A/N: Oh my dear sweet and merciful God! I have never been so thrilled by reviews. You all seem to appreciate the twisting and turning, and can't seem to wait for the moment of truth when Harry enters the fray. To be quite honest with you, I can't wait either! I am so excited that I am writing my chapter far earlier then is usual for me. Anything to keep my reviewers happy. Now, some individual comments.
QUESTION: I must ask. Does anyone really want me to continue with my story "In the Wilds of Hell"? Please just take a quick look at it and tell me if you think I should or not. Let me know by review, okie? Gratzi!
SeekerTLK: Thanks for the tips hun. I'm sorry if the reaction from Moody was poorly put, but I've never been in law enforcement, and have never seen anything quite so gruesome. My explanation for Dumbledore is that even though he has done a piss poor job of protecting Harry thus far, he is of the belief that he is doing better for him now…if that makes any sense. Thanks for your thoughts and reviews!
Eblis: O.o I will do my very best to use the word "flange" somewhere in my story…er…at least I'll try. Thanks for the rather amusing review.
Samurai Demon-God Sekikage: I am sorry but I don't know of a story in which both Harry and Ginny are dark and in a relationship. However, as soon as I am somewhat finished with the story at hand, I will endeavor to write one for you. Sound good? Oh…by the way…I might be -encouraged- lets say to get that story in writing more quickly if you happen to hit the review button once I put out new chapters…. Thanks for the review!
I also wish to thank ll4ever, Gyr, and Eblis for writing the longest reviews. 30 House points to all of you! I also need to thank the other countless number of reviewers who took the time to read my story. 5 House points to all of you guys too!
Erm….I don't think that I put a disclaimer in all of my other chapters….so this one is for the entire story…okie?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He belongs to the ever intelligent and creative J.K. Rowling. Do not sue me, I mean no harm.
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The ever dark and dank Grimmauld Place was alive and buzzing with activity, much to the unawares of the muggles that dwelt nearby. There was nothing but the chaotic torrent of emotion and adrenaline coursing through the house like flood water. People bumped into each other, knocked things over in their haste, and ransacked every cabinet in the house hold trying to find just, "one more pain relieving potion!" or "but he needs another dreamless sleep!"
Yet, as all of these slightly crazed witches and wizards ran too and fro in their weird marathon, Harry Potter lay on the velvet couch, looking utterly confused.
What in the bloody hell could have happened to make them all go off like this? Harry wondered to himself as the whole lot of them finally rushed back into the living room.
"Mr. Potter!" Madame Pomfrey said, looking more then slightly wild. "Does anything hurt? Are you dizzy? Nauseas? Are you feeling light-headed? With the amount of blood you lost it wouldn't be surprising." Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "And don't you even think about getting up for at least another week! You were in critical condition when you were brought in, and I won't have you gallivanting about!"
All Harry could do was sit in stunned paralysis as the elderly matron forced several vile tasting potions down his throat and check his wounded wrists for any further injury. He thought that he could hear the entire Order of the Phoenix clamoring on in the background, but couldn't be sure since Madame Pomfrey had conjured a makeshift curtain to hide him from view.
Just as Madame Pomfrey was smearing another soothing cream across his scabbed wrists, two new voices were heard.
"Harry? Harry, are you awake? Are you alright?" Came the crazed voice of Remus Lupin, nearly cracking with the intensity of his emotions. "Oh God Harry Please answer me!"
"Remus!" Said Dumbledore, trying in vain to control the manic werewolf. "I must insist that you control yourself! It will do no good for Harry's condition if you are in this half-wild state!"
The reference was not lost on anyone in the room. Since the moment Harry had woken up, his werewolf side had erupted from underneath the man's normally calm surface and was running rampant. Dumbledore's jab did little to subdue the distraught wolf, but it did considerably chill the human half of Remus.
Harry listened to Dumbledore quickly and efficiently cut his father's last living friend down to a quiet and manageable size, and decided that he could take this nonsense no longer.
"Remus?" He said, his voice mare then a little hoarse from his 5 day coma. "Are you still there?"
Harry was positive that he heard at least 5 people hit the floor as Remus bolted past the curtain and to Harry's bedside.
"Oh Harry!" Remus said, his amber eyes wet with unshed tears. "Oh Gods Harry. Don't ever do that to me again. Please God, I don't think I could take it…" He drifted off as a sob was wrenched from his throat. Tears fell from the werewolf's Egyptian gold eyes as he pulled Harry tightly against his chest.
Harry, with some difficulty, wrapped his arms around Remus' neck, doing his best to comfort the obviously distressed werewolf. He felt the man's long fingers card gently through his messy, jet-black locks, and felt extremely protected as he buried his face in the older man's neck.
"I'm sorry Remus." Harry said softly, his voice muffled by the man's shoulders. "I am so sorry, but it had to be done. I couldn't do what was needed otherwise. You need to understand…I need you to understand." Then Harry found, to his great surprise, that he couldn't talk anymore. His throat burned with suppressed tears as he hugged the crying man before him. Then the moment was shattered by several voices. Some outraged, some confused, and some nearing hysterics.
"Remus Lupin!' Madame Pomfrey cried, her face alight with righteous fury. "Unhand my patient at once! He needs potions and sleep, not some over emotional man jostling him about!"
Remus looked ready to protest when Harry pulled back from his welcoming embrace, and looked into the medi-witch's face.
"To be quite honest with you Madame Pomfrey, I think that Remus is doing more good then any of your rather foul tasting potions ever could." Harry said, his emerald green gaze almost penetrating her very soul.
The school nurse shuddered involuntarily, oddly unnerved by the boy's stare. She looked at his drawn, pale face for only a moment longer before recomposing herself.
"Well Mr. Potter, if you insist upon being stubborn then I demand that you take the three potions on the table and insist that you must not get up. If I see you off of this couch before the end of the week I will have your hide." And, with that, the elderly matron banished her conjured curtain and huffily exited the room.
Immediately there was a swelling of Order Members as they all tried to get close to Harry's side. All but Snape and Moody, who stood at the back of the crowd. Moody resisted being caught up in the fray due to his wooden leg, and Snape because he maintained the fact that he did not relish in the possibility of being squashed up against Molly Weasly or worse, one of her spawn. That and the fact that he cared very little for the Potter boy.
Harry was caught up in a deluge of frantic and relieved voices. People called his name from every direction and he no longer knew which way to look any longer. The crowd turned into a giant blur, like a pencil sketch that has been smeared by someone's fingers and then he couldn't tell who was who any longer. Their faces melded into one giant face and their voices came out in a gibbering mass of noise and color. Harry's head swam and he reached out for Remus, when a loud and booming voice suddenly yelled, "SILENCE!"
The quiet that filled the living room could have been cut with a knife it was so thick. Everyone turned to see the imposing figure of Albus Dumbledore standing in the doorway, his robes billowing slightly in the short burst of magic he had emitted.
"Thank you." He said, all cheer and smiles once again. "Now, I do not think that yelling and screaming in an unorganized mob would be very conducive for Harry's health, considering that he has only just awoken mere minutes ago." His white beard twitched upward in a small smile as his electric blue eyes landed on Harry. "Harry, how are you feeling?"
What an ironic question. Harry thought to himself, as he prepared to answer Dumbledore's inquiry. He probably thinks that I have just woken up from a failed suicide attempt, how the hell does he think I would feel?
"I have been better sir." Harry said, his voice still hoarse. "Though, a glass of water would be lovely."
It took a matter of seconds for a glass of water to materialize in front of Harry's face, ice cubes chinking against the glass in a merry way. Harry nodded his thanks as he downed the ice cold water, the burning in his throat being subdued considerably.
"Now, if you are all quite finished, I would like to talk to Harry alone." Dumbledore said, his flashing blue eyes clearly stating that it was a command, not a suggestion.
There was an immediate uproar at the old man's words. Remus was on his feet, saying that there was no way in hell that he was leaving Harry alone now, Ron and Hermoine were rambling on about how Harry needed to be updated on homework and the Chudley Cannons record, and Mrs. Weasly was in her usual rant about how Harry needed rest, not the old man badgering him for information.
Harry leaned backward, letting his back rest against the couch's arm as he sipped at the remainder of his ice water. It really was rather amusing watching them go at each other. He thought, trying his best to keep the waves of dizziness from overtaking him. Harry was completely willing to sit back and watch his "friends" and family tear each other apart, until he heard some one cry out, "Harry shouldn't even be left near you werewolf!"
Using every last vestige of strength that he had, Harry cleared his throat and shouted, "SHUT UP THE LOT OF YOU!" Silence was imminent.
Slumping back against the couch's arm Harry said, in a much quieter voice, "Who said that?"
There was no response. The Weasley's were staring at Harry with something close to indignation, but it was Dumbledore's gaze that had Harry worried. It was closed off, and unsure. Something that the boy had never seen in those electric blue eyes.
Anger seeped through his bones, these fools thought that insulting Remus was going to make him feel better? Those morons, if only they knew…
"I asked you all a question." Harry said, letting his fury seep through into his words. "Who just insulted Remus?"
As the living room's occupants stared in disbelief at the pale and injured boy, Severus Snape watched the scene in slight bemusement. It seemed as though Potter was finally starting to tap into that power of intimidation that he knew the boy had inherited from his mother. Snape smiled wryly. Lily Evans was the only person who could put the fear of God into him, and he had seen the Potter boy use that very same technique on several occasions. The boy's fifth year being a rather pertinent example.
The aged Potions Master could tell that the boy was changed somehow. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was almost as though the boys magical signature had altered. Yes that was it, Snape could tell, the magic from his core was flowing differently then it normally did. The man's face took on the look of some one trying to figure out a particularly difficult riddle. He would get to the bottom of this, by the name of Merlin he would…
Snape watched as the Order members shifted around nervously under the pale sickly looking boy's gaze. He himself knew that it had been Molly Weasley who had called Lupin a werewolf, but thought that he would let the boy figure it out for himself. Snape wanted to see just how much of Lily the boy had in him.
Harry's gaze shifted around the room, flitting from one persons face to another, trying to find the guilty party. Finally his emerald green gaze landed on Mrs. Weasly, and he knew that he had found who was guilty. Her entire being reeked of guilt as he stared at her, sizing her up before speaking.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, sadness tingeing his angry voice. "Do you honestly think that insulting Remus will make me feel better? What good do you think racist comments will do?"
To her credit Molly Weasly looked incredibly guilty. The way she went about regaining face however, made Harry forget all thoughts of forgiveness. "Harry dear you're ill. Please lay back down and let the adults take care of everything."
Harry stared at her in disbelief. This woman was trying to avoid apologizing to Remus by using his current state as a shield? Harry almost growled with anger as he said, "No Mrs. Weasley, I will not lie down and let the adults take care of everything. I will not allow you to treat me like an incompetent child any longer. Now, I believe that you owe Remus an apology."
Harry's emerald stare glowed with repressed anger, though he never raised his voice. He simply stared at Mrs. Weasley, feeling a rather twisted satisfaction in the way she seemed to squirm under his scrutiny. He heard a muffled, "Sorry Remus," emit from the crowd of red heads and Order members and nodded his satisfaction. Harry opened his mouth to ask Dumbledore a question, when an angry outcry of voices reached Harry's ears.
"Who do you think you are, talking to our mother like that?" Ron said, his face flushed red in his anger.
"Yeah," Said Bill in agreement. "You have no right to order our mother about like that Harry."
The other red headed brothers were nodding their heads in agreement, giving Harry glares that could scorch wood. Harry simply shook his head in disbelief.
"Your mother," Harry said, letting his anger and disdain lace themselves into his words. "insulted Remus. She was being racist and bigoted, and I won't allow her to do that while she is in my home." Harry gave the redheaded boys a glare for emphasis. "Remus and I own this house jointly." He continued, letting the importance of these words sink in. "And while he may be willing to allow people to call him foul names, I will not. If you have a problem with this, then I suggest that you leave."
Severus Snape almost smiled at the display. The entire Weasley clan, with the exception of Ginny, was standing in the middle of the living room, looking at the black haired boy as though he had grown another head. It seemed as though he had been correct in his musings. Harry Potter may look like James Potter's twin, but behind those green eyes he was more like Lily then anyone could possibly fathom.
The boy had even had the intelligence to use his power as the house's partial owner to his advantage, simultaneously reminding everyone in the room that he and the werewolf could kick the lot of them out if they so desired. Snape's lips curved ever so slightly upward into what one could call a grin. Leaning slightly against the wall, Snape sat back and watched the impending show with anticipation.
Harry, seeing that his point had been taken, turned towards Dumbledore. "Professor, I believe that you have some questions for me?"
An amused twinkle reached the old man's eyes as he watched Harry fall into his hands. "Yes actually Harry. Now, if everybody else could give us a few moments?"
Harry suddenly smiled, and none to kindly at that. It were as though he thought the old man was playing directly into his plotting hands. "Professor, I think that you misunderstood me. I will answer your questions, but there are several others who need to hear this as well." Harry's grin grew sharp and daring as he finished his sentence, daring the headmaster to tell him differently.
Dumbledore's grin grew equally as dangerous as he replied. "Harry, I think that it would be best to keep this between ourselves for now. After all, we will be discussing certain things that are not for other people's ears."
If it were possible, Harry's gaze gained a more dangerous glint to it. "Well Professor, we've all seen what happens when we do what you 'think is best', haven't we? After all, Sirius would still be here if you hadn't kept me in the dark." A predatory smile crept onto the pale faced boy's face, making him look more then slightly dangerous.
Dumbledore had no response for Harry's jab. It was true, if he hadn't kept the boy in the dark then he never would have fallen for Voldemort's trap and Sirius would still be alive. A smiled wryly. Perhaps if the animagus were still alive, Harry would be easier to control.
The old man looked at Harry carefully before asking, "Who else do you want to remain with us Harry?"
"Remus, Professor Snape, and Ginny." Harry responded, rather enjoying the look on the aged Headmaster's face.
To say that Albus Dumbledore was surprised, would be a rather large understatement. His eyes widened in shock, but only for the merest moment. After that one second of vulnerability, the elderly man had his smiling game face back on, but his mind was a whirlwind of curiosity.
He could easily tell that something had changed Harry. While the differences weren't large or overly obvious, Dumbledore could feel the difference in the way the boy held himself and how he spoke. The boy who had ranted and raved in his office only months before was no longer present, even though his body was. In front of him sat a calm and collected young man that was playing his mind games with equal sarcasm and force. Hmm…this was certainly a development.
"If I may inquire Harry, why do you wish for Severus and Ms. Weasly to be present?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling a little more forcefully then they had before.
Harry's cynical grin was answer enough for the old man. "Well Professor," Harry began, making sure that his words were making the desired impact. "You see, Professor Snape and I have some things that we need to clear up and I figured that it would be best to do so in front of witnesses. However, I want Ginny because I trust her." The boy's green eyes flashed with an emotion that none of the adults could read. "Besides, I will only tell her later if you refuse her admittance."
Harry could see the old man weighing his chances. An aged hand stroked his long white beard as he stared at Harry for a moment or so. It were as though Dumbledore were trying to read him. Blue eyes examined him, searing straight through his body and autopsying his soul.
Harry could only grin in amusement when the aged headmaster nodded his head slightly and said, "Those are acceptable terms Harry. However, Ms. Weasly is still under age and therefore under the jurisdiction of her parents. They will have to be present in order for her to attend. You understand, my boy?"
"Why, of course Headmaster." The dark haired boy said, a feral grin stretching across his face. "I understand perfectly."
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A/N: I hope that you all enjoyed my chapter, even with the cliffy. As you can plainly see, Harry is quite different then when we last met him in Book 5. Well, I will endeavor to make Harry seem a little more insane in the next chapter when he talks a bit more. Please review!