three feet in the air, and Sirius stepped out of the way just in time.
"What was that about?" Sirius demanded.
Harry grabbed Sirius' forearm and thought, 'Sorry, Sirius, Hermione asked us if we had found anything and I think she scared-'
'She didn't scare me- startled me a little but not-'
'Hey, you guys, look over there,' thought Ron, gesturing around the corner of the nearest greenhouse. The foursome drew into the shadows when they saw the seven dark figures approaching.
'Death Eaters,' thought Sirius, 'I'd bet my life on it. I'd recognize those costumes anywhere. Merlin, is it strange to be thinking out loud.'
'You get used to it,' Ron thought.
'Shut up, their coming this way!' thought Draco. And, indeed, at that moment, the Death Eaters drew close enough for the four people to hear what they were saying.
"-would be here, in this circle place," said a silky voice.
Harry distinctly heard the word 'Dad,' thought out loud.
"I doubt there is anyone of import here. Even if Black was here, he still wouldn't know where Potter was," replied a gruff voice that Harry recognized as Dolohov.
"Well, let's not take our time arguing! The Dark Lord ordered us to search here and we're going to search," said another, female voice and Harry almost jumped out of his hiding spot to strangle who he knew was Bellatrix Lestrange.
'Leave it, Harry,' Sirius thought after grabbing Harry's arm (Harry had dropped Sirius' forearm).
"Well, where shall we start?" asked a voice Harry recognized particularly well from a vision he had had last year. Rookwood was it? Rookwood was a pockmarked man who had been quite loyal to Voldemort.
"Ask one of them," one Death Eater grunted, waving a covered hand toward one of the buildings Harry had learned to hold numerous different dedicates.
"Death Eaters don't ask for directions," said a voice Harry recognized only too well. Snape.
"They do if it's on the Dark Lord's orders," growled a voice Harry recognized as Avery's.
"Well then, after you," said Snape, waving his hand at the building.
'Anything yet?' Hermione wondered.
'Yes, there are seven Death Eaters. There may be more but we can only see seven,' thought Ron.
'Do you know who they are?' Hermione asked.
'Malfoy, Rookwood, Avery, Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolohov, and Snape,' thought Harry, ticking them off on his fingers, 'I dunno who the other one is.'
'Okay, I'll tell Remus,' thought Hermione, 'Wait... Snape?'
'Yes, Snape is here along with the other Death Eaters,' Harry thought.
'Hey Hermione, why don't you just have Remus grab your arm or something. Then he can hear what we're telling you for himself and we won't waste time telling him,' thought Ron.
'Yeah, that's what we're doing with Sirius,' thought Harry.
'I'll see what he says,'
~*~*
"What did they say?" asked Remus, anxiously.
"They said there are seven Death Eaters out there including Malfoy, Rookwood, Avery, Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolohov, and Snape." Hermione recited, "They haven't figured out who the other one is, yet, and there could be more that they haven't spotted yet."
Remus Lupin nodded silently and Hermione continued, "They also reckon that it would save time if you- er- listened to the conversation in the way that Sirius is doing, that is, touching a person who can communicate mentally."
"Alright," Remus said.
Hermione held out her arm and Remus took it.
'Can you hear me Remus?' Hermione asked.
'Oh, my! I can hear you inside my head!' Remus thought excitedly to Hermione (at least he hoped he was thinking it to Hermione).
'You get used to it,' Sirius' voice sounded in Remus' head, making him jump.
'Sirius?! Are you-'
'Yes, but you'll have to shut up, Moony, we're trying to listen to these Death Eaters,' Sirius thought.
'Right...'
Sirius turned back to the Death Eaters, who had decided to search the grounds first and then, if they didn't find anything, demand the location of their quarry of some of the novices.
The Death Eaters spread out and began to scout the area for them.
'I have an idea,' thought Harry, turning around to face Sirius, 'What if I went out there and-"
'Harry, I do NOT want you going near those or any other Death Eaters!' Sirius thought sharply.
'But I'd be really careful and-'
'No,' Sirius thought, shortly.
'What is going on out there?' Remus wondered anxiously.
'Remus Jonathan _Moony_ Lupin, you think too much!' Sirius thought, 'You thought too much at school as well but at least then I didn't have to listen to you.'
'Er- sorry,' thought Remus sheepishly.
'And Harry is thinking of going out there and-'
'Make Padfoot let me go!' Harry whined to Remus.
'No,' various people thought snappishly.
'Alright, fine,' Harry gave in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible.
Oh, and please review.
^__^
DISCLAIMER: I have not ever, nor will I ever, own any Harry Potter or Tamora Pierce characters. Please don't make me give you all ten dollars of my money!
AN: I am SO sorry I haven't updated for MONTHS! I've had MAJOR writers block (Not to mention a bunch of very difficult classes in school, which I am now past! Halleluiah!) , but I think I've gotten past it and the end of the story is in sight! Well, at least I have it planned out.
AN2: I really luv this chapter. One of my favorites. I surprise myself sometimes. *pats herself on the back*
AN3: And if you get bored while waiting for the next chapters, please feel free to check out my other stories. *grins*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As they approached Discipline, Sirius noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione pacing and gesturing furiously but, again, they were saying nothing aloud.
'But what if- Harry, Ron, anything could happen to him,' Hermione thought.
'Hermione, he's fully capable of taking care of himself- he's an adult after all!' Harry thought.
'Shut up, you idiots,' thought Draco, 'As much as I hate to say it, Potter is right, so STOP IT! If you really want to fret, talk out loud so I don't have to hear you!'
'He has Briar with him, too,' thought Ron.
Just at that moment Harry's body raced across the yard and into Discipline's cottage.
'Right,' thought Harry, 'Well, now he DOESN'T have Briar with him, does he?'
'SHUT UP,' Draco thought as loudly as he could.
'Fine,' thought Hermione as she turned to go into Discipline, 'let's go inside and ask Briar-'
Then Hermione gave a cry of surprise, for Remus Lupin had turned the corner with Sirius right behind him. They were both looking quite lost. Racing across to him, Hermione enveloped him in a tight hug.
"Professor Lupin! How did you get here?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face.
"Er- switched bodies?" Remus clarified, looking at Sirius, who nodded, "Who are you, now?" He directed at Tris' body.
"Hermione!" Hermione sobbed.
Harry walked up to Sirius, crossed his arms and said, "What on EARTH did you do?"
"Harry, I don't think we're on Earth anymore," Sirius pointed out, playfully. When Harry narrowed his gray-green eyes menacingly Sirius added, "Niko directed me to Dedicate Windwear, who knows these kind of spells," he gestured at Remus, who was now attempting to pry Hermione off without success (she was quite hysterical and not listening to anything being said).
"So, you reckon Remus will be able to help?" asked Harry.
"I sure hope so," replied Sirius.
"What have you people been doing to this poor girl?" Remus asked as Hermione fell to the ground in a dead faint.
"Oops," said Sirius, "Should've thought of that."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Remus was sitting next to Hermione's bed, ready to comfort her when she woke up. The shock of seeing Remus again had undoubtedly taken it's toll on her. She had been out cold for two hours. Briar, Harry, and Ron were playing a game that Daja had taught them called 'Tracking the Kaqs.' At the other side of the room, Tris, Sandry, and Daja were trying to explain the social classes to Draco, who seemed particularly interested, and kept asking what a "kaq" was.
Just when Ron had gained the lead and let out a whoop of triumph, Briar fell out of his chair, his hand pressed against his forehead, a look of fear and pain pasted on his face.
"Gah," Briar said, "Your head keeps hurting!"
Harry stood up, concerned, "How often has it done that?"
"Only twice, but it HURTS. This time is even worse than the first time!"
"Death Eaters," said Harry, standing up, "I'll go see if I can find them. C'mon, Ron."
"Won't you be seen?" Asked Draco, smugly.
"Do you care?" Asked Ron.
"Not really," Draco replied, "But you might get Sandry and Briar killed."
Briar made a choking noise.
"Don't worry, Briar," said Harry, "the Death Eaters won't recognize us- and we'll be careful."
A loud groan came from Hermione's bed. Everyone looked at her, "Death Eaters?" she said, thickly, "Aren't we in another dimension or something?"
"Yes, I believe so," said Remus, "but it's quite possible they got here the same way we did."
"Okay," said Hermione slowly, sinking back onto her bed.
"What's 'oh kay' mean?" Tris wondered aloud.
"It means 'alright,'" Sirius replied, walking in the room, "Remus, were you lecturing them? They aren't at school, they don't have to learn anything now."
"No, Hermione woke up and asked m-" Remus was interrupted by Sirius.
"No, you probably just THOUGHT she asked you, because you want to demonstrate your great knowledge," Sirius teased.
"This is serious, Sirius!" Remus said.
"Ha ha ha," Sirius said dryly.
"Really," snapped Remus, "Harry suspects there are Death Eaters out there."
Sirius sobered immediately, "Why do you think that?"
"Because my head hurt," said Harry, pointing at Briar.
"Oh, I see."
"And Ron and I are going to check it out," Harry continued.
"Okay," said Sirius, his face unreadable, "I'll go with you."
Harry looked at Remus, who shrugged. Harry, Ron, and Sirius started for the door.
"Wait," said Draco.
"What?" Harry snapped, whirling around.
"I'm gonna come too. I wanna see if my father got out of Azkaban yet."
"You can't-" Harry started.
"I'm going," Draco stated stubbornly, crossing his arms.
"Fine, but you better not do ANYTHING but look!" Harry growled irritably.
Without another word, Harry, Ron, Sirius, and Draco walked out of the room.
'Keep me posted,' Hermione thought, feebly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They found nothing out of the ordinary as they searched the area closest to the house of healing, but as they drew farther from their starting point, Harry began to look more worried.
'I can sense them- we're getting closer,' Harry thought.
'How on Earth can you sense them?!' Draco thought scornfully.
'No idea- must come with being visitors in this dimension. Or maybe it's something they do here regularly. Or maybe Briar has made a hobby of –'
'Shut up! Okay I get it, fine, just shut up! Sorry I asked,' Draco interrupted.
'Found anything yet?' Hermione's voiced asked suddenly.
Draco jumped three feet in the air, and Sirius stepped out of the way just in time.
"What was that about?" Sirius demanded.
Harry grabbed Sirius' forearm and thought, 'Sorry, Sirius, Hermione asked us if we had found anything and I think she scared-'
'She didn't scare me- startled me a little but not-'
'Hey, you guys, look over there,' thought Ron, gesturing around the corner of the nearest greenhouse. The foursome drew into the shadows when they saw the seven dark figures approaching.
'Death Eaters,' thought Sirius, 'I'd bet my life on it. I'd recognize those costumes anywhere. Merlin, is it strange to be thinking out loud.'
'You get used to it,' Ron thought.
'Shut up, their coming this way!' thought Draco. And, indeed, at that moment, the Death Eaters drew close enough for the four people to hear what they were saying.
"-would be here, in this circle place," said a silky voice.
Harry distinctly heard the word 'Dad,' thought out loud.
"I doubt there is anyone of import here. Even if Black was here, he still wouldn't know where Potter was," replied a gruff voice that Harry recognized as Dolohov.
"Well, let's not take our time arguing! The Dark Lord ordered us to search here and we're going to search," said another, female voice and Harry almost jumped out of his hiding spot to strangle who he knew was Bellatrix Lestrange.
'Leave it, Harry,' Sirius thought after grabbing Harry's arm (Harry had dropped Sirius' forearm).
"Well, where shall we start?" asked a voice Harry recognized particularly well from a vision he had had last year. Rookwood was it? Rookwood was a pockmarked man who had been quite loyal to Voldemort.
"Ask one of them," one Death Eater grunted, waving a covered hand toward one of the buildings Harry had learned to hold numerous different dedicates.
"Death Eaters don't ask for directions," said a voice Harry recognized only too well. Snape.
"They do if it's on the Dark Lord's orders," growled a voice Harry recognized as Avery's.
"Well then, after you," said Snape, waving his hand at the building.
'Anything yet?' Hermione wondered.
'Yes, there are seven Death Eaters. There may be more but we can only see seven,' thought Ron.
'Do you know who they are?' Hermione asked.
'Malfoy, Rookwood, Avery, Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolohov, and Snape,' thought Harry, ticking them off on his fingers, 'I dunno who the other one is.'
'Okay, I'll tell Remus,' thought Hermione, 'Wait... Snape?'
'Yes, Snape is here along with the other Death Eaters,' Harry thought.
'Hey Hermione, why don't you just have Remus grab your arm or something. Then he can hear what we're telling you for himself and we won't waste time telling him,' thought Ron.
'Yeah, that's what we're doing with Sirius,' thought Harry.
'I'll see what he says,'
~*~*
"What did they say?" asked Remus, anxiously.
"They said there are seven Death Eaters out there including Malfoy, Rookwood, Avery, Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolohov, and Snape." Hermione recited, "They haven't figured out who the other one is, yet, and there could be more that they haven't spotted yet."
Remus Lupin nodded silently and Hermione continued, "They also reckon that it would save time if you- er- listened to the conversation in the way that Sirius is doing, that is, touching a person who can communicate mentally."
"Alright," Remus said.
Hermione held out her arm and Remus took it.
'Can you hear me Remus?' Hermione asked.
'Oh, my! I can hear you inside my head!' Remus thought excitedly to Hermione (at least he hoped he was thinking it to Hermione).
'You get used to it,' Sirius' voice sounded in Remus' head, making him jump.
'Sirius?! Are you-'
'Yes, but you'll have to shut up, Moony, we're trying to listen to these Death Eaters,' Sirius thought.
'Right...'
Sirius turned back to the Death Eaters, who had decided to search the grounds first and then, if they didn't find anything, demand the location of their quarry of some of the novices.
The Death Eaters spread out and began to scout the area for them.
'I have an idea,' thought Harry, turning around to face Sirius, 'What if I went out there and-"
'Harry, I do NOT want you going near those or any other Death Eaters!' Sirius thought sharply.
'But I'd be really careful and-'
'No,' Sirius thought, shortly.
'What is going on out there?' Remus wondered anxiously.
'Remus Jonathan _Moony_ Lupin, you think too much!' Sirius thought, 'You thought too much at school as well but at least then I didn't have to listen to you.'
'Er- sorry,' thought Remus sheepishly.
'And Harry is thinking of going out there and-'
'Make Padfoot let me go!' Harry whined to Remus.
'No,' various people thought snappishly.
'Alright, fine,' Harry gave in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible.
Oh, and please review.
^__^