a/n story backtracks a bit to Harry when he left the great hall after breakfast. Don't worry, I didn't kill Harry off, neither did I make you guys wait until the end of the chapter to find out what happened to Harry…Don't you just love me
Chapter 38 there's a moon out tonight
Harry quickly left the Great Hall and returned to his dorm. He spent a few minutes laying on his bed thinking about his life. It almost seemed as if he was destined to be alone. Adopted twice, yet all of his adoptive parents died; a 'family' that didn't love or care for him; a godfather that died trying to protect him; and a father that denied the possibility of his existence.
It was the latter that hurt the most.
He was too young to have memories of the months he spent in Cybelle's care, but after reading her journal, he knew that he was wanted and cared for.
Due to the visions he saw when he was near a dementor, he knew that Lily and James loved him and did everything they could to keep themselves and him safe.
And even though he had only known Sirius two years, Harry had felt closer to him than any other adult he knew. Harry knew that Sirius had loved him and like Cybelle, Lily and James, didn't have a choice in the decision to leave.
Contradictory to those parental figures were the ones that were alive and were able to love and care for him, didn't.
The moment Aunt Petunia found him on the doorstep she ignored and neglected the toddler in her care.
Likewise, since the moment Harry shared his speculations with his father, Snape had decided that it wasn't possible. Last night's detention just made it clearer to Harry that Snape didn't want to believe it. Snape might have cared that his son was alive, but not if that son was Harry James Potter.
Harry couldn't help but believe that he was destined to be alone, to never know what it was like to have a family of his own.
Harry wiped the tears from his face, got off his bed and walked over to the window. From the window he watched as third year students and older, including his friends, left for Hogsmeade. He knew that staying in the castle was the right decision, even if he had been tempted to sneak out.
Sighing, Harry turned away from the window and grabbed his book bag, packing it with his potion book, his quill, some spare pieces of parchment and the copied pages from 'Most Potente Potions'.
After talking with Hermione last night, Harry, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep right away, had grabbed his invisibility cloak and snuck into the restricted section of the library to find the lineage spell. He had been shocked to find that there were seven pages dedicated to this potion. He had briefly wondered if maybe he should wait to see if Snape changed his mind, but quickly decided that surviving the killing curse at the age of one was enough of a miracle for this lifetime and that he shouldn't push fate by asking for another.
He then made two copies of the pages relating to the lineage potion, one for him and one for Hermione, before returning to his dorm to get some sleep. He had planned on giving Hermione her copy before breakfast, but was sidetracked when she mentioned that she thought he should talk to Dumbledore.
A yell from outside jolted Harry out of his memories and he gave one last look around the room, making sure he didn't forget anything, before he covered himself and his belongings with his invisibility and left his dorm. He quietly stood by the portrait and waited for a first or second year to open the door. When the opportunity came, he quickly left the tower and headed down to the lake.
Once at the lake, Harry sat on the ground, in between some rocks, using one of the rocks to support his back as he leaned against it, making sure he was still covered by the invisibility cloak. Once satisfied that no part of his could be seen, he took out a set of the copied pages on the lineage potion. As Harry started to read about the potion, he groaned. This was almost as complicated as the polyjuice potion. The lineage potion took three days to brew and items had to be added at certain times.
Harry gave another sigh as he thought about his options. The last thing he wanted to do was make a mistake on this potion and hurt himself, that wouldn't be the best way to impress his father. Maybe he should just try to find the parental spell that Snape used that first day. That would be much easier than this potion, Harry thought. He would definitely have to ask Hermione if she knew that one. Until then, Harry decided, he would continue reading.
Many hours later, Harry took off the cloak, stood up and stretched. The potion wasn't as bad as he first thought, Harry had realized. The person brewing it had to be very precise with the timing of items, and how they were prepared, but luckily he didn't have to worry about the phases of the moon or anything similar.
Since he had missed lunch, Harry decided he would pack up his belongings and head to the kitchen to see Dobby.
He had walked less than ten feet from his study spot when he heard his name being called.
"Harry! Where have you been?" Hermione exclaimed running over to Harry and gaving him a hug.
"Down by the lake, studying. Why?"
"Moony has been looking everywhere for you."
"Why? Is he okay? Did something happen?"
"There was, well, I guess you could call it an incident at Hogsmeade. They asked all the students to return to the school."
"What happened? Why is he looking for me?"
"No one knows exactly what happened," Hermione began.
"Some students were found unconscious in Hogsmeade, probably stunned," Ron interrupted.
"Ron, we don't know if that's true." Ron just looked at Harry and shrugged as Hermione continued. "As I was saying, none of the students know exactly what happened, but there is a rumor that there was an attack of some kind."
"Was anybody hurt?"
"Not that we know of, but no one has really told us anything. I didn't notice anyone missing, though."
"That's good." Harry nodded, relieved that no one seemed to be hurt. "But why has Remus been looking for me? Shouldn't he be preparing for the full moon tonight?"
"Apparently all the professors had a 'job' to do if there was an attack at Hogwarts or on a Hogsmeade weekend. Moony's job was to confirm that the three of us were okay."
"Do you know where he is now? I should let him know that I'm here and that I'm okay."
"I believe that he was heading to the dungeons to inform your, er, Professor Snape about the attack and you being missing."
Harry groaned, he did not want to see Snape after last night. With the way that he was currently feeling about his father/professor, Harry wished that he was old enough to leave school so that he would never have to see him again, or at least old enough to yell at him without worrying about losing house points or serving detention for the rest of the year.
"Listen, Hermione, I need you and Ron to do me a huge favor. Can you guys find Remus and let him know that I'm okay. I'm going to let Dumbledore know. You can tell Remus to meet me there."
Hermione nodded as she dragged Ron away. She could understand why Harry didn't want to see Professor Snape so soon after last night's detention.
As Harry turned the corner towards Dumbledore's office, he saw a tall figure in bright blue robes and long white hair approaching the hidden staircase.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry called as he ran to catch up. At least if he entered with the headmaster he wouldn't have to waste any time guessing the sweet password.
At the sound of his name, Albus turned around. Upon seeing Harry run towards him, the headmaster stepped in the boys path opened his arms and enveloped him in a hug.
"Professor?" Harry asked. He was not use to receiving hugs from people, and was especially surprised at getting one from the headmaster.
"Sorry, my boy," the headmaster apologized, the twinkle returning to his eyes, as he released Harry. "I'm just relieved that you are okay. We have spent most of the day searching the castle and grounds for you."
"I heard. Well, Hermione told me that Remus was looking for me. She and Ron went to find Remus. He should be meeting us in your office."
"Good, good. I'm sure Remus, as well as all the professors will be relieved to hear that you are safe. Now, do you-"
"Want to know what happened in Hogsmeade?" Harry interrupted, "Of course, I do. If you feel you can tell me, that is. There are all kinds of rumors going around."
The child has been spending too much time with Severus, the headmaster thought, his eyes twinkling brightly. That technique has Slytherin written all over it. Normally, he wouldn't let a student get away with it, but what would it hurt to inform Harry about today's incidents? After all, he would be making similar statements at dinner this evening. Besides, perhaps if he shared what he knew with Harry, then maybe Harry would be inclined to return the favor. "Kingsley came across some students stunned by the shrieking shack. He immediately signaled the alarm to have all students return to Hogwarts, since we were unsure if Hogsmeade was secure. Remus was to locate you, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley to make sure that the three of you were safe. Panic arose when Remus returned to the castle a few hours ago and discovered that no one had seen you since you left the Great Hall at breakfast."
At the headmaster's inquiring gaze, Harry answered his unspoken question, "I was studying."
"Interesting," the headmaster stated, "We checked the library, your dorm, the common area and the room of requirement. Where exactly were you studying?"
"The lake."
"I believe that Remus also checked the lake. He was quite positive that you weren't there."
"Um, I was kind of under my invisibility cloak, and hiding between some rocks."
Before Dumbledore could ask anything else, his office door burst open to admit Remus and Severus.
"Harry!" Remus exclaimed as he unknowingly mirrored the headmaster's actions by embracing the boy-who-lived. "Where were you? I was so worried when I couldn't find you. Please tell me that you didn't sneak into Hogsmeade."
"Apparently he was studying by the lake," the headmaster answered for Harry.
"The lake? But I checked the lake! He wasn't there."
Severus sneered, clearly showing that he didn't believe Harry's story, but otherwise made no comment, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the headmaster.
"I was under the cloak and hiding between some of the larger rocks," Harry answered. When Snape's sneer turned into a raised eyebrow, Harry continued, "I didn't want to be disturbed. I'm sorry that I worried everyone. If I had looked away from books and had seen Remus, I would've told him I was there, likewise, if I had heard him call for me, I would've answered."
"I didn't call," Remus answered. "I didn't want any rumors that you were missing flying around this place."
"Wise decision," Albus commented. "Do you have anything else to add, Harry?"
Harry shook his head no.
"I'm just glad that you are okay," Remus said softly, placing an arm around Harry's shoulder. "Come on, I'll walk you back to your common room."
"Wait. I still want to know exactly what happened in Hogsmeade. Was it Voldemort? Death Eaters? Who was stunned? Was anyone hurt?"
The three men exchanged glances before Dumbledore replied, "At this time we are not positive who attacked, although most likely it was Death Eaters on Voldemort's orders. It seems that a certain type of student was the focus of the attack."
Harry wondered who would attack a group of students and why. Suddenly, Harry paled, "Was it the DA? Are Luna, Ginny and Neville okay? What about the other members? Why didn't you answer my question about anyone being hurt?"
"Calm down, Harry. It wasn't the DA that was attacked. Luna, Ginny and Neville are fine. No one was seriously hurt, but until we discover the exact reason for the attack, we won't know for sure."
Harry tried to process what Dumbledore just said. "But who was attacked? And how could you not know if someone was seriously hurt?"
"Potter," Snape said, finally losing his patience, "If this attack was orchestrated by the Dark Lord, I sincerely doubt that he came to town just to give certain students some much needed beauty sleep. Whoever attacked these students could have given them a potion or cast a spell on them while they were unconscious."
"Oh." Like Severus, Harry was quickly losing his patience. "But who was attacked and why?"
"That information doesn't concern you. While you might enjoy being in the public's eye, most students value their privacy." Snape sneered.
"What do you mean it doesn't concern me? I was not allowed to go to Hogsmeade for fear of an attack, only to have a certain group of students attacked. And I don't like being in the public's eye. I would think that you would've learned that about me by now!" Harry yelled, finally losing his patience about being kept in the dark.
Snape didn't comment, but just stood still, casting one of his deadly glares at Harry.
"Harry," Remus said, "I would tell you if I could, but this time, it is not my secret to tell. Just trust us, please. The students have a right to their privacy."
"I don't have any."
"What do you expect? You are the boy-who-lived," Snape sneered.
"I'm also a student, a friend, and a son." Harry retorted, as he glared at his father, once more letting his temper get the best of him.
"Mr. Potter, I believe this discussion has come to a close. I think it is best that you leave." Snape said icily.
Harry looked at Remus and Dumbledore and after seeing a nod from each growled, "Fine" and retreated to the staircase.
As soon as Harry left, Severus collapsed in a chair across from Albus. He wearily ran a hand over his eyes and down his face. The events from the last hour had taken there toll on him. He didn't understand why he had been so worried after hearing about the attack and that Potter was missing.
"Severus, Remus, is everything all set for tonight's full moon?"
"We won't know until tomorrow morning," Remus replied. "Severus has provided enough wolfsbane for everyone, and the shrieking shack is secure, but after the attack…"
"Headmaster," Severus stated, when Remus's voice trailed off, "Without knowing what happened during the attack, we need to be prepared for anything. A spell or potion might have been used that could negate the effects of wolfsbane. We should also set up extra wards and security, just to make sure no one gets loose or hurt. In fact, it might be best to separate those that were attacked from the ones that weren't somehow. A simple barrier spell should work. Lupin, however, should be with the students that were attacked, just in case. I would also recommend that you arm Lupin with tranquilizer darts for his protection. Since he was not attacked this afternoon, the wolfsbane will keep him with his mind intact."
"Thank you, Seveus, I will see that these things happen. Now, would either of you gentlemen care for a lemon drop?"
"Harry? Are you okay?" Hermione asked as Harry entered the common room after leaving the headmaster's office.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Hermione." Harry said as he opened his book bag and withdrew the copied pages of Most Potent Potions and his notes and handed them to Hermione. "Here, these are for you. If you can look over the steps and the comments I made that would be helpful. Merlin knows I don't want to mess this up as well."
"Harry, you haven't messed anything up."
"Just my life," Harry replied as he grabbed his books and headed up to the dorms.
"I'm worried about him," Ron said, as he opened a chocolate frog he bought at Honeydukes that morning.
"What?" He said as Hermione snorted.
"Ron, I've been worried about him since this whole adoption thing started, actually, I've been worried about him since first year. However, I do agree with you, he's gotten worse. Almost depressed, this is the type of behavior I expected him to portray after Sirius's death, not because of a difference of opinion with Professor Snape. I just wish there was something we could do."
"Not a difference of opinion with a professor, Hermione, but with his father. I mean, come on, Harry thinks the git hates him. How does someone deal with that?"
"Harry's right. We don't understand. We couldn't possibly understand what he has been feeling. Now that I think of it, his behavior makes sense, after all. I suppose it is like death in away. I just wish there was a way we could help him."
Two thirds of the trio sat silent for a moment as they thought about the absent member that brought them together in the first place.
"You know, Hermione, I've been thinking." At another snort from Hermione, Ron said, "Hey it happens! Anyways, I was thinking about what Harry said to us, about how everyone is telling him that he needs to understand how difficult this is for Snape and how he needs to be patient until Snape gets his act together. Well, Harry had a point. Maybe someone should tell Snape how difficult this has been for Harry."
Hermione stared at Ron in shock. "Ron, that is a good idea. The only question is who should talk to Professor Snape. If either one of us tries to, most likely we will be thrown out of the dungeon, threatened with expulsion, and leave Gryffindor with no chance of winning the house cup for at least ten years.
"I really think that Dumbledore should talk with Professor Snape, but Harry will kill us if we share this information with the headmaster. He has been most adamant about not telling him."
Ron sat silent for a moment as he thought about what Hermione said and what Harry had come to mean to him. "Some things are worth the trouble. Forget the consequences, for Harry's sake, we need to do something."
After dinner all three members of the trio were quietly reflecting on what needed to be done, when Harry remembered something he wanted to ask Hermione.
"Hermione, when I first told Snape that I thought he was my father, he used a spell to show the names of my parents. I was wondering if you knew what that spell might be? It could be easier than the potion."
"I don't think I'm familiar with it. I'll need more information to be sure, though. Did you hear the spell he used? How did the names appear? Do they just appear out of nowhere or do they slowly form? What do they look like? How long do they last? Do they disappear automatically or do you need a spell to vanish them?"
"Um, I didn't really hear what he said, all I remember thinking was that it rhymed. The names appeared out of nowhere, and stayed for about a minute, then slowly started to fade away. It resembled smoke or fog. Oh, the father's name appeared in blue and the mother's in pink."
"No, definitely doesn't sound like anything that I have read about," Hermione stated, ignoring Ron's dramatic expression at her revelation that there was something she hadn't read about. "My guess is that it's a very complex charm. If you want, I could do some research in the library and try to locate it."
"No thanks, Hermione, that's okay. I'll just stick with the potion if you can review my notes on it."
"Of course, Harry."
a/n some people asked about DD & if he knows since he found his copy of Snape's lesson plan book… I admit that this was misleading, but because of the book, Albus just knew that something was going on & that it involved Harry, but he didn't know what it all meant. My reasoning for this was: Snape's a spy, he knows better than to leave info like that in writing… he either writes in code or just puts down general info that cannot be interpreted…Plus I really wanted to drive DD crazy, something going on his the castle that he didn't know about & it involved his boy wonder.
Chapter 39: Confrontations
Ron & Hermione do something to 'help' Harry
Harry begins to brew a potion
Dumbledore finds out what's going on, suddenly things start to make sense
Thanks for all the reviews: I can't believe there are over 1000, Thank you!
In case you couldn't tell…Harry's a bit depressed. He believes that he has been rejected by Snape and as indicated in chapter 37, doesn't know how to handle it. Consciously, he's not acting on anything, it is just his automatic reaction to rejection, pulling away & distancing himself from things…Hmm, if he keeps this up and he quickly going to resemble Snape in attitude & actions.
4/19/2005