Harry was running. He wasn't being pursued; he was chasing something.
He opened a door and saw his dad die in a flash of green light. He shut the
door quickly and saw the same happen to his mum behind another door. Then
he opened a third door and saw Sirius fall and fall and fall. Now there was
something chasing him. He had to open the next door no matter how much he
didn't want to. There was Ron, hanging from a tree with a rope around his
neck. The next door, Hermione was being burned, tied to a wooden stake.
Another door. He was sobbing by the time he reached it. He saw Luna's head
roll across the ground and land at his feet, her decapitated body in a
mangled heap. Another door, he didn't want to open it. Ginny's body lay
crushed beneath a huge rock with just her head showing. Her eyes gaped
blindly and her tongue lolled out of her mouth. The next door opened to
show Mr. and Mrs. Weasley with bullet holes in them. There was a pool of
blood around them and Harry felt sick. The next door showed Hagrid drowning
helplessly. The one after that showed Fred and George with their arms and
legs at such odd angles they must have been broken in at least 3 places per
limb. Behind the next door showed Dumbledore, Tonks, Moody, McGonagall, and
Lupin frozen in ice or crystals. Suddenly Harry wasn't there anymore.
Harry was now in a cave and he'd reached the end. He turned to fight whatever it was but everything went dark and he woke up to the total darkness of his four-poster bed with the curtains around it pulled shut tight. He felt the cold sweat on his brow. He shivered; remembering the horrible nightmare. He'd just seen everybody he cared about cruelly murdered. He knew it was only a dream, but the fear inside him refused to settle.
Out of his mind's eye came the image of two pale, serene eyes. He stopped shivering and sweating. His heart rate calmed. Slowly, very slowly, the terror left by the dream began to fade.
Those eyes. Luna's eyes. They'd haunted him for how many months now? Always bringing calm relief after his nightmares.
He sighed. Another nightmare. And it was another nightmare that had been ended by Luna's eyes. He rolled over on his stomach, thinking. Maybe it was something to do with Legilimency? Maybe that calmness was something he could learn . . .or maybe it was just one of those Luna oddities. He was still tired but he didn't want to go back to sleep. A stupid thing, he thought. Scared to go to sleep because I had a nightmare. But he stayed awake anyway. He peaked through the curtains and judging by the light outside figured it must be almost 5 in the morning, maybe 4:30.
He thought about the eyes again. Dumbledore's eyes seemed the same way sometimes, but not so much as Luna's. Maybe it was just something about an inner calm? He shook his head and sighed again.
Suddenly he decided to take a look at the letter Lupin had sent, the one that had arrived on Christmas. The day it arrived he'd hardly been able to begin skimming it, but since then he'd felt a sort of dread regarding the letter and didn't touch it. Now he felt almost compelled to read it. It least it would give him something to do other than go back to sleep. He looked at the first line and realized the message would take some decoding.
Dear James,
Your letter came as something of a shock to me, despite my expecting it's eventual arrival for quite some time now. It is, however, something Snuffles and I both knew you would one day as, and as I said I have been expecting it especially since last year. I know your with your mother's sister was always miserable to say the least. I also know that you are now aware of Percival Wulfric's reasons for placing you in the care of your aunt and uncle, reasons I will not list here in case this letter should get intercepted.
I will suffice to tell you that Snuffles was correct in his telling you that your aunt knows more than she lets on and certainly more than she will admit to even us. At the present I can say no more. Percival Wulfric will be arranging a time for you to meet with me and I will explain exactly what Snuffles meant at said time. Do not ask him about it, James, he will have no good answer for you. How much he knows and how much he tells are very different things. He does not always give his reasons.
Your Friend,
Professor Moony
So, Dumbledore was going to arrange for him to meet with Lupin. Things weren't safe to be discussed in letters. Fair enough. He should write a response. As quietly as he could he took out ink, parchment, and a quill. He took a textbook to lean on and sat again on his bed.
Professor Moony,
Thank you for your letter. Do you remember the lessons I was taking with Professor Snivellus last year? I've been taking more extra classes this year. Special tutoring. I have at last moved on to the next stage. My teacher is excellent. She appears odd, but quite knowledgeable. I shall await Percival Wulfric's invitation to join you, sooner I hope rather than later as I am quite anxious for answers.
Impatient as ever,
Your Friend James
That ought to do. He got out some wax and a candle and sealed the letter. He didn't bother with any of the security charms he knew (Luna had showed him some during their breaks from Legilimency, like the ones she had sealed the letter about Occlumency with).
By now it was nearly six. Or close enough, almost quarter 'til. He considered just waiting around for Ron to get up, but it was Saturday; Ron would be asleep for a while yet.
Harry got dressed and ready for the day quietly, so as not to wake those that had been fortunate enough not to have nightmares about the deaths of everybody they cared about. Harry noticed one thing though: in this dream, Cedric hadn't died.
Often in any death dream Harry had, Cedric was one of the people that died. Normally Harry's dreams didn't include quite so many people dying. Usually it was restricted to people already dead, like his parents or Sirius or Cedric. But lately he hadn't been having nightmares about Cedric's death. Maybe all those talks with Luna had helped to some extent. He still felt guilty, sure, but it wasn't quite so bad anymore. It was two years ago and he was starting to move on. What was that one quote? Luna liked quotes. "Don't shed tears for the dead, or you'll be blind to the living". No, that wasn't it, but it worked too. There'd been several. Another had been something to the extent of, "You don't go to funerals for the dead, you go to comfort the living." There was nothing you could do for the dead, they were dead and gone. But the living, you went to make things easier for them or because you needed someone there to make things easier for you. He was still surprised at how much sense Luna made sometimes.
He crept out of the dormitory and down the stairs to the common room. All was quiet. The fire had died in the night and the ashes were cold. Fire. He was reminded of Hermione burning at the stake and wanted to go back for his cloak, but he didn't. It was a dream, he reminded himself firmly, nothing more than a dream. A figment of my imagination. The worries of my subconscious.
He took a final glance over his shoulder and exited the common room. He worked his way slowly to the Owlery. It was a Saturday and it seemed there was no one awake yet, no one awake and within sight at any rate. He stayed for a while in the Owlery, giving Hedwig some much needed attention before sending off the letter. It was hardly half past six yet but Harry went down to the Great Hall anyway.
He was surprised to find that he wasn't the only one down there.
Sitting at the Ravenclaw table were Luna and Ginny, talking quietly. Even from a distance he knew who they were. Ginny's hair was pulled out of her face in a tight ponytail. Luna was still wearing the necklace he'd gotten her, and her hair was again combed tamely rather than being its normal mess.
Harry didn't want to sit alone at the Gryffindor table and feel like an idiot, so he approached the Ravenclaw table and stood across from the two girls.
"You're awake early," he said casually, sitting down.
"So are you."
"I've been awake a while now. I had to send a letter."
"We know. Dumbledore asked us to be here when you got back."
"What? How?" How had Dumbledore possibly known Harry was sending a letter this morning? It was a Saturday; any student in his right mind was going to oversleep. And the last letter Harry had received was Lupin's and that was a week and a half ago. How had Dumbledore known? Lupin wouldn't even have the letter yet. "When did he tell you this?"
"Last night. Why?"
"I didn't even write the letter or even think of writing it until this morning."
Ginny shrugged, "Dumbledore works in mysterious ways."
"Yes he does," sighed Harry.
Luna had been silent until now but she reached into her pocket and took out a letter. Sealed with wax and magic. The seal had been imprinted with the initials A.P.W.B.D. in fancy script. "He said to give this to you."
Harry started to open it.
She continued, "He said don't open it inside the castle-" Harry started heading for the exit, "-and said that we weren't to let you leave the castle until you'd had a proper breakfast."
"But there's no food here."
Luna clapped her hands once. Immediately more than enough food for the three of them appeared. "Eat."
"I'm not really hungry." He remembered the images of his dream. Ginny trapped beneath that huge rock, her eyes bulging . . . and Luna decapitated, her hair stained with blood and her head rolling toward his feet . . . "I don't really feel like eating this morning, ladies. Thanks anyway." He tried to stand and found he couldn't.
"We hexed it," said Ginny. "Dumbledore said to keep you from leaving at all costs. Said you'd need your energy today. So you'd better eat before we force-feed you."
"You wouldn't dare," said Harry.
A grin appeared on Ginny's face like the ones he had often seen the Weasley twins wearing. This was not good. Not good at all. "Wanna bet?" Ginny asked calmly. Luna had been putting food on Harry's plate. Ginny now took Harry's fork, loaded it with potatoes and tried to make Harry swallow. Of course, he didn't open his mouth. But Luna came around to the other side of the table to stand behind Harry and took both his wrists in just one of her hands to keep him from taking the fork away from Ginny, and used her other hand to pinch Harry's nose closed. He'd have to open his mouth if he wanted to breathe.
"I suggest you open your mouth now," she said.
Harry, having no choice in the matter, was force-fed his breakfast, because every time he opened his mouth to protest or say he'd feed himself, Ginny just jammed more food in.
The whole time, Luna and Ginny had been chatting amiably above his head. "Yes, that Charms test was difficult, wasn't it?"
"You know, Colin, right? Dismal at Charms, but excellent at Potions. Helps me with the work often." Ginny grinned.
"Who do you go to for Herbology help?"
"Neville Longbottom. Sixth year Gryffindor, you remember him from the D.A. meetings?"
"Yes."
Harry knew they were purposely speaking to vex him. He tried to remind Ginny that if she came anywhere near Neville in Ron's sight, Ron would probably go ballistic. Unfortunately Ginny just jammed more food in his mouth and kept talking. About half the food was gone from Harry's plate (which Ginny had refilled twice) and he finally managed to gasp between bites and swallows, "Ginny . . .Luna . . .I . . .can . . .feed . . .myself! Let . . .go . . .of . . .me! This . . .is . . .ridiculous!" He struggled again but Luna was surprisingly strong.
A few minute's later, Luna said, "I think he's eaten enough."
"If he eats anymore he might burst. Or throw up. Not pleasant." Ginny put down the fork, but made Harry swallow one more gulp of orange juice.
Luna let go of his wrists and stopped pinching his nose.
Harry's nose had gone totally numb. He tried to wrinkle it, getting some laughs from Luna and Ginny. He rubbed his hands and fingers, trying to get some life in them. He tried to stand and still couldn't. "What gives?"
"Now it's our turn to eat. After all, we just spent all our time feeding you."
"You didn't have to!"
"Yes we did. Otherwise you might have tried to sneak off without us. Dumbledore said you needed your energy."
"I can't sneak anywhere. I can't even get up."
He waited another ten minutes or so for the girls to finish eating before they released the spell and walked him outside. "You don't have to follow me." He glared at them.
"Yes, we do. Dumbledore's orders." Ginny grinned cheekily. It was barely after seven, only the early risers would just be getting up now. "We're your bodyguard."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "You're joking, right?" It wasn't funny.
"No."
It was only then that Harry realized that Ginny walked in front of him, wavering to the sides like a semi-circle, and out of the corners of his eyes, it seemed Luna did the same. But they countered each other, so while one was on the left, the other was on the right and vice-versa. Certainly seemed guard-like behavior to him.
"Where are you leading me anyway, Gin?"
"To Hagrid's."
"He won't be awake this early."
"He will be today. Look at the smoke from his chimney. He's awake."
Harry pouted a little; this was not a good day. First he'd had a nightmare, couldn't go back to sleep, had to be force-fed his breakfast, and now he had a guard with him just to walk him to Hagrid's! Some guard. Two fifth year girls. Big help, he thought sarcastically. Then he thought about just who the girls were. Okay, so they weren't defenseless little dolls, but still . . .it made him feel awfully helpless.
Ginny knocked on Hagrid's door and it opened, revealing not only Hagrid standing by the door, but Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape sitting at the table.
"We've been expecting you," said Dumbledore, much too pleasantly for so early in the morning.
"That's funny. I wasn't expecting you. As a matter of fact, I wasn't expecting to be here at all. What's with the welcoming committee?" asked Harry. Apparently his miserable morning was going to get worse. His stomach felt uneasy; in his dream nearly all of these people had died.
"Sit, 'Arry. I'll get yeh a cuppa tea." Harry sat and Hagrid brought him a large pewter mug.
"I suppose at some point you're going to tell me why I'm here?" Harry took a sip of tea and it nearly burned his mouth.
"You're here, Harry, because we needed to talk to you."
"So, talk." Harry was in no mood to be polite. "And while you're at it, could you explain why you had to choose the two of IthemI two bring me here?" He nodded at Ginny and Luna. "You could have picked Ron and Hermione. Or IanybodyI else. Or even better, nobody at all."
"We felt Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley were best suited to the task. You aren't easy to persuade to do anything and we had a feeling it might take some persuading to get you here. These girls are as stubborn as yourself," said Professor McGonagall.
"Why am I here?" repeated Harry.
McGonagall's reply was frosty, making him think of the ice again. "We wish to speak to you. How are you Occlumency lessons going?"
"Term doesn't officially start 'til Monday and the Occlumency lessons have not yet resumed. You are aware that I am studying Legilimency too this term, you gave permission for use of the room yourself. I've only had one lesson but my teacher says I've made progress."
Snape glared at Harry, fiercely. "Who's teaching you Legilimency, Potter?"
"I am," said Luna in her far off, dreamy voice.
"Headmaster," Snape's voice was strained. "As much as it pains me to say this, I think Potter's tutoring should be my charge."
Dumbledore's tone was calm, but firm. "Severus, I don't believe that would be wise. You and Mister Potter have too many unresolved personal issues. That is why Miss Lovegood has been able to make progress where you have not. At any rate, I suggest you both make amends at some not too future time. Harry, today is the scheduled date for you to go visit Remus Lupin. I thank you for not asking me about it sooner."
"I didn't even read the letter until this morning. How did you know where I'd be, Professor?"
"I am afraid I cannot tell you that, Harry."
"You mean, you won't tell me. I don't doubt you could if you wanted to."
The Headmaster sighed. "Minerva, please take Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood back to the school and release the wardings we put on the house common rooms. Severus, you know where you are needed." McGonagall and Snape got up and left.
"With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore, we're staying," said Ginny.
Dumbledore asked, "Hagrid, is it all right if the girls stay here with you?"
" 'Course they can."
Luna said, "You misunderstand. We're not staying IhereI. We're staying with Harry."
"No, you're not-" Harry began.
"I really think you ought to stay here," Dumbledore said, quietly.
"Professor!" started Ginny.
"But I will let Harry decide. Though I must say, right now, your chances don't look to good." Dumbledore seemed almost amused.
Harry decided to stall, partly because he wasn't sure and partly to make Ginny and Luna sweat a little. They deserved it for how they treated him this morning. Besides, he needed t ask this anyway. "Where are we going? Nobody made that clear."
"To visit Remus Lupin."
Luna's expression was far-off, seemingly not paying the slightest attention, but Harry suspected she listened to every word. Ginny's face seemed to be a mixture of a plea to take her with him and a threat of what would happen if he didn't. He momentarily wished again for Ron or Hermione. Maybe by some miracle they'd come now. No, Dumbledore had mentioned wardings; apparently until McGonagall removed them, no one else could leave the common rooms. Ginny and Luna. He sighed internally. He'd better take them. Who knew what type of mischief they'd get into if he didn't watch out for them?
"He's decided to take us," there was finality in Luna's tone. She and Ginny both came and stood on either side of Harry.
"How'd you know?" Harry whispered to Luna.
"I could see it in your eyes." She didn't bother to lower her voice. "Besides, if we're not around, who knows what kind of mischief you'll get into?"
Harry shook his head. "Sometimes, I swear, if it weren't for you, I'd lose my sanity. But times like this, I think you're the reason I'm going insane."
"If the three of you are ready to leave, please approach the fireplace. The Floo powder is located in that pot on top of the fireplace. You are going to Versipellis Place."
Harry stood in front of the fireplace and threw in a pinch of shimmering powder. "Versipellis Villa!"
Okay, tell me what you think. ( I love reading all the reviews. This chapter was a little longer than most of them. I hope it was okay. Sorry about the preview, I know it's lame. I'll try and update soon but I've got to put a couple chapters up on my Artemis Fowl fic first. *
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"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Harry.
"He's not coming."
Harry was now in a cave and he'd reached the end. He turned to fight whatever it was but everything went dark and he woke up to the total darkness of his four-poster bed with the curtains around it pulled shut tight. He felt the cold sweat on his brow. He shivered; remembering the horrible nightmare. He'd just seen everybody he cared about cruelly murdered. He knew it was only a dream, but the fear inside him refused to settle.
Out of his mind's eye came the image of two pale, serene eyes. He stopped shivering and sweating. His heart rate calmed. Slowly, very slowly, the terror left by the dream began to fade.
Those eyes. Luna's eyes. They'd haunted him for how many months now? Always bringing calm relief after his nightmares.
He sighed. Another nightmare. And it was another nightmare that had been ended by Luna's eyes. He rolled over on his stomach, thinking. Maybe it was something to do with Legilimency? Maybe that calmness was something he could learn . . .or maybe it was just one of those Luna oddities. He was still tired but he didn't want to go back to sleep. A stupid thing, he thought. Scared to go to sleep because I had a nightmare. But he stayed awake anyway. He peaked through the curtains and judging by the light outside figured it must be almost 5 in the morning, maybe 4:30.
He thought about the eyes again. Dumbledore's eyes seemed the same way sometimes, but not so much as Luna's. Maybe it was just something about an inner calm? He shook his head and sighed again.
Suddenly he decided to take a look at the letter Lupin had sent, the one that had arrived on Christmas. The day it arrived he'd hardly been able to begin skimming it, but since then he'd felt a sort of dread regarding the letter and didn't touch it. Now he felt almost compelled to read it. It least it would give him something to do other than go back to sleep. He looked at the first line and realized the message would take some decoding.
Dear James,
Your letter came as something of a shock to me, despite my expecting it's eventual arrival for quite some time now. It is, however, something Snuffles and I both knew you would one day as, and as I said I have been expecting it especially since last year. I know your with your mother's sister was always miserable to say the least. I also know that you are now aware of Percival Wulfric's reasons for placing you in the care of your aunt and uncle, reasons I will not list here in case this letter should get intercepted.
I will suffice to tell you that Snuffles was correct in his telling you that your aunt knows more than she lets on and certainly more than she will admit to even us. At the present I can say no more. Percival Wulfric will be arranging a time for you to meet with me and I will explain exactly what Snuffles meant at said time. Do not ask him about it, James, he will have no good answer for you. How much he knows and how much he tells are very different things. He does not always give his reasons.
Your Friend,
Professor Moony
So, Dumbledore was going to arrange for him to meet with Lupin. Things weren't safe to be discussed in letters. Fair enough. He should write a response. As quietly as he could he took out ink, parchment, and a quill. He took a textbook to lean on and sat again on his bed.
Professor Moony,
Thank you for your letter. Do you remember the lessons I was taking with Professor Snivellus last year? I've been taking more extra classes this year. Special tutoring. I have at last moved on to the next stage. My teacher is excellent. She appears odd, but quite knowledgeable. I shall await Percival Wulfric's invitation to join you, sooner I hope rather than later as I am quite anxious for answers.
Impatient as ever,
Your Friend James
That ought to do. He got out some wax and a candle and sealed the letter. He didn't bother with any of the security charms he knew (Luna had showed him some during their breaks from Legilimency, like the ones she had sealed the letter about Occlumency with).
By now it was nearly six. Or close enough, almost quarter 'til. He considered just waiting around for Ron to get up, but it was Saturday; Ron would be asleep for a while yet.
Harry got dressed and ready for the day quietly, so as not to wake those that had been fortunate enough not to have nightmares about the deaths of everybody they cared about. Harry noticed one thing though: in this dream, Cedric hadn't died.
Often in any death dream Harry had, Cedric was one of the people that died. Normally Harry's dreams didn't include quite so many people dying. Usually it was restricted to people already dead, like his parents or Sirius or Cedric. But lately he hadn't been having nightmares about Cedric's death. Maybe all those talks with Luna had helped to some extent. He still felt guilty, sure, but it wasn't quite so bad anymore. It was two years ago and he was starting to move on. What was that one quote? Luna liked quotes. "Don't shed tears for the dead, or you'll be blind to the living". No, that wasn't it, but it worked too. There'd been several. Another had been something to the extent of, "You don't go to funerals for the dead, you go to comfort the living." There was nothing you could do for the dead, they were dead and gone. But the living, you went to make things easier for them or because you needed someone there to make things easier for you. He was still surprised at how much sense Luna made sometimes.
He crept out of the dormitory and down the stairs to the common room. All was quiet. The fire had died in the night and the ashes were cold. Fire. He was reminded of Hermione burning at the stake and wanted to go back for his cloak, but he didn't. It was a dream, he reminded himself firmly, nothing more than a dream. A figment of my imagination. The worries of my subconscious.
He took a final glance over his shoulder and exited the common room. He worked his way slowly to the Owlery. It was a Saturday and it seemed there was no one awake yet, no one awake and within sight at any rate. He stayed for a while in the Owlery, giving Hedwig some much needed attention before sending off the letter. It was hardly half past six yet but Harry went down to the Great Hall anyway.
He was surprised to find that he wasn't the only one down there.
Sitting at the Ravenclaw table were Luna and Ginny, talking quietly. Even from a distance he knew who they were. Ginny's hair was pulled out of her face in a tight ponytail. Luna was still wearing the necklace he'd gotten her, and her hair was again combed tamely rather than being its normal mess.
Harry didn't want to sit alone at the Gryffindor table and feel like an idiot, so he approached the Ravenclaw table and stood across from the two girls.
"You're awake early," he said casually, sitting down.
"So are you."
"I've been awake a while now. I had to send a letter."
"We know. Dumbledore asked us to be here when you got back."
"What? How?" How had Dumbledore possibly known Harry was sending a letter this morning? It was a Saturday; any student in his right mind was going to oversleep. And the last letter Harry had received was Lupin's and that was a week and a half ago. How had Dumbledore known? Lupin wouldn't even have the letter yet. "When did he tell you this?"
"Last night. Why?"
"I didn't even write the letter or even think of writing it until this morning."
Ginny shrugged, "Dumbledore works in mysterious ways."
"Yes he does," sighed Harry.
Luna had been silent until now but she reached into her pocket and took out a letter. Sealed with wax and magic. The seal had been imprinted with the initials A.P.W.B.D. in fancy script. "He said to give this to you."
Harry started to open it.
She continued, "He said don't open it inside the castle-" Harry started heading for the exit, "-and said that we weren't to let you leave the castle until you'd had a proper breakfast."
"But there's no food here."
Luna clapped her hands once. Immediately more than enough food for the three of them appeared. "Eat."
"I'm not really hungry." He remembered the images of his dream. Ginny trapped beneath that huge rock, her eyes bulging . . . and Luna decapitated, her hair stained with blood and her head rolling toward his feet . . . "I don't really feel like eating this morning, ladies. Thanks anyway." He tried to stand and found he couldn't.
"We hexed it," said Ginny. "Dumbledore said to keep you from leaving at all costs. Said you'd need your energy today. So you'd better eat before we force-feed you."
"You wouldn't dare," said Harry.
A grin appeared on Ginny's face like the ones he had often seen the Weasley twins wearing. This was not good. Not good at all. "Wanna bet?" Ginny asked calmly. Luna had been putting food on Harry's plate. Ginny now took Harry's fork, loaded it with potatoes and tried to make Harry swallow. Of course, he didn't open his mouth. But Luna came around to the other side of the table to stand behind Harry and took both his wrists in just one of her hands to keep him from taking the fork away from Ginny, and used her other hand to pinch Harry's nose closed. He'd have to open his mouth if he wanted to breathe.
"I suggest you open your mouth now," she said.
Harry, having no choice in the matter, was force-fed his breakfast, because every time he opened his mouth to protest or say he'd feed himself, Ginny just jammed more food in.
The whole time, Luna and Ginny had been chatting amiably above his head. "Yes, that Charms test was difficult, wasn't it?"
"You know, Colin, right? Dismal at Charms, but excellent at Potions. Helps me with the work often." Ginny grinned.
"Who do you go to for Herbology help?"
"Neville Longbottom. Sixth year Gryffindor, you remember him from the D.A. meetings?"
"Yes."
Harry knew they were purposely speaking to vex him. He tried to remind Ginny that if she came anywhere near Neville in Ron's sight, Ron would probably go ballistic. Unfortunately Ginny just jammed more food in his mouth and kept talking. About half the food was gone from Harry's plate (which Ginny had refilled twice) and he finally managed to gasp between bites and swallows, "Ginny . . .Luna . . .I . . .can . . .feed . . .myself! Let . . .go . . .of . . .me! This . . .is . . .ridiculous!" He struggled again but Luna was surprisingly strong.
A few minute's later, Luna said, "I think he's eaten enough."
"If he eats anymore he might burst. Or throw up. Not pleasant." Ginny put down the fork, but made Harry swallow one more gulp of orange juice.
Luna let go of his wrists and stopped pinching his nose.
Harry's nose had gone totally numb. He tried to wrinkle it, getting some laughs from Luna and Ginny. He rubbed his hands and fingers, trying to get some life in them. He tried to stand and still couldn't. "What gives?"
"Now it's our turn to eat. After all, we just spent all our time feeding you."
"You didn't have to!"
"Yes we did. Otherwise you might have tried to sneak off without us. Dumbledore said you needed your energy."
"I can't sneak anywhere. I can't even get up."
He waited another ten minutes or so for the girls to finish eating before they released the spell and walked him outside. "You don't have to follow me." He glared at them.
"Yes, we do. Dumbledore's orders." Ginny grinned cheekily. It was barely after seven, only the early risers would just be getting up now. "We're your bodyguard."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "You're joking, right?" It wasn't funny.
"No."
It was only then that Harry realized that Ginny walked in front of him, wavering to the sides like a semi-circle, and out of the corners of his eyes, it seemed Luna did the same. But they countered each other, so while one was on the left, the other was on the right and vice-versa. Certainly seemed guard-like behavior to him.
"Where are you leading me anyway, Gin?"
"To Hagrid's."
"He won't be awake this early."
"He will be today. Look at the smoke from his chimney. He's awake."
Harry pouted a little; this was not a good day. First he'd had a nightmare, couldn't go back to sleep, had to be force-fed his breakfast, and now he had a guard with him just to walk him to Hagrid's! Some guard. Two fifth year girls. Big help, he thought sarcastically. Then he thought about just who the girls were. Okay, so they weren't defenseless little dolls, but still . . .it made him feel awfully helpless.
Ginny knocked on Hagrid's door and it opened, revealing not only Hagrid standing by the door, but Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape sitting at the table.
"We've been expecting you," said Dumbledore, much too pleasantly for so early in the morning.
"That's funny. I wasn't expecting you. As a matter of fact, I wasn't expecting to be here at all. What's with the welcoming committee?" asked Harry. Apparently his miserable morning was going to get worse. His stomach felt uneasy; in his dream nearly all of these people had died.
"Sit, 'Arry. I'll get yeh a cuppa tea." Harry sat and Hagrid brought him a large pewter mug.
"I suppose at some point you're going to tell me why I'm here?" Harry took a sip of tea and it nearly burned his mouth.
"You're here, Harry, because we needed to talk to you."
"So, talk." Harry was in no mood to be polite. "And while you're at it, could you explain why you had to choose the two of IthemI two bring me here?" He nodded at Ginny and Luna. "You could have picked Ron and Hermione. Or IanybodyI else. Or even better, nobody at all."
"We felt Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley were best suited to the task. You aren't easy to persuade to do anything and we had a feeling it might take some persuading to get you here. These girls are as stubborn as yourself," said Professor McGonagall.
"Why am I here?" repeated Harry.
McGonagall's reply was frosty, making him think of the ice again. "We wish to speak to you. How are you Occlumency lessons going?"
"Term doesn't officially start 'til Monday and the Occlumency lessons have not yet resumed. You are aware that I am studying Legilimency too this term, you gave permission for use of the room yourself. I've only had one lesson but my teacher says I've made progress."
Snape glared at Harry, fiercely. "Who's teaching you Legilimency, Potter?"
"I am," said Luna in her far off, dreamy voice.
"Headmaster," Snape's voice was strained. "As much as it pains me to say this, I think Potter's tutoring should be my charge."
Dumbledore's tone was calm, but firm. "Severus, I don't believe that would be wise. You and Mister Potter have too many unresolved personal issues. That is why Miss Lovegood has been able to make progress where you have not. At any rate, I suggest you both make amends at some not too future time. Harry, today is the scheduled date for you to go visit Remus Lupin. I thank you for not asking me about it sooner."
"I didn't even read the letter until this morning. How did you know where I'd be, Professor?"
"I am afraid I cannot tell you that, Harry."
"You mean, you won't tell me. I don't doubt you could if you wanted to."
The Headmaster sighed. "Minerva, please take Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood back to the school and release the wardings we put on the house common rooms. Severus, you know where you are needed." McGonagall and Snape got up and left.
"With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore, we're staying," said Ginny.
Dumbledore asked, "Hagrid, is it all right if the girls stay here with you?"
" 'Course they can."
Luna said, "You misunderstand. We're not staying IhereI. We're staying with Harry."
"No, you're not-" Harry began.
"I really think you ought to stay here," Dumbledore said, quietly.
"Professor!" started Ginny.
"But I will let Harry decide. Though I must say, right now, your chances don't look to good." Dumbledore seemed almost amused.
Harry decided to stall, partly because he wasn't sure and partly to make Ginny and Luna sweat a little. They deserved it for how they treated him this morning. Besides, he needed t ask this anyway. "Where are we going? Nobody made that clear."
"To visit Remus Lupin."
Luna's expression was far-off, seemingly not paying the slightest attention, but Harry suspected she listened to every word. Ginny's face seemed to be a mixture of a plea to take her with him and a threat of what would happen if he didn't. He momentarily wished again for Ron or Hermione. Maybe by some miracle they'd come now. No, Dumbledore had mentioned wardings; apparently until McGonagall removed them, no one else could leave the common rooms. Ginny and Luna. He sighed internally. He'd better take them. Who knew what type of mischief they'd get into if he didn't watch out for them?
"He's decided to take us," there was finality in Luna's tone. She and Ginny both came and stood on either side of Harry.
"How'd you know?" Harry whispered to Luna.
"I could see it in your eyes." She didn't bother to lower her voice. "Besides, if we're not around, who knows what kind of mischief you'll get into?"
Harry shook his head. "Sometimes, I swear, if it weren't for you, I'd lose my sanity. But times like this, I think you're the reason I'm going insane."
"If the three of you are ready to leave, please approach the fireplace. The Floo powder is located in that pot on top of the fireplace. You are going to Versipellis Place."
Harry stood in front of the fireplace and threw in a pinch of shimmering powder. "Versipellis Villa!"
Okay, tell me what you think. ( I love reading all the reviews. This chapter was a little longer than most of them. I hope it was okay. Sorry about the preview, I know it's lame. I'll try and update soon but I've got to put a couple chapters up on my Artemis Fowl fic first. *
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"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Harry.
"He's not coming."