Disclaimer: I stole my cardboard box back. I own nothing related to the world of Harry Potter. Cricket is actually a space alien in disguise...I think.
Harry Potter and the Strength of Three
Chapter 13, Disappearing Act
Harry was surrounded by blessed warmth of all sides. A nice fuzzy feeling filled his head, which no longer felt like it was being used for football. His entire body felt relaxed, almost numb. It was wonderful...but someone was trying to wake him up. To take him away from the comfortable half-sleep. He didn't want to wake up.
"Harry." The voice was calm, caring and wise. "Time to wake up, Harry." Harry breathed a moan between his lips, trying to tell the voice to go away, to let him rest. He was so very tired...so tired. The world outside his dream was filled with pain and sorrow, and he didn't want to go back. He wanted to sleep forever, but the voice persisted. He groggily opened his eyes when he felt his shoulder being gently shaken. At first, the world was nothing but stark white, but slowly his vision returned and he could make out a blurry form hovering above his face. His glasses were settled on his nose, and Albus Dumbledore's friendly face jumped into focus. "Hello Harry."
Harry didn't answer at first; instead he took in his surroundings. He was lying in an elegant four poster bed, deep crimson draperies trimmed in gold hanging lazily in their drawn positions. The posts were carved with vines and leaves, the detail so fine he could make out the texture of each individual leaf. The fluffy comforter pulled up to his shoulders was also a deep red, with the same designs from the posts depicted in golden thread. The sheets were incredibly smooth and soft...silk. Beyond the bed was a richly furnished circular room, the lower half of the walls paneled in a light colored wood. A cherry stained magnificent desk faced the wall to his right, the shiny top oddly empty of paperwork or other desk-like things. A high backed, executive style black leather office chair was pushed snug against it. Other furniture was placed at intervals around the room, a small table and two chairs, a wardrobe, tall cabinets and a dresser with a large attached mirror. Thick, rich red and gold curtains hung from the windows, drawn open to allow the sunlight to stream into the room.
Harry turned to face the headmaster, a frown tugging at his lips. "Am I dead?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like mad, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips. He walked the few paces to the office chair, wheeled it to Harry's bedside and sat down. He turned to Harry, twinkle replaced by a serious, piercing gaze.
"No Harry, you are not." Albus Dumbledore's voice always seemed calming, reassuring and peaceful. Harry felt a serene sense of calm overwhelm him from his tone. "You should be. What you survived is impossible to survive, even with magical healing. Do you remember what happened?" Harry frowned, a look of intense concentration on his face.
Nightmare...Vernon!
Harry's face drained of all color, and he gasped. He looked up at his mentor with horror in his eyes. "V-vernon...gun, where is everyone? D-did they make it too?" He looked pleadingly at the headmaster, who was gazing at Harry kindly.
"They are in perfectly good health...a little too healthy, to tell you the truth. They also should be dead." He gave Harry an apologetic look before continuing. "I suspected that the events that had transpired were quite terrifying...so I took the liberty of looking through your memory while you were asleep." Harry's face darkened slightly, and Dumbledore held up his hands in a calming gesture. "I looked only at those memories that were your most recent. I did it because I believed that you would not wish to speak of it. However, what I saw only caused more confusion." Dumbledore looked at Harry with an expectant look, but Harry did not speak. The headmaster heaved a long sigh, stood up and pushed the chair back to the desk. He began to pace slowly about the room, seemingly examining its contents. "Do you know how long you have been here, Harry?
"...No. How long?" Harry followed the headmaster's progress with his eyes, relaxing in the bed now that he knew his friends were safe.
"...Only two hours have passed." Harry gasped, and Dumbledore turned to face him. "You were shot six times, Harry. Once in your left shoulder, once in the stomach, three times in the chest, and once...in the head." He paused, allowing Harry time to ponder his words. He walked back to the bed and sat at Harry's side. "Ron was shot once in the chest. The bullet passed through his left lung and severed a main artery. Hermione was shot twice, once in the left side of her chest, and once in the lower abdomen. Tonks was shot in the chest as well...the bullet passed through her right lung and lodged in her spine. All of the wounds your friends received were fatal...in fact, all of you did die. And yet...here you are."
Hearing Dumbledore put the experience into words made it sound even worse than it had seemed. How did we survive? "Why are we alive?" Harry asked curiously, gazing into the headmaster's eyes. The twinkle returned with Harry's words, and Albus Dumbledore smiled.
"Do you remember the...energy that you released before your uncle fired the last bullet?" Harry nodded, and Dumbledore's smile grew. "That is what saved you."
"How?" Harry asked, confused and curious. He raised his hands to his face, remembering the electricity that had crackled and jumped along his fingers. He looked expectantly at Dumbledore, who shook his head.
"I haven't the faintest clue." He hesitated slightly before continuing. "Remember...what we spoke of the last time you were in my office?" Harry's face darkened again, and he nodded. "I believe that the energy...the power that you experienced may be the power that the prophecy spoke of." Harry's eyes widened in understanding, and Dumbledore smiled, before standing suddenly and speaking quickly. "However, we may discuss all of this later. Your friends are waiting for us downstairs. We have a very important decision to make. Dress quickly and join us, we haven't much time." With that, Dumbledore spun and left the room in a flurry of purple robes. Harry stared at the closed door for a few moments before jumping from the bed. He found a clean pair of slacks and a t shirt at the foot of the four poster and dressed quickly. A simple pair of black socks and shoes followed, and then he left the room.
Once in the hallway, he stopped in confusion. I've never been here before... He looked to the right and left, doors lined the long hallway in both directions. It was extremely wide for a hallway, almost like the corridors of Hogwarts, only these were beige colored drywall instead of gray stone. The bottom three feet were paneled in the same light colored wood as the bedroom he had awoken in, and several paintings and portraits lined the walls. The paintings were mostly of magical beasts, but several depicted enormous battles from ages long past. Knights and Wizards on horseback fought side-by-side against an army of slavering beasts, a cross between rabid dog and insane human in appearance. Behind the army of darkness was an enourmous black cloud, seemingly following wherever they marched. In one particularily horrid painting the army of darkness lay slain on the field of battle, yet the army of light did not celebrate. They were looking upon the cloud in terror, some fleeing while others quailed and fell to their knees in fright. From the center of the cloud shone a pair of glowing red eyes. Harry shuddered as he looked into the eyes...they reminded him of Voldemort. I'm glad these paintings don't move...
Deciding right was as good a direction as any, as both ways looked almost the same, Harry began walking. Sure enough, when he reached the end of the hallway, what had seemed to be a dead end was actually an intersection with a stairway leading down on either side. He took the stairway on the right, the shiny wooden banister cool on his hand. When he reached the bottom, he found himself in some kind of sitting room. A grand fireplace stood at the end opposite him, a fire blazing merrily despite the fact that the room wasn't cool. Plush armchairs carried on the red and gold color scheme from his bedroom, lending the room a Gryffindor feel. The deep red curtains were drawn over the windows, effectively cutting off all light from outside. Harry experienced a moment of vertigo, as it suddenly felt like evening in the room.
His friends and Dumbledore were seated in armchairs near the fire, and Harry smiled warmly at the sight of them. Just two hours ago he had watched these people die...yet, here they were. Whatever the strange new powers he had used, he was glad he had them. Ron was the first one to see him, and jumped from his seat with a whoop of joy. He strode quickly to Harry and gave him a manly back slapping hug.
"Harry!" He cried, stepping away. Ron did a double take when he looked at Harry's face for some reason, but covered it quickly. Harry pretended not to notice, but was curious. "I heard you saved us...thanks mate." Harry didn't get a chance to respond as he was enveloped by arms from both sides, and had to struggle to breath from the overzealous greeting. His nostrils were filled with the conflicting scents of Tonks and Hermione, peanut butter and books, peppermint, flowers and bubblegum. He felt slightly dizzy, and sighed with relief when they released him, smiling.
"Harry!" They both said together, and then glared at each other suspiciously. Harry laughed a deep heartfelt laugh that brought tears to his eyes, and the girls turned their glares on him. "What?" They spoke at the same time again, but didn't appear to notice.
"N-nothing...heh." Harry chuckled, looking from face to face. "I'm just so glad your all ok...I had to watch, w-when..." With a shake of his head, Harry threw his arms around both of the girls, hiding the tears that sprang to his eyes. "It was so horrible! I'm so sorry, it's all my fau..."
"Don't." Hermione whispered, hugging him back as Tonks did the same.
"It's not your fault. Did you pay your uncle to kill you? I highly doubt it." Tonks said, and Harry couldn't stop a chuckle at the ludicrous thought.
"Well, I guess not..." Harry held onto the girls for a few more moments, but stepped back quickly with a blush when Dumbledore cleared his throat. He alone had remained seated, and his eyes were twinkling with a hint of...mischief. He gestured to the chairs around him, and the four friends took seats. Harry couldn't get himself to stop smiling, even though all three of his friends were glancing curiously at him and looking away quickly from time to time.
"Nice new hair style, Harry." Dumbledore chortled, "Quite fetching, if I do say so myself..." Ron barked a loud laugh, before coughing and covering his mouth. Harry looked at him confused, before remembering the gray in his hair. He turned back to Dumbledore with a confused look.
"Yea...I just woke up one morning, and some of it was gray like this." He ran his hand backwards through his hair for emphasis, but stopped at Ron's sudden silence. "What?" He looked to Dumbledore, who was smiling in a gentle, sad fashion. With a wave of his hand, the headmaster produced a mirror, leaned forward and gave it to Harry. Harry raised it to his face, but dropped it with a gasp. That can't be right...
He looked about at the other occupants of the room, a pleading expression on his face. He stopped at Hermione, and spoke. "Please...please tell me that I didn't see what I just saw." Hermione opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again before shaking her head. Harry sighed, before slowly raising the mirror again. He looked upon his reflection, and beheld a stranger.
Every hair on his head, his eyebrows, eyelashes, even his short beard...every strand of hair was snow white. He lowered the mirror to his lap, and turned a questioning gaze upon the headmaster. Dumbledore sighed, looked pointedly at each occupant of the room before settling on Harry.
"Sometimes, when a person suffers a great deal of grief and stress certain...physical changes can begin to manifest." He explained gently, vanishing the mirror with a flick of his fingers. "Although only cosmetic, your hair turning white is an affect your...mental state has had upon your body. Although not very common, I have seen it happen before." He stood from his chair and walked behind Harry, placing a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. "It's a premature sign of aging, Harry...and if anyone has the right to show age, it's you. You have endured more than most every witch or wizard on this planet." He raised his hand from Harry's shoulder, and walked so that he was in the center of the circle of chairs, his back to the fireplace. "...Besides, it looks good on you." The last was said with a smile, and Harry couldn't help but grin in response.
"Could I see the mirror aga...oh." Harry stopped as a mirror materialized in his hand as he had been raising it to Dumbledore. "Thanks." He missed Dumbledore's calculating gaze as he raised the mirror to his face again. It's not too bad... He thought, tugging on one frosty lock. It was so bright that it made his pale face appear almost tanned, and he smiled. Actually looked kind of cool... Absently, he wondered if all the hair on his body had turned white, and blushed furiously in response as he tried to hide behind the mirror. Dumbledore cleared his throat again, and Harry lowered the mirror. It disappeared halfway to his lap, and Harry shrugged before turning his attention to the headmaster.
"As wonderful as white hair is..." He intoned grandly, pointedly stroking his long beard. Ron stifled another laugh, and the girls giggled. "We have more important matters to discuss." With a wave of his hand, the chair he had been sitting in previously slid across the floor to stop behind him. He sat before he continued, his expression serious. "Only two hours have passed since the...incident of this morning. I myself am the one who discovered you, as I was searching for Harry at the time." Harry blushed, slightly flattered that Dumbledore himself had come to collect him. "Of course, I was horrified at what I first saw; blood everywhere and you four covered in it yourselves. I immediately apparated to St. Mungo's Hospital and had a team of medi-wizards dispatched to your location. They arrived and immediately port-keyed you each into the emergency ward. It was too late, however. All of you were already dead." He glanced at Harry as he said this.
Ron gasped, and Harry looked at his friends. Ron was white as a sheet, a hand resting on his cheek and his mouth open in a silent o of surprise. He would have appeared comical if not for the serious situation. Hermione had tears streaming down her face, and her shoulders shook slightly. Tonks looked a little pale, but that was the only change to her appearance.
"Your time of death was declared, and the medics left the room." Dumbledore sighed, before standing and banishing the chair back to its former position. He turned to face the fireplace, looking away from them as he spoke, his voice full of emotion. "I stayed, not knowing what to do and feeling that I was to blame for the entire situation." Harry started to protest, but Dumbledore held up a hand to stop him. Harry wondered if he could see out the back of his head like Mad-Eye Moody. "No Harry, I should not have made you return to Privet Drive. If only I had known that they were as bad as they are..." Dumbledore sighed again, before turning and beginning to pace before the four on the chairs. A frown marred his usually jovial features, and Harry began to get a bad feeling. "But that is beside the point. Imagine my surprise when suddenly...you all flashed a brilliant white light and began breathing! Quick as I could, I made port-keys and sent you to the rooms you awoke in..."
"Excuse me, Professor..." Hermione began nervously, and Dumbledore turned his gaze to her, nodding for her to speak. "But...where is this?" She spread her arms for emphasis, and Dumbledore gave a start of surprise.
"Oh, dear me." He intoned, giving them each an apologetic look. "This is a safe-house of the Order. You are safe here...for the moment." He nodded at his own words, before looking up with a twinkle in his eyes again. "Tea?" Without waiting for an answer, he conjured a tray of tea and biscuits on the small coffee table situated near their chairs. "I charmed the door to the ward you were in and told everyone that I had locked it to keep reporters away." He spoke while the others served themselves, and beckoned his chair to him again. He sat down with a long-suffering sigh. "And now comes the hard part..." Harry looked at him curiously, but Dumbledore simply smiled sadly at him in response.
"Howr paw?" Ron asked, dropping crumbs down his shirt from his full mouth. Dumbledore chuckled, causing Ron to blush and swallow with a grimace. That had to hurt... Harry's throat ached in sympathy, and he almost chuckled when Ron set a half-eaten biscuit back on the tray.
"Yes, the hard part. You see...I am the only person besides you four who thinks you are alive." He looked each of them in the eye before continuing, not a twinkle in sight. "And I believe it should stay that way. Each of you is a target, and if Voldemort thinks you are dead he will not bother trying to find you."
"B-but...my mum?" Ron asked, his voice thick. Dumbledore gave him a sympathetic look, as did Harry. It would kill Mrs. Weasley to think that one of her children had died. "She doesn't think I'm dead, does she?"
"I have not yet spoken with any of your families, and I told St. Mungo's to keep it quiet in respect to them." He sighed again, before standing and beginning to pace once more. He seemed...anxious. That can't be right... "However," and here he looked pointedly between Ron and Hermione. "If we are to continue this charade, and I believe we should, then I will inform your families of your deaths." Ron began to protest, and Dumbledore raised his hand once more. "It is the only way. Your family must appear to be mourning, and if they know you are ok they may give us away." Ron closed his mouth and sat back in his chair, his face clouded. Hermione was crying again. "I will leave this decision up to you four...but know that I think hiding is the best option. While you are here I will bring in a select group of trusted people to train you, to get you ready for the war." Tonks began to protest, but stopped as Dumbledore turned his eyes in her direction. "I am well aware that you were an Auror, Nymphadora, I mean the training for these three," he waved his arm towards the three teens, "but I daresay even you could benefit from the teaching. I know I approved your early graduation myself...but you and I both know that you weren't ready." Harry gave them both confused looks when Dumbledore said this, but decided to let it go. It was Tonks business, and she could tell him if she chose to. Early graduation?
"How long would we be in hiding?" Harry asked, drawing the old man's attention to himself. Dumbledore smiled, a proud gleam in his eye.
"I am not entirely sure. It could be as little as a few months or as long as two years. It all depends on Voldemort." Ron flinched at the name and Harry sighed, glancing at his friend before turning back to Dumbledore. "You will reveal yourselves to the world when it needs you most...when the time is right." The headmaster turned his head and gazed at Hermione over his half-moon spectacles. "Hermione...you should not have run from home." Harry felt his heart skip a beat, and stood from his chair to protest. Dumbledore turned his gaze on him, and he felt a calming sensation flow through his body before the headmaster turned his attention back to his friend. "However, what's done is done. You, especially need to remain in hiding...as does Harry." He nodded at Harry before continuing. "Ron." Ron tipped his head up to meet the old man's gaze, his eyes moist. "You may be a little safer at home than these two would be...but in order for our charade to work you must join them in hiding. I will leave you to discuss this amongst yourselves. We must act quickly, so I wil return in ten minutes for your decision." Dumbledore nodded at each of them in turn, then turned and left the room in a cloud of billowing purple robes.
Harry dropped back into his chair with a sigh, looking over the various expressions of his friends. Ron's face turned slowly from sadness to determination...and Harry wondered what decision he was determined to make. Hermione simply stared silently into the fire, tears streaming from her eyes. Harry had no doubt that she would choose to remain in hiding. Surprisingly, Tonks was the one Harry was the most concerned about. He did not know much about her home life, except that her mother was dead and that her father, Ted, was the one who had raised her. How close was their relationship...how would Ted Tonks fare if given the news of his only daughter's death? Harry did not doubt that she would remain in hiding as well...it was her duty as a member of the Order. Even if she stayed, would it be for her duty, or for him? Would she regret such a decision?
Harry wanted to stay, of course. Where else would he go? At least here, wherever here was, he would not be putting anyone into danger with his presence. If Voldemort believed him defeated and dead he would have no reason to destroy those Harry cared about. Even though the decision was not yet made, Harry felt a sense of relief coming over him. If they did go into hiding, and the plan worked, Harry would'nt have to worry about danger around every corner. He wouldn't have to worry for his friend's safety, as they would be here with him.
But he couldn't help but picture the faces of Ron's parents, his brothers and his sister as they heard the terrible news. How would the death of Ron affect them? Would Mrs. Weasley weep each day away and view terrible nightmares of her son's death each night? Or would she become cold...uncaring, afraid to care about anyone to keep from getting hurt again. Would Mr. Weasley fall so far into grief that he would lose his job? Would the twins, Fred and George, find laughter or happiness in the world after the news? Harry couldn't picture the Weasley twins without them smiling and laughing...the news of Ron's death would surely affect them greatly. Ginny would take it the hardest, he knew. She and Ron were very close. Fred and George had always had each other for company, and Ron and Ginny had done the same. Harry knew that beyond the bickering and quarreling they were closer to eachother than to any of their other siblings. No, Harry would not fault Ron if his decision was to return home.
Silently, he stood from his chair and approached the fire, staring at the orange and yellow flames as if seeking answers. It was almost time.
"Of course, I wish to stay here, but I will not fault any of you if you do not feel the same. You have family...I do not."Silence rienged for a few moments, broken only by the crackling of the fire. He heard someone get up and walk to him. He turned his head when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You're part of my family mate." Ron declared in a serious voice. "The news of your death will hurt our family just as much as mine will. I'm in." Harry smiled sadly at this, nodded his thanks to Ron and turned to face Hermione. She was no longer crying, but her chin would quiver now and then as if she were holding it in. She nodded to Harry, and he strode forward to gather her in his arms.
"Thanks, 'Mione. I'm sorry about this." He rubbed her back softly a few moments, then gently disengaged himself and turned to Tonks. She was still staring into the fire, and Harry was surprised to see a lone tear escape her eye and trickle down her cheek. "Tonks?" Harry asked, as he shuffled to her chair and crouched to look into her face. She turned her head quickly away, and Harry saw another tear trickle from her eye. He reached his hand up and brushed it away with his thumb, before grasping her chin lightly and turning her head to face him. She squeezed her eyes shut, and he sighed. "Why the tears?" He whispered, brushing away two more. "...you don't have to stay, if you don't want to." She opened her eyes at this, and Harry almost gasped in surprise. In place of the beautiful electrical pink he was used to seeing, her iris's were now completely black, blending with the color of her pupils.
"I'm a h-horrible bo-bodyguard." Harry saw the tell-tale quiver of her bottom lip, and was surprised when she didn't burst out sobbing. Tears streamed from her eyes silently, straming from her face to drip from her wobbling chin. "First the park, then Hermione, then that idiot who you clobbered...and n-now this. Everyone was almost killed!" A sob escaped her lips despite the effort of holding it in that was written clearly on her face. "All I managed to do was get shot. I'm worthless. Everyone knows I'm clumsy, and even though I've been trying s-soo hard to stop it, I can't. I was an Auror for Merlin's sake, and I couldn't even stop t-that stupid muggle." With that, she broke down and covered her face with her hands, loud sobs coming from behind them. Her shoulders shook violently with each heart wrenching cry, and Harry felt his eyes water. Gently and slowly he hugged her to his chest, drawing her head to his shoulder. Almost cumpolsively her arms wrapped around him and held tightly. He rubbed his hand up and down her back and whispered calmingly into her ear.
"Sshhh..." He breathed, glad that Hermione had the sense not to utter a cutting remark. "It wasn't your fault. No-one could have done any better. A muggle with a gun is just as deadly as a wizard with a wand...I don't blame you. If anything, you all should be blaming me." He tightened his hold as she struggled to protest. "Let me finish, ok?" She stopped struggling, and Harry was happy to hear that she had stopped sobbing as well. A little sniffle or whimper would pass her lips now and then, but the wails of grief had passed. "I think you're doing a fine job...and I wouldn't accept anyone else as my bodyguard." He loosened his grip, and let her back slightly away. Her eyes had turned back to the pink color, a little darker than normal. Her chin wobbled as she looked at him.
"Y-you....you want me to stay?" Harry smiled and nodded, and a wobbly smile arose on Tonks' lips as she threw her arms around him again. "Thank you. Thank you Harry. I won't let you down again, I promise." She squeezed him tightly once more and backed away. "I'll stay," she proclaimed in a much louder voice, before slumping back into her seat. Harry smiled at her again before rising adn returning to his own chair.
"Thank you, everyone." He said, nodding to each of them in turn. Only a few more moments passed before Dumbledore returned. He turned a questioning gaze on Harry, and he nodded. "We're staying." He said simply.
"Good, good." The headmaster said with a smile at each of them. "I am very proud of you all." He waved his hand, and Harry gasped as a little sting of pain came from his head. The sound was echoed around the room. "Sorry about that...." Dumbledore said sheepishly, producing a vial from his robes and depositing the strands of hair he had plucked from their heads. "We need these to create dopplegangers. I must go, I have much to do and very little time. I suggest you all get some rest...we go to Daigon Alley tomorrow." His chuckled at the gasps that erupted around the room, and held up a hand to still their questions. "You will be under glamour charms, of course. The news of your deaths will also help to alleviate some curiousity. I did not mean that by hiding you would be kept in total isolation...that would be unhealthy. In fact, I want you to enjoy yourselves for a while...remember, you should be dead." His eyes twinkled at each of them before he turned to leave.
"Professor..." Dumbledore stopped and turned at the sound of Hermione's confused voice. "How will we be getting there?" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled so madly at this that Harry wondered if a charm was the cause.
"We'll take the stairs, of course." And with a twinkle Dumbledore was gone, leaving four very confused individuals.
A/N You didn't really think I'd kill 'em all off...did you? BAH! I'm not the evil one, you know...that's Cricket! I'm going to avoid chapters like the last one for a while I think... Too many people hate me now. I scrapped my original version of this chapter. I'm planning on using the idea in a completely different story after I finish writing this one. We'll be getting to Hogwarts a little later than I had planned, but the time between now and then should be fun. A huge apartment in the middle of Daigon Alley...occupied by three trouble makers and a woman who will go along with almost anything. I see a few misadventures in the works already:)
I know that Harry with new uber powers isn't a new idea...but it has to be done. I'll try to do it as original as I can, and I hope I do an ok job.
I know I didn't say anything about Dudley or the other Dursley's in this chapter, but rest assured that next chap we'll be hearing a lot about them.
As always, my Uber-Ninja reviewers, Shadow Dragon12 and Nymph23 kicked this chapter's ass. If not for them you'd hardly be able to read it. Thanks you two!
yellowpages I think this chapter should answer most of your questions:) Sorry the last chapter was such a cliffie, but I couldn't help it...Cricket told me to do it. I would never kill my poor squirrel! Besides, if I tried she'd kick my ass...ninja and all that, you know? I thought Ron's death was kind of funny too, but I couldn't kill him permanently. I like Ron, he's a steadfast and loyal friend. He may have jealousy issues, but who doesn't get jealous now and then? Hmmm...maybe I could use your line to advertise my story, heh. My story is soo good a woman named her child after my OC squirrel! lol.
coolone007-2 You were right, they died! But...then I brought them back so I can kill them all again later. It was fun to write the last chapter, heh. It wasn't a revolver... The click Harry heard was Vernon drawing the hammer back on a Mark XIX Desert Eagle. Check out www. magnumresearch .com/ DesertEagle.asp I put spaces in the address to keep it from getting filtered. And yes...you can really buy them in that sweet gold finish that they show in the picture. The pistol holds 10 rounds...one in the chamber and 9 in the magazine... so Vernon shot the last bullet when he shot Harry in the scarhead. Hope you like this chapter:)
beggebaddabuddu Hmmm...so...you liked it? lol. Hope you like this one better, no cliffie this time, heh. Thanks for reviewing, it means a lot.
albert87 Yes, I am an evil sodding bastard, Muahahaha!...heh. I'm glad you liked me dedicating the chapter to you:) Thanks for reviewing at number 100:) Hope you liked this one too.
Anonymous Reviewer Super-powers for Cricket, eh? Hmm...I dunno. She's kinda scary already. lol.
chris-warren876 Nope, not all dead. Honestly...did you really think I'd kill everybody off? Bah! j/k Hope this chap alleviated some concerns...don't worry, I'm not killing any main characters off for a long long time at least. I'm planning on making this into a trilogy...can't do that with everybody dead, heh.
BlindJedi Glad you liked it, and thanks for pointing out that spelling error...crap. Now I wonder if I spelt it wroned in the other scene he was in. Hope you liked this chapter too, and thanks for reviewing.
JD22 It wasn't me! I swear it...Cricket made me do it!!! lol, anyways, I'm glad you liked it. Most people hated me for it. Sorry, I couldn't let Ron go just yet...I think he's a good guy, heh. Hope you liked this one too, and thanks for reviewing, of course.
shaz124 Yeah, that last chapter was a real bad cliffie, eh? Originally, this chapter was waaaaaay different. Like my author's notes say above, that's the reason for the lateness...I had to write an entirely new one. I've stored the other one away though...it was really quite good, so I'm going to use it in a different story later on. I canned it for this one because it went too far. So, I used the character death to introduce Harry's new coolness. Later in the story I plan to delve pretty heavily into magical theory and such, and we'll slowly discover Harry's new stuff along the way.
mjk306 Cricket wants to bite you, but I told her you were kidding. lol, I know that last one was a doozy, sorry about that. Hope you like this one a little better.
Toras Glad you liked the last one. I always enjoy reading reviews from people who've never reviewed before. Like I said in my AN above, we'll find out about 'ol Vernon and Dudley soon...and it might be a bit shocking. Thanks very much for reviewing, it means a lot.
Miss-Aurelia Muahahaha!!! Cricket's evilness is contagious, blame the squirrel!
AngelinaWeasley1 Heh, I got your review right before I posted this. Hope this one eases your mind.
Ok, that's everybody. Write at ya soon.
Did you read it? Then Review it! Pleeeease!