Chapter 5
On Our Way To Hogwarts
One and a half day later, Harry found himself in the dining room, eating a small snack. He knew that the next day was the September the first. Which also meant going back to Hogwarts, then he saw that Professor Snape came into the kitchen, carrying a book, which he assumed, would be his book. Harry and Snape looked around in the kitchen and found that they weren't alone. Professor Snape nodded to the door behind him and caught the signal.
Harry stood up and left the kitchen, and Snape closed the door and whispered. "We'll go to the sitting room."
"No, we should use the bathroom," the face on Snape's was precious. He looked horrified. "I don't mean that! There's a really good locking charms that even prevents any charm of unlocking the door. And we or they can't hear anything from the inside or from the outside. There's even a place to eat there as well. Anyways, it's across from my room."
Harry and Snape went up the stairs and then down the hallway towards his rooms and the bathroom. He turned right and into the bathroom, and once Snape walked in, Harry shut the door, and used all of the locks on the door.
"So, Severus, what did you learn about the book?" Harry asked. "It's not dangerous is it? I mean, enough to destroy it?"
"No, luckily we don't have to. I spoke with the owners of the store. I . . . . I had to perform the Legillmency on them. You see, they weren't cooperative with me. Of course, I put on a mild Oblivation charm so they won't know that I had broken into their minds. Seem that their intentions were. . . clean. I'm almost afraid that they would try something. Apparently they don't, they seem most anxious to sell the book. Something about having too much knowledge. Now of course, you can never have too much knowledge. Ms. Granger is the perfect example of that."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I see, so may I have the book back?"
"Just one more question about the book and I'll give it back. What are your intentions?"
"To be informed of the dark magic of course. If I have to deal with Voldemort, I have to know what he or the Death Eaters would try, right?" Snape nodded, after composuring himself of hearing the Dark Lord's name.
Then many days ago, Harry suddenly remembered the short vision he had of Snape and Voldemort. He became more suspicious of Professor Snape. Sirius nor Remus had never told him if he had reported truthfully. Harry unconsciously narrowed his eyes at the man before him who was seemingly taken by surprise.
"What is it P-Harry?"
"Nothing, I just remembered something, excuse me," Harry got up from his chair and left the bathroom with his book under his left arm. He went back to the kitchen at a fast pace, and found Remus and Sirius. Looking back to see if Snape had followed him but he hadn't.
"Alright, tell me what happened at the meeting few days ago, is Snape telling everything or his he not?"
The two men in the kitchen stared at him in surprise, and sighed.
"Snape did tell us, before we would have caught him. He's for our side Harry," said Remus.
"Which is just too bad, I was hoping to at least torture Snape," said Sirius unhappily.
"Sirius!" scolded Remus, shaking his head. "So, you don't need to worry Harry. Is something up?"
Harry shook his head no, "No, I was just talking to Professor Snape and it had only crossed my mind. Well, thanks," with that, Harry left the kitchen and shut the door behind him. When he turned around, and received a surprise, Snape was standing there, his arms crossed.
"I see that you don't trust me? No matter, I deal with that all the time."
"No Professor, I do now, it's just that, with all your spying, and being a . . . . Being a triple agent. I wasn't sure whom you worked for. I saw you when you told Voldemort about my temporary amnesia."
"I suppose that would cause a lot of questions wouldn't it? Well, I'm glad to see you're not so foolish. Very. . . observant and careful. You truly would have done well in Slytherin. I remember in one of your. . . snapshots of your sorting hat memory during our Occulemency lessons."
"I suppose I would have done well, but I wouldn't have the friends I have now. Too bad though," said Harry shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow Severus?"
"Yes Harry, I'll be off, good bye, and don't miss the train like your. . . second year," with that, he disapparated with a pop.
Sighing, Harry went back into the kitchen, or tried to, since the door opened into the kitchen. But felt something knocking into the door and revealed Sirius and Remus. Who had appeared to be leaning against the door. Feeling very frustrated that everyone was eavesdropping on him today, he exploded.
"WHAT WERE YOU STANDING THERE FOR!? Why does everyone have the need to hear everything I have to say!?"
"Harry - " Remus tried to interrupt, but Harry plowed on.
"If you didn't know if you wanted to trust me or not, then don't eavesdrop on me and WAIT FOR ME TO SPEAK TO YOU! I trust you that much! But apparently you don't do the same with me! Good day to you Lupin and Black!" he slammed the door behind him and wished that Sirius' mum was still on the wall so that there would have been more noise. But unfortunately, she wasn't there anymore.
He stormed to fifth floor and walked into the library, with the door slamming behind him and found Hermione reading another book on Japanese wizards. 'What's the big deal with Japanese wizards?' Harry thought angrily and just about to go back out of the library when she called out to him.
"Harry, you frightened me! What's wrong?" she asked, putting the book down.
"Oh just an argument that's all, now I'm just going to - "
"About what?" asked Hermione firmly.
"Betraying your privacy, now I am going to leave the ro - "
"No, you're staying here, and who did you argue with?"
"Sirius and Remus, now I'll talk to you LATER," with that, he left the library with the door shut behind him. He roamed in the quiet corridors. He was glad that the Grimmauld place was huge enough to be able to hide among a corridor. He was sure that a little kid can be lost for ages in these corridors. He again brooded on many thoughts about his miserable life. As for his fame, Severus Snape, his soon-to-be legal guardian, Sirius.
He was walking, kicking a stray rock around, thinking about the future. Then he remembered the prophecy, and a new rage exploded in his veins. The nearby lamp exploded, and few shards flew into Harry's skin. But he could care less about the blood pouring out of small punctured skin all over his left arm, some of his face and neck. Where had Dumbledore gone? Had he become too much of a coward to help Harry in destroying Voldemort?
If he was, then Dumbledore has a lot to pay, how was he supposed to figure out how to kill Voldemort? He had thought that Dumbledore would help him, but even he, had said that he had to figure that out for himself. He knew the answer was love. But just how was he supposed to do that? He had never known love, even now that he has his friends, his godfather, Mark, Remus, heck, even Severus.
He kept wandering along a corridor, and literally bumped into someone and looked away from the ground to the person who had rudely walked into him. He saw that it was Remus and saw the surprise look on his face.
"Harry what happened to you!?"
"A lamp exploded, that's what," he tried to turn into another direction but Remus stopped him.
"H-how? You didn't throw it did you?"
"No, I was angry and well, you can say my powers magnified," Remus seemed to gulp at this. "And I'm still angry, so leave me alone." That worked, Harry walked away without him following. Glad of this, he walked into a random room and found that the room seems to have once belonged to someone his age, but in different time setting.
He reasoned that it must have once belonged to Sirius' brother, Regulus Black. There were some hints of that it did belong to Regulus. There were several pictures of Sirius' brother, because they had shared some looks with Sirius, and his friends from what looked like, Hogwarts. He looked over to the bookcase, which had an over a decade's worth collection of dust.
He lightly brushed off a book's title and didn't have a word. He went to brush off the next book, which had read 'Guide in reading the signs of Dark Arts in wizards'. It struck Harry odd of that Regulus would have such book. Perhaps to learn about the enemy. He brushed off the next book, and the title read 'Dark Arts in the Middle Ages'. He took the book out of the shelf and sat down in an old chair that creaked when he perched on the seat. He opened to a random page in the book and read the first paragraph which had read.
So the witches that were accused in the Middle Ages would try to contact the other people before being put on trial. When they couldn't reach them, the witches would cause all sorts of mischief and cursing the muggles. Of course, those witches would be far away before the muggles would try and kill them off. Some were even put under imperious and the muggles would wrongly accuse other muggles for witchcraft.
It was a time for a lot of fun for most wizards and witches to torture the muggles and make them turn on each other. It was one of the sports in the Middle ages for the Wizarding World . . .
Harry shut the book close, sick at the thought of making the muggles turning on each other as a sport. He was glad that no one was doing that anymore today. Otherwise he would have worked to change that. And to prevent Voldemort from ever reinstating that sport among other things. Setting the book back on the shelf, with new knowledge and left the room.
He made his way back into the kitchen, surprised at himself for knowing where to go. When Harry reentered the kitchen, the people in the room fell quiet. Harry narrowed his eyes at this, daring anyone to stop talking whenever he enters the room.
"What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Harry snapped at them, sitting down at the table.
"Harry, it's - " Remus began.
"If it's about what happened earlier, then just - " Harry interrupted.
"No, I won't drop it," said Remus firmly. "What're you and Professor Snape on about? You both are on first name basis!"
"Is that a crime now?" asked Harry, irked for trying to butt in on his personal life. "Plus, we just had a trust issues to work out. Obviously you two weren't the only ones that weren't the eavesdropper."
"He heard our conversation earlier? Why that iSniv /i- " said Sirius.
"Don't call him that!" yelled Harry, positively getting even angrier, and causing the chandelier above the table to explode. Molly Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny shrieked, Remus and Ron yelped, and Sirius only stared at Harry in surprise. Harry continued to glare at the people before him, and heard someone entering the room. Harry turned his head and found Severus Snape standing there.
"Hello Professor," said Harry lightly.
" . . . I wish not to know what just had happened here, but I need to make a report. . ." he made a meaningful glare to Remus, Sirius and Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, of course, do you want to call the others?" Mrs. Weasley asked, recovering, but still rather nervous. Severus Snape nodded.
"Just Minerva McGonagall, your husband, and few of our aurors as well," with that, Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen. Snape then looked to the teenagers in the room, with the look that told them to leave the kitchen. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stood up and left the kitchen albeit reculantly but Harry didn't follow. Severus Snape arched an eyebrow at him.
"I'm not leaving," said Harry simply. "I'm not sitting any more meetings out just because - "
"You will leave the kitchen," said Snape, glaring, and Harry glared back at him. Sirius and Remus stared at the two nervously, unsure what to say.
"But Harry, you can do that next summer - " spoke Remus, but Sirius cut him off.
"But most of the war with Voldemort has to do with Harry, he's got a right to stay in on the meetings!"
"What, is Potter going to single-handedly going to defeat the Dark Lord? Don't make me laugh," then Snape found himself with silence. ". . . Don't tell me . . . that he will? This boy is too young to defeat the darkest wizard of all time!"
"Professor," said Harry tiredly. "I'll explain later."
"No, you tell me now, I don't believe that you will rid the world of Voldemort."
"But the Prophecy. . ." Harry began.
"Oh, so it's the prophecy that Headmaster had been talking about? That's what it said, that you're the only one who is able to defeat the Dark Lord? I find this a big idea of a joke."
Harry only stared at him, with not a hint of anger, but tiredness and saddened. He heaved a sigh, and leaned forward on the chair, with his hands on top of the seat. He spoke in monotone voice.
"Do you think I would joke around about this? That I want to fight him?" With that, he stood up straight again, and glanced at his Potions master before leaving the room in the other direction. He retreated to his rooms and found Ron there, he saw that Ron started to speak but Harry cut him off.
"No Ron, they wouldn't let me, now I'm only here to get something," he went to his trunk and found his journal, grabbed a quill and ink. He then left the room and walked in many corridors later and found himself in Regulus' bedroom again. He was glad that there was a desk and a chair in the room. He went over to the desk and sat down. He spoke his password into his journal and opened the book. He inked his quill and began to write.
August 31st
Sirius and Remus are scared
Of me and my temper
I'm afraid that one day that I would explode
And everyone would be injured or worse
Why do I have this temper?
It's growing worse,
Severus doesn't think I would be able to take Voldemort on
Voldemort, that ugly murdering git
Every time I seem to explode
I feel part of him intertwining within me
What's going on?
I feel like a nasty snake within a snake
Won't anyone ever trust me?
Or at least help of what I am feeling?
I'm all alone in this world
No one has had this experience
Nor the problem I have
Maybe, perhaps, except for Voldemort . . .
Harry dropped his quill, realizing something and stood up fast. Hoping that Professor Severus Snape was still here at Grimmauld place in the kitchen. He left the book open and ran back down the many stairs and hallways and into the kitchen. He barged into the room with the door banging loudly. Causing everyone to stop talking immediately. Harry quickly spotted Severus at the end of the table.
"I need to talk to you," breathed Harry, panting from his run. All the adults in the room looked at him suspiciously, and few of them were looking rather nervous.
"Can't you say it in here since, it's a meeting?" drawled Severus.
"Fine, I know - er hang on," he walked back to the door so no one would eavesdrop. "Can you cast the silencing charm on the door?" he asked Professor McGonagall. She nodded and performed the charm on the door, and signaled him to continue.
"Thanks, right, okay well, this might sound crazy but . ." Harry began.
"But . . . ?" prompted Remus.
"You just have to hear me out, find out if Voldemort is being . . . somewhat different. You know, I mean, you saw that I'm different somehow lately haven't you?" The adults in the room nodded slowly, agreeing that Harry was different than usual. "Well, what if Voldemort is different somehow as well?"
"If you mean on how angry he gets, well I'm afraid I won't be able to figure that out. Since he does that all the time," drawled Snape.
"Perhaps not that, maybe well, more forgiving?" said Harry, throwing ideas around, still thinking.
"That would be madness," said Sirius, still white in the face.
"You call my temper and my behavior madness?" said Harry coolly. Sirius seemed to be at loss for words, and then Mr. Weasley spoke next.
"Well, I suppose it seems . . . crazy but very logical. Severus, do you think you can keep watch if he slips or with a different behavior like Harry does? By the way, Harry, how do you know about this approach?"
"Let's just say, it's crossed my mind," said Harry. "Well, now I said my piece, I'll go now . . ."
"No Potter, you will remain here. Obviously, you have just proven worthy to . . . ." said Snape.
"No, he will not join the Order, end of discussion!" argued Mrs. Weasley.
"Molly, since he's going to be my legal kid, I should have the say in this, he will join by his own decision," said Sirius, arguing with Mrs. Weasley.
"But you're not the legal guardian yet!" said Mrs. Weasley sternly.
"He's going to end up soon, now Harry sit down please," said Sirius. Harry felt grateful that he was his guardian now, and finally able to join the order. "Now, will you agree to do that Severus?"
"Watching for Dark Lord's behavior? Of course I will do that, now, back to what we were discussing before Potter had interrupted us . . .."
"Oh yes," Mr. Weasley muttered. "We were just talking about the paperwork for Harry's guardian.
"Does the entire meeting have to revolve around me?" asked Harry exasperatedly.
"Most discussion yes - " Mr. Weasley responded.
"And I still don't see a reason why I didn't join sooner?" asked Harry, anger burning in his eyes. The adults around him looked at each other quickly and apprehensively.
"Harry, calm down, don't explode up at us again," said Remus quickly. "I - we're sorry we didn't let you join on the Order sooner. It's just that you're - "
"If it's me being young and innocent'. Well, excuse me, but have I ever acted my age, and am I innocent?"
"I can argue on the 'acting your age' part Potter," responded Severus Snape, and Harry glared at him. "But perhaps not," he said after a moment of staring contest. "Now do carry on with the Order, I will be called soon or may I leave now?"
"It's up to you Severus," replied Remus. "Now, what are the difficulties in legal guardian papers?"
"Several of the child service members have argued that Sirius shouldn't be one - "
"Oh, whatever for? I haven't got a criminal charge against me except for wrongly imprisoned for twelve years and escaped on the run from the law," said Sirius angrily.
"Some of them seem to think that you are not fit for the job," explained Mr. Weasley.
"Well, that's screwed up," muttered Sirius.
"I - er - can be the backup?" asked Remus hestiantly.
"No, it's got to be me, that's what Lily and James wanted!"
"Sirius - "
"No Remus, please, I - I need something to take up my time."
"Alright Sirius, but what if you lose?"
"I won't, I just can't lose okay?"
"Wake me when you two are done arguing," interrupted Harry, attempting to go to sleep on the table.
"Okay, we're finish Harry, thanks for the so-called signal," said Sirius with a bit of sarcasm.
"Right, well, to the next issue . . . How are the increase securities coming on Hogwarts Minerva?" asked Mr. Weasley, looking at his notes.
"It's finished Mr. Weasley, the students will still be able to play Quidditch unsupervised, and more wards are being put up around Hogwarts and there are a way of letting the staff know of danger in the corridors by the students."
"Oh, what's that?" asked Harry, curious and interested.
"You will set your wand off in red sparks, but at the wall, ceiling or floor and the alarm will go off. Of course, we will have to let the students know of that as not to abuse them. There will be severe consequences if one was a false alarm."
Harry nodded, "of course, we won't want to waste our energy for a false alarm."
"Well, if that is everything to be discussed, I think the meeting for the Order is adjourned," the people at the table nodded in agreement and Severus stood up to leave.
"Very well, I will see some of you tomorrow. And the rest of you," he said with a smirk, "I will see you at the next meeting." With that, he left with a small pop. Harry stood up, and said his good nights and retired back to his rooms. He found Ron packing his stuff for Hogwarts.
"Hey Harry, where'd you go?" asked Ron, putting some of his new second hand books for this year into his trunk.
"Oh I was around, and then I eventually joined the Order," said Harry, also beginning to pack his stuff.
"What?! You joined the Order without me?" asked Ron incredulously.
"Yeah, they had to since I had . . . provided some invaluable direction for the Order. Some of them weren't keen on letting me join, but Sev - er Snape and Sirius argued to let me join the Order."
"Wait, did you nearly said Snape's first name? Whatever for!? Are you on first name basis now?" asked Ron suspiciously.
"So what if we are?" replied Harry, shutting his trunk lid with a slam.
"Just . . . odd that's all," replied Ron, closing his own trunk. "Didn't you take a book, quill and ink with you to somewhere?" Then it dawned on Harry and stood up.
"Oh! Thanks Ron, I had forgotten, I'll go get them," he left the room in the direction of Regulus' old bedroom. Once he neared the room, he heard soft murmuring inside and his insides grew cold. Then he recognized the voices as Sirius and Hermione's. He barged into the room, making a loud banging noise and with a cold glare on his face.
"Harry!" yelped Hermione, and Sirius took a step away from the desk.
"Did you read my journal?" asked Harry, shaking with anger.
"H-Harry - "
"Did you read it or not!?" the top shelf of books flew out and banged on the opposite wall and fell to the floor.
"Harry, calm down, we only read the last poem - " Sirius began.
"Oh, so you decided to go through my stuff now!? After few hours ago that you were eavesdropping on my conversations!"
"It was lying on the table open Harry!" Hermione interrupted, on the verge of tears.
"Why did you come in here in the first place Hermione?"
"I should be asking you the same thing Harry," said Sirius.
"I was exploring, that's all," responded Harry, walking over to the desk picking his journal up and closed it. He also picked his quill and ink and glared at the two on his way out. "Plus, forget anything that you read in my journal. If you two are clever, my poem had dealt with trust and the prophecy."
With that, he closed the door behind him and returned to his rooms. Wishing not to speak to Ron, he entered the room quietly and put his stuff into the trunk and changed his PJs and went to sleep while Ron was still packing his things and hadn't noticed Harry until he went to sleep.
Next day, everyone wasn't in a much hurry since everyone had gotten up early and less people to be getting to Hogwarts this year. Harry got dressed in his muggle cloths and dragged his trunk down the stairs into the living room. He found Mark already sitting on the sofa and walked over to him.
"Morning Mark, how are you feeling?"
"Like hell, I'm nervous . . ." admitted Mark, brushing through his hair with his fingers. Harry noted that he had done the same as his father had done but in more of a bragging state than Mark's.
"Don't worry Mark, even kids in Wizarding families don't know that much of magic as much as you do. There are also loads of kids coming from muggle families as well. Did you know that Hermione was one, and she is the top student at Hogwarts?" This bit of information seems to have lifted Mark's spirit up slightly. Mr. Weasley came into the room and announced that everyone was going to King's Cross in Ministry Cars provided by him.
Once everyone got in the car including Remus, Sirius, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley, among with Tonks and Kingsley. The car arrived at the station at half hour before the train takes off to Hogwarts. When everyone got on Platform nine and three-quarters, Mark, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry said their good-byes and Mark, and Harry found their compartment at the end of the train. But Ron, Hermione and Ginny (being a new Prefect which Mrs. Weasley was so happy to have) had to go to the Prefect compartment. Once eleven struck on the clock, the train took off. The people on the platform waved goodbye and everyone waved back at their parents and guardians in Harry's case.
Harry only hoped that this year at Hogwarts would be a much better year than his previous one. The thought of Umbridge made Harry glad that she was rotting away in one of the Azkaban's cell That Fudge would soon join her soon if he wasn't killed by Voldemort yet. He knew that there would be far more deaths and destruction in his sixth year. Harry wouldn't keep his hopes up for a better year, but at least to have more freedom. Compared to his fifth year anyhow.
"What're you thinking?" Ginny asked entering the room, and after watching him for awhile.
"Nothing that concerns you," replied Harry, looking out the window. Then the trolley arrived with the candies.
"Anything dears?" she asked.
"No thanks," replied Harry, and everyone in the compartment including the lady looked at him in surprise. "What? I'm not buying candy today." However Ginny, Ron and Hermione did but only a few candies and talked of nothing until certain three Slytherins came by.
"Well, well, well, looks like that Potty is out of that jail. You can imagine how pleased when I heard you landed yourself in there," sneered Malfoy.
"Stuff it Malfoy," butted in Ron.
"Shut it Weasley, the air you breathe is too expensive for you so I suggest you to stop breathing."
"Malfoy, if you are trying to piss me off, you are failing miserably. Leave us alone or face horrible consequences," said Harry, threatening him.
"Such as?" taunted Draco Malfoy.
"Landing your father in Azkaban the next time I see him," replied Harry coolly. "Everyone knows what a dirtbag he is now."
"How dare you!" he drew his wand out, but Harry, Ron, and Mark were faster than him and threw three different curses at him. Mark had thrown the Jelly-leg hex (which failed since Mark never performed magic before), Ron with the Bogey-batty hex, and Harry's with the Stupefy curse. Goyle and Crabbe stared at the three stupidly and dragged Malfoy off in fear of being cursed next. When the boys were satisfied, sat down on the seats again.
"Well, we always seem to win in cursing Malfoy and I wish we had done that to the cronies that are always with him," frowned Ron.
"Oh well, at least you got Malfoy," said Ginny, taking out her gobstones. "Gobstones?"
The rest of the journey to Hogwarts had been filled with exploding snaps, gobstones, and sharing what little candy they had gotten. But during all of this, Harry had not involved at least once of any of the activities. When the train came to a slow and stopped. The students filed out of the train and onto the carriages. Mark separated himself from the group towards Hagrid who were calling the first years.
"Don't worry Mark, the sorting is not painful. You just have to try on a hat," said Harry as he left to the carriages. When he got on and closed the door behind him, the once-horse-less carriages, now visible threstrals pulled the carriages. When Harry saw that Hogwarts loomed into view, he caught his breath, his home. When the threstrals pulled to a stop in front of the Hogwart's gates, Harry climbed out of the carriage. He walked up to a threstral and patted it on the nose. Remembering all of the deaths he had witnessed so far in his life.
Sighing, he turned to the doors and found most of the students staring at him with wide eyes. Most of all, Malfoy leering at him but in a nervous way.
"What?" snapped Harry, and everyone filed into the castle quickly. He walked up to where Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were.
"It's just that, you were petting the threstrals, we can't see it you know," explained Hermione.
"Well, it's a pretty creature, but every time I see them, I remember of those who were killed before my eyes . . ." no one spoke after that once they reached the Great Hall. Harry felt disconcerted, not seeing Headmaster Dumbledore at the main chair, but instead replaced by Professor McGonagall. Harry went to sit down with his fellow friends and housemates of Gryffindor.
Then Professor Snape came into the room, followed by first years and found Mark in the middle of the line. Severus Snape called each to the seat to be sorted. Once Severus said 'Evans, Mark', his distant cousin went up to the seat nervously. He sat down, putting on the hat. It had taken him a long time before the sorting hat spoke out the decision to place him, two minutes later.
"GRYFFINDOR!"