Sorry for not updating sooner. First writer's block, then all the uploading problems, and then there was two weeks of mocks to deal with, plus bad results to relay back to parents (woe is me).

Miss Moony would like to dedicate this chapter to keira for being the first reviewer.

Miss Moony would also like to thank Elemental-sorceror, riss (three times), Xessive, keira, insanechildfanfic, Marbelz, Hana, Me and walker-of-the-shadow-path for reviewing.

To riss: Pearly dark… hmm… it's like when there's water that's so dark it looks almost black, but there's a kind of glow as well… or like when there's splatters of light reflected on the surface, but they won't stay still… is that a good enough explanation? No, I don't think I've heard the song, but I might have forgotten it. Keep reading!

And I really do apologise for this… I know I have a weird obsessive streak when it comes to eyes… but I really do think that both Briar and Harry have gorgeous eyes.

------- I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good -------

Chapter 7

Harry was not particularly pleased when he was informed that he would have to see a Healer before he was allowed to wander further than the gate of Discipline Cottage. But, since these people knew nothing of Harry's previous experiences with Healers – especially one Poppy Pomfrey - belief of his inability to do anything, they couldn't really be expected to understand his unease.

He had been officially introduced to his "housemates" shortly after a tongue-lashing from both the boy and his teacher on the intricacies of weeding… To be honest, he hadn't known there were any. The boy's name was Briar (isn't that a girl's name?) and the two adults-in-residence were called Lark and Rosethorn. There was also a boy called Comas, who was very shy and didn't say a single word to Harry and Harry thought he might like Comas best of everyone there, a delightful girl named Evu-something (note the sarcasm), or Evvy for short, an older boy – man, really – called Keth, a currently-dormant-volcano called Tris, a middle-aged man called Niko, who was apparently supposed to be quite powerful, but Harry thought that he probably wasn't as powerful as Dumbledore, and a little girl called Glaki who was almost as shy as Comas. There were also, apparently, friends and residents who were not currently present; a Trader (people who trade things have their own race here?) girl called Daja, her teacher Frostpine, a future-Duchess called Sandry, who was one of Lark's students, and a boy called Pasco.

Harry was reminded briefly of the Marauders when he noticed that most of the adults seemed to have nicknames. Then when they were eating, Rosethorn told Evvy to mind her manners, and Harry remembered how Mrs. Weasley always used to try to keep Fred and George in line with her motherly dominance. And after dinner, when Harry sat in a corner on his own and just observed everyone, he saw Tris with her nose in a book, and he couldn't help wondering if she and Hermione had read any of the same books.

And, by the end of the evening, when Harry discovered that he'd been sharing a bed with Briar for the whole time he'd been here, and would probably have to continue with the arrangements, at least until someone had the time to find a cot (why would Harry want to sleep in a cradle? he thought), Harry's head was so full of thoughts of his dead friends that he didn't even bother to complain.

'Are you okay?' was the first real sign of acknowledgement of his existence, other than the brief introductions, from Briar, as they lay in Briar's "nest" together. 'You've been awfully quiet.'

Harry gave a half-hearted shrug and mumbled, 'Homesick,' into his knees as he curled up tighter.

'Want to talk about it?' Briar asked.

'Not really,' Harry snorted, even though he thought that Briar was only trying to be friendly. 'Neither would you if you'd come to think of "home" as the most terrifying place in existence.'

Briar didn't seem very impressed with that response. 'How d'you know I haven't?'

Harry didn't respond immediately, and when he did it was in the quiet, careful tone that he always used when he wasn't sure of the loyalties of his company. 'There's something I can see in your eyes… and everyone else here's, too… something less – I dunno – world-weary, I guess.'

But Harry still didn't raise his head to look at Briar as he spoke… too risky… he didn't want to start drowning in the older boy's eyes again. Those eyes that were beautiful and captivating with their amazing ability to be two colours at once… that dark, dark green colour that was almost hidden by the pale, misty surface… mist… mist that was so much warmer and brighter than the last mist he'd seen.

Rattling breath… Cold… Cold… So cold… Ice… Frozen… Dementors… Screaming… Please don't leave me again…

Briar spent the morning frowning. It seemed that Harry could be perfectly friendly when it suited him, but that didn't change the fact that it rarely did seem to suit him. Briar was vaguely reminded of the way Tris had been when she'd first arrived at Discipline.

Another thing that he'd noticed was Harry's preference for being alone. He reminded Briar of Comas in that respect, except that Harry's choice didn't seem to be out of shyness or fear, but because of a severe lack of trust.

However, Briar sensed that there was a very big mystery surrounding Harry, and it was more than just how he'd come to be insane, and that he'd never heard of Emelan. It was more because of the endless pools of darkness that Briar could sometimes feel around the boy, a cold, unforgiving sadness that seemed to linger in the air even after Harry had left the room. Briar thought that it was slightly suffocating, and wondered what had caused it.

'Harry,' he asked when they were weeding together, 'what happened to you?'

Harry was silent and, as he had been doing since his surprise recovery, he refused to meet Briar's eyes.

Briar looked at him curiously, noting the way he seemed to be weeding as if by habit, rather than actually paying attention to the work. 'Harry?' he prompted.

Harry muttered an answer, almost too quietly for Briar to hear.

'I died,' he said before the Hub bell sounded for lunch, when he went inside, leaving Briar alone to ponder the meaning of his cryptic words.