Always Second Best Chapter 6: Many Questions, Few Answers, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associtated characters and things do not belong to me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey everyone! I've had an extremely busy week with work (both being a cousellor and referee) and soccer but I had today off so that was good. I ended up cleaning my room a little and doing some other stuff and have so far managed to update 2 of my other stories this weekend! I needed to wait for some inspiration though before I started on this one but I found my muse lurking in the corner of room next to my soccer bag so here goes nothing! Thanks again to all my reviewers! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

The Nauti Dolphin-I'm glad my story put you in a good mood! Hope everything works out for you, it sucks when you get into fights.

shedoc10-You read my story at work??? Wow, you sound like me when I read fanfiction at school!

Pirate-Lib-Thanks for the review!

jen-You are certainly one of a kind-lol! And I don't think I'm that good of a writer, I just wish I was.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6: Many Questions, Few Answers

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Weasley family and Hermione had been waiting in the lobby of St. Mungo's for nearly an hour before Dumbledore reappeared, his long dark blue robes swirling around him as he walked.

Ron raised his head as Dumbledore approached the group, and his mother stood up from her chair.

"Albus, how's Harry? Is he any better?" Mrs. Weasley asked, she looked-if it was even possible-more concerned then she had earlier.

Dumbledore smiled, but there was a strange look in his eye.

"Yes Molly," he said, "Harry is feeling much better and is settling into his room as we speak."

"Oh thank goodness!" Mrs. Weasley said, and everyone else looked just as relieved.

Ron's stomach finally unclenched and he breathed a sigh of relief. Harry had pulled through bad scrapes before this so if he was feeling better already it could only mean that he would recover soon.

"Can we go see him?" asked Ron.

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes," he said, "Follow me."

The group rose to their feet and followed Dumbledore down the hallway to the elevator. He pushed the button and the lift clattered into view and the grilles slid open to admit them. They crowded on and when Dumbledore selected the button grilles slid back in front of them. When the lift stopped at the fourth floor, the group shuffled out and then down the hallway after Dumbledore. He stopped and opened the third door on their right to the Vincent Greenblatt Ward. A little card on the door read Healer: Kassandra Larusso. The group filed in and found themselves in a short corridor with four doors, two on each side. Dumbledore led them through the first on on their left, room number 435, and as they filed into the room, which was surprsingly spacious, Ron saw Harry, sitting in bed, propped up by several pillows, talking to Healer Larusso.

"Hi guys," Harry said when he caught sight of them in the doorway. He was smiling but Ron sensed the tension in his friend's voice.

"Oh Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, as she hurried forward and hugged Harry tightly. "You poor dear! Are you feeling alright? Maybe we should let you sleep and come back later."

"No I'm fine Mrs. Weasley, thanks," Harry said.

Ron saw Healer Larusso and Dumbledore exchange significant looks, which all to plainly said that everything was not fine.

"Do you know what's wrong?" Hermione asked, a look of curiousity on her face. "I mean to say, how Voldemort-"

There was sharp intake of breath from Mrs. Weasley but other than that, no one made a sound.

"-posessed Harry," Hermione finished.

Healer Larusso looked at Harry, as if to ask if he wanted the group to know. Harry nodded so she turned back to the group.

Healer Larusso cleared her throat, "Well," she said, "We think that the reason it happened was because Voldemort was nearby."

Gasps of shock greeted this statement.

"You mean Voldemort was near the Burrow?" Ron asked.

"But that's impossible!" said Fred.

"Yeah!" agreed George, "Why would he be near our house?"

"It's very simple," Hermione cut in, "Voldemort must have some means of tracking Harry's where abouts."

Dumbledore nodded grimly, "That is correct," he said. "For the time being Harry will be safe here, but as soon as he can be moved, all of you will go into hiding until school starts in September."

"But I have to be at Gringotts……" Bill started.

"And I'll be expected at work as well," Mr. Weasley said.

"Me too," added Charlie.

"Then we shall figure out details later," Dumbledore said. "However, it is very important that all of you are safe from harm."

"But how come Voldemort managed to stay in Harry's body?" Hermione asked, "In June he couldn't bare to it for that long."

Healer Larusso frowned slightly, "We're not sure," she replied. "We think that perhaps he has started using spells or potions of some kind instead of just his mind."

"You're OK now though, right?" Ron said as he looked over at Harry.

"Better then I was," replied Harry, but on closer inspection he still appeared very pale and every so often he would twitch slightly.

Ron frowned slightly; there were many things he wanted to ask Harry, but he didn't dare with so many other people present. One glance at Hermione told him she felt the same way.

"I need to run a few more tests in the morning," Healer Larusso said, "and Harry needs his sleep."

"Yes, of course," Mrs. Weasley said hurriedly. "Come on you lot, we'd better get home then. Goodnight Harry."

"Yeah, night Harry."

"Sleep well."

"You'll feel better in the morning."

"Unless of course you have creepy nightmares again."

"George!" scolded Mrs. Weasley.

"What? It's true!"

Everyone but Mrs. Weasley laughed, even Harry, although his laugh and smile had become rather strained. Ron had a feeling Harry was dreading sleep for just that reason-the dreams in which he was Voldemort.

"Well with this potion he should have a dreamless sleep," Healer Larusso said as she poured a silver liquid from a flask she had retrieved from a near by cupboard. She handed Harry a cup full of the stuff which he took gratefully.

"Thanks," Harry said.

"You're welcome," Healer Larusso said. "Now drink up quickly, if that stays out in open air too long it starts to thin."

"Well, goodnight everbody," Harry said.

Ron and Hermione lagged behind a little.

"Remember your Occlumency," Hermione said in a low voice, "You have to clear your mind of all thought and emotion."

"Give the guy a break Hermione," Ron said, "He's got a potion for a dreamless sleep so he's got nothing to worry about."

"Yeah," Harry said, "Plus I took some other potions when I got here that are supposed to protect me or something, so I have nothing to worry about."

"Oh!" Hermione said excitedly, "Did you take the Hirundo Bantu potion?"

"Uh, yeah actually," Harry said looking surprised.

Healer Larusso also looked surprised, "You know about the Hirundo Bantu potion?" she asked.

"I read about it last year in Modern Miracle Potions of Healing," Hermione explained. "For awhile I was seriously considering becoming a healer when I left school but now I've decided to be an Auror."

"Really?" Healer Larusso said, "What a shame, I have a feeling you would've made a spledid healer."

"Miss Granger is our top student at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said foundly. "She has had the highest marks of her class since the minute she stepped foot through the doorway."

Hermione flushed, "That's not true," she said, "Harry's always done better then me in defence against the dark arts."

"This is true," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, his blue eyes twinkling as he looked over at Harry who had flushed crimson like Hermione. "But you are still one of the best students Hogwarts has ever seen."

"Thank you Professor," mumbled a very embarassed Hermione.

Ron grinned and looked at Harry who grinned back.

"Well I'd best be off," Dumbledore said, "Goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight."

Dumbledore strode out of the room and down the hallway.

"Guess we'll see you tomorrow then," Ron said to Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said, "Night then."

"Night."

"Goodnight Harry."

"Are you two coming or not?" Fred asked as he poked his head through the doorway. "Mum's getting angry about waiting for you two."

"Alright, alright, we're coming," Ron said as he and Hermione hurried after Fred.

But as they were leaving, and Healer Larusso was busy mixing another potion with her back to Harry, no one noticed Harry's eyes change from green to red for a split second.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that's it everyone! Sorry it was a bit short but this seemed like a good place to end it. The next chapter looks like it will be a bit longer but I can't guarntee anything. There's a little bit of foreshadowing in this chapter but not too much. The thing about foreshadowing is-well, to be honest-I'm not very good at it. Sometimes I hint at stuff and then decide not to use it later on. Anywho, please review with any constructive critisim or even just to say you liked it. I'm not very satisfied with this chapter but it sets the next one up so I had to have it. Well, that's about it! Ciao!

-Megan