A/n: Well, the end is quickly approaching. Please keep in mind when you read this chapter that it may seem as though nothing happened, but there are some very important things that are revealed in this chapter! Of course, I must thank my wonderfully patient beta reader, Chava!
Harry Potter and the Prophecy of the Phoenix – Chapter 18
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Neville questioned, breaking the uneasy silence that had descended and continued to intensify on the pair of Gryffindors as they made their way to the empty Transfiguration classroom.
Harry tried to smile reassuringly, needing to hide the anxiety tickling the inside of his gut for Neville's sake.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but at the moment, standing purposefully in front of a dementor doing absolutely nothing seemed a bit insane.
In fact, it seemed more than a bit insane, absolutely certifiable even.
Worse, Dumbledore had been hesitant at first, and it was well known that the elder wizard was a few Chocolate Frog cards short of a full set.
"I'm sure Neville. I wouldn't have suggested it if I had any doubt that you could do it."
Neville fidgeted a moment and then found his voice again, "But what if I can't? What if nothing happens? What if you-"
"Hey, don't worry about me. I'll be fine, and Dumbledore and McGonagall will be there just in case."
Neville winced, and Harry was not sure if Neville was more worried about facing a dementor or facing one in the presence of their headmaster and head of house.
"Neville, you have nothing to prove to them. You've already accomplished something many fully trained wizards have not. This is just the icing on the cake."
"Yeah," Neville mumbled, "but the icing's the best part."
A small upturn in Neville's lips betrayed him, and Harry, pretending not to notice, continued the metaphor.
"But without the cake, the icing is nothing but a glop of goo."
Neville's slight upturn metamorphosed into a definite grin.
Though he did not know it, an amused twinkle danced across the emerald expanse of Harry's orbs. Such knowledge would lead him to the singular conclusion that he had spent way too much time in the company of his headmaster.
Finally reaching the Transfiguration classroom, Neville hesitated at the door.
Harry wanted to give Neville another shot to back down. He did not want to force the experience on his friend. Instead another phrase altogether passed through his lips.
"You'll be just fine, Neville."
Neville nodded, took a deep controlled breath as he opened the door, and the pair entered the classroom.
The moment of climactic tension was dispelled immediately when the teens noticed the absence of both professors.
When Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived several minutes later, they found that all of the desks had been arranged so that they framed the borders of the room and opened up the space with Neville and Harry speaking quietly next to a rather large mound of chocolate that had been piled onto on of the desks.
"Really boys, it wasn't necessary to deplete your candy supply. I brought more than enough for all of us." Dumbledore teased.
Having limited experience with being alone with his headmaster, Neville's face colored slightly, but Harry responded to the words calmly.
"We wanted to be prepared."
"Well, it's good to know that somebody was." McGonagall stated matter-of-factly, shooting a look of irritation in Dumbledore's direction. "Excuse our tardiness, gentlemen."
When McGonagall had her back to them, Dumbledore rolled his eyes and winked at the pair.
"I saw that, headmaster. Honestly, what kind of role-model are you providing for these students?"
"She's a lot more fun than she let's on." Dumbledore whispered to the teens with an air of conspiracy.
Harry could feel Neville relaxing beside him and he found himself wondering if Dumbledore had perhaps planned their tardiness in advance. Either way, he was thankful that the headmaster was acting in just the way that Neville needed at the moment.
Pretending that she had not heard her colleague's comment, McGonagall heaved a case onto her desk, and Harry allowed himself a brief moment of nostalgia, remembering his lessons with Lupin.
"Before we do anything, I want to make sure that you both want to do this." Dumbledore spoke, finally coming to the subject at hand.
Both agreed perhaps a bit too quickly, neither wanting a chance to think about it because of the possibility of changing their minds.
Accepting their answers, Dumbledore continued speaking.
"Harry, there is a possibility that the Boggart will not take the form of a dementor for you anymore. A lot has happened since your third year."
"I know, but I think that it will." Harry answered softly as a soft shiver made its way up his spinal cord.
"Neville, you'll have to stay out of the Boggart's direct line of sight. Otherwise I believe that you'll be practicing your patronus on Professor Snape instead of the intended target, and while that might make for an interesting diversion, it is not the purpose of tonight's lesson."
McGonagall cleared her throat discreetly, raising an eyebrow in reproach, but her lips were not quite as straight as they should have been.
"I want to make it clear that if Professor McGonagall or I decide that the encounter has gone on long enough, we will not hesitate to step in. There will be no arguments."
Harry and Neville nodded.
"All right. Let's get started shall we?"
"Remember, it's just icing." Harry spoke quietly to Neville before leaving his side.
Dumbledore moved up to the case while McGonagall stood behind Neville.
"Ready?"
Harry took a deep breath to calm himself, and Neville gripped his wand a bit harder before both answered with an affirmation.
Dumbledore opened the case, and Harry was filled with a sudden chill as the Boggart took the form of a dementor.
His hands clenched into tight fists, knowing that he had to fight the effects long enough for Neville to have a shot at the spell.
"Not Harry!"
Come on, Neville. Harry urged silently, trying not to listen to his mother's terrified last words.
"Expecto patronum!"
A large but amorphous mass of silver charged towards the dementor, and took the edge off of Harry's chill.
This done, Dumbledore stepped in front of the dementor, which immediately became a large heap of stones.
In a split second, Harry's initial confusion at the strange form resolved into a horrified understanding.
Dumbledore's greatest fear was the destruction of Hogwarts, a symbol of his failure.
"Riddikulus!"
The stones were now very large pieces of assorted candy, and the Boggart was promptly returned to the case.
Feeling a bit shaky, Harry turned to offer Neville a congratulatory smile that faded as soon as he saw the disappointment on his classmate's face. Without thinking, Harry closed the distance between them.
"Neville, that was really good."
"But it didn't-"
"That doesn't matter." Harry spoke firmly. "Remember, casting the patronus is a lot harder when you're actually facing a dementor. That's the whole reason why we're doing this. You nearly had it. Do you want to try again?"
"Might I suggest that before we discuss doing anything again, you each eat one of these."
Harry suppressed the color that threatened to rise to his cheeks as Dumbledore tossed them each a Chocolate Frog, deliberately fixing his mind on the task of unwrapping the chocolate so that he could avoid the elder wizard's knowing gaze.
He still thought that the idea of him as a teacher was ludicrous, but that could not stop his mind from wandering to the possibility for a few brief milliseconds.
It would positively give Snape a heart attack.
Harry blinked at the thought, immediately coming to conclusion that perhaps he should give teaching some further consideration.
The first bite of the chocolate sent a warmth through him, dispelling most of the lingering chill. He ate the rest quickly, feeling almost-normal.
A quick glance at Neville was enough to confirm that the color that had been leeched from his cheeks had returned, and Harry could read a stubborn determination that had leaked into his fellow Gryffindor's features.
He knew before repeating his offer what Neville's response would be, and he was not disappointed. With Dumbledore's nod of permission, the four returned to their places.
Checking to make sure everyone was ready, Dumbledore once again opened the case.
The chill hit Harry harder and faster than the first time, and this time it was Voldemort's voice that he heard in his head.
" Avada Kedavra!"
The curse was followed by a young child's cry of pain and then a shriek of fury, pain, and disbelief that seemed almost-inhuman.
The roar of the house collapsing filled his ears, and there was only a few seconds of silence before a frantic voice cried out in agony, "Mama! Dada!"
A four-legged but still indistinct silver form muted the sound of the younger Harry's cries, but it could not dislodge the painful tightening in the elder Harry's chest.
He remembered now not understanding why neither of his parents had come when he was so obviously frightened and in pain. He knew that as soon as they came to get him everything would be all right, but they never came for him even though he had continued to cry for them in vain.
"Harry!"
With a start, Harry jerked out of his mental haze, becoming aware that Dumbledore was gripping his shoulders tightly and that Neville and McGonagall had already made their way to his side.
Harry's body began to shiver softly, rebelling against the enduring chill that refused to leave despite the dementor's absence.
"Here, Harry."
Dumbledore released him and a relatively large piece of chocolate became a weight in his hand.
Well aware of the three pairs of eyes locked on him, Harry polished off the chocolate without any argument.
The chocolate helped but not as much as the first time. He still felt a little chilled, but the shivering had subsided.
"Better?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"Yes, thank you."
"Perhaps we should call it a night." McGonagall suggested, concerned about the pallor that remained in Harry's face despite the chocolate.
"No." Harry protested quickly. "I'm all right. If Neville wants to, we can try one more time. I think that's all we'll need."
Dumbledore's eyes surveyed him critically.
"Are you sure, Harry?"
"I'm sure." Harry answered firmly.
"Then we should leave the decision up to Neville."
McGonagall looked as if she wanted to argue, but upon catching the look Dumbledore sent her, she did not.
"One more time." Neville agreed.
Dumbledore lingered at Harry's side as Neville and McGonagall fell back.
"Just one more time. No arguments."
Harry agreed quickly, noting the seriousness in his headmaster's tone and knowing that he could have easily chosen not to trust Harry's assessment of his condition.
Satisfied, Dumbledore offered Harry a quick smile and then returned to the case.
As soon as the case was opened, the cold hit Harry for a third time, but this time his scar flared as well.
Harry found himself surrounded by darkness and knew immediately that he was no longer in Hogwarts.
Something was very wrong.
The darkness was disturbed by the sudden appearance of red, serpentine eyes.
Harry was consumed by the sensation of malevolent power and felt a coldness overtake him that even being in the presence of dementors could not rival.
He felt himself fading.
As he pulled away, he found himself eerily at peace even though he found himself wondering if he was dying.
In a strange fit of humor, he amused himself with the irony of the great Dark Lord dropping dead for no apparent reason.
His thoughts halted with a realization.
If he was dying, shouldn't he transform into his animagus form?
An internal warmth flooded him.
Harry realized that he had returned to Hogwarts just in time to stop the transformation before it had really begun.
His heart was beating abnormally fast with the knowledge that he had been so close to revealing the secret he had been hiding so carefully.
The blood rushing through his ears muffled the sound of his name being called, but he felt himself being moved into a semi-reclined position, exacerbating the pain in his scar and the resultant headache.
Something was placed into his mouth, and his body immediately protested the too-sweet sensation. Reacting to Harry's gagging, whoever was holding him in the semi-reclined position straightened his posture further and began to rub soothing circles on his back.
"Red eyes." Harry croaked a split-second before he was able to open his own.
The heel of his palm finally made it to his scar. Harry was grateful that it had not split open, and the applied pressure seemed to ease the pain a bit.
"Harry?"
Dumbledore's confused and concerned voice alerted Harry to the fact that his headmaster was the one holding him.
"Red eyes." Harry repeated. "That's all I saw. Everything else was dark."
"Voldemort?" Dumbledore questioned softly, only now understanding that Harry's reaction had not necessarily resulted from his exposure to the dementor.
It should have been an easy question to question to answer, but Harry hesitated. The power Harry had felt was much greater than he had ever sensed in Voldemort's presence. Perhaps the vision had taken him back to a time when Voldemort was at the height of his power, but there was a niggling feeling in Harry's gut that told him the answer was not that simple.
"I don't know."
The sharp, knifelike pains radiating from his scar were beginning to dull, allowing Harry to remove his hand and suck in a deep lungful of air in relief.
The hold Dumbledore had on him loosened as the elder wizard sensed that Harry no longer required such a degree of physical support.
Sensing, however, that his emotional state was not as recovered, Dumbledore forced the sound of a smile to override the worry in his voice.
"I'm afraid that you missed it Harry. Neville produced quite a spectacular patronus the minute you hit the ground."
Harry turned his attention to his peer, whose cheeks had gained a red hue at Dumbledore's words of praise, but even beneath the embarrassment, Harry could easily read the worry and guilt tainting Neville's demeanor.
"I'm sorry that I missed it." Harry spoke sincerely but was not quite able to turn the corners of his lips upright.
When Neville began to stammer out an apology, Harry cut him off quickly.
"Neville, I meant it when I said that I was okay to try again. What just happened could have easily happened on our way back to the dormitories, and believe me when I say that I'm glad that it happened here instead."
Those words helped a little, but Neville seemed determined to hold onto at least some of his guilt, a stubbornness that rivaled Harry's own in such a matter.
McGonagall, who was also kneeling beside Harry, obviously wanted to do something to help but seemed to be at a loss.
Seeming to have a moment of revelation, she quickly unwrapped another piece of chocolate and held it out to Harry.
Harry's stomach lurched, and he could not help but wince as he declined politely.
It was then Dumbledore realized that something was amiss. When he had gripped Harry's shoulders earlier, he could feel the chill of the teen's skin through his robes. Now, Harry's body temperature was normal if not slightly warm, a discrepancy that could not be explained by the small amount of chocolate Harry had eaten.
Somehow the vision itself or something that had happened inside the vision had negated the dementor's effects.
"Should I get Madam Pomfrey?" McGonagall asked, noting both the significance of Harry's physical reaction and the startled contemplation that had taken over Dumbledore's face.
"No, I'm all right. The pain's almost gone." Harry pleaded. He was not in the mood to subject himself to the mediwitch's suffocating care after everything that had happened.
Dumbledore recognized and sympathized with Harry's reluctance, and even though the latter was looking remarkably improved, the fact remained that something unusual had happened to Harry during his vision. He would be remiss both as Harry's headmaster and as someone who truly cared about him if he let Harry go without insisting upon any sort of medical attention.
"Harry, I think that it would be a good idea if Madam Pomfrey took a look at you just to make sure."
Taking that statement as her cue, McGonagall left hurriedly for the hospital wing, and by the time she returned with the mediwitch, Harry was sitting unassisted and speaking softly with Neville.
Madam Pomfrey shot the headmaster a look clearly conveying the message that she was not pleased, and Dumbledore found himself wondering why exactly he had insisted upon her presence.
Kneeling beside Harry, she clucked her disapproval before drawing her wand.
"Let's see what you've managed to do to yourself this time, Mr. Potter. Honestly, someone as delicate as yourself should not be volunteering for such foolhardy stunts."
Harry's expression was a mixture of argument and a desperate entreaty for help.
"There are several words that I would use to describe Harry, Poppy. 'Delicate' is certainly not one of them." Dumbledore defended firmly.
Madam Pomfrey responded with a noncommittal noise in her throat as she continued her scans, but Harry's brilliant eyes flashed in surprise. If he did not know better, he could have sworn that he sensed pride directed at him in his headmaster's words, the sort of unconditional pride that his aunt had directly at his cousin even though Dudley had done nothing to earn it.
"Well, Mr. Potter, I can't find anything wrong with you, but to be on the safe side, I'd like you to take it easy tonight and get plenty of rest. If you suddenly feel worse, I want you to report to the hospital wing immediately."
Harry nodded in relief, grateful that he was not being forced to spend the night in the hospital wing.
Looking unsatisfied with his agreement, Madam Pomfrey nonetheless excused herself, leaving only the four original occupants in the classroom.
Harry allowed Neville to help him up, knowing that Neville needed the gesture more than he did.
Despite Madam Pomfrey's clean bill of health, he felt unsteady on his feet for a couple seconds before his legs held firmly.
The others had apparently noticed his temporary instability and were eyeing him critically again.
Convincing himself to ignore their looks and his growing irritation at being coddled, Harry spoke calmly to Dumbledore and McGonagall, "Thank you for helping us."
McGonagall simply nodded in acknowledgement while Dumbledore responded to the statement with a soft smile.
"It was our pleasure. Now, may I suggest that we all take Madam Pomfrey's advice and get some rest. Fighting dementors can take a lot out of anyone."
The boys gathered their chocolate stash, only noticing at that moment that it had not been touched and that the chocolate Dumbledore had given to them had come from the headmaster's own supply.
The boys walked in companionable silence most of the distance to the Gryffindor Tower before the sound of Harry's voice disturbed it.
"You did great, Neville. Don't let what happened at the end spoil it for you. Besides, Dumbledore has a habit of overreacting."
An almost-Slytherin look crossed Neville's features, giving the teen a more mature aura than Harry was accustomed to seeing from him.
"Don't worry about it. My gran tends to overreact when I get sick too."
It took a couple moments for the analogy to sink into Harry's brain, but as soon as it did, he focused his startled attention on his friend.
"But that's different, Neville. Dumbledore's not my grandfather."
Neville only smiled at the argument, and Harry could not help but wonder what had happened to the bumbling, anxious Neville Longbottom.
Harry released a rush of breath, feeling completely exhausted. Although his lessons with Fawkes had progressed to the point that Harry was able to recognize and modify magical signatures at a very primitive point, he still tired extremely easily.
In fact, the lessons had become just as much about endurance as learning the skills.
"I'm sorry, Fawkes. I don't think that I can do anymore tonight."
"There is no need to apologize, Harry. You're working very hard, and you are making progress."
Harry let out the equivalent of a sigh in his animagus form.
"Just very slowly. I don't know if I'm going to be ready in time. It's not going to be much longer before I have to face him."
"Believing in yourself is half the battle though I must admit that sometimes I think the invention of the wand was the worst thing to happen to humankind."
Harry blinked, his curiosity piqued. Most wizards and witches needed their wands to perform magic. How could the invention of an instrument that allowed humans to use magic be a bad thing?
"What do you mean?"
"Humans, all humans, are magical creatures just like unicorns or phoenixes. Before the invention of the wand, humans used their powers naturally. Of course there were a variety of talents as well as a spectrum with regards to the potency of those talents.
The wand was invented quite on accident. A wealthy man came into the possession of a unicorn hair and noticed that with the hair, he was better able to focus his abilities, making it appear that his powers had increased. The man became inseparable from the hair, growing more dependant upon it on a daily basis, and as his dependence increased, he became increasingly paranoid that he would lose his prized possession. He solved his dilemma by boring a hole into his walking stick, the first wand.
It was not long before wands were commonplace in the households of those who could afford them. Soon, the wands themselves became a symbol of wealth and performing magic without the use of one was seen as a mark of shame, advertising oneself as being from an inferior class.
Thus, those who could not afford to own a wand began to suppress their own magical abilities. However, the resentment began to build between the two groups, and after several generations humankind experienced its first major split.
By this time the suppression of magical abilities had so been ingrained into the minds of what had been the lower classes that they had lost the knowledge of how to use such powers and no longer needed to use them to ensure their survival."
A sad sort of empathy wrapped its way around Harry's heart. He knew what it was liked to be shunned, and those people had lost so much because of petty bigotry.
"So they lost their magical abilities?"
"Of course not. Magic is still a part of every human being. It just manifests itself in different ways."
"I don't understand."
"Have you ever heard a gifted musician play and been touched in such a way that could not be accounted for by the sum of notes and rhythm, or have you had the experience of being taken away to a different reality through the words strewn together by a talented author? Have you not heard stories of parents performing incredible feats to save the lives of their children?
Music, art, love, and so many other fantastic abilities are all magic, Harry, just as real as the kind that you learn in lessons but in a different form. Just because your Ministry of Magic does not label them as such means nothing except to establish rules of bureaucracy."
Harry felt as if dazed, as if the entire foundation of his understanding had suddenly been ripped out from under him.
"So the whole debate about pure bloods and muggle borns…"
"Is a complete waste of time. Muggle born wizards are simply those born with a magical talent that your ministry can detect. It has always amazed me that so much blood has been shed over a perceived difference that does not exist."
Harry's mind was churning so quickly that it was on the verge of an overload, and Fawkes seemed to understand that he could not take any more new information that night.
"Let's call it a night, Harry. We can continue tomorrow."
Harry agreed quickly, bidding his fellow phoenix good-bye, grateful that he would have some time to absorb what he had learned before he was due to resume his other classes.
Harry noticed Hermione's smile of approval as he heaped a generous portion of eggs onto his plate.
If his lessons with Fawkes did nothing else, they left him famished, and that resultant increase in appetite was going a long ways towards easing Hermione's worries about him.
Of course it also helped that the O.W.L.s were quickly approaching, and she was beginning to panic in typical Hermione style, leaving less and less room for Harry scrutiny.
Ron was beginning to panic as well, realizing that last minute cramming time had arrived and was slipping away quickly.
In fact, his complaints had only been half-hearted when Hermione had presented both Harry and him with copies of her study schedule so that they could study together.
It was on days like today that Harry was thankful that both his friends were sufficiently distracted because Harry's newfound knowledge was crawling around under his skin, wanting desperately to make itself known to all who would hear.
Unfortunately, such knowledge was a tiger that Harry would have to keep caged for the time being. Releasing it would be too dangerous, not only because he would indefinitely be questioned on the source of the information but also because it would meet with too much resistance.
Harry himself was having trouble assimilating the information, and asking those who were more firmly set in their ideals to change them could end in nothing other than disaster.
"Something on your mind, Harry?"
The word that ran through Harry's mind at Ron's inquiry would probably resulted in a cleansing spell aimed at his mouth had he spoken it aloud. Luckily, a plausible excuse popped into his head easily.
"Not really. I'm just running through the information on the Defense quiz this morning in my head."
Hermione's voice donned what her classmates had dubbed as her "know-it-all" tone.
"Harry, that quiz isn't until the next lesson-"
Her voice cut off when she saw Ron shaking his head.
"No, Hermione, it's today. Remember, Professor Fletcher didn't assign us homework so that we could study for it."
Hermione's face turned chalk white and her breathing became alarmingly close to a rate that would certainly result in hyperventilation. "You're right. I can't believe it! I forgot to study! I was too busy revising for my O.W.L.s. I-"
Harry interrupted before she could work herself up any more, "Hermione, relax. You already know the information better than most of us without studying, but if it will make you feel any better, Ron and I are finished with breakfast, and we can get to Defense early and go through the information quickly before class starts."
Ron looked as if he wanted to argue his friend's assertion that they had both finished with breakfast, but seeing the flood of relief bring a bit of color back to Hermione's cheeks curbed that argument immediately.
Still, Hermione's hands were shaking as she bent down to retrieve her bag.
Silently, Harry took her hands in his, acting mostly on instinct, and felt a warmth travel from his hands into hers.
Hermione's eyes widened at her friend as she felt his magic working inside of her, calming the panic that had threatened to consume her only seconds before.
"Harry, what-"
Harry was asking himself the same question Hermione was too amazed to finish. He had thought that he would only be able to use such magic as a phoenix, and even though it took more energy in his present form, he had done it nevertheless.
He mused that perhaps he would be required to expand his understanding about the definition of magic once again, and hope that perhaps he would be ready when the time came sprung forth in his chest.
On the outside, Harry responded only with a comforting smile and repeated the suggestion that they should head for the Defense classroom.
The trio had no sooner left the Great Hall when they ran into Draco Malfoy flanked by his pair of goons, apparently arriving for breakfast late.
A sneer curled around Malfoy's lips as he spat, "Well, if it isn't Potty, Weasel, and the mudblood-"
He got no further into his insult as he was interrupted by Harry's sharp burst of laughter.
It had simply been too much. The term "mudblood" was supposed to be a horrible insult, capable of inciting strong emotional reactions, but it meant nothing, nothing at all.
"What's so funny, Potter?" Malfoy snapped in irritation.
Harry was not going to dignify him with a response until he saw the hurt glittering in Hermione's eyes, probably prompted by Harry's response rather than Malfoy's insult.
"You, Malfoy. Your insults are meaningless, and you're too ignorant to know any better."
With those words, Harry simply walked away with Ron and Hermione right begin him, not especially caring that he had just left his rival fuming.
At this point, Draco Malfoy was simply a petty annoyance, and Harry was not going to spare him time that he did not deserve.
"Harry, what was that all about?"
"Nothing to worry about, Hermione. I just wanted to ruffle his feathers a little."
A huge grin was plastered upon Ron's face, "And it worked too. Did you see his face? It turned purple, purple I tell you. That was great, Harry, almost as good as Hermione hitting him or the bouncing ferret."
Hermione seemed to accept his explanation, but Harry could not suppress his feelings of vulnerability. He had just made his second lapse of the day in the presence of the cleverest witch in Hogwarts.
Even though his lapses separately were not much of a threat, together they could represent the one string capable of unraveling the entire scope of his secret, and if anyone was capable of recognizing that string, it was Hermione Granger.
A/n: So that's it for the time being. However, I have three weeks left of vacation, and I plan to have at least another chapter done before it ends. I think that I only have one or two left before the big confrontation.
Before I get to the individual reviews, there were several queries about the Lemon Drops. Yes, I've had them, and Harry's reaction was loosely based upon my first one when I was five or six. Unlike Harry, I promptly spit mine out.
Now for the individual reviewers:
Thanks to:-), ACT, amarilis, anarian, athenakitty, Authoress, blip-dragon, Calc Student, Carma1219, CatusAlbusCor, charlie-potter1, crazicaza, Darkness Shattered, DF-default, elyse, gaul1, greywolf3004, HhaZzeLl, Iayala, Illucia, insanechildfanfic, KuTiExAzNxAnGeL, Lil Ole Me 97, Lord of Darkness 13, Mel-chan, Melindaleo, Mia, MiruSedna, Molly Morrison, Nphipps, Rachel A. Prongs, rahl, Raven-Fett, Rocky235, Rhyllen, skycat-blaze11, Tielle, TopQuark, zorro x
Jana Moon- No more rampages, okay? Man I wish I could flick my wrist and fix everything.
Didge- I don't update based on reviews, but yes, those are more reviews than I ever imagined.
Rioni26- I didn't really intend for it to be a superpower Harry story. He's had to struggle to get to where he is.
Meggplant- Well I'm glad that you stuck with it! I know that it can be depressing, but I also try to include bits of humor to lighten the angst.
Infinite13- The whole last chapter was a break, and as for Snape, he's more prominent than I had ever planned.
Insane Pineapple from Naboo- Well, Harry did have a conversation with Malfoy… I wouldn't exactly call it civil though…
DustofAPhoenix- Purple brooms! Where were you when I needed you? No fear, you've inspired something else entirely. Keep reading and you'll see what it is.
alternativelyspliced &TheShadowPanther- How many chapters left? Um, 5 or 6 I think. That's not a definite, but we're definitely nearing the end of this saga.
Lily Skylo- Yes, it will be an interesting summer. Thanks for the entertaining review.
venus4280- The scene with the trio was supposed to be written, but it just would not write correctly. I had to scrap it. There will be some good moments later.
Spirit Mornea- Thanks for the clarification as well as the wonderful compliment. The first book that did that to me was a Hardy Boys book.
FireBadTreeNice- You just about had me in tears. Thank you for your inspiring words, and I hope that I can live up to your high expectations.
HG/HrRFan4ever- No, that's just not in his cards, and yes, he did need a break.
baasheep-Well, if the cold is still lingering, I'd be very concerned. Hopefully you are all better by now. I'm glad that you liked the joy phrase, and the next chapter should be out much quicker.
Von- The half truth is that he was preoccupied with having perhaps apparated inside of Hogwarts. It's at the end of Chapter 16 (I think). I'm glad you enjoyed the idea you inspired so long ago. (PS. I'm very amused by the flag waving!)
paradox01- Yes, Harry did clear up the clouds. Isn't it an interesting paradox that Harry had to work so hard to levitate the feather but cleared up the weather without thinking about it?
