gryffxchick: Yep, the HP world is going crazy! Thank for reviewing :)
Krys: Hey, don't make fun of the all-knowing snake! She'll become handy in the future... -whispers- You didn't hear that. Anyway, you will find out! Thankies!
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Chapter 8: Situations
They made their way down the meandering path of Diagon Alley, Keandra curled up in his hood, remaining out of sight. As Harry crossed another path of the cobblestone street, a sign caught his full attention. It read boldly: Weasly's Wizard Wheezes.
Fred and George's new shop, the one he'd probably never get a chance to visit if he didn't take the oppurtunity. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him and entered, just wanting to get a good look at it.
It was a brightly colorful shop with many kinds of tricks and jokes piled up on the walls, many people were already inside and gazing at everything with eager faces. Harry saw in the distance Fred and George dealing with the customers, looking snazzy in some new dragon scaled suits. With a chuckle, Harry left and made a mental note to go inside sometime and buy some of their Canary Creams.
He made his way into the Leaky Cauldron and straight away saw Lupin and the other Aurors talking to Tom and some other wizards in the bar.
He stiffened and tried to blend in with several drinking cloaked figures, Harry panicked.
They're looking for me...they'll find me...
Keandra hissed, 'What isss it Harry?'
He answered lowly, "Some people are looking for me. I need to get out of here fast." The grizzly woman who had given him the newspaper, spotted him and stated, "Those Aurors after you? Want some help?"
Harry nodded and she burped, getting up, "Follow me." They edged their way into the background and emerged into the middle of the bar, Harry was close enough to hear the conversation between Lupin and the innkeeper. Remus Lupin asked calmly, "So, you haven't seen a boy come in here? About seventeen?"
The shorter man looked through some papers in his hands, "We had an African wizard, he only stopped in for some firewhiskey. A younger witch who hasn't came back, and someone named James come in. This James fellow sounded older, he was covered up in a hood, seemed a might bit suspicious to me."
Lupin looked interested, "Did he come in around the time of nine last evening?"
"As a matter of fact, he had."
The grizzly woman shouted, Harry abruptly froze, "Hey, he's over here!" She had led him into a ring of Aurors on purpose, he was too startled to be angry and made a break for it. Lupincame shouting after himand Harry pumped his legs faster, running out the back and tapping the bricks; finding that his hood had been ripped off by the witch, exposing his identity indefinitely. Harry swore under his breath and the entrance of Diagon Alley unexpectedly shut before his eyes.
He pounded on the brick wall and knew immediately that all of the Aurors were behind him; they had him cornered. Harry did not turn around and heard Lupin say, "Harry, it's alright. You don't have to run."
Harry whispered, "I do," and turned to face him. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks glanced at him curiously.
Keandra asked, rearing up into plain view and making him jump because he had forgotten that she was there with him, 'Ssshould I attack?'
He said to her, "No, I know them. They're friends." The Aurors gaped at him.
"Why did you run away Harry?"
He answered Lupin genuinely, "To escape...from everything. Do I have to go back?" The man nodded, "It would be best." Harry looked up, "I have to make a stop first, somewhere near a forest."
He rode on with Tonks on her broom, she looked uneasy at the snake around his neck but it didn't distract her from riding. They flew into the early evening sky, hiding in the clouds and Harry found a large sprawl of grassy land below. He shouted over the rushing wind, "Down there!" Tonks and the others took him down and landed mildly on patches of weeds. Harry got off the broom and gently uncoiled Keandra from his neck, setting her down. She gazed admiringly at the field then back at him, 'Thank you Harry Potter, for everything. I do hope our pathsss crosssss again one day.'
Harry knelt down, "I hope so too Keandra. Goodbye and thanks."
The snake crawled up to his hand and her tongue touched his skin, as if it was an offer of kiss, Keandra finally disappeared into the tall pasture.
Lupin strolled up beside him and Harry smiled vaguely, "I think...that was the nicest snake I'll ever encounter in my life." The gray peppered man touched his shoulder and Harry looked down, standing up. Without another word, they all got back on their brooms and flew to Headquarters.
At the entrance, Mad-Eye Moody greeted them, cleaning his fake eye, "Damn. . ." Harry saw the black ceiling of Grimmaulds Place, the curtained portrait of Mrs. Black, and felt a sense of misery devastate him again. He climbed up the stairs, reaching the dim hallway when a funny squeak caught his hearing and someone threw themselves at him with a great force.
Harry looked around wildly and realized it was Hermione who tackled-hugged him. She squeezed him hard and backed away, tears rolling down her face. Her brown eyes were tinged with red and her hair was more bushier, it looked like as if she hadn't slept. Hermione stifled, "Oh Harry, everyone's been so worried! We saw the newspaper...and you were gone..."
He didn't know what to say to her, and that's when Harry saw the bruise that marked her face, dealt by his hand.
Tenderly, Harry cradled her chin with his hand and glimpsed at the contusion. He breathed softly, " 'Mione, I'm so sorry."
"It's ok Harry."
He let go and spun away, wanting to crawl under a rock and die, "No, it's not." Harry looked back at her, feeling tears but none spilled. His face twisted into a look of desperation and anguish, "It's this place...it's...everything. I can't deal with this Hermione. Any of this."
A hand touched on his shoulder and Harry turned to Ron, who stated, "But you have us."
Hermione spoke up, "Ron's right. You aren't alone, we're here for you."
Harry shook his head, acknowledging Ron, "I'm sorry I hit your girl mate." Ron's ears went bright red, his face as well, "Um...it's alright." Harry's head jerked to Hermione, whose cheeks were flushing pink.
He grinned and patted Ron's shoulder, "Thanks." Harry grinned at Hermione, "Thanks to you both. I don't know what I'd do without you." She smiled back, wiping her face and they all ate in Hermione room; reminiscing about old times. His friends didn't bother him about what he did at Diagon Alley and Harry was relieved by that. A week passed and Ginny's funeral came rolling around the bend. Harry tried to have the stomach for it, but when he saw Ginny's body; he promptly turned away and emptied it of his one-fourth eaten breakfast. Harry felt awful for the rest of the day.
Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasly brought him back to Headquarters. They got him into bed and the short red-haired woman took his temperature. She felt his forehead and murmured, "A fever. Best you stay in bed Harry dear. I'll be here all day, so if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." She fed him some potion.
As Mrs. Weasly left the boys room, Ron commented, "She needed a good excuse to leave. You might have given her a favor." Hermione elbowed his side sharply. Harry was too weak to get up but whispered, "Sorry...about getting...sick." Hermione sat down beside him, "Don't be, it was too soon. You weren't ready. Save your strength." She brushed back his bangs motherly but Harry couldn't see her, he had slipped into darkness -It was snowing lightly outside a window, he was standing in the corridor of the second floor at Hogwarts, a thin wash of white sunlight glowed in the semi-dark hallway.
A girl leaped out of the classroom across from him, her dark red hair flying and she twirled around, her Hogwarts robe billowing around her ankles. Her face laughing and her almond- shaped emerald green eyes sparkled with a special glimmer.
Following closely out of the classroom was a boy, he scooped her up and spun around, his hazel eyes gleaming. His untidy hair was a bright blue and stuck up in many places.
"I'm gonna kill you for that Evans."
The girl laughed and messed up his dyed hair, "Oh, hush, it will come out eventually."
Harry watched as his fifteen-year-old parents kissed once and James Potter set Lily Evans down. She gazed into James's blue blue eyes and whispered, "How do you do it?"
He frowned, giving a similar confused look that Harry would have, "Do what?"
Her voice was so soothing, "Make me feel like we're the only ones in the world. The only ones who are the happiest." James smiled, Harry saw a real smile on his father's lips, "I don't know. Maybe we are?" Lily kissed him again, drawing her arms around his neck, she breathed, "You are amazing Potter. I don't even know why I'm so attracted to you...am I making any sense?" He responded, "Perfect sense."
Harry couldn't believe what he saw seeing, his teenage parents weren't fighting. They were actually acting like they could stand the sight of each other. Even better, a love-struck couple. At that moment, Harry wished nothing more then to stay watching this scene forever.
Sudden agony spread over him and he winced, as his vision spun.
Harry clutched his head panting and it stopped. He was standing somewhere else, the Riddle House. In the room where Ginny was killed.
The fireplace roaring, the Dark Lord glaring in his chair at the traitor Wormtail. Voldemort spoke coolly, "Did you get the news from Lucius?" The bald man nodded meekly, "Yes, My Lord."
"Well?"
"My Lord, He says that the search has continued, they are still trying to find the Nameless." The Dark Lord spoke composedly, "I wanted it, before Harry Potter can get his filthy hands on it." Wormtail bowed, "We will find it, My Lord." Voldemort's eyes sparkled, "The War."
Another wave of extreme pain took Harry and he screamed -
He awoke screaming hoarsely; his vision blinded by tears.
Hermione and Ron were near him, he could feel them, shouting for help. They were holding his hands and the agony was unbearable, this was worse then the Cruciatus Curse by a thousand times. It felt as if someone was ripping him apart from the inside very slowly and excruciatingly. Harry couldn't throw up because he was screaming too hard.
Several figures appeared over him and held him down, he knew this was it; he was going to die like this. A gray blur was washing over him, a canopy hovering over him. Through his withering and yelling, his friends were forced to leave the room and the Aurors had came in.
Harry saw something flashing, the rims of half moon spectacles, in his eyes. Albus Dumbledore's face passed in and out of his sight, and a murmuring rang in his ears.
Something he couldn't understand.
The pain began dissolving and toneddownuntil it had left him completely. Harry laid limply on the sweat soaked sheets, breathing in tight rasps and his arms occasionally gave a twitch/ The old man's face was gone and the ceiling of his dark bedroom grew clearer, though distorted because his glasses were slightly tilted.
Harry couldn't move so Lupin fixed them. He placed a hand on his head protectively, Harry mumbled, "I thought...I was dying." The gray streaked Marauder frowned, "The Headmaster saved you Harry. If he wasn't here, I don't think you would have made it."
Harry asked feebly, "Where's Ron and Hermione?"
"They had to go, they were very worried for you. I think you need some rest before--"
A voice interrupted, "It would best if Harry told us what he saw before he forgets." Dumbledore stepped into the room wearing dark plum robes, Harry tried to sit up, "Professor..." Lupin helped him and Dumbledore popped a lemon drop in his mouth, "I need to talk to Mr. Potter alone Remus."
Lupin looked doubtful, still shaken by the fact by the state his best friend's son had been in but a smile from Harry reassured him that he'd be fine.
As Remus left the room, Professor Dumbledore gave him a placid look, "I know that you are tired Harry, this only take a moment. What did you see?"
"I was at the Riddle House...Voldemort was talking about getting the Nameless. He wanted to get it before I could."
The Headmaster nodded distantly, Harry asked quietly, "Was I really close to dying?" Dumbledore's wrinkled face deepened, "Yes, I'm afraid so. Your scar took all of the energy you had,so that you would have been vulnerable to death." He prolonged, "Harry, I would like you to take Occlumency lessons again..."
Harry shook his head weakly, "No, not with Snape-"
Dumbledore smiled, "No, not with Severus, I will find someone else but I want you to continue Occlumency this year." Harry nodded, willing to go through with it as long as the Potions Master wasn't going to teaching him. He got up, "I expect that you will be resting before coming down to dinner."The Headmaster winked, closing the door behind him. Harry gaped, he expected Dumbledore to go into a long explanation of what happened to him and what it all meant.
He had noticed a certain change in the old man in fifth year and throughout sixth, Harry found his new behavior very strange. He let his mind wander and a sleepy grin appeared on his face, the memory of his parents being happy together brought a warm spread of happiness soaring in his heart.
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Evening rose when Harry awoke from his lengthy nap, he remembered his new happy memory and grinned undauntedly. Know what he saw, it had brightened him. The fact he had been near death or the gloom that surrounded Headquarters could not dampen his spirits. Harry raced downstairs into the kitchen where his friends sat worried about the table.
Mrs. Weasly nearly dropped her wand in alarm when she was cooking the food at the sight of him.
Harry embraced a stunned Ron and Hermione, seating at the table between them still grinning. Ron's gleaming eyes widened, "Harry, is everything ok?"
"Yes Ron, everything is. . .wonderful."
Harry looked up perkily, "When's dinner?" A voice behind him declared, "Now." He turned his head to Darcie who gave him a smirk. From behind her followed Tonks, Lupin, and Mr. Weasly. They all sat down and Mrs. Weasly served out the food, Darcie asked politely as she struggled with an large bowl of potatoes, "Molly, do you want some help?" Mrs. Weasly's face darkened, "No." The dark haired woman persisted gently, "Are you sure?" The shorter woman growled, "Yes."
Darcie's brow burrowed and Harry turned away from them, he looked at Hermione to distract himself, "You haven't said a word Mione, what's up?" She muttered an inaudible sound and buttered her roll, Harry asked again, "Hermione?"
She muttered again and he decided to leave her alone, perhaps she wasn't in a good mood.
Harry looked at Ron who wasn't paying any attention as usual and he finished eating. After a few minutes of listening to Mr. Weasly converse on about jinxed dressers, he turned back to Hermione. She didn't look too well, in fact, Hermione looked a little flushed and her eyes were glazed. Harry said concerned, "Hermione, are you alright? Is something wrong?"
She ignored him and her face slowly grew anxious, her eyes rolled upwards, and she passed out onto the floor. Harry and Ron shouted her name.
The adults rushed over and firmly escorted the boys out, Harry cried out, "What's wrong with her?" Tonks reassured him, "She'll be fine, go upstairs to your room."
"But-!"
She snapped, "GO!" They flinched, never seeing Tonks act so strictly, and retreated.
Ron was pacing their room as Harry sat down on his bed, the red-head boy exclaimed, "What do you think happened?" Harry placed a hand on his head, mumbling, "I don't know." Ron stopped pacing, glancing at Harry as he murmured, "This is just as bad as second year." Ron blinked, "I saw her convulsing, like she was having a fit..."
Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "I - I'm going to bed."
He burrowed under his covers and heard Ron shout, "That's it? You're going to go to sleep when our best friend could be dying or something?" Harry's face darkened and his voice was icy, "Goodnight Ron." A slammed door echoed and Harry knew that Ron had left, he thought of his happy memory, forcing himself to concentrate on it.
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A/N: I know, it wasn't much of a chapter...argh, I'm so out of it!
