Chapter Fifteen:

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry walked around the slightly hyper-active first and second years in the Room of Requirement. He tried to dodge a wand nearly hit his eye; it knocked his glasses askew.

"Er..nice work, Gwyneth," said to a girl who just disarmed her partner.

He and Hermione had divided the DA member into two groups. One was full of younger students new to the DA, and the other consisted of all old members. The beginners group started off with a simple disarming spell, while the others practiced stunning and shields. Harry's nerves died down a bit now that the first meeting was successfully under way. This year was better, he thought. There was no threat of intrusion, as the staff was already informed. Dumbledore had announced information concerning the opening of the group as soon as Harry had accepted the teaching position.

Harry continued to observe every ones' progress as he paced the room. His smile faded when he spotted Hermione frowning at an unusual-looking Dark Detector on a shelf.

"What's up, 'Mione?" Harry moved next to her and began to observe the object. "Er....why are we looking at this?"

Hermione bit her lip and continued to frown. "No, it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"Haven't you noticed not a single Slytherin showed up?"

Harry threw her a confused look. "Sorry, but I don't see the disappointment in that."

"Harry," Hermione sighed with exasperation, "Don't you remember the Sorting Hat's song last year? The one about everyone reuniting as one?"

"Oh, that....well, there's no doubt I'd like it. But the idea of Malfoy showing up in a DA meeting is just ridiculous."

Hermione seemed deep in thought once again. Harry was about to continue monitoring the students when Hermione broke out of her little trance.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"How close are you to Luna?"

Harry's heart skipped a beat. He answered her without looking up from the Dark Detector which gave a sudden jolt and tipped over. "Well, I like her a lot 'Mione..."

"Well, yes, but in what way?..."

Harry wanted nothing more than to escape this awkward moment, but knew it was not possible. "She's been helping me, you know. She's been helping me find out what happened to Remus."

"Oh, Harry, you're still thinking of him?"

"Of course I am! He's not just another Death Eater victim!" Several students nearby turned their head towards Harry. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "He's....more than that...a lot more. I thought you'd know that. It's like losing Sirius all over again..." Harry trailed off.

Before Hermione could reply, a stray stunner hit her in the back of the head. Neville immediately ran over and started apologizing to the unconscious Hermione.

"Ennervate," Harry muttered with a flick of his wand. Hermione awoke and as everyone was busy crowding around her, Harry wiped a stray tear from his cheek.

"So they've already learned to use the reflecting shield? Amazing. I just wish I had been there."

"Yea, well...it's ok. 'Mione and I handled everything alright. Ginny helped out a little too." The trio walked up the steps leading to the Gryfindor tower. Hermione and Harry were returning from the DA meeting, and Ron from Quidditch practice. Harry was horrified to learn that the match against Ravenclaw was drawing closer with each passing day. He had two weeks to decide how he would get out of sitting through it.

"So, Luna was there?" Ron asked.

"Sneezle-nits." The Fat Lady smiled at Harry and swung her frame outwards to allow them into the common room. "Yea, so what of it?" He walked to the window and sat in his favorite chair. He could feel Hermione and Ron exchanging glances behind him.

"Well, mate, it's just that you've been spending a lot of time with her. Not as much time with us, and you've been acting...shifty."

"Shifty." Harry repeated with disgust.

"Yea, you never talk to us and-"

"I'm talking to you now, aren't I?" Harry snapped back.

"You know what kind of talking I mean. You tell her all of these secrets and tell us nothing. Honestly, mate, it's a little hurtful."

"Oh, you know what hurt feels like now, do you?" Familiar anger flared inside of Harry. "How do you know this anyway? Taking the liberty of spying on me now? Keeping watch for Dumbledore I suspect."

"Harry," Hermione spoke up, "we just-"

"Look, lay off, ok?" Harry continued to stare out of the window. Tiny raindrops began to form on the glass, and dark grey clouds loomed in the sky.

"We won't," Hermione said firmly.

"Why?" Harry spat.

"Because you are our friend, Harry. And we want you to know that we're hear to listen, to talk. We want to help you."

"Oh, yeah? Why hadn't you come to talk to me about Remus sooner?"

"You never brought it up after summer."

"So? That doesn't mean I didn't want to." Harry knew he was being stupid, but he had to take his anger out on someone.

"You keep pushing us away!" Hermione raised her voice, something she never did. "Why?" She whispered.

Thicker raindrops now began to noisily fall outside. Harry was torn between revealing the prophecy, and continuing his childish behavior of screaming at his clueless friends.

If only you knew.

"Harry...?" Hermione took a step closer to Harry, who concentrated with all his might on a raindrop that had just splattered onto the window. He allowed his eyes to follow it as it slowly fell towards the sill, leaving a trail of water behind. Hermione placed a hand gently on his shoulder. Harry flinched. The only people he could really tolerate human contact with had been Mrs. Weasley and Luna.

"Harry," Hermione repeated. "Please talk to us."

A bolt of lightning made them all jump. As soon as Harry recovered, he jumped from his chair and ran towards the boys' dormitory. Ron and Hermione were faster. They each caught one of Harry's arms, and pinned him to the ground. Harry stopped struggling and let his muscles go limp.

"You really want to know?" He asked softy.

"Yes," Hermione replied, "but only because we know it's tearing you up inside."

Harry sat up, "Is anyone else around?" They all made sure they were the only ones in the room. "Fine. I think you better sit."

So Harry returned to his favorite chair, while Hermione and Ron dragged two others nearby.

"I told you earlier that Luna is helping me track down Remus. We've been going to the library to look up anything that can help us. Luna's been keeping track of the phases in the moon and the effects they have on a wolf's mind, and I've been working on Legilmency on nights Occlumency won't work."

"Harry!" Hermione interrupted, "You're supposed to be blocking out things, not trying to pry into other minds!." She held a look of disappointment on her face, which turned into one of puzzlement. "Exactly who's mind are you trying to pry into?"

"Wormtail's, naturally." Harry said.

"Wormtail? What's he got anything to do with Remus?" Ron shuddered slightly at the thought of his former pet rat.

"Everything."

Harry explained the conversation Snape and he had during one of his Occlumency lessons. He told them of how Wormtail's disappearance was possibly related to Lupin's. He told them of all the people who knew of the prophecy, and how Voldemort (Ron flinched at the name) sent Wormtail to find it.

"But I cannot believe Dumbledore. He told all those Order members without informing you?"

"No surprise there," Harry muttered under his breath.

"I can't believe he still trusts Snape," Ron added.

Harry sighed. He told them of the lemon drop Dumbledore had given Harry. As soon as he finished telling his friends what had happened, voices approached the portrait. Dean Thomas and Seamus entered the common room in an intense discussion about the pros and cons of the new Firebolt model, which had been first used in a Quidditch match between the Chudley Cannons and Grodzisk Goblins in the prior week.

"I've got a Transfiguration essay due. See you later." Harry stood up and walked to the boy's dormitory without another word. Ron and Hermione stared into space, trying to soak in all they had just learned.

"Well," Hermione sighed, "Now we know everything."

"No," Ron said, "He still hasn't told us what that bloody prophecy says.

He prowled the outer edge. He was a cat-like thief, rather trying to be. He still was not strong enough to break down any walls that Wormtail kept in his mind. Soon Harry became exhausted and fell into an uneasy sleep. The harsh late-winter wind sent cold air into the castle, which cooled it immensely where there were not fireplaces. Wormtail's silver hand flashed across his face and caught him by such surprise that he woke up. Harry felt something trickle down his face into his mouth. He tasted copper. Harry got up, and quietly walked to the bathroom to have a look in the mirror. There were claw marks on his face. Harry washed his face, not really believing what had just happened. He looked in the mirror one finals time to make sure all the blood was cleaned off, but it was not his reflection that stared back.

A/N: Ok...so it's been over a week. Sorry you guys. I guess I shouldn't admit that I had the worst case of writer's block ever....but I did. For a while I thought I lost the plot, but I think I've found it again. I could also use the excuse of spending some quality time with my new guitar (polishes away finger prints and strums) it Hmm...it's like Christmas in July. (grins). Ah, ok. I guess I'll shut up now. Tell me what you think of this chapter. Does it lack anything? Yea, so review while I'll go (attempt) to play The Strokes.