Chapter 20

(A/N: Sorry about the delay, computer was acting funny. Also, I'm not sure if I've done a disclaimer for this story, so here it is: I do not own any person, place, or thing that was written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series, thank you.)

Harry checked the store the next day to see if Alex was back yet, but it was closed—basically meaning no.

He was dropping off the ingredients he'd bought from the Apothecary at his home when his pendant vibrated. "Ministry attack!" Tonks' voice exclaimed, "Get over here!"

Harry left The Hideaway immediately, making sure to cloak himself before he could be seen. He rushed past the main entrance, the lobby, and the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The scene before him made Harry's blood run cold. Death Eaters were everywhere, but it was Malfoy Sr. dueling Remus and Bellatrix dueling Sirius that made him freeze—it was too much like the Department of Mysteries two years ago…

"Wake up Tallon!" Ron's voice called.

Harry jerked out of his daze and realized that he'd lost control of his cloaking spell and become visible. He just barely ducked a curse. Calling up his magic, he sent balls of fire and lightning at the Death Eaters, distracting them until the others could disarm them.

Sweat dripped into his eyes from the continued use, and Harry forced himself to use wand magic instead. His energy instantly perked up, and he fired spell after spell. They'd started to push the Death Eaters back when Harry heard someone hiss, "Avada-"

Harry jerked his head and saw Percy lying on the ground, leg broken as the Death Eater took aim. Everything seemed to slow down, "Sanctus!" Harry said frantically—nothing happened. Why isn't it working? He thought desperately. Harry felt his wand slip from his fingers and he ran towards Percy, "Kadavra!" finished the Death Eater. The green jet of light headed towards Percy, and Harry did the only thing he could think of—jump.

The green light hit him in the chest and Harry's ears were filled with the sound of screams. It was torturous. Millions of people, screaming out in pain, angst, and rage; no wonder people's faces were horrified when they were killed like this.

Immense pain filled Harry, seeping into his soul and heart like shards of glass. He wanted to scream, but couldn't. Slowly, black shadows consumed his senses, and he knew nothing but pain.

Tears…sobbing…murmured words. None of it made sense, yet it all came in sharp clarity.

Harry's limbs felt like lead, his mind was clouded with an unknown fog. He could hear everything, feel everything around him, but he couldn't understand it. Shadows filled every inch of him, refusing to let go. He didn't mind really, it was comforting, empty, and motionless; nothing like the chaotic life he lived in reality. Was this death? If it was, it wasn't so bad…

Then, peoples' voices became more desperate, and two stood out more than the others: 'Don't leave Tallon,' one whispered.

'You can make it,' the other urged.

Padfoot…Moony, Harry couldn't find the strength to form the words. I'm still here, he thought, hoping that somehow the words would reach them. He managed to exhale; earning gasps and shouts as responses before he slipped into darkness once more.

Harry finally managed to wake. He couldn't move really, but he knew he was very much alive. He could feel several people in the area around him, some asleep, others dreaming, and a few awake. Opening his eyes, which was more trouble than he'd ever remembered, Harry saw the afternoon sun streaming through the windows—he was at the Infirmary at Headquarters.

Blinking, he stiffly turned his head to look at the person leaned against him. He smiled, it was Alex. Feeling a warm weight on his legs, Harry's smile widened, Padfoot was lying there, and Remus was sitting in an armchair to his left, still in human form. Hermione and Ron were also there, talking quietly with each other; they hadn't noticed his awakening. He simply watched them for a while, then a large group of red-heads, the entire Weasley family, caught his eye. They were sitting near another bed, which hosted Percy, still sleeping.

"Is he alright?" Harry croaked, as quietly as he could.

Hermione jumped, and Ron jerked in surprise. "Harry!" Hermione whispered, "You're awake!"

He chuckled, "Yeah, I think I am. Is Percy alright?"

Ron, paler than usual, nodded. "He's fine, you—you took it for him, didn't you?"

Harry nodded slightly, "I guess I did. What happened?"

Hermione swallowed, "The Death Eater was Rockwood, and—well, when the curse hit you it…it sort of rebounded back to him and he…died."

Harry thought about it, Thanks Mom, he thought.

He felt Alex stir, and she rubbed her eyes as she woke up. Once she saw he was awake, her face paled and grew furious. "Don't you ever do that again Harry James Potter!" she cried, "Or I swear I will-"

Harry silenced her by putting a hand over her mouth and a smiled, then he kissed her. "You'll wake everybody up," he said mischievously.

She relaxed, then fixed him with a stern look, "Don't think you've heard the last of this."

He laughed, pulling her closer, "I don't doubt it."

The dog at his feet woke up, and instantly bounded up onto Harry's chest, then proceeded to lick his face with more speed than Harry had though possible. Remus was the next to wake up, he visibly sagged in relief. "Don't do that again Tallon," he said, "My hair is grey enough as it is."

Harry could only laugh in reply.

Eventually, once the shock of Harry surviving the Killing Curse once more had eased somewhat, his friends and family were ordered to leave him alone by an exasperated Madame Pomfrey. Once the Infirmary had been cleared of guests, Harry saw that it was only himself and Percy left in the room, both very much aware of the other's presence.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked into the awkward silence.

"Alright," Percy replied, not meeting his eyes, "And you?"

"Not too bad," Tallon replied cheerfully, though his limbs were still heavy and wobbly.

There were a few more minutes of quiet before Percy spoke quietly, "You didn't have to do that."

Harry met his eyes seriously, "I know, but I did."

Percy looked at him, a confused and somewhat irritated expression on his face. "Why? You could have died!"

"So could you." Harry replied.

"Yes, but you had no reason to! I've been a complete prat to you, I even told Ron to stay away from you! What was the point?"

Harry shrugged, "Why do you work at the Ministry?"

Percy blinked, "It's my job."

"And why is it?"

"Because I chose to do it."

Harry nodded, "That's exactly why I did what I did." Percy opened his mouth, then closed it. Harry continued, "We can't change the past, and we don't know what's going to happen in the future. But we can change what's happening now, we do know what's happening now. We're in war, and we need to be on the same side, even if we don't really like each other."

Percy frowned slightly, "Did you know you would survive?"

"No," Harry replied, "I didn't; I just acted on instinct I guess." He smiled slightly, "Hermione says I have a 'saving-people-thing', I guess that's what it is."

Percy nodded, "I—I'd like to…to apologize, for my behavior over the past few years, towards you. It was…uncalled for."

"Don't fret about it," Harry replied, "Thanks for apologizing, but I don't think it's me you should be apologizing to."

"Who then? You saved my life."

"You're family Percy."

He looked away, "They probably hate me by now, and I still haven't really talked to them much since Fudge reti — was fired."

Harry gave him a lopsided grin, "I doubt it. Yeah, Ron's a bit miffed at you, but he's really the only one. The twins, they'd be glad to have someone to tease again, and Ginny'd be right along with them. Bill and Charlie were never really made that I know of, and I know your parents have always wanted you to come back to the family, you've just gotta let them know you want to."

Percy looked at him for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you Harry; you have no idea."

Harry smiled, "Anytime, honest."

Harry was glad that he'd been taken to Headquarters, because apparently there were a lot of reporters at the Ministry building, wanting to talk to him—thankfully the Ministers had said he wouldn't been talking to them any time soon.

Harry wasn't really able to move much for the rest of the day. Well, Madame Pomfrey never really gave him the chance to try. However, a little after dinner, Tallon managed to slip away under a cloaking spell. He made his way down the halls, getting steady on his legs again. Luckily, no one was around to see him stumbling and therefore take him back to the Infirmary.

On his way down, he heard someone arguing in one of the rooms. He paused, trying to identify the people. After a few moments, he had them: Snape and Splikvin. A combination of curiosity and shock as to why they would be arguing caused him to listen in by slipping through the door as a cobra and hide in the shadows unnoticed by the two.

"It was bloody foolish!" Snape exclaimed, pacing angrily around the room.

Splikvin sighed, "Yes Severus, it was, but it had good reason behind it!"

Snape glared at her, "He can't just go jumping in front of every damn unforgivable that he sees!" Harry nearly jumped, they were talking about him. "It's that idiotic Gryffindor blood!"

Splikvin's hands clenched. "Not every Gryffindor is as bad as you think Severus!" she retorted.

"That's easy for you to say!" he hissed. "They didn't nearly kill and severlyhumiliate you!"

She winced, "I know that! But it was in the past Severus! Let-it-go! Holding grudges is pointless!"

Snape sneered at his twin, "Oh really? How would you know? You don't even blame Lucius for Merlin's sake! What the hell would you know about grudges?"

"Believe me Severus, I know more than you think!" she growled back, "But what you don't get is that people change as they get older, except you it seems. Remus has tried to apologize a million times, and yet you still won't listen! You hold a grudge against Potter because of James-"

"Oh yes, take their side why don't you?" He spat, "You've always cared more about your Gryffindor friends than your own family!"

She flinched, "That's not true Severus!" she yelled, "And you had better damn know that!"

He sneered, "Prove me wrong then!" Harry couldn't believe this was actually happening.

Her hands were clenched into white-knuckled fists, "Before, I didn't need to prove anything! We used to trust each other Severus! What happened?"

"We changed," he retorted, using her own words. "And you side with Gryffindors and their foolish,rash, andarrogantideas!"

"Harry's decision was out of good instinct! He didn't want someone to die pointlessly!"

"But he is needed in this war!" snarled Snape. "One person is much less when compared to the fate of the rest of the magical world! The risk itself was pointless and unnecessary!"

"We need more people Severus," she snapped, "The Order alone is not enough to stop Voldemort!"

"Don't say his name!" he hissed.

"Why?" she demanded, "It's just a damn name! Only followers of him call him the 'Dark Lord'!"

Now it was Snape's turn to flinch. "Mind you I was once a follower! And it was because you left!"

Splikvin cringed, taking a step back. "I know Sev! And I'm sorry! I didn't mean for it to turn out like it did!"

"Oh really? You could have at least tried to come back once every year! We were trained in stealth, are you telling me those lessons had no effect?"

"I'm sorry!" she seemed at loss for words, "I—I was afraid, Sev…afraid I would get caught. I didn't mean to stay away for so long…I just couldn't…"

"Couldn't what?" he spat, "Couldn't stand to face your friends? Stand to face home?" The door opened, but neither of them seemed to notice. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THERE THAT YOU COULDN'T DO?"

The explosion of magic that released from Snape caused Splikvin to be slammed into the wall, but no one else. She slid to the floor after the crack of bone was audible; Remus, Sirius, Dumbledore, and Tonks starred at the potions master, who continued to glare at his sister.

She closed her eyes, looking away, "I guess you are a Snape," she whispered.

Snape instantly went three shades paler; he looked at his hands with a horrified expression, and literally fled the room.

Remus nearly ran after Snape, a furious look on his face, but Padfoot held him back. "Let 'im go," Splikvin croaked, struggling to her feet. "Just the Snape temper," she said in a light voice.

"Selena," Dumbledore began worriedly, she cut him off.

"It'll die down, it was just an argument."

Sirius chuckled uneasily, "Yeah, the day you two stay mad at each other is the day hell freezes over."

But Harry wasn't sure about that.

Coming Up:

Hogwarts

The Wards

Then:

International Members

Happy Birthday!

Old, Fond, and Funny Memories